AMILLENNIAL FLEET STREET BARBERS

 November 29 

And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Revelation 20:4

Philosophers point to a general principle known as Occam’s Razor, which proposes that the simplest and least complicated solution—i.e., the one with the least amount of working parts—is usually the best solution.  

Much of Christendom approaches Eschatology (the Doctrine of Last-Things and End-Time Prophecy) in the same manner. Many assume that there will be a simple, single resurrection-event (or “General Resurrection”), immediately followed by a single, universal Judgment-event, which will then be followed by the Eternal State. Discarded are such “confusing,” “unnecessary,” and “complicating” concepts as 1) multiple resurrection-events involving various distinct companies, 2) a literal and distinct 1,000-year Millennial Kingdom that precedes the Eternal State, 3) distinct Judgments for the saved and the unsaved, 4) a future Temple with literal animal sacrifices, and 5) differing, distinctive programs for national Israel and the Church.   

 Many would say “Keep it simple! Why all this complexity? Why all these strange and complicating factors?” It is typical to encounter Christians of the “Reformed” persuasion, for example, who routinely characterize the sort of eschatology articulated in our Statement of Faith as “weird.” Others—including some nominal Grace Brethren people—readily confess to being “turned off” by any level of doctrinal complexity whatsoever. 

But it isn’t our prerogative to tell God Almighty what His plan should or ought to be, and to arrogantly challenge His infinitely holy and judicious Plan for the Ages!  Rather, it is our privileged obligation to attempt to master His Word and embrace those doctrines that He has graciously chosen to reveal. We are not free to wield Occam’s Razor with the wild and destructive excess of a madman, much like Sweeney Todd, “the Demon Barber of Fleet Street!” 

Terry L. Reese