Alan Gross
Well-Known Member
A quick note for reference:
From: Revelation: Understanding the Age | Monergism
"Perhaps the greatest impediment to rightly understanding the book of Revelation today is the rise of Dispensationalism in the last century and a half.
"With its faulty hermeneutic and broad popularity, it has left many believing in far off fairy tales and myths, wrongly dividing the word of God, and leading vast numbers down the path of one man's imagination.
"It is not the purpose of this book to refute Dispensationalism, nor every erroneous attempt at attempting to interpret Revelation; however, the detrimental impact of Dispensationalism on the understanding and use of this book since the mid-19th century demands its refutation.
"Essentially, Dispensationalism's error lies in its misinterpretation of the book's overall design.
"The book is not intended for a far-off age. It is a book intended for this present age.
"Consider how counterintuitive it would be for God to design a second Testament, comprised of four Gospels, one history book, and twenty-two letters to churches and individuals from the first century, only to leave the final book for another day. If this were the case, and Revelation was merely for a distant, far-off age, then God left the church of this age without insight and understanding of so vast a period of time. God has not left the church blind to this age, but as John said, Revelation contains insights and understanding for the present age, writing, "Blessed 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 (Rev. 1:3)."
Yet, a more central error lies behind Dispensationalism's misconception of the book, it has misinterpreted and misunderstood the place of Israel in redemptive history.
Failing to properly identify the true nature and identity of Israel in God's redemptive plan in any age is detrimental to understanding the plan and design of God.
Dispensationalism has defined Israel in accordance with the Old Covenant, not the New, and therefore their understanding of the ages is errant.
A proper understanding of Israel's place in redemptive history is key to understanding the book of Revelation.
They have been led the path of the Jews, believing the flesh important to identifying the people of God.
Add to these two errors the fact that Dispensationalism was nothing but the imagined thought of a single man, an unlearned, uneducated man, with no training in Scripture, coming from a suspect denomination, and like so many errors of the mid to late 19th century, another danger error is born of the imagination of men.
That said, let us be clear, the book of Revelation is the key book necessary to conclude Scripture, it is the capstone upon the inerrant, inspired, divine work of impeccable glory.
It is given to illuminate and summarize the work of our reigning Lord in this present age.
It explains the fullness of the godhead's work in creation.
It finishes the story. Its central theme is the final, culmination of the eternal plan brought forth in redemption and judgment.
As such, it is both an epistle and a book of prophecy. It is the book that outlines the grand scheme of God from the day of Pentecost until the return of our Lord.
It is self-interpreting on its own, as much of its metaphors and allegories are internally defined, as well as it being self-interpreting canonically as a whole, as it, along with various prophetic images of old and the allusions of the past are given to provide ample information to decode its symbolic truths.
Put at the end, it serves as the final and definite revelation of our Lord for the people of God in these final days."
From: Revelation: Understanding the Age | Monergism
"Perhaps the greatest impediment to rightly understanding the book of Revelation today is the rise of Dispensationalism in the last century and a half.
"With its faulty hermeneutic and broad popularity, it has left many believing in far off fairy tales and myths, wrongly dividing the word of God, and leading vast numbers down the path of one man's imagination.
"It is not the purpose of this book to refute Dispensationalism, nor every erroneous attempt at attempting to interpret Revelation; however, the detrimental impact of Dispensationalism on the understanding and use of this book since the mid-19th century demands its refutation.
"Essentially, Dispensationalism's error lies in its misinterpretation of the book's overall design.
"The book is not intended for a far-off age. It is a book intended for this present age.
"Consider how counterintuitive it would be for God to design a second Testament, comprised of four Gospels, one history book, and twenty-two letters to churches and individuals from the first century, only to leave the final book for another day. If this were the case, and Revelation was merely for a distant, far-off age, then God left the church of this age without insight and understanding of so vast a period of time. God has not left the church blind to this age, but as John said, Revelation contains insights and understanding for the present age, writing, "Blessed 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 (Rev. 1:3)."
Yet, a more central error lies behind Dispensationalism's misconception of the book, it has misinterpreted and misunderstood the place of Israel in redemptive history.
Failing to properly identify the true nature and identity of Israel in God's redemptive plan in any age is detrimental to understanding the plan and design of God.
Dispensationalism has defined Israel in accordance with the Old Covenant, not the New, and therefore their understanding of the ages is errant.
A proper understanding of Israel's place in redemptive history is key to understanding the book of Revelation.
They have been led the path of the Jews, believing the flesh important to identifying the people of God.
Add to these two errors the fact that Dispensationalism was nothing but the imagined thought of a single man, an unlearned, uneducated man, with no training in Scripture, coming from a suspect denomination, and like so many errors of the mid to late 19th century, another danger error is born of the imagination of men.
That said, let us be clear, the book of Revelation is the key book necessary to conclude Scripture, it is the capstone upon the inerrant, inspired, divine work of impeccable glory.
It is given to illuminate and summarize the work of our reigning Lord in this present age.
It explains the fullness of the godhead's work in creation.
It finishes the story. Its central theme is the final, culmination of the eternal plan brought forth in redemption and judgment.
As such, it is both an epistle and a book of prophecy. It is the book that outlines the grand scheme of God from the day of Pentecost until the return of our Lord.
It is self-interpreting on its own, as much of its metaphors and allegories are internally defined, as well as it being self-interpreting canonically as a whole, as it, along with various prophetic images of old and the allusions of the past are given to provide ample information to decode its symbolic truths.
Put at the end, it serves as the final and definite revelation of our Lord for the people of God in these final days."
