Posted on 05/21/2007 1:31:42 AM PDT by bruinbirdman
Everyone I know seems to be reading the Bible these days in search of answers. That is usually a good thing but not always. In fact, too many of the Biblical discussions I get into with friends and family members relate to the “End Times” and whether they are upon us. That is a shame because reading the Bible can enrich one’s daily life provided one is not obsessed with using it as a device to decipher the future.
Because of one relatively simple error in dating one book of the New Testament, author Tim LaHaye has misled tens of millions of people into thinking that a great time of tribulation is near. He has Christians everywhere looking for signs of an emerging anti-Christ and, ultimately, in a cowardly fashion, looking forward to a time when Christ will rapture his church away from earthly troubles.
If Christians would simply study the New Testament themselves – instead of relying upon 21st Century “prophets” writing fictional books for 21st Century profits – they would arrive at a few very simple conclusions:
1. The Revelation to John was written around 65 AD, not 95 AD.
2. The anti-Christ was Nero, not some world figure yet to emerge in the 21st Century.
3. The tribulation occurred in the First Century around the time of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD.
4. The “rapture” never happened and it never will.
5. The words of Jesus in Matthew 24 plainly reveal that most of the discourse in The Revelation to John is based on events in the First Century.
Once an individual realizes he is stuck here on earth and will not be raptured away from all of his troubles, he can begin to read the Bible the way it was intended to be read. I have a word of advice for those who have never really thought about reading the Bible as an end in itself rather than as a means to some goal such as predicting the future. My advice is actually borrowed from a friend who received a moving card from his wife just a few months ago.
After receiving the cherished card from his wife, my friend would sneak into their bedroom late at night (she always fell asleep while he was finishing his last TV show). After giving her a kiss while she was sleeping, he would take the card off his dresser and go into the spare room to read it by the light of a small lamp.
There were certain lines he would read three and four times over: “It is a privilege to know you, to share myself with you,” “I never knew such a person could exist until I met you,” and “You lift my spirits to places where my troubles seem so much farther away.”
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It was wonderful to hear that a dear friend had found his “soul mate” and all of the joy that comes from lifelong companionship. But, at the same time, I could not listen to his story without thinking of all the other friends I know who have suffered through a painful divorce or, in some cases, never even met someone with whom they share a special bond of love. And some are growing older and lonelier by the day.
But, recently, I received a new insight into what seems to be an unfair distribution of soul mates among God’s children. It came as I was listening to a pastor named “Mike” whose last name I do not even know. His message was broadcast from Port City Church in Wilmington to a theater rented out to handle the overflow of his growing congregation.
He urged each member of his church to read the First Letter of John during the coming week. He also urged them to read it as if it were written just for them by someone who is madly in love with them.
I was so intrigued by this take on the proper approach to reading the New Testament epistle that I immediately bought a copy of the English Standard Version – a version I’ve been meaning to read for quite some time. Later that night I opened it and started reading by the light of a small lamp:
“…Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling… I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake … Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure… We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him…”
After reading those lines, it occurred to me that I had only been skimming through this great epistle on my last several runs through the New Testament. My zeal to get to The Revelation to John has been such that I have hardly noticed those great words in the years following the attacks of 911.
We all need to learn to read the Word as if it were written for us personally by someone who could not love us more. When we cannot get enough of it in the here and now, the future seems so much less important. And a little uncertainty is hardly the end of the world.
“If the events described in the Book of Revelation took place in the past, I’m at a loss to explain some of the current situations I see around us: the rebirth of Israel, the reunification of Europe, the number of global wars that have occurred, and the development of nuclear weapons.”
It’s because you’ve been so influenced by Lindesy, LaHaye, et. al., that you are trying to put their structure on top of what is in the NT.
If you read both sides of this contentious discussion it will shed alot more light on things than only reading what the Left Behind series says about it.
"However there are many who are not aware of the truth and are being deceived by these false teachers who twist or ignore clear scripture."If there is any truth in the New Testament at all (and I believe there is), it is found in John, Chapter 3, verse 16. That single verse lays out the only requirement of salvation; i.e. being a Christian.
Ive read some Lehaye and Lindsey.
I also read my Bible which is where my faith
comes from and is the only thing I know is true.
Its wrong of you to make the assumption that Ive only read the left behind series, its also insulting.
But I forgive you, because it must be stressful thinking you will have to suffer through the tribulation with the unsaved as if the suffering on the cross by Jesus wasnt enough to protect us from Gods wrath.
Excellent point. That is how I read II Thessalonians as well.
Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
It will be worse than Noah's flood...Sodom's destruction...etc.
So I am a heretic because I believe the Bible at face value...??? Thats just plain silliness. Why are you making the Bible so difficult? It is plainly written...written by men through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit down here to teach us and to lead us into understanding and truth.
I know nothing of preterists or chiliasm. I do know what I have been taught by the Word of God...that He will come and gather up his church, both living and dead...the hour I do not know. Only that I should prepare myself for that coming time...to have my oil filled and ready.
I know that He loves me and I have given myself to Him, being transformed daily into His image...not perfect, but awaiting perfection. I have opened my mind to the Spirit of God, that He might fill me with truth and understanding...I am being changed daily, I have received the mind of Christ who lives in my heart.
Do I know when He will come? NO, only that HE WILL COME. And when He does...it won’t be pretty for a while as He takes care of some housekeeping.
I rely on the Holy Spirit, not on dead men to bring me understanding of the Word. I don’t believe the Bible was written so that it would be difficult to understand....not everyone on earth is a scholar....it was written so everyone could “get it”. Even the lowliest of the low..the poorest of the poor. If it says it...I believe it..plain and simple.
I have never predicted a date and time for the end...only knowing that at some time it will all end..unlike the Tyconius you mentioned, who predicted a date of the end of the world. Hardly a comparison to me...so please don’t put me in the same boat with this guy.
Sounds like a Methodist.
Good post. Just as God delivered Noah from HIS wrath, He will deliver His saints, also, for we are not subject unto wrath. Just like they didn’t listen to Noah and his warnings - instead they laughed at him - so, too, are the naysayers of this day. It’s to be expected. We do not know the day or hour but we do know the season for...It Is Written.
We must keep oil in our lamps and be ready for The Shout! Imagine being here when the Holy Spirit filled church is taken out/taken up. When goodness is gone and evil reigns here!
While we are having our Marriage Feast - the bride/church with our Bridegroom/Jesus - those not ready and living in expectancy will finally see - Jesus is The Living Word and His Word is true and every knee will bow! However, too late to escape His wrath.
Here’s all you have to know about this man...
Reformed Theological Seminary
If there is any truth in the New Testament at all (and I believe there is), it is found in John, Chapter 3, verse 16. That single verse lays out the only requirement of salvation; i.e. being a Christian. When she was alive, my mother and I used to "discuss" scripture endlessly. She often feared she had raised a heretic because of our endless disagreements about traditions of men, interpretations of Aramaic, Greek, Hebrew and Latin languages and ultimately eschatology. No matter how often we disagreed over details, or how heated our discussions became, we always ended our talks with the ultimate bottom line of John 3:16 and she could rest easy knowing her child, while misinformed and ignorant of scripture as she understood it (and had obediently taught me) - was not damned for all time, but saved by grace because "... whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That's it; that's all. There is no scriptural requirement that anyone believe anything other than God loves us and gave his Son to save us. That's the bread that sustains us, all the rest is gravy.
The Gospel is milk, Christians are suppose to be able to take in meat as well as milk (Heb.5:12-14)
Jude told us that we ought to contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.(vs.3),
In fact, he wanted to write about the Gospel, but was told by God to write about (gasp!) future events!
Paul tells Titus to 'rebuke sharply' those who were not sound in the faith (Tit.1:13)
He wanted to feed the Corthinians meat, but had to continue to feed them milk because they hadn't grown up (1Cor.3:2).
The Christian is to be taught the whole council of God after he is saved (Acts.20:27) and his last words were regarding the crown he, and others after him, would receive for-believing the Gospel?
No, for those 'who love His appearing (2Tim.4:8).
Another great post!
If you read the Revalation, you are immediately struck by the ignorance of the people in that age. That leads many to believe the Bible will be outlawed prior to the End of the Age.
>>1. The Revelation to John was written around 65 AD, not 95 AD.<<
Why on earth would start with this?
The important thing about the new Testament are the words of Jesus.
Then, much, much, less important but relevant is the early history of the church and the apostles.
Everything else is way below that.
The author seems more interested in scoring theological points than in actually helping people read the New Testament.
Throw them out along with your copy of PDL?
>>So I am a heretic because I believe the Bible at face value...??? <<
I hope that’s not what he meant.
That said, revelation to man is done through man and man is limited. Thus Abraham didn’t understand how old the earth was and men viewed women (and everything else) through the lens of their time and place.
Its the same with Christians today who have had a direct experience with God. We’re still human and limited by our humanity, our time and place.
Hmmm --- so then Revelation 20:1-7 isn't in the New Testament that he uses? He must be using the New International Preterist Redacted Bible.
Which, of course, is your opinion.....
;-)
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