Unraveling the End A Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views

Unraveling the EndUnraveling the EndA Biblical Synthesis of Competing ViewsA Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views

““Few doctrines unite and separate Few doctrines unite and separate Christians as much as eschatology...Christians as much as eschatology...

...One of the most divisive elements in ...One of the most divisive elements in recent Christian history.”recent Christian history.”

Christianity TodayChristianity Today February 6, 1987; p-1-IFebruary 6, 1987; p-1-I

2 Guidelines2 Guidelines

1)1) Sola Scriptura Sola Scriptura

2)2) In LoveIn Love

Four ViewsFour Views(in order of prominence)(in order of prominence)

#1 – Premillennial (Dispensational)#1 – Premillennial (Dispensational)#2 – Amillennial#2 – Amillennial#3 – Postmillennial#3 – Postmillennial#4 – Preterist#4 – Preterist

Recap – 2 QuestionsRecap – 2 Questions

1)1) How much end-time prophecy was How much end-time prophecy was relevant to his original audience? relevant to his original audience?

• PremillennialistsPremillennialists, “none of it” or “little of , “none of it” or “little of it” was. it” was.

• AmillennialistsAmillennialists, “some of it” was. , “some of it” was. • PostmillennialistsPostmillennialists, “most of it” was. , “most of it” was. • PreteristsPreterists, “all of it” was relevant and , “all of it” was relevant and

fulfilled, right on time.fulfilled, right on time.• What do What do youyou say? say?

Recap – 2 QuestionsRecap – 2 Questions

2) 2) Who’s right? • Premillennialists – the very-soon future

fulfillment of all things. • Amillennialists – some past partial fulfillment

but mostly future fulfillment whose time we cannot know.

• Postmillennialists – a lot of past partial fulfillment but significant far-away future fulfillment.

• Preterists – past fulfillment of all things. • What do you think?

Early Church FathersEarly Church Fathers(2(2ndnd-4-4thth centuries) centuries)

• At least At least fourfour subscribed to a preterist (past subscribed to a preterist (past fulfillment) understanding that . . . fulfillment) understanding that . . .

• At least At least somesome of Jesus’ “all these things” of Jesus’ “all these things” (Mt. 24:34) had indeed (Mt. 24:34) had indeed occurredoccurred within the within the timetime spanspan Jesus had specified. Jesus had specified.

• i.e., “this generation.”i.e., “this generation.”

Athanasius – a preterist viewAthanasius – a preterist view

““And Jerusalem is to stand And Jerusalem is to stand till his comingtill his coming, and thenceforth, prophet , and thenceforth, prophet and vision cease in Israel…And this was why Jerusalem stood till and vision cease in Israel…And this was why Jerusalem stood till thenthennamely that there they might be exercised in the types as a namely that there they might be exercised in the types as a preparation for the reality…but preparation for the reality…but from that time forth all prophecy is from that time forth all prophecy is sealedsealed and the city and temple taken, why are they so irreligious and the city and temple taken, why are they so irreligious and so perverse as to see what has happened, and yet to deny and so perverse as to see what has happened, and yet to deny Christ, Christ, Who has brought it all to pass? …Who has brought it all to pass? …What then has not come to pass,What then has not come to pass, that the Christ must do? that the Christ must do? What is left unfulfilledWhat is left unfulfilled, that the Jews should , that the Jews should now disbelieve with impunity?”now disbelieve with impunity?”

Athanasius, Athanasius, Incarnation of the Word Incarnation of the Word, , Section 39 Verse 3, Section 40 Verses 1-7 Section 39 Verse 3, Section 40 Verses 1-7

in in The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 57-The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 57-58.58.

Athanasius – a preterist viewAthanasius – a preterist view

““For no longer were these things to be For no longer were these things to be done which belonged to Jerusalem which done which belonged to Jerusalem which is beneath…the is beneath…the things pertaining to that things pertaining to that time were fulfilledtime were fulfilled, and those which , and those which belonged to shadows had belonged to shadows had passed awaypassed away.”.”

Athanasius, Athanasius, The Festal LettersThe Festal Letters, Letter IV, in , Letter IV, in The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. The Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol.

4, 4, 516-517.516-517.

Tertullian – a preterist viewTertullian – a preterist view

““For Daniel says, that ‘both the holy city and the holy place are For Daniel says, that ‘both the holy city and the holy place are exterminated together with exterminated together with the comingthe coming Leader, and that the pinnacle Leader, and that the pinnacle is destroyed unto ruin.’ And so the is destroyed unto ruin.’ And so the times of the coming Christtimes of the coming Christ, the , the Leader, must be inquired into, which we shall trace in Daniel; and Leader, must be inquired into, which we shall trace in Daniel; and after computing them, shall after computing them, shall prove Him to be comeprove Him to be come, even on the , even on the ground of the times prescribed, of the consequences which were ground of the times prescribed, of the consequences which were ever announced as to follow His advent; in order that we may ever announced as to follow His advent; in order that we may believe allbelieve all to have been as well to have been as well fulfilled as foreseenfulfilled as foreseen. .

In such wise, therefore, did Daniel predict concerning Him, as to In such wise, therefore, did Daniel predict concerning Him, as to show both show both whenwhen and and in what timein what time He was to set the nations free; He was to set the nations free; and how, after the passion of Christ, that city had to be and how, after the passion of Christ, that city had to be exterminated! . . . . And thus, in the day of their storming, the Jews exterminated! . . . . And thus, in the day of their storming, the Jews fulfilledfulfilled the lxx hebdomads predicted in Daniel.” the lxx hebdomads predicted in Daniel.”

Tertullian, Tertullian, An Answer to the JewsAn Answer to the Jews, in , in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3, 158, 160.The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3, 158, 160.

Preterist Views Preterist Views of Four Early Church Fathers – Yet of Four Early Church Fathers – Yet • No creedNo creed or or confessionconfession of the undivided or of the undivided or

divided Church divided Church

• teaches or even recognizes that any kind teaches or even recognizes that any kind of of judgmentjudgment or or comingcoming

• or anything of or anything of eschatologicaleschatological significance significance

• occurred in association with the occurred in association with the destruction of Jerusalem in destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70A.D. 70..

“…“…the destruction of Jerusalem [A.D. 70]…the destruction of Jerusalem [A.D. 70]…certainly spelled the end of a crucial redemptive-certainly spelled the end of a crucial redemptive-historical epoch. It must be viewed as the end of historical epoch. It must be viewed as the end of some age. It also represents a some age. It also represents a significant significant visitationvisitation of the Lord in judgment and a vitally of the Lord in judgment and a vitally important ‘day of the Lord.’ Whether this was important ‘day of the Lord.’ Whether this was the the onlyonly day of the Lord about which Scripture day of the Lord about which Scripture speaks remains a major point of controversy speaks remains a major point of controversy among preterists.”among preterists.”

R.C. Sproul, The Last Days According to Jesus, 203.

Futurist Views Futurist Views of Early Church of Early Church Fathers

• Justin MartyrJustin Martyr• Papias Papias • Tertullian?Tertullian?• Irenaeus Irenaeus • Hippolytus Hippolytus • MethodusMethodus• CommodianusCommodianus• Lactantius.Lactantius.

Question:Question:

Who’s right?Who’s right?

• Premillers?Premillers?

• Amillers?Amillers?

• Postmillers?Postmillers?

• Preterists?Preterists?

Wondering?Wondering?

What’s my view?What’s my view?• Not Not any oneany one of the four. of the four.• All four.All four. • Or rather, Or rather, partsparts of all four. of all four.• Each has captured a Each has captured a portionportion of the of the truthtruth..• But each has also subscribed to a significant But each has also subscribed to a significant

amount of amount of errorerror. . • By By addingadding things that are things that are notnot from the from the BibleBible but but

from the from the traditions of mentraditions of men..

Begin Begin

the Unravelingthe Unraveling

ProcessProcess

Dissertation TopicDissertation Topic

““An Evaluation and Synthesis An Evaluation and Synthesis

of the Four Major Evangelical Views of the Four Major Evangelical Views

of the Return of Christ.”of the Return of Christ.”

My Dissertation Premise – My Dissertation Premise – Fourfold:Fourfold:

1.1. God is not the author of God is not the author of our confusionour confusion in in eschatology. eschatology. We areWe are. .

2.2. Each of the four views Each of the four views centers oncenters on the return of the return of Christ as the Christ as the pivotalpivotal and and controllingcontrolling end-time end-time eventevent..

3.3. Each view has principal Each view has principal strengthsstrengths and and weaknessesweaknesses can be identified through a can be identified through a scripturally disciplined approach grounded scripturally disciplined approach grounded upon what the text actually upon what the text actually sayssays and does and does not not say.say.

My Four Dissertation Premises:My Four Dissertation Premises:

4. 4. The solution would be a The solution would be a solution ofsolution of synthesissynthesis——discardingdiscarding the weakness, the weakness,

keepingkeeping the strengths, and the strengths, and synthesizingsynthesizing the strengths the strengths into oneinto one meaningful, meaningful, coherent, and consistent coherent, and consistent viewview that is that is more Christ-honoring, more Christ-honoring, Scripture-Scripture- authenticating, and faith-authenticating, and faith-validating validating than than any one viewany one view in and of in and of itself.itself.

Literature ReviewLiterature Review

““there has been little attempt there has been little attempt toto synthesizesynthesize the whole field of the whole field of prophecy . . . and there prophecy . . . and there is a great need for a is a great need for a synthetic studysynthetic study and and

presentationpresentation of Biblical prophecy.” of Biblical prophecy.”

J. Barton Payne, J. Barton Payne,

Encyclopedia of Biblical ProphecyEncyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy, , vivi. .

From J. Dwight Pentecost, From J. Dwight Pentecost,

Things to ComeThings to Come,, viii viii..


““The history of theology is all too often a long The history of theology is all too often a long exhibition of a exhibition of a desire to windesire to win. But we should . But we should understand that what we are working for in the understand that what we are working for in the midst of our difference is midst of our difference is a a solutionsolution—a solution—a solution that will give God the glory, that will be true to that will give God the glory, that will be true to the Bible, but will exhibit the love of God the Bible, but will exhibit the love of God simultaneously with his holiness.” simultaneously with his holiness.”

Frances A. Schaeffer, Frances A. Schaeffer,

The Great Evangelical DisasterThe Great Evangelical Disaster, 176-177., 176-177.


““the doctrine of the last things . . . [as] one of the the doctrine of the last things . . . [as] one of the leastleast developeddeveloped doctrines.” doctrines.”

““It may be . . . we have now reached that point in It may be . . . we have now reached that point in the history of dogma in which the doctrine of the the history of dogma in which the doctrine of the last things will receive last things will receive greater attentiongreater attention and be and be brought to brought to further developmentfurther development..

Louis Berkhof, Louis Berkhof,

The History of Christian DoctrinesThe History of Christian Doctrines, 267., 267.


““the one remaining the one remaining undevelopedundeveloped topic of topic of theology.”theology.”

Millard J. Erickson, Millard J. Erickson,

A Basic Guide to EschatologyA Basic Guide to Eschatology, 11., 11.


““the the searchsearch for truth can never be for truth can never be limitedlimited to the categories of a to the categories of a singlesingle modern modern school of thought.”school of thought.”

John Warwick Montgomery, John Warwick Montgomery,

The Suicide of Christian TheologyThe Suicide of Christian Theology, 177., 177.


““the the easiesteasiest approach . . . is to follow one’s approach . . . is to follow one’s ownown particular particular traditiontradition as the true view as the true view and and ignoreignore all others, but intelligent all others, but intelligent interpreters must interpreters must familiarizefamiliarize themselves themselves with the with the variousvarious methodsmethods of interpretation of interpretation that they may criticize their that they may criticize their own viewsown views.”.”

George Eldon Ladd, George Eldon Ladd,

A Theology of the New TestamentA Theology of the New Testament, 670. , 670.


““some some combinationcombination of the two ( of the two (preteristpreterist--futuristfuturist views)” offers “the most promising views)” offers “the most promising solutionsolution to the exegetical difficulties of this to the exegetical difficulties of this passage.” passage.”

David L. Turner, David L. Turner,

““The Structure and Sequence of Matthew 24:1-41: The Structure and Sequence of Matthew 24:1-41: Interaction with Evangelical Treatments,” Interaction with Evangelical Treatments,”

Grace Theological Journal Grace Theological Journal 10.1 (1989): 3, 26.10.1 (1989): 3, 26.


““BothBoth the futurist and preterist views have their the futurist and preterist views have their strengthsstrengths and and weaknessesweaknesses. Instead of choosing . Instead of choosing only one or the other, a ‘both/and’ approach that only one or the other, a ‘both/and’ approach that applies the applies the strengths of eachstrengths of each is a better is a better option. . . . option. . . .

CombiningCombining the preterist and futurist views allows the preterist and futurist views allows us to understand both that the message of us to understand both that the message of Revelation Revelation spokespoke directly to John’s directly to John’s own ageown age and and that it represents the that it represents the consummationconsummation of of redemptive history. . . .” redemptive history. . . .”


““The preterist position by itself The preterist position by itself failsfails to to understand that Revelation confronts the understand that Revelation confronts the modern readermodern reader with promises, challenges, and with promises, challenges, and choices that are choices that are similarsimilar, if not , if not identicalidentical to those to those faced by the book’s faced by the book’s original readersoriginal readers. The futurist . The futurist position by itself is prone to see Revelation as a position by itself is prone to see Revelation as a crystal ballcrystal ball with a literal timetable of events that with a literal timetable of events that will happen in the will happen in the futurefuture.”.”

David S. Dockery, David S. Dockery, ““Is Revelation Prophecy or History?” Is Revelation Prophecy or History?” Christianity TodayChristianity Today, 25 October 1999, 86., 25 October 1999, 86.


““We would be We would be mistakenmistaken if we merely weighed if we merely weighed the evidence, the evidence, chose onechose one, and , and ignoredignored the other the other two. The Spirit has something important to two. The Spirit has something important to tell us tell us in eachin each of the of the threethree traditional views of the traditional views of the millennium.”millennium.”

Stanley J. Grenz, Stanley J. Grenz,

““The 1,000-year Question: Timeless truths The 1,000-year Question: Timeless truths behind the debates over Christ’s return,” behind the debates over Christ’s return,” Christianity TodayChristianity Today, 8 March 1993, 35., 8 March 1993, 35.

The Great The Great End-time Fiasco End-time Fiasco

vs. vs. Divine PerfectionDivine Perfection

The ESSENCE of The ESSENCE of the Great End-time Fiascothe Great End-time Fiasco

Part 1Part 1 – Things that were supposed to – Things that were supposed to happen happen didn’t happendidn’t happen . . . . . .

as NT expectations proved as NT expectations proved falsefalse. .

Part 2Part 2 – So the Church – So the Church inventedinvented “delay “delay theory”—in direct theory”—in direct contradictioncontradiction of of Scripture. Scripture.

C.S. Lewis, essay, C.S. Lewis, essay, “The World’s Last Night” (1960)“The World’s Last Night” (1960)

“‘“‘Say what you like,’ we shall be told [by the skeptic], ‘the Say what you like,’ we shall be told [by the skeptic], ‘the apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been apocalyptic beliefs of the first Christians have been proved to be proved to be falsefalse. It is clear from the New Testament . It is clear from the New Testament that they that they all expectedall expected the the Second ComingSecond Coming in their own in their own lifetimelifetime. And, worse still, they had a reason, and one . And, worse still, they had a reason, and one which you will find very which you will find very embarrassingembarrassing. .

Their Their MasterMaster had had told told them so. He them so. He sharedshared, and indeed , and indeed created, their created, their delusiondelusion. He said in so many words, ‘. He said in so many words, ‘thisthis generationgeneration shall not pass till all these things be done.’ shall not pass till all these things be done.’ And He was And He was wrongwrong. He clearly knew no more about the . He clearly knew no more about the end of the world than anyone else.’ end of the world than anyone else.’

C.S. Lewis, essay, C.S. Lewis, essay, “The World’s Last Night” (1960)“The World’s Last Night” (1960)

““It is certainly the It is certainly the most embarrassingmost embarrassing verse in verse in the Bible. Yet how teasing, also, that within the Bible. Yet how teasing, also, that within fourteen words of it should come the statement fourteen words of it should come the statement ‘but of that day and that hour knoweth no man, ‘but of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.’ The one the Son, but the Father.’ The one exhibition of exhibition of errorerror and the one and the one confession of ignoranceconfession of ignorance grow grow side by side.”side by side.”

Delay TheoryDelay Theory

Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, 114Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, 114

““Delay of the ParousiaDelay of the ParousiaThe term The term ParousiaParousia refers to the refers to the second comingsecond coming of Christ. The of Christ. The delaydelay of the Parousia refers to the of the Parousia refers to the assumptionassumption by some New Testament scholars by some New Testament scholars that the first generation of Christians (A.D. 30-that the first generation of Christians (A.D. 30-70) believed that Christ would return 70) believed that Christ would return beforebefore their their deathsdeaths. When that . When that didn’t happendidn’t happen (i.e., when the (i.e., when the Parousia was Parousia was delayeddelayed), the early believers were ), the early believers were supposedly thrown into a supposedly thrown into a crisiscrisis of faith.” of faith.”


Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, 410, 115Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, 410, 115

“The delay reveals God’s patience and desire that many will come to repentance and faith….”

“Jesus provides strong hints that there could indeed be a delay between some of the immediate, partial fulfillment of his prophecies and the ultimate final fulfillment of his prophecies, particularly in regard to the Parousia.”


Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, 115Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times, 115

““Finally, the early church developed the Finally, the early church developed the already – not yetalready – not yet eschatological eschatological perspective in order to perspective in order to deal withdeal with the the delaydelay of the Parousia . . . . [between] Christ’s of the Parousia . . . . [between] Christ’s firstfirst coming . . . . [and] his coming . . . . [and] his secondsecond coming, coming, however short or long a time that entailed.”however short or long a time that entailed.”


Three Huge Biblical ProblemsThree Huge Biblical Problems 1.1. Amos 3:7Amos 3:7

2.2. Hab. 2:3; Ezek. 12:21-28; Heb. 10:37Hab. 2:3; Ezek. 12:21-28; Heb. 10:37

3.3. The wicked/evil servant – Matt. 24:42-51The wicked/evil servant – Matt. 24:42-51

(also see: Matt. 18:32; 25:26; Luke 19:22)(also see: Matt. 18:32; 25:26; Luke 19:22)

The Great The Great

End-time FiascoEnd-time Fiasco

vs. vs.

Divine PerfectionDivine Perfection

Divine PerfectionDivine PerfectionProposition #1Proposition #1

• The God of the Bible is the God of The God of the Bible is the God of orderorder and and designdesign. Everything He created He did . Everything He created He did so with a so with a planplan, , purposepurpose, , timeframetimeframe, and , and timely precisiontimely precision..

• The The stampstamp or or fingerprintfingerprint of divinity. of divinity.


““I cannot believe that God I cannot believe that God plays dice with the cosmos.”plays dice with the cosmos.”

Albert Einstein on quantum mechanics, published in the Albert Einstein on quantum mechanics, published in the London ObserverLondon Observer, April 5, 1964; also quoted as “God , April 5, 1964; also quoted as “God does not play dice with the world.” in does not play dice with the world.” in Einstein: The Life and Times, Ronald W. Clark, 19., Ronald W. Clark, 19.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380721481/


““The heavens declare the glory of God; The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands. the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.” night after night they display knowledge.”

(Psalm 19:1)(Psalm 19:1)


Macro EvidenceMacro Evidence

• 1990, the 1990, the HubbleHubble telescope. telescope.

• We live on a very We live on a very privilegedprivileged planet. planet.

• 122122 finely tuned, inter-dependent finely tuned, inter-dependent conditionsconditions or or constantsconstants have been have been identified. identified.

• the “Goldilocks” the “Goldilocks” storystory. .

• ““one chance in one chance in 1010 to the to the 138th138th.” .”


““conspiracyconspiracy . . . the product of a mind . . . . . . the product of a mind . . . an intelligent being . . . an intelligent being . . . a supremely a supremely good and orderly good and orderly creatorcreator . . . for . . . for ourour sake . . . . sake . . . .

the universe is the universe is orderedordered in an intelligent in an intelligent way.”way.”

Illustra Media, Illustra Media,

The Privileged PlanetThe Privileged Planet, , DVD.DVD.


Micro EvidenceMicro Evidence

• Electron microscope (invented in 1930)

• In 1996, Michael Behe, Ph.D.

• The publication of his best-selling book, Darwin’s Black Box.

• ““irreducible complexity.” irreducible complexity.”

““If it could be demonstrated that any If it could be demonstrated that any complex organcomplex organ existed which could existed which could notnot possibly have been possibly have been formedformed by numerous by numerous successive, slight modifications, successive, slight modifications, my theorymy theory would absolutely would absolutely break downbreak down.”.”

Charles Darwin, Charles Darwin, Origin of SpeciesOrigin of Species, 154., 154.

Behe then proceeded to do Behe then proceeded to do justjust thatthat. .

Re: “irreducible complexity”

“flows naturally from the data itself—not from sacred books or sectarian beliefs.”

[Michael Behe,

Darwin’s Black Box, 193.

““the result is so unambiguous and so the result is so unambiguous and so significant that it must be ranked as one of significant that it must be ranked as one of the greatest achievements in the history of the greatest achievements in the history of science.” science.”

““intelligent design”intelligent design”

Michael Behe,

Darwin’s Black Box, 232, 193.


So Who’s the Fool?So Who’s the Fool?

• ““Nothing times nobody plus random Nothing times nobody plus random change over billions of years equals change over billions of years equals everything in perfection.” everything in perfection.”

• ““In the beginning God created the heavens In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”and the earth.” (Gen. 1:1; also see Isa. 40:26-28). (Gen. 1:1; also see Isa. 40:26-28).



Like the old saw says: Like the old saw says:

““Two men looked through prison bars; Two men looked through prison bars;

One saw mud; the other saw stars.”One saw mud; the other saw stars.”

““The fool says in his heart, The fool says in his heart,

‘‘There is no God’” There is no God’” (Psa. 14:1; Isa. 53:1)(Psa. 14:1; Isa. 53:1)



“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal powers and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men [and women] are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:20)(Rom. 1:20)


• He created it all within a fixed and He created it all within a fixed and specified specified timeframetimeframe of “six days” of “six days”

(Gen. 1:1-2:3)(Gen. 1:1-2:3)• An ever increasing An ever increasing ironyirony keeps keeps

manifesting itself.manifesting itself.• The more amazing and baffling its

innermost workings appear. • “The New Apologetic.” • Another venue for us to explore.


• The same God of perfection in all his physical creation is the God of perfection in his plan of redemption.

• He created it with order and design, and a plan, purpose, and a fixed and specified timeframe.


• Progressively completed it with timely and mathematical precision.

• “when the time had fully come . . . to redeem those under the law” (Gal. 4:4)

• “at just the right time” (Rom. 5:6)

• “who gave himself as a ransom for all men – the testimony given in its proper time” (1 Tim. 2:6).


How we humans can How we humans can knowknow Who the Who the oneone truetrue God is: God is:

Isaiah. 44:6-8 Isaiah. 44:6-8

Also seeAlso see Isaiah 41:21-24; 42:8-9; Isaiah 41:21-24; 42:8-9;

45:20-22; 46:9-11; 48:3-645:20-22; 46:9-11; 48:3-6


• The God of the Bible The God of the Bible foretoldforetold—many times —many times and in many ways—what was going to and in many ways—what was going to happenhappen in the in the futurefuture. .

• And it And it allall happened. happened.

• No otherNo other god, faith, religion, or ideology in god, faith, religion, or ideology in the world the world can claimcan claim this. this.

• NorNor has anything to has anything to comparecompare with the with the validatingvalidating evidence of fulfilled prophecy. evidence of fulfilled prophecy.


• Everything Everything elseelse the God of the Bible the God of the Bible promised and prophesied via his prophets promised and prophesied via his prophets regarding his regarding his plan of redemptionplan of redemption

• (e.g., (e.g., savingsaving us human beings from us human beings from sinsin and and restoringrestoring our fellowship with Him) our fellowship with Him)

• AlsoAlso happened “at just the happened “at just the rightright time . . . in time . . . in its its properproper time.” time.”

Divine PerfectionDivine Perfection&&

The Appointed Time of the EndThe Appointed Time of the End

““For the revelation awaits an appointed For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; false. Though it linger, wait for it;

it will certainly come and will not delay.”it will certainly come and will not delay.”

(Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:3)2:3)

Next WeekNext Week

• The historical The historical settingsetting and defining and defining characteristiccharacteristic of the “time of the end.” of the “time of the end.”

• Two big Two big objections.objections.

• A dozen or more scriptural A dozen or more scriptural confirmations.confirmations.

• Following week – God’s divinely appointed Following week – God’s divinely appointed timeline.timeline.

Unraveling the EndUnraveling the EndA Biblical Synthesis of Competing ViewsA Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views

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Unraveling the End A Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views