What Happens in the End Times?

Our weekday Bible Study class just started studying the book of Revelation, and not surprisingly, the class began with a discussion of different views about the end times and what will happen. I thought this would be of interest to our readers, so here they are.

1. Historic pre-millennialism, also called chiliasm. There will be a literal 1000-year reign of Christ, starting with His second coming. Satan will have a brief season of power and then be defeated. After this the resurrection of the dead and the final judgement will occur.
2. Post-millennialism. In this view, Christianity will spread through the world eventually leading to a time when people live in peace and joy. At this point, Christ will come again, followed by the short season of Satan’s power. Satan is defeated, followed by the resurrection of the dead and the final judgement.
3. Dispensational millennialism. This interpretation was popularized originally by the Scofield Study Bible in the early 1900’s. It is also the basis for the “Left Behind” books and movies. According to this view, there is a secret coming of Christ, and then the rapture of true Christians. This is followed by seven years of tribulation led by the anti-Christ. He is defeated at Armageddon at which point Christ returns visibly and reigns for 1000 years. Satan the has a brief season of power and is defeated. The resurrection of the dead and the final judgement follow.
4. Amillennialism. Amillennialists believe that the 1000-year reign is figurative language for the church age (the time in which we are now living). The church is the new Israel. This age began when Jesus ascended into heaven. When Christ comes again, the resurrection of the dead and the judgement will follow. There is no rapture.

This is a very brief summary of each viewpoint, and I am sure I have not included every detail. The vast majority of Lutherans are amillennialists. In my experience, Lutherans spend little time speculating on the end times as the Bible clearly states in Matthew 24:36:

” But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.“

We believe the book of Revelation to be not a detailed prediction of future events, but a vision assuring us of the final victory of Christ, and a comfort to the church on earth.

Few Christians today hold to historic premillennialism or post millennialism. Many however, have been influenced by the ideas put forth by dispensational millennialism.

For more about the end times see these posts:

Lutherans and the End Times

Unraptured by Zack Hunt — Book Review

Waiting for Jesus

Waiting for Jesus

The Sunday School class at our church has been studying the end times. It’s a topic people become passionate about, and they don’t always agree. Most Lutherans are amillennialists. That means we believe the end times started when Jesus ascended. We’re in the thousand-year reign right now. When He comes again, that will truly be the end. No tribulation, no rapture. We also believe that many of the prophecies about Israel now apply to the church. We are the new Israel.

We don’t spend time trying to predict when Jesus will come, because the Bible specifically tells us that nobody will know. In the book of Matthew, we read:

 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” Matthew 24:36-37

Like the five wise virgins in the parable, we can only wait and be ready, because the Bridegroom will arrive in His own time.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:13

Many Christians get caught up in speculation fueled by the Left Behind book series and movie. They seem to believe that denying the rapture is the same as denying Christ, but it’s not. As I once told someone, “I don’t believe in the rapture, but if I’m wrong and there is one, I do believe that God will take me.” This is not salvific issue (i.e., our view about this will neither save nor condemn us), and we should not allow it to separate us from other believers.

The message of the Scripture is clear: Watch and wait! Be ready!

For more about the end times see these posts:

Lutherans and the End Times

Unraptured by Zack Hunt — Book Review

Perhaps Today

Lutherans and the End Times

Until I was grown, I never heard much about the end times at church.  All I knew about the rapture came from bumper stickers (In case of the rapture, this car will be unmanned) and I never heard of the 1000 year reign.  All this is probably because most Lutherans are amillenialists (big word for the day).  This means that unlike the pre- and postmillenialists, Lutherans don’t believe there will be a 1000 year reign of Christ on earth.  We believe that when Jesus comes again, that is the end.  What comes next is the New Jerusalem, the earth perfected.  Lutherans also believe that we are in the end times now, the time that began with Christ’s ascension into heaven.  How long will the end times last, and when will Christ come again?  As Lutherans the correct answer is, “I don’t know.”

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your LORD will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.  Matthew 24:36-44

It seems pretty plain to me — nobody know when Jesus will come again, not even Jesus himself!  The truth is, we probably won’t be expecting it.  Instead of spending time “predicting” when the end will come, we should concentrate on being ready today because it may happen at any time.

Of course, some believe these verses to refer to the rapture, but most people don’t know that this reading of Scripture wasn’t even around until the 1830’s.  It was developed by John Nelson Darby, a Plymouth Brethren pastor, who edited a study bible which popularized his theories.  There are no other verses in the Bible to support or further explain the rapture (Lutherans say when in doubt, compare Scripture to Scripture) and so Lutherans do not accept this interpretation.  We are decidedly “unraptured.”

All this being said, I must point out that I am a layperson without seminary training.  I don’t claim to have all the answers about Lutheran theology and doctrine, but should any readers have questions, I will earnestly try to obtain the answers!

 

Unraptured by Zack Hunt — Book Review

This book is subtitled, “How End Times Theology Gets it Wrong,” but it’s about much more than comparative theology.  It’s the story of one person’s faith, how it evolved over time, and how the things we believe affect the things that we do.

As a teenager, Zack Hunt became wrapped up (no pun intended) in the rapture.  His idol was Jack Van Impe and his prized possession the Jack Van Impe Prophecy Bible complete with a color coded guide to the apocalypse.  Understanding the “secret” Bible code that predicted the end times made Zack feel intelligent, superior and most of all safe — safe, since his salvation depended upon knowing and believing all the right things.

In college, Zack is dismayed to find that many professors of religion do not adhere to his beliefs.  Through study he comes to realize that the proof texts for the rapture are taken out of context, and that the book of Revelation has a spiritual rather than literal interpretation.  Even more, he sees that a fixation on the end times can prevent Christians from taking action in the here and now.  Why bother to try and fix what Jesus intends to destroy and remake anyway?  For Zack, at least, preoccupation with the end times led to a focus on his own personal salvation and future in heaven, and a lack of concern for the welfare of others in the present. This is not Christlike.

Unraptured is an interesting and easy read.  You’ll get an overview and history of apocalyptic theology (something Lutherans rarely talk about) along with the story of another Christian’s journey of faith.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars, because I did not agree with some of the author’s political and theological conclusions and his writing style was a bit too informal for my taste.  Overall, still worthwhile reading.