I Embrace Panmillennialism

Nope, I am not all fired up about the doctrine of a pre-tribulation rapture. I'm not going to scream I'm a post trib kinda guy, but to me pre-trib just sounds sounds too easy, 'way too easy. I mean, the early Christians were thrown to the lions for their faith in Jesus Christ. In the middle ages Christians were burned at the stake by the Roman Catholic Church for the sin of reading God's word in the bible. And you want to tell me that a bunch of Laodocian Christians are going to get off this rock Scott free just for the amazing theological feat of living at the right time? Then again, that's just me. I can come up with bible verses that support both pre and post tribulation raptures doctrines and find both equally valid.

My wife is fairly upset that I don't give serious thought to a pre-tribulation rapture and wants to know if I'm mid-trib or post-tribulation. My answer has always been "I'll let you know after the rapture." She tried to make me take a stand for pre-trib doctrine by reminding me that John MacArthur is a pre-tribulationist, to which I replied that Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney, John Knox, John Calvin, Martin Luther, George Whitefield, all believed in a post-tribulation rapture. And the moment I did that a verse popped into my head and my heart sank

1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world? 4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren't you acting just like people of the world? (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)

Just like people of the world: bitter, quarreling, argumentative, divided. I believe I have very good reasons for believing the way I do, not the least of which is the origin of the pretribulation doctrine, but what would that gain me? Elisabeth Prata is a wonderful blogger. Her blogs are both inspired and inspiring and a joy to read. However her eschatology is different from mine, she can (and does) make her point beautifully and no, I will not argue her view on her blog, as I pray she will not argue mine here. (that is if she becomes seriously bored and accidentally stumbles across my mental mess amateurishly organized as a blog) If we disagree we do so in love and should a discussion arise I pray it's over coffee with a whole lot of laughing involved.

Elisabeth and I both serve the same master, we are servants of Jesus Christ, He who gave us the brains to consider His word and regurgitate (via keyboard & mouse) His message. The most important part of his message is not when He's coming back, Jesus doesn't even know Himself when that's going to happen, so to argue the point of scripture that's not presented prima facie is to overlook a point of scripture that is, such as Jesus' overt teachings on love, redemption, repentance, sin, and forgiveness.

Both MacArthur and Spurgeon are incredibly gifted teachers and I firmly believe that the Holy Spirit is (was) with them as they teach (taught) the word of God, but to say I follow one or the other is wrong. I am deeply inspired by the teachings of both, but I follow God. He's my Creator, my Master, my Salvation. If He says Jump I won't even ask "How high?" I just jump and let Jesus work out the details. It's Jesus, not eschatology that matters, 

38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

What is really starting to worry me is division that arises between pre, mid, and post tribulation rapture adherents. People do not get passionate about the rapture as much as they get passionate about their own version of the rapture. I have actually read a website that condemns people to hell if they commit the sin of disagreeing with the author, Jason Hommel. According Jason, adherents of any doctrine opposed to his view are guilty of heresy, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, sewing strife, and causing discord.

Seriously? Because I do not swallow a doctrine created in 1830 by a man that Spurgeon labeled heretical I'm guilty of witchcraft? to be honest I can't read these websites any more. I'm looking for a thoughtful, loving discussion on the merits of either belief and because I do not strictly adhere to one or another I'm buried under threats and curses from all sides by people whose writing tells me they are strangers to the love that Jesus demands from all of us.

And this is how division in the church happens, and it's the work of the devil himself. Passions are stirred over my doctrine is holier than your doctrine and the passion gets to the point where I just want to shout "ENOUGH! It will happen when it happens!" The rapture is not important to our salvation, everything before it is. The only thing I can compare it to is two workers who spend the day arguing what's the better way to commute home: take the bus or take the train.They spend so long arguing that they don't get any work done, miss their ride, and both lose their jobs.

10 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. ¹² Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Corinthians 1:10-13)

17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. (Romans 16:17-18)

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. (Titus 3:9)

1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

I hate seeing fractures in the church, we worship a man that was raised by a carpenter and the only thing He built was His church. What right do we have to bust it up? I want us to love each other as much as we love Jesus Christ Himself. Therefore I would like to forward the concept of Panmillennialism. If any of you should ask if I'm pre-tribulation, or post-tribulation, I'll reply "I'm a Christian" and if pressed I'll clarify that as "I'm a Panmillennialist:

This should pretty much say it all.