Teaching Eschatology (when you aren't sure what's right)

[Guest]

I am a Sunday School teacher for adults at my Church. I had never really understood eschatological issues real well, but I thought I had the main ideas down pretty well.
Then I got on Steve's audio series a few months back and discovered the partial preterist position and initially it made a lot of sense. I was totally sold on it after listening to the lectures. Then I presented this to my pastor and explained it as well as I could. He did not have all the answers to my troubles with dispensational eschatology, however he presented me with problems for my newly accepted approach of partial preterism. Then I prayed about it and felt that I should not further go into partial preterism.

So I tried to discover the truth from the dispensational side. Truthfully, I was very disappointed. There is so much that is just expected to be taken for granted by those that teach that way and I am a little more suspect of their position than most of their listeners I suppose.


And when I brought several OT passages concerning the Millenial Kingdom on this forum, I received answers but none really satisfactory. The spiritualization of some passages just seems very unnatural and strange. I also see that we as Christians are to escape a coming judgement that apparently is not 70 AD..
Luke 21:34-36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
(KJV)



So here's my problem...As the adult Sunday School teacher I go by a book that is required in my particular denomination. It more or less gives the subject matter and I do my own research. Normally I don't have so much trouble over these subjects but I don't know how to approach the teaching of Revelation we will begin in August.

Without a discussion starting over different eschatological stances, could I get some advice in how to approach teaching when I'm scared to death that I could be teaching wrong. How can I make it informative and not just make people as confused as I am?

I appreciate any input

God bless

[Guest]

"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." James 3:1

My advice is that if you are teaching something that you have doubts about, don't do it. Instead, why not be honest and tell your students something along the lines of, "This is what the handout teaches, but I have doubts about certain points."

What I think would be most rewarding, for you and your students, would be to examine the various viewpoints together in an atmosphere of open and honest dialog. This may not be permitted by your denomination, however. If you did take this approach, I've heard that some guy wrote a book which is a parallel commentary on the four views of Revelation , which might be a good resource.

[Guest]

Hi Aaron, Assuming your committed to teaching this class then perhaps you could say that "this is our church's position on eschatology but there are other acceptable interpretations" etc without giving your personal opinions since you are undecided.
I've learned a lot from listening to Steve but beyond his knowledge a couple of things that impressed me were
1. It's OK not to know.
2. It's OK not to have an opinion.

Btw have you ever considered the Historicist approach to Revelation?

[Guest]

That's just the thing, Mort,
I can't really promote the partial preterist view in my Church, and I don't particularly buy into that point of view. But I do have problems with things that my denomination just accepts from the dispensational view as well.

I suppose I will present the strong points of dispensational teaching and those things that are a little weak (if not ridiculous) I will try to subtly reveal their weaknesses.

I feel I have been called to teach and I want to do it right. I don't want to say that dispensational teaching is flawless and tell them to believe all the sensationalism there is out there. In fact I'd like to warn against it.

I guess this is just the most troubled I've been about teaching a particular subject from the Bible. I usually feel pretty confident that I am teaching the right thing but this particular subject leaves me second guessing in so many areas.

I do believe that the Bible teaches of a tribulation period. I don't know if it's seven years because the one passage that makes it seven years is blurry for the dispensational view and the preterist view as well in my opinion.

I do not believe the 7 churches are church ages (as I've always been told) They could be but I don't see any reason why they would be.

I don't believe that when Jesus said some would be still living when the Kingdom came - that He was referring to the transfiguration.

It's things like those that bother me about the dispensational position.
But I agree mostly with dispensationalism.

Just pray for me please (even if you disagree with me)

Thank you all.

[Guest]

Just pray for me please (even if you disagree with me)

Will do!

[Guest]

Btw have you ever considered the Historicist approach to Revelation?

I'm not even really sure what it is.
From what I gather it says that all the book is symbolizing all of the church age....
That (at first thought) doesn't resonate real well with me. I could be wrong though

[Guest]

I'm not even really sure what it is.
From what I gather it says that all the book is symbolizing all of the church age....
That (at first thought) doesn't resonate real well with me. I could be wrong though

Each church represents a period of time throughout the church age. The last church is Laodecia and if you read it's description it sounds like today's age. It's the most flexible approach because it allows for an endtime tribulation but it's not forced to meet the requirements of dispensationalism.

[Guest]

I'm not even really sure what it is.
From what I gather it says that all the book is symbolizing all of the church age....
That (at first thought) doesn't resonate real well with me. I could be wrong though

Each church represents a period of time throughout the church age. The last church is Laodecia and if you read it's description it sounds like today's age. It's the most flexible approach because it allows for an endtime tribulation but it's not forced to meet the requirements of dispensationalism.

The problems I have with that is that there is nothing to indicate that He is speaking of ages, but rather that He is speaking to actual churches.
Also it seems to me that if we consider this church age to be the lazy Laodceian age....we are not taking into consideration many parts of the world where being a Christian is to risk your life and so you would not at all be considered a lazy Christian.
Seems to me that you could place yourself, your church, your region in the 2nd and 3rd chapter into what Revelation church best fits your situation.
I may be wrong. I know the Bible sometimes speaks on things that symbolize things without saying so (such as Isaac and Rebekah seem to be a symbol of Christ and the Church although it isn't mentioned to be so)
I just don't really see enough proof that the 7 Churches represent ages to make that my position at the moment.

[Guest]

My suggestion would be to give the four prominent views of Revelation. Your going to find out that your students are going to have their own understanding anyway and most likely they are not so sure of that. By presenting the four views this will give everyone a chance to study and discover if anyone of these views best suits them. I do believe there is only one truth, but this side of eternity we have to use what is available.


Revelation - Four Views
Edited by Steve Gregg
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 75-2265613

[Guest]

Hey Aaron,

I just recently taught through the book of Matthew (just finished Monday in fact). When I was in Matthew 24, I told my class that I would teach them all that I know from both views of this chapter but I wouldn't reveal what my view was. It worked out great and I really don't think I revealed my leanings. You probably do not have that luxury since you are sort of representing your denomination in the class, but I would agree with the others here that it's best just to be honest and approach it with a "let's learn this together" mentality. You might start by asking the question:

"How would your Christian life be different if you believed in the _____ view?" (answered for each view).

You might get a variety of answers, but if you ask again at the end of the series, the answer should be pretty much the same because the great commission and call to obedience is the same for all Christians regardless of where they come down on this. The imminence of meeting Jesus is a reality for all whether in rapture or death.

In other words, it should be emphasized that it matters very little comparitively speaking. That might relax folks a bit (or not).

Lord bless your efforts.