Last Days Madness or Sound Biblical Teaching?

Commentary by Richard A. Owsley, ThM & James Penney, ThM

My church, St. Louis Bible Fellowship, receives the MetroVoice on a regular basis. Our Seminary, St. Louis Theological Seminary, also advertises in the MetroVoice. I believe this newspaper to be an outstanding periodical and I promote it among our congregation. I have found the articles and information gleaned from its pages to be invaluable. The MetroVoice has been a very useful tool to me personally and I highly recommend this regional paper to the Christian community.

Unfortunately, I was very displeased with an article by Steven J. Ottolini, Ph.D., entitled Last Days Madness which appeared in their October 2007 issue. Being a Dispensationalist in my Theology, I found Dr. Ottolini’s theology skewed and his “figurative” hermeneutics typical of Covenant theologians. The differences between Dispensational Theology and Covenant Theology have made for some wonderful and entertaining discussions and debates between honorable men, who love God, but agree to disagree. And, while I disagree with their figurative approach to understanding the Bible, I would never insult their intelligence or label their teaching an “aberration of orthodox Christian teaching.”

I take exception to the author’s insinuation that anyone who believes in a pretribulation Rapture is mad. A pretrib/premillenial view of Scripture is a legitimate and biblically sound eschatological view, held by thousands of notable Bible scholars, none of whom deserve the label of “mad men.”

The primary difference in our theology is in hermeneutics. Simply stated, Dispensationalists believe in a literal interpretation, while Covenant Theologians prefer a figurative interpretation. One wonders in what manner and to what extent ‘the author’ will assist the Messiah in fulfilling the prophecy he quotes: “He shall have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth” (Psalm 72:8). It is clear from Jeremiah 31:31-34 that it is Jehovah alone who changes hearts and brings about the establishment of His literal Kingdom on earth. Ezekiel 36:24-28 definitely indicates that it is God Himself who establishes the Kingdom and causes ‘Israel’ to “dwell in the land.”

Dispensationalists believe God’s promises to Israel are to be literally fulfilled, with the Kingdom restored to Israel and the promised Messiah ruling in perfect justice on earth from Jerusalem and that the present Church age is a parenthetic mystery hid in God that will conclude before the program with Israel can resume. This is what the Scriptures teach. (See Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3-9; Colossians 1:25-26.) It is reasonable to assume that God means what He says, and His promises are certain. Covenant theologians, on the other hand, believe that the Church has taken the place of Israel. It is a question of hermeneutics, not madness, Dr. Ottolini.

Since Dr. Ottolini has asked several questions in his article, I will take the liberty of answering them from a dispensational view. He asks the question, “Nuclear North Korea, nuclear Pakistan, possible nuclear Iran; are these signs of the coming end of the world?” The answer is a resounding NO! Nowhere in God’s Holy Word does He mention any of these nations or events as signs of the end. Dr. Ottolini builds a straw man and then attempts to tear it down. We cannot be duped into adding to God’s Word or accepting man’s interpretation of certain world events as indicators that the end is near.

As any competent Bible student knows from a sound study of Scripture, there will never be an “end,” at least not in the fashion as described by Dr. Ottolini. The Bible is clear on the subject of a New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem. However, the “old” passes away, with every indication that the “former will be remembered no more.” (See Revelation 21:4 and Isaiah 65:17.)

God’s Word definitely states in “the LAST DAYS perilous times shall come” (2 Timothy 3:1). Two important thoughts can be gleaned from this passage. First, there will be LAST DAYS, and secondly, the days leading up to them will be perilous. No one can argue the point that a nuclear North Korea or Iran is dangerous and makes for perilous times. As a Dispensationalist, I believe the LAST DAYS in this passage are referring to the end of this present dispensation of grace. The termination of this present Church age will be brought about by the “departure” or “catching away” of all those who have been redeemed by God’s grace. The purpose of the Rapture of the Church is to remove the Body of Christ, before God ‘resumes’ His plan and program for Israel and exercises His judgment against ungodliness (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:3 & 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.)

At that time, the “Day of the Lord” or Tribulation will be ushered in and will last for approximately seven years. These are the “last days” referred to in Acts 2:17, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…” (cf. Joel 2:28-32). It is obvious that the Scripture speaks of “Last Days,” which Peter applied to his own day, albeit using a rabbinic pesher.

The author of this article goes on to ask, “Does the Bible predict the end of the world in a gigantic firestorm/nuclear holocaust never before experienced in human history?” He then goes on to state, “according to many modern preachers and teachers the answer is ‘yes’ and the sooner the better.” To answer the first part of his question, I must say YES, the Bible does predict a gigantic firestorm. God’s Holy Word is clear, for in 2 Peter 3:10-12 it says, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and Godliness? Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the Day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat.” Of course, the Word says nothing about a “nuclear holocaust,” therefore we remain silent and do not speculate. I firmly believe this prophecy will be fulfilled literally.

However, the aspect of Dr. Ottolini’s statement that troubles me the most was his added and absolutely uncalled for remark about “the sooner the better.” This statement shows a lack of understanding that is not normally characteristic of Covenant Theologians. As Dispensationalists, we cherish each day of grace that we are granted and count it a privilege to be allotted another day to share the Gospel of the Grace of God with another person. I know of no man who thinks “the sooner the better.” While we cherish the thought of being with Christ for eternity, and the Rapture is “our blessed hope,” the judgment to come causes a sense of urgency to reach a lost world with the Gospel.

It is not “last days madness,” but a literal interpretation of Scripture that causes me to accept and believe in a pretribulational Rapture of the Church. It is by “rightly dividing the Word of truth” and understanding the distinctions between God’s prophetic program and intent concerning the nation of Israel, and the Mystery that was hidden in God, that one can see the glorious and grand scheme of our merciful God to restore mankind to that perfect fellowship with Him.

It is a serious misconception to believe that the ‘Church’ will restore the ‘crown rights’ to the Lord Jesus. Dr. Ottolini further displays the close association of Reformed theology with Catholicism, or rather the failure of the former to cleanly break with the latter. One can detect the flavor of the Augustinian “City of God” in Dr. Ottolini’s theocratic church.

I ask that Dr. Ottolini please check his facts before generalizing and categorizing all Dispensationalists together. While we may concede that some in the Dispensational camp have been guilty of ignoring social issues in the past, we may well ask if Reformed theologians have not been guilty of attempting to restore the kingdom by force; Calvin’s Geneva comes to mind. Perhaps Dr. Ottolini needs a refresher course in the history of the Reformed movement before he casts a disparaging word upon Dispensationalism.

Dr. Ottolini also states, “I could never reconcile as a young Christian the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and the Bible promises of personal victory while at the same time being taught that the end of world is coming soon. How is it that the Holy Spirit can give me personal power and blessing, but seems powerless against the devil, the world, and history?” His reasoning here completely omits the Biblical teaching that presently, Satan is “the god of this world” and the “prince and power of the air.” (See 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 2:2.) We have had six thousand years of history filled with mankind’s evil imaginations and Satanic control of the “world system.” This indicates that although God is sovereign and omnipotent, He allows man to run the show down here, regardless of the consequences. However, the Lord Jesus Christ will reclaim His dominion of that possession (earth) that was forfeited by the Fall. He will establish His Kingdom. Nowhere in Scripture are we told that the Church, the Body of Christ, will accomplish this feat.

Although I have never met Dr. Ottolini, I am certain he is a brother in Christ. I would hope that we would not forget who the real enemy is; that we would remember that there are those who are lost and dying and need to hear that Jesus Christ died for their sins, was buried, and rose again. We may have our different theological views when it comes to eschatology, but we agree that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and He will reign supreme in Eternity. Dr. Ottolini, lets debate our different theological views, but I suggest we do it in a spirit of love for the Lord Jesus and His Word. Just because we disagree on eschatology, as important as this issue is, does not mean we should make disparaging remarks against one another.