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Who’s Who in Revelation

In recent Revelation studies in church the view was taken that the people of God described in Ch 4-20 is the Christian church. For those brought up with a dispensational understanding of the book this view is probably unusual, and not a little heretical. The following article attempts to persuade that it is the view indicated by the book itself.

The dispensational understanding of Revelation believes that Jesus takes the church to heaven at the beginning of Ch 4 (the rapture) and that the people of God from 4-20 is national Israel and those in the nations who are loyal to her now persecuted by the rest of the world.

This belief is deeply embedded and not an easy one to change. To begin with it requires intellectually a significant perspective shift. This shift is unlikely to take place without a willingness to study the book in some depth and to accept that other views may possibly be right; there is an intellectual barrier to the former and an emotional barrier to the latter. The Christian raised on a dispensationalist view of Revelation has two great fears that make him reluctant to question his belief. Firstly he has a natural horror of the 'great tribulation' with which Ch 4-20 deals and has no desire to think of this as something he may personally experience; non-dispensationalist understanding of the book teaches the church experiences this tribulation. Secondly, he has almost certainly been taught that a 'post-tribulation rapture' view of Revelation is heretical and consequently fears that even examining it is flirting with heresy if not apostasy. It is not easy to convince him that dispensational teaching has the least pedigree historically and that the vast majority of Christians for the vast majority of church history have held a quite different view. In addition, to embrace another view of prophecy is likely to make him persona non grata with his fellowship and so socially there is pressure to conform.

Is it worth invading another believer's theological comfort zone and trying to convince him he (speaking generically of course) is mistaken?

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About John

Hi there - I am a member of Greenview and have been for over 20 years. For a number of these years I functioned as an elder, however, indifferent health forced me to take more of a back seat. I see this as an opportunity to do a little writing, often focussing on issues that are a matter of evangelical debate today. Naturally the views expressed are my own and may not reflect the views of the elders or church at large, though differences are likely to be in the detail and not the substance.

These articles and sermons were written partly to clarify my own thoughts and partly with the intention of provoking thought in others who may read them. If you read one I hope you find it stimulating. Please feel free to give me feedback or discuss my articles in the forums.

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