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.
Another great post!
>>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.