It has been a while since I've had the chance to get an article posted. I had some other ideas floating around for a while, but I kept finding reasons to postpone writing on those topics. The first topic that I decided to begin was soteriology, the study of salvation. As I began to layout the subject matter of each article, I quickly learned that a topic like this would be much larger than I had anticipated. Why? Because each detail trailed off into its own sub-topic. Before long, I quite honestly had enough information to write an entire book. If I had condensed the material it would get sloppy, and probably contain holes, and I did not want that.
The second topic was on an eschatological view called “Middleism.” I read through a book written by Stephen Whitsett, in which he explained his position quite thoroughly. By the time I got through it, I realized my series on Matthew 24 dismantled his entire position. To conduct a series on Middleism would result in me repeating myself, and what's the point of writing if such is the result?
Truth be told, after all of this contemplation, I suddenly noticed I'd developed writer's block! That, or very little inspiration to write anything. Regardless, I have been stumped. Then it hit me that I haven't really spent time addressing Futurism directly. All nine of my articles so far have been either explaining Full Preterist positions, or arguing against the Full Preterist views I disagree with. Therefore, I have decided to do something I do quite well, and that's attack Premillennialism head on.
As I do not wish to leave you with a novel, my points will be brief, but effective. If you wish to raise objections, or have further questions, feel free to present them. I am always willing to expand upon my points.
Peter Is a Liar
To properly identify the timing of the last days, one must use scripture to interpret scripture. Futurists are guilty of using the newspaper to interpret scripture, so to speak, when scripture does a fine job of interpreting itself. Identifying these last days is extremely important. And while I personally believe a single one-two combo of Acts 2 and Joel 2 knocks out any confusion of when the last days occurred, I feel it all too important to be thorough as not to leave many questions lingering.
To begin, I believe Daniel 7 is a perfect place to start. In this chapter, Daniel writes of four beasts, which represent four kingdoms. History, as well as the latter chapters of Daniel, all confirm the successive dominion of these kingdoms. While Bible students may disagree on this chapter's exact manner of fulfillment, I believe the majority view in the Preterist camp is most likely correct. Let's observe the following, then make the case:
2I Daniel beheld, and, lo, the four winds of heaven blew violently upon the great sea. 3And there came up four great beasts out of the sea, differing from one another. 4The first was a lioness, and her wings as an eagle's: I beheld until her wings were plucked, and she was lifted off from the earth, and she stood on human feet, and a man's heart was given to her. 5And, behold, a second beast like a bear, and it supported itself on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth, between its teeth: and thus they said to it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6After this one I looked, and behold another wild beast as a leopard, and it had four wings of a bird upon it: and the wild beast had four heads, and power was given to it. 7After this one I looked, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and exceedingly strong, and its teeth were of iron; devouring and crushing to atoms, and it trampled the remainder with its feet: and it was altogether different from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8I noticed his horns, and, behold, another little horn came up in the midst of them, and before it three of the former horns were rooted out: and, behold, there were eyes as the eyes of a man in this horn, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:2-8)
While it's not important at this time to analyze every detail, we will use these beasts to identify the kingdoms they represent, starting with the lioness. This beast is the head of Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:32,37-39). Therefore, Babylon is this lioness with eagle's wings. History tells us the kingdom of Medo-Persia conquered the Babylonian empire, represented by the hands, arms, and chest of the figure in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:32,39). Isaiah also prophecies against Babylon, declaring that God would stir up the Medes against them (Isaiah 13). Medo-Persia is also represented by the bear with three ribs in its mouth. The Persians maintained dominance over the Medes, which I find may represent why the bear is supported on one of its sides. I suspect the ribs in the bear's mouth are symbolic of the nations this kingdom would conquer.
The third beast is the Grecian empire. This beast is a leopard with four wings and four heads, represented by the belly and thighs of brass in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:32,39). Alexander the Great is known as one of the best conquerors in history, and his empire swept across the inhabited world. When Alexander died, his empire was divided and given to his four generals, which I find to be symbolized by the leopard's four heads.
Following this leopard is the indescribable fourth beast. This would be the Roman empire, and it maintained all the ferocity of the Grecian empire, plus more. This beast is represented as the legs of iron, and feet of iron and earthenware in Nebuchadnezzar's dream (Daniel 2:33,40-43). The Roman empire was in power over the inhabited world during the time of Christ.
There is actually disagreement as to whom this fourth beast represents. Another Preterist view maintains that this is actually the Grecian empire. However, I do not believe this can be Biblically supported for the following reason:
13I beheld in the night vision, and, lo, one coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man, and he came on to the Ancient of days, and was brought near to him. 14And to him was given the dominion, and the honour, and the kingdom; and all nations, tribes, and languages, shall serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
44And in the days of those kings the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and his kingdom shall not be left to another people, but it shall beat to pieces and grind to powder all other kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44)
Clearly, this takes place during the reign of the fourth beast. In regards to any future fulfillment, notice verse 44 says, “And in the days of those kings...” The text does not say, “And in the days of the kings over two thousand years from now...” Daniel 7:13-14 makes it quite clear that Christ's kingdom would come in days now long passed. It seems rather undeniable when Daniel 2 and 7 are compared that Christ's kingdom would come during the fourth beast's reign. This was fulfilled through Christ during his first advent.
Knowing that the last days would occur during the reign of the fourth beast, the Roman empire, Peter's words on the day of Pentecost make a lot of sense. On that day, the Holy Spirit was poured out and they started speaking in tongues (Acts 2:1-3). People were suspicious of drunkenness (Acts 2:13), but Peter was quick to rebuke (Acts 2:14-15), and proceeded to explain what was really occurring:
16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith god, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see vision, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: 21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:16-21)
So, if “this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel...,” and Joel prophesied of the last days, then do we not have irrefutable evidence that Peter was experiencing those very same last days? In fact, Joel 2 is where we find this prophecy:
28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29And on my servants and on my handmaids in those days will I pour out of my Spirit. 20And I will shew wonders in heaven, and upon the earth, blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord come. 32And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved: for in mount Sion and in Jerusalem shall the saved one be as the Lord has said, and they that have glad tidings preached to them, whom the Lord has called. (Joel 2:28-32)
Peter quoted Joel verbatim. How can we possibly deny the last days as having occurred in the first century? According to the Futurists, the inspired apostle didn't know when the last days were! He lied to his audience by claiming that the outpouring of the Spirit was occurring in fulfillment of Joel 2. Did you know that? Gosh, if Peter lied here, who can we trust in any piece of scripture?
And I kid you not, I've actually had a Dispensationalist tell me the outpouring of the Spirit was yet future!!!!!!
Did You Know God Can't Tell Time?
Have you ever wondered why words and phrases such as “near,” “at hand,” “quickly,” “soon,” and others, are rarely understood to be literal time indicators? Yet, those who ridicule Preterists for not taking prophecy as literally (which is incorrect) are also the same people failing to take time indicators literally, and in context. In order to fit their view, Futurists must make time indicators declaring imminence to mean the distant future. For many Futurists, myself included at one time, they never think to consider these time texts in any other way. The belief that we are in the last days is so widespread that regular church-goers and scholars alike tend to apply the Bible's audience relevance to themselves, hence why we are supposedly the last generation.
According to Futurist hermeneutics, the Bible should always be taken literally unless the Bible makes it clear to understand something otherwise. Naturally, Preterists can agree with this. However, the difference comes in understanding when and how the Bible tells us whether something is to be taken symbolically or literally. What is interesting about the Futurist perspective is, despite the apostle John's clear indication to the contrary, they understand the imagery in the book of Revelation to be literal. I find John to be quite clear that the details in this book symbolize what was about to occur:
1The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which much shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: (Revelation 1:1)
The key word in this verse is “signified,” the root of which is “sign.” From the very start John is telling his readers that the message in this Revelation of Jesus Christ is full of signs, or symbolism. Knowing this, why would anyone read Revelation with a literalistic mindset? The prophecies in the Old Testament were written with the same imagery, and in this respect we are to allow the Bible to define its own imagery. Just as importantly, the Futurists fail to recognize when a statement is to be taken literally. Notice Revelation 1:1 declares that the events about to be described “must shortly come to pass.” Context alone tells us that these events were imminent, while the descriptions of them were figurative. Two verses later, John stresses the imminence again:
3Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Revelation 1:3)
John wrote with imminent destruction in mind. He very well knew that Christ was coming quickly, which is why he was instructed to record this important and complex prophecy. Twice did John tell his readers that these things were coming to pass quickly. The time truly was at hand. The Futurists understand this to be figurative, though. So, they will interpret the figurative imagery as literal, and the literal time indicators as figurative. I am certain I do not need to point out the poor hermeneutics involved in such interpretation.
So, does “soon” or “at hand” mean “two thousand years from now”? I don't think so. Consider the following:
1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:1-2)
Was not the kingdom of heaven truly near? Compare this to Jesus' own words:
26And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? 27And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. 28But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Matthew 12:26-28)
In Matthew 3, John the Baptist was preaching the imminence of the kingdom of God. Then, from Jesus' own mouth came the verification of that very same kingdom as having come upon them. Quite some time ago I had a Futurist tell me John the Baptist's words of imminence were truly meant to be taken as such. I'm not certain she realized her own inconsistency, for she believes Revelation's time indicators are symbolic. Nevertheless, she quickly defended John the Baptist's declaration of an imminent kingdom. I was more than happy to agree with her.
Now, if the kingdom of God was “at hand” at the time of John the Baptist, and then upon them shortly afterward (during Christ's ministry), we can then understand the apostle John's words when he said the events of Revelation “must shortly come to pass,” and were “at hand.” This is just as evident in many more verses throughout the New Testament, such as the Olivet Discourse (I encourage you to read my Matthew 24 series).
One of my favorite time indicators comes from Matthew 16:
27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. 28Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew 16:27-28)
A few problems arise when a time indicator like this is not taken literally. First, if some of those people standing there have not died, we may need to consider adopting their flawless diet and exercise routine. Second, if Jesus didn't really mean what he said, why did he say it? He was clearly addressing a particular audience, and told them that there were some standing there at that very moment who wouldn't die before Jesus came in the glory of the Father. Yet, according to the Futurists, Jesus couldn't have possibly been referring to the people standing there. The inconsistency is obvious.
A lot of people try to say that time is irrelevant to God, that his ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9), and he does not tell time in the way we do (2 Peter 3:8). This is a joke. Imagine if we actually applied the Day = 1,000 Years principle consistently. Consider the following:
10Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
The church of Smyrna was told they would suffer tribulation ten days. If each of these days equate to one thousand years each, Smyrna would be facing tribulation for ten thousand years! Do you really find this likely? Not only is this not what was being implied, but the end times junkies can't say that we are the “last generation,” because there are about eight thousand more years to go until Smyrna's tribulations are over! This is nonsense. Are the thousand years of Revelation 20 composed of days that equal one thousand years each? Or consider that Peter also says a thousand years are as one day to the Lord. So, could this mean that the thousand years of Revelation 20 equal a mere one day?
I do not believe Futurists have what it takes to maintain any form of consistent eschatology. Recently, I joined a friend of mine in discussion with a Dispensationalist. We presented evidence for the last days occurring in the first century. As a result, she fled the discussion. She had been bested, and she knew it. This is often the case any time a Preterist enters a debate with a Futurist. The evidence presented is always enough to dismantle their positions.
In the next article, I'm going to begin discussing Mystery Babylon. Proper identification of this character is vital to understanding Revelation. I will use this topic as another argument against the Futurist eschatologies.
Blessing to all in Christ,
Jason Watt
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