A Poem for the Christian Pilgrim

1 Peter 2:11-12 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; ¹² Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (KJV)

 

A POEM FOR THE CHRISTIAN PILGRIM
The past for the Christian is no more in the cross
What once was gain is now counted as loss
God's hour glass was flipped when I was born anew
By His grace faith came and I believed Him true
Life started afresh, only to look ahead
The old me is gone, past and dead
In Christ what was future is present for me
I look for His coming in this fleeting history
Salvation secure and faith fighting sin
Characterizes the person who has been born again
Some day my breath will leave and I will end the fight
What is unseen right now will soon be made sight
With Him Ill be, awaiting trumpet sound
When He will raise my body transformed out of the ground
Until then be faithful, the Christian is never alone
For the Spirit dwells therein and Christ is on the throne

Revelation 1:16-20 What Jesus Looks Like

Revelation 1:12-13 "Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; ¹³ and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash."

Review: Where we see the Almighty Christ
Yesterday we considered where The Almighty Christ is seen as He is revealed in Revelation 1.  John's vision about the Almighty Christ matches very closely with Daniel's vision of the Son of Man in Daniel 7:13-14.  King Jesus is ruling and reigning, as already expressed by John in Revelation 1:5, presumably upon His throne. Again, as it was then, so it is now, the Almighty Christ is seen in the Word, Amidst His church by the Word and the Spirit, ruling upon His Throne. 

Having observed where the Almighty Christ is seen in Revelation 1, we aim today to understand the details of the vision of the Almighty Christ shown to John.  Below I will first reproduce the text of Revelation 1:12-16, with a follow-up description of the seven characteristics of Jesus Christ revealed in this incredible vision.

What Jesus looks like: the seven-fold vision of the Almighty Christ in Revelation 1:12-16
Revelation 1:12-16 reads: "Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands; ¹³ and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. ¹⁴ His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. ¹⁶ In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."

The vision is quite profound, since no other clearer physical description is given of the Ascended Christ in all of God's Word than in Revelation 1:12-16.  The passage breaks down into two parts: 1:12-13 states Whom John sees: The Almighty Christ, with 1:13-16 describing what John sees concerning the Almighty Christ. 

The Almighty Christ Whom John sees is the believer's eternal High Priest
The Almighty Christ Whom John sees in Revelation 1:12-13 manifests Himself as the Eternal High Priest between the Christian and God the Father. (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1-2)  The imagery of seven-branched lampstands and the vestements of the priesthood takes the reader back to the days of the Tabernacle in Exodus.  The Lampstand in all its revealed detail (Exodus 25:31-40) was meant to signify the very presence of God Himself amidst His people.  He was to be their light.  In fact the scriptures are often described as a light and a lamp, demonstrating their unique place in transmitting the voice of God. (Psalm 119:11)  Whenever you come into the New Testament, Jesus describes Himself as the "Light of the World" (John 9:5) He is the source of the light by which the church operates, equating Him with the same description as Jehovah in the Old Testament.  This is the Almighty Christ Whom John sees.

Beholding the Almighty Christ that John does see
But now what is it exactly about the Almighty Christ that John sees?  Note the seven-fold description:

1. "His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow."  This is the Glory of the Wisdom Possessed by Christ.  He is Omni-Sapient or All Wise. 

2. "and His eyes were like a flame of fire."  Christ is secondly described as being Omni-Scient or all knowing.  The eyes of God in scripture are often associated with His knowledge of all things. (2 Chronicles 16:9; Psalm 139)

3. "His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace".  Jesus Christ is depicted in this third description as the Judge of the earth who is Omni-Potent or all powerful.  Bronze in the Bible was often associated with God's Justice and Judgment.  Only an Omnipotent Being can exercise the Right to Judge all things. (Matthew 28:18)  Daniel 10:8 records a vision of what is most-likely an Old Testament appearance of Christ (Christophany):  "His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult."

4. "and His voice was like the sound of many waters."  Whose voice is the only voice that can create all time, space and matter at Will?  Christ is shown to be equal in power and glory as the Creator "through Whom all things were made". (1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16-17)  In fact Ezekiel 43:2 describes the Lord appearing at the end of time: "and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory."  Here we see the fourth attribute of Christ: namely His Glory. 

5. "In His right hand He held seven stars".  The first four descriptions appear to highlight Christ's relationship over and above the creation, with the final descriptions featuring His relationship over and amidst His church.  Revelation 1:20 actually interprets this particular trait:
"As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."  It is in this fifth description we see Christ's Lordship over His church. 

6. "and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword".  What is the double edged sword that proceeds out of Christ's Mouth?  His Word.(Hebrews 4:12)  Christ demonstrates His Sufficiency by virtue of His rule and reign through the sufficiency of His Word.  As Martin Luther, the 16 century Preacher and Reformer once said:  "The scriptures are the throne from whence Christ exercises His reign over His church".  It is in this trait we see the Sufficiency of Christ through His Word. 

7. "and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."  In the sight of Mount Sinai and the giving of the Law, no one could expect to look upon the face of God and live. (Deuteronomy 5:25)  However those who are shielded by the grace of Christ by faith can look upon His face with unveiled faces and rejoice in the One Whom they see. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)  It is in this last attribute we see the Grace of Christ. 

In summary, we can say that John saw the Ascended and exalted Christ as Omni-Sapient (All-Wise); Omni-scient (All-Knowing); Omnipotent (All-Powerful); All-Glorious; Lord, Sufficient and Graceful. 

Revelation 1:9-20 The Almighty Christ

Revelation 1:10-11 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, ¹¹ saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

As we begin once again to consider the Book of Revelation in closer detail, I remind the reader of the theme assigned to the opening section of Revelation 1:1-8 - "The Coming Christ".  In that opening section we saw how the second coming of Jesus Christ was to be the chief theme of Revelation.  In today's blog we pick up Revelation 1:9-20 to note a second major theme of Revelation 1: The Almighty Christ.

What other's have noted about Revelation 1:9-20
Steven Gregg in his commentary notes: "The general character of the vision is one of the glory of Christ, the shining face being reminiscient of that which John had seen on the Mount of Transfiguration decades earlier."1

The reader must be made aware of the fact that the Apostle John was in his mid-nineties when he penned this Apocalypse (another title for the Book of Revelation". Furthermore, the setting in which he wrote was during his exile on a little island off the Southwestern coast of Asia Minor - the area of the seven churches to which he wrote.  Prophecy Scholar John Walvoord notes: "The exile of John to the Isle of Patmos is in itself a moving story of devotion to Christ crowned with suffering.  The small island, rocky and forbidding in its terrain, about ten miles long and six miles wide, is located in the Agean Sea southwest of Ephesus just beyond the Island of Samos."
Walvoord later writes: "It was in these bleak circumstances, shut off from friends and human fellowship, that John was given the most extensive revelation of future things shown to any writer of the New Testament.2

With regards to our suggested theme for Revelation 1:9-20 "The Almighty Christ", other more noteworthy commentators confirm this main thought.  The late pastor of First Baptist Dallas, Dr. W.A Criswell, notes in his commentary on Revelation 1:10-16 - "This is the first vision of the Apocalypse and, significantly and appropriately, it is a vision of our reigning Lord Christ."3

Dr. John MacArthur, noted pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley California and founder of Grace to You ministries notes in his own commentary: "This revealing and richly instructive look at the present work of the glorified Son of God discloses seven aspects of the Lord Jesus Christ's constant ministry to His church: He empowers, intercedes for, purifies, speaks authoritatively to, controls, protects and reflects His glory through His church."4

How and where you see the Almighty Christ in Revelation 1:9-20
In noting the brief background and opening thoughts about this section, we can now peer into the text and trace the suggested theme of "The Almighty Christ".  Two questions and their answers can be used to guide out thoughts.  The first question, which we will answer today, is: Where exactly do we see the Almighty Christ? The second question, which we will explore tomorrow, is: What do we see in the Almighty Christ?

Where do you see the Almighty Christ in Revelation 1:9-20?
As the Holy Spirit takes John by Divine inspiration into the realm of revelatory thought, John hears the sound of a trumpet behind him. (1:10)  The vision he will behold took place on the "Lord's day" or Sunday - the first day of the week.  As John hears the mighty voice like the sound of the trumpet, He see the Almighty Christ in the following:

1. The Almighty Christ is seen in the Word of God.  Revelation 1:11,19
Jesus tells John in Revelation 1:11a “Write in a book what you see".  In John's day it would had been a scroll of some sort, meaning that the word of God written by John was to be continuous, unbroken and unified in one complete whole.  Jesus Christ both then and now is seen in his Book - The Bible.  Revelation is God's exclamation point on the end of the sentence of His Word.  Again John is told in Revelation 1:19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen...".  But notice where else the Almighty Christ is seen...

2. The Almighty Christ is seen in the church.  Revelation 1:20
Revelation 1:20 reads - "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."  The reality back then is the same as now.  The church exists to show forth to the world the Almighty Christ that reigns over her and in  her and through her by the Holy Spirit and the scriptures.  But notice thirdly where John beholds the Almighty Christ...

3. The Almighty Christ is seen at His throne.  Revelation 1:12-16
Though this particular truth is more explicitly brought out at Revelation 5, nevertheless the description John brings out about the Almighty Christ matches very closely with Daniel's vision of the Son of Man in Daniel 7:13-14.  The Son of Man, the Glorious God the Son, Jesus Christ, in all His Post-resurrection glory is shown to John.  In Daniel's vision the Pre-incarnate Son (before the flesh) is seen at the throne, then of course in John's later vision of Revelation 5, we see the Lamb, the Son, on His throne.  King Jesus is ruling and reigning, as already expressed by John in Revelation 1:5, presumably upon His throne.  Again, as it was then, so it is now, the Almighty Christ is seen in the Word, Amidst His church by the Word and the Spirit, ruling upon His Throne.

In tomorrow's blog we will endeavor to answer the second question: What do we see in the Almighty Christ?



End Notes______________

1. Steve Gregg.  Revelation Four Views: A Parallel Commentary.  Page 60.  Nelson 1997. 

2. John Walvoord.  The Revelation of Jesus Christ - A Commentary by John F. Walvoord. Page 41.  Moody Press. 1966

3. W.A Criswell.  Expository Sermons on Revelation.  Zondervan 1966  

4. John MacArthur Jr. .  The MacArthur New Testament Commentary - Revelation 1-11. Page 43.  Moody Press.  1999

Part 3 of 3 Interpreting the Book of Revelation: Personal Viewpoint

 

Revelation 1:19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things."

Review: Directing our thoughts toward interpreting the Book of Revelation
We have been considering how to approach the Book of Revelation by way of two essential issues: First we asked: "what must be considered when interpreting the Book of Revelation?" Then secondly, how does this blogger approach the interpretation of the Book of Revelation? I would invite the reader to look over the past  blog entries to follow up on the discussion and coverage of all that we considered in interpreting the book.  My prayer and hope has been to introduce the reader to what the rest of the Bible believing world practices and teaches on Revelation. 

Considering my own thoughts on interpreting the Book of Revelation
With the first consideration covered, I now move onto where I personally stand when it comes to the Book of Revelation.  As a Southern Baptist, I believe that the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 doctrinal statement conveys the appropriate general attitude that all true Christians should take when dealing with Bible prophecy in general and Revelation in particular:

"God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord."

The statement reminds us that as important as doctrinal positions are on Bible Prophecy, or for that matter how one approaches Revelation, there is enough liberty allowed for the major views to co-exist without doing violence to major doctrines such as Christ's second coming, the Trinity, salvation by grace through faith and the Bible as the inerrant word of God.  We need to excercise enough liberty in our viewpoints of Bible Prophecy to preserve our underlining unity in Christ.  However at the same time each Christian ought to know where they stand on eschatological (Bible Prophecy) issues to give reasons as to why they are hopeful both now and for the future. (1 Peter 3:15)  With that statement said, I submit below where I am when it comes the interpretation and application of the Book of Revelation.

1. Primarily Literal in my Approach.  Revelation 1-3 is about Christ and His church.  I see seven letters written to seven literal churches that could also portray traits of churches we see throughout history and today.  Thus I approach Revelation 1-3 as mainly literal.  I follow the often said but time tested rule: where there is no sense, seek the literal sense.  However when the literal sense makes no sense, seek some other sense.  In areas of Revelation (like chapters 6-19) where there is more figurative language, let the figure do its work in bringing about the literal truth to be applied.  However where ever the plain sense of the passage is clearly stated (such as seven churches in Revelation 2-3), let the literal sense convey the appropriate spiritual application and truth (such as the seven churches representing things we may see in churches today).

2. Premillennial in Doctrine.  Revelation 4-5 is about Christ and His worship.  This scene takes place in Heaven, which means time is not a big issue like here on earth.  Revelation 1 and 4-5 feature Jesus Christ as the Post-resurrected glorified God-man who is ruling and reigning right now over His church.  I do take the viewpoint that Christ has inaugurated His reign in heaven and being a Pre-millenialist, I do see Christ coming back to this planet, resurrecting the righteous, restore and convert the nation of Israel and bind Satan.  Furthermore, Christ will reign 1,000 years, defeat Satan in Judgment, raise the wicked and judge them at the Great White throne. (Isaiah 11; Zechariah 12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28; Revelation 20:1-15) Following this Millennial reign will be an eternity wherein the saints of God are ever with God and the Lamb, Who is the Lamp and Light, God in Human Flesh Himself, in the New Heavens and New Earth. (2 Peter 3; Revelation 21-22) 

3. Revelation is mostly about the future, with some reference to the past and present.  Revelation 6-19:6 deals with Christ and History.  This section I find to be a mixture of events that John had to deal with in the first century, as well as events that are yet far future.  I am in agreement with Marvin Pate, who being a Dispensational Premillennialist1, uses the phrase "already/not yet" to describe how Christ is acting both now and yet to come.  I also see Revelation 6-19:6 telling the story of Christ exercising His power and return being told in a repeated or "staircase" fashion. 

Since Revelation 6-19:6 is the longest and most detailed section of the book, here is how I outline it:

Christ and History  Revelation 6-19:6
Cycle #1 Christ's Historical Concern for the Saints.  Rev 6:1-7:17
Cycle #2 Christ's Historical Ending of History.          Rev 8:1-11:19
Cycle #3 Christ's History with Israel                          Rev 12:1-17
Cycle #4 Christ's Historical Defeat of AntiChrist       Rev 13:1-16:21
Cycle #5 Christ's History Ending Defeat of this
               world system (Babylon)                             Rev 17:1-19:6.

Two observations can be made about these sequences.  First, since each cycle spawns on the next, there is to be expected some overlap in themes.  Then secondly, each of these cycles end with some reference to either Christ's return or to the time leading up to the time of His return. (compare 11:17-19; 12:15-17; 15:1-4; 19:6) 

4. I see a distinction between Israel and the Church, thus I am  a little bit Dispensational, Premillennial.  Revelation 19:7-20:15 is about Christ and His coming reign.  Being Pre-millennialist, I see Christ returning to reign 1,000 years.  Being a Dispensational Pre-millennialist, I see Christ rapturing His church, followed by a period of time before His final return to earth to begin the earthly aspect of His reign.  I don't personally think one can develop a detailed order or timing of the rapture from Revelation.2  Other Bible chapters, such as John 14; 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15 deal more specifically with that truth.  For those interested, here is how I generally outline this section:

Cycle #6  Christ comes for victory.  Revelation 19:7-10
Cycle #7  Christ comes to reign in judgment  Revelation 19:11-20:15

Let the reader note that in Revelation, the number "7" is prominently mentioned (some 52 times to be exact!)  In this outline there are "7" sections which appear to be retelling a particular sequence of events stretching from Christ's ascension to the end of His millennial reign.  I am aware that others may see Revelation 6-20 as sequential or one chapter after another chapter.  As I noted in the beginning, issues such as that have room for variation, since how one outlines Revelation is not an essential issue of the Christian faith.   

5. How dispensational I am when interpreting Revelation.  The only reason I classify myself as a dispensationalist is due to the fact I still see a distinction between Israel and the church in Bible prophecy.  This means that I believe (according to Romans 11:25-26) that when it says "all Israel" will be saved, it means "Israel" and not the church.  Therefore as I read through Revelation, I will for example view the 144,000 as literal Jewish people (Revelation 7,14) and the Tribulation martyrs being followers of Christ who were converted during the Tribulation period. 

6. Something I hope most Christians can agree on. Revelation 21-22 is about Christ and Eternity.  This section is thankfully among the most agreed upon sections among interpreters. I see the Holy City of Jerusalem as referring to a literal city that is to be the future home of God's saints built by Jesus.  The New Heavens and new Earth will most likely be a refurbished (however they could be remade) New Heavens and New Earth with Christ handing the Kingdom over to His Father so that the Triune God can be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28)  At the end of the book, Christ and the Bride are issuing forth the grand invitation to come a drink freely of the water of Eternal life by faith.  The Book of Revelation tells us that the Bible's chief work is salvation, and its chief purpose is God's glory. 

Conclusion
I'll be the first to admit that the outline and understanding that I have presented is not perfect (none can make that claim) nor comprehensive (certainly others can do better than I).  However this understanding of Revelation is one which I submit to the Lord and am willing enough to change if scripture should compel.  The student of scripture can never rise any higher in their theology than the hieght of scripture, nor can any one theological system have enough scope to say with all certainty that "I've mastered the word of God".  May we all who confess Christ as our Savior be in awe of Him and be eager for His Soon return!

End Notes________
1. Marvin Pate is a Southern Baptist who holds to a specific type of Dispensational theology called "progressive Dispensationalism".  Such a system in all of its nuances exceed the purpose and scope of today's blog.  I would urge the reader to check out the book edited by Marvin Pate entitled: "Four View on the Book of Revelation".  In future blogs I hope to spell out the nuances that exist in the world of Pre-millennial Dispensational thinking.

2. The doctrine of the rapture or the "catching away" of the church by Jesus is taught throughout the New Testament explicitly in John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  I do believe that the rapture is true and I do believe it is a yet future event revealed in scripture.  Although many scholars have attempted to infer the rapture teaching from passages such as Revelation 3:10-4:1, nonetheless that particular truth is not explicitly taught anywhere in Revelation due to the fact that the rapture is not a significant theme in the book.  In other words, we could very well derive the doctrine of the rapture of the church "implicitly" from Revelation, however I don't think one can ever hope to build an "explicit" understanding of the rapture's timing from Revelation.  Furthermore, the issue of the timing of the rapture of the church (three positions: pre-tribulationalism, mid-tribulationalism and post-tribulationalism) is an intramural debate among Dispensational Premillennialists.  In future blogs I aim to do a short series on the rapture doctrine and its timing. 

Part 2 of 3 Interpreting Revelation: Doctrinal views and outline

Revelation 1:19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things."

Review: Directing our thoughts toward interpreting the Book of Revelation
As we approach the Book of Revelation in particular with the aim to understand two essential issues: what must be considered when interpreting the Book of Revelation? Then secondly, how does this blogger approach the interpretation of the Book of Revelation? Two days ago we began to answer the first question.  We proposed that four standpoints must be addressed when approaching the Book of Revelation, namely looking at Revelation from  a literary, historical, doctrinal and outline standpoint.  How one deals with each of these will determine how one interprets and applies Revelation specifically and Bible prophecy in general. 

In our last post we noted the following literary features of Revelation:  Revelation is composed of Epistles (Revelation 1-3); Apocalyptic and Prophecy elements (Revelation 4-22) and perhaps a little bit of history as well (the whole book). 

Furthermore, we also covered the second standpoint that must be addressed when interpreting Revelation - namely the historical standpoint.  How much of Revelation is about the future, the past and the present?  Four responses were examined which I will list only by name: Preterist, Idealist, Historicist and Futurist.  All of these views were briefly examined as well and were seen to represent the mane of conservative Bible believing Christianity, with futurism being the majority report.

With the literary and historical standpoints examined, we continue on answering the question: "what must be considered when interpreting the Book of Revelation?"  In today's blog we aim to cover both the doctrinal approach and outlining approach to the Book.

What must be considered when interpreting the Book of Revelation?
The Book of Revelation from a doctrinal standpoint
The doctrinal standpoint is mainly focused on one chapter in Revelation: Revelation 20.  In fact what may surpise a lot of people is the fact the how one interprets Revelation 20 affects how they view all of Bible Prophecy and how they interpret scripture as a whole. 

The phrase "1,000 years" is mentioned six times in Revelation 20 and has produced much debate among students of scripture over the history of the church.  Thankfully in the history of the church there have been only four main responses given to these big questions. These four positions are respectively called: Historical Premillennialism, Dispensational Premillennialism, Amillennialism and Postmillennialism. To avoid making today's post into a book-length document, I have included information and diagrams in the end notes of today's blog for those who may want to know more information.1

The four main positions will vary in how much they view prophecy as either literal (Dispensational Pre-millennial and somewhat Classical premillennial) or more symbolic (Amillennial and Post-millennial). Again the reader is invited to consider the endnotes section of today's blog to get more detail on these four major viewpoints of Revelation 20.

Five things that Revelation 20 is focused upon and its connection to the whole book
For one thing, Revelation 20 is at bare minimum speaking about five key events: the coming of Christ, the reign of Jesus Christ, the resurrection/reign of the saints, the judgment of the wicked and the judgment of Satan.  If I may risk a second major observation: almost all interpreters that I have read see Revelation 20 being the final chapter referring to history before the Eternal State of Revelation 21-22.  These two things seem to be universally agreed upon by all interpreters who take seriously the inerrancy and Divine inspiration of scripture.   

The issues that lead to differing views over Revelation 20
Where the differences among believers begins to arise has mainly to do with the following:

1. Is the reign of Christ occuring now, in the future, or both now and the future?

2. Are the resurrections in Revelation 20 literal and future, spiritual and now or both?

3. Is Christ and His saints to reign mainly in Heaven now, to reign on the earth in the future or a little bit of both?

4. Is the 1,000 year period (Millennium) in Revelation 20 a symbolic number or literal number?

5. Is the Kingdom of Jesus Christ depicted in Revelation 20 a Heavenly Reign now, a future earthly reign or a little bit of both?

6. Is Satan's judgment occuring now, future or a little bit now and ultimately in the future?

7. Will Christ come back to set up a kingdom on earth for a 1,000 years, or is He reigning in Heaven now and waiting to come back to usher in Eternity or is Eternity to be ushered in by the church's preaching of the Gospel, with Christ coming back to usher in eternity?

8. Are Bible Prophecies to be interpreted as being literally fulfilled, symbolically fulfilled or a little bit of both?

How one answers those eight questions does impact how one interprets Bible prophecy.  It must be remembered of course that the answers given do not carry the weight of importance as one's view on the Trinity, Christ's Deity, Salvation or view of the Bible as God's Word.  However prophecy and one's view of it can affect how one views God's final goal for our world and the carrying forth of the Great Commission. 

Outlining Standpoint of the Book
So much more could be said about the doctrinal standpoint in approaching Revelation, however we must move onto the fourth major area to consider when interpreting Revelation: namely how to outline the book?  Whenever you consider the 22 chapters of Revelation, most people will take as their point of departure Revelation 1:19 which gives you a three-fold outline:

"The things which you have seen" Revelation 1-3
"The things which are now/are yet to come" Revelation 4-5
"The Things yet to come" Revelation 4-22

In some instances you may see even a two-part outlining approach:

"The things which you have seen"  Revelation 1-3
"The things which are to come"  Revelation 4-22

Both Classical and Dispensational Premillennialists  (see endnotes below) will typically see the Book of Revelation unfurling in a sequential, step by step fashion.  Some other Pre-millenialists tend to see the book, especially in Revelation 4-22, unfold in more of a "winding staircase" fashion, meaning that the Apostle John is presenting the same sequence of history over and over again in greater and more intense detail. 

When we consider Amillennial and some Post-millennial interpreters (see endnotes below), the staircase model tends to be the preferred outlining approach.  Other types of Post-Millennial interpreters tends to view Revelation 6-18 as a summary of God's overall program for history, with no immediate connection to any one history or event (also called the idealist view of Revelation)

These are but samples of the various ways people have attempted to outline and understand the book of Revelation. 

Tomorrow this blogger will share how he approaches the book of Revelation in terms of its literary interpretation, historical approach, doctrinal approach and outline.

More tomorrow............

EndNotes_______________

1. Four key viewpoints on Revelation 20.
Let the reader note that the summaries below did not include the numerous scripture references that would be used.  In future blogs I intend to go into detail.  For now let the reader understand the key features of each viewpoint. 

A. Historic Pre-millennialism. (Christ returns before 1,000 year literal kingdom) This first view is the oldest view of all four viewpoints. Historic Premillennialists believe that the 1,000 year reign of Christ will be literal, will be on earth, will be future and will last for 1,000 years. Below we can see a summary pictorial illustration:

Present Age------------Christ's-----1,000 year reign---Final-Eternity---->
                                   Return                               Judgment
                                Righteous raised               Wicked raised
                                  Satan Bound                    Satan Judged

B. Dispensational Pre-millennialism. (Christ returns before 1,000 year literal kingdom) This second view tends to divide God's dealing with history into periods called "dispensations". Though similar to Historic Pre-millennialism in how it views the term "1,000 years", Dispensational pre-mills tend to distinguish Israel from the church and place more emphasis on Christ's gathering of the church (the rapture) as being separated by a seven year tribulation period before His Return. Again we lillustrate:

Present Age----Rapture 7yr Trib Christ's-1,000 year reign-Final-Et-->
                                                  Return Judgment
                                                  Saints Jewish saints Wicked raised
                                                  raised raised
                                                  Satan Bound             Satan judged

C. Amillennialism. (There is no 1,000 year millennium, thus the term "a-millennialism". Right now is the millennial age and the Kingdom is all spiritual) This third view views the millennium as a symbolic number that describes Christ's reign from His ascension in the Book of Acts until when He comes back to usher in Eternity. The first resurrection speaks of people being saved or converted now, with the final resurrection referring to the raising of both the righteous and the wicked. Below we see a summary:

Christ Began reign--Present age/"millennium"--Christ returns-eternity
when he ascended unknown length of time       Resurrection
                                                                           of saints &
                                                                           wicked

D. Post-Millennialism. (Similar to A-millennialism in how it views the number 1,000, except it believes there is a golden age yet to come of indeterminate length that will conclude with Christ's return, hence "post" or "at the end") This fourth view believes that Christ went into heaven to begin His reign and will not return until the Gospel has been fully preached and most of the world (not all) has been Christianized and converted by the power of the Gospel. Post-millennialism is a very optimistic viewpoint and takes seriously the Great Commission. Its summary is as follows:

Christ began-----Church right now----------------Christ returns-eternity
Ascended           preaching Gospel, turns into   raises righteous
                           Millennium as world becomes  & wicked
                           Christianized, Christ then will   Satan
                           turn at the end of this                Condemned
                           "Millennium" hence
                           "post'Millenialism.
                       
 
                                                                           


                                                                          

A Poem: A Praying Mother

Proverbs 1:8 "Hear, my son, your father's instruction And do not forsake your mother's teaching"

In ancient Israel the mother was often connected to instructing the young children in the ways of the Lord.  In fact the Jews believed that the Torah (the law of God) was transferred through the mother's milk in a young infant's life.  This Jewish background may explain partially why the Apostle Peter, under divine inspiration, wrote in 1 Peter 2:2 "like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation". By the time a young child reached twelve years of age, they would had memorized the entire contents of the first five books of the Old Testament (called Torah or later on Pentateuch). 

The twelfth to thirteenth year of life marked in Jewish culture the end of childhood, with boys going through a rite of passage called "bar mitzpah" (sons of the covenant), marking them as legal adults.  Children in Biblical times owned much to their mothers, since the mother spent the most time, instructing them in the things of God.  The Apostle Paul reminds young Pastor Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:5 "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well." (ESV)  

There is much written in God's Word about the place and importance of Godly mothers.  One of those was a lady named Hannah.  Her story is found in 1 Samuel 1-3.  For the remainder of today's post I offer up a little poem based off of God's word in those chapters simply entitled: "A Praying Mother". 

                                                          A Praying Mother

                                            A Poem based off 1 Samuel 1-3

When hope was dim and faith was low

 

A mother prayed long ago

While others scoffed at her seeming loss

A mother prayed despite the cost

While darkness squeezed its icy grip

A mother’s faith refused to slip

When others forgot her deepening plight

God remembered her prayerful fight

A boy she bore, a prophet to be

A mother’s tears were turned to glee

She told the Lord that the boy was His

A mother gave him with a kiss

She thanked the Lord for what He had done

A mother saw hope in the giving of a son

A mother’s tears as telescopes could see

By the Son would come faith’s victory

Part 1 of 3 Interpreting the Book of Revelation

Revelation 1:19 "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things."



Review
As we explored a suggested method for interpreting the Bible in general, we noted the following four step process:

1. Observation
2. Interpretation
3. Application
4. Correlation

We also saw that in Bible interpretation (also called hermeneutics or the science of interpretation), four gaps are being bridged by the interpreter: geographical, literary, historical and cultural.  As was suggested, websites such as www.biblegateway.com and www.biblos.com offer the Bible student access to Bible study tools like Bible Dictionaries, Encyclopedias and Commentaries that can enable the student to close the gaps.  It was also noted that the Holy Spirit is the Chief interpreter of the scripture Who illumines the believer's understand to compare and grasp all the things freely given by God to us. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16; 1 John 2:20,27) 

Directing our thoughts toward interpreting the Book of Revelation
With those thoughts in mind, we now come to the Book of Revelation in particular with the aim to understand two essential issues: what must be considered when interpreting the Book of Revelation? Then secondly, how does this blogger approach the interpretation of the Book of Revelation? We will take each of these two questions in their turn as we consider this final book of the Bible.

What must be considered when interpreting the Book of Revelation?
The Book of Revelation from a literary standpoint
We can answer this first question in four specific parts: Literary, Historical, Doctrinal and Outline.  First of all we must consider the Book of Revelation from a literary standpoint.  The Book of Revelation is not just one uniform type of literature, but multiple forms.  Revelation 1-3 features seven letters to seven different churches in a first century form of a letter we call an "epistle".1 

However there is a second type of literature (also called genre = "jan-ray") that we see in Revelation that is termed "Apocalyptic" (or revelatory).  Other books of the Bible such as Daniel and Ezekiel feature "apocalyptic" characteristics.2

As much as Revelation does contain definite elements of apocalyptic style, some distinguishing features of Revelation (and the other Biblical Books containing similar material), is the fact that it is directly revealed by the Lord, it is predictive in nature and the future it portrays has begun in a small way in the here and now due to Jesus' first coming.3 

The third literary feature that must be noted about Revelation is that fact that it is a prophecy.  Those who take Revelation (4-22) to be completely referring to the future (a view called "futurism") mention the fact that Revelation is at its core a series of prophecies about the future.  John MacArthur in his commentary notes that noting Revelation's predictive character (also called "futurism") "takes the book's meaning as God gave it."  Prophetic books typically have three main features: warning, comfort and prediction.  The Book of Revelation without a doubt is a prophecy of the first order.

As a mixture of different types of literature, most would term Revelation 1-3 to be Epistles and Revelation 4-22 to be a combination of Apocalyptic and Prophecy. 

The Book of Revelation historical standpoint: it is either primarily historical, about the future or a little bit of both
With the literary standpoint considered, we now move to the second that must be taken when approaching the Book of Revelation, namely the historical standpoint of the Book.  How much of Revelation is speaking entirely of the future and how much of Revelation is speaking of history?  According to most authors today, there are four approaches to the book of Revelation, all of which are defined by how much or how little they view Revelation as a work of history or work of prophecy.  It must be noted that in all four of these approaches, Christ's literal, bodily return is believed and cherished as the ultimate event looked forward to by Revelation.  The difference lies of course in how such an event will be arrived at from this present day and time:

1. Preterist view of Revelation: "The Book of Revelation is prophecy that was fulfilled primarily in the first century".4 Conservative Bible teachers such as R.C Sproul espouse a moderate version of this position.5  The word "preterist" comes from a Latin word meaning "past" and is held by a strong minority of scholars.

2. Idealist view of Revelation: The idealist or what is sometimes termed "spiritual" view of Revelation sees the book "as representing the ongoing conflict of good and evil, with no immediate historical connection to any social or political events."6
 
3. Historicist view of Revelation: The Book of Revelation is prophecy about church history from the time of John to the end of the world."7 A prime example of this approach would take the seven churches of Revelation 2-3 and view them as successive representations of seven stages of church history.

4. Futurist view of Revelation: This approach is the most familiar to many readers since it views the Book as being almost entirely about the future, as the name suggests.  Numerous Bible teachers like Dr. John MacArthur and past Bible teachers and preachers such as Dr. W.A Criswell, Dr. C.I Scofield, Dr. Dwight J. Pentecost and Dr. John Walvoord were futurists in their approach to Revelation.

These four historical approaches are also approaches we find to one degree or another throughout the history of the church among Bible believing teachers.  As far as this author knows, all four approaches exist in Southern Baptist life, with the futurist most likely being the majority report.

Note to Reader about tomorrow's blog and Monday's blog
In tomorrow's blog I will be presenting a poem based off of 1 Samuel 1-3 entitled "A Mother's Prayer".  On Monday May 13 we will continue our discussion we started today on interpreting the Book of Revelation.  Until then, may the reader have a blessed day.  


End Notes______________________

1. There are 21 examples of epistles in our New Testament which contain at least four features: A salutation or introductory greeting, a doctrinal section, a practical section and a closing section. Epistles are usually (but not always) personal and are as a general rule to be interpreted as literally as possible unless otherwise indicated. Revelation 1-3 and the last few verses of Revelation 22 have the tell-tale signs of the style we call "Epistle". 

2. Steve Gregg. Revelation Four View: A parallel commentary. Nelson. 1997. Pages 10-12

Steve Gregg in His Book: "Revelation Four Views - A Parallel Commentary", writes this about the genre or literary type called "apocalyptic".

1. In both Revelation and other apocalyptic writings, angels commonly appear as tour guides and interpreters.

2. Like most apocalyptic types of literature, Revelation was written during intense times of persecution

3. We see the use of vivid symbols and imagery (monsters, dragons, symbolic numbers, names) in depicting the conflict between good and evil.

4. In apocalyptic literature like Revelation, certain numbers carry with them certain meanings


3. William Klein, Craig Blomberg and Robert L. Hubbard. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Word Publishing. Page 371

Klein, Blomberg and Hubbard have pointed out one other additional feature of apocalyptic literature which we also see in Revelation:

"Apocalyptic types of literature include a description of events surrounding the end of world history, often said to have come from God by means of angelic or otherworldy intermediaries"

4. Dr. Timothy Paul Jones.  Rose Guide to End-Times Prophecy. 2011  Page 263

5. Dr. R.C Sproul.  The Last Days According to Jesus.  Baker Academic.  1998

6. Stanley N. Gundry, Series Editor; C. Marvin Pate, General Editor. "Four Views on the Book of Revelation.  Zondervan.  1998. Page 23. 

7. Dr. Timothy Paul Jones. Rose Guide to End-Times Prophecy. 2011 Page 263