The Eschatology of Our Fathers . . .

As Scott Clark (Click here: Why There Are No “Golden Ages” « Heidelblog) and Mark Jones remind us (Click here: Seventeenth-Century Eschatology « Thomas Goodwin), some of our own forebears could get a bit carried away with eschatological speculation.

While Thomas Goodwin (1600-1680) interacted directly with Thomas Brightman and Joseph Mede--the cutting edge eschatological speculators of that age--we  can't be as sure about Franciscus Junius (1545-1602), a contempoary of Brightman and Mede, who produced his own Commentary on Revelation in 1592.  Junius, a noted Reformed (Huguenot) theologian, who studied at Geneva, and then labored at Heidelberg, sets forth a very interesting eschatological timeline in his commentary.

Here are some of the key dates from the timeline set forth by Junius in the preface to that work.

AD 67--the Church of the Jews is rescued into the wilderness for 3 1/2 years.

AD 70--When the Church of the Jews was overthrown, the dragon invaded the Catholic Church (the subject of Revelation 13).  The dragon is bound for a thousand years (Rev. 20).  The dragon raised up the beast with seven heads, and the beast with two heads, which brings havoc upon the Catholic Church for1260 years after the passion of Christ (Rev. 11, 12).

AD 97--The seven churches are admonished of things present from the time of Domitian, and are also forewarned of things to come under Trajan in ten years (chapters 2 & 3).  God, by word and signs provokes the world, and seals the godly (Rev. 6 & 7).

AD 1073--The dragon is released after the 1000 years when Gregory VII is Pope, and he then rages against Henry III, the emperor. 

AD 1217--The dragon vexes the world for 150 years, unto Gregory IX, who wrote the Decretals, and cruelly persecuted the emperor, Frederick II.  Through the two beasts, the dragon persecutes the church, putting the godly to death (Rev. 9).

AD 1295--The dragon kills the prophets after 1260 years, when Boniface VIII was Pope (and author of the sixth book of the Decretals).

AD 1300 -- Boniface celebrates his first Jubilee.

AD 1301 -- A great earthquake shook Rome.

AD 1305 -- Prophecy ceases for 3 1/2 years, and Christ defends his church in word and deed (Rev. 14). 

Afterward--Christ gives his church victory over the harlot (Rev. 17-18), the two beasts (Rev, 19) and over the dragon and death (Rev. 20), and the church is eventually glorified in heaven (Rev. 21-22).

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All of this makes me appreciate the wise words of Geerhardus Vos--sometimes, the best interpreter of prophecy is its fulfilment. 

Comments

[carolyn]

This is enough to make me think you don't believe in the 8-8-08 predictions :)

[Mark]

Though many of the Reformers may have been off on many of their speculations, I doubt they were wrong on all counts... I still believe the Pope is a more fitting Antichrist than Nero. ;)

[plw]

Thank you Kim for such a good blog site. You have been such an encouragment to us. We have learned so much from you. Be blessed and encouraged brother and may the Lord continue to use you for His glory!

[Ivan]

Meanwhile the Issues Etc. online petition is now up to 6593 signatures!

The sudden removal of Issues Etc. and firing of the host / producer is further glaring evidence [no, make that "proof"] that idiocy in American Christendom is not only to be found in eschatological speculation.

Still unbelievable. Not even an attempt at anything credible to explain this.

[Mark]

@plw

Ditto. We all appreciate your blog Dr. R! May the Lord continue to bless you.