Click to join the conversation with over 500,000 Pentecostal believers and scholars

Click to get our FREE MOBILE APP and stay connected

The  Church  of  God  Evangel  (COGE),  originally  known  as  The  Evening  Light  and Church of God Evangel, was the official publication of the Church of God (Cleveland, TN), and A. J. Tomlinson served as both General Overseer of the denomination and editor of COGE  from 1910  to  1922.  Given  his  leadership  of the  paper  and  in the  denomination,  a brief examination of the annual meetings of the Church of God is in order. In the first six annual assemblies of the Church of God, practical issues of church government and life were  considered.  In  the  minutes  of  the  seventh  annual  assembly  in  1912,  a  doctrinal statement was included for the first time. Succinct in style, the statement established that the Church of God held to ‘the whole Bible rightly divided.’ The 18^th point was listed in the following manner:

18. 18. Pre-millennial second coming of Jesus.

First to resurrect the dead saints and to catch away the living

saints to meet him in the air. Matt. 24:27, 28, 1 Cor. 15:51, 52, 1 Thes. 4:15–17.

Second to reign on the earth a thousand years. Zech. 14:4, 1 Thes. 4:14, 2 Thes. 13– 10, Jude 1:14, 15, Rev. 5:10, Rev. 19:11–21, Rev. 20:4–6. ¹³⁰

This  doctrinal  statement  follows  a  dispensational  reading  of  eschatology  and  indicates that a belief in a pretribulational rapture was not a later addition to the Church of God’s teaching. Also of interest is the fact that the 1950 doctrinal statement is identical to this first statement on eschatology, showing no signs of modification.¹³¹

The official doctrinal position of the Church of God is reflected in the comments of the writers in the COGE from the first issues. For example, C. S. Curtis testified that ‘Since I came to Cleveland, Tenn., the Lord has greatly blessed me. He gave me a vision of His second  coming.  I  saw  myself  standing  and  preaching  the  word  to  the  people;  then  the rapture caught me up’.¹³²  M. S. Lemons urged his readers: ‘Beloved, space would fail me

1912), 31.

¹³⁰ Echoes from the General Assembly Held at Cleveland, Tennessee (Cleveland, TN: Church of God,

¹³¹ Houston R. Morehead, ed., Minutes of the 43d General Assembly of the Church of God (Cleveland,

TN: Church of God Publishing House, 1950), 219.

¹³² C. R. Curtis, ‘A Word of Testimony’, The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel, March 1, 1910,

1, 6.

to comment on all these passages. May it suffice to say, watch and be sober, for “the day of the Lord” is at hand. He is now selecting His BRIDE. His coming is the next thing.’¹³³ This urgency is directly linked to the belief in the relation of the Pentecostal movement to God’s dispensational plan. Seeley Kinne states: ‘It is general conviction among us that this latter rain movement is the opening of the last campaign of this dispensation.’¹³⁴

The COGE exhibits a concentrated focus on this ‘Latter Rain’ motif. A woman, writing to the editor, expressed her dispensational ideas, stating that

In the end of the Jewish age the people were far from God, and He cast them off and turned to the Gentiles. A few gathered to Jesus as a nucleus for the new dispensation. They received at Pentecost the restoration of tongues … It was a sign or token of a new era.

She  went  on  to  speak  of  the  Pentecostal  phenomena  as  ‘Latter  Rain’  in  relation  to  the ‘Former Rain’ of the early Church. She exhorted her readers to prepare for the marriage of the Lamb by watching and praying ‘all the time to the rapture’.¹³⁵ This letter to the editor indicates several aspects of the piety of the reader. She believed in a distinction between a Jewish   dispensation   and   a   dispensation   begun   at   Pentecost.   She   understood   the dispensation in which she lived to be the same as the early Christians, albeit in the last days of that dispensation, and she encouraged her readers to faithfulness with the rapture in view.

Several articles in the COGE warn against spiritualising the biblical text. This was another hallmark of dispensationalism. I quote at length a comment by Sam Perry in order to illustrate this interest:

The subject of Jesus’ coming back to earth has been sadly neglected, perhaps, partly because of the many false notions and theories on the subject set forth by unreliable and false teachers. Partly because of lack of interest in the subject, which has been brought about by too much spiritualizing and explaining away the

¹³³ M. S.  Lemons, ‘The Day of the Lord’,  The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel, March 15, 1910, 2, 2–3.

¹³⁴ Seeley  D.  Kinne,  ‘Tactics,  Demonstrations,  Operations’,  The  Evening  Light  and  Church  of  God Evangel, March 15, 1910, 2, 5.

¹³⁵ E. N. Howell, ‘Windsor, Fla.’, The Evening Light and Church of God Evangel, June 1, 1910, 7, 6.

exact  meaning  of  certain  passages,  or  from  a  lack  of  that  spirituality,  which  is necessary to the right understanding of the things of God.¹³⁶

The early Pentecostals rarely mentioned opposing theological viewpoints by name, but here we probably see a reference to Reformed or Lutheran views against the rapture and the future of Israel in the ‘spiritualizing and explaining away the exact meaning of certain passages’. These were those who would be caught ‘unawares’ and ‘unprepared’, which is an allusion to Christians who would miss the rapture.

In McQueen’s discussion of the COGE, the contrast between Tomlinson and F. J. Lee, the second General Overseer of the Church of God, figures prominently. Tomlinson served as General Overseer from 1903–1923 and Lee from 1923–1928. In McQueen’s view, the two men ‘represent two different models around which the other contributions from The Evangel are clustered’.¹³⁷. He summarises the two models in the following manner:

Tomlinson approached the biblical text with a dynamic understanding of the relationship between the Spirit, the text, and contemporary experience, allowing all Scripture to have contemporary applicability. Lee approached the text with a much more static and reasoned conception of textual meaning.

For McQueen,  Tomlinson  serves as an  example  of ‘Pentecostal  spirituality’ whereas Lee tends toward a more Word-centred approach to spirituality.¹³⁸ McQueen cites an article by Tomlinson¹³⁹ to argue that he was against ‘“speculative” dispensational interpretation of the books of Daniel and Revelation’.¹⁴⁰

The article in question gives evidence that Tomlinson, in spite of differences of method or emphasis with Lee, was still a dispensationalist. His concern was not with the dispensations per se but with the overconfident certainty with which many presented their dispensational schemes. Speaking of the abuse of the book of Daniel, Tomlinson explains:

¹³⁶ Sam C. Perry, ‘Jesus is Coming’, The Church of God Evangel, September 26, 1914, 39, 6.

¹³⁷ McQueen, Toward a Pentecostal Eschatology, 104.

¹³⁸ McQueen, Toward a Pentecostal Eschatology, 111.

¹³⁹ A.  J.  Tomlinson,  ‘The  Translation  Power:  The  Work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  Last  Days Emergency’, The Church of God Evangel, March 2, 1918, 9.

¹⁴⁰ McQueen, Toward a Pentecostal Eschatology, 106.

They take his figures, measurements, and make charts and paint them in glaring colors and draw long and short curved lines to represent certain periods or certain dispensations and after this is all done and their measurements and time falls at a certain time and place Daniel still rests as silently as the grave, and the authors are afraid  of  their  own  drawings  and  interpretations,  judging  from  their  continuous labors to try to discover something better and more sure.¹⁴¹

This belief that many were overinterpreting certain scriptural passages did not stop

Tomlinson from speaking of ‘dispensational truths’, in which

The Holy Ghost was not given until the day of Pentecost. John the Baptist introduced water baptism. Daniel was instructed to ‘Shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end’. This indicates that there will be  a time when the things revealed to Daniel are to be made known. …

We are now on the very verge of the fulfilment of some of the prophecies that have hitherto been dark.¹⁴²

These comments follow a dispensational understanding of history. Tomlinson later in the article speaks of his belief in the rapture, stating that ‘there will [be] a time come when a multitude will actually go. This Scripture will be fulfilled the same as other Scripture. The translation power will be given and up many will go into heaven.’ The rapture will occur, then the ‘indignation’ (i.e. the tribulation) and finally ‘we can be in the number that will ride  down  upon  the  white  horses  to  take  possession  of  this  old  sin  and  battle  scarred earth  and  reign  with  Christ  a   thousand  years.’¹⁴³ Thus,  in  spite  of  some  differences  in emphasis,    Tomlinson’s    views    show    clear    ‘family    resemblance’    to    a    broader dispensationalism.

Lee’s dispensational views follow closely those of Scofield. In a series of articles on the book of Revelation, Lee shared a typically dispensational understanding of the book. He divided it into three sections, according to the outline of Revelation 1:19:

• The things which thou sawest. Chapter 1:9–20.
• The things which are. Chapters 2 and 3.

¹⁴¹ Tomlinson, ‘Translation Power’, 1.

¹⁴² Tomlinson, ‘Translation Power’, 1.

¹⁴³ Tomlinson, ‘Translation Power’, 1.

• The things which shall come to pass. Chapter 4:1–22:5. ¹⁴⁴

He  understood  ‘the  things  which  are’  to  represent  ‘this  whole  Christian  dispensation’, whilst  the  last  section  dealt with  the  ‘tribulation  period’,  the  ‘millennial  reign’  and  ‘the post millennial ages’. Like many others, Lee viewed the seven churches of Revelation 2–3 as  letters  written  to  ‘the  church  at  seven  periods  of  this  gospel  dispensation’.  This understanding  is  essentially  a  restating  of  the  main  points  from  the  Scofield  Reference Bible,¹⁴⁵ which  Lee  explicitly  cites  with  respect  to  the  ‘great  tribulation’.¹⁴⁶ In  another article,   Lee   outlines   a   classical   dispensationalist   understanding   of   Daniel   9.   He understood  the  seventy  weeks to  refer  to  God’s  dealings  with  Israel.  In  his words,  ‘The seventieth  week  is  carried  over  on  the  other  side  of  the  Gentile  dispensation  and  will finish out the time known as the tribulation.’ His reading of the text agrees with that of Scofield. For example, his comment on the phrase ‘The kingdom of God is within you’ (Lk 17:21)¹⁴⁷ uses  an  almost  identical  phrase  to  that  of  Scofield.¹⁴⁸ This  influence  of  Scofield could be illustrated with many other citations from Lee’s writing.

Although  Lee  followed  the  general  outline  of  classical  dispensationalism,  he creatively  appropriated  the  tradition.  In  discussing  Revelation  13,  Lee  distinguishes between ‘spiritual Israel’ and ‘literal Israel’. He understands the ‘man-child’ of v. 5 as ‘Jews and Gentiles filled with the Spirit’, people born of ‘spiritual Israel’. These are also termed the  ‘overcomers’.  In  this  exegesis,  Lee  relies  on  Seiss’s  commentary.  For  example,  Lee’s comments  on  the  Greek  word  ἄρσεν  (arsen),  ‘man-child’  closely  reflect  Seiss’s  views.¹⁴⁹ The  Lutheran  commentator  viewed  the  ‘woman’  as  the  ‘visible  Church’  and  the  ‘man child’  as  ‘God’s  saints,  all  who  have  been  begotten  of  the  Holy  Ghost’.¹⁵⁰ Lee  modified Seiss’s position at this point: those begotten of the Holy Ghost were understood in light of

¹⁴⁴ F. J. Lee, ‘Apocalypse’, The Church of God Evangel, November 12, 1921, 45, 2.

¹⁴⁵ C. I. Scofield, The Scofield Reference Bible (New York: Oxford University Press, 1909), 1330–31.

¹⁴⁶ Lee, ‘Apocalypse’, 2.

¹⁴⁷ F. J. Lee, ‘The Seventy Weeks. Dan. 9:24–27 (Apocalypse)’, The Church of God Evangel, December 3, 1921, 48, 3.

¹⁴⁸ Scofield, Scofield Reference Bible, 1100.

¹⁴⁹ Joseph A. Seiss, The Apocalypse: A Series of Special Lectures on the Revelation of Jesus Christ, 8th ed. 2 (New York: Charles C. Cook, 1901), 326.

¹⁵⁰ Seiss, Apocalypse, 324–27.

Pentecostal experience to be those who had experienced ‘the full baptism with the Holy Ghost and walking in the light.’¹⁵¹ Lee illustrates the way in which Pentecostals borrowed from a variety of sources to incorporate them into their Pentecostal vision.

The views of COGE provide more evidence that early Pentecostals were dispensationalists. Their doctrinal statement aligned them with a broader dispensationalism. They used a dispensational outline to explain the contours of biblical history and future prophecy. Whilst Tomlinson and Lee differed in their emphases, both agreed on a broad system that is best categorised as dispensational.

2.3   The Christian Evangel

An examination of The Christian Evangel (CE), the periodical of the AOG from July 19, 1913 to October 4, 1919,¹⁵² is warranted given the importance of the AOG in Sheppard’s article. As noted above, he considers that the ‘Statement of Fundamental Truths’ (1916) of the   AOG   was   ‘ambiguous’   on   the   issues   of   the   pretribulational   rapture   and   the tribulation.¹⁵³ This statement of faith must be read in light of the periodicals of the period because they illustrate the common usage of these terms.

In an early issue, the editors wrote on the relationship between the outbreak of the Great  War  and  prophecy.  Although  cautious  in  their  judgements,  they  note  that  ‘It  is altogether possible that when the war is at its height that the rapture of the saints may take place, being scarcely noticed as the whole world is engulfed in the throes of a mighty conflict …’ ¹⁵⁴ This is clearly a reference to a secret rapture. In another article on Christ’s coming, J. S. Secrist exhorts his readers to ‘be ready for the glorious rapture of the Saints’, after which they would ‘reign with Him for a thousand years.’ These words come in the context of an account of how Jews were returning to their land in the early 20^th century, which  was  understood  as  preparation  for  the  restoration  of  national  Israel  in  her  land

¹⁵¹ F. J. Lee, ‘The Sun and Moon (Apocalypse, chap. 12)’, The Church of God Evangel, April 15, 1922, 15,

3.

¹⁵² The name was changed for three of the intervening years to Weekly Evangel.

¹⁵³ Sheppard, ‘Pentecostals and the Hermeneutics of Dispensationalism’, 8.

¹⁵⁴ The Christian Evangel, ‘War! War!! War!!!’, August 15, 1914, 54, 1.

based on Ezequiel 37:21–28.¹⁵⁵ In another article, the author understood the perilous times of the early 20^th century as indications that ‘Without a doubt we are in the fringes of the Tribulation Days … This is an indication that we are in the Last Days of this Dispensation, at  which  time  the  Antichrist,  according  to  Scripture,  is  to  make  his  appearance.’  The author  then  cited  the rise  of a society that promoted anti-Christian  ideas and drew the conclusion that ‘Just as the Holy Spirit is preparing a people for the speedy coming of the true  Christ,  so  is  this  Society  preparing  the  way  for  the  speedy  coming  of  the  false Christ.’¹⁵⁶

Scholars  have  argued  that  the  AOG  were  more  influenced  by  Scofield  than  the Wesleyan   Holiness   groups.   The   Scofield   Reference   Bible   was   promoted   by   the denomination and offered to ministers at a reduced price.¹⁵⁷ One editorial comment from the CE states that Scofield’s Bible is ‘highly esteemed among us’ and is ‘the best work of its kind that has ever been published’.¹⁵⁸ This appraisal comes at the end of an article in which  the  author strongly  takes issue  with Scofield’s view  on  the baptism in the Spirit. This editorial perspective indicates a desire to accept Scofield’s teaching on many topics without   following   his   views   on   topics   related   to   Pentecostalism.   Digital   research reinforces  the  impression  that  Scofield received more  attention  amongst  the AOG than amongst the Wesleyan Holiness groups. A search for ‘Scofield’ in the CE   to 1919 on the Consortium  website  yields  52  hits,  whereas  the  same  search  in  the    three  Wesleyan Holiness periodicals  discussed above yields no hits.

The CE follows a dispensational eschatology consistently. The future events include the rapture, the tribulation, the revelation of Christ and a millennium of one thousand years in which Israel is restored, followed by the eternal state. McQueen

¹⁵⁵ J. S. Secrist, ‘Jesus is Coming Soon’, The Christian Evangel, October 10, 1914, 62, 3.

¹⁵⁶ Albert Weaver, ‘Antichrist and His System’, The Christian Evangel, October 3, 1914, 61, 3.

¹⁵⁷ Minutes of the General Council of the Assemblies of God (Gospel Publishing House, 1914), 14–15.

¹⁵⁸ W. W. Simpson, ‘The Baptism in the Spirit—A Defense’, The Christian Evangel, July 14, 1917, 198,

1. This passage is discussed in more detail by McQueen, Toward a Pentecostal Eschatology, 164–65.

concurs,  stating  that  the  eschatology  of  the  CE  is  ‘uniform’  and  ‘compatible  with  the classical dispensational perspective’. ¹⁵⁹

2.4    Assessment of the Periodicals

This examination of four early Pentecostal periodicals gives clear evidence that the early Pentecostals were dispensational in their understanding of eschatology. If we evaluate the periodicals in light of Sweetnam’s rubric for defining dispensationalism, we find close ‘family resemblance’: each of the periodicals affirmed evangelical doctrine; each argued for a literal understanding of prophecies concerning eschatology; each provided evidence of their understanding of a distinction between Israel and the Church; each spoke of the imminence of the rapture of Christians and the expectation of a coming literal millennium.

By comparing the eschatology expressed in these periodicals to the other models outlined in chapter one, a clear picture emerges. The early Pentecostals rejected the eschatological views of the traditionalist Lutherans and Reformed. They borrowed terminology from Fletcher and used Darby’s basic outline of eschatology, modifying it on certain Pentecostal issues. Their eschatology shows the closest ‘family resemblance’ to that of the broader dispensationalism of ‘interdenominational evangelicalism’. This evaluation calls for a final chapter in which I propose a reappraisal of the early Pentecostals in relation to dispensationalism.