The Apocalyptic Interpretation Of Thomas Brightman And Joseph Mede -- By: Robert Clouse

Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 11:4 (Fall 1968)
Article: The Apocalyptic Interpretation Of Thomas Brightman And Joseph Mede
Author: Robert Clouse


The Apocalyptic Interpretation Of
Thomas Brightman And Joseph Mede

Robert Clouse, Ph.D.**

[* Associate Professor of History, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana.]

Through the centuries of the Christian era many individuals have clung to, a belief in a literal kingdom of Christ which should be established upon this earth, a view which has been called millenarianism or chiliasm. Though this interpretation has persisted, it has rarely been the prevailing opinion. There are at least two periods in the history of the age, however, when millennial teaching has been widely believed by Christians. In the first of these, the first through the third centuries, great numbers of Christians were convinced that Christ would soon return in power and majesty and that when He did, it would be to establish a thousand year reign of peace on earth. These early Christians suffered great persecution and many of them responded to this by vigorously affirming their faith in this coming age when there would be no wrongs done by man to, man. From one of these early believers, the Apostle John, came the inspired apocalypse known as the Book of Revelation. This book, an eschatological prophecy of peculiar poetic power, has been the object of intensive study by those who are interested in this kingdom of Christ.

An example of early prophetic enthusiasm is seen in the movement known as Montanism. Montanus lived in Phrygia, and in A.D. 156 he declared himself to be the incarnation of the Holy Spirit who was to reveal things to come. The great theme of the future as presented by him was the imminent coming of the kingdom of God to Phrygian soil where all the saints were to live. The Montanists spread their teachings throughout the Roman world and since they gloried in martyrdom, the persecution of the Christians from A.D. 177 onwards favored the spread of their movement. Tertullian joined this movement in the third century and though they had ceased to look for the New Jerusalem to, be established in Phrygia they still believed in the coming kingdom. In fact the expectation of the appearance of Christ was so vivid that some believed the New Jerusalem seemed already hovering over the earth in readiness for its descent, and Tertullian records how the soldiers of Severus’ army had seen its walls on the horizon, shining in the light of dawn, for forty days, as they marched through Palestine. One should not think that all of these millenarians of the early ages were Montanists, however. Justin Martyr, Papias Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and Lactantius are all examples of orthodox writers who held to the view of a literal kingdom of Christ on earth. 1

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