REFORMED WITNESS
Volume IV, September 1996, Number 9
Last Things
Article by Pastor Arie den Hartog of Hope Protestant Reformed Church, Redlands, California
Very few subjects excite more interest for the true Christian than the doctrine of the last things, (in theological terms called Eschatology). This is as it should be. The ultimate hope of the child of God is not in glory and prosperity of this world. Rather his hope is the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the glory and blessedness of his final perfection salvation in heaven. The Word of God exhorts the child of God to be ever watching and waiting for the return of the Lord. The church is to be in constant prayer "Come Lord Jesus yea come quickly." As the end of the age approaches nearer and nearer, the signs of the return of the Lord as prophesied in scripture are more and more evident. We are filled with hope and eager anticipation. Our interest in the doctrine of the last things grows more and more intense
It is tragic that through the history of the New Testament Church major differences have arisen regarding the interpretation of the Word of God on vital areas of truth in this very large subject of eschatology. It is important that we continue to search the scriptures that we might be confirmed in the truth of God. There is a very practical reason for this. It is of greatest importance that the church knows what to expect and what she must prepare herself. We must know what will come to pass yet in the last days as we fix our eyes on the coming of the Lord. It is especially important that we have a heavenly and not a carnal conception of the coming kingdom of Christ. Apostate Jews in Jesus' day were in serious error regarding their expectation of a carnal and earthly restoration of the kingdom of Israel. Many in the church world today are as well.
I just read a new book "hot off the press" on the doctrine of the last things. The title of this book is THE LAST THINGS: Hope For This World and the Next. Its author is Herman Bavinck, a very great Dutch theologian who lived from 1854 to 1921. This book is therefore not really a "new book." It is actually an English translation of part of a larger work by the author on Reformed Doctrine that was first published between the years 1895 and 1901. This is the first appearance of this section of Bavinck's work in the English language. What is so striking about this excellent book is that it is so very relevant for our times. It addresses and answers in a sound, Biblical way many of the major questions of eschatology that are still being debated today. I shall quote a few sections of this book in order to stir up your interest and encourage you to order this book from us for further study of the great themes of the doctrine of the last things.
Probably the major question of debate in the area of eschatology over the years has been the question of the "millennium." The "millennium" literally refers to a thousand year reign of Christ. Three major views are current in the church world. There is the view called "chilliasm" or "premillennialism" that holds to among other things, the idea that there will be a thousand year reign of Christ on earth in a restored earthly city Jerusalem and restored nation of Israel among God's special people the Jews. Christ will come first to establish a thousand year reign on earth in Jerusalem before His final return at the end of the world. Premils teaches that the Jews and the Gentiles are separate people with whom God has established two distinct covenants. Israel and the church will always be separate. God has a different plan for each. Bavinck contends in the above mentioned book that this view has Jewish origins. Much of the basis for this view is allegedly found in Revelation 20. Premils interpret the thousand years mentioned there literally.
The second major view is called "postmillenialism." According to this view there will be a thousand years of peace on earth before the final return of Christ. The world will evolve more and more until it achieves a state of peace and righteousness. There are more liberal advocates of this view that believe the millennium will come through social evolution, scientific advancement, and peace accords among the nations of the world. The more conservative form of post-millennialism believes that the millennium will come through the preaching of the gospel. According to the latter the church must busy herself in laboring for this earthly kingdom of peace and righteousness by teaching and preaching. A new impetus has been given to the view of postmillenialism by the recent rise of the teachings of "Theonomy" and Reconstructionism." The advocates of theonomy are found in many conservative Reformed and Presbyterian churches. Those who preach this doctrine advocate that the church must be involved in social and political action to re-establish a theocracy in America based on Old Testament law. Theonomists look for a time when our nation and other nations of the earth will can be governed by the law of God. They look for earthly triumph of the kingdom of Christ and a time of prosperity, peace and glory for the church on earth.
Those who oppose this teaching and tell the church that she can only expect suffering, persecution and apostasy in this present age are ridiculed by the theonomists. The Bible, we believe, tells us that we must be prepared for the ultimate destruction of the nations of this world and all the institutions of men. We must instead look for a new heavenly kingdom. Those who hold to this eschatology are by the theonomists accused of having a defeatist and pessimistic eschatology while theirs they claim is a triumphal eschatology.
We believe that the Biblical view of the millennium is what has come to be called the "Amillennial." Actually this term is a rather poor description of our view. Literally the term means no millennium. However the advocates of "Amillennialism" certainly beieve that there is a millennium. We believe that the millennium spoken of in Revelation 20 refers to the spiritual reign of Christ from the time of His ascension and exaltation to the time of His return in the last days. The amillennialist believes that the exalted Lord is presently reigning with absolute power and authority. Christ's present reign over the church is spiritual in nature. His throne is established in the hearts of His people. We emphatically believe that the coming kingdom of Christ will be heavenly and not earthly. This Jesus clearly taught when He was yet on earth and said repeatedly: "my kingdom is not of this world." The kingdom of Christ is presently advanced through the power of the preaching of the gospel. The final triumph and glory of the kingdom of Christ will appear when He comes to destroy this wicked world, the nations of the ungodly, and all the institutions of this ungodly world. At that time King Jesus will establish His new and everlasting kingdom of righteousness in the new heaven and earth. This kingdom will be finally realized when the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven at the time of the one final return of Christ at the very end of the history of this world.
The book by Bavinck, THE LAST THINGS: Hope For This World and the Next, has some very excellent things to say about the question of the spiritual nature and heavenly origin of the coming kingdom of Christ. Though this book was written a number of years ago, it has some real solid Biblical exposition that corrects some of the most major errors of premillennialism and postmillennialism including the form of this teaching advocated by the modern day Theonomists. Let me quote a few major sections from this book:
"The chiliast [premillennial] expectation that a converted nation of Israel, restored to the land of Palestine, under Christ will rule over the nations is without biblical foundation. Whatever the political future of Israel as a nation, the real ekklesia, (church) the people of God, transcends ethnic boundaries. The kingdom of God in the teaching of Jesus is not a political reality but a religious-ethical dominion born of water and of the Spirit. The salvation rejected by Israel is shared by the Gentiles, and the community of Christian believers has in all respects replaced national Israel. New Testament passages, such as Romans 11, which initially seem to teach the contrary, in fact confirm the teaching that God's promises are fulfilled in the spiritual offspring of Abraham, even though they may be only a remnant.
Furthermore, the New Testament nowhere suggests that the church of Christ will ever achieve earthly power and dominion, such as that of the Old Testament Israel. Instead, like its master, the pilgrim church can expect a cross of persecution and suffering. The New Testament does not recommend virtues that lead believers to conquer the world but rather patiently to endure its enmity. John's Apocalypse assures the suffering church of all times that it shares the certainty of Christ's victory even in the face of terrible anti-Christian apostasy, lawlessness, and persecution. Revelation 20, in analogy with the rest of Scripture, confirms this conclusion rather than lending support to the chialistic dream of world rule. Also Revelation 20 does not teach the chiliastic doctrine of a two fold resurrection; the "first" resurrection simply refers to those faithful who die and immediately live and reign with Christ in heaven. When human apostasy and wickedness reach the apex of power and the world is ripe for judgment, Christ the king will suddenly appear to bring about the end of world history. Jesus' disciples are to be watchful of the signs but they are also forbidden to calculate. All believers ought at all times to live as though the coming of the Lord is at hand." (1)
"Jesus only knows of two aeons: the present and the future aeons. In the present aeon his disciples cannot expect anything other than oppression and persecution and must forsake all things for His sake. Jesus nowhere predicts a glorious future on earth before the end of the world. On the contrary, the things He experienced are all the things His church will experience. A disciple is not above the master. Only in the age to come will His disciples receive everything back along with eternal life. (Matt. 19:27-30; cf. Matt. 5:3-12; 8:19,20; 10:16-42; 16:24-27; John 16:2,33; 17:14,15; etc.)
The whole New Testament, which was written from the viewpoint of the "church under the cross," speaks the same language. Believers...should not expect anything on earth other than suffering and oppression (Romans 8:36; Phil. 1:29). They are sojourners and foreigners (Hebrews 11:13); their citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20)... Therefore, along with the entire groaning creation, they wait with eager longing for the future of Christ and for the revelation of the glory of the children of God (Romans 8:18; 2 Cor. 15:48f.), a glory with which the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing (Rom. 8:18; 2 Cor. 4:17). Nowhere in the New Testament is there a ray of hope that the church of Christ will again come to power and dominion on earth. The most it may look for is that, under kings and all who are in high positions, it may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity (Rom 13:1; I Tim. 2:2). Therefore, the New Testament does not first of all recommend the virtues that enable believers to conquer the world, but while it bids them avoid all false asceticism (Romans 14:14; I Tim. 4:4,5; Titus 1:15), lists as fruits of the Spirit the virtues of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Gal. 5:22; Eph. 4:32; I Thess. 5:14f.; I Peter 3:8f.; 2 Peter 1:5-7; I John 2:15, etc.)
It is a constant New Testament expectation that to the extent to which the gospel of the cross is spread abroad, to that extent the hostility of the world will be manifest as well... In the last days, the days that precede the return of Christ, the wickedness of human beings will rise to a fearful level. The days of Noah will return. Lust, sensual pleasures, lawlessness, greed, unbelief, pride, mockery, and slander will erupt in fearful ways (Matt.24:37f.; Luke 17:26f.; 2 Tim. 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18). Among believers as well there will be extensive apostasy. Temptations will be so powerful that, were it possible, even the elect would be caused to fall. The love of many will grow cold and vigilance diminish to the extent that the wise will fall asleep along with the foolish virgins. Apostasy will be so general that Jesus can ask whether at His coming the Son of man will still find faith on the earth (Matt. 24:24:44f.; 25:1f.; Luke 18:8; I Tim. 4:1)" (2)
I would like to quote more extensively from this book. Bavinck presents some good exegetical insight into Revelation 20. He also has some excellent things to say about the serious error of trying to predict the day of the return of Christ. This error has repeatedly arisen in the church world. It is condemned by our Lord's own words when He tells us that no man knows the day nor the hour when the Son of man cometh. The heresy of trying to predict the day of Christ's coming has led many astray and given them totally wrong ideas about how we are to await the great day of the Lord's coming. Many other interesting subjects are addressed in the book with the intriguing subtle; "Hope For This Word and the Next." But we encourage our readers to obtain this book and read it for themselves. It will help you greatly in further study of what the Word of God teaches about eschatology.
We want also to call your attention to what we believe is one of the best expositions on the book of Revelation in print. This is a commentary by Herman Hoeksema entitled BEHOLD HE COMETH. Our bookstore has copies of this excellent book available as well. This book is actually the collection of a series of careful expository articles by Hoeksema which were first published in the Standard Bearer a number of years ago. At the beginning of the first chapter of his book Hoeksema comments on Revelation 1:3 where we read: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophesy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
These words should be sufficient justification of the attempt to expound this last book of Holy Writ, if, indeed, the earnest endeavor by the minister of the Word of God to deliver God's message to the church of Christ in the world from any part of the Scriptures ever requires apology. A satisfactory exposition of the Book of Revelation is considered impossible by many. The book is so full of symbols and allegories, and its true meaning is couched in such mysterious language, that one can never feel sure that he has discovered the real sense. And the history of the interpretation of this book of the Bible apparently corroborates this opinion. Many a commentary has been written on the Book of Revelation; numeous treatises have been published on individual parts of it; and the explanations offered are as numerous and divergent as the scholars who attempt to expound this book. Thus it is alleged. And the conclusion is drawn that it is better to refrain from any attempt at explanation, or at least, to wait until, "the things that must shortly come to pass" are being realized. If, then, an apology would seem to be in order for offering our own interpretation, we would appeal to the last verse treated in this chapter. The book is intended to convey a blessing to them that endeavor to acquaint themselves with the contents of it and that keep the words of this prophecy. It must be possible, then, "to read and to hear," to understand "what the Spirit saith unto the churches" through this part of the Word of God. It may not be possible to satisfy the spirit of curiousity in which many approach this last book of Holy Writ: but one may surely understand the "meaning of the Spirit" and he receives the blessing which is here promised." (3)
The best way to learn true Biblical Eschatology is through a careful study of the rich and beautiful book of Revelation. There is great blessing for the child of God in doing this. We believe that you can gain great benefit in helping you to understand this wonderful book of the Bible through this commentary. We have used this commentary in the past for a Bible Study at our church.
FOOTNOTES
1. THE LAST THINGS: Hope For This World and the Next, Herman Bavinck. Baker, 1996, page 99.
RETURN TO THE READING2. Ibid. Page 109,110.
RETURN TO THE READING3. BEHOLD HE COMETH, Herman Hoeksema, Reformed Free Publishing Association, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Page 1.
RETURN TO THE READING
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