# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S359 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS—COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND CHURCH RELATIONS 359 Answer: Christians look forward to the new heavens and new earth, restored without the taint of sin and within the living pres- ence of God. Study Five: The Book of Revelation and Summary How to Read the Book of Revelation Left Behind understands the Book of Revelation as a chrono- logical book that sequentially explains a series of events. This lin- ear way of reading the Book of Revelation, however, creates several problems for proponents and adherents of the Left Behind view. It requires, for example, that Jesus return more than once, and it also forces one to explain how the world apparently ends more than once. Left Behind contends that, after the letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2-3), Revelation depicts the events of seven years of tribulation on earth. At this time a kingdom of ten confederated kingdoms arises and is led by the Antichrist. At first he makes a covenant with the Jews (in Left Behind, the state of Israel), but in the middle of the seven years he breaks this covenant and begins persecuting the Jews. From these persecuted Jews, 144,000 come to faith in Christ and begin to convert many Gentiles. Toward the end of the seven-year tribulation, a great battle called Armageddon takes place. After Armageddon, Christ returns and destroys His en- emies. Believers then enjoy a thousand years of blessings as they rule with Christ on the earth. Toward the end of the millennium, Sa- tan is let loose for his “little season” (Rev. 20:3, 7). This is followed by Christ’s final return to usher in the new heavens and the new earth. This linear reading of the Book of Revelation forces its events to fit a chronological order. The author of Revelation, however, intends that the book’s con- tents be read as a reoccurring cycle of events. (In the Old Testa- ment, Joseph’s dreams are repeated for emphasis [Gen. 37:5-10; 41:14-32]. Similarly, Jesus repeats the same point in several dif- ferent parables in order to drive home His message [e.g., Matthew 13; Luke 15]). Seen in this way, the Book of Revelation presents a series of visions depicting the same time period from different an- gles, and each cycle of visions increases in intensity. The six visions of the end times in Revelation are a highly figurative description of events that will take place between the first and second comings of Christ. They are as follows: (1) the seven seals (6:1—-8:5); (2) the seven trumpets (8:6~—1 1:19); (3) the church and Satan (12:1-14:20); (4) the seven bowls (15:1-16:21): (5) the overthrow of Babylon (17:1-19:21); and (6) the binding of Satan and his destruction (20:1-15). Questions for Discussion 1. From the viewpoint of Left Behind, the Antichrist will be a world political leader. What does the Bible teach concerning the An- tichrist? (2 Thess. 2:3-12; 1 John 2:18; Rev. 13:11-18) Answer: The Antichrist is not primarily a political figure, nor even a single person. Rather, it is an entity that spreads false doc- trine. Any teaching (and especially purported Christian teaching) that does not clearly proclaim salvation by Christ alone through faith alone is untrue to the biblical revelation and therefore demonstrates characteristics of the Antichrist. 2. How is the millennium of Rev. 20:1-10 correctly understood? Answer: On pages 18-19, the CTCR report A Lutheran Response to the “Left Behind” Series outlines the biblical use of numbers in apocalyptic literature in Scripture. When the 1000 years of the millennium are understood properly, Rev. 20:1—10 refers to the same events as pictured in the first six visions in Revelation (see above)—namely, the first and second comings of Jesus. 3. What is the “kingdom of God”? (Matt. 12:28; John 18:36; Rom. 14:17) Answer: The kingdom of God is the reign of Christ. As such, it is a kingdom that is really present now in His Word and sacra- ments. It is also a kingdom that has yet to be manifested in its full glory. The church, therefore, lives within this tension of “the kingdom now, but not yet” (see 1 John 3:2; Rev. 1:5-6). 4. Instead of examining world events and trying in vain to find verses in the Bible that match them so that one may be “rapture ready” and escape suffering, how does the Bible approach the role of suffering—both in this world and in the life of the Chris- tian? (Luke 13:1—5; 21:12-13; 1 Cor. 1:8; 2 Cor. 12:1-10)? Answer, Much of the suffering that Christians endure now is part of the persecution by the world that the baptized are taught to ex- pect. Suffering also provides them an opportunity to be a witness to the sure and certain hope that is theirs in Christ alone (see also Mark 13:9; Acts 14:21-22; Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:3-7; 3:13-17). 5. What is the intended mission of the church? (Matt. 28:18—20; 24:36; 1 Cor. 1:22—23; 1 Thess. 5:2; Rev. 22:12—20) Answer: Answer: The church’s mission is to proclaim the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection for the salvation of peo- ple, not to look for signs. Rather than looking for signs, the church is to recognize that Christ may return at any time. In view of this fact, believers are to have a sense of urgency for the task of spreading the Gospel “as long as it is day,” since the “night is coming” (John 9:4). The apocalyptic sections of the Bible (like the Book of Revelation) are sources of great strength. From them Christians derive joy, peace, and comfort, knowing that the suf- ferings encountered in this life do not compare with the glories of the life to come (Rom. 8:18). 6. What is the central truth of the apocalyptic writings of the Bible, and in- deed, the whole of Scripture? (Luke 24:25~-27, 44; John 5:39, 46; 2 Cor. 1:19-20) Answer: Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world is the chief teaching of Scripture and the true source of Christian joy and confidence. Therefore, He is the interpretive key to all of Scripture, Old and New Testaments. All biblical rev- elation converges on Christ and must be viewed in light of Him and His saving work. Summary The principal points made in this Bible study may be summa- rized as follows: It is bad to teach that Christ must come now. It is worse to teach that Christ cannot come yet. It is worst of all to teach that Christ will not come again. All of these views are contrary to Scripture. * There will be no further opportunity for salvation after Christ’s second (and final) coming. « The rapture and the second coming of Christ are the same event. * Christ is reigning now, and so are all believers. * The concept of an earthly millennium contradicts the Bible, the three ecumenical creeds (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasian), and the consistent position of the Christian church throughout history. * God’s promises to and for Old Testament Israel have been ful- filled in Christ and in the church. * The New Testament—not current events—is the interpretive key to understanding the Old Testament. « The second coming of Jesus will be the end of this age, not its be- ginning. * The entire Bible points to Jesus as the “super sign” that God’s promises have been fulfilled. Glossary* Amillennialism: The teaching espoused in this document that believes there will be no (‘‘a’”’) literal thousand (mille) year visible earthly kingdom of Jesus. This view is better termed “realized millennialism” because it embraces the idea that Christ is reigning now (Matt. 28:18-20). The “thousand years” of Rev. 20:1—10 is taken figuratively as a reference to 2007 Convention Workbook