Posted on 11/22/2025 5:44:30 PM PST by Roman_War_Criminal
What’s the allure of the views of Bible prophecy that dismiss God’s promises to Israel and exalt the church as God’s kingdom on the earth? Why do many teachers go astray from what the words of Scripture tell us about our future as well as that of the world?
These questions again came to my mind after I received an email boasting that “dispensationalism is on the decline.” By that, the writer meant that many Christians are turning away from our belief in Jesus’ thousand-year rule on the earth. As evidence, he cited Kirk Cameron’s apparent switch from belief in a pre-Tribulation Rapture to the more popular Dominion Theology, which teaches that the church will usher in millennial conditions on earth before Jesus returns to the earth.
As I thought about the email heralding the merits of this variant approach to the end times, I began to see a pattern of why so many adhere to beliefs that deny Jesus’ imminent appearing.
It’s Popular
I responded to the email by stating that our beliefs are not a matter of what’s popular, but they must find their basis in the words of Scripture. Sadly, a great many churches adhere to the beliefs of Dominion Theology, namely that world conditions will get better, not worse. This viewpoint stems from the errant teaching that God has rejected Israel and the church is now God’s physical kingdom on earth, but takes it a step further by asserting that the church, not Jesus, will bring kingdom conditions to the nations.
Its adherents also claim that antichrist is not a person, but rather a spirit that the church will defeat.
The teachings of Dominion Theology do not match the words of Scripture, not at all. Paul referred to antichrist as the “man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and distinguished his person from the “mystery of lawlessness” that was already at work in the world in his day (and continues to our day). He also revealed that the Lord would “kill” him at “his coming” (2:7-8).
The Lord will end antichrist’s reign of terror on the earth, not the church.
Jesus warned His disciples that the world would “hate” them (John 15:18-25); He never promised that they or the church would win the world over to their side. The Lord told us to expect persecution, not applause.
It’s Experiential
When it comes to alternative beliefs regarding future things, human wisdom and experience play a significant role. The email I received mentioned a book, Victorious Eschatology. In the book’s description on Amazon, the author referred to his experiences that led to his passionate belief that the church would triumph over all the world’s ills.
Unfortunately, human wisdom and experience fueled by emotion lead many astray from the truth of God’s word. I remember watching a video of an author who described his personal encounter with God that led him to believe that everyone would someday receive eternal life regardless of what they believe or do. Sadly, his persuasive and passionate presentation likely appealed to many Christians who lack a basic understanding of the Bible.
Is it not the same with cults and false religions? They often start with someone claiming to have an encounter with God through which they received special revelation that negates the clear teachings of God’s Word.
My belief in Jesus’ imminent appearing is deeply personal. I can relate several stories, some emotionally charged, of how the Lord used my beliefs to comfort and encourage me in the darkest of times. However, that is most definitely not why I’m convinced Jesus is coming to take us to glory before the start of the Tribulation. I believe what I do about the Rapture and its timing because the words of the Bible support my eager anticipation of His appearing.
It’s New
It’s insanely ironic, is it not? Many of the same people who vilify the Rapture as a belief that no one held before John Darby in the 1800’s promote Dominion Theology because . . it is new. Yes, they do!
Based upon new revelation supposedly given to newly appointed apostles and prophets, its adherents cling to the hope that the church will usher in kingdom conditions on the earth. Even one of the name of the names for this teaching, New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), emphasizes its recent nature.
Its beliefs are not new, not at all. They represent a rehabilitated postmillennialism that flourished in the nineteen and early twentieth centuries. The two world wars put an end to its teaching that the church would bring kingdom conditions of peace and righteousness to the world. Despite the rampant lawlessness of our day amid more rumors of war than we can track, the adherents of Dominion Theology believe that the church can inaugurate kingdom blessings on the earth.
Identifying the church as God’s physical kingdom on earth goes all the way back to Augustine, who popularized this idea in the fifth century. Dominion Theology is but a different wrinkle to the Dark Ages’ belief that God had called the church to physically rule over the nations.
It’s Not Taught
False teachings, particularly in regard to eschatology (the doctrine of future things), flourish today because of a lack of sound biblical teaching on the matter. Most pastors either ignore Bible prophecy or teach that the church is God’s promised kingdom on the earth (or will be).
We base our hope of eternal life on the words of the New Testament. The same must be true of what we believe about the Rapture, the Tribulation, Jesus’ return, and His reign over the nations. The words of Revelation 19:11-20:10 dispel all the NAR beliefs as well as its basis in Replacement Theology. These teachings rely on human-based interpretations of the book of Revelation rather than what the Apostle John plainly tells us about Jesus’ Second Coming, when He brings His kingdom comes to earth.
When we let the words of Scripture speak for themselves, they lead us to a belief in the pre-Tribulation Rapture. Our hope does not rest on human wisdom or experience, but rather upon what the Bible says.
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2 Timothy 4:8
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Maranatha!
Yes A Crown that We will Roll to Our Heavenly Father and His Son in Thankfulness and Joy !
That'll be the day.
Most local churches can't even triumph over their own ills. No way they're going to make an impact on the world. Especially considering the results of this past election.
But if you apply sketchy hermeneutics, you'll be all over the place.
Bkmk
The article pushes a view that splits God’s people into separate tracks for Israel and the church, ignoring how Scripture weaves them together as one. In Romans 11:17-24, wild branches (Gentiles) are grafted into the olive tree of Israel, sharing the same root—there’s no dual plan, but fulfillment in Christ where there’s neither Jew nor Greek (Galatians 3:28-29). Those old promises to Abraham find their yes in Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20), making believers heirs through Him, not a future earthly setup.
The Bible does not support the 19th century modernist philosophy of the pre tribulation rapture.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 talks about the Lord’s descent with a trumpet, meeting Him in the air—at His coming, not a sneaky early exit. That matches Matthew 24:29-31, where after tribulation, the Son of Man gathers His elect with a trumpet. No phases, just one glorious return (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 warns against being shaken, as the day comes after the lawless one).
And exalting a literal thousand-year reign after that? Revelation 20 is symbolic, like much of the book—Satan bound now since the cross (Matthew 12:28-29, kingdom come by binding the strong man; Colossians 2:15, disarming powers). The Kingdom’s already here, not of this world (John 18:36), within you (Luke 17:20-21). Christ reigns over all for the church (Ephesians 1:20-23), calling us to endure, not escape or conquer nations ourselves.
The piece slams “replacement” but misses how the church is the new covenant’s people (Hebrews 8:6-13), a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9). It critiques Dominion for being experiential and new, yet its own timelines feel forced, overlooking how Jesus warned of persecution (John 15:18-20), not applause or a church takeover. Better to watch and pray (Matthew 24:42-44), holding traditions (2 Thessalonians 2:15), than chase charts that divide what God unites.
What exactly is the purpose of Christ reigning for 1000 yrs on earth?
I imagine there are millions upon millions of souls in heaven. Are they all supposed to fit into Jerusalem? Or is it only the ‘special people’ that get raptured that will be in the 1000 yr kingdom on earth?
The thing that troubles me to no end is that there will be a return of animal sacrifice. The fact that our Lord came as the sacrificial lamb is not good enough?
What happens after this supposed 1000 yrs?
(What happens after this 1000 yrs?)
1) Satan is released from the Bottomless Pit for a short season
2) A second Gog Magog battle this time not regional but from the four corners of the Earth
3) Satan will be cast into the Eternal Lake of Fire 🔥🔥🔥 where the Antichrist and the False Prophet have already been for 1,000+ years
4) The Great White Throne Judgment
5) The New Jerusalem comes down from Heaven to the Earth
A quick summary but it’s all right there in Revelation chapters 20-22
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2020-22&version=KJV
The 1000 years could allow time for questions answered and orientation to our new bodies - which are spirit and not flesh.
Millions and millions of souls will fit into what God has constructed. Plus there may not be as many as we think. I have no idea but God has it all planned out.
Any animal sacrifice will be under Satan when he is loosed. There will be no more sacrifice after the wicked are destroyed. Rev. 21:4 states no MORE death will occur in Heaven.
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