Paul Gibson Hardinsburg Baptist Church Revelation Bible Study #7

Four Views on Revelation Preterist—already happened Idealist—symbolic ongoing struggle Progressive Dispensationalist—already, but not yet Dispensationalist/Futurist—events will happen at the end of time

The Tribulation 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. Matthew 24:21 (ESV)

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible The Tribulation Such manifestations of divine wrath are described in detail by John in Revelation 6-19. Out of “the great tribulation” comes a multitude seen before the throne of the Lamb ( Rev 7:14 ). Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible The Tribulation Posttribulationists see the Church continuing on earth to the end of the tribulation when the rapture occurs. Midtribulationalists look for the Church to survive the first half of the tribulation when the rapture takes place. Pretribulationalists anticipate the rapture prior to the tribulation so that the people of God on earth are members of the restored Jewish nation. Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible

Remember??? 1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1)

Has the Great Tribulation already happened? (Preterist) Is the Great Tribulation symbolic? (Idealist) Has part of the Great Tribulation already occurred, but will also still occur? (Progressive Dispensationalist) Will all of the Great Tribulation occur in the future? (Classic Dispensationalist)

If the Great Tribulation were to still occur… Will the church be raptured after the Great Tribulation? (Post-Tribulation) Will the church be raptured in the middle of the Great Tribulation? (Mid-Tribulation) Will the church be raptured before the Tribulation? (Pre-Tribulation)

What is the Rapture? 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (ESV)

What is the Rapture? 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (ESV)

If the Great Tribulation were to still occur… Will the church be raptured after the Great Tribulation? (Post-Tribulation) Will the church be raptured in the middle of the Great Tribulation? (Mid-Tribulation) Will the church be raptured before the Tribulation? (Pre-Tribulation)

Rapture & The Great Tribulation If post-tribulation, then Revelation 6-19 occurs while the church is still on the earth. If mid-tribulation, then the church is raptured half-way through Revelation 6-19. If pre-tribulation, then the church is raptured before Revelation 6-19.

Revelation 6

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse White Horse (Conquest) Had a bow Was given a crown Red (Violence Power to take peace Was given a large sword

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Black Horse (Famine) Scales Increase in food pricing, except for wine and oil Pale Horse (Death) Death & Hades Power to kill

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse White Horse (Conquest) Red Horse (Violence) Black Horse (Famine) Pale Horse (Death)

Preterist/Progressive View “The rider on the white horse ‘bent on conquest’ (Rev. 6:2-3) represents the victorious roman march toward Jerusalem to engage the Jewish war in the Spring of A.D. 67. The rider on the red horse (6:4), who takes the ‘peace from the earth’ (6:4, cf. Matthew 24:6-7), speaks of the surprising disruption of the famous pax Romana, an enforced peace that prevailed throughout the Roman empire for many years.” (Pate, pg. 53)

Preterist/Progressive View “The riders on the black and pale horses represent famine and death issuing from the Jewish war.” (Pate, pg. 53) A preterist/progressive view of the Four Horsemen suggests that at all/at least part of the prophecy occurred during the Jewish War of A.D. 67

Classic Dispensationalist View White Horse (Conquest) Red Horse (Violence) Black Horse (Famine) Pale Horse (Death) Strong Powerful Leader (Anti-Christ) Who wages war on the earth Which leads to famine and price increases Death would be so great that even animals would prey on humans

Let’s have a little fun… How could a classic dispensationalist view of Revelation play out in our current world? Russians conduct nuclear-bomb survival drills as Cold War heats up (FoxNews, October 26, 2016) Russia, in early October, moved a battery of nuclear-capable missile launchers within range of three Baltic states. In September, three U.S. long-range bombers — the kind used to drop nuclear weapons — flew over Eastern Europe in NATO military exercises. Russia, in late October, unveiled images of a new intercontinental ballistic missile dubbed the Satan 2, whose warhead, it claims, can destroy an area the size of Texas. (Npr.org, October 31, 2016)

Remember… 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. Revelation 4:2 Remember how the story began, God was on the throne and he is still on the throne.