29 July 2016 Japanese Christian Conference in Europe Kennichi Nakagawa
Part 1 : Three positions regarding Millennialism
Introduction
A)Church history is a record of how God has built His church
B)There have been various disputes regarding Kingdom of God
C)Outline
Part 1 : Three views on
1. Pre-Millennialism, Post-Millennialism, and Amillennialism
2. Historical development of each view
3. Biblical consideration on each view
Part 2 : Historical development of these views
Part 3 : Biblical examination of these views
I. Prophesies regarding the Kingdom of God
1. Daniel chapter 2
(1) Daniel interpretsNebuchadnezzar’s Dream
①God showed to the King how history enfolds itself before the Kingdom of God is fullfled.
②the concept of the time of the Gentiles
Luke 21:24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Romans 11:25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,
(2) The king saw an image of a great statue in his dream (destruction of four Gentile empires)
①Pure gold head (Babylon Empire)
②Silver chest and silver arms (Medo Persian Empire Union)
③Bronze belly and bronze thighs (Alexander the Great’s Greek Empire)
④Iron legs and feet of partly-iron, partly-baked clay (Imperialism)
⑤Dan 2:35 “a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.“
*The rock that struck the statue became a large mountain and filled the whole earth
*This mountain symbolizes the Messianic kingdom (Millennium Kingdom)
2. Daniel chapter 7
(1) Comparison of the four visions to the one in chapter 2
①The one in chapter 2 is for Nebuchadnezzar, the ones in chapter 7 is for Daniel
②The former is seen from a human point of view (glorious giant statue)
③The latter is seen from God’s point of view (large beast)
(3) Four visions
①The First vision : A beast with three heads
②The Second vision : the fourth beast
*It has ten horns
*Its eleventh small horn appeared and three of the first ones were uprooted.
*This small horn had a personality and boasted (anti-Christ)
③The Third vision : Heavenly court
*When God is seated as the judge, the books with all accounts of the accused deeds are opened.
*The Fourth beast has a sudden end, and the Kingdom of God is established.
④The Fourth vision : The one like the son of man
*God the Father gives the Messiah “the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven” Daniel 7:27
*People of all nations, all tribes and all languages serve the Messiah
*”The Kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom” Daniel 7:27
3. Daniel chapter 2 and 7 are prophesies about the coming Kingdom of God
(1) Other scriptures
①Isaiah 2:1-5
②Micah 4:1-8
(2) Three interpretations on the Kingdom of God have been considered in church history.
①Pre-Millennialism
②Amillennialism
③Post-Millennialism
(3) The terms are based on Latin “mille “= 1,000 + “annum”=year
①millennium = used to mean the Kingdom of God that lasts for a thousand years
②millennialism = a theory of millennium
(4) Purpose of prophesies on millennium
①To encourage those saints in persecution
②What does it mean of us at present time?
II. Three views on millennium
1. Pre-millennialism
(1) “Pre” means “before”
①Christ will return to earth and establish the Kingdom of God
②Then, the Kingdom of God lasts for a thousand years
(2) This kind of interpretation was called “chiliasm” (meaning 1,000) at an early stage of church history. Revelation 20:1-7 is its basis.
2. Amillennialism
(1) “A” means “no”
①This view does not take millennium literally
②According to this view, the Kingdom of God has already been materialized in the present church
③After the Messiah’s second coming, eternal order immediately begins.
3. Post-millennialism
(1) “Post” means “after”
①Christ comes again after the millennium is established
②The Kingdom of God will literally appear on earth
③It will be brought forth by human endeavor (development of science and civilization), to an ideal state.
④Therefore, the church needs to work towards it.
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29 July 2016 Japanese Christian Conference in Europe Kennichi Nakagawa
Part II : Historical Development of Millennialism
I. Pre-millennialism
1. Views by leaders of early church
①Pre-millennialism was first called chiliasm
②This view was predominant from 1st to 3rd century.
(1) Justin Martyr
①Itinerant preacher, 100 to 165 AD.
②Discussed his own premillennial beliefs in hisDialogue with Trypho(chap. 110), observed that such beliefs were apparently prevalent among Christian adherents.
③He wrote that true believers believe in the resurrection of the dead, and a millennia in a re-established and enlarged Jerusalem, as prophesied by Ezekiel, Isaiah and other prophets.
④This proves that in his time millennialism was widely and commonly held.
(2) Irenaeus
①Apologist and Bishop, 120-200 AD.
②Iranaeus wrote “The Lord promised restoration of the Kingdom to come and of the creation.”
*Animal world will be restored to the state of the Garden of Eden, and will be vegetarian.
*Humans will rule the restored creation.
*Isaiah 11:6-9
③He warned against analogical interpretation of prophesies regarding the Kingdom.
*”If these prophesies are interpreted analogically, biblical interpretation will be inconsistent, which result in confusion over understanding of those parts of the scripture which are being discussed.”
2. Witness by Historians
Historians agree that chiliasm was an early form of eschatology.
(1) Edward Gibbon, 1737 – 1794
①English historian who wrote “The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”
②Gibbon stated “chiliasm was closely linked with Christ’s second coming.”
③“As the world was created in six days, the present age will continue for six thousand years.”
④“The seventh millennia will be a thousand years of the Sabbath, after the present age.”
(5) Adolph Harnack, 1851 – 1930
①German Lutheran theologian and historian. Specialist in pre-Nicaea church history (100-325AD).
②“A belief was born in which people expected Christ’s return and His reign following that where He rules on earth with His glory.”
③“This was seen from a very early stage of church history. It was an essential element of their belief.”
④“At an early stage of evangelism, this was a part of the gospel they proclaimed, which led a success in evangelism.”
⑤“If they had to come up with a creed, this I believe was inevitably included.”
⑥There is no reason for a liberal theologian like Harnack to believe in Pre-millennialism.
II. Amillennialism
1. Denial of Pre-millennialism in the Eastern Church
(1) Following Pre-millennialism, Amillennialism emerged.
①In 2nd century, there were those who held Amillennialism in Greek Church.
②By 5th century, Amillennialism was the predominant view.
(2) In 170AD, a group named Arogoi in minor Asia denied Revelation as a fairy tale. (They also denied Logos theology in John chapter 1.)
(3) Reasons why denial of Pre-millennialism spread
①Montanist dispute (160-220AD)
*emphasized new revelation and spiritual experience
*They stood on Pre-millennialism.
*Therefore, Pre-millennialism itself came to be questioned.
②Persecution by Roman empire
*By adhering to Pre-millennialism, they came to be in conflict with Roman empire.
③Threat to church institution
*By emphasizing Pre-millennialism, it became a threat to the existing church.
④Anti-Semitism among Eastern church
⑤*Gentile Christians were calling Jews “Christ killers.”
*They started denying anything Jewish.
*Hope of Pre-millennialism was fundamentally Jewish.
⑥Effects of New Theology
*Alexandria theology developed in Greek Church.
*Origen (185-253AD) and other scholars tried to mix Christian theology and Greek philosophy, which was called Alexandria theology.
*Generally in Greek philosophy, matters were thought to be evil. Only being purely spiritual was considered to be good.
*Political kingdom on earth which was materially affluent was evil.
*Completely spiritual kingdom is good.
*Focus was shifted from the kingdom that will appear on earth in future to the one that presently exists in believers’ hearts.
*Most of Greek Church came to deny Pre-millennialism.
⑦Origen came up with a new biblical interpretation and proposed it.
*This is called allegorical or spiritual interpretation.
*Pre-millennialism stands on literal interpretation, as well as historical and grammatical, of Old Testament prophesy.
*Origen applied allegorical interpretation, and denied Pre-millennialism.
*Greek Church widely adopted Origen’s interpretation.
⑧In 4th Century, Greek Church took out the book of Revelation from the canon of the Bible.
*This lasted for several centuries, and chiliasm was left in the grave.
*At the end of the middle ages, Greek Church restored Revelation to the Bible, but was not able to amend the prejudice against chiliasm.
*However, there were those who supportedPre-millennialism in Greek Church, such as Armenian, Syrian, Albanian, Ethiopian Church, and so on.
2. Denial of Pre-millennialism in the Western Church
(1) In 4th century, Pre-millennialism was still held as part of a standard belief in the Western Church.
①It was not affected by allegorical interpretation of the Eastern Church.
②The Western Church approved John as the author of the Book of Revelation and its canonicity.
③After 4th century, opposition againstPre-millennialism began.
(2) Alexandria theology was introduced.
①It was brought by Jerome (345‐420AD) and Ambrose (Bishop of Milan, appointed 374AD).
②Jerome claimed that he was freed from “Jewish alternative” after studying under Greek theologians for several years.
(3) Augustine (354-430) changes his position from Pre-millennialism to Amillennialism.
①It was because of political situations surrounding the church.
*Although Roman empire fell, the church continue to expand its boundaries.
*Against this background, Augustine thought Pre-millennialism was outdated.
*He was the first to propose that the church itself is what has been prophesied in Daniel 2 & 7, and Revelation 20, as in his work “The City of God.”
*Saints now reign with Christ over His Kingdom.
②Being influenced by his former fallen life, he had a tendency to see earthly life in a negative way.
③Greek philosophy had an influence on him.
*He was heavily involved in the study of Greek philosophy before his conversion.
*For the Kingdom of God to be good, it had to be spiritual.
*He adopted Origen’s allegorical interpretation in reading the prophetic books and Revelation.
(4) After Augustine
①Augustine’s allegoricalmillennia became standard doctrine of the church.
②Pre-millennialism went underground.
③In the middle age, Roman Catholic church pushed Amillennialism strongly.
④During Reformation, many Anabaptists adopted Pre-millennialism.
⑤Lutherans, Reformed and Anglicans –
*rejected Pre-millennialism as Jewish view.
*adopted Augustine’sAmillennialism.
III. Post-millennialism
1. Denial of Amillennialism
(1) During intelligence revolution in 17th century, many started denying Amillennialism
①Because of development of science, interest in material world increased.
(2) Intelligentsia in Europe were intrigued in literal understanding of the universe
①As a result of observing the outer space by telescope, allegorical interpretation of universe lost its credibility.
②This in due course affected theologians.
(3) Joseph Mede, 1586‐1638, Anglican theologian
①Mede interpreted the Kingdom of God literally, and concluded that the Bible promises literal Kingdom.
②He adopted Pre-millennialism, which was the belief of the early church. Many followed him.
2. Emergence of Post-millennialism and its development
(1) Some of the scholars in 17th century believed in the literal coming of the Kingdom, but did not adopt Pre-millennialism.
①This developed into Post-millennialism.
(2) Daniel Whitby, 1638‐1726
①Whitby was an English Unitarian who denied the deity of Christ.
②He was deemed to be a heretic, but his Post-millennialism continued.
③Trent of time welcomed his thoughts.
④He claimed that the golden age of church would come, which was what people wanted to hear.
*There were issues of conflicts, but it was historically upward.
*Utopia could be achieved through man’s endeavor.
*Utopia is not fulfilled by Christ’s return.
3. Conservative Post-millennialism
(1) It was supported by those who believed in biblical inspiration.
①The future age of peace and righteousness prophesied in the Old Testament would be realized in history.
②People of God would spread the gospel which result in Christianizing the whole world.
③The Church would play in integral part in ushering the future Kingdom.
④Christ would sit at the right hand of God and reign the world.
⑤The Golden age results in Christ’s return.
⑥At Christ’s return, resurrection of the dead and judgment happen.
⑦Then the end would come, and eternal order begins.
(2) Jonathan Edwards, 1703‐58, American Congregational theologian, Third principal of Princeton University.
①He thought discovery of the new continent and emigration to it had close link with the coming of Millennial Kingdom.
(3) In 19th century, many Protestant clergies believed that America would play a significant part in the coming of the Kingdom of God.
①“Manifest Deity” in 19th century; mission of Western pioneers.
②Clergies preached that America would reign over continents from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and then lead the whole world into the Millennial Kingdom.
③Post-millennialism influenced emancipation of slaves.
④Many Christians believed that by winning the Civil War, they could make a step in ushering the Kingdom of God on earth.
4. Liberal Post-millennialism
(1) Liberal theologians claimed.
①It was widespread from late 19th century to early 20th century.
②Similar to conservative Pre-millennialism, it sits with historical optimism.
③It believes in the future Golden Age (the coming of the Kingdom of God).
(2) Differences with conservative Pre-millennialism
①Denial of human sin. Man is inherently good.
②Believes that man can be perfect.
③Christ is not Saviour, but a great teacher.
④Instead of biblical gospel, it preaches social gospel.
*Mission of the church is to save society from social evil.
*Saving from war, poverty, racial discrimination, injustice, illness, and unfairness.
*God is man’s universal Father, and people are all brothers and sisters.
⑤The Kingdom of God can be fulfilled on earth by the church and other human organizations working together employing natural means and other man-made methods.
(3) People under The Third Republic in France sent the Statue of Liberty to America as a gift. (1886)
①This act was an expression of Liberal Post-millennialism.
②Those who sent it believed that people would be freed from autocratic oppression by French Revolution and by American Independence.
③They believed America would lead the world into an Age of Freedom through democracy.
5. Decline of Post-millennialism
(1) Post-millennialism was dominant among 19th century Protestants.
①It was adopted by Calvinists, Arminians and Unitarians.
②It was an age of social development, and peace lasted for nearly100 years centered on British Empire.
③On the surface, it seemed like the correct eschatology.
(2) The First World War in 1914 changed the scene.
①Man’s sinfulness became more evident.
②Karl Barth denied human goodness which came out of liberal theology.
③Many clergies preached to fight valiantly as it was a war to end all wars.
(3) American President, Wilson.
①Wilson decided to go to war in order to defend democracy.
②After the war, he worked for establishing League of Nations, and dreamed of conflict solution through dialogue.
③League of Nations failed after several years.
(4) 1930s saw global depression
①Nazis tried to eradicate Jews.
(5) In late 1930s, Second World War started
①The world entered an atomic age.
②Future scene by Post-millennialism could not match reality.
③As a result, Post-millennialism lost its support.
IV. Revival of millennialism
1. Revival of Pre-millennialism
(1) As 19th century started, Pre-millennialism saw its revival.
①Systematic study of the Bible on the Kingdom of God started, rather than being swayed by sentimentalism.
②It was founded on God’s inspiration and Biblical authority.
(2) Revival of Pre-millennialism started in 19th century England.
①Plymouth Brethren in 1830s, and John Nelson Darby, 1800‐1882.
②Pre-millennialism based on dispensationalism started.
③From 1875 onward it spread in America.
(3) Leaders who supported Pre-millennialism
①D. L. Moody, 1837-1899, Evangelist.
②J. Wilbur Chapman, 1859-1918, Evangelist.
③Reuben A. Torrey, 1856-1928, Pastor & Theologian.
④Billy Sunday, 1862-1935, Evangelist, former baseball player.
⑤A. B. Simpson, 1843-1919, Founder of CMA.
⑥James H. Brookes, 1830-1897, Pastor.
⑦C. I. Scofield, 1843-1921
(4) Bible College Movement which started in the late 1800s
①the Missionary Training Institute (now Nyack College), Nyack, New York, by A. B. Simpson in 1883
②Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, 1886
③By 1940, 78 Bible colleges were founded in the USA, most of which stood on Pre-millennialism
(5) Bible Conference movement and Prophecy Conference movement in the late 19th century
①Both movements emphasized Pre-millennialism
(6) The faith missions movement (late 1800s, free from funds by denominations)
①Movements by independent churches and interdenominational. Many stood on Pre-millennialism.
(7) Mission Organization reaching out to Jews
①The American Board of Missions to the Jews
②The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, Inc.
③All stand on Pre-trebulational Pre-millennialism
(8) Study Bible
①Scofield Study Bible (first published in 1909)
②Ryrie Study Bible (1978)
(9) Seminaries
①DallasTheological Seminary, 1924
②Grace Theological Seminary, 1937
③Talbot Theological Seminary
④Western Conservative Baptist Seminary
⑤Denominations
*the General Association of Regular Baptists
*the Conservative Baptist Association
*the Independent Fundamental Churches of America
*the Plymouth Brethren
*the Grace Brethren
(10) The revivedPre-millennialism played a significant part in fundamentalism movement in 19th and 20th century.
2. Revival of Amillennialism
(1) Decline of Post-millennialism in 17th to 20th century
①Tragedies in 20th century forced change in optimistic Post-millennialism
②As a result, most of those who claimed Post-millennialism abandoned it.
(2) Two options
①When adopting Pre-millennialism
*Can be assured that the Kingdom of God would literally be fulfilled.
*Need to change in thinking of how it would be fulfilled.