Prophetic Interpretation

Prophetic Schools

The Papal Origins of Preterism Print PDF

To lay further questions and objections to rest, another school of interpretation was developed. So just how and when did the Preterist school of prophetic interpretation begin? Dr. Guinness in his book The Approaching End of the Age answers that thought-provoking question with this observation:

The first or PRETERIST scheme, considers these prophecies to have been fulfilled in the downfall of the Jewish nation and the old Roman Empire, limiting their range thus to the first six centuries of the Christian era, and making Nero Antichrist.

This scheme originated with the Jesuit Alcazar toward the end of the sixteenth century; it has been held and taught under various modifications by Grotuis, Hammond, Bossuet, Eichhorn and other German commentators, Moses Stuart, and Dr. Davidson. It has few supporters now, and need not be described more at length.

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The Origin of Futurism Print PDF

So why, when and how did Futurism creep into early church doctrine? When this interpretation of prophecy began should be of particular interest to all schools of prophetic interpretation. Dr. Guinness throws open the door of enlightenment to that dubious honor with this revealing bit of history:

We shall show that the futurist school of interpretation, on the contrary, is chiefly represented by teachers belonging to the Church of Rome; that the popes, cardinals, bishops, and priests of that apostate Church are all futurists, and that the futurist interpretation is one of the chief pillars of Romanism.

The former, or futurist system of interpreting the prophecies is now held, strange to say, by many Protestants, but it was first invented by the Jesuit Ribera, at the end of the sixteenth century, to relieve the Papacy from the terrible stigma cast upon it by the Protestant interpretation. This interpretation was so evidently the true and intended one, that the adherents of the Papacy felt its edge must, at any cost, be turned or blunted. If the Papacy were the predicted antichirst, as Protestants asserted, there was an end of the question, and separation from it became an imperative duty.

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8 Undeniable Errors of Futurism Print PDF

Some Undeniable Arguments Against Futurism Futurism is guilty of the following charges:

three_frogs1. GREAT INCONSISTENCY IN THE INTERPRETATION OF BIB­LICAL SYMBOLS.

"Stars, candlesticks, the dragon or serpent, the three frogs, the seven ,heads of the Beast, the ten horns, the many waters, the woman, the lake of fire, the New Jerusalem, all these are divinely interpreted for us in the book itself, not in a literal sense, but as symbols having a distinct meaning. With regard to nearly all the rest of the figurative descriptions, we are able to find the key to their interpretation in other parts of Scripture. It has been well remarked that almost every symbol which is made use of in the Revelation has been already employed by the prophets of former days, and either interpreted by them or explained by the accomplishment of their predictions."

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Futurism's Four False Interpretations Print PDF

The destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.

 

False Interpretation #1

DANIEL'S 70th WEEK

In the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel we find a prophecy, commonly referred to as "Daniel's 70th Week," which has become a corner stone and foundation of Futurism. By taking the Scriptures out of their context to make them a pretext, the Futurists tell us that this prophecy foretells the coming of a one-world dictator, the Prince of the Prophecy, who will make a Treaty or Covenant with the Jews, break it after 31/2 years and sit enthroned for worship in a rebuilt Jewish Temple, from which he will impose the Mark of the Beast, and unlease the horrors of the Great Tribulation. To call this interpretation fanciful would be kind, to call it downright deceptive would be accurate. Let us now examine the Seventy Weeks Prophecy and see for ourselves.

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Prophetic Interpretation Print PDF

I wish to emphasize the fact that it is my most earnest desire to offer you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. For forty-seven years I have prayerfully, studiously, and persistently searched the writings of the fore­most prophetic authors in the English-speaking world. After long study and extended search, however, I am led to think that there are many people in this world who are not looking for the truth but rather for possible or assumed facts to bolster up a false theory and a contradictory interpretation.

I am well aware there are many Futurists in the United States and doubtless there are some now present. I only ask you to exercise patience, while I place before you certain facts, which no Futurist writer can disprove and which no well-informed man will deny.

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Notice to Readers

In an attempt to provide a wide range of opinions and applications within the bounds of the Historicist interpretation of Bible prophecy, we have utilized the research and writings of a variety of scholars and historians. Being that the material found on this website has been written over a period of several hundred years, there will naturally be a difference of opinions and interpretations on various prophecies. This is due to the experience and knowledge along with the political and religious conditions which existed during the life time of each respective writer. For example; the perspective of John Wycliffe of the 14th century in England as opposed to the perspective of a 21st century writer in North America may somewhat differ on the same prophecy due to their respective vantage points of time, location and development of historical events.

These differences by no means invalidate the truthfulness of the Historicist approach to the all-important subject of Bible prophecy. Even though some teachers and writers may differ on some major beliefs such as the rapture, the nature of the Second Coming of Christ, the identification of Israel, or the modern Zionist state of Israeli, each writer sets forth a traditional Protestant view of Bible prophecy that has been unfolding in fulfillment throughout time extending from the Apostolic age until our present age.

Every opinion and/or interpretation presented on this website may not necessarily be the accepted belief of those who have made this website available.