Thoughts on the Return of Christ, Part IV

Here are those charts I promised in the last post which I also showed on Sunday, August 13. The slides show three (NOT ALL) commonly held views on the unfolding of the end times.

(The charts are from Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, which I referenced in part 2.)

The first is a representative of the Pretribulation Rapture view.


My understanding is that the Pretribulation Rapture view is a relatively new perspective originally put forth by John Darby in the mid-19th Century and then popularized by the Scofield Reference Bible and more recently by Tim Lahaye's Left Behind series. I think its safe to say that this view is the most popular view TODAY among modern mainstream Evangelicals.

Here is a chart representing Classic or Historic Premillenialism.
And finally here's a chart representing Amillenialism . . .


Amillenialists do not believe there will be a literal, physical rule and reign of Christ upon the earth for a thousand years. Rather they take the first part of Revelaation 20 as figuritive and describing the Church age where Christ is ruling and reigning now.

Both Historic Premillenialism and Amillenialism date back to the early church Fathers and have been popular views throughout the 20 Centuries of church history. Adherents to both views argue which view has been the MOST POPULAR throughout church history.

All three views are held by Biblical Christians today. And there are other views including Postmillenialism, Mid-Tribulaton Rapture Premellenialism, full blown Preterism and everything in between. (I'll let you figure those views out for yourselves!)

Therefore, we ought to humble and charitable with one another when it comes to end times matters.