David M. Williams Eschatology and The Book of Revelation Contents CONTENTS ................................................................................................................................................... 1 ESCHATOLOGY AND THE BOOK OF REVELATION ....................................................................... 3 THE FOUR UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION........................................................................ 3 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 3 Idealist ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Preterist.................................................................................................................................................... 3 Historicist................................................................................................................................................. 5 Futurist..................................................................................................................................................... 5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................... 7 THE CHRISTOLOGY OF REVELATION............................................................................................................. 8 Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 8 The risen Christ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Christ directs the Churches...................................................................................................................... 9 Christ the Lamb...................................................................................................................................... 10 The wrath of Christ ................................................................................................................................ 11 The return and reign of Christ................................................................................................................ 11 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 12 THE GENRE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION ................................................................................................. 13 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 13 The rise of Jewish apocalyptic literature................................................................................................ 13 Common features of apocalyptic literature ............................................................................................ 15 Unique features of the Book of Revelation.............................................................................................. 16 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 16 THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION TO ESCHATOLOGY ........................................................ 18 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 18 Understandings of Revelation ................................................................................................................ 18 The chronology of End-Time events ....................................................................................................... 19 The relationship of Revelation to other prophetic passages in Scripture................................................ 21 The nature of evil.................................................................................................................................... 22 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 22 PRE-MILLENNIAL ESCHATOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 24 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 24 Historical development .......................................................................................................................... 24 The rapture and the tribulation .............................................................................................................. 25 The bema seat of Christ.......................................................................................................................... 26 The marriage supper of the Lamb .......................................................................................................... 26 The Antichrist......................................................................................................................................... 26 The second half of the tribulation........................................................................................................... 27 The return of Jesus................................................................................................................................. 27 The millennium....................................................................................................................................... 28 The end of this age ................................................................................................................................. 28 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 28 THE DIFFERENT VIEWS OF THE RAPTURE ..................................................................................................... 30 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 30 Post-tribulation ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Mid-tribulation....................................................................................................................................... 32 Pre-tribulation ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 34 THE ANTI-CHRIST, SATAN, AND ISRAEL IN ESCHATOLOGY......................................................................... 35 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 35 The Antichrist......................................................................................................................................... 35 Satan ...................................................................................................................................................... 36 Israel...................................................................................................................................................... 37 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 40 BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................................................................................................................ 42 2 Eschatology and the Book of Revelation The four understandings of the Book of Revelation Introduction Over the last 1900 years, four primary understandings of the Book of Revelation have developed - the Idealist, Preterist, Historicist and Futurist viewpoints. These understandings are distinct with their own notable characteristics. Horton believes that part of the reason for this incompatible variety stems from whether the hermeneutics employed tend to interpret the Bible more literally or figuratively (Horton, 1994, p. 619). As will be explained however, there are stronger reasons for the variety, which pertain to one's objectivity. Idealist The Idealist believes simply that Revelation does not refer to any historical or future event at all; rather it is a timeless allegory of the conflict between good and evil (Stern, 1992, p. 784) - a description of the spiritual principles of God that equip one for spiritual battles, which constantly confront the Church (Goswiller, n.d., p. 5). This view originated with the Alexandrian School of Theology represented by Clement and Origen, who (consistent with their other teachings) taught that the "true spiritual interpretation" of the book could only be discovered through an allegorical interpretation (Goswiller, n.d., p. 5; Wilson, n.d., p. 15). Nevertheless, though the book