Definition of Terms Dealing with End Time Events
Written by Darrell D. Genzlinger in June 1998
Last revised in Summer 2003Apocalyptic literature is a type of literature which uncovers or reveals something that beforehand was hidden. For example, Daniel 12:4 reads, 'shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end'. Revelation is the book that reveals much of Daniel.
Eschatology is the study of end time events.
Inaugurated eschatology embraces everything that Scriptures teach concerning the believer's present possession and enjoyment of blessings.
Future eschatology focuses on events which still lie in the future, such as the resurrection, judgment, and new heavens and new earth.
Hermeneutics are the principles used for the interpretation of Scripture.
Millennialism is the doctrine that Christ will reign on earth for a period of 1000 years.
Premillennialism is the doctrine that the second coming of Christ precedes the millennial reign of Christ.
Dispensation, as referred to in theology, is the distribution or dispensing of good and evil by God to man (Webster's Collegiate Dictionary). See Jeremiah 42:6 & 10 in KJV for the evil God sends to man.
Dispensational premillennialism is the doctrine that the saved people, i.e., those living and dead saints, will go up to meet the Lord in the air at the rapture, and the unsaved will stay on earth to go through the Great Tribulation. After a period of time, the Lord will make His Second Coming appearance to earth to reign for 1000 years. During His 1000 year reign, there will be some more people who will be saved. After 1000 years the unsaved will face the White Throne Judgment.
Historic, as referred to in historic premillennialism, is the doctrine that only the saved people will be resurrected at the rapture. Then, the saints will make an immediate return to earth with Christ to reign with Him for 1000 years. The unsaved will be resurrected after the 1000 years to face the White Throne Judgment.
Postmillennialism is the doctrine that the second coming of Christ follows the millennium. [Postmillennialists believe people will beat their swords into plowshares, the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and a child shall die when he is 100 years old during the church age. As sin during the church age has gotten worse and worse, postmillennialism has dropped out of favor.]
Amillennialism is the doctrine that Christ will not reign on earth for a period of 1000 years.
[This doctrine requires much of Scripture in Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Micah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Zechariah, and Revelation to be interpreted symbolically and not to be taken literally.]Rapture is the catching up of the Christians to meet the Lord in the air. The premillennialists believe the rapture will occur relative to another event called the tribulation period. The tribulation period is taken to be approximately 7 years long. There are people who believe the rapture will occur before the tribulation, called pre-tribulationists; during the 7-year period, called mid-tribulationists; or after the tribulation, called post-tribulationists.
Tribulation period, as referred to by premillennialists and end time event proponents, is 2520 days in length. The tribulation period starts when the nation of Israel signs an agreement with the Antichrist.
Great tribulation period, as referred to by premillennialists and end time event proponents, is the last 1260 days of the tribulation period.
The Dragon is Satan spoken of by John in Revelation 12:3. The Antichrist is the 'beast from the sea' in Revelation 13:1. The False Prophet is the 'beast from the land' in Revelation 13:11.