Friday, June 11, 2010

Left Behind. Be Kind. Rewind.




















Johnny "Rapture" Walvoord is our "dispensationalist" hero!  John F. Walvoord (May 1, 1910 – Dec. 20, 2002) was a Christian theologian, pastor, and president of Dallas Theological Seminary from 1952 to 1986. He was the author of over 30 books, focusing primarily on eschatology and theology including The Rapture Question, and was co-editor of The Bible Knowledge Commentary with Roy B. Zuck. He earned AB and DD degrees from Wheaton College, an AM degree from Texas Christian University in philosophy, a ThB, ThM, and ThD in Systematic theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a LittD from Liberty Baptist Seminary. 


After continuing his education at Wheaton College, Walvoord went on to Texas Christian University and Dallas Theological Seminary where he completed his ThD in 1936. Seminary president and mentor Lewis Sperry Chafer appointed Walvoord registrar. During his tenure, he also taught systematic theology at the seminary, and pastored the Rosen Heights Presbyterian church in Fort Worth. Walvoord became more involved in the administration of the school, serving as Chafer’s assistant and secretary to the faculty, and upon Chafer’s death in 1952, became the seminary’s second president where he served until his retirement in 1986. 


In addition to his responsibilities at the seminary, Walvoord earned a reputation as one of the most influential dispensational theologians of the twentieth century and played a prominent role in advocating a rapture of Christians from the earth prior to a time of great tribulation, followed by a literal thousand-year millennial reign of Christ, and a renewed focus of God on the nation of Israel as distinct from the church. 


If you slept through Bible class, here's a recap of the current millennialism views:


 Premillennialism: is the Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus’s physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration of the millennium.

Dispensationalist Premillennialists: affirms a future, literal 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ which merges with and continues on to the eternal state in the "new heavens and the new earth," and they hold that the millennial kingdom will be theocratic in nature and not mainly soteriological, as it is viewed by George Ladd and others who hold to a non-dispensational form of premillennialism.

Amillennialists: is a view in Christian end-times theology named for its rejection of the theory that Jesus Christ will have a thousand-year long, physical reign on the earth. This is in opposition to premillennial and some postmillennial views of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation.

Postmillennialists: believes in Christian end-times theology, postmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after (Latin post-) the "Millennium", a Golden Age or era of Christian prosperity and dominance.

Historic Premillennialists: is the Christian eschatological view which teaches that the second coming of Jesus Christ will occur prior to a thousand-year reign of the saints, but subsequent to the great apostasy and the tribulation.

But... You may not be familiar with these:
















Amademajadmillennialism:  is a view in Christian end-times theology named after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is only world leader to wear a 1980's "Member's Only" jacket and hold the belief that he will defeat God's Chosen People (The Lakers) using a mystical technology called nuclear energy.















Piniellamillennialism:  is the Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called Piniellamillennialism because it holds that Jesus’s physical return will happen only after the Cubs win the pennant.















DungusMangulaneousmillennialism: In Christian end-times theology, DungusMangulaneousmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation which sees Christ's second coming as occurring after the "Millennium", a Golden Age or era of rock'n'roll and sanctified Coors Party Balls.















ColeLuckyIIImillennialism: - is the Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called ColeLuckyIIImillennialism because it is based on the occult books locked up in the secret cage in the attic of the Billy Graham Center Archives.















Rykenmillennialism: is the Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming and become the eighth  president of "The College." The doctrine is called Rykenmillennialism because it holds that Jesus’s physical return will mean that Phil Ryken will only get be president for the first 100 days.

















Haggardmillennialism: is the Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called Haggardmillennialism because it holds that Jesus will not return as long as Ted Haggard is pastoring a church somewhere.




(HT Nomination: L.J.)

1 comment:

  1. Hi, there! Found your blog today and noticed you cited Lewis Sperry Chafer. Thought you might be interested in a brand new pre-publication offer from Logos Bible Software featuring nine of Chafer’s best loved books. Thanks and let me know if I can help in any way!

    Sarah Wilson

    ReplyDelete