Revelation Review chapters 1-13
September 13, 2026
Because we have been on a summer break for two months, Ed provided the class a great overview of where we have been in our studies thus far – Revelation 1-13. He advised that we should read chapter 13 from verse 11 to the end to be prepared for next week’s class.
__________________
FOUR MAJOR VIEWS OF REVELATION
1. PRETERIST — “Most of it has already happened.”
Revelation primarily describes events surrounding the early church, Roman persecution, and/or the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Prominent advocate: R. C. Sproul (Partial Preterism)
2. HISTORICIST — “It unfolds throughout church history.”
Revelation prophetically describes major events and movements throughout the history of the Church, from the first century until Christ’s return.
Prominent advocate: Martin Luther (and many Protestant Reformers)
3. FUTURIST — “Most of it is still to come.”
Most of Revelation 4–22 describes future events associated with the Tribulation, Antichrist, Second Coming of Christ, Millennium, final judgment, and eternal state.
Prominent advocate: John F. Walvoord
4. IDEALIST — “It portrays timeless spiritual realities.”
Revelation uses symbolic imagery to portray the continuing conflict between Christ and Satan, the Church and the world, and the ultimate victory of God.
Prominent advocate: William Hendriksen
Easy way to remember them:
Preterist: PAST
Historicist: HISTORY
Futurist: FUTURE
Idealist: TIMELESS TRUTH
FOUR MAJOR VIEWS OF THE RAPTURE
1. PRE-TRIBULATION — “The Church is raptured before the Tribulation.”
Christ removes the Church before the seven-year Tribulation begins. The Church is therefore not present on earth during the Tribulation.
Key passages: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52; Revelation 3:10
Prominent advocate: John F. Walvoord
2. MID-TRIBULATION — “The Church is raptured halfway through the Tribulation.”
The Church remains on earth during the first 3½ years and is raptured before the latter 3½ years of intense judgment.
Key passages: Daniel 7:25; 9:27; Revelation 11:2–3; 12:6
Prominent advocate: Norman B. Harrison
3. PRE-WRATH — “The Church is raptured before God pours out His final wrath.”
The Church experiences part of the end-times Tribulation and persecution but is removed before the outpouring of God’s eschatological wrath.
Key passages: Matthew 24:21–31; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9; Revelation 6:12–17
Prominent advocate: Marvin Rosenthal
4. POST-TRIBULATION — “The Church is raptured at the end of the Tribulation.”
The Church remains on earth throughout the Tribulation. The Rapture occurs in connection with Christ’s visible Second Coming.
Key passages: Matthew 24:29–31; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4
Prominent advocate: George Eldon Ladd
THREE MAJOR VIEWS OF THE MILLENNIUM
1. PREMILLENNIALISM — “Christ returns BEFORE the Millennium.”
Jesus physically returns to earth and then establishes His millennial kingdom. Revelation 20:1–6 is understood as describing a future reign of Christ.
Order:
Church Age → Christ Returns → Millennium → Final Judgment → Eternal State
Key passage: Revelation 20:1–10
Prominent advocates: George Eldon Ladd; John F. Walvoord
Important: Premillennialists disagree about the Rapture. Dispensational premillennialists generally hold a pretribulation Rapture, while historic premillennialists generally do not.
2. AMILLENNIALISM — “There is no future literal 1,000-year earthly kingdom.”
The “thousand years” of Revelation 20 is understood symbolically as Christ’s present reign during the Church Age. Christ returns once, followed by resurrection, final judgment, and the eternal state.
Order:
Church Age / Millennium → Christ Returns → Resurrection & Final Judgment → Eternal State
Key passage: Revelation 20:1–10
Prominent advocate: Augustine of Hippo
3. POSTMILLENNIALISM — “Christ returns AFTER the Millennium.”
The gospel progressively triumphs throughout the world, producing an extended period of widespread righteousness and Christian influence before Christ returns.
Order:
Church Age → Gospel Triumph / Millennium → Christ Returns → Final Judgment → Eternal State
Key passages: Psalm 2; Matthew 28:18–20; 1 Corinthians 15:25
Prominent advocate: Jonathan Edwards
EASY WAY TO REMEMBER
RAPTURE = When is the Church caught up?
Pre-Trib: BEFORE the Tribulation
Mid-Trib: MIDDLE of the Tribulation
Pre-Wrath: BEFORE God’s final wrath
Post-Trib: AFTER the Tribulation
MILLENNIUM = When does Christ return in relation to the Millennium?
PREmillennial: Christ returns BEFORE it.
Amillennial: The Millennium represents Christ’s present reign rather than a future literal 1,000-year earthly kingdom.
POSTmillennial: Christ returns AFTER it.
Leave a Reply