Welcome to Session 7 March 22 2020 Objectives

Welcome to Session 7! March 22, 2020

Objectives for today… Finish studying the millennial viewpoints. Have a primary understanding of the concepts of covenantal and dispensational theology. Review the genre of Satire. Comprehend how to interpret the prophetic genre. Answer any questions or concerns you may have Be prepared for next week’s class

Amillennialism No future millennium Christ Eternal State Church Age Revelation 20: 1 -6 is now Resurrection Of believers, unbelievers Judgment, New Heaven & Earth

Amillennialism Arguments Favoring Arguments Against One reference in Scripture No “one reference” rule One resurrection mentioned Rev. 20: 5 -6: “first resurrection” Glorified</>Unglorified? Strange ≠ Impossible Jesus’ presence </> sin? Judas w/ Jesus 3 yrs… What purpose? God’s ways ≠ our ways

Postmillennialism Christ comes after the millennium Christ Church Age>>Millennium Resurrection Eternal State Of believers, unbelievers Judgment, New Heaven & Earth

Postmillennialism Arguments Favoring Arguments Against Number of Christians growing Gate = narrow, way = hard Parables Worldwide influence Pressing parables too far World IS becoming > Christian Evil also increasing

Premillennialism Classical or Historic Premillennialism Pretribulational Premillennialism (Dispensational Premill. )

Classic Premillennialism Christ comes before the millennium Christ “Catching Up” of believers to be with Christ IMMEDIATE Church Age T Bel JC Bel Resurrection *-Classic Premills differ over where renewed earth will begin. Millennium Of believers (Renewed Earth) * Eternal State Resurrection Of unbelievers Judgment (Renewed Earth) *

Pretribulational Premillennialism Christ comes before the millennium and before the Tribulation Christ “Catching Up” of believers to be with Christ --- 7 Years --- Bel Church Age Bel Resurrection JC T Bel Of believers Millennium Eternal State Resurrection Of unbelievers Judgment, New Heaven/Earth

Premillennialism Arguments Favoring OT passages that don’t “fit” NT presaging Revelation 20 itself Arguments Against See: Arguments for other views

The Tribulation Consideration of Pretrib Rapture Consideration of Posttrib Rapture Christians </> God’s Wrath? Wouldn’t the Bible say so? Rev. 3: 10—”Keep you from…” Linked with Parousia Who will live in Mill. Kingdom? Plain language of Scripture Imminent return, signs follow

Covenantal vs. Dispensational Who is the church? When are God’s covenants fulfilled? What is God’s program?

Covenant God has one people; OT and NT compose Body of Christ God has one plan, throughout all OT and NT ages Salvation: One plan of grace throughout history since the fall Eternity: All who make up the body of Christ will be together in one place in His presence The church: Includes all redeemed people since the fall Christ: Offered a spiritual kingdom and not an earthly one

Dispensation God has two people; Israel in OT and church in NT God has two plans, one for Israel and one for the church Salvation: Early view had two plans, modern is by faith in Christ Eternity: Church rules with Christ in New Jerusalem while Israel is head of the nations The Church: Born the day of Pentecost; OT saints not in the Body Christ: Offered real kingdom to the Jews; kingdom postponed until millennium

Satire Object of Attack Satiric Vehicle Satiric Tone Satiric Norm

Visionary literature Otherness Reversal and Transformation Transcendental Realms Cosmic Scope Supernatural/strange Agents Inanimate Forces as Actors Anything Can Happen

Interpretive Principles Normal hermeneutic—historical, grammatical, literary interpretation Normal sense—what do the words say in their normal sense Literary element—role of figurative and symbolic language Messiah-centric—focused on the Christ of God Foreshortening—seeing the A, B, and Z Built-in interpretations—often God provided the interpretation Parallel passages—check cross-references Already/Not yet—fulfilled and not yet fulfilled

So For Today… There are three basic views of the Millennium. Some are more likely than others, but none are “proven. ” The same exists for our views of the Tribulation. The timing probably can’t be positively proven, but certain possibilities are more likely. There are multiple views of what God’s doing with the world and His church and people.

So For Today… Satire is pervasive in the Bible. Visionary literature is strange, but not impossible. Interpret prophecy very much like anything else, but with care.

For Next Week… Reflection due— 3/29 Read Ryken, Chapter 8 and Zuck Ch. 9 Heads Up: No session for April 12 Paper will be due vial email April 26, will go over rubric next week