Last Updated Sunday, November 23, 2014
The Revelation -- Which Interpretation?
PRETERIST - CONTINUOUS HISTORIC - FUTURIST
By Graham Pearce
CONTENTS
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?
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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