Their certainly are four major views under the investigational system that you have found. Another potentially useful way to look at the controversy is that there are two main views, i.e., premillennial and non-premillennial. This two-view approach to the investigation ignores the often fierce controversy between the historic premills and the dispensationalists, and it also ignores the rather-less-fierce controversy between the postmills and the amills. I think that this two-view-approach is potentially very useful, since the key question is that of whether Christ's Second Advent inaugurates the Millennium (the view of both the historic premills and the dispensational premills) or terminates it (the view of both the postmills and the amills).For the sake of analysis, I agree that the Two-View approach is categorically useful, yes.
And, of course -- for reasons both fraternal and tactical -- I will always stand with my Supralapsarian and Post-Millenial Calvinist brethren against the Arminian and Romanist hordes.
However, in the spirit of semper reformanda, I do not think that we should sacrifice either the Truth of Infralapsarianism or the Truth of Amillennialism for the sake of our fox-hole alliances.
At the end of the day, Post-Millennialism is just too darn concerned about Material Victory over this Material World.
I heard R. J. Rushdoony for the first time, early in my ministry, in the late 1960s as I recall, in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He described in graphic detail an impending collapse of civilization. His advice to Christians in view of this disaster? Save your gold and silver. This will empower the saints to reconstruct society. I did not know whether to laugh or cry. The thought of possessing any silver and gold was hilarious. The idea that a Reformed minister would strengthen Christians for their struggle in the last days by financial advice was sad.In Ezekiel 33, the Lord instructs the watchman to signal the approach of the enemy against His people, warning that the watchman who fails to blow the trumpet of alarm shall be guilty of the blood of the people.
Reformed Amillennialism sees the Enemy of the Church approaching. It sees this in light of the Word of God, Holy Scripture. It is giving the warning. No opposition from dreamers of coming earthly peace will stop its trumpet.
As for those who refuse to heed the warning, their blood will be upon their own heads.
~~ Professor David J. Engelsma, A Defense of Reformed Amillennialism
I suppose that Amillennialists (who are, not to put too fine a point on it, THE Creedally-recognized Heirs of Protestantism from Lutheranism to Calvinism and across the entire Reformed landscape) can tolerate the Errors of the PostMillennialists for the time being, for the sake of fraternal charity.
But, ultimately, PostMillennialists (like Pre-Millennialists) must be taught to live in the NOW, to realize that the Victory is already won, and to see the world through Spiritual Eyes.
"The Charismatics do the mission work. The Dispensationalists teach the wrong things. And then the Reformed Faith inherits the fruit of their labors as they eventually become disgusted with those shallow ways of thinking and then they get ready to be built up.... Are you wise? Have you submitted to the Son? To those who have I say, We are not simply awaiting Christs judgment. We are beholding it now. And where His judgment falls, there you will also find His salvation. Beloved, our victory is nearer than we first believed. Stand and see the salvation of the Lord. All we need to do is to be faithful. Be faithful to the One who even now rules this nation, who rules this world. Let us pray." -- Reverend Steve Schlissel, Messiah's Congregation, NYC
The funny thing is, Schlissel claims to be (and writes theology as) a PostMillennial.
But he Prays like an Amillennial.
:-)
Best, OP
Don't get me wrong: I actually
loathe the postmillennial position. I just don't think it's ever a good idea to say this in public (ha!).
(Remember: I said that the controversy between the postmills and the amills is rather-less-fierce than that between the historic premills and the dispensationalists. The disagreements between postmills and amills are still pretty fierce--quite properly so, in my amillennial opinion.)