About fifteen years ago, the national director of the denomination of which I was a member at the time wrote an article saying that the eschatological framework I happen to believe was too depressing. Aside from my firm belief that our doctrines should be determined by revelation of the Holy Spirit aided by proper exegesis of the Biblical texts rather than by how a particular passage makes us feel, I would like to finally respond to this charge.

While there are certainly variations within views on the end of the current age, I am basically what is known as a classic post-tribulation pre-millennialist. (If you don't know what that is, here is an article that shows the garden variety eschatological belief systems in the Christian Church.) Now, I'm not writing this article to convince you to share my view; if you hold to another opinion, God bless you—you can continue to be happy in your error (just kidding, lol). During Hanukkah this year, I was simply reminded of the hope we have, and I wanted to share it with you, regardless of what you believe on the subject.

Classic post-trib premillennialism holds to the idea that the world and its governmental systems stand increasingly opposed to the rule and reign of Christ; when this opposition reaches a tipping point, a figure called the Antichrist will appear who will bring tyranny to the world and will persecute anyone who refuses to worship him for a period of seven years called the Great Tribulation. (If you haven't guessed yet, this is the depressing part.) At the end of the seven years, he will unite the nations and lead a war against YHWH; but Jesus will return and will destroy the army, seize the Antichrist and throw him into the lake of fire along with his false prophet and will rule over the earth physically for 1000 years before the final judgment and the New Jerusalem which lasts for eternity.

What the national director and other people who share his sentiment are focused on is the seven years of intense persecution and the wrath of God upon the oppressive systems of the world. They are missing two big elements that would otherwise help them to see the LORD's goodness, mercy, and restoration in the middle of what the Bible says will happen.

First, of course, is the Millennial Reign of Christ that comes after the Tribulation. Isaiah 11 prophesies about this time that it will be a time of great harmony and peace. This is the period of history when all the prophecies about Israel will finally come to fruition, and the world will be in an Edenic state. I can totally see Jesus saying, "Jim and John, those mountains that fell into the sea—I want you to go over there and raise them back into position. Sherry and Tina, there's this particular coral reef that needs to be replenished; I want you to make that happen." You see, one of the three jobs that the Messiah has is to reverse the corruption of the earth wrought by the kingdom of darkness (the other two are to provide the way to reconcile humanity to Himself, which He did on the cross, and to establish the everlasting Kingdom of God—which has already been started, but will culminate with the New Jerusalem). Since those who live through the Tribulation (or are martyred for their faith during this time) will be able to reign with Him, we get to participate in restoring the earth. Think about that! This is literally going to be the best time in earth's history that has ever existed—we will be undoing all the injustice and all the sickness of the earth; there will be no disasters, atrocities, or war; lifespans will be lengthened, and we will have Jesus physically present with us, reigning from Jerusalem.

Christmas no longer holds any meaning for me; however, I am confident that during the Millennial Kingdom, the beloved hymn by Isaac Watts will ring out in all its glory, because its words will finally be manifested:

Joy to the world! The LORD is come! Let earth receive her King! Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing!
Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat their sounding joy!
No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground: He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love!

—Isaac Watts, 1719

I don't know how a person can be depressed about that. What a time! I hope that I live to see it. Revelation 19 declares that those who participate in this are blessed and holy—that we will be His priests.

The second factor that folks are missing is less eschatological system-dependent, but ties in nonetheless: as the world systems continue to fall away, as the love of most grows cold, as wickedness and persecution increases, the light of God's people is going to match it. The Great Commission is not suddenly going away; in fact, God is refining His people to represent Him so well that she is called a 'beautiful bride dressed for her husband'. Gone will be the days of shallow, consumer Christianity, along with evil shepherds who abuse the sheep; there will be no more scandals, no more 'church hurt', no more denominational division. True believers won't be running to seminaries that teach them to abandon the core teachings of Scripture, because they'll be too busy living it, affecting the lives of those around them with the truth and power of the Gospel that only a living Christ can transmit by the power of the Holy Spirit. The people that emerge in this environment will be absolutely unstoppable.

Premillennialism has been accused of causing believers to hide out in fear from the big bad world, waiting for rescue either by Armageddon or, in the case of pre- and mid-tribulation theory, the Rapture. And there are those folks, for sure; but this isn't caused by a theological framework—it's caused by unbelief.

On the sixth night of Hanukkah this year, I went to the hanukkiyah lighting in downtown Waxhaw; the rabbi there gave a message (which was very typical) about the nature of light to dispel the darkness, the nature of fire—that it can be shared without loss; it only grows—and how we start with only one light, but every night, the light increases. He finished by speaking about our holy calling from God to carry His light and share this light to as many as will take it.

It's not that I haven't heard this message before, of course; but the Holy Spirit was stirring something deep in me that helped me to finally connect this holiday with the eschatology of hope. In Matthew 16, when Jesus brought His disciples to a rock in Israel in front of the cave called the gates of Hell, a place of idolatry from where it was said that demons erupted, Jesus said right there that He would build His church upon that rock. He was showing His disciples that the very purpose of this time was for us to invade the kingdom of darkness that holds the nations in bondage and to rescue captives. Furthermore, and this is the best part—the gates of hell will not withstand our assault.

In order to live like this, you and I have to actually catch the light of God in our lives. We have to actually believe that He is God—that He is more powerful than all of the 'gods' in the universe and all the negative forces they wield. We also have to stop worrying about all the things our enemy is doing in a futile attempt to stop the Kingdom of God from advancing. We have to stop thinking about how deep and vast the darkness is, and simply shine the light of who God is into our own lives and into the lives of others. Things will change when we put these things in their proper perspective.

From my own limited, selfish perspective, this Hanukkah has been less than ideal, and not very festive: half of my family was away for the holiday, we were too busy to make much of the wonderful food and play games, and many normal life concerns have weighed me down. And of course, there are the numerous political and economic events happening all around us. The world seems too crazy but my house too quiet at the same time. (And I'm fully aware that so many people are experiencing worse hardships than I ever have.)

But I have a choice, as do we all: will I let the fire of the Spirit ignite me into a light that shines in the darkness, or will I wallow in unbelief, choosing to believe instead that the darkness is winning? I will choose the eschatology of hope.

I leave you with an English translation of the Hanukkah hymn Ma'oz Tzur. The first and last stanzas are English translations from Hebrew, while the middle three are the actual English lyrics composed for the tune at a later date. (I did tweak it slightly…)

My Refuge, My Rock of Salvation! It is pleasant to sing Your praises.
Let our house of prayer be restored; there we will offer You our worship
When You have slaughtered the barking foe.
Then we will celebrate with songs and psalms the altar's dedication.

Rock of Ages, let our song praise Your saving power;
You amid our raging foes were our sheltering tower.
Furious, they assailed us, but Your Arm availed us,
And Your Word broke their sword when our own strength failed us.

Kindling new the holy lamps, priests, approved in suffering,
Purified the nation's shrine, brought to God their offering.
With His courts surrounding, hear, in joy abounding,
Happy throngs, singing songs with a mighty sounding.

Children of the martyr race, whether free or fettered,
Wake the echoes of the songs where you may be scattered.
Yours the message cheering that the time is nearing
That will see all men free—tyrants disappearing.

O bare Your holy Arm and bring complete Salvation.
Wreak vengeance on the blood of the wicked nations on behalf of Your faithful servants.
For deliverance has too long been delayed, and the evil days seem endless.
O reject the enemy in the darkness of idolatry, and bring us under the Good [Sevenfold] Shepherd.

—Ma'oz Tzur, traditional. English lyrics by Marcus Jastrow and Gustav Gottheil