The End Times
The Ism's -
This has been an area that I've never been comfortable with, and it is surprising how big this is. There are so many ism's it's impossible to wrap your head around it all. Dispensationalism, Premillenialism, Ammenialism, etc. and all of their offshoots. In short this is what the differences are.
Premillennialism: Teaches that Christ will come back prior to the millenium, which will be 1000 years of Christ's personal, physical reign on earth. Teaches a separation (still) between the church and Israel.
Dispensationalism: Premillennialism with a twist. Also teaches that Christ will come back prior to the millenium, which will be 1000 years of Christ's personal, physical reign on earth. Teaches a separation (still) between the church and Israel. Believes in 7 dispensations (time periods) throughout the bible. We are in the 6th dispensation.
Note - Pre-tribulation rapture is a common belief here. It originated 1830 when a woman by the name of Margaret Macdonald who was a prophetess of the Irvingite sect (the Catholic Apostolic Church) predicted that a select group of Christians would be taken up in the air to meet christ before the antichrist. John Nelson Darby was the first big proponent of this theory, but the most responsible person for it's mainstream acceptance is Cyrus Ingerson Scofield. Your bible may be a "Scofield". Take a look
Amillennialism: teaches that there won't be a millenium at all, and that Christ is reigning on the earth as we speak. Also teaches that we as the church inherit all the promises to Israel.
I personally cant find anything that supports anything other than Amillenialism. It just makes sense to me. I can't imagine that God would institute something so complex that most people can't get a handle on it.
Premillenialism -
I found this Tribulation Chart which is helpful, though impossibly complex. Here is a simpler version. Basically here is what is going to happen.
1. Great Tribulation -
7 years of Antichrist reign
2. The Rapture -
Those believing will be taken up and the others will be "Left Behind". Sound familiar?
note - Dispensationalists believe that pre-tribulation rapture occurs for select Christians.
3. Millennium -
Christ will return to earth and reign for 1000 years. Temple worship, priesthood, and rituals are restored. Satan is bound.
4. Judgment
All people remaining are judged (again). Salvation after the rapture is possible.
5. Eternity
All people will go to either the Lake of Fire or the New Heaven and Earth
You'll find alot more about this if you do some studying. I'm not gonna write it all down. It's been done by somebody else already:)
Amillenialism -
Christ returns to take those who are saved to heaven for eternity. Those who are not saved spend eternity in Hell.
That's it. Simple and to the point, just as Christianity was intended.