APPENDIX C - THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN FUTURIST PREMILLENNIALISM

I. The Position of the Early Literalists

1. EARLIER LITERALISTS WERE HISTORICISTS

The Literalists of the British Advent Awakening of the early nineteenth century at first held the Historical view of prophecy, believing that the fulfillments cover the entire history of the church. This was, of course, the traditional Protestant view. Indeed, it was the view of the early church, as well as through the centuries, except for the substitution of the Augustinian view during medieval times, and the Preterism and Futurism introduced by the Jesuits in the counter-Reformation.PFF4 1220.2

But in combating the extreme “spiritualizing” tendencies of the postmillennialists, the Literalists ultimately went to the extreme of a literal interpretation that led ultimately to Futurism and Dispensation-alism.’ Even among the Historicist Literalists, insistence on a literal fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies in a restored Jewish nation led to a “Judaizing” form of chiliasm.PFF4 1220.3

2. EMBRACED A “JUDAIZING” CHILIASM

The emphasis on the restoration and conversion of the Jews, in connection with the second advent, was characteristic of the Literalists in general. Begg, for example, expected a restored Jewish nation pre-eminent during the millennium, the rebuilding of the sanctuary at Jerusalem according to Ezekiel’s vision, the restoration of the Jewish sacrificial system in a “commemorative” fashion, with the surviving “nations” coming up yearly to participate in the Feast of Tabernacles. ^{1James A. Begg, A Connected View, sees. VII, VIII, XIII, XIV. Similarly Bickersteth and others (see “Address to the Public,” The Midnight Cry, Nov. 21, 1844, p. 165).} Such an idea was not characteristic of the postmillennialists, for they expected the conversion of the Jews on the same basis as the Gentiles—by ordinary methods of evangelization. ^{2Alexander Campbell. “The Coming of the Lord,” no. IX, The Millennial Harbinger, September, 1841, pp. 424-427.} At first the Literalists seem to have hoped to help bring about the Jewish restoration by direct action. But this concept of a Jewish kingdom on earth during the millennium erelong developed into a full-fledged modern Futurist system.PFF4 1220.4

This is a totally different sort of premillennialism that has gone far beyond the old Literalists in developing these new doctrines in the latter part of the nineteenth century and onward. The modern Literalists are characterized by the teaching of Futurism, involving a “gap theory” concerning the 70 weeks, literal time periods, and a future nonpapal Antichrist; a Judaistic kingdom, with the restoration of the Jewish sanctuary and sacrifices in Palestine and a Jewish political domination; a coercive rule of Christ over inwardly rebellious “nations”; pretribulationism, with the “secret rapture,” and a divided second coming; an elaborate dispensationalism, calling for a division of the Bible into dispensational compartments, and involving antinomian tendencies. This system of doctrine promulgated by the later “prophetic conferences” and Bible institutes, now has its adherents among the ranks of Fundamentalists in various denominations.PFF4 1220.5