revelation Week Five

V. Symbolical View AKA: “Idealist View” or “Spiritualist View” Main idea: Revelation is primarily a statement of eternal theological principles. Four main principles: 1. Revelation is an irresistible summons to live heroically 2. The book contains appeals to endure as a believer

Cont. 3. The book tells us that evil will be overthrown in the end (thus giving the believer hope) 4. Revelation gives us a new and wonderful view of Jesus Christ. (essentially, according to this view, John uses his poetic artistry to describe the sure triumph of God over all evil powers.)

Strengths: This view shows that history is ultimately in the hands of God. (which is a good thing) There is also truth in the emphasis that Revelation employs symbolism as its major literary device.

Weaknesses: Minimizes the literal historical significance of Revelation “In criticism, I would affirm that behind the dramatic language of Revelation there are real occurrences. Revelation portrays the consummation of the battle between God and Satan and shows us the triumph of Christ in history through his coming in Glory.” (94)

VI. The Dispensational Premillennial View AKA: The “Extreme Futurist” view Main idea: Revelation is primarily a forecast of the very last days of history. reading: (95)

Key ideas: 1. God’s dealings with humanity are usually divided into seven distinct “dispensations” (a period of time which man is tested in respect to his obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God) The seventh (and final) dispensation of the kingdom is the millennial reign of Christ which will occur after his return.

Cont. 2. The Bible must be interpreted literally. Example: When “Israel” occurs in Revelation is always means the actual nation of Israel, not a “Spiritual Israel.” Also…all prophecy will be fulfilled literally and in detail.

Cont. 3. Very important: There is a sharp distinction between “Israel” and the Church in the book of Revelation. God made a covenant with Abraham (Israel) which is unconditional. When Christ was on Earth the Jews rejected him and the kingdom. Therefore, the final establishment of his kingdom was postponed until the millennium.

Cont. 4. The nation of Israel will be restored. According to the O.T. they will enjoy a time of prosperity and be favored once again among the nations on Earth. They will live under the benevolent and perfect rule of their Messiah, the descendant of David. (Since none of this has happened yet, dispensationalist expect this to happen during the millennial reign.)

Cont. 5. The true body of believers, called the “True Church” goes up to heaven with Christ in a pre-tribulation rapture to celebrate with him for seven years the marriage feast of the Lamb.

Cont. 6. Those left on Earth experience a seven year trial. The last 3 ½ years is a great tribulation. During this time under the rule of the Antichrist 144,000 Jews will accept Christ and become missionaries. The kings of the Earth and armies of the Beast and the false prophet will gather together and attack the people of God in the battle of Armageddon.

Cont. 7. Christ returns with the Church and ends the battle of Armageddon. Now Christ begins his millennial reign. The believers will be mostly Jews and some Gentiles, but the Jews will be favored.

Cont. 8. The final state will then be ushered in. New Heaven and New Earth, sin and imperfection will be removed

Notes on Dispensationalism: Scofield Bible was a huge influence on this view (first Bible to have “cheater notes” in Revelation to help the reader.) Two types exist: Extreme Dispensationalism (old Scofield Bible) Moderate (new Scofield Bible of 1967)

Strengths: 1. Takes the future aspect of Biblical prophecy very seriously 2. This view puts a difficult book into an understandable system and many laypeople have found it very helpful. 3. It discusses prophecy in terms of specific Scriptures and shows a very thorough knowledge of the Bible as a whole.

Weaknesses (according to Newport) 1. The teaching that God has a separate purpose for “Israel” and “The Church” Note (explain Pastor Ben’s wussie view of “Progressive Dispensationalism”) The view fails to take seriously the way the N.T. authors saw O.T. prophecy fulfilled in the Church.

Cont. 2. VERY IMPORTANT According to Newport: The N.T. teachings don’t say that the Church will be removed from the earth before the Tribulation. Consider Mark 13:24-27, Matt. 24:26-31 and 2 Thess. 2:1-12 These seem to mention the tribulation and rapture together.

Cont. 3. This view fails to do full justice to the basic unity of the bible. (Agree?) 4. Biblical Support is lacking for the theory of the postponed kingdom. 5. Biblical Teaching is lacking on the parenthesis church. (Check With Cooper)

Cont. 6. The Dispensational teaching about the Jewish nature of the millennium cannot be found in Rev. 20: The view leaves Revelation insignificant to those whom it was originally addressed. (It’d be little comfort to a first century believer facing persecution to learn that after seven long ages Christ would return and punish the enemy)

Cont. 8. (An Excellent Observation by Newport) “…as powerful as Dispensationalism has been in modern conservative Christian thought, it has also been extremely divisive. Internal squabbling about specific interpretations of the signs of the times has been an embarrassment to the movement. In spite of the warnings of moderate dispensationalists against date setting, extreme dispensationalists find it irresistible.”(102)