Clarence Larkin - Revelation

[Alan]

Beameup,

Thank you very much for bringing to our attention 2 Thessalonians 2:3 & 4 and its relationship with Daniel 11:36  

Invicta,

You are right. Alexander the Great was the first willful king in Daniel 11. "And a mighty King shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will." Daniel 11:3

And, may I add a side note, throughout history many, many other kings, rulers, and Presidents, have ruled, "... according to his will." The "will of God," and the "will of the people," in the mind of these rulers are inconsequential. "There is nothing new under the sun."

Alan

[Invicta]

2 Thess 2:3-4 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Exactly.  And notice the sequence,   "that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" That day, our meeting with the Lord.  shall not come except there be a falling away first.  There was a great falling away from  AD 300 onwards that allowed the papacy to develop,.and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; The Pope and the papacy: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God.  He opposes God by calling himself god on earth. and all that is called God.  All that is called God in the RCC is the consecrated wafer which is held aloft and worshipped as God.  In his coronation, the pope sits on the the high altar above the host, all that is called God exalting himself above it.  Chinquy  calls the consecrated host "le bon dieu", the good god.

All fulfilled, firstly falling away, 2ndly the man of sin, revealed, lastly or gathering to meet the Lord.

 

 

Edited October 15, 2015 by Invicta

[Eric Stahl]

The 6th seal is the Ezekiel 38 & 39 war, which is also described in Daniel 11:43b-45, Jeremiah 25:14-38, Isaiah 25:4-7.

[Genevanpreacher]

Exactly.  And notice the sequence,   "that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first" That day, our meeting with the Lord.  shall not come except there be a falling away first.  There was a great falling away from  AD 300 onwards that allowed the papacy to develop,.and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; The Pope and the papacy: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God.  He opposes God by calling himself god on earth. and all that is called God.  All that is called God in the RCC is the consecrated wafer which is held aloft and worshipped as God.  In his coronation, the pope sits on the the high altar above the host, all that is called God exalting himself above it.  Chinquy  calls the consecrated host "le bon dieu", the good god.

All fulfilled, firstly falling away, 2ndly the man of sin, revealed, lastly or gathering to meet the Lord.

Very good comment Invicta! You obviously read the scriptures accurately, and can 'see' into the meanings well, as a man lead by God.

It is great to see clarity, is it not?

Beameup,

Thank you very much for bringing to our attention 2 Thessalonians 2:3 & 4 and its relationship with Daniel 11:36  

Invicta,

You are right. Alexander the Great was the first willful king in Daniel 11. "And a mighty King shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will." Daniel 11:3

And, may I add a side note, throughout history many, many other kings, rulers, and Presidents, have ruled, "... according to his will." The "will of God," and the "will of the people," in the mind of these rulers are inconsequential. "There is nothing new under the sun."

Alan

Glad to see you investing in history, Alan!

[Alan]

Looking forward to our next lesson.

Alan

[beameup]

2 Thess 2:8-9  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,   2 Thess 2:4b  so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.   2 Thess 2:11b God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

[Alan]

beameup,

Thank you for your post. I do appreciate your verses as they are keeping in line with the study of Larkin's Revelation study and will help us keep on track.

Brethren,

In doing the next lesson I found that I needed to include much more than I originally intended due to the Seals, Trumpets, Vials and other aspects of Revelation being so closely tied together that I decided to extend the next lesson to include the remaining, "Review" in a long lesson. So, in order to keep everybody occupied while I finish up the lesson I decided to give you a song in common with the study.

May God bless the song, "Hallelulah, He's Coming Again," sung by the Truth Missionary Baptist Church choir in Greenville, S.C., be a blessing to your hearts.

Alan

 

[Invicta]

Interesting comments from Larkin I found on http://www.historicist.com/daniel/clarence-larkin-s-charts

Clarence Larkin’s Charts

Clarence Larkin’s Charts : The theology of Ribera, by Larkin’s own admission.

 

By Robert Caringola

 

After thirty years of work, the late Clarence Larkin (1850 – 1924, an American Baptist Pastor) published a work which many in the Futurist School of eschatology refer to as “the dispensationalists’ second bible” and “a standard authority on dispensationalism.” The book is entitled Dispensational  Truth. It is touted by some as the greatest book on bible prophecy in the world! It contains over 115 charts, maps and woodcuts. These are referenced today by a myriad of prophecy teachers. But, I wonder how many of these so-called teachers have read Larkin’s admission of cartooning Francisco Ribera’s catholic counter-reformation prophetic interpretation.

This article is not an explanation of the errors of dispensationalism. Space does not allow for a proper refutation of the Futurist School or a defense of the Protestant Historical School (Historicism). It will simply be, for the most part, the words of Larkin himself. These are found on page 5 of his book, Forty-Sixth Printing. Some of the other printings have it on page 4.

“The glory of a good thing is that it flows to others” Martin Luther. Conversely, the horror of a bad thing is that it not only flows but, at times, floods and drowns. How many, today, are drowning in the tide of dispensational teachings? The book Dispensational Truth furthered the rushing current of futuristic eschatology - Rome’s poisonous waters!

Now, let us read Larkin’s affirmation of the Jesuit origins of Preterism and Futurism. He also identifies the “secret of the martyr heroism,” known as Historicism.

I have added bold emphasis where I felt appropriate.

 

    The “Preterist School” originated with the Jesuit Alcazar. His view was first put forth as a complete scheme in his work on the Apocalypse, published in A.D.1614. It limits the scope of the apocalypse to the events of the Apostle John’s life, and affirms that the whole prophecy was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and the subsequent fall of the persecuting Roman Empire, thus making the Emperor Nero the “Antichrist.” The purpose of the scheme was transparent, it was to relieve the Papal Church from the stigma of being called the “Harlot Church” and the Pope from being called the Antichrist…”

    The “Historical School”. . . interprets the Apocalypse as a series of prophecies predicting the events that were to happen in the world and in the Church from John’s day to the end of time. The advocates of the School interpret the symbols of the Book of Revelation as referring to certain historical events that have and are happening in the world. They claim that “Antichrist” is a “System” rather than a “Person,” and is represented by the Harlot Church of Rome. They interpret the “Time Element” in the Book on the “Year Day Scale.” This school has had some very able and ingenious advocates. This view, like the preceding was unknown to the early church. It appeared about the middle of the Twelfth Century, and was systematized in the beginning of the Third Century by the Abbot Joachim. Subsequently it was adopted and applied to the Pope by the forerunners and leaders of the Reformation, and may be said to have reached its zenith in Mr. Elliott’s “Horae Apocalypticae.” It is frequently called the Protestant interpretation because it regards Popery as exhausting all that has been predicted of the Antichristian power. It was a powerful and formidable weapon in the hands of the leaders of the Reformation, and the conviction of its truthfulness nerved them to “love not their lives unto the death.” It was the secret of the martyr heroism of the Sixteenth Century.

    The “Futurist School” interprets the language of the Apocalypse “literally,” except such symbols as are named as such and hold that the whole of the Book, from the end of the third chapter, is yet “future” and unfulfilled, and that the greater part of the Book, from the beginning of chapter six to the end of chapter nineteen, describes what shall come to pass during the last week of “Daniel’s Seventy Weeks.” . . . In its present form it may be said to have originated at the end of the Sixteenth Century, with the Jesuit Ribera, who actuated by the same motive as the Jesuit Alcazar, sought to rid the Papacy of the stigma of being called the “Antichrist,” and so referred the prophecies of the Apocalypse to the distant future. This view was accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and was for a long time confined to it, but, strange to say, it has wonderfully revived since the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, and among Protestants. . . ., The “Futurist” interpretation of scripture is the one employed in this book.

Clarence Larkin

Well, there you have it. Larkin is ecstatic because the rejected prophetic counter-scheme manipulations of the Jesuit Ribera have been “wonderfully revived.”

[Genevanpreacher]

Good information there Invicta. I had asked some of these questions myself to others without satisfactory answers from this exact section.

My copy of this section has a bit more eye opening of a statement in the red below -

"The "Futurist School" interprets the language of the Apocalypse "literally, " except such symbols as are named as such, and holds that the whole of the Book, from the end of the third chapter, is yet "future" and unfulfilled, and that the greater part of the Book, from the beginning of chapter six to the end of chapter nineteen, describes what shall come to pass during the last week of "Daniel's Seventy Weeks." This view, while it dates in modern times only from the close of the Sixteenth Century, is really the most ancient of the three. It was held in many of its prominent features by the primitive Fathers of the Church, and is one of the early interpretations of scripture truth that sunk into oblivion with the growth of Papacy, and that has been restored to the Church in these last times. In its present form it may be said to have originated at the end of the Sixteenth Century, with the Jesuit Ribera, who, actuated by the same motive as the Jesuit Alcazar, sought to rid the Papacy of the stigma of being called the "Antichrist, " and so referred the prophecies of the Apocalypse to the distant future. This view was accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and was for a long time confined to it, but, strange to say, it has wonderfully revived since the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, and that among Protestants. It is the most largely accepted of the three views., It has been charged with ignoring the Papal and Mohammedan systems, but this is far from the truth, for it looks upon them as foreshadowed in the scriptures, and sees in them the "Type" of those great "Anti-Types" yet future, the "-Beast" and the "False Prophet." The "Futurist" interpretation of scripture is the one employed in this book."

Remember fellas, this is from the book itself. If it dates from recent times, how is it the 'old paths' that we are supposed to follow?

Jeremiah 6 -

16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

 

 

Edited October 16, 2015 by Genevanpreacher

[Alan]

Looking forward to the next lesson.

Alan

[Invicta]

Good information there Invicta. I had asked some of these questions myself to others without satisfactory answers from this exact section.

My copy of this section has a bit more eye opening of a statement in the red below -

"The "Futurist School" interprets the language of the Apocalypse "literally, " except such symbols as are named as such, and holds that the whole of the Book, from the end of the third chapter, is yet "future" and unfulfilled, and that the greater part of the Book, from the beginning of chapter six to the end of chapter nineteen, describes what shall come to pass during the last week of "Daniel's Seventy Weeks." This view, while it dates in modern times only from the close of the Sixteenth Century, is really the most ancient of the three. It was held in many of its prominent features by the primitive Fathers of the Church, and is one of the early interpretations of scripture truth that sunk into oblivion with the growth of Papacy, and that has been restored to the Church in these last times. In its present form it may be said to have originated at the end of the Sixteenth Century, with the Jesuit Ribera, who, actuated by the same motive as the Jesuit Alcazar, sought to rid the Papacy of the stigma of being called the "Antichrist, " and so referred the prophecies of the Apocalypse to the distant future. This view was accepted by the Roman Catholic Church and was for a long time confined to it, but, strange to say, it has wonderfully revived since the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, and that among Protestants. It is the most largely accepted of the three views., It has been charged with ignoring the Papal and Mohammedan systems, but this is far from the truth, for it looks upon them as foreshadowed in the scriptures, and sees in them the "Type" of those great "Anti-Types" yet future, the "-Beast" and the "False Prophet." The "Futurist" interpretation of scripture is the one employed in this book."

Remember fellas, this is from the book itself. If it dates from recent times, how is it the 'old paths' that we are supposed to follow?

Jeremiah 6 -

16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

 

 

Elliott in his carefully researched  History of Apocalyptic Interpretation finds only one primitive writer who separates the seventieth week from its fellows.

 Hippolytus stands alone, as I said, ^[135] in the exprest view of the 69 hebdomads reaching to Christ’s first coming, and the 70th beginning separately, at some vast chronological gap, just before his second coming. ^[136]

 I did read elsewhere that Hyppolytus also said that the 70 weeks would end in AD 500 which year would be, he says, the second coming, which would destroy Antichrist, the rerrurection from the dead and the glorification of the saints.

 

Edited October 16, 2015 by Invicta
Spelling,

[Alan]

Genevanpreacher and Invicta,

If you want to be gracious, and have a Christ like spirit, you need to start your own thread to review the above information.

Alan

Review of Clarence Larkin’s Commentary

Broad Overview of Revelation 7:1 to 14:7

Review by Alan

Review Notes:

1. As this is not a study on Revelation but a broad overview of Larkin’s work I will not be covering every aspect of Revelation 7:1 to 14:7

2. I will also not be bringing into account all of the fulfilled prophecy of the Old Testament prophets nor of the Olivet Discourse. Larkin does a better job than I and I recommend that you study his book.

3. As Larkin does not dwell much on how current events correlate with the events depicted in Revelation 7:1-14:7 neither will I. Larkin does not involve his work with the sensationalism, and commercialism, that we see in this current age.

4. When symbolism is used in the book of Revelation Larkin correctly interprets the symbolism according to the scriptures. See his notes in Revelation 12:1 and 2 for an example.

The Interval between the Sixth and the Seventh Seal

7:1-16 and 14:1-7, “The Lamb on Mount Zion.”

Larkin brings out the following two very important facts, from pages 65 to 67, concerning the 144,000 Jews. And, in 14:1-7, “The Lamb on Mount Zion,” page 130-132

They are literal virgins, from the 12 tribes of Israel, with the visible seal of God on their forehead that was administered by the angels, for their protection.

The evangelization of the world continues with the 144,000 Jews as the church age saints have previously been taken out in Revelation 4:1. The 144,000 Jews are sealed at the beginning of the Tribulation Period and continue to the end of the Tribulation Period for the express reason of evangelizing the world. This is absolute proof that the Church is not now in the Tribulation period nor does the Church go through any part of the 7 Year Tribulation Period.

The ministry of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists is the evangelization of the whole world in accordance with the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” The end of the 7 Year Tribulation Period is after the conclusion of the ministry of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists.

The multitude of souls saved, redeemed, spoken of in Revelation 7:9-14 are Tribulation saints.

Larkin states concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the salvation of souls, “While the Holy Spirit went back with the Church to escort the “Bride to be” home, it does not follow that He remained there. For in the Old Testament times, and during the earthly ministry of Jesus, He was active in the conversion of men, and so it will be after the Church is caught out. Those who are converted during the Tribulation period will be converted by the Holy Spirit.”[1]

The Seventh Seal

Revelation 8:1-5

Larkin begins this chapter with this important note that we must remember. “We must not forget that the “SEVENTH SEAL” includes all that happens during the sounding of the “TRUMPETS,” and the pouring out of the “VIALS,” and so extends down to the ushering in of the Millennium.”[2]

 

Included in this section is a reference to the trumpets listed in the Old Testament which the reader may find useful. I would like to add a note here also that may help all of us understand the book of Revelation. In order to know the book of Revelation the student of scripture must have a thorough knowledge of the Old Testament Law, Ordinances, Statutes, the Covenants given to the Patriarch’s and the prophesies of the prophets.

The Seven Trumpets

Revelation 8:1 to 10:11

This section covers page 70-82 in Larkin’s book. At this point Larkin reminds the student of scripture that all of the events, nations, people, angels, trumpets, are not “spiritualized.” The events, nations, angels are all literal and not symbolic. When the scripture is symbolic the context is obviously symbolic and the scripture will explain itself.

Larkin brings out that the tragedies involved during the Tribulation Period are worldwide in scope and the devastation in the sounding of the trumpets in tremendous and are without parallel in the history of the world.

Third Trumpet “Wormwood”

Revelation 8:10-11

Larkin brings the reader to the attention that one of the primary reasons of the Tribulation period is to punish Israel for its sins and to bring back Israel to “restore” their proper relationship to God.

 

Larkin states, “This time is foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah. “Therefore thus saith the LORD of Hosts, because they have forsaken my law, Behold, I will feed them, even this people (Israel), with WORMWOOD, and give them WATER OF GALL to drink.” Jer. 9:13-15.”[3]

Fourth Trumpet

Revelation 8:12

“The Olivet Discourse.”

This events depicted in the forth trumpet is in fulfillment of the prophecy of the Lord Jesus as recorded in Luke 21:25-28

The Bottomless Pit

Revelation 9:2

Larkin goes into some background detail concerning the bottomless pit. At this point I must admit that I do not agree with Larkin on this point. Larkin believes that among the various groups of entities in the bottomless pit are, “disembodied spirits,” from a, “Pre-Adamite Earth.” The more common name for this is, “The Gap Theory.” I do not agree with this belief.

The Two Witnesses

Revelation 11:1-14

Larkin brings out that there will be Temple built either just before the Tribulation period, or during the Tribulation Period, in order for the anti-Christ to sit in the Holy of Holies in order to fulfill Daniel 9:27

As the Temple of Herod was destroyed in 70 A.D., and the anti-Christ did not sit in the Holy of Holies in Herod’s Temple, and that the Temple described is not the Millennial Temple as described by Ezekiel, it must be a Tribulation Temple.

Larkin also convincingly believes that the two witnesses with be Moses and Elijah; see page 86.

The Seven Personages

Revelation 12:1 to 13:18

This section is from page 89-130 and includes a tremendous amount of information concerning the seven different characters and the events surrounding their actions and events.

The Seven Personages are:

1. The Sun Clothed Woman. Revelation 12:1 & 2

Larkin correctly, gives a through discourse of Old Testament passages, and proves that the Sun Clothed Woman is the nation of Israel.

Please study Genesis 37:9; Isaiah 54:1; 47:7-9; 50:1; Jeremiah 3:1-25 and Hosea 2:1-23

2. The Dragon. Revelation 12:3 & 4

The Dragon is identified in 12:9 as Satan.

3. The Man-Child. Revelation 12:5 & 6

The Man-Child is Christ. Psalm 2

4. The archangel (and/or prince) Michael. Revelation 12:7-12

Daniel 10:14

Jude 9

5. The Jewish Remnant. Revelation 12:17

Romans 11

Romans 11:1 and 5, “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin… Even so then at the present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” God has not cast off Israel, the physical, elect descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. During the Tribulation Period God will accomplish special miracles for the preservation of Israel.

6. The Beast of of the Sea. Revelation 13:1-10

The “Antichrist.” Larkin goes through discussion of the Beast of the Sea and the various other titles of the Antichrist, see pages 104-124.

Old & New Testament Designations for the Antichrist

The above information is found on page 104

This discussion of the antichrist includes the appropriate scriptural descriptions and historical information that is needed to understand Daniel and the times of the Gentiles.

Chart, “Antichrist and the “Times of the Gentiles.”

 

The above chart is found on page 106

7. The Beast out of the earth. The “False Prophet.” Revelation 13:11-18

Revelation 16:13; 19:20 and 20:10

See pages 125-129 for a study on the false prophet.

The First Angel

The Everlasting Gospel

Revelation 14:6 & 7

Larkin brings out a very unusual aspect of the evangelization of the world that is unique in the history of the earth in the 7 Year Tribulation Period.

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” Revelation 14:6 This is the only time in the history of mankind that an angel is to preach, while flying in the air, the gospel for men of every nation to be saved.

Larkin states, “Here is the first and only place in the Bible where an angel is commissioned to preach the gospel.”[4]

Due to the church not being on the earth, God has sealed the 144,000 Jews for evangelistic work and this angel flying in the midst of the clouds to preach the gospel. This is absolute proof that the church is not now in the Tribulation period.

 

[1] Larkin, Clarence The Book of Revelation. 1919. Glenside, PA: Clarence Larkin Estate, n.d., Page 67

[2] Larkin, Clarence The Book of Revelation. 1919. Glenside, PA: Clarence Larkin Estate, n.d., Page 68

[3] Larkin, Clarence The Book of Revelation. 1919. Glenside, PA: Clarence Larkin Estate, n.d., Page 72

[4] Larkin, Clarence The Book of Revelation. 1919. Glenside, PA: Clarence Larkin Estate, n.d., Page 132

Edited October 23, 2016 by Alan
add bold relief Oct. 22, 2016 re-upload one chart. Oct. 23, 2016 re-upload the second chart.

[Genevanpreacher]

I am sorry Alan, but in fairness to those reading this, there needs to be contrast shown. So that people do not think all Baptists believe this teaching.

Genevanpreacher and Invicta,

If you want to be gracious, *and have a Christ like spirit, you need to start your own thread to review the above information.

Alan

 

*So, the Lord never defended the scriptural view he held that was contrary to the Jewish leaders of his day?

[Alan]

We need to stay on topic.

[OLD fashioned preacher]

I am sorry Alan, but in fairness to those reading this, there needs to be contrast shown. So that people do not think all Baptists believe this teaching.

*So, the Lord never defended the scriptural view he held that was contrary to the Jewish leaders of his day?

He wasn't saying don't refute it, he said start a different thread to do so in.

You can even tie them together by calling the thread, "Objections to Scofield's notes on Revelation". (unless another mod feels that's objectionable)

Edited October 17, 2015 by OLD fashioned preacher