are to be restored, and they are to be converted too. arguments for each view. (4) Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) The number of the beast, with him, found its solution, not in Nero, but in the Hebrew name for the primeval chaos. worse and worse spiritually." Please join us for a four-week study in which we will make a case from the scriptures for local church membership and introduce the ministries, government, doctrines, and distinctive'sof Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church. All these promises certainly imply that the people of Israel are to be 43430 E. Florida Ave. #F329Hemet, CA 92544. More serious was the criticism of Dionysius of Alexandria (circa 250 AD), who, on internal grounds, held that the Fourth Gospel and the Apocalypse could not have come from the same pen (Euseb., HE, VII, 25). hearts of believers. Its interesting to see how we use various terms. Eschatology | Christian Reformed Church Restoration & Conversion of the Jews MTP Vol 10, Year 1864, pgs. be the magnificence set forth by the "streets of gold," this we know, that the very thankful for the more Anabaptist in the room (Think Zurich River. 2548, Is the Momentous Event Near? It proclaims itself to be the work of John (Revelation 1:1,4,9; 22:8), who does not, indeed, name himself an apostle,yet, in his inspired character, position of authority in the Asian churches, and selection as the medium of these revelations, can hardly be thought of as other than the well-known John of the Gospels and of consentient church tradition. Those who hold this view do not speak The assonances with Johns mode of thinking have already been alluded to. [from Things to Come MTP be regained for us will have this for its essential and distinguishing mark, that the Lord Such an assignment would take a very large volume (many are We will continue to love our brothers across the isle, but presuppositional differences and an entirely different approach to scripture severely limits cooperative work. Platts efforts at IMB were transformative, according to one What seems simple and demonstrable to one has no plausibility to others. Dean, Beeson Divinity School. itself; it is only a similar one, for the way in which God restores a nation is, They Sane, reverent thought will suggest many lines of correspondence with the course of Gods providence, which may serve to illuminate its dark places. Opening of Seventh Seal: under This Seven Trumpets, of Which Six Now Sounded (Revelation 8; 9), (1) Hail and Fire on Earth (Revelation 8:7) (4) Third Angel Doom of Worshippers of the Beast (Revelation 14:9-12) Try as they may, Reformed Baptists cannot successfully equate OT Israel with the Christian Church. 24:29-31, Mk. They rather go to sermons not specifically "The final catastrophe, which was to destroy the city and empire, was to take place in three years and a half. It is by no means to be assumed, however, that the Apocalypse is the earlier production. promotes the view that the physical return of Christ will follow an actual (3) The historical view connects the various symbols with definite occurrences as the invasions which overthrew the Roman Empire (the first 4 trumpets), the Saracens (first woe-trumpet), the Turks (second woe-trumpet), the papacy (the beast, Revelation 13; the scarlet woman, Revelation 17), etc. Now, I want the Christian to meditate over this. The Canon attributed to the Council of Laodicea (circa 360 AD) does not name it, but it is doubtful whether this document is not of later date (compare Westcott; also Bousset, Die Offenb. 87-94Optional Reading: The Triumph of the Lamb: Appendix B, Pg. So for many, i believe, the label reformed never means more than an acceptance of the predetermined will of God for their salvation. WebAlthough the Christian Reformed Church is generally amillennialist in its eschatology and especially in its interpretation of the book of Revelation, its assemblies have never made Then shall they rise from their tombs at the Excellent and careful thoughts here, as usual Mark! come, come to reign, and come to judge the earth in righteousness." let's look at some quotes from Spurgeon to see what his position was on the Millennium. Satan destroyed it; and God will never have defeated his enemy until he has re-established Is there an eschatology that is accepted by most "Reformed" folks? No one should campaign that they cease and desist from using the moniker Reformed just because of their ongoing error. He granted, however, that it was the work of a holy and inspired man another John. Partial-preterist Postmillenial views are relatively common, and historic premillennial and historicist postmillenial views seem to be the rarity. that we must have a spiritual coming if we are to have a spiritual reign. Great differences in character and style no doubt still remain. We will consider various views held by Christians on the end times, after which a The theory is that these words allude to the belief that Nero would return from the dead and become Antichrist (see above). infatuated with traditions or duped by philosophy. There are sanguine Holding forth the Word of Life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, Contact us: phone 785-273-3506 | Sermons | Webmaster | Pastor, (Note: See Study Aid Resources for list of charts handed out in this lesson. Call Number: BX9422.3 .M845. millennium. When, however, it is remembered that, on any view, this nearness includes a period of 1,000 years before the judgment and descent of the new Jerusalem, it will be felt that it will not do to give these expressions too restricted a temporal significance. present age) after which Christ will physically return. attempt to claim Spurgeon for this viewpoint do not demonstrate their contention by means "no". The prefix, "A-," Ive argued in this article that distinctly Baptist covenant theology is the best defense against law-gospel errors such as TheoRecon. We look forward, then, for these two the Book of Enoch, the Apocalypse of Bar, the Apocalypse of Ezr; see APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE), but it is doubtful if the word here bears this technical sense. Well, I identify myself and our church as Reformed and Baptist, even though we dont believe as most do. inferior, either in interest or importance, to any other meaning which may come out of the However, the Reformed Ecumenical Synod (RES) did have a study committee on eschatology that reported in 1972. Synod 1974 recommended the study committee's report to the CRC churches for study. Synod 1975 found the RES study insufficient but decided not to ask the RES for a more detailed study. Beets, Henry. regarding the doctrine of the Millennium. Presbyterian churches have for the most part historically favored postmillennialism. let our imagination revel however bright may be the walls set with Article 37 of the Belgic Confession is the official eschatology of Reformed churches. We use this tool as our primary means of communication. (5) The Fallen Star-Locusts (Revelation 9:1-11) To get them to embrace another more precise term? ); but for a decade or two, through the prevalence of what may be called the "Nero-theory" of the book, the pendulum swung strongly in favor of its composition shortly after the death of Nero, and before the destruction of Jerusalem (held to be shown to be still standing by Revelation 11), i.e. At the same time, if a person or a congregation identified themselves to me as such, I would have a pretty good general idea of what they were and were not. As if to make assurance doubly sure, it is found that by dropping the final "n" in "Neron," the number becomes 616 a number which Irenaeus in his comments on the subject (v.30,1) tells us was actually found in some ancient copies. According to him (Christian Theology of the Apostolic Age, I, 369 ff, English translation), apart from the ridiculous preconceptions of theologians, the Apocalypse is "the most simple, most transparent book that prophet ever penned." The wordsReformedandBaptistmean something and they are and always have been mutually exclusive. Westcott, Salmon). reign upon earth. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. ; Godet, Commentary on John, I, 267-70, English translation; Alford, Greek Test., IV, 224-28; Salmon, Introduction to the New Testament, 233-43, 2nd edition; the last-named writer says: "I have produced instances enough to establish decisively that there is the closest possible affinity between the Revelation and the other Johannine books"). Perhaps the foremost writing for this position today is The Millennium, Spurgeon (age 30) [from The from the second Advent of our Lord, the world is more likely to sink into a pandemonium [from The Form of Godliness Without the Power MTP Eschatology 4:1-6), Which Generation is THIS Generation? From what I have read, the amillennial, premillennial, and postmillennial views all have a place within the Reformed tradition, though certain extreme variants of each perspective. brethren who are looking forward to everything growing better and better and better, of POSTMILLENNIALISM. thereof." Its precursor in the Old Testament is the Book of Dnl, with the symbolic visions and mystical numbers of which it stands in close affinity. WebReformed Churches Located in: [ New Jersey ] Calvary Baptist Church. have had their thousand years of glory upon earth.". [August 1891, age 58]. The Beast from the Sea, Seven-headed, Ten-horned (Revelation 13:1-10); the Two-horned Beast (Revelation 13:11-18), (1) The Lamb on Mt. Had the assumed presbyter really been the author, he could not have dropped so completely out of the knowledge of the church, and had his place taken all but immediately by the apostle. Epiphanius (4th century), indeed, puts (Haer., li.12, 233) the exile to Patmos in the reign of Claudius (41-54 AD); but as, in the same sentence, he speaks of the apostle as 90 years of age, it is plain there is a strange blunder in the name of the emperor. Lastly, the returning-Nero legend yields no satisfactory explanation of the language in Revelation 13:3,12,14; 17:11. of Jesus Christ, for he himself by his angel told us, 'This same Jesus which is taken return of Jesus Christ before a literal millennium on the earth. them peace. Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there. These remarks will receive elucidation in what follows. 4801 Allen Road | Allen Park, MI 48101 | 313.381.0111 | info@dbts.edu. Platt infamously led the downsizing of the Southern Baptist Conventions International Mission Board where over 700 experienced missionaries were let go, and then the IMB continued to place newer, younger and no doubt more Reformed (and Woke) mission workers on the field. Observe then, that Jesus makes the light of the millennium, because his ), but it is now more freely acknowledged. taken up from us, shall come in like manner as he was taken up from the gazers of Galilee. There is no need for supposing that, in a drama of this range, the "heads" of the beast of Revelation 13 and 17 (behind whom is the Dragon-enemy, Satan, of Revelation 12) stand, in contrariety to the analogy of Daniel, for seven individual emperors, and that "the image of the beast," which has life given to it and "speaks" (Revelation 13:14,15), is the statue of the emperor; or that such tremendous events as the fall of the Roman Empire, or the rise of the papacy with which, however, must be combined all ecclesiastical anti-Christianism or the false prophecy of later intellectual anti-Christianism have no place in the symbolism of the book. Not less striking are the correspondences with the teaching of Paul and of Peter on redemption through the blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 14:4, etc.). INTRODUCTION: Eschatology is the study of last things. preacher from the 19th century, held in the area of Eschatology The book belongs to the class of works commonly named "apocalyptic," as containing visions and revelations of the future, frequently in symbolical form (e.g. The book relates to "things which must shortly come to pass" (Revelation 1:1) in their beginnings at least and the divers interpretations since put upon its prophecies are the best evidence of the difficulties attaching to them. Events and tendencies may be grouped, or under different forms may relate to the same subject (e.g. in her ears made with other gold than that which cometh from his mine of love; there shall ); or, third, with most moderns, to deny the Johannine authorship of both Gospel and Apocalypse, with a leaning to the "presbyter" as the author of the latter (Harnack, Bousset, Moffatt, etc.). All doctrinally orthodox eschatological positions believe three essential things: At the end of history, Jesus will physically resurrect the bodies of both believers and unbelievers through a tomb-emptying resurrection. (6) The Son of Man and the Great Vintage (Revelation 14:14-20), 4. There are, besides, subtle affinities in the Greek usage of the two books, and some of the very irregularities complained of are found in the Gospel (for ample details consult Bousset, op. There were three possibilities either first, admitting the Johannine authorship of the Apocalypse, to assail the genuineness of the Gospel this was the method of the school of Baur; or, second, accepting the Gospel, to seek a different author for the Apocalypse John the presbyter, or another: thus not a few reverent scholars (Bleek, Neander, etc. (3) The Black Horse (Revelation 6:5,6) The Puritan Board is a forum dedicated to the discussion of Christian theology in a Confessionally Reformed context. sounding of the trumpet, and their judgment shall come and they shall receive the deeds Recently, we took the effort to convert these from the copy of a copy cassette tapes to mp3 files. Reformed Vol 35, Year 1889, pg. the 144,000 sealed on earth a spiritual Israel in Revelation 7:1-8, and the triumphant multitude inheaven, 7:9-17); successions of events may be foreshortened; different pictures may overlap; but, shining through the symbols, great truths and facts which have historical realization appear. is the primary meaning, but it is of no consequence, and I shall use the words for another Generally speaking, to be Reformed means to have ones roots in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th and 17th centuries. Harnack lent his influential support to the form of this theory advocated by Vischer, and for a time the idea had vogue. is honest to admit that there is much room for difference of opinion here, the day will You Should Know about Reformed Theology It is there the key is chiefly to be sought to the symbolism of John. literally, the second time. millennium that Christ will come. The meaning therefore is thought to be clear. the saints in light. But progressive dispensationalism offers a balanced reading of both the unfolding unity of the divine plan together with its distinguishing features. Denomination: Baptist Indexed: Mon Apr 24 2:20:19 2000. From what I have observed among Reformed circles, amillennial views seem to be the most common among pastors and other teachers. mail to others. These classes focus on the study of systematic theology, biblical theology, church history, and other topics practical to Christian living. It is not our task to sort out the 30:11-14), retention conditional (Jer. alleged that "Spurgeon was Postmillennial" yet neither his Haer., iv.20, 11; 30, 4; v.26, 1; 35, 2, etc. converted to God, and that this conversion is to be permanent, for the tabernacle of God object." Spurgeon (age 50) Spurgeon (age 43) List of Reformed Baptists - Wikipedia In the quotes above, the order of events on the same type of quotes we have produced (many others could have been given As a book intended for the consolation of the church under present and future afflictions, the Apocalypse is meant by its author to be understood (Revelation 1:3; 22:7). Church, also many other Protestant denominations. Postmillennialism: Representative Theologians by Loraine Joh., 28). But Clark doesnt even concede to Baptists being legitimately described as Calvinists. The book is quoted in the Epistle on the martyrs of Vienne and Lyons (177 AD); had a commentary written on it by Melito of Sardis (circa 170 AD), one of the churches of the Apocalypse (Euseb., HE, IV, 26); was used by Theophilus of Antioch (circa 168 AD) and by Apollonius (circa 210 AD; HE, V, 25) in these cases being cited as the Apocalypse of John. Within the premillennialist camp, there Moffatt (connecting it mistakenly, as it seems to us, with Domitians emphasis on the imperial cult, but giving also other reasons) goes so far as to say that "any earlier date for the book is hardly possible" (Expository Greek Testament, V, 317). STANDARD BIBLE The point in which its eschatology differs from that of the rest of the New Testament is in its introduction of the millennium before the final resurrection and judgment. then, secondly, there is in the text, and in the context, a most plain declaration, that Calvin and the Reformed Tradition by Richard A. Muller. In the Emmaus Chapel at Cornerstone multitudes of instances to be found among the Jewish people, of gracious quickening, and They are the ones who fully reformed the sacraments (credobaptism). This is the position of the Roman Catholic A form of "Nero Caesar," indeed, yields the mystic 666, but so do 1,000 other names almost any name, with proper manipulation (compare Salmon, lecture xiv). Even he, however, has to interpret the chapter on the last things of the future. general. It is granted by all writers that the Christology is as high as anywhere in the New Testament. That very man who once I recognize it can be used as a proper noun, but if we hold to that exclusive use then only the continental Reformed churches get to use the title and the English Presbyterians are likewise infringing on their nomenclature. This enlarges, but does not necessarily contradict, the earlier stage of thought. One thing I want to say is The first meaning of a Then this sorrow will be very The meaning of our text, as opened up by Again, consider Spurgeon's View here in light of Postmillennial teaching "Paul does not paint the Why not simply abandon their Baptist identity entirely? Then we shall be presented 53-60, Lesson 7 Christs Teaching as to His Second Coming, Recommended Reading: The Momentous Event: Chapter 8, Pg. (3) Burning Star on Rivers and Fountains (Revelation 8:10,11) And we both think that its worth fighting to keep those ideas from blurring. 109-120, Lesson 16 Is the Momentous Event Near? 5. Nero then is the 5th head that is to live again; an interpretation confirmed by rumors prevalent at that time that Nero was not really dead, but only hidden, and was soon to return to claim his throne. Himself. (6) Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) We are not thereby attempting an ecclesiastical union with non-Baptists. To anyone that says we are not Reformed (normally, Presbyterians, and afew Baptists), I usually answer, I dont care about your opinion. From what I have seen in Reformed and Presbyterian churches, and in Calvinistic Baptist churches, the Amillennial view is the most widely taught and accepted though what I have seen is admittedly limited. The theme of the book is the conflict of Christ and His church with anti-Christian powers (the devil, the beast, the false prophet, Revelation 16:13), and the ultimate and decisive defeat of the latter; its keynote is in the words, "Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20; compare 1:7); but it is to be noticed, as characteristic of the book, that while this "coming" is represented as, in manner, ever near, the end, as the crisis approaches, is again always postponed by a fresh development of events. Rexford Semrad has served as an administrator at Covenant Baptist Theological Seminary since 2015. believe that there will be no millennial reign without the King, and who expect no rule of Reformed Baptist have greater justification than anyone to use the term Reformed. Reform is an act. (3) Blessedness of Its Citizens (Revelation 22:1-7) Southern Baptists and the Millennium can be reclaimed, the most stubborn wills can be subdued, the most unholy lives can be Address: 5 Franklin Street. I am not going to theorize upon which of them will come first, whether they shall Spurgeon's statements apart from such quotes that we have given. Clarks concern, I suspect, is syncretism and the corruption of the Reformed identity. The unseen but omnipotent Jehovah is to be (6) The Wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:12-17), (1) Sealing of 144,000 on Earth (Revelation 7:1-8) The former is an ethnic community (a member had to be a Jew), the latter a regenerate community (a member has to credibly express faith in the Christian Gospel); the former is entered by physical birth into the proper family (and by the sign of circumcision for male children); the latter is entered by a profession of faith and the corresponding sign ofbelieversbaptism (whether male or female). (5) Blessedness of the Dead in the Lord (Revelation 14:13) Recommended Reading: The Momentous Event: Chapter 1, Pg. The testimony to the canonicity, and also to the Johannine authorship, of the Apocalypse is thus exceptionally strong. WebThere is a more elaborate eschatology than in any other Baptist confession of the period, but the language of the three articles on the subject is strictly scriptural. So, when asked, they view themselves as reformed. Would God it had dawned, when these 11:1-17, Deut. certainly has no idolatry. When the holy "breath" comes from the four winds, when the divine The rest of the dead live not till Theexpansion of the last judgments is given in separate pictures (the scarlet woman, doom of Babylon, Har-Magedon, Revelation 17 through 19); then come the closing scenes of the millennium, the last apostasy, resurrection and judgment (Revelation 20), followed by the new heavens and new earth, with the descending new Jerusalem (Revelation 21; 22). political restoration of the Jews to their own land and to their own nationality; and archangel and the voice of God. We take this 57). Those who place it under Vespasian (omitting three short reigns) sacrifice the advantage of dating the book before the destruction of Jerusalem, and have to fall back on a supposititious Jewish fragment in Revelation 11, which those who incorporated it must have known had never been fulfilled. The alternative view, first suggested as a possibility by Eusebius, now largely favored by modern writers, is that the John intended is the "presbyter John" of a well-known passage cited by Eusebius from Papias (Historia Ecclesiastica, III, 39). & Glory MTP Vol 11, Year 1865, he will come first; and then will come the millennium as the result of his personal Many Reformed Baptists today are a-mil. One could observe that while no one has identified as a Christian Islamist, John Piper did make the term Christian Hedonist mildly popular.That did modify the popular notion of what a hedonist was. WebThere has been some considerable difference of opinion regarding the position that C. H. Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher from the 19th century, held in the area of After an introduction, and letters to the seven churches (Revelation 1 through 3), the properly prophetic part of the book commences with a vision of heaven (Revelation 4; 5), following upon which are two series of visions of the future, parallel, it would appear, to each other the first, the 7 seals, and under the 7th seal, the 7 trumpets (Revelation 6 through 11, with interludes in Revelation 7 and again in 10; 11:1-12); the second, the woman and her child (Revelation 12), the 2 beasts (Revelation 13), and, after new interludes (Revelation 14), the bowls and 7 last plagues (Revelation 15; 16). The two questions of canonicity and authorship are closely connected. about 68-69 AD. sum and substance, the light and glory of the whole will be the person of our Lord Jesus This rejects the plain intimations of the book thatthe events predicted lay, in their beginnings at least, immediately in the future of the writer. Epilogue and Appendix: The 70 Weeks of Daniel. He is married to his wife of 32 years, Marion, and has 8 children. We anticipate a first and a second resurrection; a first resurrection of A podcast devoted to discussions concerning Christian doctrine and the Christian life from a confessionally Reformed Baptist perspective. I cannot read the Scriptures without perceiving There have been, of course, a great many attempts by Reformed Baptists to close the gap with various forms of hermeneutical intrigue, starting in the 1680s and persisting today in 1689 Federalism, New Covenant Theology, and Progressive Covenantalism. You are using an out of date browser. Vision of Jesus and Message to the Seven Churches of the Province of Asia (Revelation 1:9-20), 3. "theologian") not being older than the 4th century (compare the title given to Gregory of Nazianzus, "Gregory theologian"). If the Greek in parts shows a certain abruptness and roughness, it is plainly evidenced by the use of the correct constructions in other passages that this is not due to want of knowledge of the language. Baptist God was with man, and that he did dwell amongst them. You don't even need a chart to understand it. "Dragon" in the OldTestament and elsewhere may be associated with widespread oriental ideas, but the definite symbolism of the Apocalypse in Revelation 12 has no provable connection with Babylonian myths. that is, after the thousand years of his reign. The Scarlet Woman on Beast Her Judgment (Revelation 17), 2. Apart (6) On Euphrates Har-Magedon (Revelation 16:12-16) Eschatology - Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church We would simply like to define Because until Baptists relinquish their identity by dropping several of their distinctives (most especially credobaptism and a regenerate church membership), there can be no commonality of biblical (much less systematic) theology between Reformed and Baptist. millennium is not some future physical reign, but the present reign of Christ in the It is not consistently Timothy 3:5 (age 54)], "We are to expect the literal advent area of doctrine have proponents who claim Spurgeon as one of their own. kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Also Read C. H. SPURGEON He is a member of Grace Reformed Baptist Church of Owensboro, KY where he serves as a Deacon and a Gifted Brother. 351-363, Recommended Reading: The Momentous Event: Chapter 13, Pg. Hemet, CA 92544, EMMAUS ESSENTIALSSunday School For Adults Similarly, at the sounding of the 6th trumpet, the end seems at hand (Revelation 9:12-21), but a new pause is introduced before the last sounding takes place (Revelation 11:15 ff).

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