Last year (2017) marked the celebration of 500 years of the Reformation. The entrepreneurial-ecumenical Pope Francis seized the opportunity by cozying up to willing Lutherans. The old Reformers wouldn’t have approved. Some lost their lives defending the Five Solas. At the time, however, a Reformation of Eschatology wasn’t in their field of vision. It still isn’t.
By far the predominant view within the modern Reformed Church is Amillennialism, with a sprinkling of postmillennialism here and there. John MacArthur and Steve Lawson are, perhaps, the two best-known exceptions within the Reformed Camp.
This was also the case with most of those who benefited from the Puritan heritage. Some better-known exceptions include premillennialists J. C. Ryle, the Bonar brothers and Charles Spurgeon. Barry Horner has done excellent work presenting these in his book Future Israel. He cites Spurgeon (written prior to the restoration of Israel as a nation):
Not long shall it be ere they [the Jews] shall come – shall come from distant lands, where’er they rest or roam; and she who has been the off-scouring of all things, whose name has been a proverb and a bye-word, shall become the glory of all lands. Dejected Zion shall raise her head, shaking herself from dust, and darkness, and the dead. ~ Future Israel (pp 11, 12)
Horner notes Ryle’s “deep regard for the writings of the Reformed and Puritan heritage. But he also observes Ryle’s boldness in pointing to their fallibility concerning prophecy, and the future restoration of Israel. The following quote from Ryle preceded the creation of modern Israel:
I might show you by scriptural evidence that the Jews will probably first be gathered in an unconverted state, though humbled, and will afterwards be taught to look to Him whom they have pierced [Zech 12:10-14], through much tribulation. ~ Future Israel (p 345)
A pet peeve of mine is applying Old Testament prophecies and Psalms concerning Israel to the church. I agree that we may legitimately employ such applications in instances. However, consistently doing this can indirectly support OT re-interpretation and, too often, Replacement Theology.
One of many cases in point is Spurgeon’s Devotional church-application of the following: “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” Yes, it’s true of faithful Christians. But let’s not forget its source, Zechariah 8:23. There the focus is the post Second-Advent redeemed Jew, and “ten men from all the nations.” The eschatological context is given in Zech chapters 13 and 14.
Take
Martyn Lloyd Jones’ book, Saved by Grace
Alone; Sermons on Ezekiel 26:16-36. Dr Lloyd-Jones derives church
applications from these verses. Again, while we may find Christian parallels,
the primary understanding was – and still should be – the future nation Israel!
Future Israel will be saved by Grace Alone.
…I
will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you
into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be
clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Ezek 36:24-25
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek 36:26
You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God. Ezek 36:28
In his essay Freedom of the Will, Jonathan Edwards talks about God’s immutability. One of the many OT citations is Jer 33. While Edwards’ focus is on the Righteous Branch of David, it shouldn’t be lost on us that the context of the chapter is the redemption of Judah-Israel. While Edwards was postmil, he did expect a future conversion of the Jewish nation. For example, see Jer 33: 7-8.
Amil-postmil Covenantal Christians reject Futuristic Premillennialism (FP). The type of Historic Premillennialism espoused by Craig Blomberg generally gets a pass. The reason Blomberg’s position is tolerated is because it sees no need for an existence or pre-eminence of national Israel in the millennium. Blomberg sympathizes with Gary Burge’s criticism of modern Israel.
Speaking of Burge, Stephen Sizer’s blog hosts an article by Colin Chapman. These men are contra Israel/Zionism activists. Chapman chides Darby’s dispensationalism. He asserts that Covenant Theology (Covenant of Grace) offers an alternative approach to the Middle East conflict and biblical interpretation.
In fact Ryle (and others) held to the C of G, yet still understood the straightforward meaning of relevant prophetic texts. In contrast Chapman would be hard pressed to make a detailed biblical case for his supersessionism. The source of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is historical – Islam’s intolerance to the existence of Israel and non-Muslims in the region. Chapman’s sanctioning of Sabeel is also regrettable.
As for Blomberg’s premil view, if all of OT Israel’s promises are fulfilled in Christ, as many Covenant Theologians believe, then there’s no need for a millennium. The Eternal State should then, logically, immediately follow the Second-Advent.
Yet God’s promises to Israel haven’t been literally fulfilled. God will redeem Israel because His character demands it (Ezekiel 36). The Reformers had much to say about God’s holy character and attributes in respect to the Christian Elect’s salvation. We can be assured of our salvation because God’s Word is trustworthy.
In the same vein, John MacArthur makes the Calvinist-Reformed case for Futuristic Premillennialism in the book Christ’s Prophetic Plans. The two chapters (7 & 8) in question are: Does Calvinism lead to Futuristic Premillennialism? & Does the New Testament Reject Futuristic Premillennialism?
Predictably, MacArthur received considerably flak from his Reformed associates. Yet he was entirely consistent from a Reformed and biblical perspective i.e., God’s sovereign election and predestination of Israel.
I’d love to see my Reformed brothers, who I love and have greatly benefited from, rethink and reform their eschatology regarding the relationship between Israel and the Church, the millennium and our Triune God. This isn’t because I’m premil or pro-Israel, it’s because it would glorify and honor God’s word.
Maranatha
Further Resources & Comments:
Sometimes you’ll hear CT folk complain about false charges of Replacement Theology. In fact many in the past have proudly employed the term. For more on this see Paul Henebury’s series on Replacement Theology. See also Michael Vlach’s essay Various Forms of Replacement Theology.
Michael Vlach: What Does Christ as “True Israel” Mean for the Nation Israel?
Michael Vlach: Premillennialism and the Kingdom: A Rationale for a Future Earthly Kingdom
Michael Grisanti: Premillennialism and the Old Testament
Brad Klassen: Premillennialism and Hermeneutics
Dr. Michael Vlach has written an outstanding book from the premillennial perspective: He Will Reign Forever: A Biblical Theology of the Kingdom of God. Sometimes amillennialists charge that premillennialists restrict Christ’s reign to a thousand years. However, note the title: He Will Reign Forever! You can visit Mike’s blog HERE.
If you haven’t read Mike’s book, do so. Paul Henebury has written a four part review: Part One; Part Two; Part Three; Part Four. If I were to summarize the book: Vlach works seamlessly from Genesis to Revelation. At no point does he need to re-interpret any text, or appeal to allegory, to arrive at a plain-sense Futuristic Premillennial view.
Sharing is caring!
