A critical analysis of premillennial dispensationalism's interpretation ...

The business of date setting seems to be a fatal fascination for
Premillennial, preachers, presenters and teachers. One would struggle
to find a Premillennial book that does not record the conviction of the
writer that the time of the coming of Christ is near. However,
contemporary writers have learned from their earlier brethren in that
they seldom set exact dates for the Lord’s Coming. They say the
Second Advent is near but do not chance to say how near. The setting
of the approximate date is the same in principle as exact date setting
and makes it evident that those who do it would fix an exact date if they
could, or dared. (Boettner: 324)
Much harm and discredit has come upon the precious truth of the
Second Coming by such foolishness perpetrated by Premillennialism,
particularly in its Dispensational form.
7. The pessimism of Premillennial Dispensationalism.
Premillennial Dispensationalists display a basic pessimism concerning history
and the role played by the Church therein. Despite the efforts of the Church in
evangelism and social action, where it exists, all will be for nought as the rise
of the Antichrist brings about a traumatic period of Great Tribulation that will
end with the destructive battle of Armageddon. Only the return of the Lord
Jesus Christ at His second coming will bring the reign of God and the glorious
age of blessedness and peace (Grenz: 618).
Such pessimism has the capacity to discourage any meaningful social action
on the part of the Church. After all, the world is getting worse and worse, soon
the Antichrist will rise and seize control. Of course, there are those who
undertake such social action because they see it as a means to evangelism.
Any work done to improve society will be for nothing in the greater scheme of
things so the focus should be on an aggressive ingathering of sinners before
the Great Tribulation. While it is true that it is only in the Age to come where
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