The Four Views of Revelation
Due to a conversation I had last week with some members of my church, I have finally decided to blog about a topic that I have been musing about for several years. I speak about eschatological concerns, that is, end times doctrines. What I have discovered over the past years is that, although there are four major schools of thought regarding end times madness, excuse me, end times events, most people are aware only of the school with which they have been tutored. The lack of knowledge most people have regarding the varying interpretations of Bible prophecy is quite amazing to me, and my conversation last Sunday is no exception. So, as an excuse to write another post about things that interest me, I present a brief introduction to the four major views of eschatology. My desire is that whoever is reading this will be able to not only recognize their view, but also to be aware of the other views as well.
In broad terms, each of the four major views centers around the return of Christ in relation to His millennial kingdom, otherwise known as the One thousand year Reign of Christ, found in Revelation 20. It is relative to this event that we have given names to each view. However, when pressed a little, it is soon discovered that the major difference between the views is one of prophetic interpretation, not simply the timing of millennial kingdom. Without further ado, here they are:
Historic Premillenialism
Both camps of premillenialism share one thing in common, that is, that Christ will return to this earth and establish his kingdom before the one thousand years start, hence Christ is returning to earth pre-millenium. Their stance on the last days would follow closely what Christ spoke to His disciples about in the Olivet Discourse in Mt 24, that is, that evil will increase, along with times of trouble and persecution, until finally, Christ will return in all his glory, judge the living and the dead, and reign on the earth for 1000 years.
There is not a whole lot to say about this view, other than the fact that it has dwindled in popularity, and I don't know any folk who hold this view anymore. Most premillenialists have moved over into the dispensational camp.
Dispensational Premillenialism
I could probably write a book about this view, there is so much to say. Dispensational premillenialists believe also, that Christ's return will occur before the Millenial Kingdom, however, it is a very different interpretation. People who hold this position claim that they alone interpret prophecy correct, and that correct way is totally and absolutely literal, unless it doesn't make sense any other way. Dr. D. A. Waite, an ardent dispensational pre-millenialist, has said the following about Bible prophecy:
What he means is that if a prophecy is speaking about Israel, then it means Israel, and if it speaks about the Church, then it means the Church. If it speaks about lions and lambs lying down together, then it means that a literal lion will lie down with a literal lamb.
The consequence of such a view is that the end times becomes completely focused on the nation of Israel, more than anything else. The prophecies in the Old Testament regarding Israel are said to be only for Israel and no one else, therefore, God will have to fulfill them literally for Israel, or else He's a liar. The logic of end-times Jewish centered-ness is as follows:
Now, there are three major camps regarding Dispensational Premillenialism, and they center around when this event the rapture will take place:
There is also a new idea floating around out there, the notion of a Mid-Wrath rapture. As far as I can gather, this is just a another term for Mid-Tribulation, but the emphasis is that when the seals and and the vials are poured out on the earth, that is God's wrath, and because of our stance in Christ, we cannot experience the wrath of God, therefore, we will be taken away before his wrath is poured out.
Dispensational Pre-Millenialists are looking towards Israel for insight into when these things will take place. In their minds, the Jews have a special, ever-lasting covenant with God, and the Church is really an after-thought. History will end with God dealing with the Jews, so God's got to take us away before he completes the history of man.
Post-Millenialism
Post-Millenialists claim that the Millenial Kingdom is going to occur before Christ's return. The prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the entire world knowing about Jehovah, and all coming to sacrifice to Him is said to by symbolic of the time when all peoples on earth will know of Christ. This is what they say Christ is referring to when he says
They find comfort in the fact that missions and gospel preaching will win out in the end, and establish a golden age of Christianity on this earth. They do not claim that all people will be Christians, but they do believe that the majority of people will be, and that the rulers will establish Christian-laws that all citizens will have to abide by.
The post-millenarian is very optimistic about the future.
Amillenialism
The four major views end with a discussion of amillenialism. I came across this view only in the last two or three years, and I think up here in the Evangelical-Canadian climate this view is the least popular. It rests on the idea that the Millennial reign of Christ is our current reality, and that in Revelation John is symbolically speaking about Christ's reign in the hearts of His people.
The view of Revelation that the amillenialist has is that it is, rather than a chronological timeline, a series of snapshots of the history of humanity, each one from a slightly different angle, but all speaking about the same time period. For example,
Conclusion
I am certain most will recognize which camp they belong to, but more than just that, I want people to be aware that there are other ways of thinking than just one. I say this because so many people are Dispensational Pre-Millenialists, that they do not realize they might not be right.
But that is a discussion for another day...
Have a Blessed Day!
Joey
In broad terms, each of the four major views centers around the return of Christ in relation to His millennial kingdom, otherwise known as the One thousand year Reign of Christ, found in Revelation 20. It is relative to this event that we have given names to each view. However, when pressed a little, it is soon discovered that the major difference between the views is one of prophetic interpretation, not simply the timing of millennial kingdom. Without further ado, here they are:
- Historic Pre-Millenialism
- Dispensational Pre-Millenialism
- Postmillenialism
- Amillenialism
Historic Premillenialism
Both camps of premillenialism share one thing in common, that is, that Christ will return to this earth and establish his kingdom before the one thousand years start, hence Christ is returning to earth pre-millenium. Their stance on the last days would follow closely what Christ spoke to His disciples about in the Olivet Discourse in Mt 24, that is, that evil will increase, along with times of trouble and persecution, until finally, Christ will return in all his glory, judge the living and the dead, and reign on the earth for 1000 years.
There is not a whole lot to say about this view, other than the fact that it has dwindled in popularity, and I don't know any folk who hold this view anymore. Most premillenialists have moved over into the dispensational camp.
Dispensational Premillenialism
I could probably write a book about this view, there is so much to say. Dispensational premillenialists believe also, that Christ's return will occur before the Millenial Kingdom, however, it is a very different interpretation. People who hold this position claim that they alone interpret prophecy correct, and that correct way is totally and absolutely literal, unless it doesn't make sense any other way. Dr. D. A. Waite, an ardent dispensational pre-millenialist, has said the following about Bible prophecy:
"If the plain sense of scripture makes perfect sense, seek no other sense"
The consequence of such a view is that the end times becomes completely focused on the nation of Israel, more than anything else. The prophecies in the Old Testament regarding Israel are said to be only for Israel and no one else, therefore, God will have to fulfill them literally for Israel, or else He's a liar. The logic of end-times Jewish centered-ness is as follows:
- There are many prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the future of the nation of Israel
- Since prophecy must be interpreted literally, these prophecies can only be speaking about Israel
- Since many of these prophecies have not yet been literally fulfilled, they will be fulfilled in our future
- The only time yet that they could fit into is the Millennial Reign of Christ
- Since the church is in heaven in chapter 4, and
- Calamity is striking the earth in chapter 5, and
- Since the book of Revelation is totally chronological (because it is not written in big letters saying: This Book is NOT Chronological - in the heading), then
- The church is not on the earth for the calamity
Now, there are three major camps regarding Dispensational Premillenialism, and they center around when this event the rapture will take place:
- Pre-Tribulation: these folk say the rapture will occur before the tribulation
- Mid-Tribulation: these folk say the rapture will occur halfway in to the tribulation
- Post-Tribulation: these folk say the rapture will occur at the end of the tribulation
There is also a new idea floating around out there, the notion of a Mid-Wrath rapture. As far as I can gather, this is just a another term for Mid-Tribulation, but the emphasis is that when the seals and and the vials are poured out on the earth, that is God's wrath, and because of our stance in Christ, we cannot experience the wrath of God, therefore, we will be taken away before his wrath is poured out.
Dispensational Pre-Millenialists are looking towards Israel for insight into when these things will take place. In their minds, the Jews have a special, ever-lasting covenant with God, and the Church is really an after-thought. History will end with God dealing with the Jews, so God's got to take us away before he completes the history of man.
Post-Millenialism
Post-Millenialists claim that the Millenial Kingdom is going to occur before Christ's return. The prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the entire world knowing about Jehovah, and all coming to sacrifice to Him is said to by symbolic of the time when all peoples on earth will know of Christ. This is what they say Christ is referring to when he says
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."
They find comfort in the fact that missions and gospel preaching will win out in the end, and establish a golden age of Christianity on this earth. They do not claim that all people will be Christians, but they do believe that the majority of people will be, and that the rulers will establish Christian-laws that all citizens will have to abide by.
The post-millenarian is very optimistic about the future.
Amillenialism
The four major views end with a discussion of amillenialism. I came across this view only in the last two or three years, and I think up here in the Evangelical-Canadian climate this view is the least popular. It rests on the idea that the Millennial reign of Christ is our current reality, and that in Revelation John is symbolically speaking about Christ's reign in the hearts of His people.
The view of Revelation that the amillenialist has is that it is, rather than a chronological timeline, a series of snapshots of the history of humanity, each one from a slightly different angle, but all speaking about the same time period. For example,
- Scene 1 - Rev 6 - 8:1
- This scene describes the seals and the troublesome time coming to the earth. After the calamities, 7:9 speaks about the great multitude in heaven, worshiping God for eternity. This scene ends with the seventh seal being opened - where there was silence in heaven. Victory for the people of God at the end.
- Scene 2 - Rev 8:2 - 11:19
- This scene re-tells the events of the previous scene in more detail. The trumpets are spoken about, and are related to the seven seals in the previous scene. This scene focuses on the history of humanity from the perspective of those who are suffering. The scene ends at the end of history in 11:15 when the Kingdom is Proclaimed and the temple of God opens in heaven. Victory for the people of God at the end.
- Scene 3 - Rev 12:1 - 14:20
- This scene begins with a discussion of the birth of Christ, Satan thrown out of heaven, and the beasts from the earth and the sea. This is the same time period as the previous two scenes viewed mostly from the perspective of the heavenly realm. Story is the same as the other scenes. Calamity and trouble until 14:14, when the harvest is reaped at the end of time. Victory for the people of God at the end.
- Scene 4 - Rev 15:1 - 16:21
- This scene once again tells the story of humanity speaking about the seven vials. The vials are a different way of speaking of the trumpets and the seals. This scene speaks of the calamities that will fall those who do not know Christ and reject him all their lives. Their end in 16:21 is not very pretty.
- Scene 5 - 17:1 - 19:10
- This scene tells the history of the earth from the point of view of Babylon and the harlot, the wicked deceptive Kingdom that the world is fond of, but is against God. This worldly system will fail and heaven will prevail. The fall of Babylon is spoken about and this scene culminates in the Marriage feast of the Lamb in heaven. Victory for the people of God at the end.
- Scene 6 - 19:11 - 19:21
- This scene depicts the battle between Christ and the Beast, a battle that ends in the Beast's defeat, and the casting into the lake of fire of all who would stand against God. It speaks of the judgment of those who reject Christ and His message to their great detriment.
- Scene 7 - 20:1 - 22:5
- This scene tells the story of time when Christ bound Satan for a thousand years. Rather than interpret this literally, the amillenialist claims this is a brief overview of the entire Christian era, much like the previous scenes. This scene again ends in the casting into the lake of fire of those who would reject Christ, and the wonderful, glorious existence of the saints in heaven.
Conclusion
I am certain most will recognize which camp they belong to, but more than just that, I want people to be aware that there are other ways of thinking than just one. I say this because so many people are Dispensational Pre-Millenialists, that they do not realize they might not be right.
But that is a discussion for another day...
Have a Blessed Day!
Joey