At the time of the Reformation, the flaming issue was justification by faith, the very heart of our soteri ology. With the rise of the great denominations and the modem mis sionary movement, the stress fell largely in the area of ecdesiology. This changing and progressive emphasis over the course of cen turies has served to give the details of Christian theology a progressive refinement. It is not strange that the end of the age should give its greatest prominence to eschatology, the doctrine of last things. Church history and church doctrine have traveled in lines roughly parallel. Nineteen centuries of scrutiny and debate over Christian doctrine has helped to purify the details of our faith. Past ages have debated theology and left the Church more strong for so doing. We need not be afraid of the area of investiga tion committed to our present age! Many readers will be interested in a new book by Dr. Stanton, “ Kept From the Hour,” scheduled for publication this month by Zondervan. The culmination of some six years of research and writing, the book discusses all thè major problems and Scripture passages. It gives consider ation to all known works on the subject, both published and unpublished, both Brit ish and American. Well indexed , the book includes many quotations and inter esting sidelights from the men of God who have debated the issue in the past. A slightly oversized book of 320 pages, it is a real study volume on Biblical prophecy. Vital themes discussed include the dispensational problem, the Tribula tion and the wrath of God, the Church and Israel, the Restrainer and the Man of Sin, imminency and the blessed hope, the figures and symbols of the Revelation, the partial-rapture theory, mid- and post- tribulationalism, the historical problem, the resurrection of the saints, the seventh trumpet and the “ last trump,” the 24 elders of the Apocalypse, the differences between rapture and revelation, and the practical value of the second coming. The book will be the most complete volume thus far in print on the subject of the pre- tribulational return of Christ. W e take pleasure in commending it to the readers of T he K ing ’ s B usiness . Autographed, postpaid copies may be ordered for $3.95. Send your order to: “ Kept From the Hour,” Box 635, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 17, Calif. — ED. END.
Will It Divide the Church? In a certain sense, the issue has already begun to divide us. Argu mentation over the rapture already has caused some serious and far- reaching dissension. Rut in a larg er sense, it will not divide us. This is a family quarrel—a difference of opinion within the larger agree ment of premillennialism. The bonds which unite us are more strong by far than the differences which tend to drive us apart. We are united in common love for Christ. All involved in this partic ular controversy are fundamental and evangelical. All anticipate the sure return of Christ and His mil lennial reign over a redeemed earth. We do need to place more stress upon what we hold in com mon. We must.learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Debate must center upon doctrinal posi tions, upon theological ideas, rath er than upon personalities. Oppo nents are still men “ of like pre cious faith” ! The present emphasis upon es chatology is not an unhealthy thing. Rather, it is to be expected, and for this reason: There is a close and interesting parallel be tween the theological controversies of the Church and the order of doc trine found in Systematic Theolo gy. Early centuries were occupied primarily with problems of inspira tion and canonicity, with the deity of Christ and the personality of the Holy Spirit. Later centuries de bated anthropology and angelology. OF TERMS of Christ; teaches that it may be mo mentarily expected; not necessarily soon, but the next clearly scheduled event. Pretribulationalism: The belief that the return of Christ is imminent, that He will remove the Church from the earth before the Tribulation period. Pcsttribulationalism: The belief that the rapture of the Church will follow the Trib ulation, the Church being allowed to pass through that time of trouble. Soteriology: The doctrine of salvation. Ecdesiology: The doctrine of the Church. Eschatology: The doctrine of last things.
alypse teach us that the Church will be glorified before a seal is broken, before a trumpet of judg ment sounds, before a vial of wrath is poured out upon a rebellious world? Do not Romans 5:9, 1 Thes- salonians 1:10 and 5:9, and other Scriptures, exempt the Church from any period of divine wrath (Rev. 6:16,17)? Does not Revela tion 3:10 expressly promise that His own wdll be kept out of the hour of trial which shall fall upon the dwellers of the earth? Are there not many vital distinc tions between the coming of Christ for His saints (1 Cor. 15:51,52; 1 Thes. 4:13-18) and His return to earth in power with His saints (Rev. 19:11-16; 2 Thes. 1:6-10)? Does not the presence of interven ing events, such as the bema seat of Christ and the marriage supper of the Lamb, force the conclusion that rapture and revelation cannot be synchronous? These are the topics which must occupy the thinking of the Church, if she is to purify her doctrine rel ative to the second coming of Christ. Rather than arguing general concepts and undefined ideas, or even worse, the merits of certain individuals who happen to agree with the favored position—let there be diligent study of the pertinent Scriptures, then free and open dis cussion of the conclusions drawn therefrom. Let debate be conducted with due restraint and with Chris tian charity. Then we shall see how much we can learn together! GLOSSARY Premillennial: Affirms that Christ will re turn to earth before His literal 1,000- year kingdom reign. Amillennial: Denies that there will be any literal earthly reign of Christ; generally links the kingdom with this present age. Rapture: The first phase of Christ's com ing, when the righteous dead and the living saints together meet the Lord in the air. Revelation: The second1 phase of Christ's coming when He returns to earth with His saints. Imminent: Generally applied to the return JULY, 1956
13
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker