George Eldon Ladd

[9Rock9]

What can you tell me about George Eldon Ladd's eschatology?

He seems pretty influential in evangelicalism, but I couldn't find much aboht his views other than he's a historic premillennialist and is credited with the "already-and-not-yet" approach to prophecy.

The main thing I am figuring out with eschatology is balancing the symbolism with literalism. On one hand, I don't think it makes much sense to interpret Revelation literally due to its genre and the heavy use of symbolic imagery. I also think some forms of premillennialism, especially dispensationalism can be tol rigid and woodenly literalistic.

On the other hand, I think some other views like idealism, preterism and amillennialism can sometimes over-spiritualize prophecy.

Yeah, there's a lot of symbolism, but symbols still mean things.

So, I am wondering if there is a balance to this? How does George Eldon Ladd approach literalism and symbolism?

 

[RandyPNW]

I think I only recently answered these questions. Nevertheless, I'll give it a go again.

I'm a big fan of GE Ladd, and share his brand of Postrib Premill. There are some areas I've disagreed with his positions, but are insignificant compared with how I've valued his contributions.

Yes, Revelation is filled with symbolism. I think the genre relates to the fact that God wanted His People to somewhat hide their positions towards the ungodly world in order to not mislead them to conclude our atttitude is hateful. Also, keeping things in symbols and parables gives enemies less ammunition to go after us.

The 2 major Postrib authors in my era were Ladd and Rober Gundry. Gundry takes some views that assumes some Dispensationalistic ideas are true, such as the future of Israel. But both men were non-Dispensationalist Postribulationists.

Ladd did see how Jesus applied his Gospel of the Kingdom as something that is immediately effective in our time, even though it speaks of a future Kingdom. I would not call the present impact of the Kingdom any sense of being the actual *future Kingdom.* But God's Kingdom eternally exists, past, present, and future. As such, God's judgments are always active, even though in the future human civilization will reach a place of final judgment.

 

[9Rock9]

I think I only recently answered these questions. Nevertheless, I'll give it a go again.

I'm a big fan of GE Ladd, and share his brand of Postrib Premill. There are some areas I've disagreed with his positions, but are insignificant compared with how I've valued his contributions.

Yes, Revelation is filled with symbolism. I think the genre relates to the fact that God wanted His People to somewhat hide their positions towards the ungodly world in order to not mislead them to conclude our atttitude is hateful. Also, keeping things in symbols and parables gives enemies less ammunition to go after us.

The 2 major Postrib authors in my era were Ladd and Rober Gundry. Gundry takes some views that assumes some Dispensationalistic ideas are true, such as the future of Israel. But both men were non-Dispensationalist Postribulationists.

Ladd did see how Jesus applied his Gospel of the Kingdom as something that is immediately effective in our time, even though it speaks of a future Kingdom. I would not call the present impact of the Kingdom any sense of being the actual *future Kingdom.* But God's Kingdom eternally exists, past, present, and future. As such, God's judgments are always active, even though in the future human civilization will reach a place of final judgment.

How do you understand verses that imply the kingdom is already here, like Colossians 1:13?

 

[RandyPNW]

How do you understand verses that imply the kingdom is already here, like Colossians 1:13?

As I said God's Kingdom is eternal, past, present, and future. He is always "King" over all of His Creation. When the Prophets spoke of the coming Messianic Kingdom, they were referring to a particular application of God's eternal Kingdom. I call it the Eschatological Kingdom. That Kingdom is near, but not yet here.