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Last Updated Sunday, November 23, 2014

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The Revelation -- Which Interpretation?
PRETERIST - CONTINUOUS HISTORIC - FUTURIST
By Graham Pearce

CONTENTS

 


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PAGE 7

Preface.................................................................................................................................................. 5

Chapter 1: A BOOK GIVEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD .................................................................. 10

    Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the book
    A brief outline of four interpretations
    The origin of the past and futurist interpretations

Chapter 2: THE CLAIMS OF THE HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION .................................15

    A prophetic record promised
    A rational structure
    Things which must shortly come to pass
    Fulfilment understood in earlier times
    The ultimate test: the fit of history to the symbols
    --- A thousand years' history that cannot be ignored
    --- History and prophecy through six Trumpets

Chapter 3: A PRETERIST INTERPRETATION ......................................................................... 32

    The basis for our examination
    The date of the Revelation: Nero's or Domitian's persecution?
    Examination of the proposed rules of interpretation
    Which interpretation is the Biblical approach?
    The Seals and Trumpets: Do they fit the events of AD 70?
    Comparison of two interpretations of the Seals.
    The Trumpets and AD 70
    Why abundant prophecy for AD 65-70 and none for the period after?

Chapter 4: A FUTURIST INTERPRETATION ............................................................................ 45

    A summary of the interpretation
    Four general criticisms
    -- Promise of prophetic guidance
    -- Things which must shortly come to pass
    -- Keeping the sayings of the book
    -- Improbable grouping of symbols
    Twelve detailed criticisms
    -- The 6th Seal: 'portents' of the Lord's return?
    -- What is the sealing of the 144,000?
    -- 200 million horsemen engaged in a future war
    -- Christadelphians commissioned to witness by the Rainbowed Angel
    -- Mortal Christadelphians waging war
    -- Ascended up to heaven: to the judgement seat
    -- The nation of Israel, the sun-clothed woman with the moon under her feet
    -- Jesus and the dragon in heaven
    -- The nation of Israel nourished in the wilderness
    -- The nation of Israel the harlot on the beast
    -- Angels carry out all judgements
    -- Punishment of the unfaithful

CONTENTS PAGE 8

Chapter 5: DOES THE SIXTH SEAL APPLY TO CONSTANTINE? ....................................... 55

    Two problems to be faced
    Is the language of the 6th Seal too grand for Constantine?
    The greatness of the Constantinian Revolution
    A new constitution
    Fundamental religious changes
    Political nature of the religious revolution
    The pagans fleeing from the wrath of the Lamb
    Ch. 12 confirms the application of the 6th Seal to Constantine
    The apparent coming of the kingdom of God
    Constantine ascending 'the throne of God'
    Extracts from the historian Michael Gilbert

Chapter 6: '1260' -- DAYS OR YEARS? .......................................................................................... 67

    This is a key question
    The Revelation a book of symbol
    The decorum of the symbol
    Evidence from the book of Daniel
    An exact fulfilment of 1260 years

Chapter 7: IS THE REVELATION A BOOK ABOUT MODERN ISRAEL? ............................ 76

    "Exploring the Apocalypse and the Future" -- A Summary of Events
    Israel and the beasts of Revelation and Daniel
    The Bible contrasted with what Bro. Watkins writes
    -- The nation welcomes Jesus on his return
    -- The restoration a slow process under divine favour
    -- Israel is weak, not powerful, when Christ returns
    -- Israel and Babylon
    Four more illustrations of inappropriateness
    -- The little horn of Daniel 7
    -- The manchild and dragon of Revelation 12
    -- The harlot and the beast
    -- Ezekiel 38 not fulfilled until Revelation 20:8 is fulfilled
    What will be the effect of this anti-Jewish attitude?

Chapter 8: SAINTS THANKFUL FOR PROPHETIC GUIDANCE TODAY ............................ 84

    Prophetic guidance in the time of the End
    The pouring out of the Vials -- The perspective
    An analysis of the Vials
    The Old Order passes away
    -- Great changes in western Europe
    -- Events in the East
    Preparation for Christ's return
    -- Preparing the Way for the Kings of the East
    The gathering of the nations by the frog-like spirits
    -- Frog-tike spirits

CONTENTS PAGE 9

    -- They are the spirits of demons working miracles
    -- Out of the mouth of the beast and the dragon
    -- Out of the mouth of the false prophet
    -- The developing socialist bias of the Vatican
    -- The present Pope (1982)
    -- Gathering the nations, Revelation 16:15

Chapter 9: -- THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON: BY THE BEAST OR THE SAINTS? ... 97

    The shape of things to come
    The importance of Babylon
    Babylon and the harlot on the beast -- Rome or Jerusalem?
    Who destroys Babylon -- the beast or the saints?
    Seven reasons for believing it is the saints
    Some difficulties to be solved
    -- The horns burn the harlot with fire
    -- Come out of her my people
    -- The marriage of the Lamb ch. 19

Chapter 10: -- ANOTHER 'HISTORICAL' INTERPRETATION .............................................. 107

    "The Revelation of Jesus Christ" -- a brief statement of some key ideas Comments on chapters 11-16

Chapter 11: WHICH INTERPRETATION? ................................................................................... 115

    Our examination reviewed
    The voice of our earlier brethren
    Truth is precious

APPENDIX 1: DANIEL AND THE APOCALYPSE ... ...............................................................120

APPENDIX 2: IS THE APOCALYPSE A CHRONOLOGICAL PROGRESSION ..................126

APPENDIX 3: NOTES ON THE SECOND EDITION OF

"APOCALYPSE FOR EVERYMAN" ..................................................................................... 131

APPENDIX 4: A PRINCIPLE OF INTERPRETATION .............................................................. 136

FURTHER READING ... ....................................................................................................................137

 

 


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