Win the World or Escape the Earth?

Today dispensationalism is the dominant view within the premillennialist fold. A literal, future reign of Christ from Jerusalem for 1000 years forms a key component of the complex dispensationalist system of doctrine despite the fact that it is based only on one Bible passage.

A classic example relating to the return of Christ is the way Daniel 9:26 is interpreted. Belief in a two-stage return of Christ requires this verse to be separated from its preceding verses by a time gap of at least 2,000 years. Yet the passage itself offers not a shred of evidence that it should be interpreted in this way!

The kingdom the New Testament writers speak about is not ethnic, political or geographic. It has its roots in a right relationship with God.

the church is considered to be the heavenly bride of Christ, whereas the Jews are viewed as the rightful wife of Jehovah.

The classical Christian hope of our spiritual forefathers in past centuries was for the gospel to fill the earth and the kingdom to increase until Jesus returned.

dispensational assumptions and rapture theology have conditioned Christians to abdicate from any further role in the world.

Our present priorities and behaviour will reflect our expectation of the future. Rather than looking to be rescued from this present evil generation, we expect to win it for Christ and his kingdom.

How can we sensibly expect to revert to a physical temple, priesthood, animal sacrifices and Jewish festivals, when the New Testament says all these things have been done away with in the light of the New Covenant realities that we are now enjoying?

we are born from above and no longer share the nature of this world. The consequence of being in the world but not of the world is that we will experience the same attitudes from society that Jesus himself encountered.