Premillennialism - A Type of Eschatology (the study of the last things) Based on a Literal and Rigid Interpretation of the Bible

Reading Passage Question

Premillennialism - a type of eschatology (the study of the last things) based on a literal and rigid interpretation of the Bible - and the corresponding global events were the major reasons of the rise of American fundamentalism in the early 1900s. It also played an important part in the fall of Hitler and in the rise of America as a superpower. Premillennialists, most of them fundamentalists, then generally believed that the teachings of the Bible, especially when overlaid with some of Jesus’ and Paul’s New Testament statements, reveal a hidden “plan of the ages” according to which the current age will climax with the restoration of the land of birth of Jesus, the emergence of powerful empires in Rome, Russia, and the Far East, and then war. The plan further stated that out of this chaos, a new leader will appear, promising peace and security, and most political and religious leaders, unwilling or unable to recognize that this leader is actually the prophesied antichrist, will cede their sovereignty and independence to him. But just before this tyrant is revealed for the threat that he is, all true Christians will join the resurrected Jesus, battle the forces of evil at Armageddon, and establish a millennial kingdom of peace and prosperity on earth.

This belief, malleable enough to fit the many crises and changing geopolitical contexts of the twentieth century, especially World War II, proved stable enough to provide fundamentalists with a secure sense of their place in this world. Along with the rebirth of the Roman Empire, the rise of Hitler and the corresponding growth of anti-Semitism around the globe emerged as signs seized by fundamentalists as evidence of the looming rupture and the “plan of ages” coming true. After completing a 1933 tour of Germany, the Boston minister Harold Ockenga, a fundamentalist, called Hitler, the Nazi leader, “an instrument in the hand of God for the restoring the birth place of Jesus.” Many fundamentalists and other conservatives, already predisposed to see evidence of impending doom and extremely motivated to end Hitler’s reign, were convinced by F.D. Roosevelt’s utopian promises that he might be laying the foundations for a revolution against Hitler. They supported him even though they had initially greeted Roosevelt’s campaign for president with skepticism. As a result, upon being elected as president, Roosevelt appointed several fundamentalists on the cabinet. This reciprocal action led to help spread the fundamentalist movement to new geographies almost spanning the entire country.

“Premillennialism - a type of eschatology (the study of the last things) based on a literal and rigid interpretation of the Bible” - is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates need a strong knowledge of English GMAT reading comprehension.
This GMAT Reading Comprehension consists of 7 comprehension questions. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed for testing candidates’ abilities in understanding, analyzing, and applying information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare with the help of GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.

Solution and Explanation

1. In the light of the information provided in the passage, it may be inferred that the fundamentalists considered themselves to play the role of

1. Forces of the new leader who will appear out of chaos promising peace and prosperity.
2. Citizens of the newly resurrected Roman or Russian empires.
3. Leaders of the world who cede control to the tyrant.
4. True Christians who battle the forces of the evil at Armageddon.
5. People who restore the place of birth of Jesus

2. It may be inferred from the author’s statement in the beginning of paragraph 2 “this belief, malleable enough to fit the many crises, …” (Highlighted) that.

1. The Premillennialism belief was so generic that it might have fit some other geopolitical crisis had World War II not taken place.
2. The Premillennialism belief fit World War II perfectly, much better than it fit any other crisis.
3. The Premillennialism belief lacked any historical credibility or solid grounds for its existence.
4. Premillennialists had twisted the belief on purpose to the extent that it fit World War II perfectly.
5. The unique formulation of the belief not only allowed it to be specific enough to fit World War II but also stable enough to last throughout the war.

3. The main purpose of the passage is to

1. Illustrate that Premillennialism and World War 2 were the reasons of Roosevelt’s election as president.
2. Disprove the belief that fundamentalists had little relationship with world politics.
3. Renew the interest in eschatology by illustrating its contribution to World War 2.
4. Provide a correlation between beliefs of Premillennialists and rise of Hitler.
5. Illustrate how Premillennialism and World War 2 led to the rise of American Fundamentalism

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