Very helpful. I belong to a URCNA congregation and my pastor preached exegeted Revelation in an idealist, redemptive-historical manner as you are doing. It was the first time I understood how Rev fits into the Bible as a whole. It helped me clear my mind of the confusion caused by a Dispensational upbringing and turned it into a comforting book rather than something I had avoided. Thank you!

@jcpg9592

Жыл бұрын

I too belong to a URCNA congregation! It has been a wonderful blessing of a denomination.

@sierragrey7910

Жыл бұрын

@@jcpg9592 I agree. We are so blessed.

I was saved on 11/2/2022 and since then I have taken a futurist position. Now, through study, I take a redemptive historical and idealist position like G.K. Beale and Poythress and others. Great video.

Pastor Matthew, you have been vital in helping me shape my eschatology. You teach with clarity, simplicity, depth, and faithfulness to Gods Holy Word. Thank you for your ministry! 🤙🏽

Thank you much pastor Matt, I currently hold a partial preterist view, but I'm always looking into other systems of interpretation. You are so helpful to me in my growth as a believer and a pastor. You have a gift for clarity and distinction that I am overwhelmingly blessed by. Grace and peace to you from our Father and our Lord

How grateful I am, Pastor Matt, for your labors in and for the LORD. The LORD in His gracious love for us invites us to milk Scripture for truth, correction, and as a guide to light our way in this fallen world. Your take on Revelation is Biblical and encouraging. My favorite book of the Bible. I'm going to listen to your series, already knowing what a great source of edification it will be.

What a beautiful explanation Rev. Everhard. You kept it so simple. Great Job. I fall right in the middle between partial preterist and idealist and the reason being that while I think the vast majority (up to 80/90%) of the events described in Revelation have already been fulfilled in AD70, I do not exclude the possibility of much of it having more than one fulfilment. I think there is a case to be made in the Bible for certain prophecies to have more than one fulfilment. An example would be the Beast whose name is equal to the number 666 or 616 (some of the oldest manuscripts). I think this is clearly referencing Caesar Nero; but could possibly be a type of a Beast to come too.

Revelation is the description of God's image, his supremacy, and demonstrates how that God The Father has committed all judgement on a fallen world, and the grace of God to show mercy on those that have commited themselves by faith toward Jesus Christ. The Word of God in Revelation is seen in all The Old Testament, but at the same time is revealing future events which are now happening, and from the perspective of God's view from Heaven.

You are awesome brother!👍

Great job brother! Thank you!

In his commentary on Revelation, Beale, on page 2 of the introduction says that Revelation is pretty much a commentary on Eph. 6: 10-18, Paul's teaching of Spiritual Warfare and the whole Armour of God. Seen in this light, Revelation became an indispensable resource for worship (given Revelation's disclosing of God's beauty and glory), a guide for Spiritual Warfare(seeing the fierce oppressive nature of the world, flesh, and the devil), and a source of edification(seeing the redemption of Christ as the triumph over all the above). Oh, well, that's my 2 cents. Hope everyone's walking with Jesus, including above all, my slippery, slimy self. I love y'all.

Excellent overview. Though I've never heard of the grid labelled, "Idealism," it sounds reasonable to me the way you explained it. Love the tail wagging the dog analogy. I'm afraid that is bang on when it comes to some people's use of Revelation 20 --- they interpret it one way and then force the rest of the New Testament to fit that interpretation. In reality, it should be the other way around. The rest of the NT, all the clear teaching found therein, should shape how we understand Revelation 20.

I take a mixed view of Revelation. Chapters 11-13, 20-22 fit the Idealist view, but I take the rest as partial-preterist.

Hey Matthew. I’m curious what you think about this line of thinking. I cut my teeth in Reformed Theology largely with the books and teachings of R.C. Sproul, so naturally I took up the Partial Preterist view that really begins in Matthew 24 (though I’ve always been Amil over Postmil like R.C). This has been my view for years, but in the last year or two, I have started to see Idealism as a more complete understanding of Partial Preterism. In other words, John’s vision is not unrelated to the events of 70 AD, but it is not only related to 70 AD. Perhaps the Partial Preterist view functions as a pattern for the rest of the church age. Therefore, for example, rather than Nero simply being the beast, Nero is a pattern for the beast. With this understanding, the text itself (not just an application) is very much for the church in every part of these last days. What do you think about this idea that Idealism is a more complete understanding of Partial Preterism ?

@chrisjohnson9542

Жыл бұрын

You definitely are not alone in that understanding. There are lots of people who have held that position of a past and future fulfillment. I'm not sure I would call myself a partial preterist but I do believe that in Matthew 24 Jesus uses similar structure in His prophecy (of course being The Prophet, Priest, and King) that the old testament prophets used. How they would kinda give this picture that would include near events as well as far future events but they would be fit into the same picture. I think partial preterism goes too far in Matthew 24 when they try to say that it's only about 70 AD, and dispensationalists go too far when they say that Mathew24 is entirely a future event in the distant future. I think Jesus is talking about both near events in the destruction of the temple which it clearly does talk about, but then also is talking about the end of the age which I believe is clear when He talks about His coming on the clouds and the gathering of the elect. The partial preterists often seem to want to smoosh that into the 70AD judgement but I think the evidence weighs against that with the mention of the gathering together the elect which fits with all Jesus's earlier parables about the harvest at the end of the age and Paul's teaching in 1 Thessalonians and 1 Corinthians 15. A interesting point that preterists make is when Jesus says this generation will not pass away until these things have taken place. So they use that as a convincing argument that it had to be a soon event. But Sam Waldron pointed out a really good argument for that which I now hold to and was convinced by my own search of the scriptures on this. The phrase "this generation" which Jesus used, if you do a word study and look up every time Jesus used that phrase in the gospels, it always refers to the unbelieving generation. So I now am convinced that "this generation" is talking about this present age of unbelievers. Anyways I enjoyed reading your insight and just wanted to share some of the things I've been thinking about over the last few years on this and trying to piece together my own position and convictions on this issue. I go to a dispensational premillennial church that is very very faithful. My pastor went to Master's Seminary. But I disagree with their eschatology and it's been a great blessing for me to remember John MacArthur and RC Sproul's friendship and brotherhood and how close they were in Christ even though they had some big disagreements on these issues. There's a really good eschatology seminary class online by Dr Sam Waldron. It's 17 videos long and it covers the whole topic of eschatology from a reformed modified idealist perspective. But he engages with the other views. If you search for eschatology class Sam Waldron there will be a link to Monergism dot com. I can't put the link otherwise KZread will block it. God bless you brother.

@someguywithastrat

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@@chrisjohnson9542 I will definitely check that out. That’s a fascinating argument about “this generation.” I certainly want to get into the Greek and see what I can find around that line of thought. Also, I love to remember the friendship of MacArthur and Sproul. Brothers in Christ can disagree on open hand issues yet be united in Christ. I believe these kind of discussions work to push both parties to know God and His Word better (if done respectfully). I appreciate you brother!!

@chrisjohnson9542

Жыл бұрын

@@someguywithastrat amen. Absolutely and God bless you too! Again I enjoyed reading your comment. It stimulated me to think about that topic and think about my own position. I definitely need to look into these things more. Matt is a really good preacher and I've been following his sermons on Revelation although I'm way way behind. But I know he is using GK Beales Revelation commentary in his studies and I also have that commentary (the shorter one) and it's really useful and helpful.

Excellent video. I'm with you on having the idealist view. Use the parts of the Bible that are easier to understand to interpret the harder to understand. Symbolic images throughout the book of Revelation. Redemptive history is given in the Book of Revelation. Your video should be heard by more than just the choir.

Paster Matthew, thank you for this. I grew up in the church, and I never understood how a letter written to ancient churches that no longer exist were solely about today... or maybe even farther into the future. I purchased the commentary on Revelation and am currently going through one chapter at a time ( I might have to slow down due to time/ comprehension). I do have a question. Do you have any recommendations on other commentaries on the prophets that line up with this view? Thanks for all you do!

It will soon , and quickly , says it all. Not 2000 years later. Gary DeMar, Kenneth Gentry.

Good content, and much appreciated. Thank you. One correction - cherubim and seraphim are not angels. They are each their own subset of heavenly beings, of which angels are also a subset (and not the master set). In other words, and to further the point, angels serve as messengers and emissaries to earth and function in other outer directed capacities. Cherubim and seraphim do not serve in those roles, but are centered more on the holy throne of God.

@qwerty-so6ml

Ай бұрын

Only one Gospel: The Gospel of Reconciliation. Jesus Christ came into THEIR kingdom to reconcile fallen angels unto Himself. We are the fallen angels (ELOHIM) kept in DNA chains of darkness. If you do not confess being a fallen angel in Lucifer's kingdom, then you are an unbeliever. Unbeliever = those that claim to be made in the image of ELOHIM(gods). REPENT FALLEN ANGELS.

Question: interesting I dont think ive heard this take on Revelation before. what is your view on the millennium? Amil, post mil, pre mil?

We all come to the text with presuppositions, but if our presuppositions do not submit to the higher authorities (i.e. Scripture, Christ Himself) then our presuppositions must be corrected. Trying to understand John's Apocalypse without understanding its genre makes expositing its text futile. I heard from a missionary in Latin America how the indigenous people err on the side of reading any piece of literature as a narrative, in which case they come to the NT Epistles and try to turn them into a narrative, which they are clearly not. The same thing seems to happen with us when we try to read John's Apocalypse as anything other than apocalyptic literature. The parameters for Apocalyptic genre are provided in Daniel primarily, in which case once you understand the parameters of the genre and then you slow down and examine the parameters of John's Apocalypse (as he provides in the opening), the foundation for interpreting the book is laid, regardless of prior theological position. "The _apocalypse_ of Jesus Christ" ---> a revealing, uncovering "which God gave him _to show_ " ----> emphasis is upon the visual/experiential (showing) more than upon the verbal, contra oracles "to his bondslaves what must _take place_ " -----> this is about _events_ more so than objects "soon/quickly" ----> modifying _what must take place_ "He signified it" ----> the revelation occurs through signifying/indicating "through sending his angel" ------> indication comes through an angel, i.e. the experience is given with a guide "to his slave John" ------> recipient of revelation, i.e. the experiencer/visionary "who bore witness" ------> recipient is already a witness of other things "to the word of God" ------> the word of God is the _object_ of witness, not the central mode of revelation (central mode is vision/experience in apocalyptic; central mode is verbal in oracles; both genres employ verbal and experiential, but each employs one mode more than the other) "and to the witness of Jesus Christ" ------> recipient of revelation also witnessed Jesus's Person

is that almond butter from sam's?

@cheezman9180

Ай бұрын

It has been a year and we still don't have an answer to this important question.

For decades it bothered me that the Book of Revelation could only be applicable and relevant to some distant future generation of Christians. I knew there had to be a way that this book was for all Christians of all ages. Very long story short, I was so happy when someone finally gave me a word for what I had become: Idealist. I really liked it because it is the "ideal" way to understand Revelation.

PRETERISTS and IDEALISTS take away from the words of the book of prophecy. Revelation 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

A Millennium Puzzle to solve… Will Christ be conducting funeral services for mortals killed in accidents 500 years after His Second Coming? The “first resurrection” in Rev. chapter 20 is not the first bodily resurrection in the Book of Revelation, because the two witnesses are resurrected from the dead in chapter 11. There are two different types of resurrection in John chapter 5. There is a spiritual resurrection from the dead in John 5:24, and a bodily resurrection from the dead in John 5:28-29. Does your view of the Millennium agree with what Paul said in 2 Thess. 1:7-10, when Paul said Christ returns in "flaming fire" taking vengeance on those who do not obey the Gospel? The fire comes at the end of Rev. chapter 20. Does your view agree with what Peter said in 2 Peter 3:10-13, when Peter said this earth is going to burn and "dissolve" when He comes as a thief on the day of the Lord? The fire comes at the end of Rev. chapter 20. Does your view agree with what Paul said in 2 Tim. 4:1, when Paul said both the living and the dead will be judged at His appearing? The time of the judgment of the dead, with reward for some and destruction for others is found in Rev. 11:18, right after the 7th trumpet, which is the last trumpet in the Bible. (This verse also proves the Book of Rev. is not in chronological order.) The judgment of the dead is also found at the end of Rev. chapter 20. Does your view agree with what Jesus said in Matt. 25:31-46, where He described the judgment of the sheep and goats, which leaves no mortals alive on the planet at the end of the passage? There are also no mortals left alive on the planet at the end of Rev. chapter 19. Does your view agree with Peter in 2 Pet. 2:4, and Jude in Jude 1:6, when they both said wicked angels are already in chains of darkness? Does your view agree with what John recorded in Rev. 9:1-2, when an angel comes down from heaven with a key to unlock the pit, which means the pit was locked before that time? Are there wicked angels already in the pit in Rev. 9:11? John recorded angels already "bound" in Rev. 9:14. The beast "ascends" out of the pit in Rev. chapter 11, which means the beast was in the pit before that time. Take all of the above and compare it to the symbolic language found in Rev. chapter 20, and the fact the Book of Revelation is not in chronological order, and you will have the truth. ============================================================================================================== Multiple Second Coming Visions in Revelation: (book not in chronological order ) Christ returns one time in the future. However, there are several different visions of His return shown from different perspectives in the Book of Revelation. Christ returns at the end of Revelation chapter 6, with signs in the sun, moon, and stars, as are found in the Olivet Discourse. Those at the end of the chapter are hiding from the wrath of the Lamb. Why would they be hiding if Christ is not present? The "kings", "captains", "might men", "free", and "bond" are also found in chapter 19 at the return of Christ. He returns at the 7th trumpet, which is the last trumpet in the Bible, and the time of the judgment of the dead in Revelation 11:15-18. The beginning of chapter 12 is a history lesson containing the fall of Satan, and the birth and death of Christ, who is the seed promised to crush the head of Satan in Genesis 3:15. The Second Coming is found in the "harvest" of chapter 14, which is related to the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew chapter 13. He comes as a thief at Armageddon, and we find the greatest earthquake in history in chapter 16. This occurs when the 7th angel pours out his vial. How powerful is an earthquake which moves islands and destroys the mountains? What is happening to the planet? He comes on a horse in chapter 19. Chapter 20? Does He come with the fire, and the judgment of the dead at the end of chapter 20, which agrees with what Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10, and 2 Timothy 4:1? (The time of the judgment of the dead is also found in Revelation 11:18.) There are no mortals left alive on the planet at the end of Matthew 25:31-46. Why does an angel come down from heaven with a key to unlock the bottomless pit in Revelation 9:1-2, if the pit was not already locked before that time? Are there wicked angels in the pit in Rev. 9:11? If the beast "ascends" from the pit in Rev. chapter 11, where was the beast before that time? Does your view agree with Peter in 2 Pet. 2:4, and Jude in Jude 1:6, when they both said wicked angels are already in chains of darkness? Revelation 9:14 proves some of the angels were previously bound in some manner. Because the two witnesses were bodily resurrected from the dead in Revelation 11, the "first resurrection" at the beginning of Revelation 20 is not the first bodily resurrection in the book. The principle of "Recapitulation" means there are multiple visions of His return.

@qwerty-so6ml

Ай бұрын

Jude 1:6 angels in chains of darkness = DNA chains. Welcome to your prison fallen angel. Only one Gospel: The Gospel of Reconciliation. Jesus Christ came into THEIR kingdom to reconcile fallen angels unto Himself. We are the fallen angels (ELOHIM) kept in DNA chains of darkness. If you do not confess being a fallen angel in Lucifer's kingdom, then you are an unbeliever. Unbeliever = those that claim to be made in the image of ELOHIM(gods). REPENT FALLEN ANGELS.