Posted on 01/14/2011 5:57:52 PM PST by topcat54
Evangelical book catalogs promote books such as Planet Earth: The Final Chapter, The Great Escape, and the Left Behind series. Bumper stickers warn us that the vehicle’s occupants may disappear at any moment. It is clear that there is a preoccupation with the idea of a secret rapture. Perhaps this has become more pronounced recently due to the expectation of a new millennium and the fears regarding potential Y2K problems. Perhaps psychologically people are especially receptive to the idea of an imminent, secret rapture at the present time. Additionally, many Christians are not aware that any other position relative to the second coming of Jesus Christ exists. Even in Reformed circles there are numerous people reading these books. Many of these people are unaware that this viewpoint conflicts with Scripture and Reformed Theology.
(Excerpt) Read more at reformed.org ...
met, you do realise we Christians worship a forgiving, loving God, right? It may be hard for your group to realise, but God is love. The guy your group’s bosses follow is the master of evil, no wonder they direct your group to hate the followers of Christ.
Who cares about the opinion of some dead guy? It's not Scripture.
All of those that deny the divinity of Christ, call the OT God a yabboloath etc. are not Christians.
And.....? Tell me something I don't know.
It would be good to give up this false cult and become a Christian.
Physician, heal yourself.
There are many Protestant groups you can join like the Baptists or Pentecostals or Lutherans or others if you don’t want to join the One Holy Apostolic Catholic Church (Orthodox, Catholic, Oriental, Assyrian)
Joining a religious organization that calls itself a church is not how one gets saved.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
That’s a rockin’ helmet, if the NFL wore those we wouldn’t have so many concussions ...
"Against Heresies (Book I, Chapter 10)" The Church, though dispersed through our the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith
the Church, having received this preaching and this faith, although scattered throughout the whole world, yet, as if occupying but one house, carefully preserves itFor, although the languages of the world are dissimilar, yet the import of the tradition is one and the same
and"Against Heresies" (Book III, Chapter 4)
since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing his money] in a bank, lodged in her (*The Catholic Church's*) hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth: so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life. Revelation 22:17
Suppose there arise a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question? For how should it be if the apostles themselves had not left us writings? Would it not be necessary, [in that case,] to follow the course of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they did commit the Churches?
"Against Heresies" (Book II, Chapter 9)
For even creation reveals Him who formed it, and the very work made suggests Him who made it, and the world manifests Him who ordered it. The Universal Church, moreover, through the whole world, has received this tradition from the apostles.
and"Against Heresies" (Book III, Chapter 3)
Since, however, it would be very tedious, in such a volume as this, to reckon up the successions of all the Churches, we do put to confusion all those who, in whatever manner, whether by an evil self-pleasing, by vainglory, or by blindness and perverse opinion, assemble in unauthorized meetings; [we do this, I say,] by indicating that tradition derived from the apostles, of the very great, the very ancient, and universally known Church founded and organized at Rome by the two most glorious apostles, Peter and Paul; as also [by pointing out] the faith preached to men, which comes down to our time by means of the successions of the bishops. For it is a matter of necessity that every Church should agree with this Church (*Rome*), on account of its preeminent authority, that is, the faithful everywhere, inasmuch as the tradition has been preserved continuously by those [faithful men] who exist everywhere.
Until either of you show me that metmom is Mormon, your posts will be removed.
Do NOT flame bait.
What I saw in the post led me to believe that he considers the Scripture itself to be a fallacy.
If he means something different, he needs to spell it out and use Scripture to validate what he says.
We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian’s reign.
Titus Flavius Domitianus was Roman Emperor from 81 to 96. Domitian was the third and last emperor of the Flavian dynasty.
Proves that Irenaeus claimed that John wrote the book of Revelation after 70AD.
Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 30, verse3
3. It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfilment of the prophecy, than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved. For if there are many names found possessing this number, it will be asked which among them shall the coming man bear. It is not through a want of names containing the number of that name that I say this, but on account of the fear of God, and zeal for the truth: for the name Evanthas (ΕΥΑΝΘΑΣ) contains the required number, but I make no allegation regarding it. Then also Lateinos (ΛΑΤΕΙΝΟΣ) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not, however, make any boast over this [coincidence]. Teitan too, (ΤΕΙΤΑΝ, the first syllable being written with the two Greek vowels ε and ι, among all the names which are found among us, is rather worthy of credit. For it has in itself the predicted number, and is composed of six letters, each syllable containing three letters; and [the word itself] is ancient, and removed from ordinary use; for among our kings we find none bearing this name Titan, nor have any of the idols which are worshipped in public among the Greeks and barbarians this appellation. Among many persons, too, this name is accounted divine, so that even the sun is termed Titan by those who do now possess [the rule]. This word, too, contains a certain outward appearance of vengeance, and of one inflicting merited punishment because he (Antichrist) pretends that he vindicates the oppressed. And besides this, it is an ancient name, one worthy of credit, of royal dignity, and still further, a name belonging to a tyrant. Inasmuch, then, as this name Titan has so much to recommend it, there is a strong degree of probability, that from among the many [names suggested], we infer, that perchance he who is to come shall be called Titan. We will not, however, incur the risk of pronouncing positively as to the name of Antichrist; for if it were necessary that his name should be distinctly revealed in this present time, it would have been announced by him who beheld the apocalyptic vision. For that was seen no very long time since, but almost in our day, towards the end of Domitian's reign.
how exactly am I attributing any beliefs to metmom. All I pointed out was what her group believes. Now whether she wishes to believe in Christ or believe in her group’s teachings is her choice and I make no comment on her personal beliefs
Do not finesse the Religion Forum guidelines by making obviously false indirect attributions of beliefs. That is flame baiting.
For infallibility there’s nothing like a council, Nicea amongst others, convened by a pagan emperor to help establish his state religion.
One more time just special for you. Irenaeus was second century which as you know was more the 180 years ago.
Irenaeus
Against Heresies
Book 5, Chapter 29, Paragraph 1
And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, “There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.” Matt. xxiv. 21. For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption.
Pseudo-Ephraem's Pre Tribulation Rapture Statement (c. 374-627) A Sermon by Pseudo-Ephraem (section 2)
"All the saints and elect of God are gathered together before the tribulation, which is to come, and are taken to the Lord, in order that they may not see at any time the confusion which overwhelms the world because of our sins."
Sorry for the joke RM, but when I saw the bit “your shriveled heart”, for some reason I thought “which country singer sang that???” :-P
“John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Amen, Amen, Amen!!!
Hoss
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