Premillennialism Remains a Threat!
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesIt is true that most of the non-Catholic religious world is premillennial in its teaching. Even those who are not familiar with the word are nevertheless involved in premillennialism’s teaching, influence and support. It has, of course, to do with the reign of Christ, and the fact that Jesus, by their teaching, is to return to this earth at the last day, and then will set up his kingdom. Involved in the whole range of premillennial teachings are such subjects as the rapture, the tribulation, return of the Jews to Palestine, and the salvation of the Jews, etc.
One need not, in dealing with this or any other error, feel obligated to pursue a dozen side issues; rather, get right to the heart of it! The heart of premillennialism is that the church that Jesus built is not the kingdom of god as promised in the Old Testament. On this one fact, truth can be manifest. We have always shown that Jesus used the terms “church” and “kingdom” interchangeably in Matthew 16:18, 19, for he most certainly did not build one thing, the church, and then set Peter to work in opening up something else, the kingdom. In Matthew 26:29, the Lord said the Lord’s Supper would be observed in the kingdom, and instructions in some detail are given in 1 Corinthians 11 as to how the church was to partake. To be observed in the kingdom, but the church was to partake, and prior to the Lord’s return (1 Corinthians 11:26). These points settle it, to the Bible believer!
The “threat” that exists in premillennialism is not just that errors are being taught, and we must meet them, but that in time such influences will affect some of our own brethren. Satan will insure that this is so, and to meet him we must continually teach the truth that the church and the kingdom are one and the same.