Hi doris,

I downloaded the series and have listened to lextures 23 and 24. Being what 
Professor Koester calls a dispensationalist, I would disagree with his 
protrayal of our system of literal interpretation of Scriture. In 
particular, he seems to find fault with symbolism, i.e., the dragon of 
chapter 12 being symbolic of
Satan as a possible example. In the literal method of interpretation, 
symbolism is only one of the various forms of comminication used in the 
Bible. I suppose one could argue over what is symbolic or not, but that 
doesn't change the fact that symbolic terms are used in the Bible. Jesus 
also used many parables. How many times have people used the account in Luke 
16 of the rich man and Lazarus as a parable? However, if one bothers to 
check it out, Scripture never defines it as a parable such as Jesus told in 
Matthew 13 where he gave and explained many parables. A parable is an 
allegory conveying a moral, an allegory is a symbolic story. It would seem 
to me that Koester is an allegorist. It is my feeling that allegorical 
interpretation is very subjective as you may have noticed. The opinion 
and/or prejudice of the individual becomes an integral part of his or her 
interpretation. Also, he placed the origin of dispensationalism at the feet 
of John Darby as many non-dispensationalist do with which I disagree. Once 
instance, and I forget the specific name of the group, was located in Italy 
in the twelfth century.
Well, enough of my little rant!  I rather imagine the earlier lectures 
doubtless have some interesting and informative material.  Thank for posting 
the series.

Listening for His shout at the Rapture!

Grant

BTW, I am currently teachng through First Thessalonians which has much to 
say about the Rapture, an important part of the dispensational literal 
interpretation of he Apocalypse.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doris and Chris" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2012 8:33 AM
Subject: Craig R. Koester - Apocalypse Controversies And Meaning In Western 
History" (Teaching Company audio course)


> >
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>>Koester - Apocalypse Controversies And Meaning In Western History.zip (138 
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>><http://www.sendspace.com/file/lxuo5k>http://www.sendspace.com/file/lxuo5k
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> Professor Craig R. Koester, Ph.D., "Apocalypse: Controversies and Meaning 
> in Western History" [The Great Courses]
> DVDRip, M4V, AVC, ~ 1500 kbps, 640x480 | English, AAC, 128 kbps, 2 Ch | 
> 24x30 mins | + PDF Guide | 8.5 GB
> Genre: eLearning
>
> Exiled to the island of Patmos over 1,900 years ago, a prophet named John 
> wrote a remarkable letter to fellow Christians. That letter is the 
> Apocalypse
> of John, also known as the book of Revelation, and Christians and 
> non-Christians alike have been debating its message ever since.