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The wheat does not become tares nor do the tares become wheat. The ratio is established at the time of the sowing, not at the harvest.

What I'm thinking of here the ratio of obedient Christians, versus the disobedient heathen, at any given point in history. If the world is really going to "get worse", then you have to believe that the influx of new Christians (converts/obedient children born to obedient parents) progressively drops as history goes on, i.e. the overall population of Christians declines (failure to successfully evangelize), or the the influence of Christians overall (ability to change social/moral/political/environmental ills for the better) progressively declines as history goes on (an increasing failure to successfully be "salt and light").

Now you have to remember that I'm a postmiller. I expect that Christ's church will have an increasingly influential role in the future overall, and only as a long term, compound result of the church preaching the Gospel, bringing in new converts, and being (steadily) obedient to His commands. I believe that things can go backwards, short-term. Things could get worse, if the church fails to obey His commands. But I believe that it will progress forwards, long-term, as little successes eventually compound into bigger ones. Christ's word will not return to Him void. I've said elsewhere that Premillennialists allow their eschatology to negatively influence their evangelistic/discipleship expectations. Those that don't IMO live with a cognitive disconnect between their present and future expectations for the success of the Gospel, and the efficacy of Christ's shed blood.

I believe that things can go backwards, short-term. Things could get worse, if the church fails to obey His commands. But I believe that it will progress forwards, long-term, as little successes eventually compound into bigger ones. Christ's word will not return to Him void.

Amen!

The PCUSA stumbles, loses members, and the OPC and PCA grow.

Each one of us is a living example that God's word burnishes, clarifies, fortifies and expands into the world.

And if it is true for us, by God's will, it can and will be true for many others.

Resist the negative.

Haven't we forgotten one thing? What did Christ say?

"My kingdom id not of this world. If it were, then would my people fight."

"I go to prepare a place for you, that when I come again, I will receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also."

Premillinial, post millinial, Amillinial, pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib...."Oh my brain! It's strained!"...Lil Abner

Now you have to remember that I'm a postmiller. I expect that Christ's church will have an increasingly influential role in the future overall

. I expect that Israel will have an increasingly influential role in the future overall. Perhaps you can understand how the two could get confused, seeing that Israel is a type of the Church.

I am amazed how many passages of scripture must be interpreted differently in order to support the various viewpoints. It must be in the hundreds. I believe that Israel will be a tiebreaker. The reason I say "will be," is because God is still dealing with Israel.

I've said elsewhere that Premillennialists allow their eschatology to negatively influence their evangelistic/discipleship expectations. Those that don't IMO live with a cognitive disconnect between their present and future expectations for the success of the Gospel, and the efficacy of Christ's shed blood.

Either side can accuse the other of negative influence. (Rom 2:1) We need to realize that it is the opposition that is our greatest teacher. We tend not to learn from people who confirm our beliefs, but when we are challenged, we realize how much we need to search the scriptures. We see what we expect to see. Others point out our blind spots.

Seven