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<aside> 📁 Table of Contents
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There are 3 main schools of thought that people fall into when they interpret end time prophecy. I’m going to try to present this without bias, but I definitely know which of these I believe in, so bias might creep in. Nonetheless I think it’s important when you study prophecy to know that there are frameworks for which popular interpretations come from. Not only does it make studying prophecy easier, it also teaches us a lot about how the interpretation of scripture varies.
<aside> 💡 Preterism is the thought that all prophecy in the Bible has already been fulfilled
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Preterists believe that every prophecy made in the Bible has already been fulfilled. The main crux of this view can be found in Matthew 24:34, where Messiah tells the disciples their generation will see the fulfillment of “these things.” As such, Preterists believe the fulfillment of the prophecies describing the end were fulfilled in 70 AD when Rome sacked the city and destroyed the second Temple. This was only 40ish years from Messiah’s ministry which means many from His generation were still alive to see it come to pass.
There are two major questions to be asked when studying prophecy from a Preterist view:
<aside> 💡 Historicism is the thought that much of prophecy has already been fulfilled and is actively being fulfilled today
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Historicism is kind of a blend between Preterism and Futurism. This framework acknowledges that some—maybe even most—of the prophecy given in the Bible has already come to pass. They also admit that some of it has not yet happened and will happen at some unknown time in the future. Historicism views the end of time as an era that began essentially with Messiah’s ministry and lasts until Judgment Day. The point of contention between historicists and futurists is in Daniel 9:24-27, also known as the 70 weeks prophecy.
24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
📚 Daniel 9:24-27 KJV
According to historicists the final week discussed in verse 27 immediately follows the 69 weeks spoken of in the preceding verses. This beens the 70 weeks for Israel to “finish the transgression” and “anoint the most Holy” have already passed and judgment already begun.
The important question when studying from the Historicist view is how do you know if a historical event fits the prophecy? Many people propose different events for the same prophecies, who is right?