Quote:
Originally Posted by Cassidy
Ohio,
Let me make sure I understand your belief about this. You believe that the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 have no prophetic significance and that the content of those letters is only referencing actual situations in those seven churches... nothing more.
Is that correct? If not, please clarify.
|
The Historical Ages Interpretation of the Churches of Revelation 2 and 3 is not new to Nee and Lee. It's a view held by C. I. Scofield, G.H. Pember, Andrew Miller (Church History) to name just a few. It's actually a theory that goes back to the late 3rd c., with Victorinus, Bishop of Pettau, who died in A. D. 303.
Basically, it's a theory. A popular theory, maybe, but a theory nonetheless.
Let us not forget that the book of Revelation was not written to us. It was written to believers back in the 1st c. when it was published. They would have understood the symbolism in ways we can't ever get at. We weren't there.
So this historical approach to Rev. 2 & 3 is likely just an anachronistic contrivance, or
Cargo Cult type reverse engineering, and shouldn't be considered authoritative.