Jim Rutz is the author of the book MegaShift. He promotes the new ways of Open Church and has been a freelance writer for groups such as, World Vision, Wycliffe, Youth for Christ, Prison Fellowship, the Lausanne Committee and Intervarsity. He is also associated with Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation.

Rutz dedicates the book: “To the millions of intercessors and church planters who are turning the world into a temple and covering the land with God’s glory as the waters cover the sea.”

From the beginning of the book we find a misapplication of Scripture. The passage he refers to is for the Millennium time period when the Messiah physically brings His kingdom to the earth. Habakkuk 2:14 states: “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

The Main Premise: According to the website Megashift. com, “The world is rapidly becoming all Christian.” Christianity, not Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. The “church” is exploding in growth by those who do not identify with Catholicism or Protestantism. The growth is so humongous that “There will be pockets of resistance and unforeseen breakthroughs,” writes Rutz. “By tomorrow, there will be 175,000 more Christians than there are today.” “Still, at the rate we’re growing now, to be comically precise, there would be more Christians than people by the autumn of 2032, about 8.2 billion” (WorldNetDaily. com.)

Rutz continually mentions statistics such as “Christianity that has been growing since 1970 at a red-hot 8% a year”; the world would have more Christians than people by the fall of 2032!

Restoration › End Times & Eternity › End Times

what does the bible say?

Postmillennialism is one of several end-times interpretations, alongside premillennialism and amillennialism, that seeks to understand the timing and nature of Christ’s return. It emerged in the eighteenth century, influenced by cultural optimism, technological progress, and the belief that human society could improve under Christ’s influence. Unlike premillennialism, which sees Christ’s return as initiating His kingdom, postmillennialism teaches that the church will establish a peaceful millennial age before Jesus returns. It shares amillennialism’s spiritualized view of prophecy and the belief that the church has replaced Israel in God’s plan.

Postmillennialism envisions a golden age where Christ reigns in the hearts of believers, gradually transforming society through evangelism, social progress, or even political control. Different forms range from classical postmillennialism, which emphasizes worldwide evangelism, to dominionism, which seeks political rule under biblical law. The millennium is seen as a symbolic period, either beginning at Christ’s resurrection or developing over time. According to this view, after an era of peace, Jesus will return, defeat Satan, and bring final judgment and resurrection.

Postmillennialism does not align with a literal interpretation of Scripture as it relies on symbolic readings of key prophetic passages. The Bible clearly describes a future time of increasing wickedness and tribulation before Christ’s return, not a golden age of peace brought about by human effort (Matthew 24:6-12; 2 Timothy 3:1-7). Additionally, Revelation 19:11-21 portrays Christ’s return as a decisive victory over evil, not a result of the church’s efforts to establish a peaceful world. Therefore, postmillennialism’s focus on human-driven progress contradicts the biblical narrative that Christ Himself will bring His kingdom in power and glory.

from the new testament

• Postmillennialists believe the world will gradually improve as the gospel spreads, leading to a “golden age” where Christianity dominates before Christ returns (Isaiah 2:2-4; Matthew 13:31-33). Premillennialists believe the world will get progressively worse, with increasing sin, apostasy, and tribulation before Jesus returns to establish His kingdom (2 Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:21-22).
• Postmillennialists believe that Satan was bound at Christ’s resurrection, meaning his influence is significantly weakened as the gospel advances (Matthew 12:28-29; John 12:31-32). Premillennialists believe that Satan is still active in the world and will only be bound after Christ returns (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 20:1-3).
• Postmillennialists believe Jesus returns after the millennium, once the Church has prepared the world for His coming (1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Psalm 110:1-2). Premillennialists believe Jesus returns before the millennium to personally rule and reign for 1,000 years (Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 20:1-6).

implications for today

Postmillennialism has an optimistic view of humanity and its ability to create a peaceful society. In the postmillennialist’s view, technology and the call to the better angels of our nature will create a world worthy of having Christ as King. This belief is both a draw and a danger. Humanism is a seductive philosophy because it is so optimistic; we want to believe we can do better. But no man-made institution can lead the entire world into a period of peace, no matter how influenced by Christ. Following the Bible, championing social causes, and influencing politics can be expressions of Christ’s influence on us, but they cannot create a world so peaceful it is worthy of a gift to God.

A literal interpretation of the Bible makes no false promises that mankind can save itself. Instead, it consistently tells us how dependent we are on God for every good thing (James 1:17). End times prophecy continually explains how wicked the world will grow (2 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Peter 3:3-7). The time before Christ’s arrival will be one of curses (Revelation 6–16) and war (Revelation 17:14), not peace. And Revelation 19:11-21 makes it clear that it is the power of Jesus that will bring in His own kingdom, not the works of the church.

The Bible does not teach that the Church will perfect the world before Christ returns. It teaches that Christ Himself will return to restore all things. Scripture consistently describes humanity’s increasing wickedness before Jesus comes to judge and reign (Matthew 24:6-12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). The promise of His kingdom is not based on human progress but on His sovereign power to fulfill His covenants (Daniel 7:13-14; Zechariah 14:9). For this reason, postmillennialism does not match a literal interpretation of Scripture, as it relies on human progress to establish Christ’s kingdom rather than Jesus’ direct and decisive return as foretold in prophecy (Revelation 20:1-6).

Comment by Truth Uncensored Afrika: I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  Luke 18:8

Go to Part 11.