Religious Fundamentalism

Full Reports on the Bible & Theology Course - 2004

Book of Revelation and Fundamentalism

For many Christian denominations, especially for those who form Christian fundamentalist groups, the Book of Revelation is the most important book in the Bible. Because Revelation uses symbolic and coded language, it can be easily misused by the fundamentalists. Several such groups have used this book as a resource material for working up timetables for the world's "end time" scenarios. They claim to spot in the Book of Revelation exact predictions of the end of the world and of the events that must precede the end. These people interpret the book literally (and without using their critical mind) with respect to the nature, time, and the manner of the arrival of God's glorious reign. This way, they misuse the book as a time-schedule for the last days to which they alone have the right key.

The Symbolic meaning of the number 666

The symbolic meaning of the "beast" given in Rev 3:18 is the object of much debate. Some fundamentalists interpret the mysterious number 666 mentioned in Rev 13:18 as referring to the Pope in Rome. The catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Pope is "Vicar of Christ". Fundamentalists argue that the title "Vicar of Christ" (Vicarius Christi) has a numerical value of 666. According to them, the Pope had used the title "Vicar of the Son of God". The letters of this title in Latin - Vicarius Filii Dei, have the numerical value of 666, because Latin, like most other ancient languages, used letters of the alphabet to represent numbers. However, there are many things wrong with this argument. Firstly, no Pope in the history of the Church has ever used the title "Vicar of the Son of God" or Vicarius Filii Dei. Next, although the letters of Vicarius Filii Dei do add up to 666, the letters of Vicarius Christi do not. Protestants who are against Catholics, being not able to use Vicarius Christi to their advantage, turned to a similar-sounding title, and claim that the Pope is the beast.

Millennialism

Bible verses Rev 20:1-6 have given rise to what is known as Millennialism. The word "millennium" represents a period of 1000 years. The Book of Revelation mentions a period of 1000 years over which holiness is to prevail on earth and Christ is to reign on earth. Fundamentalist sects such as Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, etc. insist on the literal meaning of the above verses and maintain that Christ will literally return to the earth in order to establish an earthly kingdom that will last for one thousand years. However, there is disagreement among these sects over the time of the second coming of Christ. The "Premillennialists" believe that the visible second coming will precede the millennial reign and the last judgement will take place at the end of the thousand years. Most of the Pentecostal sects are Premillennialists. The "Postmillennialists" however believe that Christ's second coming follows the millennial reign. In their view, the gospel will be preached throughout the world, and a gradual conquest by the gospel will usher in the millennial reign of Christ. At the end of the 1000-year reign will be the second coming of Christ. Jehovah's Witnesses are Postmillennialists.

The Catholic position is that of St Augustine who understands the "thousand-year reign" symbolically as referring to the whole history of the Church, from Christ's resurrection until His second coming. This symbolic interpretation of one thousand years is more consistent with symbolism of numbers in the Book of Revelation. The number "one thousand" is, thus, symbolic of a long period of time.

Introduction   Biblical Fundamentalism   Challenges Today
Book of Rev. & Fundamentalism   Jehovah's Witnesses   Teachings of JWs
Pentecostal Churches   Characteristics of Pentecostals

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