Last October in O’Fallon Missouri, Charles Cooper was asked to participate in an Eschatology forum representing the Prewrath position. Thomas Ice represented the Pretribulational view, and Steve Gregg the Preterist position. There were about ten topics that were discussed and each position was allotted 15 minutes each to explicate their position on the topic at hand. Thanks to Brian Turner of Oil Station Ministries for organizing the event and providing us the audio.
The format was a positive presentation. That is, there would be no debate or critiquing the other respective positions. It would just be presentations. Cooper and myself were pushing hard for a dynamic interaction format instead. We did not want merely monologues, but dialogues since we are convinced that the locus of truth and accountability is found in interaction between the proponents to prevent theological traditions from “talking past each other.” My experience is that the audience is mostly benefited from dialogues since it often brings out more substantive discussions. It’s orderly, and that interaction often is very profitable for the audience to enjoy more meaningful discussion. And it’s Biblical! “The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.” Proverbs 18:17
Nevertheless, even though we did not get the interaction level that we desired, Cooper decided to participate since we know that in the long run through the audio that is provided many people who were not in attendance will hear his presentations. Also, the organizer has intimated to me that he is amendable for future opportunities of debate and other mediums of meaningful interaction that we desire.
So I will post Cooper’s presentations over the course of time (10 topics, 15 minutes each), and we will utilize Thomas Ice and Steve Gregg’s presentations for future radio programs to respond and interact with their own segments.
In the first session, Cooper prefaces a couple of remarks about interpretive principles and the structural framework of the book of Revelation. Then most of his time is spent explicating Daniel 9:24-27. For Cooper’s detailed discussion and advanced new research on this locus classicus, he devotes the last third of his book: God’s Elect and the Great Tribulation: An Interpretation of Matthew 24:1-31 and Daniel 9.
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Today I was listening to a lecture by a well known Amillennial author and he made the same error that I hear so many times by Amillennialists. He said that the first event of the millennium is the binding of Satan which happened at Christ’s First Coming. This can be found, he said, in the millennial passage in Revelation chapter 20 starting at verse 1 through 6.
This is in error. The literary unit of the passage militates against this interpretation because the event of the binding of Satan is only part of a larger passage which begins back in Revelation 19:11 and includes the destiny of the “three enemies of God” when Christ comes back — the Beast, False prophet, and then the Dragon, Satan. The timing of the destiny of Satan should not be disconnected from the other two enemies of God — but this point is frequently ignored by Amillennialists.
For my discussion on the context read my article here. This will equip you to correct the Amillennialist next time they want to dive right in the middle of this passage without giving consideration of the preceding context. Building brick walls with chapter breaks is not practicing sound exegesis.
It has been assumed in traditional eschatological writings and discussions that the battle of Armageddon unfolds at the end of the “70th week of Daniel.” This wrong conclusion resulted from a misunderstanding of the timing of Antichrist’s destruction, the last trumpet and the bowls in Revelation, as well as ignoring Daniel’s teaching that there is a 75 day period that follows after the 7 years. This 75-day time frame is divided into a 30 day period followed by a 45 day period.
11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.” Daniel 12:11-13
This 75 day period has important events unfolding within it, including the battle of Armageddon happening 30 days into it. Follow Charles Cooper here as he exegetically demonstrates this.