"The Revelation" by Oliver B. Greene

[greg]

(06-24-2012 10:06 AM)Darrell Wrote:  

Quote: What is the point of reading a work by an IFB'er of IFB's? Anything he pulls out of the scripture will either be wrong or borrowed from someone else without any credit given.

It's not so much the fundyness of it that bothers me but the general concept that we can look really, really closely in Scripture and be able to figure out a completely accurate timeline of events for the "last days."

The truth is that the Scriptures are unclear, confusing, and purposely enigmatic. And there's a reason for that imho, -- the details really don't matter. The big idea is "Jesus wins." Other than that the passages can be equally well "explained" (and abused) by pre-,post- and ,a-millennial positions because in the last analysis most of it requires a lot of guess work and assumption.

My current position is pan-millenial. It'll all pan out in the end. Surprise me. I can't think of a single reason that I need to obsess about the details.

I'm not really hoping to get a perfect timeline, maybe just clear up a couple of things that I personally have been wondering about.

Purposely enigmatic? I don't think so. Confusing and unclear, for sure, at least for me.

I have to think at least some of the details matter because why else say anything about them at all.

I won't be obsessing about any of the details.

[That'sWhatItSays]

I have never studied the history of Bob Jones extensively because it has nothing to do with my circle of fundyness, but I'm almost positive that there was a division between Oliver Greene and Bob Jones over......Independent Baptists. Bob Jones is NOT an historically Baptist institution; Bob Jones was a Methodist. BJU got their students from conservative, fundamental churches over the years, but they actually did not draw any Baptists from the beginning of the institution. It is now associated with the IFB because of changing church demographics over the years, so that the majority of their students in more recent time come from an IFB background, as that is the denomination that produces the most like-minded converts.

[That'sWhatItSays]

Yes, there are some very good lessons in Revelation, but the timing of when what happens where is very purposely obscured. It is written so those present shall know that God's word foretold all of it.

[paul]

(06-24-2012 11:14 AM)pastors wife Wrote:  Leaving, I should get rid of it! LOL But I'm also wondering if I should save it as proof, historical evidence.

Keep it in the church library and you can review the "check out" card every once in a while to see who might be eligible for church discipline.

[briceman]

(06-23-2012 08:00 PM)greg Wrote:  Knowledge about future events.

This is precisely the problem with modern day "prophecy scholars". The obsession with the future has distorted the historic 1st century understanding of Revelation. The events in the book HAVE happened (save the second advent and white throne judgement).

I'd recommend reading David Chilton's Paradise Restored, as it really opened my eyes in understanding Revelation much better.

[greg]

I did not finish the book. I was somwhat disappointed with the book.

The brief portion I had looked at initially , appeared to be going verse by verse, but once I started into it from chapter 1, the author states his beliefs right up front and then "attempts" to make the scriptures "fit into" his view of things, which of course we are all use to from our days in fundyland, and which I find really aggravating, based on my stance of "scripture only." Clearly Mr Greene was spouting things he had heard others say and was expanding on those things, what I was looking for was some "original" thinking, and this book simply wasn't it. There actually were a few "nuggets" but not enough to keep me interested.

[squiz]

Try this book:
Revelations: Visions, Prophecy, and Politics in the Book of Revelation - Elaine Pagels
http://www.amazon.com/Revelations-Vision...0670023345

Here is a review:
http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/bo...ntPage=all

I haven't read it myself yet, but it comes across as a much more sensible interpretation than those being discussed here.