Exclusive: Developing a Christian World View: An Overview
Posted on Monday, September 02 @ 07:19:48 PDT by Mickey Denen |
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by Mickey Denen
One of the most powerful dimensions of the preterist view of scripture is its application to daily life. We live in a fulfilled kingdom, where God exercises sovereign rule over a recreated world, Revelation 21:5, And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 22.3 describes three attributes of this kingdom: 1) there will no longer be any curse, 2) the throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and 3) His bond-servants will serve Him. These three elements define what ought to be normative in the life of a Christian. A fuller understanding of these three attributes makes sense of the whole of reality.
The Greek word used in Revelation 22.3 for curse is katadunasteuo, which in the New Testament is always used figuratively. It literally means to enslave in a secular context or a religious one. In the religious sense, Galatians 3.13 seems help us understand that we have been freed from the curse of sin that came through the Law, but may also have had a historical meaning related to the freedom from religious persecution that Christians experienced after God judged Israel in the destruction of Jerusalem. The secular context is best understood from a historical perspective. Wallace points out,
In the period of tribulation there had been the edict for the worship of the emperor in bowing to the Ceasar-image, and all who refused submission were placed under the imperial curse. Having come out of the tribulation, the persecutors cast into the brimstone lake, the victors over oppression were symbolized as delivered from the curse of the imperial edict.
So we see that John’s audience was to expect freedom from slavery in a religious sense and a secular/political sense as well. In later articles I will attempt to make specific applications to modern life as well.
The throne of God and the Lamb is the source of living water for the kingdom we dwell in, Revelation 22.1. Scripture is replete the imagery of flowing water. Typically a city was situated on a river to be a source of supply and security, here in the kingdom we understand this river to be the source of every spiritual blessings and need of the soul. Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple complete access to the presence of God was not available to humanity, Hebrews 9.8, yet now we have access to the presence of God. Now that the perfect sacrifice has been offered and received, we now have a perfected conscience, Hebrews 9.9, which allows us to find comfort in the presence of God (I will discuss conscience later articles). We now walk triumphantly with God, Revelation 7.9.
At last we are able to freely serve God. The curse of the Law has been removed, Galatians 3.13. We can now delight in God’s Law, Psalms 40.8. Every aspect of our lives can now be guided by the word of God to God’s credit and praise.
Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964-c1976. Vols. 5-9 edited by Gerhard riedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (Vol. 2, Page 279). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. Wallace, Foy E,The Book of Revelation, 1966 Foy E. Wallace Publications, Fort Worth, Texas
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Mickey Denen is a columnist for PlanetPreterist.com. Mick is a Doctor of Medicine with a private practice in Ohio, and the father of six children.
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