According to the scriptures, who is the final authority of the Bible’s eschatology? We are told by many futurists that the writers of the New Testament simply didn’t understand either the time or the nature of Jesus’ Second Coming, or the establishment of the Kingdom of God. So, who is the authority of Biblical interpretation, the New Testament writers or the futurists—the amillennialists, premillennialists and postmillennialists? Where does eisegesis leave off and sola scriptura begin? If the New Testament authors believed and said one thing, but the futurists conclude they were naive and really didn’t know the gravity of the things they pointed out, aren’t the futurists telling us that sola scriptura doesn’t apply to how the New Testament authors described both the time and the nature of Jesus’ Second Coming?
First of all, we need to understand that it was the Old Testament Prophets not the New Testament authors who didn’t know the time or the nature of what they predicted. Daniel, the prophet, said he didn’t understand what he was told (Daniel 12:8), and he was told that the vision was sealed and closed until the time of the end (Daniel 12:9), but many at that time, i.e. ‘the time of the end’ would be wise and understand (Daniel 12:3).
Secondly, the scriptures in the New Testament categorize the realities of the Old Testament as typological for the purpose of instructing the believers in the New Testament age. Paul claimed that what occurred under Moses happened for the benefit of believers in Christ, upon whom the end of the age had come (1Corinthians 10:6, 11). Notice, not only did Paul claim believers were instructed by the failure of the people in the Old Testament, but he claimed “the end of the age” had come upon those believers in the first century AD. More could be said of the fact that everything having to do with Temple worship was given to Moses after a “pattern” he saw in the mount (Hebrews 8:5; see also Colossians 2:16-17). That is, that the physical things served to point to the heavenly (or spiritual) things.
Next, we find the New Testament authors interpreting those things found in the Old Testament prophecies in a spiritual manner (cf. 1Peter 2:5-6; Ephesians 2:22; Romans 12:1-2).
As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look. (1 Peter 1:10-12; emphasis mine)
Notice that the Old Testament prophets wanted to know the meaning of what they prophesied, but it was revealed to them that they served another generation—that of the first century AD believers. Also, consider the fact that those who preached the Gospel were their interpreters, as guided by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Apostles were the final authorities of the nature and the time of the Second Coming and the Kingdom of God that was promised by Jesus.
Finally, the New Testament authors tell us that those living in the first century AD were the ones living in the last days (cf. 1Corinthians 10:11; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10; Philippians 4:5; Hebrews 1:2; 9:26; 10:37; 1Peter 1:5, 20; 1John 2:18). It isn’t we, but the first century AD believers who lived in the last days. Those days refer not to ‘the end of time’ or ‘the end of the universe’ but of “the end” of the Old Covenant, “the last days” of the Jewish nation.
I don’t know how these things could be missed by folks who believe in sola scriptura, because it is very clear what kind of Kingdom the writers of the New Testament tell us God promised. To contradict Peter and Paul and the other writers simply denies the clear teaching of scripture. Either the word of God is important enough to trump the doctrines of men or it isn’t, and I think it is high time folks begin to look at what they believe and / or teach about the nature of Jesus’ parousia and his Kingdom. It is important, and it makes a difference. Jesus kept his promise to us. He vindicated us by returning when he claimed he would, and we need to vindicate him amid the false teaching that that says he didn’t keep his promise yet—2000 years and still waiting! May God forgive us.
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