Dear Bill,

I appreciate your quotes from Fox's understanding of Christ's fulfillment of the Lord's Supper in His Second Appearing, as reported by the Apostle John in Revelation. I know a little about Preterism, but never thought of Fox's idea that the "Marriage Supper of The Lamb" as now being the spiritual meaning of the "sacrament" for this age. I like that very much.

 Are there any of his writings or teachings still extant so I can learn more about his thinking on the book of Revelation ?

Thank you, Richard

Hi Richard,

I'm glad you were touched by this.  Actually, Fox quoted more often from the book of Revelation than from any other biblical book!  He clearly believed that the Revelation of Christ to the prophet John was a pivotal event in history.  He saw that as the beginning of the "Second Coming" (as do preterists).  He also believed that this First Century coming (or Parousia) marked the end of the Old Covenant system and the beginning of the New Covenant in its fulness (as do preterists).  He believed that the Marriage Supper in Revelation 19 depicted Christ's spiritual communion with His people in His Kingdom (which began in John's time and has been ongoing since), and this is also the belief of preterists.  Fox also believed that the New Heavens and Earth, and the New Jerusalem, were symbolic of the New Covenant Age (not literal pictures of a future change in the physical universe) and this is also what preterists believe.  Fox didn't take a preterist approach with everything in Revelation.  Things which had their primary historical fulfillment in the events surrounding the early Christians and Nero and the Roman-Jewish Wars and destruction of Jerusalem (according to the preterist view) were applied by Fox to the spiritual upheavals and battles of his own time.  He used Revelation creatively and prophetically to address his own contemporary situation.

I have a book that has very helpful material about Fox's use of Revelation, but it has long been out of print.  It's titled The Day of the Lord: Eschatology in Quaker Perspective.  Each chapter is written by a different author.  If you could find a copy I know you'd find it useful.  Another book which would be a good choice is Apocalypse of the Word: The Life and Message of George Fox, by Douglas Gwyn.  This is also an older book, but it's still readily available at Amazon.  I hope this helps!

Bill

Hello Bill,

Thank you for adding me as a Friend. I am grateful for your comment to me re Fox and his treatment of Revelation. I will try and locate the books you recommended.

 I was drawn to Quakers by the teaching of the ongoing witness of the Spirit to the believer's inner man. I had come to realize this truth sometime ago, though not in the precise way that Fox, Barclay and other Friends express it.

I knew the Spirit had to make the Truth directly known by revelation to the believer's heart, even through the Scriptures, or Scripture is just a dead letter. But, the understanding of Christ continually speaking, in this and every age, through, or apart from, the written scripture, is a new and wonderful discovery. I often wondered about that "still small voice" that saved me from several potentially serious dangers throughout the years.

Any further advice for study will be appreciated.

Thanks again,

Richard