When was it or will it be fulfilled?

The book of Revelation does not contain end-of-the-world predictions or events, as is commonly held. Rather, it fully predicted and described, symbolically and accurately, the events leading up to and including the fall of Jerusalem in a coming of the day of the Lord, in judgment, and in the change of covenants, in A.D. 70. All this and more occurred “soon” and “shortly”—i.e., within two to seven years, depending upon the exact date of this book’s writing. Any interpretation of its fulfillment that lies beyond the time frame of its original hearers and readers is, at best, suspect.

Again, first and foremost, the book of Revelation described a local series of events very near to its writing and intended for an original and primary audience. These all occurred.  Mistakenly, however, many feel that these events were only local and not worldwide. But just like the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, which were also local events, the Revelation’s fulfillment has universal applications and implications. Locally is just how God chose to fulfill it and his plan of redemption. These events ended, forever, biblical Judaism, its age, and the old covenant system (Heb. 8:13; 9:10).

Reluctantly, the late, renowned, and futuristic theologian George Eldon Ladd conceded that “there must be an element of truth in this approach, for surely the Revelation was intended to speak to its own generation” (Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament, 672).  Mistakenly, however, he and many others feel that if this prophecy is totally fulfilled, this makes it meaningless to modern-day Christians. But as we are about to see, Revelation’s past fulfillment does not exhaust its meaning, relevance, and symbolism. In fact, just the opposite is true. Past fulfillment makes this prophecy more meaningful, not less. Why? It’s because the Revelation is more than a tract for its own times. How can we know this? It’s not some doctrine we have dreamed up, which leads us to our fifth foundational key for unlearning many popular misconceptions and unlocking the mysteries of this vital book.

Sources:

1 The Greater Jesus by John Noe

2 The Scene Behind the Seen (future book – est. 2017) by John Noe

3 “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” article in Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Vol. 49, No. 4 (Dec. 2006) by John Noe

4 The Last Days According to Jesus by R.C. Sproul

5 The Days of Vengeance by David Chilton

6 The Book of Revelation by Foy E. Wallace

7 Biblical Hermeneutics by Milton S. Terry

8 Biblical Apocalyptics by Milton S. Terry