Revelation or The Apocalypse of John, the Apostle Becoming Closer - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Revelation or The Apocalypse of John, the Apostle Becoming Closer

The Rise of PreMillennialism  Related to the demise of Historicist approach  Theologically bound to “ new ” denominations.  The appeal of being “ in on the secret ” - especially in a time when Christians are a minority. Becoming Closer

Four Main Methods  Preterist  Poetic  Historicist (or PostMillennial)  Futurist (or PreMillennial) Becoming Closer

Invective  “ I don ’ t know any PostMillennialists; I don ’ t even eat Post Toasties ”  “ Any scheme that implies that John is speaking in a kind of code language about events purely contemporary with him ... should not be regarded with the same respect due a believer. ” Becoming Closer

Preterist Viewpoint  Dates originally from  Taken to extremes, the early church it is very poor interpretation.  Most (or all) of the events are during  Often used to the Roman Empire sidestep the existence of  Popular among prophecy liberals and Roman Catholics  Not covered in this class. Becoming Closer

Poetic Viewpoint  No correspondence  Always correct -- of prophecy with and always wrong dates and times. (IMO)  Draws heavily on  Always a useful the symbolic interpretation  Accepts the “ Seven  Strong point: 2 Last Things ” - or Corinthians 10:5 some of them Becoming Closer

Historicist (PostMillennial)  “ Demise ”  Rise • Very strong in the • Millennial Reformation expectation and World War I • Anti-Catholic • Media and Message strength • Continuation of • Good writers wanted classic Preterist • The power of the history book Becoming Closer

Historicist (Good News & Bad)  In Favor  Opposed • The most obvious • Historicists don ’ t interpretation always agree on past dates interpretations • Most Christians of • Definite anti-Papacy most times bias • Can produce • Tends to “ put off ” the stunning predictions coming of Christ • Scholarly • Scholarly Becoming Closer

Futurist (Good News and Bad)  In Favor  Opposed • Strongly evangelistic • Impossible for a in tone. Christian to prove it right. • Impossible for a • Ignores 1900 years Christian to prove it wrong of scholarship. • Eyes on the Second • Tendency to be too Coming literal -- and judgmental. • Ecumenical Becoming Closer

Summary  Preterist -- the liberal view  Poetic -- always true, always insufficient  Historicist -- most studied, least popular  Futurist -- the view of most fundamentalists today. Becoming Closer

The Seven Last Things  Resurrection of the  The Millennium Dead  The Judgment  The Tribulation  New Heaven and  The Second Coming New Earth of Christ  Armageddon Becoming Closer