Editing Christian eschatology (section)

===Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs===
{| class="wikitable" style="align:center;"|
|-
! style="width:10%;"|Eschatological Topic
! style="width:30%;"|Futurist belief{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
! style="width:30%;"|Preterist belief<ref>David Chilton, 'The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation', Dominion Press, 2006.</ref>
! style="width:30%;"|Historicist belief<ref>SDA Bible Commentary</ref>
|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|Eras of biblical prophesy
|Futurists typically anticipate a future period of time when biblical prophecies will be fulfilled.
|Preterists typically argue that most (Partial Preterism), or all (Full Preterism) biblical prophecies were fulfilled during the earthly ministry of Jesus and the generation immediately preceding it, concluding with the siege and destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.
|Historicists typically understand the prophecies to be continuous from the times of the prophets to the present day and beyond.
|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The 144,000' <br>Revelation 7<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|7:1–8}}</ref>
|Various interpretations of a literal number of 144,000, including: 144,000 Evangelical Jews at the end of the world, or 144,000 Christians at the end of the world.
|A symbolic number signifying the saved, representing completeness, perfection (The number of Israel; 12, squared and multiplied by 1,000, representing the infinite = 144,000). This symbolises God's Holy Army, redeemed, purified and complete.
|A symbolic number representing the saved who are able to stand through the events of 6:17.
|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|Locusts released from the Abyss <br>Revelation 9<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|9:1–11}}</ref>
|A demonic host released upon the earth at the end of the world.
|A demonic host released upon Israel during the siege of Jerusalem 66–70 AD. 
|The Muslim Arab hordes that overran North Africa, the Near East, and Spain during the 6th to 8th centuries.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|Large Army from the Euphrates, an army of 'myriads of myriads' <br> Revelation 9:13–16<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|9:13–16}}</ref>
|Futurists frequently translate and interpret the Greek phrase 'myriads of myriads' as meaning a 'double myriad', from which they develop the figure of 200 million. Futurists frequently assign this army of 200 million to China, which they believe will attack Israel in the future. Many Bibles employ a Futurist interpretation of the original Greek when they adopt the figure of 200 million.

Others, such as John Walvoord and Tim Lahaye, see these 200 million beings as 200 million demons who are commanded to kill 1/3 of the Earth's population.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8tRHO_7E0M4C | title=Every Prophecy of the Bible: Clear Explanations for Uncertain Times |isbn=978-1-4347-0468-9 | last1=Walvoord | first1=John F. | date=September 2011 | publisher=David C Cook }}</ref>
 
|Preterists hold to the original Greek description of a large army consisting of 'myriads of myriads', as a reference to the large pagan army, which would attack Israel during the Siege of Jerusalem from 66 to 70 AD. The source of this pagan army from beyond the Euphrates is a symbolic reference to Israel's history of being attacked and judged by pagan armies from beyond the Euphrates. Some of the Roman units employed during the siege of Jerusalem were assigned from this area.<ref>Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, p. 251.</ref>
|The Muslim Arab hordes that overran North Africa, the Near East, and Spain during the 6th to 8th centuries.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The [[Two Witnesses]]' <br>Revelation 11:1–12<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|11:1–12}}</ref>
|Two people who will preach in Jerusalem at the end of the world.

|The two witnesses and their miracles symbolize the ministries of Moses and Elijah, who in turn symbolize 'The Law' and 'The Prophets', the Old Testament witnesses to the righteousness of God. When the armies of Rome laid siege to and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, it appeared that the two witnesses had been killed.
|The two witnesses (AKA "two olive trees" and "two candlesticks") are the Old and New Testaments.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'1260 Days' <br>Revelation 11:3<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|11:3}}</ref>
|A literal 1260 days (3.5 years) at the end of the world during which Jerusalem is controlled by pagan nations.

|A literal 1260 days (3.5 years) which occurred 'at the end of the world' in 70 AD when the apostate worship at the temple in Jerusalem was decisively destroyed at the hands of the pagan Roman armies following a 3.5-year Roman campaign in Judea and Samaria. The two witnesses appeared to be dead for 3.5 years during the siege of Jerusalem but were miraculously resurrected as the Early Church.
|Various interpretations

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The Woman and the Dragon' <br>Revelation 12:1–6<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|12:1–6}}</ref>
|A future conflict between the State of Israel and Satan.

|Symbolic of the Old Covenant Church, the nation of Israel (Woman) giving birth to the Christ child. Satan (the Dragon) was determined to destroy the Christ child. The Woman (the early church), fled Jerusalem before its destruction in 70 AD.
|The Dragon represents Satan and any earthly power he uses. The woman represents God's true church before and after Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. The Woman flees to the desert away from the dominant power of the 1260 years.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The Beast out of the Sea' <br>Revelation 13:1–8<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|13:1–8}}</ref>
|The Anti-Christ, or the empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians.<ref name="books.google.com"/>

|The Roman Empire, [[Persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire#Neronian persecution|persecuting the early church]] during the rule of Nero. The sea symbolizing the Mediterranean and the nations of the Roman Empire.
|The Beast is the earthly power supported by the Dragon (Satan). It is the Papal power during the same 42 months mentioned above.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The Beast out of the Earth' <br> 'The False Prophet' <br>Revelation 13:11–18<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|13:11–18}}</ref>
|The False Prophet who assists the Anti-Christ.<ref name="books.google.com"/>

|The apostate rulers of the Jewish people, who joined in union with the Roman Empire to persecute the early church.
|The first is the U.S. The second is a future religio-political power in which everyone is forced by the first power to receive the mark of the beast.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The [[Number of the beast]], 666' <br>Revelation 13:18<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|13:18}}</ref>
|The number identifying the future empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians.

| In Hebrew calculations the total sum of Emperor Nero's name, 'Nero Caesar', equated to 666. The number more broadly symbolises the Roman Empire and its persecution of the early church. The number 666 also symbolises an apostate ruler as King Solomon was, who collected 666 talents of gold annually. <br>1 Kings 10:14<ref>{{bibleverse||1Kings|10:14}}</ref>
|Various interpretations.{{Dubious|date=October 2018}}

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|Armageddon <br>Revelation 16:16<ref name="bibleverse||Revelation|16:16">{{bibleverse||Revelation|16:16}}</ref>
|A future literal battle at [[Tel Megiddo|Megiddo]] in the Jezreel Valley, Israel.
|Megiddo is used as a symbol of God's complete victory over His enemies. The battle of [[Armageddon]] occurred 2000 years ago when God used the pagan armies of Rome to comprehensively destroy the apostate worship at the temple in Jerusalem. <br>Revelation 16:16<ref name="bibleverse||Revelation|16:16"/> <br>Judges 5:19<ref>{{bibleverse||Judges|5:19}}</ref> <br>2 Kings 9:27<ref>{{bibleverse|2 Kings|9:27}}</ref>
|A symbolic name concerning the ongoing battle between Jesus and Satan.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|Mystery Babylon <br> The Great Harlot <br>Revelation 17:1–5<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|17:1–5}}</ref>
|Futurists compose various interpretations for the identity of 'Mystery Babylon' such as the US, the [[Vatican City|Vatican]], or the UN.
|The corrupted city of Jerusalem, who united with pagan nations of the world in their idolatrous practices and participated in persecuting the faithful Old Covenant priests and prophets, and the early church of the New Covenant. <br>Matthew 23:35–37<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|23:35–37}}</ref>
|A virtuous woman represents God's true church. A whore represents an apostate church. Typically, ''Mystery Babylon'' is understood to be the esoteric apostasies, and ''Great Harlot'' is understood to be the popular apostasies. Both types of apostasies are already at work, ensnaring the unwary.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|Seven heads and ten horns <br>Revelation 17:9–11<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|17:9–11}}</ref>
|Futurists compose various interpretations.

One interpretation for the ten horns is an [[alliance]] of ten nations that work for the Anti-Christ.<ref name="books.google.com"/>
|As the Bible text explains, the seven heads are seven mountains. This is a direct reference to the [[Seven hills of Rome]]. It is also noted that the seven hills 'refer to seven kings'. This is a reference to the Caesars of Rome. At the time of the writing of the Revelation, five Caesars had already fallen ([[Julius Caesar]], [[Augustus Caesar]], [[Tiberius Caesar]], [[Caligula]] and [[Claudius Caesar]]), 'One is' ([[Nero]], the sixth Caesar, was on the throne as John was writing the Revelation), and the seventh 'has not yet come'. ([[Galba]], the seventh Caesar, reigned for less than 7 months).<ref>Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, pp. 435–436.</ref> 
|Various interpretations.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|The Thousand Years <br> The Millennium <br>Revelation 20:1–3<ref>{{bibleverse||Revelation|20:1–3}}</ref>
|The Millennium is a literal, future 1,000-year reign of Christ following the destruction of God's enemies.

|The Millennium is the current, ongoing rise of God's Kingdom. The Millennium is a symbolic time frame, not a literal time frame. Preterists believe the Millennium has been ongoing since the earthly ministry and ascension of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and is ongoing today.<ref>David Chilton, 'The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation', p. 494.</ref> <br>Daniel 2:34–35<ref>{{bibleverse||Daniel|2:34–35}}</ref>
|The time period between Christ's Second Advent and the rapture of all the righteous, both living and formerly dead, from off earth and the third Advent which brings the New Jerusalem and the saints to the planet. While the saved are gone, the planet is inhabited only by Satan and his hosts, for all the wicked are dead.

|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The Rapture' <br>Revelation 4:1<ref name="bibleverse||Revelation|4:1">{{bibleverse||Revelation|4:1}}</ref>
|The Rapture is a future removal of the faithful Christian church from earth.

|Preterists generally recognize a future 'Second Coming' of Christ, as described in Acts 1:11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17. However, they distinguish this from Revelation 4:1 which is construed by Futurists as describing a 'Rapture' event that is separate from the 'Second Coming'.
|
|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The Great Tribulation' <br>Revelation 4:1<ref name="bibleverse||Revelation|4:1"/>
|The 'Great Tribulation' is a future period of God's judgement on earth.

|The 'Great Tribulation' occurred 2000 years ago when apostate Israel was judged and destroyed by God, culminating in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem at the hands of the pagan armies of the Roman Empire. The early Church was delivered from this period of judgment because it heeded the warning of Jesus in Matthew 24:16 to flee Jerusalem when it saw the pagan armies of Rome approaching. 
|
|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'The Abomination that causes desolation' <br>Matthew 24:15<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|24:15}}</ref>
|The Abomination that causes desolation is a future system of idolatrous worship based at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

|The Abomination that causes desolation was the pagan armies of Rome destroying the apostate system of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago.
|
|- style="text-align:left; background:#ffffec; vertical-align:top;"
| style="text-align:center;"|'Gog and Magog invasion' <br>Ezekiel 38<ref>{{bibleverse||Ezekiel|38}}</ref>
|Ezekiel 38 refers to a future invasion of Israel by Russia and its allies, resulting in a miraculous deliverance by God.

|Ezekiel 38 refers to the [[Maccabees]]' miraculous defeat of the [[Seleucid Empire|Seleucids]] in the 2nd century B.C. As Chilton notes, 'The word ''chief'' is, in the Hebrew, ''rosh'', and according to this view, it does not pertain to Russia.<ref>Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, p. 522.</ref>
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