Eschatology

If God = Love then this is not a big deal

Four Primary Views

Prevalent view in evangelical Christianity Futurism Prevalent view in evangelical Christianity Less then 200 years old, introduced by James Inglis and John Darby For those who teach you can lose salvation this creates incredible stress If not it still creates a conditional life, no real peace Very confusing to interpret scripturally

Tries to fit prophecies into specific historical events Historicism Tries to fit prophecies into specific historical events Creates an endless debate on which prophecy is fulfilled by which historical event

All these things are symbolic Idealism All these things are symbolic Only abstract symbols of good and evil Greatly minimalizes the amazing prophecies fulfilled in scripture

Preterism Prophecies of Christ in Matthew 24, Revelation, and elsewhere were either all or mostly (partial Preterism) fulfilled by AD70, at the fall of Jerusalem Most common criticism is the belief that Revelation was written after AD70 Lines up best overall with scripture

Matthew 24 My first introduction to Preterism, was amazed to see how well this passage lines up with the fall of Jerusalem in AD70

Matthew 24:3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (New Revised Standard) And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (KJV)

Aion Literal Bible translations interpret this to mean age Ages were commonly used and understood in that day Coupled with Mat 24:34 “Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place”, interpreting aion as age is far more logical

AD70 When Jerusalem Fell As a result of this war, the Roman army worshipped the beast and his image on the ensigns within the Temple, and then destroyed it in A.D. 70 such that “not one stone [was] left on another” in fulfillment of Matthew 24:2 and Matthew 24:15.  Around this time, the saints, including the disciples, were martyred in Jerusalem and Rome; the sun and moon were darkened; many false messiahs and false prophets appeared; and there were earthquakes, famines, wars and rumors of wars

Eschatological Agnosticism

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