Skip to content

Topics Research

Question

What are the strongest arguments against preterism, futurism, and idealism as interpretive frameworks for Revelation? Why does each fail to account for the evidence?

Topics

BABYLON

City of: - Built by Nimrod (GEN 10:10), in the land of Shinar (GEN 10:10; 11:2) - Tower of (GEN 11:1-9) - Capital of the kingdom of Babylon (DAN 4:30; 2KI 25:13; 2CH 36:6,7,10,18,20) - Gates of (ISA 45:1,2; JER 51:58), Walled (JER 51:44,58), Splendor of (ISA 14:4) - Peter writes from (1PE 5:13) - Prophecies concerning: PSA 87:4; 137:8,9; ISA 13; 14:4-26; 21:1-10; 46:1,2; 47; 48:14,20; JER 21:4-10; 25:12-14; 27:1-11; 28:14; 32:28; 34:2,3; 42:11,12; 43; 46:13-26; 49:28-30; 50; 51; EZK 21:19; 26; 29:17-20; 30:10; 32:11; DAN 2:21-38; 4:10-26; 5:25-29; 7; HAB 1:5-11; ZEC 2:7-9

Figurative: REV 14:8; 16:19; 17; 18

Empire of: - Founded by Nimrod (GEN 10:10) - Called LAND OF SHINAR, SHESHACH (JER 25:26; 51:41), MERATHAIM (JER 50:21) - Extent at time of Nebuchadnezzar (DAN 2:37,38; 4:1; 6:1) - Prophetic denunciations against: PSA 137:8,9; ISA 13; 14:21; 43:14-17; 47; JER 50; 51

PROPHECY

  • Inspired: ISA 28:22; LUK 1:70; 2TI 3:16; 2PE 1:21
  • Sure fulfillment: EZK 12:22-25,28; HAB 2:3; MAT 5:18; 24:35; ACT 13:27,29
  • Publicly proclaimed (JER 11:6); Exemplified in pantomime (EZK 4; 5:1-4; ACT 21:11)
  • Proof of God's foreknowledge (ISA 43:9)
  • OT Messianic passages quoted in NT: Extensive list from GEN 12:3 through MAL 4:5,6
  • Miscellaneous fulfilled prophecies: From birth of Josiah through destruction of ship in Acts 27

CHURCH

  • Designations: BODY OF CHRIST (EPH 1:22,23; COL 1:24); BRIDE OF CHRIST (REV 21:9); ISRAEL OF GOD (GAL 6:16); HOLY NATION (1PE 2:9); KINGDOM OF GOD (MAT 6:33; 12:28); GOLDEN CANDLESTICK (REV 1:20); HEAVENLY JERUSALEM (GAL 4:26; HEB 12:22); NEW JERUSALEM (REV 21:2)
  • Unity: PSA 133:1; JHN 10:16; ROM 12:4,5; 1CO 10:17; GAL 3:26-28; EPH 1:10; 2:14-19; 4:4-6; COL 3:11,15
  • Prophecies of prosperity: GEN 12:3; 49:10; PSA 2:8; DAN 2:35,44,45; 7:13,14,18,22,27; MIC 4:1-7; REV 11:15
  • Seven churches: REV 1:4,13,20; 2:1-6,8,12,18; 3:1,7,14
  • Christ head of: PSA 118:22,23; ISA 33:22; MAT 21:42,43; EPH 1:10,22,23; 2:20-22; COL 1:13,18
  • Extent predicted: ISA 2:2; EZK 17:2; DAN 2:34,35

ISRAEL

  • Name given to Jacob (GEN 32:24-32; 2KI 17:34; HOS 12:3,4)
  • Name of the Messiah in prophecy (ISA 49:3)
  • Descendants of Jacob, a nation -- tribes named after sons of Jacob
  • Names seen in John's vision on gates of New Jerusalem (REV 21:12)
  • Number in John's apocalyptic vision (REV 7:1-8)
  • History from Egypt through wilderness, judges, united kingdom, divided kingdom, captivity
  • Under the kings before separation; revolt of ten tribes

JUDGMENT

  • The General: 1CH 16:33; JOB 14:17; DAN 7:9,10; MAT 25:1-46; REV 1:7; 6:15-17; 11:18; 20:11-15; 22:12
  • According to opportunity and works: PSA 62:12; EZK 18:20-28; ROM 2:5-12; 2CO 5:10; REV 2:23; 20:12,13

TIME

  • Beginning of (GEN 1:1,14)
  • Daniel's reckoning of time, and times, and half times (DAN 7:25; 12:7)
  • One day is like one thousand years (2PE 3:8)
  • Fullness of (GAL 4:4; EPH 1:10)
  • End of (JOB 26:10; REV 10:6)

CATHOLICITY

  • Liberality of religious sentiment
  • Inculcated: MRK 9:38-41; LUK 9:49,50; ACT 10:1-48; 11:17,18; 15:1-31; ROM 1:1-7,14-16; 3:20-31; 4:1-25; GAL 3:27,28; EPH 2:14-17; COL 3:11-15

Key Observations for This Study

  1. BABYLON topic includes both literal/historical and figurative uses -- REV 14:8; 16:19; 17; 18 are listed as "FIGURATIVE" uses, distinct from the literal city/empire
  2. CHURCH topic applies Israel identity titles (Israel of God, Holy Nation, Kingdom of God) to the church, directly relevant to futurism's Israel/Church distinction
  3. PROPHECY topic emphasizes sure fulfillment (EZK 12:22-25,28; HAB 2:3) and proof of God's foreknowledge (ISA 43:9), relevant to idealism's claim that prophecy lacks specific referents
  4. TIME topic specifically includes Daniel's "time, times, and half a time" (DAN 7:25; 12:7) and the day-as-thousand-years principle (2PE 3:8), directly relevant to prophetic time periods
  5. JUDGMENT topic includes the progression from DAN 7:9,10 through REV 20:11-15, showing a sequence from investigation to final execution