Interpreting the Second Coming

13th October 2024
The Second Coming of Christ involves a moment known as the Rapture, where believers, both dead and alive, will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. This event, described in 1 Thessalonians 4, is a key part of premillennial interpretation of end-time prophecy. There are more events to occur mentioned by the Books of Daniel and Revelation needing to be understood as to when and how they fit in with this eschatological model. The "Lord's Return" involves more than just a "rapture". If the Rapture takes the Christians away, what then happens with the population left behind on earth and how do the politics work out with the struggle Israel has with surrounding nations? The operations of the Antichrist and the machinations of the nations are far harder to interpret from the Book of Revelation and its later chapters. While there are different views on the timing and nature of Christ's return with His saints, this 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 passage provides clear details about the reunion of believers with the Lord in the sky. Understanding these teachings offers comfort and hope for Christians, assuring them that they will always be with Christ after this reunion with Him.

Unpacking the Millennium

29th September 2024
Post-millennialism is one of three major theories about the Biblical millennium, the other two being Pre-millennialism or A-millennialism. These three descriptors are actually adjectives describing the Return of Christ with reference to the timing of the 1000 years of the “Millennium”. Post-Millennialism pictures the 1000 years as being a successful period of Church influence such as to bring about the dawn of a better world. Initially, in times of conservative Christianity, this was seen as due to the success of Christian mission introducing “a bright new world of peace and happiness”. Later Post-millennialism, still with an optimistic note, but with more liberal understanding of the influence of the Church, explained the expected uplift as due to scientific advancement, ethical improvement of society and/or evolution. Post-millennialism of this sort sees the societal uplift due to causes such as evolution or technological advancement. Post-millennialism today sometimes seeks to fit in with Liberal theology reinterpreting the Gospel, with the uplift as caused by social or technological progress. Finally, when focus is taken back to what the Book of Revelation actually says, Revelation 20:4-6 describes events that seem to contradict post-millennial interpretations.

Listen to a recent sermon