ADDENDUM - A BRIEF OUTLINE
The belief that "Armageddon" will be a
military conflict in Palestine is part of the Futuristic system which
is based upon a literal application of the things of ancient Israel,
in contrast to the New Testament spiritual application in relation
to the church. The errors of Roman Catholicism are based upon the literal
application of the things of national Israel. Protestant Futurists
may not appreciate their interpretation of prophecy being coupled up
with the errors of Roman Catholicism; but they have the same foundation.
Futurism has been fostered by Roman Catholicism because of its potent
force against true Protestantism.
Dr. H. G. Guinness, in his "Approaching End of the Age," pages
100, 101, writes of the Futuristic view: "In its present form,
however, it may be said to have originated, at the end of the sixteenth
century, with Jesuit Ribera, who, moved like Alcasar, to relieve the
Papacy from the stigma cast upon it by the Protestant interpretation,
tried to do so by referring these to the distant future . . . For
a considerable period this view was confined to Romanists [italics
mine], and was refuted by several masterly Protestant works."
The Roman Catholic Church justifies its ornate buildings
and ritual, etc., by pointing to the literal things of ancient Israel.
(See their "Question
Box," pp. 187-189; "Keenan's Catechism," pp.193-212,
etc.)
The following brief outline is intended to convey "much in little," and
to provoke the reader to study further into the fundamental principles
of interpretation.
"THE
MYSTERY OF GODLINESS"
(1 Tim. 3:16)
SPIRITUAL APPLICATION OF THE
THINGS OF ISRAEL. |
"THE
MYSTERY OF INIQUITY"
(2 Thess. 2:7).
LITERAL APPLICATION OF THINGS
OF ISRAEL. |
| Temple -
Church (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. Temple. 2:21) |
Temple |
| Priests -
on earth, all believers (1 Pet. 2:9) |
Priests |
| Incense -
prayer (Ps. 141:2; Rev. 5:8) |
Incense |
| Cross -
daily self-denial (Luke 9:23) |
Cross |
| Light in Temple -
Bible (Ps. 119:105; 2 Cor. 4:4, etc.) |
Candles |
| Bread -
Word of God (John. 6:27-68). Water-Holy Spirit working through
Word of God (Titus 3:5; Eph. 5:26) |
Wafer-mass - "Holy" water |
Fire in which dross
is burned:-
(1) Work of Holy Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Isa. 4:4; 1 Pet. 1:7; 4:12).
(2) Obedience to truth purifies (1 Pet. 1:22) |
Purgatory |
| KING-CHRIST-INVISIBLE (1
Tim. 1:17) |
Pope -
visible Head |
| Holy Spirit -
Representative Invisible (John. 14:17) |
Supposed Representative
of Christ; visible |
| Throne in each
heart (Rom. 5:17-21) |
Throne in
Rome (Rev. 16:10; 17:18) |
| Kingdom - Spiritual:
Those delivered from sin (Col. 1:13) |
Kingdom Literal:
Political power |
| War-Spiritual War:
world-wide conflict. "War a good warfare" (1
Tim. 1:18) |
War - Military:
conflict in Palestine |
| "Fight the
good fight of faith" (1 Tim. 6:12) |
Fight - Military:
conflict in Palestine |
| Peace -
God and soul: New Testament about 110 times, Paul about
52 times, spiritual peace |
Peace - Military: "peace" |
| Enemies -
''Gentiles'': ''Heathen'' those who are not Israelites
(Eph. 2:11, 12; Rev. 11:2) in any part of the world |
"Heathen," "Gentiles":
- Literal nations East of Palestine |
| Israel -
Church in all the world (Gal. 6: 16; Rev. 7:1-4, etc.) |
"Israel" -
a few literal Jews in Palestine |
| Israel attacked
by enemies: Spiritual enemies (Ezek. 38, 39; Joel 3;
Zech. 14; Rev. 14:1, 20; 16:12-16; 17:14, etc.) |
Israel attacked
by enemies: literal nations to literally attack literal
Jews in Palestine |
| Anti-Christ is
a spiritual leader: A counterfeit Church which makes "war
with the saints" (Rev. 13:7) |
Anti-Christ is
a military leader: a person to dominate literal Jews
in Palestine |
| Symbolic Time (Dan.7:25;
Rev. 11:2; 12:6, 12; 13:5). Affecting the church |
Literal time (3
1/2 literal years) affecting literal Jews in Palestine |

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