Without question, the book of Revelation is difficult to understand. Questions about the anti-Christ, the Millennium, and many others a are sharply disputed among Bible teachers today. But there is one question that seems to be overlooked in our search for signs of the end-times: When was the book of Revelation written? In this message, [...]
Eschatology
What is the “Mark of the Beast?”
Today on two different Facebook pages the question of the “mark of the beast” came up after a YouTube video about human microchip implants began to circulate. It’s amazing how this kind of thing feeds the frenzy of end-time speculation fueled by fictional novel books and newspaper headlines. In fact, speculation is rampant about the [...]
The Lost Thousand Years Between Two Resurrections by Rev. Nollie Malabuyo
In the Parable of the Wheat and Weeds (or tares) in Matthew 13:24–30 (with its interpretation in Matthew 13:36–43), Jesus explains that the Son of Man sows good seed—the children of the kingdom—in the world. But the devil came at night and sowed weeds—the children of Satan—among the good seed. At the close of the [...]
Modern Dispensationalism and the Doctrine of the Unity of the Scripture by O.T. Allis
No doctrine concerning Scripture is of more practical importance to the Bible student than that which affirms its unity and harmony. Obviously, the trustworthiness, perspicuity and plenary inspiration of Scripture cannot be maintained aside from the belief that the Bible is a thoroughly self-consistent whole. The Westminster Confession of Faith in enumerating some of the [...]
So, What Do You Believe About Revelation 20?
As an Amillennialist it never fails – any time I have a conversation with a Dispensationalist within the first 3 minutes I get the same question, “So, what do you believe about Revelation 20?” They aren’t typically amused when I tell them that I believe it comes directly after Revelation 19 and just before chapter [...]
Sin, Hell and Judgment by Joel Beeke
The following is an excerpt from Joel Beeke’s amazing book, Living for God’s Glory: An Introduction to Calvinism. If you’ve not read this volume, it’s certain to be a classic in its own time – one of the best (if not the best!) books on Calvinism ever published. I cannot recommend it too highly. Here’s [...]
Dispensational Approach to Interpreting the Bible
When one allows God himself to interpret the meaning of his prophecies through later revelation, it becomes impossible to employ a naturalistic, Dispensational hermeneutic. Dispensationalists claim to have a literal hermeneutic, taking prophecies in a simple, material sense unless the immediate context demands otherwise. The problem with this approach is that it arrives at interpretations [...]
Is Hell Real? Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment
This book, Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment, provides a biblical, systematic, and practical theology of hell. The contributors to this volume unite in affirming the historic Christian doctrine regarding the final destiny of the unsaved: They will suffer everlasting conscious punishment away from the joyous presence of God. Of all the teachings [...]
Evangelical Annihilationism in Review by J.I. Packer
Evangelicalism is variously defined by various people. I define it as the religion of Trinitarian Bible-believers who glory in Christ’s Cross as the only source of peace with God and seek to share their faith with others; and I note that in the West (to look no further) evangelicalism, like Protestant liberalism, Roman Catholicism of [...]
Future Punishment: The Universalist Refuted by Archibald Alexander
No benevolent being delights in the suffering of others—for its own sake. But it is one of the clearest dictates of reason, that sin should be visited with punishment. Men may differ widely in opinion as to what sin is, in regard to many particulars, but everyone sees and feels the propriety of punishing crimes, [...]
Princeton and the Millennium A Study of American Postmillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger
“It can be stated without fear of contradiction that the postmil position was the historic position of Princeton Theological Seminary.”[1] Thus in the words of one loyal and devoted child of the Princeton tradition, J. Marcellus Kik, there is absolutely no doubt that the Princeton tradition is exclusively postmillennial in its eschatological understanding. There are [...]
Eschatology in the Book of Genesis by Christopher K. Lensch, B.A., M.Div.
Introduction When we think of the Old Testament’s teaching on the end times, our attention generally turns to the writing prophets. Isaiah, Zechariah, and Daniel first come to mind, not to mention other prophets. But eschatology in Genesis? A general assumption is that Genesis is all about beginnings, not endings. After all, the name Genesis [...]
Reformed Eschatology (Amillennial) Since the Reformation by Charles J. Terpstra
It is probably well known that the Reformation did not develop Christian doctrine in the area of eschatology very strongly. In part this was due to the fact that, in general, the Reformers accepted the long-standing, amillennial eschatology of Augustine set forth c. AD 400. And partly this was due to the fact that the [...]
The Nearness of Christ’s Coming By Prof. David Engelsma
At the end of a year, and much more the end of a millennium, it is perfectly proper that we encourage ourselves with the thought of the end of the world. Not as though this is an occasional thing with us! But the end of a year and the close of a millennium impress upon [...]
The Kingdom of God (What it is and is not) by James M. Renihan
My procedure will be as follows: after we read two passages of scripture, I want to try to survey some of the information in the word of God that pertains to the kingdom. There is just too much to cover in anything but survey fashion. Then, I want to speak at more length about an [...]
Creedal Amillennialism by Rev. Ron Cammenga
Bound by the Creeds The Reformed creeds define the Reformed faith. What it is to be Reformed, the creeds establish. The creeds are the standard against which every teaching that claims to be Reformed and clamors for acceptance by Reformed believers is to be judged. Every Reformed believer is bound by the Reformed creeds. No [...]
The Millennial Period by Rev. Herman Hoeksema
Although in this pamphlet it is hardly possible to avoid a comparison of the views and interpretations here offered with those of the Premillennial brethren, yet its contents are not chiefly of a controversial nature. Its chief purpose is to give an interpretation of a passage of Holy Scripture that may be regarded as difficult, [...]
Will there be a Golden Age before Christ Returns by Lee Irons, B.A., M.Div.
Some conservative, Bible-believing Christians believe that before Christ returns the church will experience a Golden Age of unparalleled success, victory, and glory in this world – numerically, spiritually, and culturally. Many Puritans held to this position, as well as some well-known theologians of more recent times 1. We have no reason to deny that these [...]
A Present or Future Millennium? by Kim Riddlebarger
Most American Evangelicals are firmly committed to the idea that an earthly millennial age will begin immediately after our Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Advent. Since premillennialism is so dominant in American church circles, many who encounter historic Protestantism for the first time are quite surprised when they discover that all of the Protestant Reformers and [...]
The Thousand Years of Revelation 20 – Part I by Fernando Saraví
It is my contention that present Christian teaching concerning the last things relies too much on the belief of a future earthly millennial kingdom. Therefore, it may be profitable to see whether the idea that the thousand years mentioned by John refers to a future kingdom is consistent with what the NT , and Revelation [...]
The Thousand Years of Revelation 20 – Part II by Fernando Saraví
In the first part of this essay one of the outstanding events that occurs during the thousand years, namely Satan’s binding, was analyzed and interpreted within the framework of NT teaching. Now it is the turn of the remaining major event, namely the resurrection and reign of the saints. This is what the text , [...]
The Thousand Years of Revelation 20 – Part III by Fernando Saraví
4. The final rebellion (Rev 20:7-10) Again, I provide a literal translation along with the NIV text. “And when the thousand years are finished, Satan will be set loose out of his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them in [...]
Reformed Amillennialism – An Introduction by Prof. David J. Engelsma
Response to the editorial, “Jewish Dreams” (the Standard Bearer, Jan. 15, 1995), has made clear how deep and entrenched are the inroads of postmillennialism into Reformed circles. The editorial, written at the beginning of a new year, reminded Reformed Christians that our only hope, according to the Bible, is the second coming of the Lord [...]
Reformed Amillennialism – Revelation 20 by Prof. David J. Engelsma
The name by which the distinctively Reformed doctrine of the last things is known is “amillennialism.” This name derives from the 20th chapter of Revelation. Six times in verses 1-7 is mentioned a period of “a thousand years.” An angel binds Satan for “a thousand years” (vv. 1, 2). The result is that Satan cannot [...]
Reformed Amillennialism – Apostasy and Persecution by Prof. David J. Engelsma
It is the Reformed doctrine of the last things that the last days are a time of departure from the faith by many and a time of persecution of the true church by a wicked world. Apostasy and persecution characterize the entire age from Christ’s ascension to His second coming. They increase and intensify at [...]
