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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