Did He Promise An R71000? Series

INTRODUCTION

Outline.

1. Did He Promise an R71000?

Introductory Remarks.

1. In this lesson today, we will be discussing the theme: “Did He Promise an R71000?" This is the eighth lesson in the sermon-series entitled: "Re-digging in Old Wells." There will be many others bearing this title. We are re-digging in old wells to receive what Isaiah promised: "With joy, you will draw water from the wells of salvation," Isaiah 12:3. There are times we must re-dig in old wells to obtain the joy found in the: "waters of salvation." This sermon type is called "expository preaching." Our goal will be: "to dig a little deeper" in the text of emphasis in these lessons. We will allow the writer, the characters in the verses, and the Master's words to shed new meaning to His words of eternal life, John 6:63; John 6:67-69.

2. We will answer this question: "Did He Promise an R71000, at His Second Advent?” Is there such a thing as an "R71000?" I'm not talking about a "sports car." By this, we mean: “Did Christ promise at His Second Advent: the rapture, 7-years of tribulation, and a 1000-year reign?” We will re-dig in old wells to find a biblical answer. Ulysses Shields called this kind of teaching: "digging a little deeper," into the word of truth. He was my grandfather in Christ. We will use as a foundational text for this sermon-series: "And Isaac re-dug the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham...for the Philistines had stopped them (closed them up) after Abraham’s death,” Genesis 26:18. The Philistines: “Stopped them, and filled them with earth,” because they envied Isaac’s possessions, Genesis 26:14-15.

3. Our scripture of emphasis reads: “And now is Christ raised from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept...then cometh the end... when he shall put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign, till...under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death...that God may be all in all,” 1 Corinthians 15:20-28. This text has troubled many over the years. It’s essential to consider every text within the context of the scriptures. With God’s help, we will do just that, to draw: “New water from old wells.” With this introduction, let’s consider this topic carefully, with both our bibles and hearts opened unto God.

BODY OF LESSON

I DID HE PROMISE AN R71000?

A. An R71000? In this lesson, we will answer this question: "Did He Promise an R71000, at His Second Advent?” Is there such a thing as an "R71000?" I'm not talking about a new model, a "sports car." By this, I mean: "Did Christ promise at His Second Advent: the rapture, 7-years of tribulation, and a 1000-year reign?"

1. Is this teaching religious nonsense? Has it been conceived by misinterpretation of keys, figures, symbols; along with visions, and prophecies: in the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation? Is there any truth to it? I think all these questions require a biblical answer. We will investigate these theories thoroughly. There are two methods we can employ to understand the text with more clarity. They are:

a. Dynamic equivalence and formal equivalence, each associated with two dissimilar translation approaches employed to achieve different levels of literalness between the source text and the target text, as evidenced in biblical translation.

b. Dynamic equivalence is understood basically to mean a sense-for-sense translation approach (translating the meanings of different phrases or whole sentences), with readability as the goal in mind, in the translation.

c. Formal equivalence is understood to mean a word-for-word translation approach (translating the meaning of different words and phrases in a more literal way), keeping literal fidelity as its goal.

d. We will employ the same equivalence techniques in our approach, to study each theory with the scriptures premillennialists use to teach them, while keeping sound hermeneutical and exegetical principles in mind, during our entire investigation.

Note: The theories of premillennialism are more “eisegesis” than “exegesis.” Recall eisegesis "is the interpretation and explanation of a text of scripture or spiritual truth in the Bible by reading one's ideas and feelings into the word of God. Rather than presenting the substantive truth of the passage, text, or spiritual truth by: "Comparing spiritual things with spiritual (things)," 1 Corinthians 2:13. It is more "what I believe, it means" rather than what the "bible" says, it means!

2. The premillennialists use many of the Old Testament prophecies and keys and symbols from the Book of Revelation to advance their theory of an R71000. We will dive into these texts later in the lesson. But for now, let me state the premillennialist’s doctrine, from the Foy E. Wallace Jr., and Charles M. Neal Debate, in 1933. Their theories are indicated below: