In this essay, I would like to share some insights on premillennialism, which comes in two distinct forms.
The first is dispensational premillennialism, which treats the New Testament church and Israel separately, leading to a complex interpretation. Generally speaking, it follows this framework: Before the tribulation, Christ returns in the air, and the rapture occurs—where all believers, both living and resurrected, are taken up. During the tribulation, Israel turns to Jesus, repents, and spreads the gospel, ultimately facing martyrdom. At the end of the tribulation, Christ returns to establish His millennial reign, and the martyred believers are resurrected. This view includes a two-stage second coming (Christ’s return in the air and His return to earth) and three resurrections: one at the rapture, another at Christ’s return post-tribulation, and a final resurrection of unbelievers after the millennial kingdom.
The second is historical premillennialism, which does not distinguish between the New Testament church and Israel. It interprets Romans 11:26 (“All Israel will be saved”) as referring to the spiritual Israel—the church. In this framework, both the rapture and Christ’s second coming happen once, after the tribulation, leading to two resurrections: one for believers after the tribulation and one for unbelievers after the millennial kingdom.
During A. B. Simpson’s time, dispensational premillennialism was widely accepted, and he aligned with it. However, the denomination has since shifted to historical premillennialism. In the 2024 General Assembly, the denomination revised its creed to ensure that accepting premillennialism is not a requirement for membership. This change will be officially confirmed if approved again in the 2026 General Assembly.
A Note on the Rapture
The doctrine of the rapture appears solely in Pauline epistles like 1 and 2 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians. Over time, scholars have combined these references with Revelation, resulting in three primary theories:
- Pre-tribulation rapture – The church is taken up before the tribulation, avoiding it entirely.
- Post-tribulation rapture – The church endures the tribulation and is raptured afterward.
- Mid-tribulation rapture – The church experiences only half of the tribulation before being raptured. This view is often dismissed by scholars due to its weak biblical foundation.
Dispensational premillennialism supports a pre-tribulation rapture, interpreting Israel’s conversion and suffering during the tribulation accordingly. Historical premillennialism, on the other hand, aligns with a post-tribulation rapture.
Denominational Stance
Our denomination does not take an official position on whether the rapture occurs before or after the tribulation. Thus, while we generally align with historical premillennialism, our stance differs slightly in this regard.
