The Beast of Revelation (17 of 25) 1st Century Viewpoint?

http://forerunner.com/beast/beast.html

Question:- Your view of Revelation -- that it was to be a warning and an encouragement to the early Church that was about to face the wrath of Nero and the Roman armies -- would make little or no sense unless the church at that time understood it as such. Is there any evidence that they did?

(1) Ironically this question exposes the error of the futurist viewpoint. It recognizes the need of Revelation's relevance to its first century audience, which preterism fits perfectly.

(2) This type of question could answered in the negative with no harm done to the preterist view. For we learn from the Gospels that the disciples constantly misunderstood Jesus' own teaching and were even surprised that he died and even more so that he was resurrected. Even within Revelation Jesus chastises the churches for not having "ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches." He chastens them for their dullness of hearing and for their falling away from their first love. Spiritual dullness does not negate the validity of divine revelation. The Jews as a whole missed the entire coming of the Messiah, even though the Old Testament clearly prophesied it. Subjective apprehension does not determine objective reality.

(3) Revelation's warning about Rome and the coming Jewish War are not just matters found only in this book. We find these issues in the Olivet Discourse (Mt 24), the parables of Jesus (Mt 20-23), and various warnings of impending judgment elsewhere in the NT (2 Thessalonians; Hebrews; James; 1 Peter). The question could be legitimately be asked whether Christians understood those references too. Grammatical exegesis leads us to the proper interpretation, not historical understanding by the early Christians.

(4) Unfortunately, due to the chaos produced by the events of the destruction of Jerusalem we have very few records of Christianity in the era of the Jewish War and just after. So we really have no documents from that time period which inform us as to what they believed. We do know, however, from later sources that the early Christians understood the coming judgment upon Israel and Jerusalem. Eusebius particularly mentions their escaping as the Jewish War broke out. And we have some later, though ancient, comments on Revelation indicating knowledge that its events refer to the Jewish War (the Syriac versions of Revelation mention it was written under Nero; Andreas and Arethas of Capadocia, etc.)

(5) The purpose of Revelation includes more than immediate warning to escape Jerusalem, but also presents other important matters:

(a) It explains the collapse of Jerusalem, which was the headquarters of the Church (Acts 8; 15).

(b) It demonstrates God's concern for his people: he will both vindicate them and protect them through trials and tribulations. Thus, his enemies are warned and his people encouraged.

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Tags:

• Beast
• Revelation
• Antichrist
• Anti-Christ
• Bible
• Gentry
• eschatology
• end-times
• preterist
• preterism
• postmillennialism
• 666

[lordrothchild21]

my question would be, was the temple Herod built a legitamate temple in Gods eyes, since Herod was an edomite. Not implying that Jesus did not refer to herods temple wich ofcourse Hed did, but did God recognize herods temple

[jcr4runner]

@lordrothchild21

Herod made improvements to Nehemiah's Temple -- specifically to the outer portions and the buildings surrounding the Temple. It was not the third Temple, but a restored second Temple.

[domn3333]

I am done listening to you God warned us of people like you dont let anyone decieve you prey for his second coming I tell you the time is near repent of your sins and do them no more believe in your hart your mind and your soul that Jesus is God and you will be saved God bless the Jews and us jentiles. Jesus in your name I ask the Father that in your second coming to take me with you when you come to pick up your bride into Heaven I Hollow thy name, you are my Hope my Trust my Everything Amen.

[jcr4runner]

You assume that preterists have not repented of their sins?

Orthodox Christianity does not hold up eschatology to be an essential doctrinal element that can determine salvation.

[hoplex]

Who fled Jerusalem? Is it the Jews, the Christians, the hebrews?

[jcr4runner]

The church historian Eusebius gives details about the Christians' flight in about 67 AD. The Eusebius quote is from Church History Book 3, Chapter 5. The Last Siege of the Jews after Christ.

[lordrothchild21]

@jcr4runner thanks for your reply, I greatly respect your intelligence. So " Herods Temple" was recognized as legit because when Jesus overturned the money changers table. He referred to the temple as His Fathers House, correct?

[whisperingwinds2u200]

Thank you very much for your videos. I found them to make a lot of sense.

I dont believe it was so much that they were anti anyone, as it was people, trying to make sense of the killing of Jesus. Sure they were blaming jews and maybe anyone else they could think of....

[Saiaton]

Why - or how - can anyone be so terrified of understanding how ancient texts belong instead of taking them out of context as magic hocus-pocus to suit their fantasies that if the writers imagined at all it would be with horror? It's just possible that some early Christian writings are just such warnings against how superstitious ignorance always creates god in its own image to justify its own prejudices. Scripture relevant to today? 'Love thy Neighbor'? How to live, not magic and divine kings?

[alwaysChE]

wait wait wait this is just way too logical!!!!