Comments on: I Love Revelation, but Eschatology Scares Me

By: Dana

Dana — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:56 +0000

My personal view is that the timing doesn’t matter. It doesn’t make us more or less saved does it?

Yes the end is coming, yes it is a part of our hope for the future but it’s not what we should be focusing on. I agree that we should be focused on not only Christ Himself but also, we should be focused on the 3 things Christ told us to do which are: Love God, Love each other & Go and tell the world the Gospel.

By: Jordan D.

Jordan D. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:44:02 +0000

I very much appreciate all of your thoughts. I took a course this semester (in my sophomore year of Biblical Studies) on the Book of Revelation. Similar to most of your experiences it seemed as though the majority my classmates came from dispensationalist backgrounds. The class was assigned a paper to write comparing the traditional interpretations and concluding with our own interpretations. From my discussions with my fellow students regarding their conclusions it seems that the majority of us ended up adopting the eclectic view, which is essentially a conglomeration (hence the name) of the positive aspects from each traditional view.

The way I arrange the eclectic view is by starting with analyzing (like the preterists) what the text meant for the churches it was addressed to. Then from what this analysis produces start applying the meaning to our contemporary context (like the idealists do right from the get go). The timeless truths that may be gleaned from the analyzing and application may be found to be true in examples from history (like the historicists are so determined to emphasize) which we can learn from. Also, the meanings can be applied to inspire hope of our future (as the futurists occasionally promote, although many futurists, such as dispensationalists, are generally focused on a fearful messages from revelation).

Anyway, for your consideration. Be blessed with the grace and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

By: Flo Banks

Flo Banks — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:28:32 +0000

Your blog is most interesting! Have you read “Famous Rapture Watchers” and “Pretrib Rapture Diehards” on Google? The same writer has a large book “The Rapture Plot” (Armageddon Books online) which reveals a lot of new documentation about the rapture’s birth in 1830 that lay buried in British libraries for more than a century. But anyone with a weak heart probably shouldn’t read it. Just my two cents’ worth. Flo

By: trevinwax

trevinwax — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:46:44 +0000

Bryan,

Sorry about that… I think I fixed it. It should be working now.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:47:15 +0000

Hey Trevin,

It seems that you’re mailto link doesn’t have your email address attached to it. Am I overlooking it somewhere else on the site?

By: trevinwax

trevinwax — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:04:17 +0000

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for the feedback. There are definitely problems with the partial-preterist view too… just like with all the different End Times scenarios. Still, this is where I’m at currently because it seems like it has the least amount of problems. I’d love to look over your post. Send me an email with the link and I’ll take a look.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:40:18 +0000

I have had the same battle as you… starting out as dispensational, now I’m “partial-preterist” where I see a lot of the things happening in 70AD, yet some still in the future. I’ve been premill and now I’m amill. Yet I also realize many great theologians disagree with me, men who know far more than I. That’s not to say I’m not oblivious to problems with my view that Matthew 24 has been fulfilled. It plainly says this generation (genea) shall not pass away. Unless there is a 2000 year old disciple (which some have said!) I don’t see how it can be anything but the siege of jerusalem and the destruction of the temple. Yet the question asked is “the end of the age.” And here is the problem for me: The NT only talk of two ages, this one, and the one to come. If the end of the age was in 70AD, then we must be in the age to come, yet we still marry, we still have sin, etc.

That being said, I hold my position until I hear a better explanation for it. I have written a post discussing Matthew 24 somewhat at length if you’re interested in reading it. I talk about the time texts, the cosmic signs, the “coming of the son of man” and whether the Gospel had gone to the whole world or not.

And just in case anyone was wondering, I affirm the future second coming of our Lord and the final judgment.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:50:52 +0000

Good comments. Perhaps it’s been mentioned by you elsewhere, but in the two passages folks point to regarding a rapture, Matt 24 and Thes 4, consider who is left behind. In Thes 4:17, Paul says that “we who are alive, who are LEFT” shall be caught up. Those who are “left” get caught up to meet the Lord. Similarly, In Matt 24 where “One is taken, one is left” we see this compared to Noah and Lot. With both Noah and Lot, who was left behind? The good guys of course – Noah and his family, and Lot and his daughters. This is the opposite of what the Rapture devotees would have you believe.

By: trevinwax

trevinwax — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:48:56 +0000

Thanks, Tony. I am still learning and loving Revelation… but I’m quick to admit to people that I don’t have all the answers.

By: Tony Kummer

Tony Kummer — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:59:52 +0000

Trevin,
Your experience reminds me a little of my own. The Baptist Church I joined after conversion was all about the rapture. It seemed like no service or sermon was complete without an allusion to it accompanied by the warning – it might be today! Good post. Theological speculation brings out the worst strain of our folk religion. You are right to point us to Christ as the message of Revelation.