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chiam
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2003
Total Posts : 41

Posted 11/26/2003 5:42 PM (GMT -6)

How do Open Theist see Revelation and all of the prophecies:
- Isn't the book Revelation full prophecy--detailed at that?

John Earp
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1715

Posted 11/26/2003 7:01 PM (GMT -6)

quote:
Originally posted by chiam

How do Open Theist see Revelation and all of the prophecies:
- Isn't the book Revelation full prophecy--detailed at that?

Along with many other evangelicals, some Open Theists are amillenial or postmillenial.

For those of us like myself who are premillenial (though I do see some positive things in the other views of the millenium), the aspects of the Revelation of John which are yet future (chs. 4 on) are simply that part of the future which is settled. The Open View has never denied the truth that God is able to bring to pass anything He wishes.

"The Discovery of new truth will modify old views and opinions, and there is perhaps no end to this process with finite minds in any world." Charles G. Finney, Systematic Theology.

revivaltheology.net

victoryword
Registered Member

Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 181

Posted 12/8/2003 5:43 AM (GMT -6)

I am a closet Open Theist (that means I am somewhat of a coward in boldly proclaiming to the whole wide world that I am an Open Theist Eyebrow

). One day I plan to come out of the closet. Honest! I'll march in all of those "Open Theist" parades one day Big Smile

Anyway, I still remain a "pre-rapture" Christian.

I was really struggling with this book of Revelation thing and how it fits into the Open view. So far I have heard certain answers such as:

1. It part of the future that is already settled.
2. These are events in the mind of God that He plans to bring about.
3. These things are sealed up (Daniel) and are not yet revealed to us.
4. Some even advocates preterism and amillenialism

The last is probably the most recent explanation. What I am troubled with is the supposedly FREE-WILL actions of Satan, the beast, and the anti-Christ, the two witnesses, and other free will actions described in the book.

If God intends to bring about all of these free-will actions then this is similar to CALVINISM. If God simply knows what these free-will actions will be then this is exhaustive foreknowledge and affirms Arminianism. If God is just making "educated guesses" then our critics are correct. Peterism and amillenialism would seem to me to hurt the "warfare worldview" aspect of open theism since Satan is supposedly already bound (as far as my knowledge of amillenialism is concerned. Correct if I am wrong but didn't Augustine teach it this way?). If these things are still "sealed up" then then Rev. 1:3 and Rev. 22:9, 10 are meaningless. I would reject Open Theism before believing that any part of God's Word is meaningless.

However, I do not feel that there is any need to reject Open Theism since I find it consistent with the majority of Scripture. What I would challenge Open Theists to do is come up with better explanations for Revelation than what I have seen so far.

If your beliefs cannot be supported by Scripture, they ain't worth supporting
http://www.victoryword.100megspop2.com

GregBoyd
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 1818

Posted 12/8/2003 6:26 AM (GMT -6)

Many open theists hold to either a preterist or an idealist view of Revelation, and some (such as myself) hold to aspects of both. Most contemporary evangelicals are unaware of any view of Revelation other than the futuristic view... though this view is a minority view in Church history.

For a good survey fo the four most common views, see M. Pate, edi. Four Views on the book of Revelation (Zondervan).

Doc

"The responsibility is with the chooser -- God is blameless." Plato, Republic, 10.

honorman
Registered Member

Date Joined Oct 2002
Total Posts : 1137

Posted 12/8/2003 8:57 AM (GMT -6)

I hold the "pan" view... Big Smile

victoryword
Registered Member

Date Joined Apr 2003
Total Posts : 181

Posted 12/8/2003 9:22 AM (GMT -6)

quote:
Originally posted by honorman

I hold the "pan" view...

You mean it will all "pan out" in the end? Bandit

Dr. Boyd, thanks for the book suggestion.

If your beliefs cannot be supported by Scripture, they ain't worth supporting
http://www.victoryword.100megspop2.com

chiam
Registered Member

Date Joined Jul 2003
Total Posts : 41

Posted 12/8/2003 9:32 AM (GMT -6)

So the Idealist view doesn't see the book of Revelation as predicting any future events even from the time of the writing?

Chiam

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