Posted on 05/24/2025 10:36:11 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Were the Puritans aligned in their eschatological views? This article examines various theologies of eschatology that emerged between the 17th and 18th centuries, focusing on seven prominent Puritan writers and their unique perspectives. We’re going to look at Owen, Goodwin, the Mathers (father and son), Edwards, Turreting and Wittsius.
Each of these Puritan writers offers unique interpretations of eschatology that draw on specific passages from the Bible, particularly the book of Revelation. Their arguments, however, were not without their weaknesses. For example, premillennialists like Cotton Mather faced the challenge of reconciling their beliefs with passages that suggest a more spiritual interpretation of the end times, while postmillennialists such as Jonathan Edwards grappled with the problem of evil in a world where Christ’s reign was believed to be imminent.
John Owen (1616-1683) believed in the progressive revelation of God’s truth. In his work “The Advantage of Christ’s Kingdom” (John Owen, “The Advantage of Christ’s Kingdom,” in Shaking of the Kingdoms of the World (1651), Owen posited that the Second Coming of Christ would be preceded by the triumph of the gospel, which would occur through the gradual conversion of people around the world. This understanding of eschatology is rooted in the idea that God’s purpose and plan for humanity are revealed incrementally throughout history, culminating in the full realization of God’s kingdom on earth.
Owen’s eschatological perspective can be seen as a response to the pessimistic outlook of many of his contemporaries, who believed that the world was in a state of irreversible moral decline. By contrast, Owen emphasized the transformative power of the gospel and the potential for spiritual renewal in the hearts of individuals. He argued that as more people embraced the message of Christ, the world would gradually be transformed and prepared for Christ’s return.
(Excerpt) Read more at thelogcollege.wordpress.com ...
Views about the 2nd coming ultimately boil down to one’s views about the 1st coming. How much did Christ really accomplish on behalf of the human race the first time around…And how long will it take to unpack this side of eternity…
Context also matters. It’s easy to project the realities of one’s own time and place to the whole scope of God’s plan…But we don’t know what massive, miraculous reversals of global fortune lie around the corner…
And yet Christ declared in Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
It hinges on whether one is intimate with the OT Prophets.
You clarified my point. It’s about how we view Christ and what HE accomplished and fulfilled in terms of prophecy already:
17 “Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ~ Matthew 5
IOW, the Puritans maintained the classic interpretations of the end times since early Christendom.
Also, the Puritan premillennialist were historic premillennialists, and not dispensational premillennialists.
Thanks for the article. It was an eye-opener for me to learn that both Goodwin and Cotton Mather were premillennial.
Interesting. Thanks for the post.
This
Very interesting. I learned something today. Thanks.
Yes, this.
The "we are in end times" crowd is getting a little tedious to put up with.
"The end" will be some time between 10 minutes from now and millions of years.
Modern day Millerites have been prattling forever that the world is coming to an end soon.
The future’s uncertain and the end is always near.
The Puritans agree on *anything*? They were such a quarrelsome lot, constantly fighting and arguing amongst themselves. One bunch would declare another bunch wasn’t pure enough and kick them out and exile them. They’d go form another settlement, only to have the same thing happen, and that settlement would split up. Sometimes, the ones who thought the others weren’t pure enough would self-deport and go form another settlement.
Okay, they agreed on one thing : hating mince pie. Yes, mince pie! They even outlawed it. I love mince pie, and for some reason, it amuses me to think how horrified my Puritan ancestors would be as I enjoy it with vanilla ice cream on Christmas Day. “In your eye, Puritan ancestors — I’m having my pie!”
Star Trek future history puts the invention of warp drive at 2062,
issac Newton put the second coming of Christ at 2060.
Ray Kurizweil put the singularity first at about 2045. But he’s been shortiening that distance since to before 2040.
Elon Mjusk wants a million people on mars by 2050 or so.
So its not unreasonable to think there will be large offword migrations starting in the next 40 years or so. (byo of comparison the writght brothers first flew in 1906 and the first man set foot on the moon less than 60 years later.)
Here’s my point. All these off world migrations will look like the tribulation. But they won’t be the tribulation.
the large post mil consensus only started in the mid 19th century
similarly dispensationalism started about the same time
“Also, the Puritan premillennialist were historic premillennialists, and not dispensational premillennialists.”
Indeed, and that would include Cotton Mather, he was Historic Premillennialist, he was not a Dispensational Premillennialist.
If the Christian rapture preceeds the Jewish tribulation, what’s the big deal?
About 2,000 demon possessed swine in the scriptures wouldn’t look like an unit of time until we get to the end of the about 2,000 years.
Neither does about 2,000 cubits in the Old Testament scriptures look like a unit of time in relation to New Covenant Israel, distance from the Ark and the Promised Land, until about 2,000 years after His Death, Burial and Resurrection.
And maybe what people do agree about these days may be a product of Satan’s influence over these last 2,000 years which overlap with Satan’s Legion (6,000) of years.
Another flame baiting thread?
What difference does it make?
That was hundreds of years ago. And besides, from what you’ve indicated, you aren’t even Protestant. You’re Catholic.
So why does it matter and what’s the point of bringing it up?
Considering the shape this world is in and what evil is capable of with technology we have as the evil among us abuse it, do you seriously think we’re going to last millions of years?
If we survive to the end of the century, I’d be surprised.
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