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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 360

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

360

the time of Christ’s reign as King from the day of His
ascension until the Last Day. Hence, the millennium is a
present reality (Christ’s heavenly reign), not a future hope (a
rule of Christ on earth after His return).

Antichrist: Left Behind believes he is primarily a political ruler
who manifests the fourth kingdom of Dan. 2:33-40 (Rome)
by coming from Romania. However, the Bible teaches that
the Antichrist sets himself up in the church (2 Thess. 2:2-3)
and will promote doctrines that diminish the completed work
of Christ.

Armageddon. Derived from the Hebrew words har Megiddo, “the
mountain of Megiddo” in Palestine. Armageddon refers to
the battle mentioned in Rev. 16:16 and is understood by
proponents of Left Behind as the final battle of the seven-
year tribulation that ushers in the thousand-year reign of
Christ on earth. However, Armageddon is the last major
onslaught of Satan before the second—and final—coming of
Christ. The context of Rev. 16:16 indicates that this last
battle is equivalent to the Jast battles described in Rev.
19:11-21 and 20:7-10, for Rev. 16:17 states, in part, “and
out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne saying,
‘It is done!’”

Apocalyptic Literature: Derived from the Greek word
apokalypsis (Rev. 1:1), the term apocalyptic means
“uncovering” or “revelation.” This genre [kind] of literature,
most notably in Daniel and Revelation, frequently uses
visions, colors, numbers, and vivid symbolism to make a
theological point.

Dispensationalism: This is a system of biblical interpretation that
distinguishes between seven distinct periods or
“dispensations” in biblical history: (1) Innocence (before the
fall); (2) Conscience (from the fall to Noah); (3) Human
Government (from Noah to Abraham); (4) Promise (from
Abraham to Moses); (5) Law (from Moses to Christ); (6)
Grace (the Church Age); and (7) the Kingdom (the
millennium). Dispensationalists believe that God’s
redemptive plan focuses on national Israel, with provision
made for Gentiles during the Church Age.

Eschatology: Derived from the Greek word eschaton, “end,” it is
the study of the end times of the world.

Last Days: The phrase ‘“‘the last days” appears twenty-seven times
in the New Testament. Left Behind believes that, with the
creation of the 1948 state of Israel, the world has entered the
last days. In several instances, the expression refers to the
end of history. However, in most passages (see, for example,
Acts 2:17; 1 Cor. 10:11; Heb. 1:1-2 and 1 Pet. 1:20) it is
used to describe the eschatological epoch that began in the
New Testament with the first coming of Christ.

2007 Convention Workbook

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS

Millennium: Derived from the Latin words mille, “a thousand,”
and annus, “a year.” Left Behind understands the thousand
years of Revelation 20 literally. Yet, the Bible teaches that
Christ is reigning now and that His gracious rule that began
on the day of His ascension will continue until the Last Day
when He will hand “over the kingdom to God the Father
after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power”
(1 Cor. 15:24),

. Premillennialism: This is the view of the Left Behind novels,
namely, that Christ’s second advent will occur before
(“pre”) the “millennium,” understood as a thousand-year
rule of Christ on earth. This understanding rests upon these
presuppositions: (1) Scripture is to be interpreted in a
“literalistic” manner; (2) the church and Israel are two
distinct groups with whom God has a divine plan; (3) the
church is a mystery, unrevealed in the Old Testament; (4)
the mystery age of the church must be completed before God
can resume His main program with the Jews and bring it to
completion.

Rapture: This refers to the event described in 1 Thess. 4:14-17
when believers will be “raptured” or “caught up” (Latin:
rapiemur) in the clouds to meet Christ in the air at His
second coming. When used in Left Behind novels, the term
refers to Christ’s secret coming when all believers—as well
as all children who have not reached the age of
accountability— are suddenly removed from the earth
before the seven-year tribulation.

Tribulation: Left Behind uses this term to signify the intensified
persecution that will occur after the rapture and before
Christ’s thousand-year reign on earth. It will last for seven
years.

Notes

1. The April 2004 report of the Commission on Theology
and Church Relations titled A Lutheran Response to the “Left
Behind” Series is available from Concordia Publishing House
(www.cph.org) and can be found online at www.lcms.org/pages/
internal.asp?NavID=509. Those using this study—both leaders and
participants—are encouraged to read this report and to use this Bible
study in tandem with it. For a more in-depth study of end times
issues, see the 1989 CTCR report The End Times: A Study on
Eschatology and Millennialism, which is also available from CPH
and online at www.|cms.org/pages/internal.asp?Nav1D=509.

2. For a more detailed treatment of Rom. 11:25-27, see The End
Times, 34-39. 11

3. For the sake of handy reference, pertinent entries from the
glossary of the CTCR’s report A Lutheran Response to the “Left
Behind” Series are included here.