Conflicting End-time Views:

“One of the most divisive elements in recent Christian history . . . . few doctrines untie and separate Christians as much as eschatology.” (Kenneth S. Kantzer, ed., “Our Future Hope: Eschatology and Its Role in the Church,” Christianity Today, 6 February 1987, 1- (I))

Theological Problem:

The field of eschatology is a complex maze of confusing and conflicting end-time views in which no consensus has ever existed. This lack of consensus has led to major disarray and division in the Church. Premillennialists say the amillennialists are wrong.  Amillennialists say the premillennialists are wrong. Postmillennialists say they are right and everybody else is wrong. Few scholars are familiar with and even fewer lay people are aware that there is another comprehensive view—the preterist view.

Even more troubling, this field of theology has been plagued by the traditions of men and unscriptural false paradigms. These imperfections have forced their proponents to overrule sound hermeneutical and exegetical principles to reinterpret Scripture according to their view. Consequently, three major dichotomizing hermeneutics and many unsound conclusions have resulted in a stalemate that has plagued Christianity throughout its history.

What Scripture Says:

According to God Himself, the timely and precise fulfillment of prophecy is how we humans can know who the one true God truly is (see Isa. 44:6-8; also 41:21-24; 42:8-9; 45:20-22; 46:9-11; 48:3-6; Rev. 19:10b).

This fulfillment was also the once-for-all-delivered and completed foundation of our faith upon which we are to build—that was precisely foretold by the prophets (Amos 3:7), expected by the apostles (John 16:13), and time-restricted by Jesus Christ Himself (Matt. 24:34; Rev. 1:1, 3 ~ 22:6, 10): “. . . contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)

Originally, this topic and material was presented in a 13-week seminar series at Madison Park Church of God in Anderson, Indiana by John Noe. Its purpose was to present, study, and analyze the four major eschatological views of the historic, evangelical, and conservative Church, to determine their principal strengths and weaknesses and synthesize their strengths into one meaningful, coherent, and consistent view that is more Christ-honoring, Scripture-authenticating, and faith-validating than any one view in and of itself.

Elaborations:

Sources:

  1. "Unraveling the End" MPC series by John Noe – listen to podcasts on this website
  2. Unraveling the End  by John Noe
  3. Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times by Hays, Duvall, and Pate