The Next Reformation? 9.5 Thesis Posted on 'Church Door'!

The Prophecy Reformation Institute ^ | 2001 | John Noe

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

9.5 Theses for the Next Reformation

Modern-day Reformers Post Document on 'Church Door'

We the undersigned, out of love for the truth and a desire to see all Christians honor and acknowledge all that God has revealed in his Word, submit these 9.5 Theses for your prayerful evaluation and participation with us in calling for further reform. May these theses be the spark that ignites the next Reformation of Christianity.

1. Everything Jesus said would happen, happened exactly as and when He said it would-within the lifetime of his contemporaries.

2. Everything every New Testament writer expected to happen, happened exactly as and when they expected it would-within their lifetime-as they were guided into all truth and told the things that were to come by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:13).

3. Scholars across a broad spectrum are in general agreement that this is exactly how every NT writer and the early Church understood Jesus' words. If they were wrong on something this important, how can we trust them to have conveyed other aspects of the faith accurately, such as the requirements for salvation?

4. No inspired NT writer, writing twenty or more years later, ever corrected their Holy-Spirit-guided understanding and fulfillment expectations (Jn. 16:13). Neither should we. Instead, they intensified their language as the "appointed time of the end" (Dan. 12:4; Hab. 2:3) drew near-from Jesus' "this generation" (Mat. 24:34), to Peter's "the end of all things is at hand" and "for it is time for judgment to begin" (1 Pet. 4:7, 17), and John's "this is the last hour . . . . it is the last hour" (1 Jn. 2:18).

5. Partial fulfillment is not satisfactory. 3 out of 5, 7 out of 10, etc., won't work. Partial does not pass the test of a true prophet (Deut. 18:18-22). Again, Jesus time-restricted all of his end-time predictions to occur within the 1st-century time frame.

6. God is faithful (2 Pet. 3:9) and "not a man that he should lie" (Num. 23:19). Faithfulness means not only doing what was promised, but also doing it when it was promised.

7. 1st-century, fulfillment expectations were the correct ones and everything happened, right on time-no gaps, no gimmicks, no interruptions, no postponements, no delays, no exegetical gymnastics, and no changing the meaning of commonly used and normally understood words. Such manipulative devices have only given liberals and skeptics a foothold to discredit Christ's Deity and the inerrancy of Scripture.

8. What needs adjusting is our understanding of both the time and nature of fulfillment, and not manipulation of the time factor to conform to our popular, futuristic, and delay expectations.

9. The kingdom of God was the central teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ, is a present but greatly under-realized reality, and must again become the central teaching of his Church.

9.5. We have been guilty of proclaiming a half-truth-a partially delivered faith to the world and to fellow Christians. We must repent and earnestly "contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3). If Christianity has been as effective as it has by proclaiming that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, came, died for our sins, bodily arose from the dead, and ascended to Heaven "at just the right time" (Rom. 5:6; Dan. 9:24-27), how much more effective might it be if we started preaching, teaching, and practicing the whole truth-i.e., a faith in which everything else also happened "at just the right time," exactly as and when Jesus said it would and every NT writer expected (Jn. 16:13). Dare we continue to settle for less?

Surely today, the words of Martin Luther, as he stood in defense before the Diet of Worms in 1521, are still applicable and compelling for the "always reforming" Church:
"Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), I am bound by the Scriptures . . . and my conscience is captive to the Word of God . . . . I cannot do otherwise. "

Original Signatories

John Noe, President Prophecy Reformation Institute Indianapolis, Indiana Rick Chromey, Professor of Christian Education Saint Louis Christian College Florissant, Missouri
Edward E. Stevens, President International Preterist Association Bradford, Pennsylvania
Danny Griffin, President Carolina Christian Ministries Charlotte, North Carolina
John Anderson, President Lighthouse World Ministries Sparta, North Carolina
Walter C. Hibbard, Former Founder & Chairman Great Christian Books, Inc. Newark, Delaware
Mike Lightfoot, Pastor Father's House Fellowship Clarkston, Washington
Terry Siverd, Minister Cortland Church of Christ Cortland, Ohio
Kenneth J. Davies, President Grace Ministries Lemon Grove, California
Joseph Lewis, Pastor Fulfilled Bible Fellowship Delair, New Jersey
Jerry Wayne Bernard, Vice President Scripture Research, Inc. Riverside, California
Arthur J. Melanson, President Joy of the Lord Ministry Audubon, New Jersey
Jerry Hester, Pastor Dominion Community Church Greer, South Carolina
Terry M. Hall, Minister Miami Valley Church Beavercreek, Ohio
Gene Fadeley, President Anchor Publishing Charlotte, North Carolina
Rod Moyses, Manager M2ktalk.Com, (internet-satellite radio networks) Fresno, California
Stan Newton, Pastor Missionary to Bulgaria Seattle, Washington
Timothy R. King, Pastor Central Baptist Church Grand Junction, Colorado
Walter Koch, Pastor Emanuel Centro Christiano El Monte, California
Jack C. Scott, Jr., Minister Glacier View Church Kalispell, Montana
A. Wilson Phillips, Pastor Abundant Life Covenant Church Springfield, Missouri
Thomas A. Price, Jr., Pastor Sherman Community Church Sherman, New York
Don K. Preston, Minister Ardmore Church of Christ Ardmore, Oklahoma
David Curtis, Pastor Berean Bible Church Cheasapeake, Virginia
Jessie E. Mills, Jr., Minister Central Church of Christ Bonifay, Florida
Bud Fleisher, Host/Producer "Let's Talk Religion" (radio program) Clearwater, Florida
Ron Smith, President Friendship In Action (mission work in Mexico) Mission,
Texas Bill Clark Brumbaugh, Host Proactive News (nat'l syndicated radio program) Bozeman, Montana
James R. Hopkins, Minister Daleville Church of Christ Daleville, Alabama
William Bell, Minister Raines Road Church of Christ Memphis, Tennessee

Published by the Prophecy Reformation Institute: a conservative, evangelical ministry dedicated to continuing the Reformation into the field of eschatology-end-time Bible prophecy, and the International Preterist Association.

Books for the Next Reformation
· Chilton, David. "The Days of Vengeance." Ft. Worth, TX.: Dominion Press, 1987.
· DeMar, Gary, "Last Days Madness: Obsession of the Modern Church." Atlanta, GA.: American Vision, 3rd ed., 1997.
· *________. "End Times Fiction: A Biblical Consideration of the Left Behind Theology." Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001.
· Gentry, Jr., Kenneth L. "Before Jerusalem Fell." Atlanta, GA.: American Vision, revised ed., 1998.
· *Noe, John. "Beyond the End Times: The Rest of . . . The Greatest Story Ever Told. "Bradford, PA.: IPA, 1999.
· *________. "Dead In Their Tracks: Stopping the Liberal/Skeptic Attack on the Bible." Bradford, PA.: IPA, 2001.
· ________. "Shattering the ‘Left Behind’ Delusion." Bradford, PA.: IPA, 2000.
· ________. "The Israel Illusion: 13 Popular Misconceptions about This Modern-day Nation and Its Role in Bible Prophecy. "Fishers, IN.: PRI, 2000.
· ________. Top Ten Misconceptions about Jesus’ Second Coming and the End Times. Fishers, IN.: PRI, 1998.
· Otto, Randell E. "Case Dismissed: Rebutting Common Charges Against Preterism." Bradford, PA.: IPA, 2000.
· Russell, J. Stuart. "The Parousia." Bradford, Pennsylvania: IPA, 2002. Reprint of the second edition originally published by T. Fisher Unwin, in London, England in 1887.
· *Sproul, R.C. "The Last Days According to Jesus. "Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998.
· Stevens, Edward E. "Questions About The Afterlife. "Bradford, PA.: IPA, 1999.
· ________. "What Happened In A.D. 70?" Bradford, PA.: IPA, 6th ed., 2001.
· Terry, Milton S. "Biblical Hermeneutics. "Eugene, OR.: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1890, 1999.

* (top priority—read first)

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: John Noe Prophecy Reformation Institute 9715 Kincaid Drive Suite 1100 Fishers, IN 46038
E-mail: jnoe@prophecyrefi.org Ph.# 317-841-7777, Ext. 350 Fax# 317-578-2110

Edward E. Stevens International Preterist Association 122 Seaward Ave. Bradford, PA 16701
E-mail: Preterist1@aol.com Ph.# 1-814-368-6578 Fax# 1-814-368-6030

Be sure to visit our websites: www.prophecyrefi.org. Website: www.preterist.org.

_ Copyright 2001 by John Noe
All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced or transmitted by any means in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission, but only in its entirety-i.e., both pages.

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

Luther himself said that reformation never ends.

In this day of liberal sceptic attacks and evangelical date setters, we had better search for what our "signs" are really pointing to.

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

The first post did not take completely.

[Jerry_M]

I am presently reading R.C. Sproul's book (the "top priority - read first" listing in the bibliography). Not sure whether I am ready to abandon my "historical premillenial" stance for preterism, yet.

[Revelation 911]

Wonder Twin Powers ACTIVATE ! form of a flamesuit -

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

You at least have an opened mind about this.
I was die hard "post-trib" since I had been saved.

I can honestly tell you that as a child I struggled with the words of Christ saying "this generation."
NOT ONE translation has grounds to say "that" generation.

It is a hard one to swallow but one with unmistakable evidence and proof in scripture.

We see the fruits of severe misinterpretation (date-setting). Now we need to see just what we are to do NOW in this "world to come."
That view would reap such a better harvest in the world today.

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

Form of Christ.
I refuse to join the crown who would call Him a liar.

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

One I really suggest is
"The Great Tribulation: Past or Future."

This one swung me. It is a debate book written by a Pre-trib and Preterist.

The futurist had no chance. He was so biblically off when compared in light next to each other I had no choice but to submit my view to the Bible's.

[L,TOWM]

4. No inspired NT writer, writing twenty or more years later, ever corrected their Holy-Spirit-guided understanding and fulfillment expectations (Jn. 16:13). Neither should we. Instead, they intensified their language as the "appointed time of the end" (Dan. 12:4; Hab. 2:3) drew near-from Jesus' "this generation" (Mat. 24:34), to Peter's "the end of all things is at hand" and "for it is time for judgment to begin" (1 Pet. 4:7, 17), and John's "this is the last hour . . . . it is the last hour" (1 Jn. 2:18).

5. Partial fulfillment is not satisfactory. 3 out of 5, 7 out of 10, etc., won't work. Partial does not pass the test of a true prophet (Deut. 18:18-22). Again, Jesus time-restricted all of his end-time predictions to occur within the 1st-century time frame.

OK I'll buy that. But to help me out, please direct me to the historical descriptions of the events in the first century which answered the "completed" prophecies of Rev. 6:12 - 9:21 AND 11:3 - 19 AND 13:5 - 18 AND 16:2 - 21. I would be ever so grateful for your enlightenment...

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

"... I am bound by the Scriptures ..."

Then why did he edit some and discard others? Just one of many contradictions in Luther's life.

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

The evidence is being built on this.
Many books discuss the way old testament prophecies were fulfilled in comparisson to the events of the Jewish Wars in AD 70.
The time the temple was destroyed (Matthew 23-24, Daniel 12:6-7).

These events (many "abominations" in the holy place, numerous natural disasters, Jerusalem surrounded by Roman armies (Luke 21:20)) are the foundation of those fulfillments.

#1. Christ's word are true.
#2. Let's prove it.

2 good books.
"Beyond the End Times" - John Noe
"Paradise Restored" - David Chilton

[NATE4"ONE NATION"]

That is the point of this whole article.
We are unwilling to let interpretation ignore these very simple, important scriptures.

[P7M13]

So, how does it end?

[Jerry_M]

In the interest in continuing to be open minded, let me ask you this:

Are the events of I Thessalonians 4:13-18 (described by dispensationalists as the "rapture", but self-described by the text as the "coming of the Lord".) seen by preterists as future or already fulfilled?

This is something that I have not yet to see explained in Sproul's book. I think that I could be in agreement with a "partial fulfillment preterism" if this event is seen as being yet to occur. If preterists see it as already fulfilled in the first century, exactly what event fulfilled it?

[L,TOWM]

Cool. But, I am still confused about a couple of things. When, exactly, was every one in the world required to have a number on their hands or foreheads to buy and sell?

Also, could you direct me to the new Heaven and New Earth, where nothing accursed dwells? I am getting rather weary of this one, and all the things I have been appointed to do.

BTW, did I sleep through the 1,000 year reign of my Lord? I'm sorry I missed out on that...

[CCWoody]

I am presently reading R.C. Sproul's book (the "top priority - read first" listing in the bibliography). Not sure whether I am ready to abandon my "historical premillenial" stance for preterism, yet.

Just when I at least thought I knew all the names of the different views along comes another one I never heard about.

BTW, nate, do you get any FRmail cause I can't send you any?

[Jerry_M]

"Eschatology" - another name for "many confusing competing theories"

;>)

[freedomcrusader]

Funny - I had no idea what the 'theses' were talking about until I read the replies to the original post. Do you suppose the educated, literate person of Luther's day had the same trouble with his theses?

[Delta-Boudreaux]

PING

[Delta-Boudreaux]

Nate, I'd hate to be on a "Diet of Worms."

[good1]

Everything every New Testament writer expected to happen, happened exactly as and when they expected it would-within their lifetime-as they were guided into all truth and told the things that were to come by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:13).

Except, of course, the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6).