Historical Background of Eschatology in Christianity

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0Pg17VZqHF28mfFqDe2Qf6IaJvSuh1ZKDgiwyaJypmqPlO6O6kBeQTg1-3nwYZDaaaTlCuqGtCmjNmoYX0s-znsmGrh_JJV8oXTO3tENBEVQhwfOH6t1paVXpKsIXAMYGAaKV-PfhdE/s0/new-jeru.png" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0Pg17VZqHF28mfFqDe2Qf6IaJvSuh1ZKDgiwyaJypmqPlO6O6kBeQTg1-3nwYZDaaaTlCuqGtCmjNmoYX0s-znsmGrh_JJV8oXTO3tENBEVQhwfOH6t1paVXpKsIXAMYGAaKV-PfhdE/s0/new-jeru.png" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Christian eschatology</span></b><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">, a major branch of study within</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_theology" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christian theology">Christian theology</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">, deals with "last things". Such</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Eschatology">eschatology</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">– the word derives from two Greek roots meaning "last" (ἔσχατος) and "study" (-λογία) – involves the study of "end things", whether of the end of an individual life, of the</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_time" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="End time">end of the age</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">, of the end of the</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldly" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Worldly">world</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">or of the nature of the</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_God_(Christianity)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Kingdom of God (Christianity)">Kingdom of God</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">. Broadly speaking, Christian eschatology focuses on the ultimate destiny of individual</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Soul">souls</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">and of the entire</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis_creation_narrative" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Genesis creation narrative">created order</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">, based primarily upon</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Biblical">biblical</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">texts within the</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Old Testament">Old</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">and</span><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="New Testament">New Testaments</a><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Christian eschatology looks to study and discuss matters such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Death">death</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterlife" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Afterlife">afterlife</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_in_Christianity" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Heaven in Christianity">Heaven</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_views_on_Hell" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christian views on Hell">Hell</a>, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second coming">second coming</a> of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jesus">Jesus</a>, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_the_dead" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Resurrection of the dead">resurrection of the dead</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Rapture">rapture</a>, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Tribulation">tribulation</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Millennialism">millennialism</a>, the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_of_the_world_(religion)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="End of the world (religion)">end of the world</a>, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Judgment" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Last Judgment">Last Judgment</a>, and the New Heaven and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Earth_(Christianity)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="New Earth (Christianity)">New Earth</a> in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_to_come" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="World to come">world to come</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Eschatological passages appear in many places in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Many extra-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_canon" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Biblical canon">biblical</a> examples of eschatological <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecies" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Prophecies">prophecies</a> also exist, as well as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_tradition" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Sacred tradition">church traditions</a> relating to the subject.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="History" style="font-family: Trirong;">History</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Eschatology">Eschatology</a> is an ancient branch of study in Christian theology, informed by Biblical texts such as the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivet_discourse" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Olivet discourse">Olivet discourse</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sheep_and_the_Goats" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="The Sheep and the Goats">The Sheep and the Goats</a>, and other discourses of end times by Jesus, with the doctrine of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second Coming">Second Coming</a> discussed by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Apostle" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Paul the Apostle">Paul the Apostle</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ignatius_of_Antioch" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Ignatius of Antioch">Ignatius of Antioch</a> (c. 35–107 AD), then given more consideration by the Christian apologist, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Justin_Martyr" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="St Justin Martyr">Justin Martyr</a> (c. 100–165). Treatment of eschatology continued in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Christianity" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Western Christianity">West</a> in the teachings of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Tertullian">Tertullian</a> (c. 160–225), and was given fuller reflection and speculation soon after by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Origen">Origen</a> (c. 185–254). The word was used first by the Lutheran theologian <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Calovius" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Abraham Calovius">Abraham Calovius</a> (1612–86) but only came into general usage in the 19th century.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">The growing modern interest in eschatology is tied to developments in Anglophone Christianity. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritans" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Puritans">Puritans</a> in the 18th and 19th centuries were particularly interested in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Postmillennialism">postmillennial</a> hope which surrounded Christian conversion. This would be contrasted with the growing interest in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Premillennialism">premillennialism</a>, advocated by dispensational figures such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Nelson_Darby" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="John Nelson Darby">J. N. Darby</a>. Both of these strands would have significant influences on the growing interests in eschatology in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_mission" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christian mission">Christian missions</a> and in Christianity in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Africa" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christianity in Africa">West Africa</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Asia" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christianity in Asia">Asia</a>. However, in the 20th century, there would be a growing number of German scholars such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%BCrgen_Moltmann" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jürgen Moltmann">Jürgen Moltmann</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfhart_Pannenberg" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Wolfhart Pannenberg">Wolfhart Pannenberg</a> who would likewise be interested in eschatology.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">In the 1800s, a group of Christian theologians inclusive of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_G._White" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Ellen G. White">Ellen G. White</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Miller_(preacher)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="William Miller (preacher)">William Miller (preacher)</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Bates_(Adventist)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Joseph Bates (Adventist)">Joseph Bates (Adventist)</a> began to study eschatological implications revealed in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Daniel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Daniel">Book of Daniel</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Revelation">Book of Revelation</a>. Their interpretation of Christian eschatology resulted in the founding of the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_church" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Seventh-day Adventist church">Seventh-day Adventist church</a>.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Christian_eschatological_views" style="font-family: Trirong;">Christian eschatological views</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">The following approaches arose from the study of Christianity's most central eschatological document, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Revelation">Book of Revelation</a>, but the principles embodied in them can be applied to all prophecy in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Bible">Bible</a>. They are by no means mutually exclusive and are often combined to form a more complete and coherent interpretation of prophetic passages. Most interpretations fit into one, or a combination, of these approaches. The alternate methods of prophetic interpretation, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(Christianity)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Futurism (Christianity)">Futurism</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Preterism">Preterism</a> which came from Jesuit writings, were brought about to oppose the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Historicism">Historicism</a> interpretation which had been used from Biblical times that Reformers used in teaching that the Antichrist was the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Pope">Papacy</a> or the power of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Catholic Church">Roman Catholic Church</a>.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Preterism" style="font-family: Trirong;">Preterism</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Preterism">Preterism</a> is a Christian eschatological view that interprets some (partial preterism) or all (full preterism) <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_Prophecy_(Eschatology)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Bible Prophecy (Eschatology)">prophecies</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Bible">Bible</a> as events which have already happened. This school of thought interprets the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Daniel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Daniel">Book of Daniel</a> as referring to events that happened from the 7th century BC until the first century AD, while seeing the prophecies of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Revelation">Revelation</a> as events that happened in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_1st_century" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christianity in the 1st century">first century AD</a>. Preterism holds that <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Israel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Ancient Israel">Ancient Israel</a> finds its <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersessionism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Supersessionism">continuation or fulfillment</a> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_church" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christian church">Christian church</a> at the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Siege of Jerusalem (70)">destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Historically, preterists and non-preterists have generally agreed that the Jesuit <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_del_Alc%C3%A1zar" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Luis del Alcázar">Luis de Alcasar</a> (1554–1613) wrote the first systematic preterist exposition of prophecy—<i>Vestigatio arcani sensus in Apocalypsi</i> (published in 1614)—during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-Reformation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Counter-Reformation">Counter-Reformation</a>.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Historicism" style="font-family: Trirong;">Historicism</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Historicism">Historicism</a>, a method of interpretation of <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_prophecy" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Biblical prophecy">Biblical prophecies</a>, associates <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Symbol">symbols</a> with historical persons, nations or events. It can result in a view of progressive and continuous fulfillment of prophecy covering the period from <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_times" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Biblical times">Biblical times</a> to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second Coming">Second Coming</a>. Almost<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Dates and numbers"><span title="This term requires quantification. (October 2015)">quantify</span></a></i>]</sup> all <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformers" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Protestant Reformers">Protestant Reformers</a> from the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Protestant Reformation">Reformation</a> into the 19th century held historicist views.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Futurism" style="font-family: Trirong;">Futurism</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">In <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(Christianity)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Futurism (Christianity)">Futurism</a>, parallels may be drawn with historical events, but most eschatological prophecies are chiefly referring to events which have not yet been fulfilled, but will take place at the end of the age and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/End_time" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="End time">end of the world</a>. Most prophecies will be fulfilled during a global time of chaos known as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Tribulation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Great Tribulation">Great Tribulation</a> and afterwards. Futurist beliefs usually have a close association with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Premillennialism">Premillennialism</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Dispensationalism">Dispensationalism</a>. Futurist beliefs were presented in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Left Behind">Left Behind</a> series.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Idealism" style="font-family: Trirong;">Idealism</span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idealism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Idealism">Idealism</a> (also called the spiritual approach, the allegorical approach, the nonliteral approach, and many other names) in Christian eschatology is an interpretation of the Book of Revelation that sees all of the imagery of the book as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Symbol">symbols</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Taubes" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jacob Taubes">Jacob Taubes</a> writes that idealist eschatology came about as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Renaissance">Renaissance</a> thinkers began to doubt that the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_God" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Kingdom of God">Kingdom of Heaven</a> had been established on earth, or would be established, but still believed in its establishment. Rather than the Kingdom of Heaven being present in society, it is established subjectively for the individual.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._D._Maurice" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="F. D. Maurice">F. D. Maurice</a> interpreted the Kingdom of Heaven idealistically as a symbol representing society's general improvement, instead of a physical and political kingdom. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Barth" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Karl Barth">Karl Barth</a> interprets eschatology as representing existential truths that bring the individual hope, rather than history or future-history. Barth's ideas provided fuel for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Gospel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Social Gospel">Social Gospel</a> philosophy in America, which saw social change not as performing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legalism_(theology)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Legalism (theology)">"required" good works</a>, but because the individuals involved felt that Christians could not simply ignore society's problems with future dreams.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Different authors have suggested that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beast_(Revelation)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="The Beast (Revelation)">the Beast</a> represents various social injustices, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation_of_labour" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Exploitation of labour">exploitation of workers</a>, wealth, the elite, commerce, materialism, and imperialism. Various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_anarchism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christian anarchism">Christian anarchists</a>, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Ellul" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jacques Ellul">Jacques Ellul</a>, have identified the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_(polity)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="State (polity)">State</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_power" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Political power">political power</a> as the Beast. Other scholars identify the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beast_(Revelation)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="The Beast (Revelation)">Beast</a> with the Roman empire of the first century AD, but recognize that the Beast has significance beyond its identification with Rome. For example, Craig R. Koester says "the vision [of the beast] speaks to the imperial context in which Revelation was composed, but it does so with images that go beyond that context, depicting the powers at work in the world in ways that continue to engage readers of subsequent generations." And his comments on the whore of Babylon are more to the point: "The whore [of Babylon] is Rome, yet more than Rome." It "is the Roman imperial world, which in turn represents the world alienated from God." As Stephen Smalley puts it, the beast represents "the powers of evil which lie behind the kingdoms of this world, and which encourage in society, at any moment in history, compromise with the truth and opposition to the justice and mercy of God."</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">It is distinct from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Preterism">Preterism</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(Christian_eschatology)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Futurism (Christian eschatology)">Futurism</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicism_(Christian_eschatology)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Historicism (Christian eschatology)">Historicism</a> in that it does not see any of the prophecies (except in some cases the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second Coming">Second Coming</a>, and <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Judgment" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Final Judgment">Final Judgment</a>) as being fulfilled in a literal, physical, earthly sense either in the past, present or future,</span><span style="font-size: 11.2px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">and that to interpret the eschatological portions of the Bible in a historical or future-historical fashion is an erroneous understanding.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="/2021/03/comparison-of-futurist-preterist-and.html">NEXT</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p>

Historical Background of Eschatology in Christianity

Christian eschatology , a major branch of study within   Christian theology , deals with "last things". Such   eschatology   – the...

Historical Background of Eschatology in Christianity

Christian eschatology , a major branch of study within   Christian theology , deals with "last things". Such   eschatology   – the...

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Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4rJFfc2fw_nSn7K0EmnQ9UFzFgPaC8TY4eQDKxIeYXToV0YhyJfVA_kek80ycA-tPcmu00UlKp0wz0di2s2mLQ9HlPvryDY5ZxI2hp-DWD0mvcBmpgsLqqFnoGuwjGAJW2xr-jadgf0/s600/new-jerusalem-2.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="100%" height="auto" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM4rJFfc2fw_nSn7K0EmnQ9UFzFgPaC8TY4eQDKxIeYXToV0YhyJfVA_kek80ycA-tPcmu00UlKp0wz0di2s2mLQ9HlPvryDY5ZxI2hp-DWD0mvcBmpgsLqqFnoGuwjGAJW2xr-jadgf0/s600/new-jerusalem-2.jpg" width="100%" /></span></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Comparison_of_Futurist,_Preterist_and_Historicist_beliefs"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs</span></span></h3><table class="wikitable" style="background-color: #f8f9fa; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 1em 0px; text-align: justify;"><tbody><tr><th style="background-color: #eaecf0; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center; width: 98.8125px;"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Eschatological Topic</span></th><th style="background-color: #eaecf0; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center; width: 295.812px;"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Futurist belief</span></th><th style="background-color: #eaecf0; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center; width: 295.812px;"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Preterist belief</span></th><th style="background-color: #eaecf0; border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center; width: 297.812px;"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Historicist belief</span></th></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;"></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Futurists typically anticipate a future period of time when Bible prophecies will be fulfilled.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Preterists typically argue that most (Partial Preterism), or all (Full Preterism) Bible prophecies were fulfilled during the earthly ministry of Jesus and the generation immediately proceeding it, concluding with the siege and destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Historicists typically understand the prophecies to be continuous from the times of the prophets to the present day and beyond.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The 144,000'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%207:1%E2%80%938&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 7:1–8</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Various interpretations of a literal number of 144,000, including: 144,000 Evangelical Jews at the end of the world, or 144,000 Christians at the end of the world.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A symbolic number signifying the saved, representing completeness, perfection (The number of Israel; 12, squared and multiplied by 1,000, representing the infinite = 144,000). This symbolises God's Holy Army, redeemed, purified and complete.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A symbolic number representing the saved who are able to stand through the events of 6:17.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Locusts released from the Abyss<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%209:1%E2%80%9311&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 9:1–11</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A demonic host released upon the earth at the end of the world.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A demonic host released upon Israel during the siege of Jerusalem 66–70 AD.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Muslim Arab hordes that overran North Africa, the Near East, and Spain during the 6th to 8th centuries.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Large Army from the Euphrates, an army of 'myriads of myriads'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%209:13%E2%80%9316&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 9:13–16</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Futurists frequently translate and interpret the Greek phrase 'myriads of myriads' as meaning a 'double myriad', from which they develop the figure of 200 million. Futurists frequently assign this army of 200 million to China, which they believe will attack Israel in the future. Many Bibles employ a Futurist interpretation of the original Greek when they adopt the figure of 200 million.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Preterists hold to the original Greek description of a large army consisting of 'myriads of myriads', as a reference to the large pagan army, which would attack Israel during the Siege of Jerusalem from 66–70 AD. The source of this pagan army from beyond the Euphrates is a symbolic reference to Israel's history of being attacked and judged by pagan armies from beyond the Euphrates. Some of the Roman units employed during the siege of Jerusalem were assigned from this area.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Muslim Arab hordes that overran North Africa, the Near East, and Spain during the 6th to 8th centuries.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Two Witnesses'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2011:1%E2%80%9312&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 11:1–12</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Two people who will preach in Jerusalem at the end of the world.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The two witnesses and their miracles symbolize the ministries of Moses and Elijah, who in turn symbolize 'The Law' and 'The Prophets', the Old Testament witnesses to the righteousness of God. When the armies of Rome laid siege to and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, it appeared that the Two Witnesses had been killed.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The two witnesses (AKA "two olive trees" and "two candlesticks") are the Old and New Testaments.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'1260 Days'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2011:3&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 11:3</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A literal 1260 days (3.5 years) at the end of the world during which Jerusalem is controlled by pagan nations.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A literal 1260 days (3.5 years) which occurred 'at the end of the world' in 70 AD when the apostate worship at the temple in Jerusalem was decisively destroyed at the hands of the pagan Roman armies following a 3.5-year Roman campaign in Judea and Samaria. The 'Two Witnesses' appeared to be dead for 3.5 years during the siege of Jerusalem but were miraculously resurrected as the Early Church.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">1260 days = forty and two months (vs. 11:2) = a time, times and the dividing of time (Dan 7:25). 1260 years during which the two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, typically understood<span style="font-size: 11.2px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span>to represent the time from 538 to 1798 A.D., the time of Papal authority over the Christian church.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Woman and the Dragon'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2012:1%E2%80%936&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 12:1–6</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A future conflict between the State of Israel and Satan.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Symbolic of the Old Covenant Church, the nation of Israel (Woman) giving birth to the Christ child. Satan (the Dragon) was determined to destroy the Christ child. The Woman (the early church), fled Jerusalem before its destruction in 70 AD.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Dragon represents Satan and any earthly power he uses. The woman represents God's true church before and after Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. The Woman flees to the desert away from the dominant power of the 1260 years.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Beast out of the Sea'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2013:1%E2%80%938&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 13:1–8</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The future empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Roman Empire, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians_in_the_Roman_Empire#Nero" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire">persecuting the early church</a> during the rule of Nero. The sea symbolizing the Mediterranean and the nations of the Roman Empire.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Beast is the earthly power supported by the Dragon (Satan). It is the Papal power during the same 42 months mentioned above.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Beast out of the Earth'<br />'The False Prophet'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2013:11%E2%80%9318&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 13:11–18</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The future empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The apostate rulers of the Jewish people, who joined in union with the Roman Empire to persecute the early church.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The first is the U.S.A. The second is a future religio-political power in which everyone is forced by the first power to receive the mark of the beast.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Number of the Beast, 666'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2013:18&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 13:18</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The number identifying the future empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">In Hebrew calculations the total sum of Emperor Nero's name, 'Nero Caesar', equated to 666. The number more broadly symbolises the Roman Empire and its persecution of the early church. The number 666 also symbolises an apostate ruler as King Solomon was, who collected 666 talents of gold annually.<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=1%20Kings%2010:14&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">1Kings 10:14</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">cryptogram of one of the names of the pope – the False Prophet: Vicarius Filii Dei, v and u = 5, i = 1, l = 50, c = 100, d = 500<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; white-space: nowrap;">[<i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Wikipedia:Accuracy dispute"><span title="The material near this tag is possibly inaccurate or nonfactual. (October 2018)">dubious</span></a> <span class="metadata">– <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Christian_eschatology#Dubious" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Talk:Christian eschatology">discuss</a></span></i>]</sup></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Armageddon<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2016:16&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 16:16</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A future literal battle at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tel_Megiddo" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Tel Megiddo">Megiddo</a> in the Jezreel Valley, Israel.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Megiddo is utilised as a symbol of God's complete victory over His enemies. The battle of Armageddon occurred 2000 years ago when God used the pagan armies of Rome to comprehensively destroy the apostate worship at the temple in Jerusalem.<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2016:16&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 16:16</a><br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Judges%205:19&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Judges 5:19</a><br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=2%20Kings%209:27&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">2Kings 9:27</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A symbolic name concerning the ongoing battle between Jesus and Satan.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Mystery Babylon<br />The Great Harlot<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2017:1%E2%80%935&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 17:1–5</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Futurists compose various interpretations for the identity of 'Mystery Babylon' such as the US, or the UN.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The corrupted city of Jerusalem, who united with pagan nations of the world in their idolatrous practices and participated in persecuting the faithful Old Covenant priests and prophets, and the early church of the New Covenant.<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew%2023:35%E2%80%9337&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 23:35–37</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">A virtuous woman represents God's true church. A whore represents an apostate church. Typically, <i>Mystery Babylon</i> is understood to be the esoteric apostasies, and <i>Great Harlot</i> is understood to be the popular apostasies. Both types of apostasies are already at work, ensnaring the unwary.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">Seven heads and ten horns<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2017:9%E2%80%9311&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 17:9–11</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Futurists compose various interpretations.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">As the Bible text explains, the seven heads are seven mountains. This is a direct reference to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_hills_of_Rome" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Seven hills of Rome">Seven hills of Rome</a>. It is also noted that the seven hills 'refer to seven kings'. This is a reference to the Caesars of Rome. At the time of the writing of the Revelation, five Caesars had already fallen (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Caesar" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Julius Caesar">Julius Caesar</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus_Caesar" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Augustus Caesar">Augustus Caesar</a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiberius_Caesar" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Tiberius Caesar">Tiberius Caesar</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caligula" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Caligula">Caligula</a> and <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claudius_Caesar" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Claudius Caesar">Claudius Caesar</a>), 'One is' (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Nero">Nero</a>, the sixth Caesar, was on the throne as John was writing the Revelation), and the seventh 'has not yet come'. (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galba" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Galba">Galba</a>, the seventh Caesar, reigned for less than 7 months).</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Various interpretations.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">The Thousand Years<br />The Millennium<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%2020:1%E2%80%933&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 20:1–3</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Millennium is a literal, future 1,000-year reign of Christ following the destruction of God's enemies.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Millennium is the current, ongoing rise of God's Kingdom. The Millennium is a symbolic time frame, not a literal time frame. Preterists believe the Millennium has been ongoing since the earthly ministry and ascension of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and is ongoing today.<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Daniel%202:34%E2%80%9335&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Daniel 2:34–35</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The time period between Christ's Second Advent and the rapture of all the righteous, both living and formerly dead, from off earth and the third Advent which brings the New Jerusalem and the saints to the planet. While the saved are gone, the planet is inhabited only by Satan and his hosts, for all the wicked are dead.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Rapture'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%204:1&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 4:1</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Rapture is a future removal of the faithful Christian church from earth.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Preterists generally recognize a future 'Second Coming' of Christ, as described in Acts 1:11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17. However, they distinguish this from Revelation 4:1 which is construed by Futurists as describing a 'Rapture' event that is separate from the 'Second Coming'.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Great Tribulation'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Revelation%204:1&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Revelation 4:1</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The 'Great Tribulation' is a future period of God's judgement on earth.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The 'Great Tribulation' occurred 2000 years ago when apostate Israel was judged and destroyed by God, culminating in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem at the hands of the pagan armies of the Roman Empire. The early Church was delivered from this period of judgment because it heeded the warning of Jesus in Matthew 24:16 to flee Jerusalem when it saw the pagan armies of Rome approaching.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Great Tribulation was a period of persecution for the Church for 1260 years from 538 to 1798 AD at the hands of papal authorities.</td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'The Abomination that causes desolation'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew%2024:15&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 24:15</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Abomination that causes desolation is a future system of idolatrous worship based at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">The Abomination that causes desolation was the pagan armies of Rome destroying the apostate system of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"></td></tr><tr style="background: rgb(255, 255, 236); vertical-align: top;"><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em; text-align: center;">'Gog and Magog invasion'<br /><a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Ezekiel%2038&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Ezekiel 38</a></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Ezekiel 38 refers to a future invasion of Israel by Russia and its allies, resulting in a miraculous deliverance by God.<ul style="list-style-image: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/bullet-icon.svg?d4515"); margin: 0.3em 0px 0px 1.6em; padding: 0px;"></ul></td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;">Ezekiel 38 refers to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maccabees" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Maccabees">Maccabees</a> miraculous defeat of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Seleucid Empire">Seleucids</a> in the 2nd century B.C. As Chilton notes, 'The word <i>chief</i> is, in the Hebrew, <i>rosh</i>, and according to this view, it does not pertain to Russia,</td><td style="border: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); padding: 0.2em 0.4em;"></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Preterism_v._Historicism"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Preterism vs Historicism</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Expositors of the traditional Protestant interpretation of Revelation known as <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicism_(Christian_eschatology)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Historicism (Christian eschatology)">Historicism</a> have often maintained that Revelation was written in AD 96 and not <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Siege of Jerusalem (70)">AD 70</a>. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Bishop_Elliott" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Edward Bishop Elliott">Edward Bishop Elliott</a>, in the <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horae_Apocalypticae" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Horae Apocalypticae">Horae Apocalypticae</a></i> (1862), argues that John wrote the book in exile on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patmos" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Patmos">Patmos</a> "at the close of the reign of Domitian; that is near the end of the year 95 or beginning of 96". He notes that Domitian was assassinated in September 96. Elliot begins his lengthy review of historical evidence by quoting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irenaeus" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Irenaeus">Irenaeus</a>, a disciple of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycarp" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Polycarp">Polycarp</a>. Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John. Irenaeus mentions that the Apocalypse was seen "no very long time ago [but] almost in our own age, toward the end of the reign of Domitian".</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Other historicists have seen no significance in the date that Revelation was written, and have even held to an early date while Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., makes an exegetical and historical argument for the pre-AD 70 composition of Revelation.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Historicism_v._Futurism"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Historicism vs Futurism</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">The division between these interpretations can be somewhat blurred. Most futurists are expecting a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Rapture">rapture</a> of the Church, an <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Antichrist">antichrist</a>, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Tribulation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Great Tribulation">Great Tribulation</a> and a <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second coming">second coming</a> of Christ in the near future. But they also accept certain past events, such as the rebirth of the State of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Israel">Israel</a> and the reunification of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerusalem" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jerusalem">Jerusalem</a> as prerequisites to them, in a manner which the earlier historicists have done with other dates. Futurists, who do not normally use the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day-year_principle" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Day-year principle">day-year principle</a>, interpret the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_Seventy_Weeks" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Prophecy of Seventy Weeks">Prophecy of Seventy Weeks</a> in Daniel 9:24 as years, just as historicists do. Most historicists have chosen timelines, from beginning to end, entirely in the past, but some, such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Clarke" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Adam Clarke">Adam Clarke</a>, have timelines which also commenced with specific past events, but require a future fulfillment. In his commentary on Daniel 8:14 published in 1831, he stated that the 2,300-year period should be calculated from 334 BC, the year <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Alexander the Great">Alexander the Great</a> began his conquest of the Persian Empire. His calculation resulted in the year 1966. He seems to have overlooked the fact that there is no "year zero" between BC and AD dates. For example, the year following 1 BC is 1 AD. Thus his calculations should have required an additional year, ending in 1967. He was not anticipating a literal regathering of the Jewish people prior to the second coming of Christ. But the date is of special significance to futurists since it is the year of Jerusalem's capture by Israeli forces during the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-Day_War" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Six-Day War">Six-Day War</a>. His commentary on Daniel 7:25 contains a 1260-year period commencing in 755 AD and ending in 2015.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="/2018/06/history.html">PREV</a>  |  <a href="/2018/06/the-return-of-jesus-christ.html">NEXT</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>

Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs

Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs Eschatological Topic Futurist belief Preterist belief Historicist belief Futurists...

Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs

Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs Eschatological Topic Futurist belief Preterist belief Historicist belief Futurists...

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The Return of Jesus Christ

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJEIrnWgiVD_5rZa4VUeWoM38fDgyvIUV9FoePal2DsAjIRRlM5PjZucxe57-zy22v5WMhXS5I0JDt3anoqqTz6pvMLV2p2s27Rgg9HpPxyUKQPbgYDoGstMo7RofSg8_39PLDWXANtY/s0/jesus+return.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJEIrnWgiVD_5rZa4VUeWoM38fDgyvIUV9FoePal2DsAjIRRlM5PjZucxe57-zy22v5WMhXS5I0JDt3anoqqTz6pvMLV2p2s27Rgg9HpPxyUKQPbgYDoGstMo7RofSg8_39PLDWXANtY/s0/jesus+return.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Major_theological_positions"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Major theological positions</span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Premillennialism"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Premillennialism</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Premillennialism">Premillennialism</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Standard premillennialism posits that Christ's second coming will inaugurate a literal thousand-year earthly kingdom. Christ's return will coincide with a time of great tribulation. At this time, there will be a resurrection of the people of God who have died, and a rapture of the people of God who are still living, and they will meet Christ at his coming. A thousand years of peace will follow, during which Christ will reign and Satan will be imprisoned in the Abyss. Those who hold to this view usually fall into one of the following three categories:</p><h4 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Pretribulation_rapture"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Pretribulation rapture</span></span></h4><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretribulationism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Pretribulationism">Pretribulationism</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Pretribulationists believe that the second coming will be in two stages separated by a seven-year period of tribulation. At the beginning of the tribulation, true Christians will rise to meet the Lord in the air (the Rapture). Then follows a seven-year period of suffering in which the Antichrist will conquer the world and persecute those who refuse to worship him. At the end of this period, Christ returns to defeat the Antichrist and establish the age of peace. This position is supported by a scripture which says, "God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." [1 Thess 5:9]</p><h4 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Midtribulation_rapture"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Midtribulation rapture</span></span></h4><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midtribulationism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Midtribulationism">Midtribulationism</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Midtribulationists believe that the Rapture will take place at the halfway point of the seven-year tribulation, i.e. after 3½ years. It coincides with the "abomination of desolation"—a desecration of the temple where the Antichrist puts an end to the Jewish sacrifices, sets up his own image in the temple, and demands that he be worshiped as God. This event begins the second, most intense part of the tribulation.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Some interpreters find support for the "midtrib" position by comparing a passage in Paul's epistles with the book of Revelation. Paul says, "We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (1 Cor 15:51–52). Revelation divides the great tribulation into three sets of increasingly catastrophic judgments: the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, and the Seven Bowls, in that order. If the "last trumpet" of Paul is equated with the last trumpet of Revelation, the Rapture would be in the middle of the Tribulation. (Not all interpreters agree with this literal interpretation of the chronology of Revelation, however.)</p><h4 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Posttribulation_rapture"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Posttribulation rapture</span></span></h4><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-Tribulation_Rapture" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Post-Tribulation Rapture">Post-Tribulation Rapture</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Posttribulationists hold that Christ will not return until the end of the tribulation. Christians, rather than being raptured at the beginning of the tribulation, or halfway through, will live through it and suffer for their faith during the ascendancy of the Antichrist. Proponents of this position believe that the presence of believers during the tribulation is necessary for a final evangelistic effort during a time when external conditions will combine with the Gospel message to bring great numbers of converts into the Church in time for the beginning of the Millennium.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Postmillennialism"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Postmillennialism</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Postmillennialism">Postmillennialism</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Postmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Revelation">Book of Revelation</a> which sees <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christ">Christ</a>'s <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_coming" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second coming">second coming</a> as occurring <i>after</i> the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Millennialism">Millennium</a>", a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Age" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Golden Age">Golden Age</a> in which <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_ethics" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christian ethics">Christian ethics</a> prosper.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-44" style="font-size: 11.2px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatology#cite_note-44" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;">[44]</a></sup> The term subsumes several similar views of the end times, and it stands in contrast to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Premillennialism">premillennialism</a> and, to a lesser extent, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Amillennialism">amillennialism</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Postmillennialism holds that Jesus Christ establishes his kingdom on earth through his preaching and redemptive work in the first century and that he equips his church with the gospel, empowers her by the Spirit, and charges her with the Great Commission (Matt 28:19) to disciple all nations. Postmillennialism expects that eventually the vast majority of people living will be saved. Increasing gospel success will gradually produce a time in history prior to Christ's return in which faith, righteousness, peace, and prosperity will prevail in the affairs of men and of nations. After an extensive era of such conditions Jesus Christ will return visibly, bodily, and gloriously, to end history with the general resurrection and the final judgment after which the eternal order follows.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Postmillenialism was a dominant theological belief among American Protestants who promoted reform movements in the 19th and 20th century such as abolitionism and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Gospel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Social Gospel">Social Gospel</a>. Postmillennialism has become one of the key tenets of a movement known as <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Reconstructionism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christian Reconstructionism">Christian Reconstructionism</a>. It has been criticized by 20th century religious conservatives as an attempt to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immanentize_the_eschaton" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Immanentize the eschaton">immanentize the eschaton</a>.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Amillennialism"><span style="font-family: Trirong;">Amillennialism</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Amillennialism">Amillennialism</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Amillennialism, in Christian eschatology, involves the rejection of the belief that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jesus">Jesus</a> will have a literal, thousand-year-long, physical reign on the earth. This rejection contrasts with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Premillennialism">premillennial</a> and some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmillennialism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Postmillennialism">postmillennial</a> interpretations of <a class="external text" href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rev+20" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">chapter 20</a> of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Revelation">Book of Revelation</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">The amillennial view regards the "thousand years" mentioned in Revelation 20 as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Symbol">symbolic</a> number, not as a literal description; amillennialists hold that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Millennium">millennium</a> has already begun and is identical with the current <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensation_(period)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Dispensation (period)">church age</a>. Amillennialism holds that while Christ's reign during the millennium is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Spirit">spiritual</a> in nature, at the end of the church age, <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming_of_Christ" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second Coming of Christ">Christ will return</a> in <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_judgment" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Last judgment">final judgment</a> and establish a permanent reign in the new heaven and new earth.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Many proponents dislike the name "amillennialism" because it emphasizes their differences with premillennialism rather than their beliefs about the millennium. "Amillennial" was actually coined in a pejorative way by those who hold premillennial views. Some proponents also prefer alternate terms such as <i>nunc-millennialism</i> (that is, now-millennialism) or <i>realized millennialism</i>, although these other names have achieved only limited acceptance and usage.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="/2021/03/comparison-of-futurist-preterist-and.html">PREV</a>  |  <a href="/2018/06/death-and-afterlife.html">NEXT</a></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p>

The Return of Jesus Christ

Major theological positions Premillennialism Main article:  Premillennialism Standard premillennialism posits that Christ's second comin...

The Return of Jesus Christ

Major theological positions Premillennialism Main article:  Premillennialism Standard premillennialism posits that Christ's second comin...

Read more »

Death and Afterlife

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoRaMI9Anubzq3O31whgakOyId2gaNPEmmXAG9K0aZ0dN3Q6aqcECpP34rvfcDM9EYQcu63MsGCkmwPPq_JHTYRhfguSPoULtAjq1VPkBsYu9pvbKGBhq8-sakjawNWpfXyW5k-2PdA8/s0/purgatory.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 0em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoRaMI9Anubzq3O31whgakOyId2gaNPEmmXAG9K0aZ0dN3Q6aqcECpP34rvfcDM9EYQcu63MsGCkmwPPq_JHTYRhfguSPoULtAjq1VPkBsYu9pvbKGBhq8-sakjawNWpfXyW5k-2PdA8/s0/purgatory.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Death_and_the_afterlife"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: large;">Death and the afterlife</span></span></h2><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Jewish_beliefs_at_the_time_of_Jesus"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Jewish beliefs at the time of Jesus</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">See also: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Temple_Judaism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Second Temple Judaism">Second Temple Judaism</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">There were different schools of thought on the afterlife in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judea_(Roman_province)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Judea (Roman province)">Judea</a> during the first century AD. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadducees" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Sadducees">Sadducees</a>, who recognized only the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Torah">Torah</a> (first five books of the Old Testament) as authoritative, did not believe in an afterlife or any resurrection of the dead. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisees" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Pharisees">Pharisees</a>, who not only accepted the Torah, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_the_Hebrew_Bible_canon" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Development of the Hebrew Bible canon">additional scriptures as well</a>, believed in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_the_Dead#Judaism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Resurrection of the Dead">resurrection of the dead</a>, and it is known to have been a major point of contention between the two groups (see <a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Acts%2023:8&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Acts 23:8</a>). The Pharisees based their belief on passages such as <a class="external text" href="https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Daniel%2012:2&version=nrsv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Daniel 12:2</a>, which says: "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt."</p><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="The_intermediate_state"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">The intermediate state</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate_state" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Intermediate state">Intermediate state</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Some traditions (notably the Seventh-day Adventists) teach that the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_sleep" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Soul sleep">soul sleeps</a> after death, and will not awake again until the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurrection_of_the_dead" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Resurrection of the dead">resurrection of the dead</a>, while others believe the spirit goes to an intermediate place where it will live consciously until the resurrection of the dead. By "soul", Seventh-day Adventists theologians mean the physical person (monism), and that no component of human nature survives death; therefore, each human will be "recreated" at resurrection. The biblical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ezekiel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Ezekiel">Book of Ezekiel</a> provides substantiation for the assertion that souls experience mortality, "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die." (Ezekiel 18:4) </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">The <i>Catechism of the Catholic Church</i> says:</p><dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">Each man receives his eternal retribution in his <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immortal_soul" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Immortal soul">immortal soul</a> at the very moment of his death, in a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particular_judgment" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Particular judgment">particular judgment</a> that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaven_(Christianity)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Heaven (Christianity)">heaven</a>—through a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purgatory" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Purgatory">purification</a> or immediately—or immediate and everlasting <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damnation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Damnation">damnation</a>. (Sect. 1022)</dd></dl><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="Purgatory"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">Purgatory</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purgatory" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Purgatory">Purgatory</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Some denominations (a notable exception are <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventists" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Seventh-day Adventists">Seventh-day Adventists</a>) affirm the statement from the <i>Catechism of the Catholic Church</i> (above), with the exception of the parenthetical phrase, "through a purification or immediately". This alludes to the Catholic belief in a spiritual state, known as Purgatory, in which those souls who are not condemned to Hell, but are also not completely pure as required for entry into Heaven, go through a final process of purification before their full acceptance into Heaven.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism do not believe in Purgatory as such, though the Orthodox Church is willing to allow for a period of continued sanctification (the process of being made pure, or holy) after death. Most Protestants reject the doctrine of Purgatory on the basis that first, Christ has already made full atonement for their sins on the cross, thereby removing all obstacles which prevent them from coming directly into the presence of God after death; and second, it is not found in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Bible" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Protestant Bible">Protestant Bible</a>.</p><h2 style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(162, 169, 177); line-height: 1.3; margin: 1em 0px 0.25em; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="The_Great_Tribulation"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: large;">The Great Tribulation</span></span></h2><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Tribulation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Great Tribulation">Great Tribulation</a></div><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="The_end_comes_at_an_unexpected_time"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">The end comes at an unexpected time</span></span></h3><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">There are many passages in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, which speak of a time of terrible tribulation such as has never been known, a time of natural and man-made disasters on an awesome scale. Jesus said that at the time of his coming, "There will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever will be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake, those days will be shortened." [Mt 24:21–22]</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Furthermore, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Messiah">Messiah</a>'s return and the tribulation that accompanies it will come at a time when people are not expecting it:</p><dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px;"><dl style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">Of that day and hour no-one knows; no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [Mt 24:36–39]</dd></dl></dd></dl><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Paul echoes this theme, saying, "For when they say, 'Peace and safety!' then sudden destruction comes upon them." [1 Thess 5:3]</p><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="The_abomination_of_desolation"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">The abomination of desolation</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abomination_of_desolation" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Abomination of desolation">Abomination of desolation</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">The abomination of desolation (or desolating sacrilege) is a term found in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_Bible" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Hebrew Bible">Hebrew Bible</a>, in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Daniel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Daniel">book of Daniel</a>. The term is used by <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jesus Christ">Jesus Christ</a> in the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivet_discourse" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Olivet discourse">Olivet discourse</a>, according to both the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Matthew" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Gospel of Matthew">Gospel of Matthew</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Gospel of Mark">Gospel of Mark</a>. In the Matthew account, Jesus is presented as quoting Daniel explicitly.</p><dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">Matthew 24:15–26 (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Standard_Version" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="English Standard Version">ESV</a>) "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."</dd></dl><dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">Mark 13:14 (ESV) "But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains."</dd></dl><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">This verse in the Olivet Discourse also occurs in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Luke" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Gospel of Luke">Gospel of Luke</a>.</p><dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">Luke 21.20–21 (ESV) "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains<span class="nowrap" style="white-space: nowrap;"> </span>..."</dd></dl><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Many biblical scholars conclude that Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaticinium_ex_eventu" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Vaticinium ex eventu">prophecies after the event</a> about the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Siege of Jerusalem (70)">siege of Jerusalem</a> in AD 70 by the Roman general <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Titus">Titus</a> (see <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_Mark#Date" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Gospel of Mark">Dating of the Gospel of Mark</a>).</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Preterism">Preterist Christian</a> commentators believe that Jesus quoted this prophecy in Mark 13:14 as referring to an event in his "1st century disciples'" immediate future, specifically the pagan Roman forces during the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jerusalem_(70)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Siege of Jerusalem (70)">siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black;"><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(Christian_eschatology)" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Futurism (Christian eschatology)">Futurist Christians</a> consider the "Abomination of Desolation" prophecy of Daniel mentioned by Jesus in <a class="external text" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:15&version=nkjv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Matthew 24:15</a> and <a class="external text" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2013:14&version=nkjv" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("/w/skins/Vector/resources/skins.vector.styles/images/external-link-ltr-icon.svg?b4b84") right center no-repeat; padding-right: 13px; text-decoration-line: none;">Mark 13:14</a> as referring to an event in the end time future, when a 7-year peace treaty will be signed between Israel and a world ruler called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_of_sin" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Man of sin">the man of lawlessness</a>", or the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Antichrist">Antichrist</a>" affirmed by the writings of the Apostle Paul in <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2_Thessalonians" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="2 Thessalonians">2 Thessalonians</a>.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Other scholars conclude that the Abomination of Desolation refers to the Crucifixion an attempt by the emperor Hadrian to erect a statue to Jupiter in the Jewish temple, or an attempt by Caligula to have a statue depicting him as Zeus built in the temple.</p><h3 style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0.3em 0px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify;"><span class="mw-headline" id="The_Prophecy_of_Seventy_Weeks"><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;">The Prophecy of Seventy Weeks</span></span></h3><div class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable" role="note" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">Main article: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_Seventy_Weeks" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Prophecy of Seventy Weeks">Prophecy of Seventy Weeks</a></div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">Many interpreters calculate the length of the tribulation at seven years. The key to this understanding is the "seventy weeks prophecy" in the book of Daniel. The Prophecy of Seventy Septets (or literally 'seventy times seven') appears in the angel <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Gabriel">Gabriel</a>'s reply to Daniel, beginning with verse 22 and ending with verse 27 in the ninth chapter of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Daniel" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Book of Daniel">Book of Daniel</a>, a work included in both the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jewish">Jewish</a> <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanakh" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Tanakh">Tanakh</a> and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Christianity">Christian</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Bible">Bible</a>; as well as the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Septuagint" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Septuagint">Septuagint</a>. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Prophecy">prophecy</a> is part of both the <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish" style="background: none; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Jewish">Jewish</a> account of history and Christian eschatology.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">The prophet has a vision of the angel Gabriel, who tells him, "Seventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city (i.e., Israel and Jerusalem)." [Dan 9:24] After making a comparison with events in the history of Israel, many scholars have concluded that each day in the seventy weeks represents a year. The first sixty-nine weeks are interpreted as covering the period until Christ's first coming, but the last week is thought to represent the years of the tribulation which will come at the end of this age, directly preceding the millennial age of peace:</p><dl style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px;"><dl style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it will be with a flood, and till the end of the war, desolations are determined. Then he will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week, he will bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations will be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation which is determined is poured out on the desolate. [Dan 9:26–27]</dd></dl></dd></dl><p style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0.5em 0px; text-align: justify;">This is an obscure prophecy, but in combination with other passages, it has been interpreted to mean that the "prince who is to come" will make a seven-year covenant with Israel that will allow the rebuilding of the temple and the reinstitution of sacrifices, but "in the middle of the week", he will break the agreement and set up an idol of himself in the temple and force people to worship it—the "abomination of desolation". Paul writes:</p><dl style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px;"><dl style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.2em;"><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;">Let no-one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [2 Thess 2:3–4]</dd><dd style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 1.6em; margin-right: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></dd><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><a href="/2018/06/the-return-of-jesus-christ.html">PREV</a>  |  <a href="/2018/06/rapture.html">NEXT</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Trirong; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></div></dl></dd></dl>

Death and Afterlife

  Death and the afterlife Jewish beliefs at the time of Jesus See also:  Second Temple Judaism There were different schools of thought on th...

Death and Afterlife

  Death and the afterlife Jewish beliefs at the time of Jesus See also:  Second Temple Judaism There were different schools of thought on th...

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