I can only bring to you our beliefs and why we believe them. I urge you to be as the Bereans were and search the scriptures daily to see if what was said is true. (Acts 17:11)
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This article was originally published in the
6/30/2020, 'Sharing God's Word' @ Justifiedends.blogspot.com
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Revelation,
the Series: Introduction
This
is the only book in the Bible where a Blessing is given to the
reader.
In
this series of articles on Revelation,, We will take you through the
Book of Revelation in-depth chapter by chapter and verse by verse. We
feel it is important that you have the information you need to
determine your Eschatology and Ecclesiology.
Eschatology
/ Ecclesiology
How
one uses Hermeneutics (methodology of interpretation) usually
determines what their Eschatology (study of the End Times) and
Ecclesiology (theological study of the Christian Church) is.
Amillennial
Post-Millennial
Pre-Millennial
Preterest
Mid-Tribulation
Pre-Tribulation-Rapture
Pre-Wrath
Allegorical-------------
------------Hermeneutics--------------------------------> Literal
There
are four major interpretations of revelation trying to read the
mysteries of Revelation into their particular eschatology1
1.
The Preterist/Ammilennialist : interprets the events of
Revelation as largely being fulfilled in the first century where
Jerusalem fell at the hands of Rome in 70 AD. The Church has taken
the place of Israel in all the covenants God gave them. There will be
NO Millennium where Jesus will sit physically on the Throne of David.
No need for a Rapture of the Church (Body of Christ)
2.
The Historian: Interpretation here places the events in
Revelation as unfolding throughout History. By their interpretation,
we today are still in the Tribulations mentioned in Revelation 6-19
and will be until the 2nd Advent of Christ. The end times
result in the White Throne Judgement where Jesus will Judge all
humankind on their works.
3.
The Futurist: holds that the events of Revelation have largely
been un-fulfilled and are “meta-tauta”..’Things that
are to come’. This interpretation has become recently held only
by a minority of churches today. This interpretation also holds that
a Pre-Millenniuum Pre-Tribulation Rapture will take place as
mentioned in 1 Thes 4:13-18.
4.
The Idealist: This interpretation sets forth timeless
constructs concerning the battle between good and evil throughout the
church age. We see this mostly in the large mega churches where
prosperity preaching in in vogue. These people see only GOD in what
He can do for them.
For
the rest of this series, we will be using a literal, historical,
grammatical hermeneutics to interpret the chapters and verses of
Revelation. I will also be including information concerning the
Pre-millennial Pre-Tribulation Rapture as it applies to
Revelation and other Books of the Bible.
Revelation
is the Prophecy of the “End Times”
*As
one well-known scholar said: ‘we know more about the 2nd
coming of Jesus Christ than we do about all the time that Jesus
was on the earth as a man.2
*The
Bible has 1845 references in the OT about the 2nd coming
of Christ in 17 out of 39 books of the Old Testament.
*Of
the 216 chapters in the NT, there are 318 references to 2nd
coming of Christ in 23 of the 27 Books of the NT.
*The
404 verses of Revelation reference over 800 verses located in the Old
Testament. Virtually every book in the OT is referenced with the
exception of Esther.
John:
Who was he?
John
was born at Bethsaida to (father) Zebedee and (mother) Salome. He had
a brother named James. He was a Galilean fisherman and was partners
with Peter and Andrew, both disciples of Jesus Christ. He was an
early disciple of John the Baptist and was the youngest disciple of
Jesus Christ. He was the only disciple to die naturally as all others
were put to death in various ways. He was one of the three that were
in the inner circle (Peter and brother James) in the ministry of
Jesus Christ. He was at the Mt. of Transfiguration (Mat 17). He was
at the raising of Jairus’ daughter who had died. (Mat 9:18).
Of course He was at the Olivet Discourse (Mat 24) and was at
Gethsemane (Mat 26:37) that faithful night. John was given the care
of the Mother of Jesus by Jesus at a time He was on the Cross. John
took care of her he did until her dying day. After his release from
the prison Isle of Patmos, He retired to Ephesus where Mary and His
bodies are laid to rest. This information was given to us by
Irenaeus, who was the disciple of Polycarp, who was the disciple of
John.
John
was the writer of 1 John (some say a Sermon of Love), 2
John (an epistle to Mary, mother of Jesus), 3 John
(personal note to Gaius). He also wrote the Gospel of John and
of course Revelation (the Unveiling of Jesus Christ).3
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*The
Authorized King James Edition (1611, 1769) was used exclusively as
other versions are somewhat different depending upon the year of
their printing.
*All verses in the Bible are: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”(Note: we have placed all scripture in RED for your convenience)
*Thus God is considered the author of all 66 books through 40 writers including those of Psalm 2.
**We welcome your comments and questions..Please keep them precise and clean.
*All verses in the Bible are: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”(Note: we have placed all scripture in RED for your convenience)
*Thus God is considered the author of all 66 books through 40 writers including those of Psalm 2.
**We welcome your comments and questions..Please keep them precise and clean.
1
Cor 15:3-4.."For
I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that
he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the
scriptures:"
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Sources:
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Sources:
1.
Four views on the Book of Revelation, II, A survey of leading
interpretations of Revelation
2.
Koinonia House, The Seven Myths of Eschatology
3.
Against Heresies, St. Irenaeus
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This article was originally published in the
6/30/2020, 'Sharing God's Word' @ Justifiedends.blogspot.com