The Bible is meant to be interpreted by allowing the clearer verses help us understand the more difficult ones. This concept is as easy as understanding the importance of simple arithmetic before attempting to grasp the concept of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, etc.. Learning what addition is all about is a step that we must take before A (squared) plus B (squared) equals C (squared) makes any sense.
Mathematically speaking everyone agrees that this makes sense, but unfortunately there are many people in the religious world who do not follow along with the same concept when it comes to certain doctrines that
originate with the thinking of men and women instead allowing the truth to be seen through more plainly spoken verses. Such is particularly the case when it comes to the various teachings of premillennialism and the unfortunate presumptuous faux-pa points that it stands on despite the clear teachings of the Bible.
Points such as:
- multiple resurrections and judgment days when the Bible clearly teaches there will be only one simultaneous resurrection and final judgment by Jesus (John 5:28-29)
- a literal reign of Jesus as king from physical Jerusalem when the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus has already turned that down (John 6:15)
- the return of animal sacrifices “during the millennia” when the Bible clearly teaches that they have been permanently removed by Jesus (Hebrews 10:9-18)
- the “back-up plan” role of the church when the Bible clearly teaches that the church, through Jesus, was included in God’s plan of salvation for all of mankind from the beginning (Ephesians 3:1-11)
- the delay of the presence of God’s kingdom upon the earth when the Bible clearly teaches that, according to Jesus, the kingdom of God was going to appear before the death of Jesus’ contemporaries (Mark 9:1)
The truth is, almost the entire foundation of premillennialism comes from the book of Revelation (particularly chapter 20), which is a highly symbolic chapter from a book of prophecy that uses heavy symbolism in ways which must be understood in light of the clearer meanings (plain speaking exhortations, reproofs and examples) found in the rest of the Bible’s letters. When one seeks to and follows through with rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) it becomes much easier to rightly divide any time-line that God has revealed and thus avoid exegetical studies that become embarrassing eisegesical mistakes.
When this is kept in mind it becomes much easier to see how the major points of premillennialism are very presumptuous in nature but still easy mistakes to correct. EA
“Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)
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