1026. Postmillennialism Distorts the Mission of the Church
Postmillennialism Distorts the Mission of the Church
"Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name.
And to this agree the words of the Prophets; as it is written" (Act_15:14-15).
The "post" believes that the work of the Church is to usher in and to perfect the Kingdom. He holds that the Church is now hastening on that good day when the Lord shall have "the nations for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possessions." By this the "post" means that the Church is to save the world, and that even now the Church is far on the way to victory; the "post" therefore insists that the world is getting better every day.
The "pre" believes that the Church is composed of a "called out" people; that it is to remain a minority; that its mission is to save from among the nations a people for Christ's name. He holds that the world is fast hastening toward a day of tribulation and judgment, when the wrath of the Lord will be poured out upon the nations who set themselves together, against the Lord and His Christ. The "pre" believes that the nations are to be given to the Lord for an inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession but, that this will be realized, as the Bible says, only after Christ is set as King upon His holy hill of Zion.
As a result of the variance between the "pre" and the "post" as to the mission of the Church, there is a similar variance as to general world conditions.
The "pre" believes that the world is getting worse. He grants the onward march of science; he acknowledges this as man's day–a day of invention, of learning, of culture and even of civic righteousness. He knows, however that this does not mean the enthronement of Christ in the lives of men.
The "pre" rather accepts the express teaching of the Spirit that "in the last days perilous times will come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, etc.
The "pre" believes that the days preceding the coming of the Lord will be even as the days of Noah or, as the days of Lot; that an apostasy will come; that men will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived; and that the Church (which is not reckoned with the world), will be caught out and up to meet her Lord in the air.
The "pre" believes that the inhabited earth will be ripe in its forgetfulness of God; in its self-culture and boastful pride, and that it will meet a judgment such as it has never known when the Lord descends.
The "post" is forever harping upon "peace" and "disarmament." He believes that the Church will establish an era when "wars and rumors of wars" shall be heard no more; when nations shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. The "pre" knows that "when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction shall come upon them," and that the coming of the Lord is near, even at the doors.
The "post" puts the chain that binds the devil into the hands of the Church; the "pre" leaves it, where God puts it, in the hands of the angel, and believes that the devil is not to be chained until after the Church is raptured and taken out of earth scenes.
If the "post" would consider, he would know that antichrist, the summing up of all subtlety and power against Christ, and the Church, is not to be overthrown, until the Lord comes, and he would not therefore expect a reign of righteousness with a loose devil and a coming antichrist.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR