Critical evaluation of Theonomist eschatology

Abstract

Although the extreme form of Theonomism has only affected a small number of Reformed members in South Africa, it seems that Theonomist Postmillennialism has a greater underlying influence in the Reformed Churches in South Africa. General churchgoers in the Reformed Churches of South Africa generally confuse the Regulatory Principle with Theonomism and are uninformed about precisely what Theonomism is. Furthermore, signs of Theonomism as it developed in the USA are also visible in South Africa. Yet, there is great ignorance about the exact effect that Theonomism has on Reformed congregations in South Africa, especially regarding the eschatological views held by individual congregations. Contribution: The thesis of this article is that the Theonomistic eschatology influences congregations’ mission and causes a shift from a focus on proclaiming the gospel to the nations, in being a church that seeks to restructure the institutions of political societies.

Keywords

• amillennialism
• eschatology
• postmillennialism
• reconstructionism
• regulatory principle
• theonomism.