In the preceding chapters of this book we saw how the Harmony of Revelation could be tested against New Testament prophecies, Old Testament prophecies, world history, current events, and even the future. The fact that it could be perceived as passing every one of these tests suggests that this theory of eschatology really is correct. However, there is one additional test that the Harmony must face before it can be considered truly correct in the sight of God.
This test is more critical than all the other previous tests combined. You could even call it the ultimate test of eschatology -- the one and only test a theory must pass in order to be correct in the sight of God.
You see, as far as God is concerned, it doesn't matter whether or not a theory is consistent with itself, with the Old Testament, with the New Testament, with history, or even with the future. What does matter is whether or not that theory provides the encouragement, the motivation, and the inspiration needed by a believer to do today what Christ would have him do. The ultimate test of eschatology is not whether or not the theory predicts the future accurately, but how it affects the lives of those who believe it today. [1]
Notice that this test is much more personal than any of the previous tests. The outcome of this test depends upon the character and personality of the individual rather than upon what he believes or how he interprets scriptures.
In fact, two people believing exactly the same thing can react differently to that belief, thus producing completely different results on this test. What inspires one individual to do the will of God often tempts another to rebel. Conversely, what motivates one Christian to do good may differ from what motivates another Christian to do good.
Surely, this is why God has hidden the ultimate meaning of biblical prophecy from the saints throughout history. He never intended for everyone to understand and believe exactly the same thing about the future. He wanted different Christians at different times in different places to believe different things so that his Holy Spirit could minister effectively to each of them in their respective circumstances.
Even during the latter days, when the hidden mysteries of biblical prophecies are uncovered, there is no reason to assume that God intends for everyone to believe exactly the same thing. Surely, even in those days, there will be certain Christians whose circumstances and character are such that it would be best if they remained ignorant about their own future.[2]
Therefore, I would never ask you to believe in the Harmony of Revelation without first giving prayerful consideration as to how that belief might affect your personal walk with the Lord. For, even if the harmonistic viewpoint is correct, God may not want you to adopt it. And if harmonistic eschatology is wrong, there is even greater reason for you to reject it.
What I would ask you to do is to look very carefully at your current eschatological beliefs and determine how those beliefs are affecting your life right now. Are they inspiring you to be a more faithful servant of Christ? Then by all means retain those beliefs. But if they are causing you to live a lukewarm Christian life, then discard those beliefs.
For example, if you currently believe in dispensational premillennialism, expecting Christ to return at any moment to rapture the saints out of this world before a period of great tribulation, and if that belief causes you to work harder to save as many souls as possible before the imminent rapture occurs, then by all means remain a premillennialist. But if that belief causes you, like some premillennialists, to sit around and bask in your own salvation, watching expectantly for the return of Christ while the multitudes around you are dying in their sins, then change your belief.
Similarly, if you currently believe in historical amillennialism, expecting the struggle between good and evil to persist until the end of the age, and if that belief motivates you to join actively in the battle to rescue the perishing from the perpetual danger around them, then by all means remain an amillennialist. But if that belief causes you, like some amillennialist, to tire of the endless struggle and to sit back in frustration, then change your belief.
If you currently believe in postmillennialism, expecting the Church of God eventually to overcome the world and usher in the millennial kingdom with Christ ruling in the hearts of mankind, and if that belief inspires you to work harder to see that day become a reality within your own lifetime, then by all means remain a postmillennialist. But if that belief causes you, like some postmillennialists, to sit around and wait for the inevitable victory, then change your belief.
Even if you are nothing more than a "pan"-millennialist, holding to no particular eschatological belief (except that through the power of God everything eventually will all "pan" out), and if this lack of attention to the latter days allows you to devote more time winning souls to the Lord, then by all means remain a "pan"-millennialist. But if your belief in "pan"-millennialism is only a smoke screen to hide your own lack of interest in God's plan for your future, then change your belief.
Or if you honestly do not know what to believe about eschatology -- if none of the theories described in this book inspire you to work harder for Christ, then perhaps you should develop your own theory. Perhaps that is the only way you will ever come to know God's will regarding your future. Perhaps you are one of those people who simply must arrive at your own conclusions in your own way. If so, then I hope that this book has shown you that developing your own theory of eschatology is not nearly as difficult as Satan would have you believe.
But whether you develop your own theory, cling to one of the historical viewpoints, or adopt the harmonistic scenario, I sincerely hope you will keep searching until you eventually find a theory of eschatology that inspires you to become a more dedicated Christian.
In the discussion above I implied that, when it comes to eschatology, the validity of a belief is not nearly as important as one's response to that belief. But this is true only so long as the prophecies are not being fulfilled. Clearly, believing the wrong thing about a prophecy during the time of its fulfillment could be catastrophic -- it could even result in one's failure to recognize the actual fulfillment of the prophecy itself. Indeed, this is exactly what happened to the Jews during the time of Christ and why that nation remains lost even to the present time. It is also what could happen to Christians during the last days and how many of them could be tempted to lose their faith.
Suppose, for example, that the Harmony of Revelation is true. What do you think is going to happen to the faith of a premillennialist who is not raptured as expected but is required to endure the persecutions of the great tribulation? Or, what about the faith of a postmillennialist who, during the reign of the Antichrist, witnesses the total triumph of evil over good although he has been expecting just the opposite? Or, what about the faith of an amillennialist who expects to see good and evil struggle to the end of the age but witnesses the total triumph of evil over good during the reign of the Antichrist? Certainly the outcome of these potentially disillusioning experiences will depend upon the faith and character of the individual believer, but wouldn't you hate to have the foundations of your beliefs shattered at the very moment you need them most?
Conversely, those Christians who believe in harmonism can only rejoice at any unexpected outcomes. Whether raptured into heaven (as the premillennialsists predict), ushered into the millennial kingdom (as the postmillennialists predict), or simply delegated to live an extended life under the status quo (as the amillennialists predict), harmonists will have good reason to praise the Lord if they are wrong.
Therefore, if harmonism is false, Satan has very little to gain by encouraging Christians to believe in it. But if it is true, he has much to gain by discouraging such beliefs. Just imagine the fun he is going to have sifting the faith of those who believe in anything except harmonism, if harmonism is true.
By now it should be obvious that God can take any eschatological belief and use it to strengthen the life of a dedicated believer, and that Satan can take that very same belief and use it to defeat the life of an uncommitted Christian. The Harmony of Revelation is no exception to this general rule.
Any Christian who honestly believes in the Harmony of Revelation must recognize the urgency of the situation we face today. The Holy Spirit will use that urgency to motivate dedicated Christians to win as many souls as possible to the Lord now, during these fleeting hours of opportunity before the doors of evangelism are closed forever. But Satan will use that very same urgency to motivate worldly-minded Christians to enjoy life as much as possible now, during these fleeting hours of opportunity before the horrors of the great tribulation come upon us.
He'll tell younger Christians that God is cheating them out of a full and meaningful life; that they will never live to see their children grow up or to hold their grandchildren in their arms; that there is no point in getting an education, buying a home, or striving for a better way of life; and that in only a few years they are going to lose everything they have ever worked for, suffer beyond all reason, and die without ever really having had an opportunity to live. He'll tell older Christians that their useful life is over; that they had better enjoy their retirement now while they can; that they should spend all of their worldly possessions while they still have a chance; that they had better hope to die soon, before the troublesome times arrive; and that there is no hope of their ever living to witness the return of Christ.
Indeed, regardless of your age, Satan will convey these depressing thoughts, and more, if only you will listen. He may even tempt you to commit suicide when things really start getting bad by trying to convince you that the horrors of the tribulation can only get worse. He certainly will try to convince you that, as a Christian, you have no hope of living through the horrible reign of the Antichrist.
And, of course, if you listen to him, he is probably right. By adopting his viewpoint you are certain to live a worldly, defeated life. Indeed, you will be exhibiting precisely the attitude that motivates Christ to spew the lukewarm Church out of his mouth at the end of the Church Age. Remember, the primary reason God allows the great persecution to take place is to purify the Church on the earth by removing those Christians who are lukewarm. So if you choose to listen to the voice of Satan and live a worldly, lukewarm Christian life now, you almost certainly will be one of the many Christians who are eliminated during the period of great persecution.
But if you choose to listen to the Holy Spirit and live a life focused upon spiritual things, concerned more about others than yourself, and trusting God to take care of you regardless of the circumstances, then you can live a full, meaningful, and abundant life both now in the future.[3] Furthermore, regardless of your youth or age, if you remain faithful throughout the rest of Tuesday and Wednesday, you have every reason to hope -- yea, even to expect -- to experience the protective hand of God on Thursday and to witness the glorious return of Christ on Friday as you are raptured to meet him in the sky.
But whether resurrected after death or raptured in this life -- whether returning in triumph from heaven or rising to meet him in the sky -- you know for a fact that someday soon you will see Jesus Christ with your own eyes as he returns in power and majesty to assume his rightful position as King of King and Lord of Lords.
"He who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming quickly.' Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
(REV 22:20-21)
[1]JOH 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
[2]ACT 1:7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
[3]This is true even during the Day of Sin when the Antichrist rules supreme. For even though you may be suffering or dying, you can still have victory in Jesus. After all, death in Christ is far preferable to life in sin.