Along with the current end-time madness currently spurred by the grossly popular Left Behind series comes renewed debate among Christians about whose end-time theology is correct. Of the many choices to choose from, evangelicals usually align with a Pre-millenialist view. However, apologist and evangelical theologian Greg L. Bahnsen takes the post-millenialist view, and here’s my listomania version.
- The Bible: Evangelical postmillennialists champion the inspiration, infallibility, and sole doctrinal authority of the Bible.
- Mankind: Evangelical postmillennialists believe that fallen man is totally unable to do any saving good, cannot atone for his sins, and can become a member of the kingdom of God only through the redemptive work of the Savior and the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus’ Return: Evangelical postmillennialists teach the glorious, personal return of Jesus Christ at the end of history to judge the world.
- Jesus’ First Visit: Evangelical postmillennialists insist that at his first advent Jesus, the Son of God, came as the Messianic or Mediatorial King and established His saving Kingdom among men on earth.
- Suffering and Persecution: Evangelical postmillennialists are painfully aware that those who belong to Christ — the church — are appointed to suffering in this world, and will inevitably undergo persecution and affliction, in following their Savior and King.
- Evangelism: Evangelical postmillennialists believe that the gospel is to be preached to all nations by the church prior to the second advent of Christ, eventually bringing worldwide conversion, and that this is the church’s calling from God.
- The Spiritual Kingdom: Evangelical postmillennialism maintains that the victorious advance of Christ’s kingdom in the world will take place in terms of the present, peaceful and Spiritual power of the gospel rather than through a radically different principle of operation, namely Christ’s physical presence on earth using violence to subdue opposition.
- The Kingdom’s Growth: Evangelical postmillennialism believes that with the power of the Holy Spirit working through the church’s preaching of the gospel, in gradual stages of growth, the preponderance of men and nations will submit to Christ at some time in the future.
- Salvation of the Lost: EPists do not hold that each and every individual on earth will someday be saved, but that at some future time the vast majority will; in Christ’s wheat field there will always be found some tares, up until the final harvest in judgement.
- Final Apostacy: Evangelical postmillennialism teaches that there will be a final apostasy or falling away just prior to the return of Christ in judgment on the world.