Summary Of Christian Eschatological Differences Article Index for
Summary Of 		Website Links For
Christian 		 

Information About

Summary Of Christian Eschatological Differences
  CATEGORIES ABOUT SUMMARY OF CHRISTIAN ESCHATOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES
   
christian eschatology
   
APPAREL
BABY
BEAUTY
BOOKS
CAR TOYS
CELL PHONES
DVD'S
ELECTRONICS
GOURMET FOOD
GROCERIES
HEALTH & PERSONAL
HOME & GARDEN
JEWELRY
MUSIC
MUSIC INSTRUMENTS
OFFICE PRODUCTS
SOFTWARE
SPORTING GOODS
TOOLS & HARDWARE
TOYS
VIDEO GAMES
SHOPPING HOME
MORE SHOPPING...



This is a general overview of the Eschatological interpretations of the Book Of Revelation people hold and the differences between Christian groups; the differences are by no means monolithic as representing one group or another and many differences exist within each group.


INTERPRETIVE AND HERMENEUTICAL OVERVIEWS OF THE BIBLE


Covenantal


: Typologised and Context ualised. There are three covenants - the ''Covenant of Works or Law'', the ''Covenant of Redemption'' and the ''Covenant of Grace''.

Under the ''Covenant of Works'' mankind, represented ultimately in a covenantal sense under Adam beginning from the Garden Of Eden , failed to live as God intended and stood condemned. But beyond time the ''Covenant of Redemption'' was made between the Father and Son, to agree that Christ would live an acceptable substitutionary life on behalf of, and as a covenantal representative for, those who would Sin but would trust in Christ as their covenantal substitutionary representative, which bought them into the ''Covenant of Grace''. The ''Covenant of Grace'' applies to all who trust Christ for their salvation, regardless of ethnicity, and thus the Covenant covers Jews and Gentiles alike with regard to Salvation , Sanctification , and Resurrection .


Dispensational


: mean ancient ''and'' modern Israel. Prophecy is always literal and future, including unconditional promises to Israel to inherit the promised land (from the Nile to the Euphrates and the East ern bank of the Jordan), Jerusalem and the Temple Mount for the rebuilding of a temple possibly in place of the Muslim Dome Of The Rock , see Christian Zionism ). There are two separate plans of salvation for two separate chosen peoples of God , Jews and Christians - from Biblical times until the end of time. Though the number and divisions vary among dispensationalists, history is usually divided into seven distinctly separate 'dispensations' (eras) where God tests man's obedience differently. The present 'Church dispensation' concerns Christians as God's 'heavenly people' who are promised a heavenly kingdom and saved by grace through faith, who are for this age a parenthesis to God's main plan of dealing with and blessing his earthly people, the Jews, seen by some to be saved by sincere law-keeping and seen by others to be saved by grace. Jewish sovereignty over the promised earthly kingdom of Jerusalem and Palestine was postponed from the time of Christ's first coming, because of the Jews' rejection of him, until prior to or just after his second coming when most or all Jews will embrace him - See Restorationism – so following Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem, the promised land and the rebuilt Jewish Temple , 'all Israel will be saved' converting to Christianity and Christ will return in a two staged Second Coming interspersed with the Tribulation - the first half of Christ's coming will be to Rapture believers and the second to deal with everyone else.


Allegorical or Mythical


: and Myth . The Bible is more literary than historical.


INTERPRETATIONS OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION


The Judgements Chapters 1 - 19: Four views

  • Idealism : Present continual fulfillment of ''symbolical text''; spiritual events

  • Preterism : Past first century fulfillment of ''literary text''; real events

  • Futurism : Future immanent fulfillment of ''literal text''; real events

  • Historicism : Text is fulfilled during the span of Christian History. Text is taken as symbolic of literal historical events.



The Millennium Chapter 20: Three views

  • ''' and Historic Premillennialism .

  • ---''' of Christians, followed by the rise of Antichrist to rule during a literal seven-year Tribulation then Armageddon , followed by the return of Christ.

  • ---''' of the church happens after the literal seven year Tribulation , with the church being caught up to meet Christ in the air and accompany him to earth to share in his literal thousand year rule.

  • ''''s Second Coming ''after'' or ''post-'' thousand years. Also divided into two schools of interpretation: Revivalist and Reconstructionist Postmillennialism:

  • --- Revivalist Postmillennialism : the millennium represents an unknown period of time marked by gradual Christian revival and widespread successful evangelism, followed by Christ's return.

  • --- Reconstructionist Postmillennialism : the Church increases its influence through successful evangelism and expansion, finally establishing a theocratic kingdom of 1000 years duration (literal or figurative) followed by the return of Christ.

  • '''s; the millenial reign of Christ as pictured in the book of Revelation is now, as Christ is reigning at the right hand of the Father. It can be hard to draw a fine line between Amillenialism and Revivalist Postmillenialism. Amillenialism tends to believe society will, through growing rebellion, continue to deteriorate, while Postmillenialism believes the Church will influence the world producing greater righteousness.



ESCHATOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKS


Covenantal


Held by most Protestant Churches who take a Historical-grammatical and Typological interpretation of the Bible and those holding to Reformed Theology such as the Reformed Church , most of the Presbyterian Church , some Low Church Anglican s, some Baptist churches and some Wesleyan Methodist churches and certain Lutheran churches.

Judgements: Revelation Ch 1 - 19

  • Idealism : the book of Revelation was not designed as a historical document or future prophecy, but instead teaches timeless truths about good and evil, Satan and God, etc., by way of metaphor, allegory, and/or story.

  • Futurism (Especially Historic-Premillennialism, c.f., George Eldon Ladd as opposed to Dispensational Futurism or Dispensational Premillennialism ): the book of Revelation is limited to a specific future period--the tribulation.

  • ''' in Northern Ireland ): the book of Revelation portrays the span of church history, from the first century to the return of Christ: events in Revelation are symbolically interpreted to portray literal events in the life of the Church.

  • Preterism : the book of Revelation was prophecy at the time, but all or most of it has already been fulfilled in the very early days of the Church; esp. centering around the destruction of the Temple and the Jewish nation in 70 A.D. Differences:

  • --- Full Preterism : All of Christian prophecy was fulfilled in the first century, including the return of Christ and the resurrection of believers. The resurrection is interpreted to mean receiving a spiritual body after death, with no promise of a physical resurrection for any besides Christ.

  • --- Partial Preterism : Most of prophecy was fulfilled in the first century, except Christ's return then was as a judge of Israel, but not his final literal coming. He is still to return and literally raise the believing dead.


Millennium: Revelation Ch 20



Dispensational


Held by groups who are almost completely Biblically Inerrant and often more Arminian leaning. Held by many Protestant groups who take what they believe is a more Literal interpretation of the Bible including many, but not most, Pentecostal Charismatic and Baptist churches and Independent and ' Non-denominational ' churches as well as a few of the Presbyterian Church and Wesleyan Methodist churches. Also held by most groups that are labelled Fundamentalists . The more politically active sections within this eschatological view often strongly support the Christian Zionism movement and the associated political, military and economic support for Israel which comes from certain groups within American politics and parts of the Christian Right . This view is also held in a modified form by the sects, such as the Latter Day Saints , Jehovah's Witnesses , Christadelphians and Adventist splinter groups such as the Branch Davidians . One of the main tenants of Dispensationalism is the strict dichotomy that dispensationalists claim exists between Israel and the New Testament Church. This is expressly denied by Covenant Theologians who claim the existence of a relationship via “Spiritual Israel.” A dispensationalist would claim that none of the prophecies pertaining to Israel are or will be fulfilled in or by the New Testament Church. Covenant Theologians would claim that some of the prophecies pertaining to Israel are, will, or may be fulfilled in or by the New Testament Church. see Supersessionism .

Judgements: Revelation Ch 1 - 19