Greetings OYB Community,
I thought it would be helpful to any further discussions on topics concerning the End Days or Eschatology, to at least give a summary of the main schools of thought on the subject. The book of Revelation is a good place to start and lends itself very well to describe the 4 main views for eschatological interpretation as follows:
Four Approaches to Revelation Ch 1 - 19 Judgements
1) Idealism: the book of Revelation was not designed as a historical document or future prophecy, but instead teaches timeless truths about good and evil, Satan and God, etc., by way of metaphor, allegory, and/or story.
2) Futurism: Historic or covenantal futurism, as opposed to Dispensational Futurism or Dispensational premillennialism: the book of Revelation is limited to a specific future period--the tribulation.
3) Historicism” the book of Revelation portrays the span of church history, from the first century to the return of Christ: events in Revelation are symbolically interpreted to portray literal events in the life of the Church.
4) Preterism: the book of Revelation was prophecy at the time, but all or most of it has already been fulfilled in the very early days of the Church; esp. centering around the destruction of the Temple and the Jewish nation in 70 A.D. Differences:
• Full Preterism: All of Christian prophecy was fulfilled in the first century, including the return of Christ and the resurrection of believers. The resurrection is interpreted to mean receiving a spiritual body after death, with no promise of a physical resurrection for any besides Christ.
• Partial Preterism: Most of prophecy was fulfilled in the first century, except Christ's return then was as a judge of Israel, but not his final literal coming. He is still to return and literally raise the believing dead.
Three Views to Revelation Ch 20 The Millennium
1) Premillennialism: Christ's Second coming before a literal one thousand year period, know by some as a thousand-year sabbath, is preceded by a gradual deterioration of human society and behavior, and the expansion of evil through an endtime government or kingdom. This school of thought can be divided into two main interpretations: Dispensational and Historic Premillennialism or Post-Tribulation viewpoint.
• Dispensational Premillennialism: The return of Christ on the Mount of Olives is preceded by a (secret) rapture of Christians, followed by the rise of the Antichrist to world-rule during a literal seven-year period divided into two three and one half-year periods, the first consisting of a false peace, then the second period being known as the great tribulation then Armageddon, followed by a millennial reign of Messiah over the Jews centred in restored Jerusalem.
• Historic Premillennialism or Post-Tribulation View: The rapture of the church (the body of true believers) happens after a period of great tribulation, with the church being caught up to meet Christ in the air and will accompany him to earth to share in his (literal or figurative) thousand year rule.
2) Postmillennialism: Christ's Second coming is seen as occurring after the one-thousand years, which many in this school of thought believe is ushered in by the church. This view is also divided into two sub-schools of interpretation:
• Revivalist Postmillennialism: the millennium represents an unknown period of time marked by a gradual Christian revival, followed by widespread successful evangelism. After these efforts is the return of Christ foreseen.
• Reconstructionist Postmillennialism: the Church increases its influence through successful evangelism and expansion, finally establishing a theocratic kingdom of 1,000 years duration (literal or figurative) followed by the return of Christ.
3) Amillennialism: Non-literal "thousand years" or long age between Christ's first and second comings; the millennial reign of Christ as pictured in the book of Revelation is viewed now as Christ reigning at the right hand of the Father. It can be hard to draw a fine line between Amillenialism and Revivalist Postmillenialism. Amillenialism tends to believe society will, through growing rebellion, continue to deteriorate, while Postmillenialism believes the Church will influence the world producing greater righteousness.
Now that we have the various views laid out before us, we can begin to debate the relative values of each to help us get a handle on understanding the Book of Revelation.
A Pilgrim in Progress,
Lance Muller
