Four Views on the Book of Revelation (Counterpoints: Bible and Theology)
<p><strong>Of all the books of the Bible, few are as fascinating or as intimidating as Revelation. </strong></p><p>Four grim horsemen, the Antichrist, the ten-horned beast, the ultimate battle at Armageddon, the "mark of the beast." It's no wonder that these images have griped the imagination of so many--and have been variously interpreted as symbolizing everything from Hitler and Gorbachev to credit cards and the Internet. </p><p>Is the book of Revelation a blueprint for the future? A book of powerful symbolic imagery with warnings for the church? Is it essentially an imaginative depiction of historical events in the first century? </p><p><em>Four Views on the Book of Revelation</em> explores four interpretations of the book of the Apocalypse:</p><ul><li>Preterist – a historical interpretation, arguing that most of John’s prophecies occurred in the first century, soon after his writing of them.</li><li>Idealist – a spiritual or symbolic interpretation, arguing that the events in Revelation are not literal, and that apocalyptic literature requires a different approach than the Gospels or Epistles.</li><li>Classical dispensationalism – a literal interpretation based on a reading of Revelation that pays close attention to the rules of grammar and the separate eras of covenantal history. </li><li>Progressive dispensationalism – a modification of classical that has its root in the understanding of Christ's reign beginning immediately after the resurrection.</li></ul><p><strong>The Counterpoints</strong><strong> series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.</strong></p><p> </p>