Note:
I believe the LORD Jesus is coming back very soon as The Lion described in The Book of Revelation.
Weather we are in the final, final, final generation before the 1,000 year reign of Jesus on earth or not I do not know.
I do believe however we are are in the final hour of this generation.
Ever since Jesus died an rose form the dead He ushered us into the Church age.
I believe that in the Church age every generation goes through a type and pattern of the the Return of The LORD Jesus according the firmament of that given generation.
We are in a seed war…. God’s seed vs. Satan’s seed.
We are in the days of Noah.
In the days of Noah there where fallen angels that planted their seeds (satan’s seed) into fallen humans and create children (fruit) of the devil, known as giants (nephilm).
In the old covenant these giants were physical, giant hybrid humans that oppose God’s people and the LORD Himself.
Today, under the new covenant, I believe these giants are working through normal sized humans that have received fallen angels’ seeds by worshipping baal & practicing unbridled indulgences of sexual immorality in their minds, hearts and souls that give birth to nephilim.
No joke! Read Jude…
“For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. [5] Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. [6] And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, [7] just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.”
Jude 1:4-7 NASBS
The Lord will destroy these enemies with strong vengeance upon His appearance & Revelation as the Lion rathe than the Lamb.
LORD Jesus we pray for our enemies that they repent and be saved by Your TRUTH and LIGHT, AMEN!
This generation will not pass until these things come to pass:
2 Peter 2:2-11 NASBS
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; [3] and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. [4] For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; [5] and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; [6] and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; [7] and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men [8] (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), [9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, [10] and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties, [11] whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.
2 Peter 3:3-7 NASBS
Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, [4] and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” [5] For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, [6] through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. [7] But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2 Peter 3:10-12 NASBS
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. [11] Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, [12] looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
Introduction & Overview of This Article
Eschatology, the study of the end times, often sparks various opinions among believers, often leading to division rather than the unity and encouragement it’s meant to foster, as pointed out in 1 Thessalonians 4:18.
This article seeks to reconcile four popular eschatological views:
- Preterist
- Historicist
- Futurist
- Idealist
All four mirror a dimension of time in relation to biblical prophecy and reflecting the immutable nature of Jesus Christ, as emphasized in Hebrews 13:8.
My aim here is to enrich our engagement with the Scriptures and deepen our connection with God by promoting a collective understanding of eschatology. As some misinterpreted Jesus’ words about raising the temple in three days, referring to His body rather than a physical building (John 2:19-21), today’s believers can become divided by not recognizing the multi-layered symbolism, analogies and physical realties in spoken of in the Bible & the book of Revelation.
Timeless & Evergreen Words Of The Bible (God’s Seed)
John’s message to the early churches was a timeless one, revealing Christ as the one who was, is, and is to come (Revelation 1:1, Revelation 1:4), echoing the everlasting reign promised to David’s throne (Psalm 89:4).
Understanding the interconnectedness of the different eschatological perspectives allows us to grasp a fragment of the broader truth. It’s when these views are isolated and pinned against each other that “group think” arises, creating divisions within the body of Christ. While some may not acknowledge the impact of their eschatological views on fellowship, indifference and a lack of motivation to pursue a shared truth can lead to division. By recognizing that the Preterist, Historicist, and Futurist views articulate the deeds of Christ in diverse eras and layers we can see a more united vision together as on church
We are encouraged to view eschatology not as a source of contention but as a complex revelation meant to unite us in a profound understanding of God’s word and His divine plan.
The Book of Revelation is Written by Design in Layers
The reason there is sometimes division concerning eschatological discussions is the lack of knowledge. I believe Revelation is written in layers. John (the writer of Revelation) clearly says in Revelation 1:1 that the book of Revelation is a Revelation of Jesus Christ… the one who WAS, who IS and who IS TO COME (Revelation 1:4). (3 layers 1. Past, 2. Present, 3. Future).
John wrote this letter to the churches specific to that generation. But because it is written in layers it is a timeless prophetic book that is relevant from generation to generation, just like the throne of David. Psalm 89:4
4 Prevalent Ideas That Divide The Church
Into Particular “Group Thinks”
Notice how our eschatological division is divided by the 3 inseparable truths of time ( past, present, and future)?
- Preterist – The events in described in the book of Revelation happened in the past (He was.) (70 A.D.)
- Historicist – Events described in Revelation are in the present. (He is.)
- Futurist (Dispensationalism) – Most of the events of Revelation are in the future. (He is to come.)
- Idealist – Most events in Revelation are symbolic and should not be taken literally. (Interpretation.)
All 4 views compliment each other. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and the ages to come (Hebrews 13:8).
The Preterist, Historicist, Futurist, and Idealist Views Are Synergistically Layered
Each View Is True in Some Ways But Cannot Stand Alone
The great news here is, that everyone in each camp is right to a certain extent. But when we separate these 4 viewpoints and pin them against each other it forms “group think”.
You may be thinking; “I don’t let my eschatological views get between me and my church family.” That sounds nice, but that is not true. The apathetic attitude and lack of motivation to get on the same page about the truth is exactly what the enemy wants.
“The Preterist, Historicist and Futurist view speaks of Jesus in the Past, Present and Future and the Idealist view is the glue that brings them all together.”
How Each View Has Profound Truth:
- Preterist (Fulfilled in the Past)- Jesus said this generation shall not pass until these “things” happened (Matthew 24:34). When Jesus said this He was talking to the people alive in that generation. He was warning them of things that would come to pass in their day. And they did. Judaism & the Temple was destroyed and humanity was ushered into a new age of grace and the dispensation of the Holy Spirit.
- Historicist (Being fulfilled in the Present)- Jesus is here and with us now (Matthew 18:20). During the Church Age, we have been receiving fresh revelations of Jesus through the generations according to the patterns of the book of Revelation. (continue reading to find out how)
- Futurist (Will be fulfilled in the Future)- We are waiting for prophecies to be fulfilled. i.e The temple being re-built in Israel to set the stage for the Anti Christ to proclaim to be God in the temple and the coming tribulation period (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and (Revelation 13).
- Idealist (Symbolic Events and Metaphors)- When the bible refers to the temple it is referring to the Temple destroyed in 70 A.D. our bodies (John 2:19) and the temple to be rebuilt in Israel in the near future. This clarifies the fact that the bible is written in layers and that both are simultaneously true.
The Man Of Lawlessness Revealed
One day in Israel, the antichrist will take his seat in the temple of God and proclaim to be God. Over 2,000 years ago John said it is the “last hour” and the antichrist is coming and many antichrists have already come (1 John 2:18).
Clearly, the Bible teaches this truth is in our past. In fact, this happened in the past in the physical temple when Antiochus Epiphanies sacrificed pigs to Zeus in the temple. This event was called the abomination of desolation. But because our bodies are temples and there will be a temple built in Israel again; this truth is simultaneously in our present and our future.
If you read (2 Thessalonians 2:1-17) you will learn about the man of lawlessness (antichrist) who will exalt himself above all things that are worshiped and take his seat in the temple of God proclaiming to be God.
This happened in the past in the physical temple when Antiochus Epiphanies sacrificed pigs to Zues in the temple. This event was called the abomination of desolation. This happened before Jesus was born. And Jesus said it would happen again in His day and that it was near when His disciples saw the armies surrounding Jerusalem.
Many, (including myself) deal with the man of sin in our temple. Thank you Jesus for your Blood! We keep a close eye on Israel waiting for the temple to be rebuilt, waiting for events to be fulfilled in Israel. We are waiting and watching, studying, listening to sermons, and watching YouTube videos about this future truth, it’s exciting!
But what’s even more exciting, convicting, and personally relevant today is the fact that our bodies are the temple of God and in our sin, we sometimes take our seat as “God” in that temple.
Jesus Truly is our REAL TREASURE in Fallen Vessels
John says that sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. If we took the sermon on the mount seriously we would clearly see that we take our seat in the temple as God when we sin and hold unjust judgments against one another. We go against God’s law and make ourselves out to be God when we do our own thing. If you say you have no sin, you are a liar (1 John 1:8).
Remember though, where sin abounds grace superabounds (Romans 5:20). Look at Peter, He rebuked Jesus when He was speaking of His own crucifixion. Jesus then said “…get behind me Satan…” (Matthew 16:23). Clearly, at that moment Peter’s temple was working for Satan and the man of sin. But obviously, He was forgiven and is now seen as one of the best disciples ever! Talk about great grace and glory. The same applies to us.
Don’t Miss The Meaning Of The Word “Temple” As The Pharisees Did
In John 2:19 Jesus said if anyone would destroy this temple He would raise it again in 3 days. The Bible is written in layers the word temple refers to our individual bodies, the collective body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12), and the temple that is to be built in Israel in the future.
Romans 8:7 is clear about how carnal minds are hostile to God which is why the Sadducees and Pharisees ended up slandering Jesus concerning what He said about “the temple” (Mark 14:56-59). Jesus said He would rebuild (raise) the temple in 3 days. Sadducees and Pharisees slandered Jesus about the way He spoke about the temple.
Sign Of The End: The Destruction of The Temple
In Mark 13 Jesus says that one of the signs of the end will be the destruction of the temple. This prophecy was fulfilled in the past (70 A.D). It has also been fulfilled millions of times during the last 2,000 years because millions of people have died (temples destroyed) every day. Meaning many of God’s temples are destroyed in the present. And the temple that will be built in Israel will also be destroyed in the future.
The temple in Jesus’ day, the temple of Israel’s future, and the temple of our bodies follow the same patterns that are laid out in the Bible in the form of layers through historical events, symbolic language, and prophetic events in the future. They do not contradict one another, they complement each other.
But Jesus is the God of Resurrection where all men will resurrect from the dead and we will worship Him forever in new bodies and a new temple.
Son Of Man Coming In The “Clouds”
Mark 13 talks about the signs of the end times. Mark 13:26 says the Son of Man will be seen in the clouds with great glory. In the final generation of humanity, we will literally see Jesus coming in the physical clouds.
But in the meantime, there is a spiritual meaning to the word “cloud”. Hebrews 11 lists the great characters of faith throughout the Bible. Then in Hebrews 12:1 the author says that those great characters mentioned in Hebrews 11 are currently a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us.
Clearly, there is a spiritual meaning to the word cloud. Although we are waiting for the Son Of Man to come in the physical clouds for the ultimate return of Jesus Christ to reign on earth for 1,000 years. There is a clear meaning to the word clouds that were relevant when Hebrews 11 & 12 were written and is still relevant today.
Many people have experienced Jesus coming to them in the spiritual clouds of their personal life, judging the man of lawlessness who took seat in the temple of God (their body). This is how we get saved and sanctified and is how we get fresh revelations of Jesus. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
Then reigned in their life for 1 day. Remember 1 day is 1,000 years and 1,000 years is as a day with the Lord (2 Peter 3:8). More proof the Bible is written in layers.
Let The Bible Interpret The Bible
Because the Bible is literal, metaphoric, symbolic, physical, and spiritual we can see that there are many layers and meanings we can draw from Jesus’s and the apostle’s words. The Bible is not open to private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). The Bible can certainly be interpreted by the Bible though.
Hey Reese, these are some interesting ideas. Definitely more to be explored here. I like the idea of unifying the church and finding ways to have some common ground.
I think some of your thoughts are a little incomplete and need some additional clarification. But I think you are on the right track.
Also be careful of making blanket statements without support. For example, “Most modern Christians are Dispensational Futurists waiting for the man of sin to be revealed. They keep a close eye on Israel waiting for the temple to be rebuilt, waiting for events to be fulfilled on the other side of the world.”
That may be true of the circles you run in and the authors/youTube you watch but I don’t think that’s true for “most christians.” Besides, for christians living in Israel it’s not on the other side of the world 😉
You are very correct. Thank you for your feedback! I will make the necessary changes and will continue to refine these ideas and provide more Biblical support. Thank you for taking time to read this!