An Introduction To Revelation Part 2

Let’s Recap:

Hermeneutics: idea/concept of Interpretation

Exegesis: the action of interpreting, gathering information.

The Bible is inspired by God in the form of many books. These Books should be read by their Genre

History of Interpretation:

Patristic Period - 1st to 8th Century

Chiliastic Apocalyptic c. 130 - Hyper literalistic, Martial in Nature.

Montanus Apocalyptic c. 172 - Heretic who believed he was God. First to interp. Revelation by the signs of the times.

Constantinian Apocalyptic d. 337 - Legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, affecting interp. of the Beast.

Deferred Timing

Symbolic Timing

Medieval Period - 9th century

Millennium Apocalyptic A.D. 1000

Signs of the time Interp. (Bubonic Plague)

Development of the Antichrist Legend

Crusade Apocalyptic A.D. 1095

Periodizing and Signs of the Times

The Reformation - 1400’s

Taborites - radicals who used the Millennial rhetoric for war. Imminent Millennium.

John Wycliffe d. 1384

The Reformation - 1500’s

Martin Luther - Periodizing and Radical Rhetoric.

Thomas Muntzer d. 1525

Catholic Response

Futurism

Preterism

Colonial Apocalyptic - 1700’s

Puritans - civic millenialism: Post Millennial Eschatology.

Denies physical future reign of Christ.

History of Interpretation Cont.

Revolutionary Apocalyptic

King George III became the target of Antichrist Slander

“Paul Revere … said the revolutionary fight really was a struggle against the beast of the Apocalypse” (66, Stevens).

The British Stamp Act was understood as the Mark of the Beast.

Civic Millenialism

Many assumed America had a special role in God’s plan - Realization of a millennial destiny.

New Jerusalem in America

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Mormonism

Joseph Smith

visited by an angel

all churches had been corrupted.

Golden tablets detailing the history of Jesus’ revelation to the American Indians who were actually descended from Jews.

Civic postmillenialism

New Jerusalem would be est. soon (Salt Lake City)

Millerism (Adventism)

Stage One - OG Millerites

William Miller (d. 1849)

Interpreted Revelation and Daniel to have started an End Times count down from 457 B.C.

40,000 to 50,000 followers waiting for Christ to return between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844.

New Date of October 1844

Dealing with Disappointment

Heavenly Tabernacle Visit - Jesus did visit but stopped at the “heavenly tabernacle,” an invisible advent.

New Timing - a third advent.

incarnation

heavenly tabernacle

millenium

Precisely imprecise - signs of the times. rhetoric of immanence.

this eschatological rhetoric is seen now is it?

Stage Two - 7th Day Adventists

remnant of the Millerites

Ellen G. White and Uriah Smith

Papal Antichrist

Worship has to be on Saturday.

Stage Three - Splinter Adventists

Armstrong: Worldwide Church of God - would use media to broadcast eschatological teaching.

Jehovah’s Witnesses - Charles T. Russell.

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society

Several Failed Prophecies

Koresh: Branch Davidians

David Koresh believed he was a Messiah

announced the impending end.

Est. compound in Waco Texas.

Do you see why faithful exegesis is important?

Darbyism (dispensationalism)

the predominant view of the american populace

no older than the Civil war

You are probably very familiar with it.

Described roughly as:

Two-stage return of Christ

Pretribulation rapture

Seven periods of time or dispensations

This is the first time in Christian thought that the Rapture becomes a pronounced doctrine.

So how did Darbyism form?

Origins - Plymouth Brethren

movement in Ireland and England, first half of 19th century

believed the Church was corrupt

Chose to be called the Brethren after the term used in the NT for beleivers.

The only approved reading of any prophecy was a literal interpretation (85, Stevens).

John N. Darby

a former Irish member of the Anglican clergy

very inflammatory. He attacked anyone who disagreed with his particular teaching.

Moved to the USA in the 1860’s and joined the Bretheren.

He began traveling, giving lectures and leading bible studies with a “New Eschatological Teaching,” Dispensationalism.

Seven Dispensations

These time periods do not come from any cycles in Revelation, instead the first 12 chapters of Genesis, Exodus 19, Acts 1 and one passage in Revelation.

Innocence Gen. 1.28

Conscience Gen. 3.7

Government Gen. 8.15

Promise Gen. 12.1

Law Exod. 19.1

Grace Acts 2.1

Kingdom Rev 20.4

Popularized through the Scofield Study bible in 1917 with a revised edition in 1967

Something to think about concerning Darbyism:

Israel is a national entity with an exlusive and eternal covenant for political supremacy over the nations of the world in the eschaton (88, Stevens).

The church is a small part in history and serves to save Gentiles but is not the main goal of God.

The Church and Israel have separate roles.

The Millennium is only for Israel.

This calls for us to ask questions:

What is the nature of God’s relationship with Israel?

Was the Church, the Crucifixion, and the Incarnation an after thought?

If so, what do we do we with God’s sovereign character? Did always plan to give his son for the sins of many?

The Church and Israel

God did enter into Covenant with Israel.

Abraham Gen 15 - great nation, blessing to all nations

Moses Ex 19-24, 34 - God’s nation, a priestly nation

David 2 Sam 7 - A Davidic Kingdom forever established

Jesus fulfilled them

blessing to all nations from the line of David Romans 1.1-6,

His church are his nation 1 Peter 2.9-10

The Early Church, saw themselves as the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Amos 9.11-12 Acts 15.13-17

Amos 9:11–12 NASB95

“In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom And all the nations who are called by My name,” Declares the Lord who does this.

Acts 15:13–17 NASB95

After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, “Brethren, listen to me. “Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. “With this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written, ‘After these things I will return, And I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, And I will rebuild its ruins, And I will restore it, So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,’

Futurism

One Great Parenthesis - Dan. 9.24

Daniel 9:24 NASB95

“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 vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

Darby understood this to be a pause in the dispensations until the time of the Millennium

But why?

Secret Rapture

Darby Introduces the doctrine of the church being raptured up in the clouds with Christ taken from 1 Thess. 4.17

“… at the time Darby introduced the idea [it] was an unknown concept in the language of Christian Eschatology...” (Stevans 91).

When we think of the Rapture, we need to consider the roughly 1800 years of its absence in Christian thought.

American Dominance

Dispensationalism/Darbyism in perspective:

Historically - against the two millennia of church history, it is a minority view.

The dispensations are divided seemingly arbitrarily.

Hermeneutical and Exegetical Principles seem to be missing.

So how do we begin to read Revelation?

Wisely, seeking the Holy Spirit’s leading

As it was meant to be read - by its genre

In it’s context - the 1st Century Roman Empire

So let’s start reading!