Theological Issues
WAR & PEACE
Trinity International University
© John Stevenson, 2009
Session Objectives
• To apply interpretation of passages in
Revelation to the issues of the Kingdom of
God, War and Peace, and the nature of
Christian discipleship.
• To inquire into the nature of Christian
ethics as it relates to Christian theology
and to ecclesiology (the nature of the
church).
• To revisit the Sermon on the Mount and
consider again ways that it might be lived
out in Christian community
Session Objectives
• To will learn how one’s eschatology relates
to one’s Christian ethics.
Common Interpretations of
the Book of Revelation
• Idealist View: Sees the book as showing the
spiritual battle between good versus evil.
• Preterist View: Focuses on the first century fall
of Jerusalem as the backdrop of the prophecies
of this book
• Historical View: Sees the prophecies as
depicting the course of history in this age
• Futurist View: Sees most of the events of the
book as taking place in a time of future
tribulation followed by the Second Coming
Revelation
1-3
4-7
8-11
12-16 17-19
20
21-22
Vision of Throne
Seven
Christ,
The
The
New
Jesus
of God trumpets
the
Harlot King Heaven
and
& Scroll
Dragon
on
reigns & New
Seven
with
& the Seven
Earth
letters to
seven
Seven Hills &
seven
seals
Bowls
the
churches
Bride
Each
ends with
a promise
of 2nd
Coming
Christ
wipes
away
every
tear
(7:17)
Christ
Fall of Rider Judge
I am
will reign
the
on the
&
coming
forever & nations White Lake quickly
ever
Horse of Fire (22:20)
“It is
(11:15)
done” (19:16)
(16:17)
• Revelation 20 literally
• Takes the language of
“the last day” figuratively
Second
Coming
(“Rapture”)
Church Age
Rev. 1-3
Judgment
Tribulation Millennium Eternal
State
Rev. 4-19 Rev. 20
• Artificially separates between
different comings of Christ
• Tries to segregate Israel and
church
Second
“Rapture”
Church Age
Rev. 1-3
Coming
Judgment
Tribulation Millennium Eternal
State
Rev. 4-19 Rev. 20
• Views Revelation 20 as
symbolic language
• Takes the language of
“the last day” literally
Church Age
(Tribulation)
(Millennium)
Rev. 1-20
Second
Coming
“Rapture”
Judgment
Eternal
State
• Envisions the gospel as
being victorious
• Takes the language of “the
last day” literally
Church Age
Rev. 1-19
Second
Coming
“Rapture”
Judgment
Millennium
Rev. 20
Eternal
State
Second
Coming
“Rapture”
Judgment
Church
Short
Millennium
Rev.
70
A.D.
• Denies any future
Second Coming of Christ
• All prophecy fulfilled in
the year 70 A.D.
Church
(Eternal State)
Discuss your reading
from Revelation:
• What is the reality that is being depicted
by the author?
• In what sense is this portrayal in
Revelation a “drama”?
• What do these chapters reveal about the
Kingdom of God?
• How do these chapters relate to the issue
of War and Peace?
Symbolism in Revelation
• Old Testament Allusions
– One like the Son of Man
– Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Symbolism in Revelation
• Old Testament Allusions
– One like the Son of Man
– Lion of the Tribe of Judah
– The Four Horsemen
Symbolism in Revelation
• Old Testament Allusions
– One like the Son of Man
– Lion of the Tribe of Judah
– The Four Horsemen
– The Two Witnesses
Symbolism in Revelation
• Old Testament Allusions
– One like the Son of Man
– Lion of the Tribe of Judah
– The Four Horsemen
– The Two Witnesses
• Temple language
Symbolism in Revelation
• Old Testament Allusions
– One like the Son of Man
– Lion of the Tribe of Judah
– The Four Horsemen
– The Two Witnesses
• Temple language
– Jesus with the Lampstands
Symbolism in Revelation
• Old Testament Allusions
– One like the Son of Man
– Lion of the Tribe of Judah
– The Four Horsemen
– The Two Witnesses
• Temple language
– Jesus with the Lampstands
– The 24 Elders
– The Crystal Sea
Symbolism in Revelation
• Old Testament Allusions
– One like the Son of Man
– Lion of the Tribe of Judah
– The Four Horsemen
– The Two Witnesses
• Temple language
– Jesus with the Lampstands
– The 24 Elders
– The Crystal Sea
– The ark of the covenant
Discuss your reading
from Revelation:
• If Christ is depicted as employing
violence (Rev. 19:13-15) does that
sanction the use of violence by Christians
today? Is this at odds with the Christ of
the Sermon on the Mount?
• How do these chapters relate to the issue
of Christian discipleship now?
And they gathered them
together to the place which in
Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.
(Revelation 16:16)
Revelation 19:11-13
And I saw heaven opened, and
behold, a white horse, and He who
sat on it is called Faithful and True,
and in righteousness He judges and
wages war. 12 His eyes are a flame
of fire, and on His head are many
diadems; and He has a name written
on Him which no one knows except
Himself. 13 He is clothed with a robe
dipped in blood, and His name is
called The Word of God.
Revelation 19:14-15
And the armies which are in
heaven, clothed in fine linen, white
and clean, were following Him on
white horses. 15 From His mouth
comes a sharp sword, so that with it
He may strike down the nations, and
He will rule them with a rod of iron;
and He treads the wine press of the
fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
Revelation 19:20-21
And the beast was seized, and
with him the false prophet who
performed the signs in his presence,
by which he deceived those who had
received the mark of the beast and
those who worshiped his image;
these two were thrown alive into the
lake of fire which burns with
brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed
with the sword which came from the
mouth of Him who sat on the horse,
and all the birds were filled with their
flesh.
Homework
Discussion
What are the Primary
Issues to Consider
when thinking
theologically about the
issue of War and
Peace?
Homework Discussion
• Which issues are most
crucial to consider?
• Which Biblical texts did you
deem most relevant to the
issue?
• Did you list any important
sociological or historical
factors?
Open
Theism
“God only knows
that which is
possible to know.”
“God is so confident in His
sovereignty, He does not need to
micromanage everything.”
 Gregory Boyd
Isaiah 40:27
Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert,
O Israel, “My way is hidden from the
LORD,
And the justice due me escapes the
notice of my God”?
Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Everlasting God, the LORD, the
Creator of the ends of the earth
Does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.
Psalm 147:4-5
He counts the number of the stars;
He gives names to all of them.
Great is our Lord, and abundant in
strength;
His understanding is infinite.
Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a
cent? And yet not one of them will fall
to the ground apart from your Father.
30 But the very hairs of your head are
all numbered. 31 Therefore do not
fear; you are of more value than many
sparrows.