Premillennialism and Popular Theology

Question: Glenn asks, “In his book, The Basis of the Premillennial Faith (1983, second printing), Charles Ryrie says theologians, who support the premillennial interpretation of prophesy, are in a minority. Is this true today? Is Modernism increasing in popularity?

Answer: Let’s take the latter part of your question first. Liberalism and Modernism, though not necessarily identical, both teach a salvation by works. Both reject the verbal inspiration (and infallibility) of Scripture, and its historical accuracy, including its record of supernatural events. Therefore, they usually reject the deity of Christ and deny His resurrection and bodily return to reign as “King of kings and Lord of lords.” If we are talking about Christendom (the professing church at large) this likely represents the majority view.

However, if we are speaking of the true church, the spiritual body of Christ holding to the fundamentals of the apostolic faith, premillennialism is either the majority position, or represents a strong minority. To my knowledge, all the major evangelical Bible schools founded at the end of the 1800’s and in the early 1900’s held this position when they started (e.g. Moody Bible Institute, Bob Jones, Prairie, Briercrest, and little Millar College of the Bible where I taught). Most of them still hold to premillennialism.

Add to this the influence of Dr. Scofield’s teaching, and that of Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer, at Dallas Seminary. Then, factor in the great popularity of Hal Lindsey’s book The Late, Great Planet Earth years ago, and now the best-selling “Left Behind” series, and I would say the premillennial faith is strong and growing stronger. Ryrie’s book came out in 1953, and the book by Hal Lindsey, mentioned above, in 1970. Things changed somewhat in that nearly 20 years, and have changed even more so today.

But having said all that, orthodox Christians will always be in the minority, and unbelief and error will increase as the day of Christ’s coming approaches (Matt. 7:13-14; I Tim. 4:1; II Tim. 3:1, 13). As to differing views true believers hold on the details of prophecy, keep in mind that a view is not true because it is held by the majority, but because it is taught in the Word of God.