Posted on 12/04/2015 6:10:04 PM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Evangelicals in America have been calling Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson's faith into question since discovering he is a Seventh Day Adventist. The Seventh Day Adventists have a wide range of beliefs so most Bible-believing Americans decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
But now... He just went off the deep end of theology. In what seems to be an entire attempt at discrediting the teachings of Christianity by Jesus Christ himself, Carson elaborates on his beliefs. The Republican candidate dismisses the Rapture, saying he doesn't see any evidence for it in the Bible. (See the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:30-31). Then Carson makes a statement that blew the minds of Christians in America...
"I don't believe there is a physical place where people go and are tormented. No. I don't believe that," he said. (See... all of the Gospels)
Carson says he knows some people will disagree with him... (including Jesus). He said, "There's going to be different interpretations. You know, I see God as a very loving individual. And why would he torment somebody forever who only had a life of 60 or 70 or 80 years? Even if they were evil. Even if they were only evil for 80 years?"
Ummm... sin Carson... sin. See Genesis 3. See Romans 1.
Someone needs to sit down with Ben Carson and walk him through the Bible because as it stands, he is NOT a believer in the teachings of Jesus Christ, which means he is NOT a follower of Christ aka a Christian.
(Excerpt) Read more at conservativepost.com ...
Amen.
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Paul made it clear that Yeshua’s coming “in the spirit” could not be eminent. There are things that he said must come first, and they have not happened yet, but come he must!
Most will behold the event with great dread.
Those he comes for won’t have time to think about it, and those that disregarded his commandment to watch will know in that instant that they have lost the greatest bet of all time.
If a person believes in the Bible— and I do— that’s the only sensible conclusion you can come to. See John 14:6, John 3:16-18, Mark 16; 15&.16. Faith in Christ is only part of it, obedience to Christ is a must also: Acts 2:38, Rom. 10:9 & 10, Heb.5: 8 & 9, and Heb.3:12
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>> “There is no biblical requirement to believe in Hell or the rapture as a condition of salvation” <<
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The parable of the Virgins says otherwise.
So does John’s first epistle.
Matthew 10:34-35 says plainly that he came to divide us.
That which is divisive is truth.
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>> One word for Hell can be interpreted as “nothingness.†<<
The word most used for hell likens it to the continually burning garbage dump of Jerusalem, Ghenna.
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True Christians know that “Christmas” has nothing whatsoever to do with their savior, and dishonors his memory by celebrating the day that the sungod worshipers murdered new born children in the fire of Ashtoreth.
Thanks be to YHVH that we can repent and receive his grace.
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Yes according to Matt 10:34-35 the Lord comes to divide us from our natural relations. By virtue of being a believer we are separated from the unbelievers.
AMONG the believers, however, there should be no division: John 17:22-23; 1 Cor 1:10-13; 1 Cor 11:17-18; 1 Cor. 12:25; Gal 3:28; Gal 5:19-20; Titus 3:10
And finally I would point to Romans 14:1-13. If you read nothing else, this passage makes my point. If you deem Carson weak, “then receive [him], but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his considerations.”
What Did Christ Actually Teach?
Many are firmly convinced Jesus must have taught the immortality of the soul, because they have heard that He actually taught this doctrine.
But did He?
Let's find out what the Bible says.
When Jesus sent out His disciples on a training mission during His ministry, He gave them instructions for their journey. He knew they would come in contact with men who hated the truth, who would even try to kill some of them. Because of this, He said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt. 10:28). Christ said very plainly the "soul" (Greek — psuche) can be destroyed by a fire!
When a young man came to Jesus and asked what good thing he should do to obtain eternal life, Christ didn't inform him that he already possessed it, in the form of an "immortal" soul. Rather, He said, "...but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matt. 19:17). The "golden text" of the Bible is another proof "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but [on the other hand] have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Even this most-often-quoted scripture of the Bible shows that Jesus Christ came that humans would not perish, and that they might, on the other hand, enter into everlasting life. Christ told a group of people when they told Him of the dead Galileans, "I tell you, Nay: but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3-5).
What About Lazarus? Most professing Christians believe the basis for the doctrine of the "immortality" of the soul is found in Christ's parable of Lazarus and the rich man. But, most do not realize what the Bible actually says about this parable. You will see that the beggar and the rich man BOTH DIED (Luke 16:22). Space does not permit a full, detailed explanation of this parable here. If you have not yet read the amazing booklet Is There A Real Hell Fire?
Some astounding questions would be precipitated if the pagan doctrine of the immortal soul were true. Why, if the "soul" immediately departs to go to its "heavenly reward" at death, did Jesus Christ resurrect His beloved friend Lazarus?
Why, if the whole purpose of Jesus Christ was to save our souls, did He call Lazarus back into the frail, human body, when he had been experiencing "heavenly bliss" for four whole days? (John 11.) Does this make sense? Is it logical?
The answer is obvious.
Jesus did not teach any such doctrine of the "immortality of the soul" at all! Rather, He taught that the "soul" would perish unless it repented, and He showed that God had the power to burn it up in Gehenna fire, which is the second death.
What About the Early Church? The major teaching of the early New Testament Church centered around Jesus Christ — and His resurrection from the dead!
Paul, in His inspired letter to the Corinthians, explained: "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain" (I Cor. 15:12-14).
But — why would a resurrection of the body be needed, if the soul were already in heaven? The answer is simple — the entire New Testament proves it — the soul does not go to heaven — it dies, and goes to the grave.
The only real hope of a Christian, as taught by the original inspired Church, was to attain to the resurrection. They knew and understood the only way to attain eternal life was through a resurrection from the dead. "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead" (Phil. 3:10-11).
Paul repeatedly explained this great mystery, and preached it unceasingly to the Gentile Christians of his day. Paul said, "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3), and went on to explain, in the entire fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians, that the dead must be raised, or else our entire faith is vain (verses 16-17); that the physical man is earthy (verse 47); and that a change via a resurrection is necessary before we may have eternal life (verse 52).
On the day of Pentecost, when the Church was built, God inspired the Apostle Peter to say, "Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day" (Acts 2:29).
Peter went on to say, "For David is not ascended into the heavens.. ." (verse 34). Did you notice it? David, a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), was not up in heaven!
Souls Under the Altar WHAT are the "souls under the altar" mentioned in Revelation 6:9-11? Some claim these verses prove the immortality of the soul. But the Bible itself proves that souls are mortal by nature, and that the entire description is symbolic.
John was "in the spirit" (Rev. 4:2) during the entire duration of the opening of the Seven Seals. The events John saw in spirit were not happening! They were to happen "hereafter" (Rev. 4:1) .
What did John see? He saw in vision a book, or scroll, which Jesus began to open (Rev. 5:5). As each seal was revealed, John saw a heavenly enactment of what was to take place on earth.
As Christ came to the Fifth Seal, John "saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain." The biblical interpretation of these Seven Seals is given in Matthew 24. The Fifth Seal is symbolic of the tribulation (Matt. 24:9-28).
The tribulation came on the saints of God in type, during the Middle Ages, and it will come yet again. The souls that "were slain" were told to "rest yet for a little season, until their fellows wants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled" (Rev. 6:9, 11).
The souls crying "Avenge our blood" are analogous to Abel's blood "crying unto God from the ground" (Gen. 4:10). Blood doesn't talk! The representation is obviously not literal, but symbolic.
The "souls under the altar" are merely a symbolic representation of the martyrdom of saints. Just as the blood of the bullock in Old Testament sacrifices was poured under the altar (Lev. 4:7), so these saints appear to John to be under the altar. Just as the prayers of saints are compared to incense brought to a heavenly altar (Rev. 5:8; 8:3), so the prayers of these martyred saints come up to God's altar, in symbolic vision.
These saints who have died in Christ are not in heaven, on earth, in limbo, purgatory, or any other animated state. They are "asleep" in their graves, awaiting the resurrection at Christ's coming (I Thess. 4:15-17). At that time, they will "reign on the earth" (Rev. 5:10; 20:4).
So all observant Jews are going to hell, right? Even religious, conservative Jews like Dennis Prager, Mark Levin, and many others? You have heard of the Judeo-Christian ethic that is the foundation of all American laws haven’t you?
He not only appears to be not a true Christian, but he has NO business running for POTUS.
A white man with Carson’s ‘qualifications’ would have been laughed off the stage long ago.
Drop it, Carson- and by the way, stop prescribing yourself those ‘pills’. It shows via your sleepy demeanor, confusion and glassy eyes.
2794 This biblical expression does not mean a place (“space"), but a way of being; it does not mean that God is distant, but majestic. Our Father is not "elsewhere": he transcends everything we can conceive of his holiness. It is precisely because he is thrice holy that he is so close to the humble and contrite heart.
"Our Father who art in heaven" is rightly understood to mean that God is in the hearts of the just, as in his holy temple. At the same time, it means that those who pray should desire the one they invoke to dwell in them.54
"Heaven" could also be those who bear the image of the heavenly world, and in whom God dwells and tarries.55
2795 The symbol of the heavens refers us back to the mystery of the covenant we are living when we pray to our Father. He is in heaven, his dwelling place; the Father's house is our homeland. Sin has exiled us from the land of the covenant,56 but conversion of heart enables us to return to the Father, to heaven.57 Jn Christ, then, heaven and earth are reconciled,58 for the Son alone "descended from heaven" and causes us to ascend there with him, by his Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension.59
2796 When the Church prays "our Father who art in heaven," she is professing that we are the People of God, already seated "with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" and "hidden with Christ in God;"60 yet at the same time, "here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling."61
[Christians] are in the flesh, but do not live according to the flesh. They spend their lives on earth, but are citizens of heaven.62
IN BRIEF
2802 "Who art in heaven" does not refer to a place but to God's majesty and his presence in the hearts of the just. Heaven, the Father's house, is the true homeland toward which we are heading and to which, already, we belong.
IV. HELL
1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: "He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."612 Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren.613 To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called "hell."
One can be a follower of Christ and still have faulty theology. We are saved by Christ, not by correct doctrine.
The conclusion of this article is heartless, even dangerous. Orthodoxy doesn’t save us, Christ does.
I’m a Cruz girl through and through but I study the Bible and he’s right in that there is no EARLY rapture, where Christians disappear and leave non believers to languish here for 7 years. Also, the lake of fire burns them up and they’re gone forever, they are not continually burned. That is what he’s saying. The torment is from being seperated from God forever.
That’s mormons, not SDA
There’s definitely a rapture but not a secret one. EVERYONE will see/hear/feel it when it happens. Christians will rise to meet Christ in the air and the rest will be destroyed.
might I offer a clarification, in my view, that you are absolutely right that the secret rapture is 200 years old and not Biblically sound, BUT...we do get raptured at Christ’s return as we rise to meet him in the air. The word associated with ‘rise’ is a word they used when an official was coming; you’d go out to meet them and then return with the official.
That’s what happens with us; we return to the new heaven/new earth with Him.
Oh for crying out loud. He is wrong, but it doesn't make him the anti-Christ. He's a material heretic, since he holds his belief in good faith, is not a formal member of Christ's Church, and does not deliberately reject the Teaching of Christ's Church.
We're probably all material heretics in some way.
And if Carson isn't a Christian because he rejects hell, then what is Trump, the man who doesn't need forgiveness?
Agreed.
And the only way to know the truth is to read HIS Word. Many, many people do NOT read the Bible. When we pray, we’re talking to God, but when we read His Word, He’s talking to us.
he’s actually not wrong about hell in the sense that those that don’t believe are destroyed but they do not burn forever. When the Bible says ‘forever’ in this sense it means, they’re no restoration of those burned up. They are gone for good.
...and I agree with you on the rapture in that I believe it makes Christians vulnerable in that they’ll be unprepared for what’s coming by believing they’ll be whisked away before things hit the fan. They will not. Just like the Israelites were NOT removed from earth at the passover, or Noah and his family were not removed, but both were covered by God’s hand, so we will remain here but be covered by God during the tribulation.
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