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Robert H. Mounce President Emeritus of Whitworth | Worked on NIV, NIrV, NLT, ESV |
“The major problem with the preterist position is that the decisive victory portrayed in the latter chapters of the Apocalypse was never achieved.. If this is not to be, then either the Seer was essentially wrong.. or his work was so hopelessly ambiguous that its first recipients were all led astray”
TheologicalStudies.org.uk: Eschatology – Doctrine of Last Things New Addition: Robert H. Mounce, “Pauline Eschatology and the Apocalypse,” Evangelical Quarterly 46.3 (July-Sept. 1974): 164-166. (listed under ‘M’) // Direct PDF Link: http://www.biblicalstudies
(On Preterist View)
“The great merit of the preterist approach is that it understands and interprets the plight of the first-century church in terms of the crisis that had developed at that particular time. By not relegating the book to some future period the encouragements to the church as well as the warnings to “those who dwell upon the earth” are taken with immediate seriousness” (The Book of Revelation, 1977, 27).
“The major problem with the preterist position is that the decisive victory portrayed in the latter chapters of the Apocalypse was never achieved. It is difficult to believe that John envisioned anything less than the complete overthrow of Satan, the final destruction of evil, and the eternal reign of God. If this is not to be, then either the Seer was essentially wrong in the major thrust of his message or his work was so hopelessly ambiguous that its first recipients were all led astray” (The Book of Revelation, 1977, 27)
(On the Double-Fulfillment Theory)
“It will be better to hold that the predictions of John, while expressed in terms reflecting his own culture, will find their final and complete fulfillment in the last days of history. Although John saw the Roman Empire as the great beast that threatened the extinction of the church, there will be in the last days an eschatological beast who will sustain the same relationship with the church of the great tribulation. It is this eschatological beast, portrayed in type by Rome, that the Apocalypse describes. Otto Piper notes that many modern interpreters overlook the distinction between the historical fulfillment of prophecy and its eschatological fulfillment. The pattern of imperceptible transition from type to antitype was already established by the Olivet Discourse, in which the fall of Jerusalem becomes in its complete fulfillment the end of the age.” (The Book of Revelation, 1977, p. 30)
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID
(On Early Date of Revelation)
“the Cambridge trio (Westcott, Lightfoot, and Hort) were unanimous in assigning the Apocalypse to the reign of Nero or the years immediately following.” And “such a threefold cord of scholarly opinion is not quickly broken” but that he (Swete) is “unable to see that the historical situation presupposed by the Apocalypse contradicts the testimony of Irenaeus which assigns the vision to the end of the reign of Domitian.” Mounce seems to agree with Swete on this (p. 21). “
What do YOU think ?
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Date: 03 Mar 2006
Time: 08:09:14
Comments:
Fortunately, an eschatological reality is the responsibility of God, The Father of Jesus Christ. In His mysterious revelation through John, even with the wisdom of The Holy Spirit today, Deut. 29:29 still applies. It will be so until the Parousia. I say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” …and put an end to this foolish conjecture. As evangelical, practicing Christians we must allow for the Mystery and Silence of Scripture to to bring us to the foot of the Cross and Trust God for His provisions. (unless we must make a living as a theologian)
Date: 09 Jan 2007
Time: 17:18:45
Comments:
If I were only able to chose between scholars on this view, I would think that Mounce has had to stand on the shoulders of Hort, Wescott and Lightfoot!
Date: 19 Dec 2010
Time: 22:34:30
Your Comments:
Unfortunately, there are people who misinterpret what Peter says about the events, he says “this is what Joel was talking about for these last days” he DOES NOT say, “this fulfills what Joel said”. As was the custom for New Testament events representing Old Testament Scripture.
That means all of that Holy Spirit activity is for “these last days” meaning, until Jesus returns. Acts is an inauguration, not a fulfillment of Holy Spirit activity.