The end of Millerism and the beginning of Grace Based Theology

The end of Millerism and the beginning of Grace Based Theology

If you are a protestant you are more than likely Millerist in thought. In the 1830’s-1840’s mainstream Christian beliefs shifted reverted to the imminent return of Christ theosophy held in the 1^st century AD.

After the ascension, many Christians were persecuted. Jesus told his disciples that he would return, but did not say when. The disciples followed directions and established Christianity. The foundation of the church was not without its struggles. Before being called Christianity, the religion was, of course, Judaism. The Jews ridiculed the disciples and their adherents in what is known as “The great disappointment”. Initially, it was believed the sect of Jews with faith in Christ would dissolve, especially when Jesus did not return within the lifetime of the disciples.

Christianity grew for many centuries. By the 14^th century, the surviving texts of sermons primary centers around living a Christian lifestyle followed by eternity served in hell or heaven. The “first great awakening” occurred in the United States beginning in the late 18^th century.  Abolition of slavery was a key component of the 1^st great awakening and ultimately paved the way for the emancipation of slaves. The 2^nd great awakening began in the 1830’s and grew in the 1840’s. One of the primary ministers during this period was William Miller (1792-1849). His followers were called Millerites. Miller returned to the belief of the imminent return of Christ, a vast departure from the 900 plus years the church primarily stressed Christian lifestyle.

Miller predicted the return of Jesus Christ on October 22, 1844. Believing that most activities were futile in the face of the imminent return, many followers discontinued future based activities. The great disappointment began on October 23, 1844. Miller died on December 20, 1849 still believing in the imminent return.

The direct spiritual heirs of Miller are several major denominations, including the 7^th day Adventist, The Church if God and ten other organizations. Miller himself was Baptist. The Mormons, The Jehovah’s Witnesses and several major, but now extinct denominations are or were adherents to Millers doctrine. Many of the extinct denominations practiced celibacy and consequently failed. Others, lost members when predictions of imminent return failed to occur.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses began in 1870 when Charles Taze Russell and others formed an independent group to study the bible in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During the course of his ministry Russell disputed many beliefs of mainstream Christianity including immortality of the soul, hellfire, predestination, the fleshly return of Jesus Christ, the Trinity, and the burning up of the world. In 1876, Russell, with Nelson Barbour, produced the book Three Worlds which combined restitutionist views with end time prophecy. It was originally called The International Bible Students Association. Russell died in 1916. Joseph Franklin Rutherford followed as the next leader of significance within the movement, which later changed its name to The Watch Tower Society, followed by Zion’s Watch Tower Tract Society. On July 26, 1931 at a convention in Columbus, Ohio, it was renamed The Jehovah’s Witnesses.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses predicted the return of Jesus in 1914, 1925 and 1975. During those time periods, the dates have changed, to include specific generations, such as the generation preceding WW1. When Jesus did not return within the time following WW1, another time period was established.

One must view this period of history as unique. On Earth, war has occurred at varied locations on a continual basis. In fact, warfare has been ongoing since 4000 BC, or for 6,000 years. During that time it is estimated 100,000,000 people have been killed.  War to that point had always been between states or countries. The United Nations, NATO, the League of Nations had no basis for creation. WW1 was the first conflict involving nearly every nation. The outcome was the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. Although largely forgotten in history, the Ottoman Empire existed for several hundred years. Its dissolution could be thought of in modern terms as synonymous with the end of the United States and its territories and possessions and the emergence of a completely new superpower.

To the Watch Tower Society member of 1914, the end of the world was obvious. A member on deaths bed in 1914 would view his or her position as nearly identical to the rest of the world. When the return did not occur, the time period was extended to 1925, based on a recalculation. When it did not occur again, the time period was recalculated to 1975. When this did not occur, the time was altered to a nebulous time period mathematically derived from a generational time period surrounding WW1. Near the end of the 20^th century, with almost everyone from the WW1 period dead, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, while still based on imminent return theosophy, has stopped publishing dates of return. At present, Watch Tower Society publications teach that Jesus Christ began to rule in heaven as king of God's kingdom in October 1914, and that Satan was subsequently ousted from heaven to the earth, resulting in "woe" to mankind. They believe that Jesus rules invisibly, from heaven, perceived only as a series of "signs".

The Jehovah’s Witnesses, due to their failed predictions, and several dozen heterodox views, had to abandon the bible. Their members are now instructed told the Bible can only be understood by a select few. The select few, called The Governing Body, is a fraternity of varying sizes, but since 2010 has had seven members. They believe only 144,000 people will go to heaven while everyone else will remain on earth. A person destined for heaven is referred to as “anointed”. They believe 10,000 anointed people are on earth. All members of the Governing Body are automatically in the anointed class.

Grace based Theology deviates from the imminent return doctrine espoused for the past 180 years. In some respects, this theology is similar to pre- Millerist views. In others, it is new and unsettling.

Grace Based Theology and Churches hold the belief that once a person has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior they will go to heaven. They believe a person should lead a responsible and as pure as humanly possible lifestyle, but that’s not mandatory. It’s not mandatory, because in their belief, once Jesus has been accepted, heaven is destined.

Under Grace Based Theology a person will still go to heaven if they curse, steal, gamble, are sexually deviant, commit suicide, abuse drugs actively or any other offense damnable under mainstream, (Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Catholic) religions. The only requirement is belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ. A chief proponent of Grace Based Theology is Televangelist Joseph Prince. Several other televangelists promote the theology, which is widely taught in seminaries throughout the world.

While this emerging practice deviates from mainstream religion, mainstream religion also deviates from the Bible. 5,000 years ago the Book of Leviticus was the law of the land.

Grace Based Theology is the portal by which immorality will insidiously infiltrate churches. Similar to Jesus enlisting Beelzebub to conduct an exorcism, Satan uses the Bible. Specifically, Matthew 24:36 is used.