Was Ellen White a futurist?

[Tom Wetmore]

Stefanovic, in his comprehensive commentary on Revelation suggests that value can be derived from each of the approaches and suggests that adherence to just one approach is not the best way.

[John317]

That's pages 10 to 12 (edition 2002).

I agree with him that we shouldn't be so locked into one school of interpretation that it causes us to support views that have no historical or exegetical support. However, you'll notice that Stefanovic follows the historical method almost entirely.

One might compare Stefanovic's interpretation with that of Tim LaHay's in his book, Revelation Unveiled.

[Tom Wetmore]

John, I am excited to see somebody else making a connection between Rev 6 & Mt 24. I have been mulling over this connection for sometime. In Rev 6, I think Jesus was giving in symbolic form what He said in literal terms in Mt 24. What do you think?

My approach to the study of Revelation starts in the gospels. Jesus speaks plainly in the gospels of what is portrayed in figures and symbolically in Revelation. Also read the parallel passages to Matthew 24-25 from Mark and Luke. But most importantly, the author of Revelation also wrote a gospel. The conversation about the future that Jesus had with his disciples before he was crucified is so critical to understanding the true message and theme of Revelation. It is John 13-17.

[John317]

John, I am excited to see somebody else making a connection between Rev 6 & Mt 24. I have been mulling over this connection for sometime. In Rev 6, I think Jesus was giving in symbolic form what He said in literal terms in Mt 24. What do you think?

I think you're right on the money.

I was just looking at two books, Stefanovic's and Tim LaHay's. Stefanovic's agrees with you (page 219), whereas Tim LaHay's does not. LaHay puts all the events described in Rev. 6 in the future, all following the Rapture.

[Windsor]

Originally Posted By: Windsor

Excellent point on the trumpets. I grew up being a historicist but thankfully I was young enough to switch viewpoints. I do, however, believe the 7 seals are a history of the Earth from the beginning until the very end.

Correct me if need be. You were a historicist, and now you are grateful to be a futurist (like Cyrus SCOFIELD?)?

g

No, I'd consider myself a futurist like Ellen White.

[Windsor]

Originally Posted By: Windsor

...I grew up being a historicist but thankfully I was young enough to switch viewpoints. I do, however, believe the 7 seals are a history of the Earth from the beginning until the very end.

It sounds like your views of Revelation are a mix of at least two schools of prophetic interpretation.

Who is the little-horn power of Daniel 7 & 8?

Have you bought into any of the ideas that are illustrated by the "Left Behind" series?

Do you believe what Ellen White wrote in the book, Great Controversy?

How do you understand Daniel 2, 7 and 8?

I guess there is a little bit of a mix there between historicism and futurism. I believe the trumpets and plagues are future. I believe Daniel 12 is future. On the other hand, the 70 weeks are past (one might call that preterism) as are the 4 beasts representing Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome. Nebuchadnezzar's statue would fall into historicism as we're somewhere in the period of the toes but before the statue is destroyed.

Ellen White's position on the seven seals (take that however you may) is as follows:

"The Book with the Seven Seals contains the history of the world... Revelation 5:1-3. There in His open hand lay the book the roll of the history of God's providence’s, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth's history to its close." 9 Manuscript Release page 7

[John317]

I'd consider myself a futurist like Ellen White.

You have yet to show that she was indeed a futurist. In what sense do you mean she was a futurist?

[LifeHiscost]

Originally Posted By: Gerry Cabalo

John, I am excited to see somebody else making a connection between Rev 6 & Mt 24. I have been mulling over this connection for sometime. In Rev 6, I think Jesus was giving in symbolic form what He said in literal terms in Mt 24. What do you think?

I think you're right on the money.

I was just looking at two books, Stefanovic's and Tim LaHay's. Stefanovic's agrees with you (page 219), whereas Tim LaHay's does not. LaHay puts all the events described in Rev. 6 in the future, all following the Rapture.

It is my understanding that Tim LaHay places his novels clearly in the realm of fiction and makes no attempt to lead anyone into believing his books tell the truth. The fact that there are those that take his novels and run with them only proves the gullibility of those unwilling to believe it is beyond man't capacity to know Truth except as one is led by the Holy Spirit.

"If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority."John 7:17 NKJV

"Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come."Jeremiah 33:3 NLT

"When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths."1 Corinthians 2:13 NLT

God blesses!

[Windsor]

Futurist, in the sense that she believed the trumpets and plagues were yet future and Daniel 12 as well. Altogether though one could consider her preterist, historicist and futurist.

[Gerr]

Good for you, Tom. Frankly, I did not make the connection between what Jesus said in the gospels and what He said in Revelation until some months ago.