This Revelation Timeline Decoded post reviews a video by Joel Richardson of FAI STUDIOS, called ‘End Time Talks 08: Daniel 2 – History or Future?’
Here’s a link to the previous video: Joel Richardson FAI STUDIOS Fourth Kingdom of Daniel 2
Joel Richardson says that half of the church takes a preterist interpretation.
It’s absolutely amazing to me that Joel Richardson completely ignores the historicist perspective, which has been taught by the great theologians of the 16-20th centuries! How is that possible? Is he just ignorant of this or is he a wolf?
People like Albert Barnes, Adam Clarke, John Gill and Matthew Poole wrote whole Bible commentaries which give the historicist perspective. The Geneva Bible includes the study notes of the Protestant Reformers which give historicist explanations.
E.B. Elliott wrote Horae Apocalypticae, a 2,500 page work which buttressed by some 10,000 invaluable references to ancient and modern works. Henry Grattan Guinness wrote the books Romanism and the Reformation, and History Unveiling Prophecy, which give the historicist explanations.
He ignores the witness of the saints who have protested against the antichrist beast Popes who reigned in power for 1260-years from 538-1798 AD.
Read Historical Witnesses Against Antichrist
Joel Richardson says that the futuristic interpretation is the only reasonably, logical explanation.
If the futuristic view of prophecy is true, then that means that our Messiah had nothing to say to His saints about the following events which have occurred during the last 1,900 years:
Satan using the Roman Emperors to kill millions of saints during ten persecution periods. Diocletian seeking to wipe out Messiah’s early church during ten years of great persecution from 303-312 AD.
Constantine and the Roman bishops codifying Catholicism, blending pagan god worship and the true faith.
The rise of the Popes of Rome to power in the sixth century, who banned and burned the Scriptures and tortured and killed tens of millions of saints during the Dark Ages and the Inquisition.
The Popes proclaiming to lead Messiah’s church, but teaching a false Gospel of works through the sacraments and that Mary is the intercessor to the Father.
The Popes taking the title of ‘holy father’ and declaring that they are God, that they can forgive sins, and that they can provide salvation, which is blasphemy.
The great harvest of the Protestant Reformation when the saints came back to life and proclaimed the Scriptural Gospel, which caused millions of Catholics to be saved.
The translation of the Scriptures into common languages after it had been hidden in Latin during the Dark Ages. And the advent of the printing press, which led to Bibles being spread around the world.
The futuristic view tells you that in Revelation, Messiah had nothing to say to His saints about those things. I will show you that our Messiah did in fact speak of all of those things in the book of Revelation, not by name of course, but the events and the people groups were all described in clear detail, and history proves the fulfillment.
Joel Richardson points to Daniel 2:28 as pointing to the latter days.
“But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these.”
Joel proclaims that it’s pointing to the end times, but that’s absurd as Daniel is merely showing king Nebuchadnezzar what will take place after his kingdom, to future times. Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 both point to the kingdoms of Babylon > Medo-Persia > Greece > Rome.
Read The Beasts Of Daniel 2 and Daniel 7
Joel Richardson says that Daniel 7 is about the end times.
The Little Horn of Daniel 7 points to the Pope of Rome, rising to power over the fallen Roman Empire.
Daniel 7:8 “I considered the (10) horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”
It is describing a man who controls the Roman beast. The ten horns of the 4th beast of Daniel 7 foretold that the Roman Empire would split into ten civil kingdoms, and that a Little Horn, the Popes of Rome, would rise up among them, and pluck out three of the kingdoms that did not bow down to his authority. They subdued and destroyed three of the ten kingdoms, the Heruli, the Ostrogoths and the Vandals.
Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”
Daniel foretold that the Little Horn, the Popes of Rome would speak against Elohim, and they proclaimed to be God. They reigned for 1,260 years, from 538-1798 A.D.; during which they caused over 50 million saints to be killed.
Read The Little Horn Of Daniel 7 Rose Up
Joel Richardson points to the rise of Islam.
The fulfillment of the fifth trumpet and the rise of Islam has been proclaimed by the great theologians for many centuries, yet Joel Richardson and Dalton Thomas fail to see the fulfillment.
The fifth trumpet represents Elohim using the Arabian (Mohammedan) army against the Roman Empire from 612-762 AD, which is 150 years (5 months x 30 days = 150 days). They wore turbans (crowns of gold); they had beards (faces of men, as the Roman shaved); they had long hair like women; they wore chain-mail (breast-plates of iron); and they were fierce (teeth of lions). The ‘falling star’ was Mohammed, the ‘smoke’ out of Satan’s bottomless pit is the false religion of Islam, which hides the Gospel from Arabs eyes.
Read Revelation 9 – 5th Trumpet
Joel Richardson points to the collapse of Roman Empire in 1453 AD.
The fulfillment of the sixth trumpet by the Turks who were sent to attack the eastern Roman Empire has been proclaimed by the great theologians for many centuries, yet Joel Richardson and Dalton Thomas fail to see the fulfillment.
The sixth trumpet represents Elohim releasing the Turks to cross over the Euphrates River to conquer 1/3rd of the Roman Empire for 391 years (prepared for the hour and day and month and year, 1 + 30 + 360 = 391) from 1062-1453 AD. They used gunpowder muskets, so ‘fire, smoke and brimstone’ appeared at their horses mouths. They used large cannons, some with the faces of lions on them, to knock down the thick protective walls of Constantinople.
Read Revelation 9 – 6th Trumpet
Because of the blindness of Joel Richardson and Dalton Thomas, they’re misleading many people.
By proclaiming the futuristic fulfillment of the 70th week of Daniel 9, Messiah’s Olivet Discourse and most of Messiah’s apocalyptic vision in Revelation during last 1,900 years, they are hiding important proofs of Messiah’s deity.
I pray that Joel Richardson and Dalton Thomas find the truth about prophecy fulfillment, for they are declaring things which they will regret when they stand before Messiah.
Messiah’s apocalyptic vision is a war manual, designed to hide the explanation from those who should not understand it. It uses symbolic words that are defined in the Old Testament to point to a literal fulfillment. If you read Revelation only from a literal perspective, the interpretation is hidden.
Understanding the vision is like taking a Biblical final exam. If you’ve read the whole Word, you will have seen the symbolism that Messiah uses and can apply it to the fulfillment.
If you read Revelation as one chronological narrative, the prophecies seem out of sequence. That’s because it has four chronological layers, each of which spans from when it was written until Messiah returns.
This book explains the prophecies of Revelation on a timeline to help you see how the four chronological layers interact with each other, so that you can comprehend the whole vision.
You will learn how to identify who fulfills the role of the son of perdition, the antichrist beast, the false prophet, and the harlot called ‘Mystery, Babylon the Great.’ You will understand the proper context of the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments; the little book of Revelation 10, and the two witnesses of Revelation 11.
Whether you’re a novice at Bible prophecy or someone who has studied it extensively, I provide an explanation that is easy to understand yet has the depth of verse by verse explanations to provide you the evidence you need to prove it out.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE REVELATION TIMELINE DECODED BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
