The interpretation of the bible prophesy is very much debated, There are so many views on bible prophesy, i can understand why people are confused.
Babylon means confusion, and today there is a lot of that around.
Truth mixed with error (90% truth or 25% truth) will still lead you to error in some way. Understanding where many of the theories come from will help people to know if they are building on solid ground or moving sand.
If your interpretation of revelation and prophesy is based on futurism or preterism you need to seriously reconsider your view.
The papacy suffered a major setback through the Reformation. They were losing their hold on the world, because the truth was coming out about them. Futurism and preterism did not exist as a major belief until the church asked for some doctrines to be invented that would counteract the teachings of the reformers.
With declarations by pen and voice, the reformers stated that the Papacy was the specified Antichrist of prophecy. The symbols of Daniel, Paul, and John were applied with tremendous effect. Hundreds of books and tracts were giving light to the people about who the Catholic church was (It was the dark ages for a reason). Indeed it gained so great a hold upon the minds of men that Rome, in alarm, saw that she must successfully counteract this identification of Antichrist with the Papacy, or lose the battle. The Jesuits were summoned to aid in the extremity, and cleverly provided the very method needed both for defense and for attack.
Rome’s answer was twofold, though actually conflicting and contradictory. Through the Jesuits Ribera, of Salamanca, Spain, and Bellarmine, of Rome, the Papacy put forth her futurist interpretation. Almost simultaneously Alcazar, Spanish Jesuit of Seville, advanced the conflicting preterist interpretation. These were designed to meet and overwhelm the Historical interpretation of the Protestants. The aim of both worked well..
The one (preterism) accomplished it by making prophecy stop altogether short of papal Rome's career.
The other (futurism) achieved it by making it overleap the immense era of papal dominance, crowding Antichrist into a small fragment of time in the still distant future, just before the great consummation. It is consequently often called the gap theory.
Knowing where these lies came from, it is sad to see the confusion and lies still used today.
Babylon means confusion, and today there is a lot of that around.
Truth mixed with error (90% truth or 25% truth) will still lead you to error in some way. Understanding where many of the theories come from will help people to know if they are building on solid ground or moving sand.
If your interpretation of revelation and prophesy is based on futurism or preterism you need to seriously reconsider your view.
The papacy suffered a major setback through the Reformation. They were losing their hold on the world, because the truth was coming out about them. Futurism and preterism did not exist as a major belief until the church asked for some doctrines to be invented that would counteract the teachings of the reformers.
With declarations by pen and voice, the reformers stated that the Papacy was the specified Antichrist of prophecy. The symbols of Daniel, Paul, and John were applied with tremendous effect. Hundreds of books and tracts were giving light to the people about who the Catholic church was (It was the dark ages for a reason). Indeed it gained so great a hold upon the minds of men that Rome, in alarm, saw that she must successfully counteract this identification of Antichrist with the Papacy, or lose the battle. The Jesuits were summoned to aid in the extremity, and cleverly provided the very method needed both for defense and for attack.
Rome’s answer was twofold, though actually conflicting and contradictory. Through the Jesuits Ribera, of Salamanca, Spain, and Bellarmine, of Rome, the Papacy put forth her futurist interpretation. Almost simultaneously Alcazar, Spanish Jesuit of Seville, advanced the conflicting preterist interpretation. These were designed to meet and overwhelm the Historical interpretation of the Protestants. The aim of both worked well..
The one (preterism) accomplished it by making prophecy stop altogether short of papal Rome's career.
The other (futurism) achieved it by making it overleap the immense era of papal dominance, crowding Antichrist into a small fragment of time in the still distant future, just before the great consummation. It is consequently often called the gap theory.
Knowing where these lies came from, it is sad to see the confusion and lies still used today.
