The interpretive history of Revelation 20 is a virtual battleground for hermeneutical, theological and eschatological agendas.1 Due in part to the Icarian rise of dispensational theology in post-war years of the early 20th century, no other single passage of Scripture has received as much hotly contested evangelical attention as...
The Book of Revelation is perhaps the best known prophetic work in the Bible. It is filled with war and judgment, which many use to show that Revelation undermines the optimistic postmillennial hope. Yet Revelation can only be employed against postmillennialism if it is misinterpreted. And the usual misinterpretation...
Contrary to popular opinion, Revelation does not undermine the postmillennial hope — despite its enormous judgments. And this is mainly because it is prophesying events to occur soon. John uses two terms when he speaks of his temporal expectation: “shortly” (Gk., en tachei) and “near” (Gk., engus). If for...
A fragment from the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament shows that the number of the Beast of Revelation 13 is 616. Ellen Aitken, a professor of early Christian history at McGill University, states that “the majority opinion seems to be that it refers to [the Roman emperor]...
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not,...
Dr. Gentry: If Revelation was written in AD 65-66 about events in AD 70, how could John have expected it to be widely circulated in so short a period of time? It seems the book’s grandiose vision would be largely wasted because of the time frame involved. It couldn’t...
“Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. has done excellent work in forcing reconsideration of the date when the Book of Revelation was written.” — R. C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries For centuries scholars have argued over when the book of Revelation was written a few years before or a quarter century after...
Gary Demar take on the issue of the Mark of the Beast from Revelation 13. He gives very valid reasons for why the mark should be viewed as symbolism. Related Blogs
I believe that Revelation deals with Christ’s judgment-coming against Israel for crucifying Christ. This view is known as the preterist approach to Revelation. More specifically, I distinguish it as “redemptive-historical preterism,” in that it focuses on redemptive history rather than secular history. Redemptive-historical preterism looks at John’s prophecy as...
