Subject: Interpreting Revelation |
Bible Note: Interpreting Revelation 'Revelation is one of the most mysterious books of the Bible. For centuries people have debated various aspects of the book--for example, the timing of the rapture of the church, the nature of the millennial reign of Christ, and the timing of Christ's return (before, in the middle of, or after the Great Tribulation). And debates have raged over the identity of the Beast, the number 666, and the Great Prostitute. Unfortunately, the debates have fueled such great controversy that Christians have been divided, and churches have even split over these issues. 'Every Christian who approaches this book must realize that if these questions have been debated over centuries, then God probably made them not clear on purpose. Churches and seminaries have made their interpretations of these debated issues part of their doctrinal statements. But they must understand that other Christians who disagree with their positions are doing only that--disagreeing. The positions regarding postmillennialism versus premillennialism do not make a difference as to whether one is a believer or not. The cardinal doctrine is whether a person believes that Christ, the Savior and King, will indeed one day return for his people and whether one has trusted in him as personal Savior. From there, the timing of Christ's return or when the church will be raptured are merely issues for discussion--not fundamental doctrines that affect a person's salvation.' Source: pp. 1200-1201, Life Application New Testament Commentary, 2001, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois Grace to you, Kalos |