Thursday, February 26, 2009

Is the Pre-Tribulational and Pre-Millenial position of the Assemblies of God tenable?

According to the New Bible Dictionary, the great bulk of the biblical references to tribulation are to sufferings endured by the people of God. All the tribulations of the Messianic people stand in this light. The tribulations of the people of Christ are eschatological; i.e. they belong to the last age, the kingdom of the end time (Mt 24:9-14; Rev 1:9; 7:14).

We will now take a look at the definition of the Pre-Tributional and the Pre-Millenial according to the 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God. The 13th Fundamental Truth states the Pre–Tribulational is the Blessed Hope which is the resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord is the imminent and blessed hope of the church. (1 Thes 4:16, 17)

The 14th Fundamental Truth of the Assemblies of God tells us the second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on earth for one thousand years. (Rev 20:1-6) This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Rom 11:26-27) and the establishment of universal peace. (Micah 4:3-4)

We, as born-again, Spirit-filled, believers in Jesus Christ feel the closeness of the end, just as the Apostle Paul did. However, that is mostly because we long for Him to come as a bride does for the groom. As it is, Christ, in His mercy may not come for a long time yet. We don’t know the day or the hour - but we have the hope of the Rapture when we will be taken up with Christ and will receive our reward, every saved person according to what they deserve.
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8 comments:

  1. Freddie OngFebruary 28, 2009 at 5:49 PM

    Hi Kee Ming,
    The AG Tenets of Faith is on rapture before the second coming of Christ; which then initiates the reign of millenium period. Do you think the contemporary AG churches still hold to the beief in 'general'? Why I asked is because that belief actually helps the early AG movement to see the aschatology urgency but today many churches have become lack-lustre in their attitudes to it. What do you think?

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  2. ƈϞɕяιʈɣFebruary 28, 2009 at 11:57 PM

    you said, "We, as born-again, Spirit-filled, believers in Jesus Christ feel the closeness of the end, just as the Apostle Paul did. However, that is mostly because we long for Him to come as a bride does for the groom. "


    Yes very very true...

    But is a new youth just got saved, how would you make him realize the urgency that Christ is coming soon. This new beliver is from a post modern generation with a post modernist mindset. How would you see to it that he share the same passion as you over the coming of the Lord?

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  3. kenrickMarch 2, 2009 at 8:16 AM

    Hi Kee Ming,
    As you stated that "We, as born-again, Spirit-filled, believers in Jesus Christ feel the closeness of the end, just as the Apostle Paul did." Do you personally think that contemporary pentecostal churches are feeling that too, to the extend of an urgency to reach out to the lost? Or is it just because we just want Jesus to come back quickly so that we will not suffer?

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  4. lionel.lkyMarch 4, 2009 at 4:48 PM

    So are we decieving people by our wishes? you are saying then that the AG stand is not that tenable becuase it is only a hope and a wish isn't it? Why bother with the end then? Why preach it when it is only a wishfull thinking that will not come for a long time? why decieve people, pump them up with hype to see the Lord coming and disappoint them in the end? Are we then like the Church of the Latter Day Saints?

    Is that really the AG stand? since you just threw nothing out but the tenant of faith but never defended it.

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  5. Freddie OngMarch 6, 2009 at 6:26 PM

    Hi Kee Ming,
    Still waiting for your reply... Just any question. What do you think of today's younger generation; they seemed not interested with all these Pri-Trib; Post-Trib issues. Do you think they are affected by the contemporary culture mind-set?

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  6. Jase FooMarch 11, 2009 at 2:56 AM

    Hi Kee Ming,
    So do you personally hold to pre-trib or post-trib? what difference does it make to your life?

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  7. lionel.lkyMarch 19, 2009 at 10:28 AM

    Kee Ming,

    Your stand was not clear in the article. Like Jason i would like to get your opinion of your stand and not what the Ag stand is.

    Hope you will reply our comments really soon.

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  8. bryanbooMarch 19, 2009 at 1:17 PM

    Quote: "We, as born-again, Spirit-filled, believers in Jesus Christ feel the closeness of the end, just as the Apostle Paul did."

    But I believe that our youths, eventhough born again and Spirit-filled, do not really place much weight on the doctrine of eschatology. why would that be? how do we instill this in them?

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