[Elden1971]

Originally Posted by UntoHim

Witness Lee is the only one that I know of (did you here me, that I know of) that teaches that there will be a period of 1,000 years of outer darkness and gnashing of teeth for genuine, blood-washed Christians. (that did not live up to the standards that Lee himself made up) For many years me, I and the VAST majority of Local Churchers that I knew, considered that it would only be Local Churchers that would be the "overcomers" - all other Christians would be thrown into outer darkness while the rest of us Local Churchers were going to be in the marriage feast of the Lamb.

Now I'm sure you're going to say that Titus Chu never taught any such thing and that you never once heard of any such a teaching. Great. No problem...I'm happy for you!

But Witness Lee did absolutely say this and other abominable kinds of garbage. He taught this kind of bizarre, unbiblical stuff day-in and day-out for about 50 years that we have a record of. If you do not want to discuss this particular teaching (by way of confirming, defending or denying) then you are free to abstain from this thread. But please do not be dismissive of the other posters. Your questions have been answered but you just don't like the answers. FAIR ENOUGH! Don't like the answers! Let's discuss! We can't discuss if we dismiss each other!


Now there is a fair question. Of course this assumes that the Millennial kingdom is a literal, actual 1,000 years. There are many wise, spiritual and highly educated people on both sides of this fence. I tend to lean towards the literal side, but I do not see any scriptural evidence that this will be a time of sever punishment for genuine Christians, much less a time of punishment for those who do not imbibe the ministry of any particular man or men.

Who teaches such things? It is more common than one might think. Its origins go back to the 19th century or earlier with the writings of men such as Robert Govett, D.M.Panton, G.H.Pember and G.H.Lang. The modern resurgence of this teaching within Bible believing, dispensational circles can be traced primarily to the influence and writings of Zane Hodges, formerly a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, and the author of numerous books and commentaries which promote this viewpoint.
Zane Hodges has influenced certain influential men toward this doctrinal position, including 1) Joseph Dillow, the author of The Reign of the Servant Kings, has systematized this teaching in this one, comprehensive, massive volume which may be considered as the key theology book for this movement; 2) Robert Wilkin heads up the Grace Evangelical Society which publishes a newsletter which is sent to a readership of 9,000 and a theological journal which also has a circulation of 900. This society also publishes a number of books by Hodges, Wilkin and others. They also highly recommend Dillow's book; 3) Charles Stanley, the well-known television preacher from Atlanta, embraces this position as seen in his book, Eternal Security. His reliance upon Hodges is seen in the footnotes. 4) Chuck and Nancy Missler, influenced by Dillow and others, strongly push this view in their book, The Kingdom, Power, & Glory--The Overcomer's Handbook (a 400 pages volume).
Another writer who divides the body of Christ into two distinct groups is J.D. Faust. Faust is the most extreme when it comes to the amount of punishment that will be experienced by believers who do not overcome. Faust actually teaches that saved people who do not measure up and who are not overcomers will actually be hurt of the second death (the lake of fire) for a brief period of time, and then will be punished in the fires of Hades in the underworld for a thousand years (see The Rod--Will God Spare It? by J.D.Faust , Schoettle Publishing Co., 2002). He follows the teachings of men like Govett, G.H.Lang and D.M.Panton (partial rapturists).Hodges, Wilkin and Dillow are horrified by Faust's extreme ideas regarding millennial punishment, but they share a common theology with him. They differ mainly in what kind of consequences the wicked saved people (non-overcomers) will suffer. They also differ in the length of time that the non-overcoming believers will experience weeping and gnashing of teeth. Faust has them suffering in the fires of Hades throughout the thousand years. Hodges and Wilkin say that the grief and remorse (the weeping and gnashing of teeth) will be short-lived and will take place at the judgment seat of Christ but will not extend into the kingdom. Dillow teaches that the weeping and gnashing of teeth will take place "in the kingdom" (p. 351, The Reign of the Servant Kings).