petra1000

Problem: Amillennials often argue that premillennials can’t agree with each other, and premillennial theology leads to contradictory conclusions. For instance, the book of Ezekiel states that Gog and Magog rebel against God before the millennium (Ezek. 38), but John tells us that they rebel after the millennium (Rev. 20:8). Amillennials argue that this shows that the premillennial perspective is contradictory at worst, or confused at best. Is this the case?
Continue reading →

Problem: John writes,

(Rev. 20:4-5) Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection.
Continue reading →

Problem: Because amillennials and postmillennials believe that we are currently in the millennium as Christians, it follows necessarily that Satan is currently bound. Postmillennial Kenneth Gentry writes,

Christ accomplished Satan’s binding judicially in the first century; the binding increasingly constricts Satan throughout the Christian era (i.e., the ‘one thousand years’), except for a brief period just prior to the Second Advent (Rev. 20:2-3, 7-9). This binding does not result in the total inactivity of Satan; rather, it restrains his power by Christ’s.[1]
Likewise, amillennial G.K. Beale writes,

The binding was probably inaugurated during Christ’s ministry, which is more the focus of texts such as Matt. 12:29; Mark 3:27; and Luke 10:17-19. Satan’s binding was climactically put in motion immediately after Christ’s resurrection, and it lasts throughout most of the age between Christ’s first and second comings.[2]
Continue reading →

Problem: Most commentators identify these seven kings with Roman Emperors. However, Osborne writes that this “is incredibly difficult.”[1] Consider the list of Roman Emperors below:[2]

Continue reading →

Problem: Some commentators argue vehemently that John’s mention of the “seven hills” (Rev. 17:9 NIV) are a clear allusion to Rome. Osborne writes, “At the outset, the angel identifies the seven heads with “seven mountains,” a phrase often used for Rome in the ancient world because it was built on seven hills (see Cicero, Att. 6.5; Pliny, Nat. Hist. 3.66–67; et al.; see Swete 1911: 220 for others). The city began with an amalgamation of groups living on the seven hills (Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Equiline, Palatine, Quirinal, Viminal), and during Domitian’s reign a festival (the Septimontium) celebrated it.”[1] Robert Mounce writes, “There is little doubt that a first-century reader would understand this reference in any way other than as a reference to Rome, the city built upon seven hills.”[2] Is this the imagery being used here?
Continue reading →

Problem: Commentators wonder how we should render this section of Revelation. Should we render this section in this way?

NASB: “On her forehead a name was written, a mystery, ‘Babylon the Great.’”

ESV: “On her forehead was written a name of mystery: ‘Babylon the great.’”

NLT: “A mysterious name was written on her forehead: ‘Babylon the Great.’”

Or should it be translated as the NIV renders it?

NIV: “This title was written on her forehead: ‘Mystery Babylon the Great.’”

Is “Mystery Babylon” the title? Or is the title a mystery now revealed as Babylon? Moreover, what does this title mean?
Continue reading →

Problem: Preterist interpreters argue that the “huge hailstones, about one hundred pounds each” (Rev. 16:21) were actually the rocks were catapulted over the walls of Jerusalem in AD 70. Preterist Kenneth Gentry writes,

John is presenting the dramatic covenant lawsuit against Israel for her adultery. The punishment in God’s law for adultery is death (Lev. 20:10), which in biblical law is by stoning. Thus, we witness enormous hailstones raining down on Jerusalem in Revelation 16:21: ‘From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds [Gk. talantiaia, talent, kjv] each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.’ Josephus records its historical fulfillment in the Roman catapulting of Jerusalem.[1]
Gentry goes on to cite Josephus Jewish Wars, which states:

Now the stones that were cast were of the weight of a talent, and were carried two furlongs and further. The blow they gave was no way to be sustained, not only by those that stood first in the way, but by those that were beyond them for a great space. As for the Jews, they at first watched the coming of the stone, for it was of a white color. (Jewish Wars 5.6.3)
Does this citation from Josephus support a Preterist reading of Revelation?
Continue reading →

Problem: According to this verse, heaven is a place in which the saints “rest from their labors.” However, earlier in the Book of Revelation heaven is described as a place of constant praise and singing (Rev. 4–5). Which is it?
Continue reading →

Problem: Some interpreters believe that God sent the angel merely to preach judgment—not forgiveness. The angel screams, “Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters” (v.7).
Continue reading →

Various explanations have been offered for the meaning of the number “666.” We will consider several below:
Continue reading →

Problem: Many interpretations have been offered for this passage. Modern, end-times fanatics have identified this fatal wound with Mussolini, Hitler, Stalin, and even JFK![1]These wild speculations should be avoided. Instead, let’s consider some of the more common interpretations held by commentators:
Continue reading →

Problem: In Revelation 12, some of the symbols are very clear, while others are not.

The “red dragon” is no doubt Satan. John explicitly tells us that “the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan” (v.9; c.f. v.12). In addition, he wages war with Michael—the archangel—in heaven (v.7). Moreover, he is colored red, because he is drenched in the blood of believers (similar to the red horse of Revelation 6:4). He has a crown on his head (Rev. 12:3), as the current prince or ruler of the Earth (Jn. 12:31; 14:30; 16:11; Eph. 2:2; 2 Cor. 4:4).
Continue reading →