Premillennialism is that view of last things which declares that Jesus Christ will establish a kingdom on earth at his second coming and will personally rule that kingdom for 1,000 years.
Premillennialism was the primary view of the early church fathers until the fourth century AD. The list of Premillennial advocates includes 1st century support from men other than biblical writers such as Aristio, Clement of Rome, Barnabus, Hermas, Ignatius, Polycarp and Papius. It would include Pothinus, Justin Martyr, Melito, Hegisippus, Tatian, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus and Apollinaris from the 2nd Century. It would also include Cyprian, Commodian, Nepos, Coracion, Victorinus, Methodius, and Lactantius from the 3rd Century. (The Theocratic Kingdom, George N. H. Peters I, Pp. 480 – 500)
Daniel Whitby (1638-1726) – writes in his Treatise on Tradition: The doctrine of the Millennium, or the reign of saints on earth for a thousand years…passed among the best Christians, for two hundred and fifty years, for a tradition apostolical; and as such, is delivered by many Fathers of the second and third century, who speak of it as the tradition of our Lord and His apostles, and of all the ancients who lived before them; who tell us the very words in which it was delivered, the scriptures which were then so interpreted; and say that it was held by all Christians that were exactly orthodox. (Systematic Theology, Lewis Sperry Chafer, Volume IV, p. 275). Chafer asserts that Whitby was very opposed to Premillennialism.
The Premillennial view of last things results from applying consistent rules of literal and grammatical interpretation to the scriptures. It is believed that the meaning of scripture is derived by accepting the plain written message of a text as truth. There are no secret, spiritual or hidden meanings beneath the plain statements of the Word of God. The text is understood by studying the meaning of words, their grammatical usage, and the context in which they are found. Literal interpretation allows for the common usage of figures and types, but does not allow for spiritualizing the message. The Premillennialist acknowledges that prophecy presents unique interpretational challenges, but faces them with principles consistent with the general rules of interpretation which he uses in gaining understanding of all scripture.
In Neander’s Church History, Vol I, p 388, Neander says that Iranaeus, Tertullian, Clement etc., in opposing Gnosticism, directed attention to “a sober, grammatical method of interpretation, and leading them to establish the first hermeneutical canons.” Neander in his Historical Dogmas, p. 77 refers to Iranaeus’ position on the scriptures saying, “he says of the Holy Scriptures: that what the understanding can daily make use of, what it can easily know, is that which lies before our eyes, unambiguously, literally, and clearly in Holy Writ.”
This system of theological interpretation is based upon the unconditional covenants that God made with Abraham and David. These promises have not been literally fulfilled. The promises were made without conditions and, therefore, await future fulfillment under the New Covenant. There will be a future literal kingdom upon earth, Israel will possess all the land that God has promised, Jerusalem will be the city of the Great King, and there will be a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity for Israel. These unfulfilled promises become the basis of Premillennialism
Standpoint challenges men of God and students of the Scriptures to hold fast to these principles of interpretation of prophecy regarding the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They were espoused by the earliest leaders of the Church, are in harmony with fulfillment of prophecies regarding the 1st coming of the Savior, and allow the reader to establish a clear understanding of the Word of God, without artificial spiritualization.
Premillennialism was the primary view of the early church fathers until the fourth century AD. The list of Premillennial advocates includes 1st century support from men other than biblical writers such as Aristio, Clement of Rome, Barnabus, Hermas, Ignatius, Polycarp and Papius. It would include Pothinus, Justin Martyr, Melito, Hegisippus, Tatian, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus and Apollinaris from the 2nd Century. It would also include Cyprian, Commodian, Nepos, Coracion, Victorinus, Methodius, and Lactantius from the 3rd Century. (The Theocratic Kingdom, George N. H. Peters I, Pp. 480 – 500)
Daniel Whitby (1638-
The Premillennial view of last things results from applying consistent rules of literal and grammatical interpretation to the scriptures. It is believed that the meaning of scripture is derived by accepting the plain written message of a text as truth. There are no secret, spiritual or hidden meanings beneath the plain statements of the Word of God. The text is understood by studying the meaning of words, their grammatical usage, and the context in which they are found. Literal interpretation allows for the common usage of figures and types, but does not allow for spiritualizing the message. The Premillennialist acknowledges that prophecy presents unique interpretational challenges, but faces them with principles consistent with the general rules of interpretation which he uses in gaining understanding of all scripture.
In Neander’s Church History, Vol I, p 388, Neander says that Iranaeus, Tertullian, Clement etc., in opposing Gnosticism, directed attention to “a sober, grammatical method of interpretation, and leading them to establish the first hermeneutical canons.” Neander in his Historical Dogmas, p. 77 refers to Iranaeus’ position on the scriptures saying, “he says of the Holy Scriptures: that what the understanding can daily make use of, what it can easily know, is that which lies before our eyes, unambiguously, literally, and clearly in Holy Writ.”
This system of theological interpretation is based upon the unconditional covenants that God made with Abraham and David. These promises have not been literally fulfilled. The promises were made without conditions and, therefore, await future fulfillment under the New Covenant. There will be a future literal kingdom upon earth, Israel will possess all the land that God has promised, Jerusalem will be the city of the Great King, and there will be a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity for Israel. These unfulfilled promises become the basis of Premillennialism
Standpoint challenges men of God and students of the Scriptures to hold fast to these principles of interpretation of prophecy regarding the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They were espoused by the earliest leaders of the Church, are in harmony with fulfillment of prophecies regarding the 1st coming of the Savior, and allow the reader to establish a clear understanding of the Word of God, without artificial spiritualization.