>>>I read through that entire thing. I have understood boatbums comments completely. She has been completely straight in everything she has said. It is NOT her that that has misunderstood. She has patiently tried to explain. It is you who doesn’t “get it”.
I appreciate you taking time out to write this letter. Are you certain you are not the least bit biased, Cynical Bear. You should already know your credibility with me is somewhere near zero, on a good day. >>>Let’s just look at the comment by you that you claim “started” this thing.
Scofield most certainly denied Christ, which is a damnable heresy. You seem to consider yourself the "Heretic Watch" for the forum. Why didn't you spot that one? >>>Now that statement by you is indicative of your entire misunderstanding of scripture. You claimed that Jesus’ intent was that John the Baptist in fact was literally Elijah which is preposterous.<<<
There you go again. My intent was to highlight the words of Jesus.
This is my belief, Cynical Bear: Jesus said (more than once) that John the Baptist WAS Elijah, and I believe Jesus. I don't know how it happened with John, and I really don't care. That was the point I was trying to get across to you and that other person.
If you recall, you accused me of believing in "reincarnation," which stunned me. I don't believe I have heard that word since being approached by the moonies, or Hari Krishnas, (or whatever they are called) in the LA airport 40 year ago! Naturally I was stunned that it would be right on the tip of your (forked?) tongue.
Early on you labelled me a heretic (I thought that humorous, at the time, coming from someone who follows the doctrine of a heretic.) I want to make this clear: listen carefully: there are no smears, aspersions, slanders, or downright dirty lies you can sling at me to make me deny Jesus. You are wasting your time, and mine. It may make you feel good; but it won't work with me. I know who you are, and what you believe. >>>From that statement you must either believe that John the Baptist was either Elijah reincarnated or that he was Elijah resurrected.<<<
Why didn't you ask me, instead of taking your ball and running home? >>>Neither of those would be consistent with teaching from scripture.<<<
Nor is a dual-fulfillment of Malachi 4:5, which clearly denies and marginalizes Christ's ministry on earth, and especially his crucifixion and his judgement on Jerusalem. Certainly any Christian would agree that denying the plain words of Christ is heresy, don't you agree, Cynical Bear? It is found right there in the New Testament, and even uses the words "damnable heresies." >>>That means that there is something wrong with your understanding of Jesus words.<<<
No, it means you don't believe the words of Jesus. His words will judge you on the Last Day; not Scofield's, not your pastors, not anyone's, but the Words of Jesus. >>>And that is exactly what many here have been trying to tell you.<<<
But you all (at least, many of you) appear to have "one mind." Consensus (one mind) is not a good indicator. You have heard of global warming, and the flat earth, haven't you? >>>That one example of you misunderstanding of what scripture is teaching is indicative of most if not all of your understanding regarding scripture. You really need to, as redleghunter has said several times, get down on your knees and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit in understanding.<<<
I do not believe you have ever experienced the Holy Spirit, CB. I would highly recommend--I beg--that you get on your knees, humble yourself, and ask for guidance. He (the Comforter) will guide you into all truth, if you ask with a humble heart. Follow the leadership of those abandoning the false doctrine of dispensationalism into His marvellous light. >>>As it would take much to much space here there are several places that explain what Jesus words mean regarding John the Baptist and Elijah one of which can be found here and another can be found here.
That is Scofield 101. It means NOTHING! The only thing that means anything are the plain words of Christ and his apostles, as found in the new covenant. The devil can have the old covenant. It is finished. It was fulfilled by blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Cynical Bear, I want to leave you with one last thing to ponder: the Devil is the Great Deceiver! His goal is to destroy the Church. He would not be relying on plain-speaking simpletons, like me, to deceive the Church throughout the whole world (defined in the Revelation as the breadth of the earth.) He would rely on eloquent orators who could seduce the masses with their ministry, books, movies, and presence. He is the Great Deceiver! Please, keep that in mind, for the sake of those in darkness, and especially the Jews, who have been denied his Word for the longest of time.
Philip
Show me where you think Scofield denied Christ.
>> This is my belief, Cynical Bear: Jesus said (more than once) that John the Baptist WAS Elijah, and I believe Jesus.<<
If you believe Jesus meant those words literally than you also must confess that scripture contradicts itself. You must also believe that the “violent” took over the kingdom of heaven because Jesus also said that just prior to His comment about Elijah.
First the contradiction. The Holy Spirit through Luke tells us that John the Baptist was to go in the spirit and power of Elijah not the physical being of Elijah.
Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Now for you to say Jesus meant that John the Baptist was physically and literally Elijah you have a contradiction within scripture on your hands.
What was the “spirit and the power” of Elijah? John the Baptist is the New Testament forerunner who points the way to the arrival of the Lord, just as Elijah filled that role in the Old Testament. Elijah didn’t turn into John the Baptist. Elijah appeared with Jesus at His ascension into heaven. In your interpretation you would have him going from one person into another and then back again into the first.
The second problem you have is that if you believe that Jesus meant that John the Baptist was physically Elijah ”because He said it” then you also must believe the “the Kingdom of Heaven” was taken over by the violent ”because He said it” in a previous verse.
Now we come to the meaning of the name Elijah. In the Hebrew the meaning of the name Elijah means “My God is Jehovah”. It is what the prophet Elijah declared when prophesying about the coming of the Lord and it is what John the Baptist role was also. That is the “spirit and power of Elijah. There will be one more who comes “in the spirit of Elijah” before Jesus comes again although you have said you believe that has already happened.
Now until you can recognize that fact I will not respond to you again. There is no sense in wasting time with you if you can’t see that simple truth. As the rest have said I too will ignore your posts unless you can recognize that John the Baptist was NOT physically and literally Elijah.