Interpreting Biblical prophecies is a subject of much controversy, and most Christians are placed in groups according to what and how they believe.
As a result of this theologians use different principals in declaring Biblical prophecies. Some of the principals are so far removed from what is actually written that it is difficult to get back to the original text, which in turn casts doubt on the divine inspiration of the Bible texts.
The four most often used principles are as follows:
Up to the end of the fourth century after Christ the historical premillenniumism interpretation was the most widely used way of interpreting the end times. In terms of this the Antichrist would rise up and the church would go through the tribulation. At the end of the tribulation the dead in Christ would be raised and together with the living believers be taken up in heaven. They will then immediately return with Christ in order to end the tribulation, to destroy the Antichrist and his hordes of followers, the remnant of Israel save and the thousand year reign of Christ establish with Jerusalem as capital. Almost all the early church fathers held on to this way of interpreting the book of Revelation.
This method use as a basis that Biblical statements cannot be taken literally but must be interpreted allegorically or spiritually. This interpretation has its origin in the Alexandrian theological school in the third and fourth century after Christ.
Origenes (born 185AD) is the father of this interpretation and he wrote many books following this method of interpretation. He was however exposed to the Greek philosophy of Plato, and still wanted to stay a Christian but also follow the philosophical influences of Plato.
3. Postmillennialism
This method started during the 16th century and was a completely new way of interpretation. In terms of this way of interpretation the world would become a better place as the message of Christ is taught to all people, which would result in a world becoming better and will the church age and millennium start. At the end of this so-called “golden century” will Jesus return to earth for the final judgement. According to them there is no need for a need dispensation on earth with Jerusalem as capital.
The reformation along with the quick expansion of the British Empire and other European colonial powers started this idea that missionaries will carry the gospel across the earth which would lead to a Christian world where righteousness and law will prevail. Christian reformation and reconstruction must as a case of necessity continue until this ideal is reached.
These people obviously that the world is getting poorer in the spirit everyday and that morals are falling all over the world. They cling fast to the fact that the world must become a better place in order for the return of Christ and the millennial reign.
We still have groups that still hold on to this ideal. Some of these leaders turn into politicians in the hope that they and the LORD can appoint them and their followers in key positions in order to take over the world that way and establish a government centred on Christ and His commandments.
Other groupings and churches follow the wonders and supernatural power play in order to expand their own empire and to start a massive revival that way. They then establish groups to do spiritual warfare and to bring down the strongholds of Satan and to remove him from earth so that he is no longer able to deceive the people on earth.
4. Modern dispensational premillennialism
In dispensational theology the Bible is interpreted as it is using the perspective of how God communicated with man in different but following dispensations. The church dispensation is ended by the rapture of the saints in order for the following dispensation, the seven year tribulation and the reign of the Antichrist to happen. As the tribulation includes judgement from the LORD, the real Church will be raptured as these trials and tribulations are not intended for them but only for the sinners. A pre-tribulation rapture is an essential part of modern dispensational premillennialism.
Premillennialism is committed to the literal root meaning of Scripture, except where it is used out of context and it is very clear that it is symbolic language. Examples of such symbols are the red dragon with seven heads, which is described in the Bible as the devil. Symbols have therefore mostly a literal meaning such as the Lamb that suggests the Christ. When the Bible speaks of Israel, the Antichrist, the tribulation, the false prophet, the battle of Armageddon, the Second Coming of Christ and the binding of Satan in a pit for a thousand years, there are no grounds whatsoever to interpret these concepts symbolically or allegorically.
Chapter two – My interpretation – the example method of righteousness
I want to start here with a verse that I think most people do not pay attention to, but it is very important. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”(Exo 20:2) We find in this chapter that the LORD gives them the 10 commandments, but He starts off by telling them that He is the One that is responsible for leading them out of Egypt. So in order for the Israelites to give Him their honour and glory, the LORD gives them guidelines on how they should behave towards Him and their neighbour. Like Israel I have to realise that He is the One that gives me the opportunity to rid myself of my sinful life, and as a result I will have to behave in a specific way and adapt a certain lifestyle and value system. That is the reason the LORD Jesus summarises the law with these words: “And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE.” (Luk 10:26-28) Jesus here uses the example method, the same method I will use throughout this book. This is using Deuteronomy 6 where Moses told them: “(Deu 6:5) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
My method differs from the various other methods I mentioned earlier, as I would like to see that a prophecy must be able to withstand the test of time. I know that a lot of prophecies from the Old Testament were written for specific circumstances or specific times, but the principles behind these prophecies have not changed. We still serve the same God today. When we look at any prophecy in the Bible, we will always find that they all adhere to the same layout. The people are firstly informed of what is wrong with them, what the LORD wants them to change, and then there are always two possible outcomes. The one is what will happen if they alter their ways and do what they were asked to do, and then what the outcome would be if the people do not repent and continue on their own way. Many times the prophets would use metaphors, the same way Jesus used metaphors in his parables.
You can download the pdf here: The Revelation of John Revealed
Or the epub file here: The Revelation of John Revealed
