Are you pre-trib, mid-trib, or post-trib? Premillenial, postmillenial, or amillenial?
Maybe these terms don't mean much to you. But for many American Christians, these are deeply held beliefs. What seems to get the most press and provide the most intrigue based on the number of books sold, is the pre-tribulation, premillennial view. This is the view that Jesus will rapture the living and dead believers before 7-years of trouble, known as the great tribulation, followed by the return of Christ before a 1,000-year period where Jesus will reign on the earth. Others will show how this is a relatively new belief, not having many adherents until the mid-1800s. That's 1800 years of a majority of Christians who did NOT believe in a pretribulation rapture.
I think these discussions are interesting. I have friends that hold various positions on these views regarding the second coming of Christ. Most of them see these discussions as secondary issues. In other words, when it comes to the priority of things to know, the timing of these events is further down the list.
What is of primary importance is that Jesus IS coming again. Why? For starters, in the last chapter of the Bible, Jesus says, "I am coming soon," three times. One of the earliest statements of belief apart from the Bible, the Apostles Creed, (120-250 AD) says this: "I believe...in Jesus Christ...who will come again to judge the living and the dead." Virtually anyone who calls themselves a Christian would agree with that statement. But from this point, the tribes split into various views.
We just finished a series at Crosspoint called, "How Jesus' Return Affects You Now." If you're thinking of digging to find that series and see if I or one of our elders preached our views on the tribulation and the millennial, you will be disappointed. It's not that those subjects have zero importance. It's that they are of lesser importance. Of primary importance is this: Jesus is coming back in Person.
I think it's good for Christians to study the scriptures and determine what they believe about the tribulation and the millennial period. But it's wrong to have deep divides over those beliefs. Study. Be passionate about the scriptures. But the good test regarding the importance of a doctrine is how is it changing your life.
- Are you loving Jesus more because you believe in a post-millennial coming?
- Would those closest to you say you are becoming more like Jesus as a result of your deeply held belief in a pre-millennial rapture?
- Are you a more effective witness of the good news of Jesus?
Certainly, these aren't the only tests to determine if a doctrine is important. But what does it say about our theology if it makes us less patient, less gracious, more divisive, and just downright mean? Surely that can't be the goal of good theology.
If you are a man or woman who honors Christ as Lord, who walks in the Spirit, who is generous with encouragement to others, sharing the gospel with gentleness and respect, I will want to know what faith led to such an exemplary life. You don't need to convince me of your theology. I'm already curious! If your wife can't stand you, your kids don't respect you, and you can't remember the last time you shared or served, who cares what your view is on the end times?
Rather, preach the gospel to yourself until it changes your heart, your relationships, and your attitudes. Study until you are so much like Jesus that it leaks out of you everywhere you go. You won't have to strive for inquiring minds. Someone will ask you for a reason "for the hope that is in you."
