God’s Unconditional Contract With Abraham

Introduction

There's really only two methods of interpretation--allegorical (called "figurative," or "spiritualizing") or grammatical-historical (called "literal").  Before anyone can possibly reach an understanding of Scripture, a system of interpretation must first be chosen and applied.  The manner in which one interprets determines the conclusion. 

The first method is highly susceptible to subjective coloring by an interpreter's own perceived notions, presumptions, and beliefs.  Since it provides no objective criteria for verifying whether any conclusion is accurate, it's easy to make spiritualized interpretations fit most any historic event or person--and so they have!  But spiritualized conclusions are "best fit" interpretations which last only until something else comes along that fits even better.  The spiritualization of Revelation's "third trumpet" into the Chernobyl disaster is but one obvious example.

Literal interpretation, on the other hand, tries to remain close to the writer's chosen words and intent while utilizing typology, symbols, allegory, metaphors, similes, and other literary devices when appropriate.  This still allows plenty of area for honest disagreement.  It also demands the context of a premillennial return of Messiah to Israel followed by Messiah’s judgment of all living humans, then a literal earthly Messianic government in Jerusalem for 1,000 years.  All these events MUST occur before the final judgment, the re-creation of the universe, and the eternal state if the Bible is to be taken at face value. 

Why must Christ govern mankind on earth for a thousand years before governing mankind in heaven for eternity?  Why can't he just return, take us all to heaven, and be done with it?

A strict literal interpretation of Scripture leads to recognizing a distinction of the church from both natural (national) Israel and those true believers who lived prior to Acts 2—and thereby offers a credible Biblical explanation for the purpose of this earthly Messianic government and it's preceding 7-year tribulation--Daniel's 70th week. 

No other end-times theory offers nearly as sufficient an explanation.   All non-premillennial views must redefine millennium, then spiritualize prophetic Scripture to the extent that neither the millennium nor the tribulation exists in any literal form.  What’s left is pretty much what we have now—either the Great Tribulation has already been historically fulfilled (and wasn't so great after all), or whatever future tribulation may come won't be significantly different from the tribulations believers now face.  Either way, believers today don’t have much to worry about in way of tribulation. 

Even within the premillennial camp, some degree of spiritualizing goes on--usually homogenizing believers of all time into one big generic group.  While generally interpreting the main body of Scripture literally, many allegorize prophecy relating to natural Israel and her promised kingdom, or simply appropriate these promises for the Church (i.e., we ARE the “spiritual seed of Abraham” so those promises were really made to us (This is called "Replacement Theology."  Simply substitute "church" wherever the word "Israel" appears in the Bible and you've pretty much got the idea).  But relegating Israel's promises to the Church wholesale strips Daniel's 70th week and millennial period of any significance.  This futuristic spiritualizing results in a millennialism with little practical purpose--preceded by a Tribulation whose reason for existence seems to be toying with non-believers a little longer before finally killing them off, and whipping believers into shape for their upcoming “marriage” to their professed Lord.  

Some have tried to avoid the logical conclusion of this line of thinking by redefining “tribulation,” shortening the period of such tribulation, or assigning control of various tribulation catastrophes to anyone other than God--basically accomplishing the same results as the non-literalists and concluding any such future tribulation will be a continuation of our present struggles against the world, the flesh, and the devil!  Others may just not understand their present identity with Christ, and feel that somehow believers must be made to suffer because of unconfessed sin, purification, or simply to "make herself ready." 

Unfortunately, none of these approaches provide a fully satisfactory answer to why there’s an unprecedented period of tribulation followed by 1000 years of earthly Messianic government before the consummation of all things, and commencement of the eternal state.  Why must Jesus return to Israel and reign from Jerusalem?  If all believers are essentially the same, and we all will have been translated/resurrected into our immortal, sinless, glorified bodies already,,,  What's the point?  Why make us wait another 1,000+ years before recreating the universe? 

The goal of this study of God's contract with Abraham and certain of his physical descendants is to demonstrate why Messiah MUST rule on this physical earth—from Jerusalem, in Israel, on the throne of David, and over physical descendants of Abraham.  The Lord made certain personal promises to this man 4,000 years ago related to himself and his physical descendants that remain literally unfulfilled today, and which the Lord is bound by his own nature to keep.  These promises necessitate a future tribulation and millennial kingdom.

Originally written November 29, 2001 by George Lazzell III

Revised January 16, 2002

Revised November 9, 2003