Methods of Interpretation Revelation Methods of Interpretation

Perspectives on Interpretation of Revelation Futurist Methods Dispensational Premillennialism Historical Premillennialism Continuous Historical Method Philosophy of History Method Preterist Method Destruction of Jerusalem Method Fully fulfilled during Roman Empire Historical-Prophetic Method Amillennialism

Four Perspectives of the 1000 Years Reign and the Second Coming Millennial Views Four Perspectives of the 1000 Years Reign and the Second Coming

Dispensational Premillennialism Christ’s return preceded by rapture and time of tribulation and reigns a thousand years on earth

Dispensational Premillennialism Definition: Revelation is predicting the future events when God will establish and earthly kingdom where He will rule for a 1000 years after the rapture and seven years of tribulation.

Dispensational Premillennialism Primary Teachings: Only chapter two and three are about the church on earth Church is temporary until millennium Literal interpretation of prophecy The rapture The seven years of tribulation The 1000 years earthly reign of Christ The salvation of literal Israel

Dispensational Premillennialism Jesus came to Israel but they refused, church established in the place of Christ’s kingdom Jesus’ second coming establishes a literal 1000 year reign Pre-tribulation Rapture Mid-tribulation Rapture Eternity Israel Church Age Great Tribulation Millennium A literal seven years of tribulation will take place and give rise to the antichrist Final Judgment

Dispensational Premillennialism Resurrection of believers & Jews then unbelievers Rapture of both living and dead believers Resurrection of O.T. Saints & Martyrs Eternity Israel Church Age Great Tribulation Millennium A literal seven years of tribulation will take place and give rise to the antichrist Final Judgment

Dispensational Premillenialism & the Resurrection RESURRECTED TIME PERIOD RESURRECTION SCRIPTURE Church Pentecost-Rapture Raptured & Raised before tribulation O.T. Saints & Martyrs Rapture-Tribulation Resurrection at the end of Tribulation Rev. 3:21; 20:4 Great company of Jew & Gentile believers After earthly 1000 year reign Resurrection of 2nd Coming Rev. 7:1-8 Unbelievers raised After believer at end of 1000 year reign Resurrection of Dead at the end of 1000 years Mt. 28:18; Rev. 11:15-17

Dispensational Premillennialism What does this view emphasize? During the seven years of tribulation, people who become Christians and are faithful to Jesus will suffer intense persecution (Rapture has take previous Christians). Natural disasters and wars will occur. This view emphasizes literal interpretations of Revelation.

Dispensational Premillennialism Dispensational view emphasizes: During the great tribulation, many Jews will turn to Jesus Christ. God’s promises to Abraham and his offspring were unconditional. Therefore, the Jews will still receive the land described in Genesis 15:18.

Dispensational Premillennialism Israel has a special place The establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948 fulfilled a key end-times prophecy. References to Israel in Revelation refer to the nation of Israel.

Dispensational Premillennialism Problems for this view? God will remove Christians before the outpouring of his wrath during the tribulation (Revelation 3:10). Specifically referring to the church at Philadelphia God’s promises to Abraham and his offspring were unconditional (Genesis 15:7–21). Overlooks spiritual Israel fulfilled in Christ (all nations) The church was not planned does not fit with scripture. “Upon this rock, I will build my church” Addressed to seven churches of Asia See also 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

Dispensational Premillennialism Relatively new view Emerged in the 1800s among the Plymouth Brethren. Popular and widespread perspective today. The Plymouth Brethren were a group of fundamentalist Bible Churches founded in the 1820s.

Historic Premillennialism Christians endure the tribulation to the literal thousand year reign

Historic Premillennialism Jesus’ second coming establishes a literal 1000 year reign Christ’s spiritual reign or kingdom until fulfilled at the millennium Eternity Church Age Great Tribulation Millennium Society will progressively become more evil and there will be a period of tribulation

Historic Premillennialism Historic Premillennialism Teachings God’s promises of land and blessings to Abraham and his offspring were conditional promises, based on their obedience. Israel’s persistent disobedience violated God’s covenant with them. There is the idea of a spiritual Israel which refers to all believers (the church).

Historic Premillennialism Historic Premillennialism Teachings God has maintained a covenant of grace throughout the Old and New Testaments with all who trusted in him. Most references to “Israel” in Revelation refer symbolically to spiritual Israel, the church. Compare Romans 9:6–8 with Galatians 6:16.

Historic Premillennialism Historic Premillennialism Teachings It does not take a literal approach to prophecy. It does take the 1000 years as a literal time period. The Rapture concept is not represented biblically. They emphasize both what the book meant to first-century readers and how it might apply for people’s lives today.

Historic Premillennialism Christians will remain on earth through the tribulation and purification of the church of false or uncommitted believers will occur. Eternity Church Age Great Tribulation Millennium Church is not a temporary situation but was intended to exist until Christ’s return and he currently reign now over the earth from heaven.

Historic Premillennialism First Resurrection Christ returns, believers raised, living believers transformed to reign with Christ a 1000 years. Antichrist destroyed. Second Resurrection Satan is defeated (some say Armageddon), judgment comes with resurrection of unbelievers and brings the new heaven and new earth. Eternity Church Age Great Tribulation Millennium Society will progressively become more evil and there will be a period of tribulation

Historic Premillennialism Some early church fathers envisioned an earthly millennium. They anticipated not only the physical reign of Jesus Christ following a time of persecution, but also the restoration of all creation to its original goodness in a millennial kingdom.

Historic Premillennialism Historic premillennialism began to fade as later church fathers focused on the spiritual aspects of Christ’s reign and downplayed the idea of an earthly millennium. They were influenced by Greek philosophers who said the physical world was evil.

Historic Premillennialism What Scriptures seem to support this view? The revealing of the “man of lawlessness” precedes Christ’s return (2 Thessalonians 2:3–4). The tribulation will cleanse the church of false members (Revelation 2:22–23). Christians will experience the tribulation (Revelation 13:7).

Historic Premillennialism What Scriptures seem to support this view? God’s promises to Abraham and his offspring were conditional (Genesis 22:17–18). The New Testament frequently uses “Israel” and “the twelve tribes” to refer to Christians (Romans 9:6–8) See also 1 Chronicles 33:8; Isaiah 1:19–20; Jeremiah 7:6–7; Matthew 19:28, 29.

Postmillennialism Non-literal 1000 years reign from 1st to 2nd coming as Christianity progresses to a golden age

Resurrection/Eternity Postmillennialism Christ’s spiritual reign or kingdom until fulfilled – not a literal 1000 years Millennium Church extends to golden age Resurrection/Eternity 2nd Coming & Resurrection Nations will work together for the good of people allowing more prosperity & sharing of wealth and an influx of Jews will become Christians. Christianity will enjoy a time of great progress. Christ rules from heaven during this time and will return at the end of the symbolic thousand years.

Amillennialism Christians live the world with times of tribulations during the non-literal 1000 year reign from heaven

Resurrection/Eternity Amillennialism Satan’s power restrained until released before Jesus 2nd coming Christ’s spiritual reign or kingdom until fulfilled – not a literal 1000 years Millennium Church Reaching Out to Lost World Resurrection/Eternity Fulfillment of Christ’s reign with second coming and judgment of righteous and unrighteous, Satan released & defeated Time when both those who have Christ as Lord to carry on Christ’s mission to those who don’t – various tribulations until Christ returns

Four Millennial Views Rapture No biblical teaching INTERPRETATION AMILLENNIAL POSTMELLINNIAL HISTORIC PREMILLENIAL DISPENSATIONAL Rapture No biblical teaching Seven years before the 1000 years (pretribulation) Old Testament Prophecies Spiritual fulfillment Christ will reign from heaven until the second coming Spiritual fulfillment Christ will reign from heaven until a golden age of peace & plenty occurs Spiritual fulfillment Christ will reign from heaven during Christian age then in literal millennium Literal fulfillment Christ’s reign was always to be a literal earthly reign & the church not anticipated Church Age (Christian) Prophesied & planned Not prophesied or planned Second Coming One event Two events 1000 Year Reign Not literal Literal Resurrection One resurrection Two resurrections Four resurrections

Continuous Historical Interpretation Definition: Prediction of major events of history-political & religious-between Christ’s first and second comings

Continuous Historical Interpretation Primary Teachings: Held by non-Catholic scholars from just before the reformation movement Details apostasy of Roman Catholic Church Description of the history & the impact of Roman Catholic Church Ch. 10, little book is Bible & Reformation First Beast is papal ecclesiastical power Great harlot is the papacy Destruction of Babylon is fall of the papacy

Preterist Interpretation Definition: Preterist method holds that all the book Revelation was fulfilled in the days of the Roman Empire and has little application today.

Preterist Interpretation Primary Teachings: Two groups: right wing & left wing Left wing rejects inspiration of Revelation Generally sees fulfilled during Roman Empire under Domitian See no real application for church today Right wing accepts inspiration of Revelation Sees fulfillment with the destruction of Jerusalem

Destruction of Jerusalem Definition: This method see Revelation as applying to the persecution of Christians by Jews and the destruction of Jerusalem.

Destruction of Jerusalem Primary Teachings: Take Jude 3 as indicating the last of the books written Persecution mentioned is during the time of Nero Jew persecuted Christians before the Romans

Historical-Prophetic Interpretation Definition: The Historical-prophetic method is an Amillennialist view which holds that Revelation was for the encouragement of the early church under the Roman Empire’s persecution with a message of victory in Christ for every age.

Historical-Prophetic Interpretation Primary Teachings: Written primarily to encourage first century Christians Written largely in symbolic language Uses O.T. terminology with N.T. meaning Must understand the visions as a whole without pressing the details Principle applicable to Christians today