In this post I come to the fourth reason why I hold to an Amillennial view of the end-times. It is this:
The
best understanding of tribulational language (that is a seven year period of
tribulation or two periods of 3.5 years) is that it is a figurative depiction
of a reality of suffering and tribulation for the Church that extends
throughout the inter-advent age (from the First Coming of Christ to his Second
Coming).[1] As such, a precedent is already set for
end-times events that span the age of the New Testament Church.
There are a
number of points that support this.
1. Regarding
the teaching of Daniel and how it relates to the tribulation, I believe this: In
the book of Daniel the faithful Israelites serve as a type of the ultimate
faithful man/person of God who trusts him, follows him, and remains faithful
even in the face of great evil and suffering. As such, they form types of
Christ (even to the point of Daniel being sealed for a time in the lion’s pit,
i.e. in the realm of death, and being raised and vindicated out of that (ch.
6). As such, the book of Daniel depicts the faithful as suffering for a time
and then being raised and vindicated (see 12:2-3). Such looks forward to
Christ, the coming Son of Man (cf. 7:13-14), with whom will come “an end to
sin,” and who will “atone for iniquity” (9:24). The sense seems to be, however,
that all who truly come to God in faith and who seek to follow his example of
living redemptively will suffer, yet will be vindicated in the future through
resurrection.
2. What point
#1 suggests is that the suffering of the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (the
little penultimate horn [8:9]) is a type of, i.e. it looks forward to more
ultimate suffering of an ultimate horn or opposition to God that precedes the
end of the end (cf. Daniel 7:24-26). The fact that the saints will be given
into the hands of the horn “a time, times, and half a time” (Dan. 7:25 [see
also 12:7, 11-12]), most likely is paradigmatic (see also Hos. 6:2)—looking
forward to the ultimate suffering of the Son of Man in behalf of the people of
God (cf. 1 Cor. 15:4), who would be under the power of death for this time,
before vindication.
3. Most
likely, as D. A. Caron, Scandalous:
The Cross And Resurrection Of Jesus, argues, the 3.5 year suffering
on the part of the Jews under Antiochus Epiphanes served as a traumatic
experience that generations after that time could not forget. It was similar to
our “9/11” here in the United States. If we were to say of future traumatic
events, “That was another 9/11,” we would all understand what is being said
about the level of pain, destruction, and difficulty. So it was with the 3.5
years in the 2nd century, B.C. To speak of other 3.5 years of
tribulation (and even that doubled as 7) was to speak of very difficult times
of trial and persecution.
4. In light
of points 1-3, the 3 ½ times x 2 (cf. Mt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14; 11:2, 9 [3.5
days—see Hos. 6:2]; 12:6, 14; 13:5-7) most likely depicts a long time of
suffering and desolation reminiscent of the typological tribulation under
Antiocus Epiphanes in the 2nd century B.C., as well as the fall of
Jerusalem under the Roman, Titus in AD 70 and following.
5. All of
this language, then, suggests that Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of
the suffering Son of Man, the Son of God, who will be vindicated and those who
are united to him also will suffer and be vindicated! Such is especially
supported by the same language of Daniel that is found in Revelation—to refer
to times, time, and half a time.
5. When the
best understanding of Daniel 9:20-27 (a key tribulation passage) is set forth,
it also appears that the Church is currently in the last 3.5 year period of
suffering/tribulation.
It appears, then, that the Tribulation
period is a time that runs concurrent with the present church age, that time between
the First and Second Coming of Jesus. If this is true, then it certainly would not
surprise us if another aspect of the end-times events (a 1,000 year of reign of
Christ and saints) is also figurative and runs concurrent with the same time.
[1] The seven years is arrived
at by seeing Rev. 12:6 and 12:14 as two different 3.5 year periods, along with
an understanding of Dan. 9:24-27 (esp. 27) that sees the Great Tribulation as either
a literal or figurative seven year period.
No comments:
Post a Comment