Dispensational PreMillennialism
- God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him and his descendants (Abraham, Isaac & Jacob/Israel). “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
- God promised David that he would have a son (Messiah) who would sit on his throne forever. A literal, physical, earthly world-wide empire kingdom. – 2 Sam. 7, Psalm 2
- Messiah came, but Israel as a whole rejected their King, so God postponed the Kingdom.
- Instead of an earthly kingdom, God raised up something new, a spiritual kingdom – The Church: believing Jews & Gentiles. This People would bring the good news of salvation to all the world.
- Sometime in the future, God will “rapture” the Church out of the world (1 Thess. 4), and will re-focus his attention on the nation of Israel. Israel will be judged by God (The Tribulation, Mat. 24/Revelation), not only for their sins of the past and present, but also because of their rejection of the Messiah for thousands of years.
- After this 7 year Tribulation, Jesus will return to earth in his literal body. He will kill everyone who is opposed to him (Armageddon). He will set up a literal throne and kingdom from Jerusalem ruling and reigning for 1,000 years on the earth. This Millennial kingdom is the ultimate fulfillment of the promises God made to Abraham and to David of worldwide blessing.
- At the end of this great kingdom there will be one last revolt and battle (Gog and Magog), then there will be the final Resurrection & Judgment of the lost, and the saved will enter into the New heaven/Earth and new Jerusalem). – Rev. 19-22
Covenant, Partial-Preterist, PostMillennialism
- God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him and his descendants (Abraham, Isaac & Jacob/Israel). “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
- God promised David that he would have a son (Messiah) who would sit on his throne forever.
- Messiah came, but the nation of Israel as a whole rejected their King, so God took the kingdom away from them and gave it to another nation. – Mat. 21:43 Jesus came as Israel’s King. He died for the sins of the people, rose from the dead, and ascended to the right hand of God. He is already installed as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will continue to reign “until all his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.” – 1 Cor. 15
- Jesus’ Kingdom is a Spiritual Kingdom, but works out itself into the material world, in the earth. He sits in heaven, but has all power in heaven and on earth. – Mat. 28 The Church, comprised of believing Jews and Gentiles, are the Nation of God, the one People of God. – 1 Pet. 2:9-10 There has always been one people of God – Israel. The Church has not “replaced” Israel. Jesus is the true Israel. Anyone in him is Israel.
- Jesus and the Apostles prophesied that judgment would come on the unbelieving nation of Israel because of their sins and their rejection of Messiah. This terrible judgment (Tribulation) would occur in the first century generation – Mat. 24. The fulfillment of this was in 70ad when the Romans took over Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and either killed or dispersed the Jews throughout the empire. Jesus and the Apostles promised that whoever continued believing in Christ would be saved from this wrath that was to come. The Christian community fled Jerusalem (rapture) before the Roman occupation – Rev. 12
- The promises made to Abraham and David are presently being fulfilled through Christ, the “seed” of Abraham, the son of David. Jesus is currently sitting on David’s throne. The blessing of Abraham is coming to all the world through the preaching of the Gospel, the dissemination of the Scriptures, the establishing of churches, etc. In short, all around the world people are receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, the ultimate fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. – Book of Acts. This Kingdom will last for a long period of time (symbolized by 1,000 years). It will gradually reach every nation. – kingdom like mustard seed/ leaven. Mat. 13
- At the very end of this Reign will be one final attempt to resist King Jesus. Jesus will return physically to put a final end to the last of his enemies, even death itself. At this time will be the bodily Resurrection of all people for Judgment. The unrighteous will be judged and sent to the Lake of Fire, and the righteous will enter eternity with their King in the new heaven and new earth.