Many amazing end-times prophecies appear to have been fulfilled in the past 15 years -- though a large segment of the church is oblivious. Lined up, they indicate that we may have entered Daniel's 70th week -- the final seven years of world history.

I'm glad that -- among those who've been watching -- the news has gotten out. But my heart is burdened for other Christians who haven't been watching -- and may not be ready for the tribulation or their Lord's return. Many of them have attended evangelical churches or seminaries that have taught them one of two things -- (1) that the end-times events will happen one day, but it's not credible to focus on them, or (2) that there are no prophesied events to look for because they all took place in the first century.

Neither teaching can be supported biblically, but they've successfully inoculated many Christians against recognizing the end times. We, at FP, need to help show these Christians that focusing on the end times is biblical and wise.

This is my first post in a series that will address "Blinding Teachings." Of course, many students of prophecy already know the flaws in these teachings. But there are also many who aren't sure what these teachings are and how to respond to them. 

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Blinding Teaching No. 1: Kingdom Now Theology

If you've ever heard a Christian teacher talk about "taking back our cities for Christ" or "claiming the nations for God," then you've probably encountered a teaching known as "Kingdom Now" or "dominionism."

I'm not talking about the spread of the gospel, resulting in the saving of souls. I'm talking about Christians who believe they're supposed to subdue and rule the nations before Christ's return. Read an in-depth overview of Kingdom Now theology here. 

Kingdom Now/dominionism is a core teaching of the "apostolic-prophetic movement" (a.k.a "New Apostolic Reformation") -- a fast-growing movement in charismatic churches. It teaches that all Christians must submit to "apostles" and "prophets" who have great authority and divine revelation to establish God's kingdom on earth. Of course, not all people in this movement view it the same way. But this is how it's viewed by many of the movement's leaders, like C. Peter Wagner. 

On my blog and in articles I've written for the Christian Research Journal, I've focused on the dangers of the movement's new doctrinal revelation and unquestioned authority. But the movement's Kingdom Now teachings are also harmful -- promoting an unbiblical view of the end times. Yet, many Christians have been influenced by Kingdom Now theology without knowing it. 

I believe many charismatics would be shocked to learn that its teachings on the end times differ radically from what charismatics have, historically, believed.

They've, historically, believed a view called "premillennialism" -- that the Bible prophesies a global rebellion against God that Christ will stop when He returns to earth to set up a 1,000-year (millennial) reign from Israel. During this time, He also will fulfill all God's other covenant promises to Israel. This explains why charismatics have, generally, been among the strongest supporters of the nation of Israel.

"Kingdom Now" theology, on the other hand, is "postmillennial" -- meaning that the church will Christianize the world and bring in the Kingdom Age (millennium) before Christ returns. To defend this view, prophecies like the world's acceptance of the Antichrist must be spiritualized or said to have taken place in the first century. God's promises to Israel are often seen as having been transferred to the church. This view, called "replacement theology," is abhorrent to many charismatics.

Yet, new apostolic leaders say Kingdom Now teachings are crucial to the movement's success. C. Peter Wagner, for example, is one of movement's most influential leaders. He coined the term "New Apostolic Reformation" and founded the International Coalition of Apostles, a group of about 450 "apostles" of which he is the "presiding apostle." In his book Changing Church (Regal Books, 2004), Wagner says that the premillennial view of the end times -- which sees the world as growing more wicked before Christ returns -- is being rejected by leaders in the New Apostolic Reformation. He says:

"What seems to be much more compatible with the goal of expanding the kingdom of God through the transformation of society is a point of view called dominion theology, or Kingdom Now theology ... This theology helps point the way toward what the Spirit is currently saying to the churches" (pages 94, 96)

And in his book Churchquake (Regal Books, 1999), Wagner calls the movement's view of the end times a "nonnegotiable value" (chapter three). 

Not all new apostolic leaders are as direct as Wagner. They know if they reveal what they really believe about the end times, they would turn off many of their followers. But mention of the Revelation prophecies are noticeably absent from their books, sermons and other teaching materials. This absence is especially curious given that they claim to be about the "prophetic."

When they do talk about end-times prophecies, they select ones they think support their belief that "apostles" and "prophets" will turn the world to righteousness -- like those they think point to a great end-times revival. But they generally ignore the many prophecies about the Antichrist, False Prophet, persecution of Christians, apostasy of the church -- and any other ones that show the world will become more wicked.

I will save a biblical examination of Kingdom Now/dominionist teachings for future posts. But, for now, I just want to point out its incompatibility with the things being reported on FP. If premillennialism is correct, then most of the world will reject God's Son and make war against His people and nation, Israel -- and current news in Europe and the Middle East (about a Revived Roman Empire and a "covenant with many" that includes Israel) becomes significant.

But if Kingdom Now teachings are correct, then most of world will receive Christ and embrace His people -- and news in Europe and the Middle East has little, if any, prophetic significance.