Those who contend that the facets of Premillenialism are going to become a reality believe that Christ failed in His mission to set up His kingdom. They contend that the church was an afterthought, or a Plan B.
They believe in a “rapture of the saints” – that is, they will be taken to heaven. They teach that there will be a great “Battle of Armageddon,” also a period of seven years of tribulation when the “Anti-Christ” will appear. And, then at some point, Christ is going to reign a thousand years on this earth. If those remaining on earth (those who weren’t raptured) prevail, or are faithful during this period they will have a second chance to make it to heaven.
This is such a damning doctrine if one adheres to this belief alone because we will have no second chance. The judgment could be at any moment (I Cor. 15:52; 2 Pet. 3:10; Heb. 9:27).
The main focus of this short study is to show that Christ did not fail in setting up His kingdom, the church.
Jesus told some of the people and His disciples that some of them would not taste death till they saw the kingdom come with power (Mark 8:34; 9:1). Thus, the kingdom was going to become a reality in their lifetime.
The words “church” and “kingdom” are often used interchangeably. We see this in Matthew 16:18-19 where Jesus said He would build His church (future tense), and where He told Peter He would give him the keys to the kingdom.
So, did this kingdom ever come into being? Yes! We simply have to look in the book of Acts in chapter 2. Peter preaches the very first gospel sermon informing the people that they are guilty of crucifying Jesus, the Son of God. When 3,000 people obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38), they were added to the church (Acts 2:41, 47). Thus, this sermon resulted in “opening the door” to the church. This is what Jesus meant when He told Peter He would give him the keys to the kingdom (Matt. 16:19).
In speaking to the Colossian brethren Paul said, “He (Jesus) has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14). Acts 20:28 informs us that Jesus purchased the church with His own blood. Again, the “church” and “kingdom” are the same.
Yes, we may have to endure physical persecution. We may be put in a situation of being told to renounce our faith in Christ. We will likely experience various struggles concerning our Christianity. But, we don’t have to concern ourselves with the stipulations of premillenialism because Jesus is not going to set foot on this earth again. He is already reigning in heaven at God’s right hand (Heb. 8:1; I Pet. 3:20-22).
When He returns the dead in Christ will rise first, and the Christians who are alive shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (I Thess. 4:16-17; Acts 1:11).
–Becky Honeycutt