Before we talk about it, let me take a look at the parables and symbolic language.
During his ministry, did Jesus also speak much through symbols?In what we call parables. A very common but misleading explanation of the use of parables in Jesus’ ministry was that the parables were supposed to facilitate the understanding of the people who listened to Jesus, as they conveyed the teachings through comparisons based on the common life of their listeners. Such an explanation is incompatible with Jesus’ teaching on the subject:
- And the disciples approached him.
- And asked him.
- Why do you speak unto them in parables?Jesus said unto them.
- For the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven have been made known unto them.
- But this is not given unto them; for what he has.
- Will be given to him.
- And he will have it in abundance; but what you don’t have.
- Even what you have will be taken away from you.
- That is why I speak to you in parables; because they.
- Seeing.
- Do not see; and listen.
- You don’t hear or understand.
- ? (Mt 13:10-13).
Jesus did not use parables to facilitate understanding of spiritual truths, but to make understanding difficult. To understand a parable, much thought was needed. A person who really sought God would think, reflect, seek, and ask until he could find the true meaning of what Christ taught. Having found meaning, he will reflect on it until he can understand as much as possible about God through the new information acquired. What Jesus said was that He wanted the meaning of the parable to be open only to those who really wanted to understand it. It takes dedication and effort.
It is by its symbolic nature that there is no unanimity in the interpretation of the Apocalypse, even among the best scholars. The difficulty in understanding this book is that its message is almost entirely transmitted by symbols. The famous writer Ambrose Bierce commented with a dose of humor in this book, saying that Joo hid everything he knew and that those who give us the revelation are commentators who know nothing. Not for nothing does an acquaintance often say that “eschatology is no man’s land. “
Different lines of interpretation have been defended by big names of Christianity throughout history, it is advisable to know the main currents of interpretation until you come to a conclusion about what you think is the most biblical. Why not start your quest for a thousand?years of Revelation 20? On this, there are three main currents of interpretation:
1) Pre-millennialism: It is the current that the Second Coming of Jesus will take place before (pre) of the thousand-year period of Revelation 20, they believe that it will be literally a thousand years and will be characterized by great peace and prosperity on earth due to the physical presence of Jesus reigning. Notable advocates of premilenalism: Justin Martyr, Irineu, Charles Spurgeon, John Darby, John McArthur, John Piper, Mark Driscoll, Billy Graham.
2) Amilenarism: It is the current that the thousand years of Revelation 20 should not be understood literally, but is a figurative language to speak of the whole history of the Church from the first to the Second Coming of Christ. that we should not expect a period of peace or earthly prosperity as a result of this Kingdom, but that the Kingdom of Christ is completely spiritual, in the hearts of Christians. Kuyper, Cornelius Van Til, Herman Hanko, RC Sproul.
3) Postmilenarism: It is the current that the thousand years of Revelation 20 should not be understood literally, it is a figurative language to speak of the whole history of the Church, but believe that what we should expect from the history of the Church is the evangelization of the whole world and the complete social, economic and cultural development of the world as a result of this evangelization. They believe that the Great Commission will succeed and that most people in the world will become. post-millennialism advocates: Athanasius, John Calvin, John Knox, most Puritans, Jonathan Edwards, Kenneth Gentry, Gary DeMar, Gary North, David Chilton.
We are not saying that all these interpretations are equally correct, because the Bible being perfect cannot speak more than one thing on the same subject. We are simply saying that there is no consensus on that; So it is best to study all opinions and study the Scriptures hard, prayerfully, to come to a personal conclusion about the system that appears to be the most biblical. The Confession correctly points out: “In the Scriptures, are not all things equally clear in themselves, or equally obvious to all?” (I, 7).
By: Frank Brito Website: voltemosaoevangelho. com Permissions: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that you add the above information, do not modify the original content and do not use it for commercial purposes.