Introduction to Revelation

Bethany Covenant Church Sunday School

Introduction to Revelation

Introduction to Revelation

Table of Contents Introduction to Revelation ............................................................................................................................. 5 Wonderful Book ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Old Testament Ties ................................................................................................................................... 5 Devise Book .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Four Views of Interpretation of Revelation .................................................................................................... 7 Overview .................................................................................................................................................... 7 Preterist ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Description of the Preterist View ............................................................................................................ 8 Schools of Thought of the Preterist View............................................................................................... 8 Historicist ................................................................................................................................................... 9 Description of the Historicist View ......................................................................................................... 9 Schools of Thought of the Historicist View ............................................................................................ 9 Futurist ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Description of the Futurist View ........................................................................................................... 10 Schools of Thought of the Futurist View .............................................................................................. 10 Idealist/Spiritual ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Description of the Idealist/Spiritual View .............................................................................................. 11 Schools of Thought of the Idealist/Spiritual View ................................................................................ 11 Introduction to the Tribulation (Rapture) .................................................................................................. 13 Dates of the Rapture ............................................................................................................................... 14 Introduction to the Tribulation .................................................................................................................. 15 Daniels 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27) .................................................................................................... 16 Matthew 24:4-31 and Revelation 6-19 ................................................................................................. 17 Tribulation (Rapture) Overview ............................................................................................................... 18 Pretribulationism ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Description of the Pretribulationism View ............................................................................................ 19 Schools of Thought of the Pretribulationism View ............................................................................... 19 Midtribulationism ...................................................................................................................................... 20 Description of the Midtribulationism View ............................................................................................ 20 Schools of Thought of the Midtribulationism View ............................................................................... 20 Prewrath Rapturism ................................................................................................................................. 21 Description of the Prewrath Rapturism View ....................................................................................... 21 Schools of Thought of the Prewrath Rapturism View .......................................................................... 21 Mid-Trib vs Pre-Wrath .......................................................................................................................... 21 Posttribulationism .................................................................................................................................... 22 Description of the Posttribulationism View........................................................................................... 22 Schools of Thought of the Posttribulationism View ............................................................................. 22

Introduction to Revelation

Other Rapture Views ............................................................................................................................... 23 Partial Rapture View ............................................................................................................................ 23 Secret Rapture View ............................................................................................................................ 23 Multiple Raptures View ........................................................................................................................ 23 No Rapture View .................................................................................................................................. 23 Past Rapture View ............................................................................................................................... 23 The Millennium Views ................................................................................................................................. 24 Premillennialism ...................................................................................................................................... 28 Description of the Premillennialism View ............................................................................................. 28 Schools of Thought of the Premillennialism View ................................................................................ 28 Postmillennialism ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Description of the Postmillennialism View ........................................................................................... 30 Schools of Thought of the Postmillennialism View .............................................................................. 30 Amillennialism .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Description of the Amillennialism View ................................................................................................ 31 Schools of Thought of the Amillennialism View ................................................................................... 31

Introduction to Revelation

Introduction to Revelation Wonderful Book The book of Revelation is a wonderful book. Our Lord Jesus Christ will return and reign. Satan and evil is ultimately and finally defeated. Plus there will be no pain and we will truly worship Him. One of my goals for this study is to show how different interpretations view, including some history. I pray you enjoy Revelation but not to the point of it and prophecy being your focal point. I will try to draw application from the passages, so that we all learn and grow. Old Testament Ties The Book of Revelation is tied to the Old Testament. It contains more than 500 allusions to the Old Testament, and 278 of the 404 verses in Revelation (that is almost 70%) make some reference to the Old Testament. His favorite books are the prophetic books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, as well as historical Exodus and poetic Psalms. For example looking at the Plagues in Egypt, we see some of them again, in the Trumpets and Vials. Deuteronomy 28:15-68 is titled Consequences of Disobedience in verse 60 says, He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. Plagues in Egypt Compared with Trumpets and Vials of Revelation Reference Reference Reference Event Plague Trumpet Vial Water > Blood 1st Exo 7:17-25 2nd Rev 8:8-9 2nd/3rd Rev 16:3-7 Frogs 2nd Exo 8:1-7 6th Rev 16:13-14 Boils 6th Exo 9:10 1st Rev 16:2, 11 Hail 7th Exo 9:22-26 1st Rev 8:7 Locusts 8th Exo 10:4-6 5th Rev 9:3-11 Darkness 9th Exo 10:21-23 (4th)/5th (Rev 8:12), 9:1 5th Rev 16:10 Revelation has other references to water turning to blood (Rev 11:6) and hail (Rev 11:19). Matthew and Hebrews also have strong ties to the Old Testament. Remember the original audience. Ill point out the ties to the Old Testament.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Introduction to Revelation

Devise Book The book of Revelation is a devise book, because there are different views of Interpretation preterist, historicist, futurist and idealist view Revelation as events o Preterist. First century including the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. o Historicist. From the beginning of the church until the time of the interpreter. o Futurist. Revelation chapters 4-22 as events that will occur in the future. ''the preterist and the futurist methods, or approaches, stand at opposite extremes. o Idealist. Symbolizing the ongoing struggle between good and evil during the church age until Christ returns, not historical events. Rapture (when Christ comes for the church) in relation to the tribulation (Rev 6-19): pretribulational, midtribulational, prewrath, posttribulational and no rapture proponents view the rapture will occur o Pretribulational. Before the seven-year tribulation period (Rev 4:1). o Prewrath. Before the seventh-seal wrath of trumpets (Rev 11:15). o Midtribulational. At some point in the middle of the tribulation period (Rev 14:1-5, 14). o Posttribulational. At the end of the tribulation period (Rev 20:4-6). They view Christs Second Advent as one event, the others say He is coming twice. o No rapture. Not at all. Millennium (Rev 20:1-7):. o Premillennialism. They view Christ returns before the millennium to physically rule on the earth for a thousand years. o Postmillennialism They view the Kingdom is a present reality because Christ reigns in His Church and all nations will be converted to Christ prior to the coming of Christ. o Amillennialism. They view there is not a specific thousand-year reign, but applies the period to the whole of Church history. The period will culminate in the earth made new. All fhree determine your guess of the future. Each one of the four contains an element of truth. The problem comes when you accept only one and reject all the others. The bigger problem is that when each interpreter tries to force each vision to make their view fit, instead of letting Scripture speak for itself. While I will allow discussion, I will stop anything that I sense will cause division. I also ask your help in this matter. Remember our Behavioral Covenant. There are some that tie two or all three of the group together Doug Beaumont believes each Tribulation view is Futurist and Premillennial, which is hard to believe: Rapture Views Doug Beaumont.Org Jay Rogers states the following about the millennial views and how they view Revelation: Most postmillennialists are either preterists or historicists. Most amillennialists are either idealists or historicists. Most classical premillennialists are either historicist or futurist in their approach to Revelation. All dispensational premillennialists put virtually every biblical prophecy about judgment in a seven year tribulation thought to be coming in the near future. The Postmillennial View The Four Keys to the Millennium Blue Letter Bible says: Dispensational Premillennialism holds to a Pretribulational rapture. Historical Premillennialism holds to a Posttribulational rapture. Postmillennial theonomist viewpoint holds to a partial-preterist interpretation of Revelation Amillennialism say Rapture will happen as the saints, living and dead, meet the Lord in the clouds and immediately proceed to judge the nations with Christ and then follow Him into their eternal state. Blue Letter Bible Four Views on the Millennium . Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Four Views of Interpretation of Revelation Overview Four Views of Interpretation of Revelation Overview It is said, by Probe Ministries in their Four Views of Revelation, and I believe there is a danger if one is not grounded in the grammatical, historical, and contextual method of hermeneutics (the study of the principles of interpretation concerning the books of the Bible). One could be open to alternate interpretations (views) that may even contradict the authors intended meaning. The following displays the differences between the four views of Revelation. Summary of the Four Views of Revelation Preterist Historicist Futurist Represent historic Represents historic Represents historic churches churches churches and stages of church history Symbolic of Symbolic of history: Future tribulation contemporary Fall of Rome, and the coming conditions. Mohammedanism, judgments on the Papacy, apostate church and Reformation, etc. antichrist. The coming of Christ. Symbolizes heaven Final judgment and The Millennial and victory. the eternal state. kingdom, the judgment of evil and the eternal state.

Revelation Ch. 1-3

Idealist Represent historic churches.

Revelation Ch. 4-19

Symbolic of the ongoing conflict between good and evil.

Revelation Ch. 20-22

Represents the victory of all that is good.

You can read Revelation through more than one hermeneutical lens. One could see chapters 1-3 from a non-Futurist view. I perceive chapters 4-18 with a Historicist eye; though believe some of these events may happen in the future, as well. The outlook for chapters 19-22 is with a Futurist viewpoint.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Four Views of Interpretation of Revelation Preterist

Preterist Description of the Preterist View The word Preterist, if used as a noun, describes means one who is chiefly concerned with the past (Chapters 4-19 describe the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or the fall of Rome in A.D. 476). When the word preterist is used as an adjective, it describes something that is focused on the past. A Preterist interpretation of the book of Revelation holds that most (not all, but most) of the prophecies of the book have already been fulfilled, that they were fulfilled shortly after the writer, John, first penned them. In a sense, one might say that there is an element of futurism, in that it truly was future to John, but from our perspective, it relates to history. Hence, we might say, in a technical sense that preterism is futuristic to John, yet historical to us. Schools of Thought of the Preterist View Full preterists some prefer to call their position consistent preterism. They believe that all the prophecies found in Revelation were fulfilled in AD 70 and that we are now living in the eternal state, or the new heavens and the new earth. Partial preterists some prefer to call their position orthodox preterism. They believe that most of the prophecies of Revelation were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem but that chapters 20-22 point to future events such as a future resurrection of believers and return of Christ to the earth. The following chart compares the Full and Partial Preterists. Full vs Partial Preterists Full Preterists Event Coming of Christ Resurrection and rapture Day of the Lord Judgment AD 70 Yes Yes Yes Yes End of history No No No No

Partial Preterists AD 70 Yes (1) No Yes Yes End of history Yes (2) Yes Yes Yes

Partial preterists distinguish between a coming of the Lord in judgment (1) against Jerusalem in AD 70 and the future bodily (2) Second Coming of our Lord at the end of history. Preterists (past fulfillment at AD 70) viewpoint, taking the "mid-trib, pre-wrath" position that a literal rapture occurred in AD 66 (three and a half years before the destruction of Jerusalem)

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Four Views of Interpretation of Revelation Historicist Historicist Description of the Historicist View A Historicist approach to interpretation of the Revelation sees the book prophesying events that transpire over the course of the entire church age. The book of Revelation, they would say, is a foretelling of all history from the time of the first coming of Christ unto the end of the age. Schools of Thought of the Historicist View There is only one view that I can find. However, the time of the events in Revelation had to change with time. For example, the age of Laodicea is typically identified as occurring in the same time period as the expositor. The Historicist approach to the Seven Churches (Rev 2-3) are to assign them ages: The age of Ephesus is the apostolic age up to 100. The age of Smyrna is the persecution of the Church through 313. The age of Pergamus is the compromised Church lasting until. The age of Thyatira is the rise of the papacy to the Reformation. The age of Sardis is the age of the Reformation. The age of Philadelphia is the age of evangelism. The age of Laodicea represents liberal churches in a "present day" context.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Four Views of Interpretation of Revelation Futurist

Futurist Description of the Futurist View The Futurist approach to interpretation of the Revelation sees the book prophesying events that are largely future to all but those living just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The book of Revelation, they would say, is for the most part a foretelling of events that will not begin to transpire until the end of the current age shortly before the Second Coming of Christ. Most futurists are dispensationalists, but not all of them are. Dispensationalism is a nineteenth-century evangelical development based on a futurist biblical hermeneutic that sees a series of chronologically successive "dispensations" or periods in history in which God relates to human beings in different ways under different Biblical covenants. One group sees the ages as: Creation to fall Innocence Genesis 1-3 Fall to flood Conscience Genesis 3-8 Flood to Abraham Human Government Genesis 9-11 Abraham to Moses Promise Genesis 12-Exodus 19 Moses to Christ Law Exodus 20- Birth of the Church Church Age Grace Church Age-Rapture Millennium Kingdom Revelation 20:4-6 Eternal State Revelation 21-22 Futurists divide the books contents based on their understanding of Revelation 1:19, in which John is told: Write the things (1) which thou hast seen, and (2) the things which are, and (3) the things which shall be hereafter. They go on to say that Revelation 1 records the things that John had already seen. Revelation 2 & 3, that contain the seven letters to the seven churches, are the things that are. The things which shall be hereafter begins with 4:1 and continues to the end of the book. Their view holds that the book was written so that the prophesied events are recorded in chronological order. Schools of Thought of the Futurist View Mostly Futuristic. In chapter 3:10 the Lord says to the church at Philadelphia that they "will kept from" (thrhvsw ejk) the hour of trial to come upon the earth. This is a literary, programmatic statement wherein the hour of trial refers to the judgments described by John in 6-18. According to John, the church at Philadelphia will not even enter that tribulation. Walvoord argues that it is unlikely that just the church at Philadelphia is ultimately in mind heresurely it must be the church as a world-wide body. Therefore, the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments (6-16ff), which in this system are referred to as a time of Jacob's trouble (Jer. 30:7), are all future and occur after the rapture (1 Thes. 4:16) of the th church. They relate directly to Daniel's 70 week (see Dan. 9:24-27; a seven year period) and therefore concern Israel and not the church. In Walvoord's system, the seal, trumpets and bowl judgments are chronologically sequential, that is, after the seal judgments, come the trumpet judgments and finally the bowl judgments. These all occur in the last 3.5 years of the seven year th period of Daniel's 70 week. The end result of this Great Tribulation is the destruction of ecclesiastical and political Babylon. Then Christ will return with the church and set up his kingdom. Moderate Futurist. An answer to the problem of the relationship of the seal, trumpet and bowl judgments to one another, could provide the solution to the view of history affirmed in the book. With that in mind, he proposes that the seal judgments represent "the forces in history, however long it lasts, by which God works out his redemptive and judicial purposes leading up to the end." Therefore, Ladd understands the seal judgments to be going on throughout the church age and the trumpet and bowl judgments (really from chapter 7 onward) to be concerned with the time of the consummation. The primary reason he argues in this fashion is because the contents of the book cannot be opened until the last seal and 6:16, 17 explicitly says that the "great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand" (NIV)? This text, according to Ladd, suggests that it had not yet arrived until the sixth seal was broken. Further, Ladd understands the seal judgments to parallel the woes outlined in Matthew 24 and that the white horse in Revelation should be understood to be the victories won by the gospel in an age characterized by evil and death. Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Four Views of Interpretation of Revelation Idealist Idealist/Spiritual Description of the Idealist/Spiritual View This method of interpreting the Revelation does not look for individual or specific fulfillment of the prophecies of the book; rather, the Revelation is perceived to contain spiritual lessons and principles that may find recurrent expression in history. What is being conveyed in the book of Revelation, it is claimed, is the reality of spiritual warfare that is always being waged. Major themes are to be seen in which the Christian may receive assistance and encouragement. Schools of Thought of the Idealist/Spiritual View There are three schools of thought Historical Idealism is the view of prophecy which teaches that the types and models in the Bible point to Jesus Christ and His Body throughout all ages... but also that they are ultimately fulfilled in "the last day at the end of the world." The point of distinction being that the substance of prophecy is being seen as largely fulfilled in the natural realm through the progress of history. Modern Idealism differs from this method, in that it sees all bible prophecy as pointing to everlasting spiritual realities in Jesus Christ. Not focusing "horizontally" on a single day in the past or future when all of the prophetic models of judgment and blessing are revealed, but rather focusing "vertically" to the eternal realm.. which is fully revealed in the "age to come" -- as in "it is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgment." Incidental Idealism is not, strictly speaking, Idealism at all. Rather, it is being used as a "catch all" term to refer to the writings of Preterists, Historicists and Futurists, which just happen to be Idealist in nature. This is common among chronologists when discussing the "true nature" of Baptism, the Lord's Supper, or other figures and types in the Bible. Gary Burge makes sense when he says, Most idealists are amillennialists.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture)

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Introduction Introduction to the Tribulation (Rapture) While the word rapture is not in the Bible, "being caught up" (1Th 4:17) is used. The "dead in Christ" and "we who are alive and remain" will be caught up in the clouds to meet "the Lord". The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:50-54. There is some thought that the church panicked, when they heard a rumor that the day of the Lord was at hand, and they had missed the rapture. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the 51 perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be 52 changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the 53 dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the 54 imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. (1Co 15:50-54) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not 14 grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God 15 will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have 16 fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the 17 archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall 18 always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1Th 4:13-18)
13 50

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Dates of the Rapture Dates of the Rapture While Jesus said But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone (Mar 13:32), many have tried to predict the Lord's return by using elaborate time tables. Most date setters do not realize mankind has not kept an unwavering record of time. Anyone wanting to chart for example 100 BC to 2000 AD would have contend with the fact 46 BC was 445 days long, there was no year 0 BC, and in 1582 we switched from Julian Years (360 days) to Gregorian (365 days). Because most prognosticators are not aware of all these errors, from the get go their math is already off by several years. Some notable predictions of the date of the rapture include the following: 130 Rabbi Jose, the Galilean, a contemporary of Hyrcanus and Azariah, thought the Messiah would come in three generations (60 years), after the destruction; namely 130 (Luther Martin, Date Setters, Guardian of Truth, Sept. 15, 1994) 1000 This year goes down as one of the most pronounced states of hysteria over the return of Christ. All members of society seemed affected by the prediction that Jesus was coming back on Jan 1, 1000. There really weren't any of the events required by the Bible transpiring at that time. The magical number 1000 was primarily the sole reason for the expectation. During December 999 AD, everyone was on their best behavior; worldly goods were sold and given to the poor, swarms of pilgrims headed east to meet the Lord at Jerusalem, buildings went unrepaired, crops were left unplanted, and criminals were set free from jails. 1836 John Wesley wrote that "the time, times and half a time" of Revelation 12:14 were 1058-1836, "when Christ should come" (apud A. M. Morris, The Prophecies Unveiled, p. 361). Millenium begins; John Wesley, founder of Methodism; see 1836, J A Bengel (Luther Martin, Date Setters, Guardian of Truth, Sept. 15, 1994) March 21, 1843 First date William Miller predicted that Christ would return between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844, then revised his prediction, claiming to have miscalculated Scripture, to October 22, 1844. The realization that the predictions were incorrect resulted in a Great Disappointment. Miller's theology gave rise to the Advent movement. The Baha'is believe that Christ did return as Miller predicted in 1844, with the advent of the Bb, and numerous Miller-like prophetic predictions from many religions are given in William Sears' book, Thief in The Night. October 1, 1914 Charles Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses) based the date from prophecy in the book of Daniel, Chapter 4. The writings referred to "seven times". The WTS interpreted each "time" as equal to 360 days, giving a total of 2520 days. This was further interpreted as representing 2520 years, measured from the starting date of 607 BC. Jehovah's Witnesses revised their dates (1918, 1920, 1925, 1941, 1975 and 1994). 1981 Chuck Smith predicted If I understand Scripture correctly, Jesus taught us that the generation which sees the budding of the fig tree, the birth of the nation of Israel, will be the generation that sees the Lords return. I believe that the generation of 1948 is the last generation. Since a generation of judgment is forty years and the Tribulation period lasts seven years, I believe the Lord could come back for His Church any time before the Tribulation starts, which would mean any time before 1981. (1948 + 40 7 = 1981). Chuck Smith, End Times (Costa Mesa, CA: The Word for Today, 1978), 1988 Publication of 88 Reasons why the Rapture is in 1988, by Edgar C. Whisenant. This author made further predictions of the rapture for 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, through 1997. 1993 Multiple predictions were given for 1993, seven years before the year 2000; the rapture would have to start to allow for seven years of the tribulation before the return in 2000. September 6, 1994 Last Day and Return of Christ; Harold Camping; Book: 1994? (pub in 1992) "Last Day and return of Christ sometime on or between September 15, 1994...and September 27, 1994." (p. 531) "I will be surprised if we reach October 1, 1994" (p. 533) Camping hedged his bets though, by offering a back up date of 2011 if 1994 was wrong. His dates were May 21, 2011 then October 21, 2011. 2060 in 1704, Sir Isaac Newton proposed that, based upon his calculations using figures from the Book of Daniel, the Apocalypse could happen no earlier than 2060.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Introduction to the Tribulation

Introduction to the Tribulation

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Introduction to the Tribulation Daniels 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27) People base the tribulation period in Revelation 6-19 being seven years based on Daniel, citing a week means a year. Starting with Daniels 70th week (Daniel 9:24-27): 24 Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up 25 vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven 26 weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end will come with a flood; even 27 to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate. In Daniel 12:11, it states that from the abomination of desolation, there will be 1290 days; the time is Jesus Messiah will come to reign on the earth. 11 From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, 12 there will be 1,290 days. How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days! The 1335 days points to the prophetic fulfillment of Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), where Ezekiel 34 is fulfilled with the judgment of the Jewish people by the Messiah. Their sins will be forgiven and they will be saved, as written also in Romans 11:25-29. The 45 days between the 1290 and 1335 days is when the armies and governments attack the Messiah and are defeated, and all remaining people on earth are summoned for judgment. In Revelation, we read 1,260 days or 42 months thrice. The last two may be concurrent. Revelation 11:1-14 is about Gods Two Witnesses who will prophesy for 1,260 days (vs 3), which is 42 months, the same time as nations tread underfoot the holy city. We read they were then killed (vs 7), but after the three and a half days they came back to life and went to heaven (vv 11-12). 2 Leave out the court which is outside the temple and do not measure it, for it has been given to 3 the nations; and they will tread under foot the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. After the Seventh Trumpet (Rev 11:15-19), we read a woman about to give birth and a great red dragon wanting t o devour her child (Rev 12:1-4). She gives birth (vs 5) then 6 Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Revelation 13:1-10 is about The Beast from the Sea, where we read about the third 42 month period. 5 There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him There is also time and times and half a time. Revelation 12:14 states 1,260 days as time and times and half a time (3 years). 14 But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she *was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. Daniel 7 is the Vision of the Four Beasts. Verses 23-27 is the interpretation of the fourth beast. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. Daniel 12 is about The Time of the End 7 I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed. Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Introduction to the Tribulation

Matthew 24:4-31 and Revelation 6-19 Many say Matthew 24 is an expansion of Daniel 9:24-27 (Daniel's 70th Week). What Daniel described in one verse, Jesus expanded in the Olivet Discourse to one chapter, and then John enlarged to 14 chapters. I looked and didnt always see what others did, so I put the passages in italics. Matthew 24:4-31 and Revelation 6-19 Event Matthew Seal 1 Seal 2 Seal 3 Seal 4 Seal 5 Seal 6 False christs/ Antichrist Widespread warfare Food shortages Famines and death Martyrs Great earthquake/ Heavenly catastrophes Deception by false prophets Increase of wickedness Love growing cold Those who stand firm The preaching of the Gospel Desecration of the Temple will cause Israel to flee Unequaled distress False messiahs & prophets II Second Advent 24:7b 24:9-10 24:29 24:11 24:12a 24:12b 24:13 24:14 24:15 24:16-20 24:21 24:22-28 24:30-31 19:11-21 13:1-10 12:6,12-17 2:4 16:15 24:4-5 24:6-7a

Revelation 6:1-2 6:3-4 6:5-6 6:7-8 6:9-11, 7:9-10, 13-17 6:12-17, 8:12 13:11-18 (14)

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Overview

Tribulation (Rapture) Overview The following illustrates the differences in thee of the Tribulation (Rapture) views

There is also the Prewrath view, as well as the partial rapture theory and theory there will be no rapture or it already has happened.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Pretribulationism Pretribulationism Description of the Pretribulationism View Pretribulationism is a futurist interpretation of end time events. It teaches that the church will be caught up to Christ sometime before the tribulation period (which they claim is Daniels Seventieth Week and thus a seven-year period) begins. This removes the church from the earth and conveys it into Heaven while divine judgment is poured out on the unbelievers who remain. Typically pre-trib teaching includes the belief that there will continue to be people saved who were left behind, many who are converted by the preaching of the 144,000 witnesses of Rev. ch. 7. These believers are the tribulation saints who must wait until Christ returns a second (third?) time to receive their eternal inheritance, although most will be martyred by then. Christs return with the church, a 1,000-year period of earthly rule by Christ will begin. Schools of Thought of the Pretribulationism View While many pre-tribulationists are also dispensationalists, not all pre-tribulationists are dispensationalists.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Midtribulationism Midtribulationism Description of the Midtribulationism View Midtribulationists usually do not use the term of themselves, and prefer to classify themselves as pretribulationistspretribulational in the sense that Christ is coming before the great tribulation which characterizes the last half of Daniels seventieth week. Midtribulationism teaches that the church will enter the seven last years, but will be taken to be with Christ 3 1/2 years later at the mid-point. Typically, this removes the church from the Great Tribulation which they believe to be contained in the second half, but does put the church through some of the more tolerable conditions during the first half. Like Pretribulationism, this is a futurist / premillennial belief system. Many of its arguments reflect that of Posttribulationism, only taking a more sequential view of the Revelation narrative. Schools of Thought of the Midtribulationism View There is only one view that I can find.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Prewrath Rapturism Prewrath Rapturism Description of the Prewrath Rapturism View The Prewrath Rapturism view is fairly new to the rapture debate. It basically follows a chronological view of Revelation as opposed to a recapitulating view. It is also futuristic and Pre- Millennial. The view strives to avoid the pitfalls of all the other views, while at the same time drawing off each ones strengths. Prewrath Rapturism places the rapture past the midpoint, but before the end of the seven-year period of the end timebetween the seals and the trumpets. Interestingly, in its more developed explanation of Revelations timing, it places the bowl judgments within the first 30 days after the end of the seven years (this time period is taken from Daniel 12:11). Schools of Thought of the Prewrath Rapturism View There is only one view that I can find. Mid-Trib vs Pre-Wrath One may think the Prewrath rapture is a form of Midtribulationism. The Midtribulationism teaches that the church is raptured before the great tribulation starts and that the great tribulation is the judgment of God. The Prewrath rapture position teaches that the church is raptured after the great tribulation is terminated by God, and that the great tribulation is not the judgment of God.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Posttribulationism

Posttribulationism Description of the Posttribulationism View Posttribulationism is the term used to describe the belief that the church will not be taken out of the last seven years, but instead will be protected through it, and caught up to Christ when He returns at the end of that period. The millennium will begin at that time, and so Posttribulationism is both futurist, and PreMillennial. Generally Post-Tribulationists see Revelation as a recapitulating story that culminates in the seventh of each of the major visions of seven (the seals, trumpets, and bowls). In this view, Christ will not have two separate returns or comings, but will return at the end of the time of judgment to be met by His followers in the air to be with him always. Schools of Thought of the Posttribulationism View Dr. Walvoord has classified the four kinds of posttribulationism as classical, semi-classical, futuristic and dispensational. " In the last century a number of varieties of posttribulationism have emerged, some of them quite recent in their major tenets," declares Dr. Walvoord. "In general, they cover the gamut of the possibilities." Note the following breakout by Dr. Walvoord (links present more info on each?): Classic Posttribulationalism. J. Barton Payne, in his The Imminent Appearing of Christ (1962), advocates a return to what h says was the position of the early church, that is, a premillennial and posttribulational point of view which spiritualizes the tribulation and identifies it with the contemporary problems of Christianity. Comparatively few have followed Payne, however, though a tendency to spiritualize the period of tribulation is a general characteristic of posttribulationism." Semiclassic Posttribulationalism. Alexander Reese, in his The Approaching Advent Of Christ (1937), presents the most comprehensive defense of posttribulationism." " He offers evidence that the resurrection of the church occurs at the same time as the resurrection of Revelation 20. Major emphasis is placed on terms like ' appearing,' ' the day,' ' the end,' and ' revelation' as technical terms that relate the rapture to the second coming as the terminus of the present age. Reese's arguments have not been surpassed by other posttribulationists, but later writers offer other approaches." " All the views previously mentioned consider the church already in the tribulation and identify the trials of the church through the centuries as the fulfillment of prophecies of a time of trouble preceding the second advent of Christ." Futurist Posttribulationalism. George Ladd whose work, The Blessed Hope (1956), promotes the view that the great tribulation is still future. While other views of posttribulationism could conceivably be harmonized with the idea that Christ could return any moment, Ladd considers it inevitable that at least a seven-year period (described in Dan. 9:27) separates the church today from the rapture and the second advent of Christ which are aspects of the same event. Although Ladd's argument builds largely on the fact of the history of the doctrine and extols posttribulationism as the norm for orthodoxy through the centuries, he introduces a new realism into the picture in adopting a literal future tribulation. His views have somewhat been qualified by his later writings, but in general he seems to retain a futuristic view of the great tribulation with its corresponding doctrine that Christ's return could not be any day, but that it can only follow the years required to fulfill prophecies relating to the tribulation." Dispensational Posttribulationalism. Robert Gundry in his work, The Church and the Tribulation. (1973) followed the lead of many premillenarians, distinguishes Israel and the church as separate entities and attempts a literal interpretation of many of the prophecies that deal with the endtimes. In advancing his theory he refutes most of the posttribulationists who have preceded him. Working with these premises, he endeavors to establish a new doctrine of posttribulationism which he tries to harmonize with a literal interpretation of prophecy."

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Tribulation (Rapture) Views Other Rapture Views

Other Rapture Views Partial Rapture View The partial rapture theory holds that true Christians will be raptured before, in the midst of, or after the tribulation depending on one's genuine conversion to the faith. Therefore, the rapture of a believer is determined by the timing of his conversion during the tribulation. The proponents of this theory hold that only those who are faithful in the church will be raptured or translated and the rest will either be raptured sometime during the tribulation or at its end. As stated by Ira David (a proponent of this view): The saints will be raptured in groups during the tribulation as they are prepared to go. Secret Rapture View They believe He will return first come like a thief (Matt. 24:43-44; Luke 12:39-40) and secretly and 'rapture' or take away His Church. Multiple Raptures View They believe that the raptures begins with a pre-tribulational, secret, conditional, and sudden Rapture, and after the Tribulation begins other raptures will follow. No Rapture View They believe there will be a resurrection, there will be no rapture because Jesus prayed in John 17:17, I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. Past Rapture View The Full Preterists believe the rapture happened in 70, at the fall of Jersusalem.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Overview The Millennium Views Millennium is Latin for "thousand years" and chiliasm in Greek. It is a belief held by some Christian denominations that there will be a Golden Age on earth when Christ will reign for 1000 years prior to the final judgment and future eternal state. This belief is derived primarily from the Book of Revelation 20:1-7. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his 2 hand. And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a 3 thousand years; and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead 5 and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the 6 dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. 7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, Some theological interpretations believe that other Biblical passages refer to the period of the millennium. O.T. - Isa. 9:6; 11:1-12:6; 52:7-12; Jer. 33:17-22; Ezek. 37:25; Zech 9:9 N.T. - Matt. 19:28; 25:31-46; Luk. 14:14; I Cor. 15:22; I Thess. 4:13-18
1

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Overview The three major views of the are millennium are Postmillennialism. It holds Christ's physical return as occurring after the millennium, in which Christian ethics prosper. Most postmillennialists see the thousand years more as a figurative term. Premillennialism. It holds that Christ's physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration of the millennium. Amillennialism. It holds that the thousand years is a symbolic number, not a literal description and that Christ's reign during the millennium, which has already begun and is identical with the current church age, is spiritual in nature.

The next page is a chart on the various views of millennial interpretations.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Overview

Millennial Interpretations Dispensational Premillennialism Revelation view Israel and the church All are Futurist Complete distinction between Israel and church. Distinct program for each. Pre-trib view: church is raptured prior to Tribulation. Second coming in two phases: rapture for church; second coming to earth 7 years later. Distinction in resurrections: 1. Church at rapture. 2. Old Testament/Tribulation saints at second coming. 3. Unbelievers at end of Millennium. Christ will return at the end of the great tribulation to institute a thousand-year rule from a the New Jerusalem. Historic Premillennialism Most are Historicist or Futurist Some distinction between Israel and church. Future for Israel but church is spiritual Israel. Post-trib view: church goes through the future Tribulation. Rapture and second coming simultaneous; Christ returns to reign on earth. Resurrection of believers at beginning of Millennium. Resurrection of unbelievers at end of Millennium. Postmillennialism Most are Preterists or Historicists Church is the new Israel. No distinction between Israel and church. Tribulation is experienced in the present age. Single event; no distinction between rapture and second coming; Christ returns after Millennium. General resurrection of believers and unbelievers at second coming of Christ. Amillennialism Most are Idealists or Historicists Church is the new Israel. No distinction between Israel and church. Tribulation is experienced in the present age. Second coming in two phases: rapture for church; second coming to earth 7 years later. General resurrection of believers and unbelievers at second coming of Christ.

Tribulation

Second Coming of Christ

Resurrection

Millennium

Christ will return to institute a thousand-year reign on earth after the tribulation period.

Present age blends into Millennium because of progress of gospel.

Judgments

Kingdom of God

Distinction in judgment: 1. Believers works at rapture. 2. Jews/Gentiles at end of Tribulation. 3. Unbelievers at end of Millennium. The literal physical kingdom reign, anticipated by the OT prophets, during which God will fulfill all the OT promises to ethnic Israel.

Judgment at second coming. Judgment at end of Tribulation.

General judgment of all people.

Inaugurated with Christ's resurrection. In an "already/not yet" sense, Christ already reigns over all and is already victorious over Satan. General judgment of all people.

The literal physical kingdom reign anticipated by the OT and NT prophets.

A spiritual entity experienced on earth through the Christianizing effect of the Gospel.

A spiritual reality in which all Christians partake presently by faith, but by sight at the consummation.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Overview Here are the millennial interpretations of Revelation 20 Millennial Interpretations of Revelation 20 The Premillennial Position Amillennial [& Postmillennial] Positions 1-2) In the future, an angel with the key to the 1-3) Satan was bound while Christ was on earth. bottomless pit will capture Satan, and bind Him Satan has already been bound and "cast into the either for a 1,000 years or else a longer period bottomless pit", at Christs resurrection, [or else around 325 A.D.] 3) Satan will be cast into the bottomless bit. Since Satan can only be in one place at one Satan is not deceiving the nations on earth time, Satan will not be on earth, in Heaven, or anymore right now, though he will do so at the anywhere else. Currently Satan is prowling end. Deceived here might mean giving up their around like a roaring lion according to 1 Peter sovereignty to follow Satan 5:8. Today many nations are deceived in the sense of denying the truth of God and persecuting God's servants. The nations of the earth will acknowledge Christ during the Millennium 4) Those who were beheaded for not 4) Those who were beheaded for not worshipping the beast, or receiving the mark on worshipping the beast probably include all their foreheads or hands were physically Christians. They are reigning with Christ in resurrected and lived with Christ. The beast and heaven right now [or else Christ is reigning with these beheadings have not occurred yet. believers right now on earth]. Verse 4 does not refer to physical resurrection, but a spiritual resurrection of a new life in Christ. 5) The rest of the dead were not raised to life yet. 5) The rest of the dead will not be resurrected (same Greek word for raised given in verse 4) physically until after this period. [A variant of this view is that since the Greek words are the same in the same context, this second resurrection is only spiritual too.] 6) Those in the first resurrection will be priests 6) The first resurrection either refers to either our and reign during the Millennium. All unfulfilled new life in Christ, or else a physical resurrection Old Testament promises to the Jews will be of only believers after this time. Believers reign fulfilled, and there will be a Millennial Temple. with Christ now in Heaven [or also Christ reigns in their hearts now on earth]. 7) After the Millennium, Satan will be released 7) In the end, Satan will use direct power again. and deceive the nations. 8-9) Then the nations will gather in a vast army 8-9) Then the nations will gather in a vast army and surround Jerusalem. This is the judgment in and surround Jerusalem. The battle of the Valley of Jehoshaphat, not Armageddon, Armageddon and the Valley of Jehoshaphat are which happened over 1,000 years before. Fire the same battle. Fire will come from Heaven and will come from Heaven and kill them. This is a kill them. This is the same battle as the one in different battle then the one in Revelation 19. Revelation 19. Indeed, all of Revelation 20:1-10 is a "recap" of earlier parts of Revelation from a different angle. 10) The devil will join the beast and false 10) The devil is thrown into the lake of fire prophet, who were already cast into the Lake of immediately after the beast and false prophet are Fire in Revelation 19:20. They will be in thrown in. They will be in conscious torment conscious torment forever. forever 11) Then the dead will stand before God, and some were judged according to the Book of Life, and others according to their works. Everyone whose name is not in the Book of Life suffers the second death in the Lake of Fire 11) Then the dead will stand before God, and some were judged according to the Book of Life, and others according to their works. Everyone whose name is not in the Book of Life suffers the second death in the Lake of Fire.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Premillennialism Premillennialism Description of the Premillennialism View Premillennialism. in Christian end-times theology is the belief that Jesus will literally and physically be on the earth for his millennial reign, at his second coming. The doctrine is called premillennialism because it holds that Jesus physical return to earth will occur prior to the inauguration of the millennium. Historically Christian premillennialism has also been referred as "chiliasm" or "millenarianism". The theological term "premillennialism" did not come into general use until the mid-19th century, the modern period in which premillennialism was revived. Coining the word was "almost entirely the work of British and American Protestants and was prompted by their belief that the French and American Revolutions (the French, especially) realized prophecies made in the books of Daniel and Revelation Schools of Thought of the Premillennialism View Contemporary premillennialism is divided into two schools of thought, Dispensational Premillennialism and Historic, or Classic Premillennialism. Dispensational Premillennialism. Dispensational premillennialists hold that Christ will come before a seven-year period of intense tribulation to take His church (living and dead) into heaven. After this period of fulfillment of divine wrath, He shall then return to rule from a holy city (i.e., the New Jerusalem) over the earthly nations for one thousand years. After these thousand years, Satan, who was bound up during Christ's earthly reign, will be loosed to deceive the nations, gather an army of the deceived, and take up to battle against the Lord. This battle will end in both the judgment of the wicked and Satan and the entrance into the eternal state of glory by the righteous. This view is called premillenialism because it places the return of Christ before the millennium and it is called dispensational because it is founded in the doctrines of dispensationalism. Historical Premillennialism. Historical premillennialists place the return of Christ just before the millennium and just after a time of great apostasy and tribulation. After the millennium, Satan will be loosed and Gog and Magog will rise against the kingdom of God; this will be immediately followed by the final judgment. While similar in some respects to the dispensational variety (in that they hold to Christ's return being previous the establishment of a thousand-year earthly reign), historical premillennialism differs in significant ways (notably in their method of interpreting Scripture). Michael Perlmutter adds Reformed Premillennialism in the chart below. Three Premillennialism Views: Reformed, Historical and Dispensational Reformed Historical Dispensational 1. Israel = Ethnic, National. Israel is sometimes the 2. Spiritual Israel = Church. Israel is only the physical physical nation, and 3. Elect Israel = Jewish nation. sometimes the church believers Started in the O.T. as the Jewish Church then became Same as Reformed Started in N.T. Acts 2 the Gentile Church in the Premillennialism N.T. (book of Acts) Mid-Trib Literal and Jewish. Post-Trib. May be literal or figurative, not necessarily Jewish Pre-Trib Same as Reformed Premillennialism

Israel

The Church The Rapture The Millennium

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Premillennialism The following compares Dispensational and Historic Premillennialism. Summary Chart: Dispensational vs. Historic Premillennialism Dispensational Premillennialism Historic Premillennialism The church is hardly, if at all, in the Old 1 Testament prophets. The great burden of Old Testament prophecy is 2 the kingdom of the Jews. The church was foreseen in Old Testament prophecy. Old Testament prophecies are primarily about the coming of Christ to die (at the first advent) and the kingdom age (at the second advent).

The earthly kingdom should have been set up at The first advent was the specific time for Christ to 3 the first advent, for that was the predicted time of die for man's sin. its coming. The present age was unforeseen in the Old Testament and thus is a ``great parenthesis'' 4 introduced because the Jews rejected the kingdom. Time is usually divided into seven dispensations. 5 The present age is the sixth such dispensation. The present age of grace was designed by God and predicted in the Old Testament.

One may divide time in any way desirable so long as one allows for a millennium after the second advent. The second advent will be in two sections - ``the The second advent will be one event. rapture'' and ``the revelation.'' Between these two 6 events is the unfulfilled 70th week (seven years) of Daniel 9:23-27, called ``the great tribulation.'' No sign precedes the ``rapture stage'' of the second advent, which may occur ``at any 7 moment.'' However, signs will precede the ``revelation stage'' of the second advent. Certain signs must precede the second advent.

There will be a resurrection of ``tribulation saints'' There are two resurrections - the righteous before 8 at the ``revelation stage'' of the second advent. the millennium, the unrighteous after the millennium. Usually holds to the ``futurist'' view, which makes Usually holds the ``historical symbolic'' view of most of Revelation a literal description of events Revelation - a picture in symbolic form of the main 9 to take place during ``the great tribulation'' or events in the present age. Daniel's 70th week.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Postmillennialism Postmillennialism Description of the Postmillennialism View The postmillennialist believes that the millennium is an era (not a literal thousand years) during which Christ will reign over the earth, not from an literal and earthly throne, but through the gradual increase of the Gospel and its power to change lives. After this gradual Christianization of the world, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked. This is called postmillennialism because, by its view, Christ will return after the millennium. Schools of Thought of the Postmillennialism View There is are two types of postmillennialism today: pietistic and theonomic (God rule) postmillennialism Pietistic postmillennialism . . . denies that the postmillennial advance of the kingdom involves the total transformation of culture through the application of biblical law. Theonomic postmillennialism affirms this by emphasizing the continuity of OT law (civil, ceremonial and moral) with the NT. It is God who exercises dominion through his church

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Millennium Views Amillennialism.

Amillennialism Description of the Amillennialism View The amillennialist believes that the Kingdom of God was inaugurated at Christ's resurrection (hence the term "inaugurated millennialism") at which point he gained victory over both Satan and the Curse. Christ is even now reigning (hence the term "nunc-millennialism" nunc means "now") at the right hand of the Father over His church. After this present age has ended, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked. The term "amillennialism" is actually a misnomer for it implies that Revelation 20:1-6 is ignored; in fact, the amillennialist's hermeneutic interprets it (and in fact, much of apocalyptic literature) non-literally. Schools of Thought of the Amillennialism View There is only one view that I can find.

Scripture cited from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation