Is the Pre - Tribulational and Pre - Millenial position of the Assemblies of God tenable?

Meanings –
Pre-Tribulation
Tribulation is the period of time when suffering will come upon the whole world.
And we have three speculations as to when the rapture will happen (saints alive removed from the earth, saints dead raised with incorruptible bodies) – The Pre, Mid or Post-Tribulation view. The AG holds to the Pre-Tribulation view which states that the Christ’s second coming for the church happens first before the tribulation starts.
In line with biblical teaching:
The rapture is imminent – it will happen any time, without warning or announcement.

Pre-Millennialism
The Millennium is to last 1,000 years after the tribulation period. It is the visible return of Christ to remove satan’s influence from the earth and then Christ and His saints will reign supreme before the final judgment. We have the views of Pre, Post and Amillennialism.
The Pre-millennialism view holds that the second coming is at the very start of the 1,000 years. Within this view, there is the dispensational and Historic (non-dispensational) pre-millennialism. The Historic pre- millennialism usually couples with the post-tribulation view. Whereas the dispensational pre-millennialism couples with the pre-tribulation view.

Perhaps this picture below will help give a clearer grasp of things! :)



Pic can be obtained from here

So how is the AG position tenable?

We have scriptural backings (as per the AG official Website) as to why our scholars belief so:
Pre-Tribulation rapture is best described in:
1 Thessalonians 4: 16,17, and 1 Corinthians 15: 51,52.
Pre-Millennial second coming of Christ in:
Matthew 24: 27-30, Revelation 1: 7 (all will see), Revelation 19: 11-14 (the Rider on the white horse), Revelation 20: 1-6 (1,000 years reign).

These scriptures complement us not knowing the dates and time the rapture and second coming of Christ in Matt 24: 42-44 and 1 Thess 5: 1-3 - how it will all happen like a thief coming in the night.

Whatever it is, let us all be prepared for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Comparing my understanding of today’s Pentecostal spirituality with that by Daniel Albrecht, I would say that we need to beware of losing that spark of vibrancy and cutting edge in the midst of modernism.

But recognizing that at any given moment there will be those who are more passionate and who will continue to spearhead the movement in the vibrant, cutting edge direction as there will be those who are laid back and barely tailing at the back.

Personal Evaluation - I think it is proven enough by trends that almost any movement or given a span of time long enough will evolve in its ways to accommodate the ever-changing circumstances of the community, culture, pace of life, new discoveries. We see it obvious even under the Protestantism umbrella – the various sub-out and form own movement.

[Below, speaking only of practices and not on the doctrinal angle of things]

Adjustments are made as we ‘discover’ what works and what doesn’t, what suits and what sticks out like a sore thumb, what goes with the flow, ride the waves and what is against the current – as we as a movement strive to be more relevant to the society.
• We are confronted with the decision to conform into a new way or stick on with the traditionalist way.
• We are found caught in the position of losing members OR losing ‘the’ original foundations and basis’ of the movement.

Perhaps the question we ought to be asking TODAY is when then do we OR DO WE NOT compromise on our spirituality – lived experiences, beliefs, convictions and practices with respect to God?

I think one can be in response to the question
Can I be a Pentecostal and Charismatic?

Most would probably equate being a Pentecostal as being Charismatic... Here's my view/understanding of being:

A Pentecostal
Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Speak in tongues, manifestation of the Holy Spirit such as moving in the prophetic and see miracles (divine healings) take place.

Whereas I would identify being Charismatic as a culture or mannerism instead of being a movement. They would be the lively, vibrant bunch of Christians who are more contemporary in the style of worship and possibly preaching also - if compared to that of a mainline church.

I see being a Pentecostal and Charismatic going hand in hand and something that works for the future generations because the move of the Holy Spirit is radical in nature and in effects (if we base on what the Holy Spirit has done in Acts). So, to be radical and vibrant as we are Spirit-Filled seems to make sense to me.

(: