John
07-28-2011, 12:59 PM
Since Genesis 2 is the details of Genesis 1 we should expect Revelation 12 to 19 are the details of the major points of the Tribulation in chapters 7 to 11 (Rev. 1-6 are the past 20 centuries). So historicist depending on which kind they are (preterist, partial preterist, amillennial, post-millennial, postrib onlyism, pre-wrath onlyism, mid-trib onlyism) place anywhere from up to Revelation 20 already being fulfilled. It wouldn't be much of a book of prophecy and end-times if that were the case. Moreover, Rev. 20.3 says the nations are not deceived in the 1000 years, but obviously they are still deceived because they war and we hear rumors of wars, so the 1000 years has not started yet. This massive problem for historicists seems to just glide right over their consciousness and conscience.
They also view the twelve disciples as being purely Christians in direct contrast with the view of the futurist which considers these twelve as being merely Jews. As a matter of fact, however, these twelve disciples are Christians as well as representatives of the Jewish remnant. For example, in Matthew 10.5-6 and 23.3 we see that all have a Jewish background, a fact which is thus inapplicable to Christians.
There is a failure in this second school to distinguish between rapture and the appearing of the Lord. There is a difference between Christ coming for the saints and Christ coming with the saints. That which Enoch prophesied, as recorded in Jude, points to the coming of the Lord, "with his holy myriads” (see Jude 14-15 mg.) when His feet step down on the Mount of Olives. So does the prophecy which is given in Revelation: “Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen” (1.7).
In taking the historical view, the second school of interpretation regards that part of Revelation up to chapter 17 (or more) as having already been fulfilled, with only the part from chapter 17 onward waiting to be fulfilled. (This is exactly opposite to the futuristic view taken by the first school of interpretation which deems only chapters 1-6 as having already been fulfilled or mostly fulfilled, with the rest remaining to be so).
If the book of Revelation only records primarily things of the past, then how can the average child of God ever understand it? It would require doctors of philosophy and learned historians to comprehend it! Furthermore, it would no longer be revelation either!
Therefore the choice is is between pretrib onlyism and partial rapture. And we know this is no contest because there are too many verses that support the first rapture being conditional with the conditional IF/THEN statements given in Matt. 24.40-42, Luke 21.36, Rev. 3.10 at 7.9 "before the throne" before the trumpets of the Tribulation commence (8.7ff).
They also view the twelve disciples as being purely Christians in direct contrast with the view of the futurist which considers these twelve as being merely Jews. As a matter of fact, however, these twelve disciples are Christians as well as representatives of the Jewish remnant. For example, in Matthew 10.5-6 and 23.3 we see that all have a Jewish background, a fact which is thus inapplicable to Christians.
There is a failure in this second school to distinguish between rapture and the appearing of the Lord. There is a difference between Christ coming for the saints and Christ coming with the saints. That which Enoch prophesied, as recorded in Jude, points to the coming of the Lord, "with his holy myriads” (see Jude 14-15 mg.) when His feet step down on the Mount of Olives. So does the prophecy which is given in Revelation: “Behold, he cometh with the clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they that pierced him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen” (1.7).
In taking the historical view, the second school of interpretation regards that part of Revelation up to chapter 17 (or more) as having already been fulfilled, with only the part from chapter 17 onward waiting to be fulfilled. (This is exactly opposite to the futuristic view taken by the first school of interpretation which deems only chapters 1-6 as having already been fulfilled or mostly fulfilled, with the rest remaining to be so).
If the book of Revelation only records primarily things of the past, then how can the average child of God ever understand it? It would require doctors of philosophy and learned historians to comprehend it! Furthermore, it would no longer be revelation either!
Therefore the choice is is between pretrib onlyism and partial rapture. And we know this is no contest because there are too many verses that support the first rapture being conditional with the conditional IF/THEN statements given in Matt. 24.40-42, Luke 21.36, Rev. 3.10 at 7.9 "before the throne" before the trumpets of the Tribulation commence (8.7ff).