Dispensational premillennialism
Friday, September 14, 2007 at 3:02AM The end times core teaching of Protestant fundamentalism.
"Dispensational" refers to dividing the faith's sacred history into distinct periods, called dispensations.
"Premillennialism" is the view that Jesus will soon return, defeat the Antichrist and establish a thousand-year reign of peace.
Put together, you have a package quite similar to the Shia faith concept of the 12th or "hidden imam" whose return signals a similar and universal period of violence followed by salvation.
Dispensational premillennialism was developed by the British theologian John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) and spread across the U.S. after the bloody Civil War (go figure). The incredibly popular Left Behind book series underscore how today dispensational premillennialism "is the most popular form of prophecy belief in the United States, informing (among other things) conservative Christian support for the state of Israel."
From Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy.
Remember that when you're being sold the war with Iran: some are more predisposed for this sale than others, meaning Ahmandinejad's brand of religious determinism is matched by plenty on our side.
Which side is mere "belief" and which side is frightening "irrationality"?
Well, that depends now doesn't it?
Reader Comments (8)
Absolutely right. Strange how at the end of the day, all of these religions are staring at the same thing, but just can't seem to understand that they just have different perspectives.
When out country is in more capable hands and not driven by fear it follows a different vision of the future -- that set down by the founders of this country.
Not many people know this, but US Government support for Israel predates the (re)founding in 1948. In fact, "Thomas Jefferson wanted the design of the seal of the United States to depict the Jews leaving Egypt.
So yes, there are many Evangelical Christians who support Israel. But most of them are not "End of Dayers". Most Christians support Israel for the Biblical reason that they believe God chose the Jews as his "chosen people" and respect that. Sure, they'd like to convert them at some point, but most religions do and as long as it's not forced, that's okay.
But there are also people like me who happen to be Christian and have supported Israel since my pre-teen years. It was pretty clear who to side with even as a 12 year old watching the news. One side does the best it can to avoid innocents being killed and will even medically treat those trying to kill them and the other side intentionally picks innocents and as many of them as possible. The politics and history were too confusing to me but I knew right and wrong.
I don't mean to be hyper-sensitive on the subject. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I just want to remind people that there are plenty of people who support Israel for many reasons. The US has throughout its history (even prior to John Nelson Darby) and the US happens to be mostly Christians. But don't paint with such a large brush.
One thing that noone has ever been able to show me is how this effects US policy. Sure, you can send a PBS crew into various churches across the country to find people who subscribe to the End of Days view, but I don't see any proof that Bush and Co. are part of this.
Not one of my greatest 5GW posts. On the metaphorical side more than the realistic side, or a little horizontal thinking.
Essentially, the ideas that 1) the END is coming no matter what anyone does and 2) some will be taken into heaven before the tribulation, means that those who believe in pre-trib do not need to do anything to help anyone else out in the world. Personal salvation (to escape the tribulation) is the main focus, rather than on making the world a better place (since the world can't be made a better place, or else the tribulation which will punish sinners -- but not the "saved" -- wouldn't happen!)
So pre-trib is fundamentally opposite of what Tom is doing/believing.
The 5GW aspect: get so many millions and perhaps billions of individuals to focus on their own peculiar ideas of what "salvation" entails, which they can judge entirely for themselves by their own personal metrics. "Am I saved? I know I am." In 5GW, you co-opt by getting people to do what they want to do, or to follow their own will and making their own judgments about the world; they will not see you, because they are focused on their own interpretations of events. And they'll keep moving, acting to change the world according to what they see; they'll be motivated. Having no need to build a better world also means they are separated from that world, or from the necessity of "negotiating terms" as Tom has put it previously. And this also keeps them on-track, believing they are only following God's will when in fact...well, they only need to worry about personal salvation, not the world's salvation.
There's lots more, heh, and my summary above was rushed. Tom might like it; skip to the last section:
"5GW and Christianity" athttp://www.phaticcommunion.com/archives/2006/04/5gw_and_christi.php
The Army and Marines are strained to their limits with Iraq and Afganistan, and the Congress changed hands based on public sentiment.
Given the political climate, do you see any possibility of an actual conflict with Iran? Seems to me the political rhetoric would, at best, only serve to continue policy of isolation.
I appreciate your books and blog. Always thought provoking.
I hear many more people lately assuming a post-tribulation/pre-millenial return of Christ, so they know they won't be "flying away" and will be dealing with what comes down along with everyone else. They understand the testing will be severe, but, it is open book!
It has always seemed to me that Iraq is just the most logical place to position our forces for what's coming in the middle east and its best if we get in and set before Iran does.
I haven't seen any credible evidence that the current Pentagon activity regarding Iran is any more than the usual exercises and what-if planning. The rhetoric seems to be ratcheted up (and helped along by media hype) just to try to intimidate the Iranians regarding their guerilla/proxy attacks on our forces.
While I'm writing, I have a comment/question...
You are careful and considerate of most issues when you opine for your material, but it seems like your takes on Bush and his administration are overly simplistic. What gives? Are you just so disappointed that you can't put the effort in for detailed analysis of their work?
Thanks again and a prayer that the Lord bless you and yours.