01.5. The Millennium
The Millennium
1) The rapture of the Church will occur after the revealing of the "Son of Perdition," whom Dispensationalists also believe to be the Antichrist.
[Most Dispensationalists say that this sitting in the Temple will occur at the midpoint of the tribulation; hence, the rapture of the Church cannot take place at least until the second half of the tribulation (in the Dispensational scheme).] The rapture is called a "meeting" in the air, which was originally a technical term used of the procession that would come out of a city to greet a visiting dignitary, and escort him immediately back to the city, in great splendor; and later came to be used when one would go out to meet a person, and then follow him along the way in which he was already going; hence, the term likely indicates that the rapture will be a similar event, in which the saints are gathered up to meet Jesus, and follow immediately behind him as he continues on to judge the earth.
Acts 16:16-17 2) The rescue of the church and the eternal destruction of the wicked will occur at the same time.
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 Matthew 24:29-31 Matthew 25:31-46 1 Corinthians 15:51-57
[Here, immediately before the dissolution of the heavens and earth in fervent heat, people are saying that all things are continuing in the same way they always have; which could not be said following all the events of Dispensational eschatology. Furthermore, the delay is intended to bring in the full measure of those who should repent and be added to the Church, and also provides a basis for Peter’s exhortation to be watchful, looking for this final, catastrophic day. He does not exhort us to be watchful for the appearing of Christ as that which rescues us from the earth, but leaves one-thousand-seven years of history afterward; but for the appearing of Christ as that which brings the final destruction of the world.] 3) The resurrection of the righteous dead and the wicked dead will occur at the same time.
John 5:28-29 4) Revelation chapter twenty must be interpreted in light of its genre:
Revelation is a book full of symbolic visions and numbers.
Revelation 1:4 [Unless there are literally seven Holy Spirits, the reader has to acknowledge a symbolic use of numbers here.]
Revelation 1:20 Revelation 17:9-12 In other places in Revelation, the final consummation of all history has already been reached; therefore, chapter twenty is likely another "recapitulation," a different symbolic way of describing the New Testament era, followed by a description of the end of history.
Revelation 11:15-19 Revelation 14:14-16 Revelation 16:17-21 Revelation 19:11-21 The "first resurrection" corresponds well with other New Testament teaching on the present resurrection life of believers.
Galatians 2:20 Colossians 3:1-3
Ephesians 2:4-6 Colossians 2:11-12 The binding of Satan corresponds well with related New Testament teaching.
Hebrews 2:14-15 The more obscure, apocalyptic visions of John should be interpreted in light of the clearer, didactic epistles of the New Testament, which we have already examined.