Posts tagged with Eschatology

“The Christian understanding of the Old Testament is determined by the christocentric focus by which the New Testament writers interpreted the Hebrew Scriptures. Therefore it is essential for a Christian to discover the principles and procedures according to whi... Keep Reading

  “Prophecy can only depict the future in terms which make sense to its present. It clothes the purpose of God in the hopes and fears of its contemporaries” (Richard Bauckham)   It would appear that Rev. 13:1-18 is temporally parallel wi... Keep Reading

A continuation of part one . . .   v. 3   John sees the beast with a wound on one of his heads. The word translated “wound” (plege) is used throughout Revelation (11x) for the “plagues” that God inflicts on an unbelieving world. ... Keep Reading

One might well argue that Daniel 9:24-27 is both the most complex and the most crucial text in either testament bearing on the subject of biblical prophecy. Its complexity is questioned only by those who have not studied it, or perhaps by those whose conclusions conc... Keep Reading

Dispensational premillennialism (hereafter DP) contends that the Bible cannot be properly understood apart from recognizing distinct periods or eras or dispensations in which the unfolding purpose of God and his relationship with mankind are revealed. All dispensation... Keep Reading

Typology   A.        Definition of Typology   The following two definitions together express the essence of typology:   “In typology the interpreter finds a correspondence in one or more respects between a... Keep Reading

Symbolism In Rev. 1:1 we are told that God “made known” to John the contents of the book through an angel. Whereas the verb semaino often simply means “make known, report, communicate,” its “more concrete and at least equally common sens... Keep Reading

Seven Foundational Principles These foundational principles are all interrelated and to some degree overlap. 1. The fulfillment of Israel’s prophetic hope as found in the OT documents is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ and the believing remnant, i... Keep Reading

("Let us consider this settled," said Calvin, "that no one has made progress in the school of Christ who does not joyfully await the day of death and final resurrection" [Institutes, 3.10.5].) Biblical eschatology is a vast field of study encompassing far more than m... Keep Reading

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near” (1:3)   It is crucial for every student of the book of Revelation to read and meditate upon this statement i... Keep Reading

D. Schools or Methods of Interpretation   1. The Preterist View   The word “preterist” comes from the Latin word praeteritus which means “gone by” or “past”. Proponents of this view thus contend that “the closer ... Keep Reading

The view presented below is held by premillennialists (those who believe in a 1,000 year earthly reign of Christ between his second coming and eternity), amillennialists (those who believe the millennium is occurring now, in heaven, among the saints with Christ, and w... Keep Reading

D. Important Texts (A more extensive analysis of Romans 11 is also found in two parts elsewhere in the material on Eschatology.) 1. Romans 11 - There is but one olive tree (cf. Jer. 11:16; Hosea 14:6), Israel, the people of God in the old dispensation. The branches ... Keep Reading

Aside from the book of Revelation, there is hardly a more important section of Scripture on the subject of biblical eschatology than Matthew 24, the famous Olivet Discourse delivered by Jesus to his disciples shortly before his betrayal by Judas. Many Christians simpl... Keep Reading

In continuation of part one . . . 24:15 With v. 15 we come to a critical juncture in the discourse. To this point Jesus has referred to general signs that would characterize the period preceding Israel's collapse. Here in v. 15, though, he refers to one sign that un... Keep Reading

I argued in parts one and two of our study in Mt. 24 that the Olivet Discourse is concerned primarily with the prophesied destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, both of which occurred in 70 a.d. The issue that must next be addressed is the problem posed by vv. 29-3... Keep Reading

A.        A Definition of Postmillennialism   “We have defined Postmillennialism as that view of the last things which holds that the Kingdom of God is now being extended in the world through the preaching of the Gospel ... Keep Reading

Why does the Amillennialist reject the Premillennial interpretation of Scripture? In my own case, further study of what the NT said would happen in conjunction with the second coming/advent of Christ led me to conclude that a post-Parousia millennial reign upon an ear... Keep Reading

Unfortunately, the discussion of this passage has been muddled by statements such as: “The premillennial interpretation of Revelation 20 is superior because it is literal, whereas the amillennial interpretation spiritualizes, and therefore dishonors, God’s... Keep Reading

We now come to the focal point of the eschatological hostilities which divide Premillennialists from Amillennialists, namely, the meaning of the “first resurrection”. Although for many years a PM, I am now persuaded that Rev. 20:4-6 is concerned exclusivel... Keep Reading

It is one thing to offer a critique of a cherished and widely held view of the millennium. It is something else to construct in its place a cogent and persuasive alternative. In the minds of many PMs this has been the principal deficiency in the vast majority of amill... Keep Reading

This chapter is generally the subject of more interpretive disagreements than any other in the book of Revelation. It is also one of the more important chapters in determining the overall purpose of the book. Vv. 1-2 Let’s begin by noting the more popular inte... Keep Reading

A continuation of part one . . . Vv. 3-4 Here we read of two prophets who, I believe, represent or symbolize the prophetic witness to the world of the entire church during the course of the inter-advent age (the 1260 days; see above). There are several possibilit... Keep Reading

Many postmillennialists and even some amillennialists agree with premillennialists that Paul is indeed affirming a future restoration of ethnic Jews to salvific blessing and favor. Of course, neither postmillennialists nor amillennialists who hold to this interpretati... Keep Reading

We are now prepared to examine vv. 25-27 in which are found the most important statements in Romans 11. It is here that the exegetical and theological battle is waged in all its fury. We begin with Paul’s declaration in v. 25 that “a partial hardening has... Keep Reading

One of the more divisive issues in biblical eschatology is the subject of the people of God. What precisely is the relationship between Israel and the Church? Revelation 7, with its portrayal of the 144,000 and the Innumerable Multitude goes a long way in answering th... Keep Reading

So, who are the 144,000? Are they different from or one and the same with the innumerable multitude? (1) Most dispensational, pre-tribulational, premillennialists, i.e., most who read the book in a futurist sense, understand the 144,000 to be a Jewish remnant saved i... Keep Reading

John’s focus in this chapter is the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, at the time of his parousia (or, “presence”) or second coming. In conjunction with that day John also describes the wedding feast of the Lamb and th... Keep Reading

This is a continuation of the study of Revelation 19, picking up with v. 11 . . . vv. 11-16 Here we see what is undoubtedly a vivid and highly symbolic portrait of Jesus at his parousia (second coming). Following is a list of each declaration. ·One sitting ... Keep Reading

I can’t think of anything more important for the understanding of eschatology than the biblical doctrine of the new heavens and new earth. One of the greatest misconceptions of amillennialism, of which I am an advocate, is that it empties the Old Testament land ... Keep Reading

2.            the description of the city – 21:9-22:5 Three introductory observations: First, the description of the city in 21:9-22:5 is largely based on the vision of the temple and city in Ezek. 40-48... Keep Reading

The Epilogue – 22:6-21  These verses serve as a formal conclusion to the book and are linked with Rev. 1:1-3 by a number of verbal similarities. Note, however, that whereas the introduction to Revelation pronounced a blessing on all who obey the words of t... Keep Reading

Having described the seven trumpet judgments, but before explaining the seven bowls, John inserts three parenthetical chapters (12-14). The purpose of chapter 12 is to provide us with a deeper perspective on the spiritual conflict between the world and the church. It ... Keep Reading

B.        War in Heaven and Victory on Earth (12:7-12) Vv. 7-12 are introduced by John to explain why the Woman had to flee into the wilderness (vv. 1-6). The reason why Satan's fury is now unleashed against the church of Jesus Chri... Keep Reading

Revelation 10 is one of the less famous portions of the most famous book in the Bible. That is unfortunate, for it tells us much of the eschatological purposes of God, not to mention the mystery of the seven thunders. One other important element to note is the place o... Keep Reading

In Revelation 17:1, John was promised that he would be shown “the judgment of the great harlot”. Although he was given a brief glimpse in 17:16, the full story is now told in chapter 18. A working outline for this chapter is as follows: (1) the prediction... Keep Reading

Revelation 17:1-19:10 “is a large interpretive review of the sixth and seventh bowls, which have foretold the judgment of Babylon” (Beale, 847). They explain in considerable detail what that judgment entails and how it will be effected. It would appear tha... Keep Reading

This is a continuation of part one in which I examined vv. 1-8. vv. 9-11 There are two primary interpretive approaches to this difficult passage: the historical view (within which are two options) and the symbolic view The Historical Interpretation (1)The first ap... Keep Reading

Revelation 6:1-17; 8:1-5 There can be no mistake concerning the similarities between the Olivet Discourse (Mt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and the seal judgments of Rev. 6 and 8. Note the following common themes that are addressed in both: Wars – Mt. 24:6 / Rev. 6:2... Keep Reading

Revelation 6:1-17; 8:1-5 The Fifth Seal – 6:9-11 The fifth seal focuses on the oppression and martyrdom of God’s people. Unlike the first four seals, the fifth says nothing of an angelic decree of judgment or suffering but rather a human response to it... Keep Reading

The Trumpet Judgments (1) Revelation 8:6-9:21; 11:14-19 One of the fascinating things in Revelation is the way it portrays the experience of the people of God in terms very similar to what transpired for Israel in Egypt and the ten plagues of judgment. For example, ... Keep Reading

The Trumpet Judgments (2) Revelation 8:6-9:21; 11:14-19 The Fifth Trumpet (9:1-11) That the “star” in v. 1 is a personal being of some sort is evident from the fact that the key to the bottomless pit is given to “him” (9:1) and “he&rdq... Keep Reading

The Trumpet Judgments (3) Revelation 8:6-9:21; 11:14-19 First Explanatory Interlude (9:12) In saying that “the first woe has passed” John does not mean “that the events have already transpired in history but only that the vision containing them i... Keep Reading

A close look at the trumpet and bowl judgments will reveal their inescapable similarities. The only place where this is less than explicit is with the first in each series. But even then, there is similarity of language.   (1)      ... Keep Reading

The Bowl Judgments (2) Revelation 16:1-21 The Third Bowl (16:4-7) Similar to the third trumpet in 9:10-11, this bowl judgment figuratively portrays the suffering and death incurred by those who rely on maritime commerce. See the parallel between 16:6 and 18:24 for... Keep Reading

Recently a friend wrote to me, asking my opinion on whether or not Israel has a biblical right to the Holy Land. That is to say, can Israel appeal to the covenant made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as grounds for their presence in and possession of the land of Palest... Keep Reading

In Parts One and Two of this study I argued that the New Testament provides us with an expanded definition of what constitutes an “Israelite” or a “Jew”. Or perhaps we might say that the NT provides us with a “Christified” perspecti... Keep Reading

There are numerous passages in the NT where OT prophecies concerning Israel’s regathering and restoration are applied to the Church, indicating that the latter is the “true Israel” comprised of both believing Jews and believing Gentiles in whom the p... Keep Reading

Virtually all who espouse amillennialism embrace the principles articulated in our lesson on the Historic or Non-Dispensational view of the Kingdom of God. Therefore, what follows is built upon the understanding of the people of God and the kingdom as outlined in that... Keep Reading

The 144,000, Eternal Punishment, and the Wrath of God: Insofar as the majority of chapters 12-13 focused on the persecution of believers by the Dragon (Satan) and his earthly agents, the sea-beast and the land-beast, it is understandable that chapter 14, together wit... Keep Reading

This is a continuation of part one. vv. 6-7 Is the “gospel” preached by this angel designed to lead to conversion? Or is it simply the declaration of final judgment on those who have rejected it? Those who favor the latter point to what follows: vv. 8-11... Keep Reading

This is the final installment of our study of Revelation 14-15. vv. 12-13 These verses provide a motivation to believers to persevere, whether by pointing to the reality of judgment (v. 12) or to the promise of reward of eternal rest (v. 13). As for the meaning... Keep Reading