I noticed in your book Genesis, Science & History [now Origins] that you teach Revelation 21-22 is about the church triumphant. My viewpoint on this is evolving, but I have a question for you concerning 2 Peter 3:10-13. You seem to completely follow Jim McGuiggan's argumentation for Revelation 21-22, but do you agree with him now on this passage? In your book James, Peter, John, Jude: Life to the Full, you indicated you thought it's about the end of the world -- which is not what Jim McGuiggan thinks. --Christian Arbogast
McGuiggan, like many others in the Churches of Christ, relates various eschatological (related to end) passages to 70 AD and the events of that fateful year. Their case may be overstated (McGuiggan is measured), but is probably insufficiently appreciated. As for Revelation 21-22, yes, I believe this pictures the church triumphant—but not only the church triumphant. The picture, itself drawn from rich Old Testament imagery, points beyond itself to a state of affairs that will one day obtain: when sorrow and pain are no more. I don't see why the language cannot indicate both 1st century and ultimate events.
If I seem to alternate between the two views, perhaps it is because both have something to commend them. I freely admit, the interpretation of some eschatological passages is problematic, if not downright perilous!
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