In one of his most famous sermons – known as the ‘Olivet Discourse’ – Jesus pulls back the curtain and gives us a detailed peak at what the world will look like before his return.  While it may be argued that many of the signs Jesus mentions find fulfillment in every generation and therefore are not useful in helping us determine the imminence of Christ’s return (e.g. wars, famines, human cruelty, etc.) there are several things in Jesus’ list that are more specific, whose fulfillment ought truly to compel us to ‘lift up our heads’.  Such as: 

1.  Israel.  Jesus foretold that Jerusalem would be overrun by Gentiles but that a day would come when ‘the times of the Gentiles’ would be fulfilled (Luke 21:24).  In other words, there would be a time when ethnic Jews would get their land and city back.  Paul likewise clearly prophesied that God would again ‘graft’ Israel back into the tree of salvation (Rom.11:24-26).  The 70 Weeks prophecy in Daniel 9 concerns ‘Daniel’s people and his holy city’ (9:24), and the great end-times prophecies of Ezekiel (chapters 36-39) and Zechariah (chapters 12-14) presume that ethnic Israel is again a member of the assembly of nations in the last days.  This did not occur until the middle of the 20^th century, yet we watched it happen right before our eyes.

Consider also how fiercely Satan tried to prevent this from occurring, slaughtering six million Jews through his antichrist-understudy Hitler, as though he knew that the emergence of Israel would set God’s prophetic stop-watch ticking to its final countdown (Rev.12:12).  Don’t think for a moment that Satan has let up.  Scripture makes clear that Israel’s national rebirth would be accompanied by a relentless, global anti-semitism (Zech.12:2-3, Ez.37).  This hatred for things Jewish has an irrational depth to it that is far more than human.  Wouldn’t it just be like God – the great ‘drama king’, as Beth calls him – to round out human history the way he began it, using his people Israel in the final great act of salvation? 

2.  World evangelism.  “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” ~ Matthew 24:14.  With this prophecy, Jesus gave a sign that contained in itself what we might call self-authentication.  Though every generation has anticipated the Lord’s return, it should have been clear to each one that the end could not occur in their days, because Christ’s great commission was yet unfulfilled (Matt.28:18-20).  

The book of Revelation makes it clear that representatives of every nation, tribe, people and language will be standing among the company of the redeemed (Rev.7:9).  With this in mind, in the past two centuries alone, the pace of world evangelization has quickened to a dizzying pace.  To the point where the epicenter of world missions is now shifting as we speak from the West to the East. 

Just as God is going to round off history with the inclusion of Israel in his redemptive purposes, God will bring humanity full circle back to the Garden of Eden.  For it was the human race that fell when Adam sinned, and it will be the human race that will be restored to fellowship with its Creator when all is said and done – not just the Jewish or Western part of it.  (Don’t misunderstand me – I’m not saying that all will be saved, but among the saved will be members from every nation and ethnicity.)  The glory of God will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). 

3.  Ascent of Technology.  Many of Scriptures darkest prophecies have traditionally been interpreted as symbolic or as hyperbole.  The global dominance of the antichrist, the way in which the earth’s population is ‘astonished’ by the ‘Beast’ and follows him, the imposition of the ‘mark of the beast’ on the right hand or forehead of a person before they can participate in commerce, thus a cashless society (Revelation 13) – all of these can now be realized with chilling literalness because of the ascent of technology. 

God created human beings from the beginning to explore, invent, create and discover.  It was part of what is called God’s ‘Creation Mandate’ (Gen.1:28).  I believe when a human first carved out a wheel, God said, ‘Atta-boy!’  When God said as we erected the Tower of Babel that ‘nothing we planned to do would be impossible for us’ (Gen.11:6), he was actually paying us a high compliment (and himself, for creating us in his image.)

Used for noble purposes, technology is a great gift.  World evangelism is possible largely because of technological advancements, from the apostle Paul’s use of Roman ships and roads to a pastor blogging on the Internet.

But because of human sinfulness, technology also has a very dark side.  Technology in the hands of a sinful human heart can exponentially wreak havoc that would be unimaginable without it.  We tremble to think of what Hitler would have done had he been the first to discover atomic fission, or been able to use a computer to freeze the bank accounts of a million Jews with the push of a button.  

Could it be that when God frustrated the builders of Babel and broke up their party, that he was protecting us from ourselves by holding back our ability to rush ahead with technological development?  Could it be that he was delaying as long as possible (for our own survival) the emergence of a time such as we are now in? 

The builders of Babel were arrogant, believing they could ‘make a name for themselves’ without God.  21^st-century scientists, politicians and financiers rush forward recreating the modern world with a similar hubris, erecting their own towers of greed and arrogance, seemingly oblivious to how easily this can all fall apart should the restraining veneer of civilization that supports us crumble.     

All this to say, if Daniel in his day was motivated by current events to seek his God with renewed vigor, then we should as well.  For all I know, it could yet be centuries before Christ returns.  And I will live my life accordingly – I will serve God, love my family, work hard, save for retirement, root for my Cardinals, relish yard work, take my hikes in the White Mountains and live life to the full.  Until God moves me, I will live my life as though ‘all things are equal’.  But I cannot fail to notice that even as we speak, a stage is being set.  Pieces are being positioned into place.  Dormant prophecies are stirring to life.  Heaven is all a ‘tingle with something.  Now is not the time for spiritual complacency. 

Lord, give us Daniel’s spirit, Daniel’s courage, Daniel’s heart.        

Christians have tended to break out into three interpretative camps regarding the millennium (and I’m a little disappointed in Beth to have given the third view – postmillennialism – little more than a postscript.)  As we discussed in our Sunday School class this past weekend, a Christian’s millennial viewpoint is not unimportant – it actually shapes and influences how they serve Christ here and now.  Doctrine (what we believe) always shapes ethics (how we behave) so it is far from esoteric or trivial.

Premillennialism is the view which says that Christ will return to bring an end to the final dark days of earth and then inaugurate his millennial reign.  His coming is ‘before’ the millennium begins, hence pre-millennial.  Premillennialists take the passages of Daniel and Revelation literally – there will be an actual antichrist, a great tribulation (which lasts seven literal years), a rapture of the saints, and a literal millennium. Premillennialists disagree with each other in regards to Israel’s role in the last days, and whether the rapture occurs before, during or after the tribulation period.  Other than that, there is general agreement on the idea that the conditions upon the earth in the last days will be very dark and grim.  Premillennialism was the view of the early Christians for the first three centuries of church history, during a time when persecution was an ever-present threat hanging over their heads.

Amillennialism is the view which says that the passages in Daniel and Revelation are largely symbolic.  There will not be a literal millennium (hence a-millennialism), but instead Christ is reigning in his people now, and Satan is bound whenever the Church faithfully carries out its mission.  The ‘wheat and tares’ will continue till the last days, and in the end, Christ will return once and for all, evil will be judged, and believers will enter into eternal life.  Amillennialism arose in the fourth century, during a time when persecution ebbed and Christianity became the dominant faith of the empire.  When these events occurred, combined with the fall of Rome – and still Christ had not appeared – Christians felt compelled to seek a new understanding of the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation, and this view came in vogue until the emergence of the Protestant Reformation.   

Postmillennialism, which had a brief hey-day in the 18^th and 19^th century, is a view which says that the millennium is being brought in as we speak by the work of faithful Christians.  As God’s saints act as salt and light in the culture, evil is pushed back, good triumphs and God’s kingdom grows.  Rather than Christ bringing in the kingdom to us, we bring the kingdom to Him.  Jesus will return after the millennium is largely established (hence post-millennialism), and fully establish and secure the ground his Church has won.  This view arose in a time of great energetic outreach in the western church.  The modern mission movement was taking the gospel to the four corners of the earth.  In America, hundreds of ‘benevolent societies’ were being formed in Jesus’ name to bring change and reform to countless areas of social need.  “Give me a hundred men who love only God and hate only sin and we’ll bring in the kingdom in this generation,” was the passionate cry of men like Wesley, Finney, Moody and others. Postmillennialism lost its steam in the 20^th century as global unrest and world war effectively destroyed the engine of optimism that was fueling it.

Theology (our understanding of God and His work) is always shaped by the culture and time we live in.  While God’s Word remains fixed and constant, what we choose to emphasize and focus on in God’s Word is altered by our experience.  We see that in how the Church has shifted its eschatological views over the centuries.  As we observed in our Sunday School class this week, each of these three viewpoints has something valid to say to us which will keep us in balance. Stretch any one view too far, and it will send us off-kilter spiritually. 

Premillennialism reminds us that Scripture is to be taken seriously, that prophecy is real, and that the warfare that exists between God and Satan will not cease till Jesus returns and crushes the Enemy’s head once and for all.  (And how can premillennialism not be taken seriously when we see the nation of Israel arise and take the world’s stage right before our eyes?)  We need the realism and even the pessimism of this viewpoint – its reminder that we are to be in the world but not of it.  And that if push comes to shove, we will gladly let this world go for the sake of what is to come. 

Amillennialism reminds us to bring humility to the table whenever we discuss the last days.  Christians during the first three centuries after Christ’s ascension were so certain that he was returning at any moment (even the apostles show a little of this apocalyptic fever in their writings – (Paul in 1 Cor.7:29-31).  But Jesus hinted that his return would be a long time coming (Luke 25:19), and reminded us in his final words to us not to obsess about ‘times or dates’ but rather about being his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:7-8).  While amillennialism may seem a little anemic and evasive (they’re ‘pan-millennialists’ – they believe it’ll just all pan out in the end!), they remind us that there is great symbolism in Biblical prophecy, and we must be very careful in our bold assertions of what it all means.

Postmillennialism reminds us of our mission to be salt and light in our culture.  Take premillennialism too far and we’ll disengage from the world and hunker down in our bunkers.  Take amillennialism too far and we’ll shrug our shoulders at the thought of making of difference for Christ.  Postmillennialism says we can and should make a difference.  We should ‘occupy until Christ comes’ (Luke 19:13).  The gates of hell cannot prevail against us, so let’s push forward shoulder to shoulder.  The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness thereof! declares postmillennialism (Ps.24:1)  They may take me down, but not without a fight.  We need that same spirit to fill us always. 

What does this mean for me personally?  As Beth has told you where she stands eschatologically speaking, in my next blog, I will do the same.  I’ll show you how I tie together all these pieces.  For now, I ask you to do the same.  Think through your own theology of last things, and make sure it gives recognition to each of the three viewpoints I have just discussed.  (And you might want to have a bottle of Excedrin nearby!)