Sermon Notes
Pastor Jeff Stanfill

"What's With All These -Isms?"
September 3rd, 2006 - PM Service

WHAT'S WITH ALL THESE -ISMS?"
TEXT: REV. 20
INTRO:
This tonight may sound more as a theology lecture than a sermon but we will "sermonize" at the end - pun intentional!

Let's travel on a vacation together. Since the Smoky Mountains are so popular why not make that our destination. We can load the cars and caravan up.

If we are in agreement on a vacation and a destination then we only need to decide which route and when. When it comes to travel, I'm always ready! So now is as good a time as any. Not for you? Well, should we wait?

And about the route. Should we go east on I-10 turn north toward Montgomery and over to Atlanta before going on to the Smokey's? Or should we go to Jackson then east on I-20 to Birmingham? Or Memphis to Nashville to Knoxville to the mountains can get us there.

Believers all agree that Jesus is returning and we will life eternally with Him. But we may think of different routes to travel to the destination. If we are in agreement with the vacation destination should the route be a make or break issue? Those who truly want to go would likely say not.

A theology of the end times has many details, some of which are complex, others are made complex. Tonight, let's keep in mind that what is involved in the details are not essentials to Christianity. Concerning future events there is disagreement about the details. These relate to four areas:
1. The nature of the millennial reign and its relationship to Christ's return.
2. The sequence of Christ's return.
3. The Great Tribulation Period.
4. Salvation of the Jewish people (to which we have already give consideration.)

While there are various viewpoints among believers about these areas, all agree that the Bible is inerrant and all hold a commitment to believe and obey whatever is taught by Scripture. The next few weeks, everything we consider about the end times will have this in hand.

The -isms I refer to tonight are about what Christians call the Millennial Reign. We receive this from Revelation 20 primarily at it is one of the most debated issues about the end times. This is a period of time when all the ideals of human society are experienced with the removal of satan's influence, the presence of peace, freedom, prosperity, and Jesus Christ's rule on earth. With such a wonderful prospect, what could be in dispute?

There are three understandings of the Millennial Reign - all ending with -ism!
I. AMILLENNIALISM.
1. Amillennialism is the belief that the millennial reign of Christ is best understood not as a literal, on earth rule of Jesus Christ for 1,000 years but as a symbolic, figurative expression for the rule of Christ in the hearts of His disciples. As we discuss this, keep in mind that it is possible for a conservative believer to hold to this view because the unclear of Scripture is to be understood in light of the clear.
2. Amillennialism understands that the binding of satan was done by Christ through His redeeming work (Matt. 12:29). The characteristics of the millennial reign - peace, safety, plenty - are spiritual and describe the spiritual life of the believer. It sees Revelation 20 as a picture of the present Church Age we experience now.

3. Amillennialism has weaknesses as do all three and we will point this out with each view. First, there is trouble with the details of Rev. 20 primarily with the phrase "first resurrection." Amillennialism insists on one resurrection. Second, it also leads to over-spiritualizing and tends not to bring to bear the benefits of redemption into our present lives. Third, with amillennialism, there is no vindication of God as Creator in the final revelation of Jesus. Evil is not triumphed in time and space.

II. POSTMILLENNIALISM.
1. Postmillennialism is the belief that Jesus Christ comes after an earthly reign is established by the progress of the Gospel and growth of the Church until society functions more by the standards of God. "Post" means after the millennial comes the return.

2. Postmillennialism is very optimistic about extent of the power of the Gospel. It strongly motivates believers toward the fulfillment of the cultural mandate and present political involvement.

3. It too has Scriptural problems such as the increased persecution that marks the end times. This is difficult to reconcile with the prolific embrace of the Gospel. It also greatly postpones Christ's return to the point of possibly denying that it can be soon and sudden.

III. PREMILLENNIALISM.
1. Premillennialism understands that Christ returns before the actual millennial reign (hence the "pre") and that He personally establishes His rule on earth. In fact, His return ushers in the millennial reign. Premillennialism has two "flavors" - classic and pretribulational.

2. Classic premillennialism understands that the millennial reign is described in terms of an ideal earthly order drawing from passages like Is. 2:2-5; Micah 4:1-3. Its greatest strength is that it is the most obvious reading of Revelation 20. It also has the longest history among the views. According to classic premillennialism, satan is bound for the 1,000 years of the millennial reign and his influence is removed until a time at the end of all history when he is released and allowed to gather up a rebellious group that unsuccessfully opposes Christ reign. Then all of time ends with a new Heaven and new earth.

3. Pretribulational premillennialism understands that Christ not only returns before the literal 1,000 years but before a period designated as the Great Tribulation. It is similar to classic but with a major difference - Christ's return is understood to be accomplished in two phases. The first is called the rapture of the Church to which He appears only to the believers and takes them back to Heaven while the seven year period of the Great Tribulation occurs. The second is His Second Coming when He brings to earth along with Him the saints taken away in the rapture as a conquering army that squelches evil and begins the millennial reign.

4. Of the views this one most clearly insists that Christ can return at any time, literally at any moment.

5. As with the other two views premillennialism is not without its problems. It requires a continuation of sin and evil after Christ's return during the millennial reign and allows for a climatic manifestation of evil at the end. Pretribulational premillennialism is also the newest kid on the block as this interpretation was not developed in church doctrine until the latter 19th century. It is often criticized because of the tendency of extremism of some of its proponents. (We must consider though that abuse of a truth does not determine the veracity of the truth.)

6. Personally, I tentatively hold to a premillennial view. As a case can be made certainly for both post and premillennial views and possibly for amillennialism, I choose based on the effect.
· Premillennialism makes justice more a time and space reality. It is here on this earth that justice will be served.
· Our hope is not exclusively spiritual. It is a corporal, material hope, also.
· God's original purpose for all creation will be fulfilled.

CONCL:
So what? We just sat through a dry theology lecture about some things that few of us give any thought to on an everyday basis. Can it make any difference? Is this truth that the Holy Spirit can use to transform a person? Is there any moral consequence to any of this? Do I have to pick a view to get to Heaven?

In answer to the last question - "No." Believe the one you study and decide for yourself - I have. But consider this, that a view of the end of history does have moral implications and we can use to our advantage the different understandings about the route we will take to the appointed time.
1. Be ignited with the hope that history is going somewhere. I say this often, but in many cultures and increasingly important in our time, is the truth that God is taking this story somewhere. Morally, this is not Hinduism which keeps returning me to some form of corporal life. Be and do what I want, I'll just get to do it again. Knowing that there is a terminal for time primes one for moral introspection and behavior. It also is a hedge to the hopelessness of postmodernism which holds no meaning for anything except what meaning an individual assigns. Whether one believes in Jesus or not, this story of progression that is the Gospel gives one view that things can be better. Without the salt-like influence of the Gospel on society there is no confidence that one's existence can be bettered. What of this world witnesses to the possibility of anything better? The Gospel story! Be ignited that there is not only cosmic hope but personal hope for you and me!

2. Ask for love and grace among your brothers and sisters. Unfortunately some believers have used these different '-isms' as litmus tests for fellowship. They have been the field for confrontation. But we can use these different views to display love and grace, instead. I accept that you see this differently and I love you still.

3. Ask for maturity to stay true to essentials. It is not easy for a child to remember that dinner is thirty minutes away when she smells cookies in the oven (or many adults!) It requires a degree of maturity to stay true to essentials. It requires maturity to discern what is important when things that are urgent press upon us. It requires maturity to forgo gratification now for something more fulfilling later. And so it is with the essentials of Christianity. Being true to the essentials may not create an exciting ride but it provides a vehicle that doesn't break down.

4. Drawing from my own personal viewpoint (Premillennial), trust God to vindicate Himself and His people. To me this is a convincing point among the views. With a literal 1,000 year established by Jesus Himself, the scum of the earth, those considered not wise, not influential, not desirable will rule with Christ and see literal justice on earth. And God will not let His enemies gloat over Him! Satan will not say, "You had to change the venue to win." God wins here!