šŸ“–

MacArthur premillennialism 4

Sep 14, 2024

Lecture Notes: Why Every Calvinist Should Be a Premillennialist (Part 4)

Introduction

  • Speaker: Jim (Narrow Path Doctrine)
  • Series: John MacArthur series
    • Topic: Why every Calvinist should be a Premillennialist
    • Part: 4 of 6
  • Focus: Future of Israel, Biblical doctrine of sovereign election

Key Concepts

  • Sovereign Election: God's election of Israel for a future
  • Scripture Reference: Isaiah 44 (God's promises to Israel)
  • Prophecies and Promises:
    • God will fulfill what He proclaims
    • Future redemption and salvation for Israel

Israel's Future and Theology

  • Eschatology: Study of end times in relation to Israel
  • Historical Context:
    • Old Testament and Prophecies:
      • Unconditional promises to Israel
      • Israel as God's elect nation
      • Future redemption and salvation
  • Replacement Theology Critique:
    • Theology that the church replaces Israel
    • Contradicts sovereign election tenets
    • Considered more aligned with Arminian views

Questions Explored

Is the Old Testament Amillennial?

  • Answer: No
  • Evidence: Covenants with Abraham, David, New Covenant (Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 36-37)
  • Promises: Kingdom, land, blessing, salvation

Were Jews of Jesus' Day Amillennial?

  • Answer: No
  • Evidence and Beliefs:
    • Messiah's coming preceded by tribulation
    • Kingdom establishment in Israel
    • Acknowledged need for national repentance
    • Based on normal interpretation of Old Testament

Was Jesus Amillennial?

  • Discussion:
    • No cancellation of Kingdom promises noted in scripture
    • Post-resurrection: Disciples asked about kingdom restoration to Israel (Acts 1)
  • Key Insight:
    • Jesus did not deny a future kingdom; emphasized timing was God's authority

Replacement Theology and Apostolic Views

  • Apostolic Understanding:
    • No New Testament basis for replacement theology
    • Apostles' teachings aligned with Old Testament promises
  • End Times:
    • Fulfillment of God's promises includes Israel's national redemption

Conclusion

  • God's Faithfulness: Unwavering promises
  • Historical Perspective: Israel's ongoing existence aligns with God's plan
  • Eschatological Vision: Future salvation of Israel leads to worldwide gospel proclamation
  • Confidence in God's Plan: History is pre-written by God, and His purpose will be accomplished

Scripture used

Old Testament

  • Isaiah 44: This chapter is the focus of the sermon. The speaker uses several verses to illustrate God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and promises to Israel, including their future redemption and the manifestation of His glory through them.

    • Isaiah 44:6: This verse highlights God's sovereignty and power, emphasizing his ability to fulfill his promises and reveal the future. It's used to counter the idea that God's promises to Israel have been canceled.
    • Isaiah 44:21-24: These verses underscore God's faithfulness to his covenant with Israel and his commitment to their future salvation. They highlight God's power to redeem Israel and wipe away their sins.
    • Isaiah 44:23: This verse celebrates the future redemption of Israel and the manifestation of God's glory through them.
    • Isaiah 44:24: This verse reinforces God's ultimate authority and control over all things, including his plans for Israel.
  • Isaiah 45:17: This verse promises Israel's eternal salvation and their future glory. It's used to support the idea that God's promises to Israel are irrevocable.

  • Isaiah 46: This chapter reaffirms God's unchanging nature and his power to fulfill his purposes. The speaker mentions verses 9 and 13 to highlight this.

    • Isaiah 46:9: This verse asserts God's unchanging nature and his power to fulfill his purposes from the beginning to the end. It's used to support the idea that God will fulfill his promises to Israel.
    • Isaiah 46:13: This verse confirms the coming salvation of Israel and the manifestation of God's glory in their midst.
  • Ezekiel 40-48: These chapters detail the vision of the future temple, signifying the restoration and glory of Jerusalem. This vision is referenced as evidence of the future kingdom. These chapters are used to support the idea that God is planning a literal future kingdom for Israel.

  • Jeremiah 31: This chapter speaks of a new covenant that God will make with Israel, one that will be written on their hearts. This is used as evidence of God's promises of blessing and salvation. The speaker uses it to demonstrate that God will fulfill His promises to Israel in the future.

  • Ezekiel 36 & 37: These chapters contain promises of restoration and renewal for Israel, including the return of the exiles and the resurrection of the dry bones. These chapters are mentioned in the context of the Old Testament promises of a future kingdom. The speaker uses them to illustrate how the Old Testament promises a future kingdom for Israel.

  • Psalm 22: This psalm details the suffering of the Messiah, foreshadowing the crucifixion of Christ. It's mentioned in the context of how the Old Testament predicted Christ's suffering.

  • Isaiah 53: This chapter speaks of the suffering servant, prophetically describing the crucifixion of Christ. It is mentioned in the context of the Old Testament prophecies of Christ's suffering.

  • Zechariah 12:10: This verse points to Israel's future repentance and recognition of Jesus as Messiah. It's used to illustrate how the Old Testament predicted Israel's repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Messiah.

  • Daniel 12: This chapter includes prophecies about the final judgment and the resurrection of the righteous. It's cited as an example of the Old Testament understanding of the end times. It's used to support the idea that the Old Testament speaks of a future kingdom and final judgment.

  • Psalm 16: This psalm speaks of God's protection of His faithful ones and is mentioned in the context of Jesus' resurrection. The speaker uses it to show how the Old Testament predicted Jesus' resurrection.

New Testament

  • Luke 1:67-79 (The Benedictus): This passage contains Zacharias's prayer of praise, recognizing God's faithfulness to his promises of redemption and the coming of the Messiah. It's used to show that the Old Testament prophets understood the Messiah's coming and the fulfillment of God's promises.

  • Luke 13:35: This verse is quoted to illustrate Jesus' pronouncement of judgment on Israel for rejecting him. The speaker emphasizes that this judgment does not erase God's promises to Israel. This is used to show that even though Israel rejected Jesus, God's promises to them remain in place.

  • Luke 17:20: The speaker uses this verse to demonstrate the Pharisees' understanding of a future literal kingdom. The speaker uses it to show that even the religious leaders of the day expected a literal kingdom to come.

  • Luke 19:11: This verse shows the Pharisees' expectation that the kingdom would come immediately upon Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem. It's used to show how the people of Jesus' time expected the kingdom to come.

  • Luke 24:25: This verse contains Jesus' explanation to his disciples that his suffering was a necessary part of God's plan and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. The speaker uses it to show that Jesus' suffering was predicted in the Old Testament.

  • Luke 24:44: This verse emphasizes the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, including Jesus' suffering and resurrection. The speaker uses it to show how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament.

  • Luke 18:31: This verse reaffirms Jesus' prediction of his suffering and resurrection. The speaker uses it to support the idea that Jesus knew his suffering was part of God's plan.

  • Acts 1:3-7: The speaker highlights the disciples' question about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel and Jesus' response, emphasizing God's control over timing. The speaker uses this passage to show that the disciples expected a literal kingdom and to counter the idea that Jesus canceled God's promises to Israel.

  • Revelation 14:1-5: This passage describes the 144,000 Israelites who will be saved and become evangelists to the world. It's mentioned in the context of Israel's future role in the gospel. The speaker uses this passage to show that Israel will play a significant role in spreading the gospel in the future.

Other

  • Romans 11: This chapter discusses God's faithfulness to his covenant with Israel and his sovereign election. The speaker uses this chapter to support the idea that God's election of Israel is a permanent and irrevocable act.

———————————————————

Here are opposing beliefs mentioned in the lecture, with a bit more detail and timestamps:

  • Amillennialism (8:20): This view denies the literal, physical kingdom of God on earth, interpreting the prophecies of a future kingdom as spiritual or symbolic. They often see the kingdom as already present in the church, with the "thousand-year reign" representing the present era of the church's spiritual rule. The speaker strongly opposes this view, arguing that it violates the plain meaning of Scripture and undermines the doctrine of God's sovereign election.

  • Replacement Theology (9:05): This belief states that the Church has replaced Israel as God's chosen people, inheriting all the promises made to Israel. They often see the Old Covenant with Israel as being superseded by the New Covenant established in Christ, implying that Israel's role in God's plan is over. The speaker vehemently rejects this view, seeing it as a distortion of Scripture that contradicts the clear promises made to Israel.

  • Arminianism (9:15): While not explicitly mentioned by name, the speaker contrasts Arminianism with Reformed theology, suggesting it holds a view where God's promises can be lost or forfeited, a perspective at odds with the speaker's belief in God's irrevocable promises. Arminianism emphasizes God's grace and free will, suggesting that humans can lose their salvation through their own choices. The speaker sees this as incompatible with the idea of a sovereign God who makes unconditional promises and fulfills them.

The speaker also implicitly critiques those who hold these opposing views by characterizing them as needing to "manipulate scripture" to avoid the obvious meaning of the text and as being influenced by early anti-Judaism. He implies that these interpretations arise from a bias against Judaism and its beliefs, rather than a genuine and faithful reading of Scripture.