Replies

A-G,

Thanks again for the reply.

Indeed, the Truth was revealed to me, not to you or to people at large.

Then how can you refer to this as "truth"? It sounds more like the secret knowledge of the early gnostic that they claimed was revealed but to a few. I don't believe truth is spoken of in the Bible in these terms.

Some of us believe that Pentecost marked a beginning which has not yet been consummated.

This being the case, would you then agree that you have no way to know when these "last days" will end?

I think a lot of us will be happy to call an end to the last days once Christ sets up His Kingdom, ruling from the New Jerusalem.

I suppose some might get all wound up in confusion about how does the end of the thousand years of peace under Christ's reign take place.

But for most of us--Christ setting up His reign as Scriptures describe will be quite a resounding conclusion to the earth being cleansed of evil etc.

The traumatic benchmarks between now and then are clearly already in the works and some startling ones appear increasingly around the corner. But we'll see what timetable God has for that in terms of a few years or the next few decades.

I'd have thought that even your

. . . creative . . .

reading of Scripture would have allowed you to understand when the Church Age and end times were concluded.

It's not really rocket science, as I think you've noted.

Amazing.

Thank you for your reply!

This being the case, would you then agree that you have no way to know when these "last days" will end?

As the Scriptures say in Matthew 24:36: "But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."

On the other hand, we are to be watchful for the signs of the times and be ready (also Matthew 24). IMHO, there is a risk in getting too concerned over the signs of the times because some may want to avert the discomfort of the end times prophesy. But that would be the wrong reaction as Peter discovered:

From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. - Matthew 16:21-23

So whenever I perceive things which could be considered signs of the times - whether gobal governance and economy, trauma in Israel, peace initiatives, geopolitical posturing - or just the general indications of 2 Timothy 3 - I praise God. Maranatha!

Then how can you refer to this as "truth"? It sounds more like the secret knowledge of the early gnostic that they claimed was revealed but to a few. I don't believe truth is spoken of in the Bible in these terms.

To the contrary, the Scriptures speak of Truth in exactly these terms. Jesus (the living being) is "the truth" and He has given us the Spirit of truth to teach us and to guide us (John 14-17). We are to follow the Spirit who indwells us (Romans 8). We have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2)

Gnosticism, OTOH, is based on man's knowledge - that would be the complete reverse, i.e. following the carnal nature as described in Romans 8.

IMHO, there is always a risk in embracing the reasoning of man as spiritual "truth" - whether from our own reasoning or from the reasoning of any other mortal. Personally, I choose to not embrace the doctrines and traditions of men (Mark 7:7, I Corinthians 3, Matthew 23).

But I have arrived at this point after decades of walking with the Lord. Likewise, I do not suggest others ought to be like I am. For one thing, some are more comfortable their whole lives trusting a religious establishment such as the Roman Catholic Church. Others are more comfortable putting their trust strictly in the Scriptures or in a particular interpretation thereof. And some may feel insecure and thus, not be quite ready to let go and let God.