The Prophecies of Paul: 1 and 2 Thessalonians

For B. B. Warfield's view of Paul's predictions about the "Coming of the Lord", "Man of Sin", "Restraining Power", and "Restrainer" -- read pages 30-44 of his article on "The Prophecies of Paul:1 and 2 Thessalonians" (here)

The salient points of the article are summarized in a power point slide show (here).

If you want the bottom line only, here it is. For comparison I have inserted Gary DeMar's views from his book "Last Days Madness".

Man of Sin: Single emperor or line of emperors? Probably the latter.


(While a political man of sin is plausible, a better fit is a religious man of sin, ie., Jewish religious leaders led by the high priest – DeMar)

Restraining Power: appears to be the Jewish state.

(Roman civil government – DeMar)

The Restrainer: possibly James of Jerusalem

(possibly King Agrippa – DeMar)

The Apostasy: obviously the great apostasy of the Jews.

(DeMar agrees with Warfield on the Apostasy.)

Rev. Joe Morecraft's sermon on 2 Thessalonians 2 is connected with Warfield's views and is helpful. (here)

The Problem and Challenge of Studying Eschatology

So GRITS and I are going to travel Richard P. Belcher's theological novel, A Journey to Eschatology. It can be obtained from http://www.richbarrypress.com/ and is a JourneyBook Part One. Ira Pointer, who also was the main character in A Journey in Grace which we both have read, goes on a search for his real father and is forced to deal with the topic.

In the preface Belcher writes: "The study of eschatology (the doctrine of final things) may very well be the most difficult of the various areas of theological study! . . . Be assured that this is not a call for eschatological agnosticism, but a call for eschatological caution. This is that we study eschatology with a painstaking carefulness, a cautious deliberateness, a meticulous attentiveness to details, along with a Christ-like humility towards others with whom we may not agree." p. i and p. iii

Belcher's Theological Novels

I just finished reading Journey in Grace by Richard. P. Belcher. The lead narrator Ira is a student studying to become ordained. In the meanwhile he is serving his second Baptist church and he is engaged to Terry whom he marries in the last chapter. There are several subplots and always theological inquiry with Terry. Throughout the novel they study Calvinism, the definitions, Scriptural basis for the five points of Calvinism and the questions that Calvinism generates. Their inquiry ends just before they marry.
https://www.audubonpress.net/product.php?productid=8

At the end of the novel, the narrator Ira writes: "As we left the church after the reception, the question crossed my mind, 'What theological search shall I make next?' The answer came immediately--'Eschatology!' " Belcher did write such a book, but it is out of stock now. Here is how it is described.

A Journey in Eschatology - A Theological Novel

"Dr. Richard Belcher This is the continuing story of Ira Pointer, as he faces another theological search. Thinking he is free of such pursuits for a while, he is again suddenly thrust into the most difficult of all quests, the search to unravel the various eschatological (pertaining to the last day) views of his day. His mind is at times boggled by the many eschatological terms, and claims -- Pre-mil, post-mil, a-mil, preterist, historicist, pre-trib, post-trib, etc. But not only is he searching for an understanding of theology in this difficult area, but he is involved with another search. We learn in this book that he was reared in a children's home, having been abandoned by his parents at 2 years of age. So when the writing of this book opens the door to search for his birth parents, he at first rejects the possibility, but then after prayer, becomes deeply involved in that arduous and even dangerous challenge."

Anyone out there read A Journey in Eschatology?