Forum on the Book of Revelation: Keys
to Understanding - By Nathan Jones - http://www.lamblion.us/2014/05/forum-on-book-of-revelation-keys-to.html
How does one interpret for understanding the book of Revelation?
To answer that question, Dr. David Reagan and I on our television program Christ in Prophecy put together a panel of Bible prophecy experts. We invited Gary Fisher of the Bible prophecy ministry Lion of Judah Ministries from Franklin, Tennessee and Dennis Pollock of Spirit of Grace Ministries which focuses on evangelizing the continent of Africa.
Keys to Understanding
Dr. Reagan: What do you consider to be some of the keys to interpreting and understanding the book of Revelation?
Gary Fisher: I just simply say, believe it as it is written. Just believe it as it is written. You don't have to understand it to believe it, just believe it as it is written.
Dr. Reagan: A good example of that kind of literal interpretation is in Revelation 7 where it talks about 144,000 Jews being sealed in the end times to do a certain work for God. One time I went through every commentary I could find, and 85% of them said that was talking about the Church. And yet, they are named by tribe. What would God have to do to convince people that He's talking about 144,000 Jews? Would He have to put it up in the sky with neon lights flashing on and off?
Nathan Jones: Okay, Dr. Reagan, you've got to say your favorite statement about biblical interpretation. It's the guiding light by which Lamb & Lion Ministries interprets the Bible.
Dr. Reagan: True, and for all of the Bible, not just Bible prophecy. If the plain sense makes sense, don't look for any other sense, or you'll end up with nonsense.
Dennis Pollock: A couple other keys are, one, respect the book. You've got to respect it. There are a lot of Christians that don't. The Bible is like a second class book to them when it comes to interpreting it. "Give me some Romans. There's some real meat. Let me read the Gospels. You can really get a lot out of them. But, Revelation, that's for those flakes and nuts who don't have much else to do.
But, the reality is it is the same Holy Spirit who inspired Paul to write about justification by faith and the same Holy Spirit who inspired John to sit down and write, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." He also gave John these revelations, these insights, these visions, that make up the book of Revelation.
Revelation is valuable. It's good for us. It's healthy. You have to respect it.
I know one pastor who told me that he went through a series on Daniel through the first six chapters and then stopped because he didn't want to deal with prophecy. A lot of people are that way about Revelation. They'll read Matthew thru Jude, but when they get done with Jude, Bam!, right back to Matthew. They forget about Revelation because they don't see it as being very valuable.
Dr. Reagan: Any other keys to interpreting and understanding Revelation?
Nathan Jones: Sure. People will get to Revelation and claim that since it's apocalyptical literature therefore it must be just filled with symbols that don't make any sense. But, I find throughout Revelation wherever there is a symbol the Bible then goes ahead and explains what it means. Or, sometimes you have to go into the Old Testament to get a definition. Like, for instance, when Jesus is talking about the seven stars and the seven lampstands, just a few verses later in chapter one He says that the lampstands are the seven churches and the stars are the angels that protect those churches.
We've got to let the Bible speak for itself. We have to let the Bible interpret for itself and then make allowances for when the Bible is say poetic, then accept it is poetic literature. When some text is apocalyptic, then accept it as apocalyptic literature. We can't just say that the Bible is say all narrative or all history. We've got to understand the literary devices that God uses.
In the third segment of our forum on the book of Revelation, we'll ask our Bible prophecy experts to show us where the Rapture can be found in the book and how the chapters are ordered.
Forum on the Book of Revelation:
Dating the Book - By Nathan Jones - http://www.lamblion.us/2014/05/forum-on-book-of-revelation-dating-book.html
Was the book of Revelation fulfilled in 70 AD and therefore has nothing to do with the end times?
To answer that question, Dr. David Reagan and I on our television program Christ in Prophecy put together a panel of Bible prophecy experts. We invited Gary Fisher of the Bible prophecy ministry Lion of Judah Ministries from Franklin, Tennessee and Dennis Pollock of Spirit of Grace Ministries which focuses on evangelizing the continent of Africa.
Dating Incorrectly With Preterism
Dr. Reagan: Let's talk about one of the popular theories today and that's what's called Preterism. It's kind of a strange name, and certainly one of the strangest interpretations of the book of Revelation that anybody has ever come up with, but it is growing in popularity. This is the idea that the book of Revelation was written before 70 AD and therefore was fulfilled in whole, or in part as some argue, in the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Revelation it teaches is a book of prophecies fulfilled in 70 AD and not about the end times. What about it?
Nathan Jones: That would mean that Jesus would have had to come back in 70 AD. No historian has recorded the return of Jesus in 70 AD.
Dr. Reagan: They argue that He came back spiritually.
Nathan Jones: True, but that would then mean that we are living in the Millennial Kingdom. I don't know about you, but when I read the Bible about the Millennial Kingdom it talks about the curse being partially lifted, that Jesus is ruling from Jerusalem, that Jerusalem is the capital city of the world, and Israel is the main country over the world. During the Millennial Kingdom the curse is partially lifted. It is a time of peace and harmony. With 38 wars going on right now, it's pretty obvious to me that we are not living in the Millennial Kingdom.
Dr. Reagan: Also, when you talk about Jesus coming back spiritually, you would then deny what the angels said to His disciples on the Mount of Olives when He ascended into heaven: "He will return as He ascended." That return then is bodily; that is visibly.
Gary Fisher: The whole Preterism argument is based on two issues. One, if you are bent on an allegorical interpretation of the Bible, then you can get away with saying that Jesus has already returned and all the Revelation plagues and all that stuff has already occurred. But, if you insist on the literal interpretation of the Bible, then you cannot get away with making those claims.
Dr. Reagan: In fact, if you don't have a literal interpretation, there's no way really to ever determine whether a prophecy has been fulfilled.
Gary Fisher: Not only that, but the whole Bible becomes almost meaningless due to an allegorical interpretation of the Bible. The Bible can then mean anything you want. How do we know there was even a real Jesus?
Dr. Reagan: Dennis, was the book of Revelation written before 70 AD?
Dennis Pollock: No, it was written afterwards, so that should settle it right there. Beyond that, have you ever been to an event that was really built up as something great and it turned out to just fizzle?
Dr. Reagan: Oh, yes.
Dennis Pollock: I went to one meeting that was supposed to be the latest, greatest revival meetings ever. After it was over, I was really disappointed. I thought, "Lord, is the best you can do?"
When you read about the coming of Christ at the end of Revelation, riding the white horse and coming as this mighty warrior to take control of the earth, then you find out it is this wimpy little spiritual coming that really didn't mean much of anything it's like, "Is that really what's being described in Revelation?" And the answer obviously is no. The Tribulation is leading up to something. It's not all by itself in Revelation. It's leading up to Christ coming back to rule and reign.
Dr. Reagan: What hope is there about the future if you think it was all fulfilled in 70 AD? Come on!
Dennis Pollock: Yes, it makes the whole book meaningless.
Dr. Reagan: Preterism reminds me of that statement by the Apostle Paul where he said, "I want you to avoid two fellas" and he named them because he said, "They teach that the resurrection has already occurred." Well, these Preterists are teaching that the Second Coming has already occurred. What hope is there in such an interpretation? It's really a very sad kind of interpretation.
Gary Fisher: I am with Nathan's point. If we are living now in the Millennium, we are in a big mess, because if this is God's best... We have some of the highest crime rates in the world and all the other horrible stuff that's going with that. This is supposed to be the Millennium?!
Nathan Jones: Satan is supposed to be reined in during the Millennium. He's supposed to be put into a pit during the Millennial Kingdom. Obviously, he is working very hard right now here on earth.
Gary Fisher: Satan's not in a pit in Tennessee. He's roaming about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
In the second segment of our forum on the book of Revelation, we'll ask our Bible prophecy experts to provide some keys to interpreting and understanding the book.
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