Revelation of Jesus Christ chapter one.

Pause for thought

Written during a time of extreme persecution, uncertainty about the date some put it as early as A.D. 70 but more likely about A.D. 90-95. The timing effects some of the views below!

John the Apostle simply wrote what he “saw” the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave Him (Jesus) to show His servants what must shortly happen.

Main views of the book of Revelation

Futurist view / classical pre- millennialism.

The first three chapters are applicable throughout history, signs precede the coming tribulation; the saints will meet the Lord in the air at His coming at the end of the tribulation period. Views the millennium as Christian. This was the view held by most of the early church fathers from the Apostles to Constantine Christianised the Roman Empire. (This is my favoured view!)

Idealist view

Revelation is symbolic with a spiritual meaning rather than foretelling actual events. This was a view held by St Augustine in the 4th century.

Historicist view

Revelation represents the course of history from the Apostles to the end of the age. A view held by many Protestant reformers and eveangelists.

Preterist view ( means past)

That the all prophecies found in Revelation were fulfilled in the overthrow of Jerusalem in A.D.70 and that we are now living in the good of the Millennium.

Partial Preterist/ Dominionist or Kingdom now theology

Revelations was fulfilled in A.D.70 with the overthrow of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. The world will be Christianised through the witness of the Church through signs wonders and political activity. The world will become better as Satan’s influence diminishes. Jesus will return to a perfect world that His saints have subdued. Some “Kingdom Now” Charismatic Christians hold this view..

Futurist view/ dispensational Pre Millennialism

Except for the first three chapters, John is describing events that will happen at the end of history, expects a pre-tribulation rapture and views the millennium as mostly Jewish. This view was taught by JN Darby a leader of the Plymouth Brethren was popularised by footnotes in the Scofield Bible, and by Hal Lindsay in his many books. This is probably the most popular view.

A verse to remember

God blesses the one who reads this prophesy to the church, and He blesses all who listen to it and obey what it says. For the time is near when these things will happen. Revelation 1:3 N. L.T.

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