I have been fortunate to have joined this church in 2004 and began leading the men's Sunday School class in 2005. I have experience teaching Bible Studies for over 15 years, having worked as a layperson with the Navigators in the 1980s and 90s. I was blessed to have attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for 2 full years.
Here are some good definitions (shortend from those within the MacArthur study bible) for understanding the main interpretation approaches to Revelation:
preterist - description of 1st century events in the Roman empire, sees all events in Revelation as already fulfilled
historicist - panoramic view of church history from Apostolic times to the present
idealist - timeless depiction of the cosmic struggle between good and evil, neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy
futurist - ch.6-22 are yet future, literally and symbolically depict actual people and events in the future
Can we believe there is a balance? Can Revelation be both a practical/meaningful letter written to NT churches during the 1st century and also a prophecy of future events?
It seems like most people favor either futurist or historicist. And it is possible to interpret it as both, a book for the 1st century and future. It would seem when Jesus talks about when the abomination that leads to desolation in Matt 24, there is evidence that it occured in the 1st century when Herod (or one of the Roman kings) sacrificed a pig in the temple. But most of that passage also seems clear to speak of the end times. ie the Son of Man coming etc.
3 comments:
Here are some good definitions (shortend from those within the MacArthur study bible) for understanding the main interpretation approaches to Revelation:
preterist - description of 1st century events in the Roman empire, sees all events in Revelation as already fulfilled
historicist - panoramic view of church history from Apostolic times to the present
idealist - timeless depiction of the cosmic struggle between good and evil, neither historical allusions nor predictive prophecy
futurist - ch.6-22 are yet future, literally and symbolically depict actual people and events in the future
Can we believe there is a balance? Can Revelation be both a practical/meaningful letter written to NT churches during the 1st century and also a prophecy of future events?
It seems like most people favor either futurist or historicist. And it is possible to interpret it as both, a book for the 1st century and future. It would seem when Jesus talks about when the abomination that leads to desolation in Matt 24, there is evidence that it occured in the 1st century when Herod (or one of the Roman kings) sacrificed a pig in the temple. But most of that passage also seems clear to speak of the end times. ie the Son of Man coming etc.
Is all prophecy fulfilled in one event or can it be fulfilled sequentially/partially by multiple events?
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