Historic premillennialism is a view that was championed by George Ladd and is therefore commonly associated with him. Ladd was primarily responding to dispensationalism. The adjective “historic” in historic premillennialism refers to Ladd’s contention that some early Church Fathers were…
Guide to Common Approaches to the Book of Revelation (pt. 5): The Futurist Approach of Dispensational Premillennialism
The dispensational premillennialist camp has been quite influential in Evangelical circles. Dispensational interpreters are known for four emphases. First, they emphasize the pretribulational rapture of the church. According to this view, “Christ’s return will occur in two stages: the first…
Guide to Common Approaches to the Book of Revelation (pt. 4): G. K. Beale as an Amillennialist and Moderate Futurist
When most Christians think about the book of Revelation, they think about the book as a prophecy of the end events and the second coming of Christ. They may or may not realize that even futurist interpreters disagree over which…
Guide to Common Approaches to the Book of Revelation (pt. 3): What Is the Idealist Approach?
Revelation as a Book of Theology and Guidance for the Christian Life Now The idealist approach differs radically from the historicist. It would be attractive to someone who is tired of conflicting attempts to pinpoint how Revelation is fulfilled in…
Guide to Common Approaches to the Book of Revelation (pt. 2): What Is the Historicist Approach?
THE END IS NEAR! Most of us are familiar with examples of the historicist approach. This is an easily abused approach to the book of Revelation. According to historicists, the end is near and we can see this by looking…
Guide to Common Approaches to the Book of Revelation (pt. 1): What Is the Preterist Approach?
Revelation yields tremendous truths for living and for a Christian worldview. Like some other parts of Scripture, it does not yield these truths apart from careful study. Taken on its own, Revelation is a challenge for Christian readers. They often…