Posted on 01/11/2009 11:49:33 AM PST by GiovannaNicoletta
I have it and it is pretty good. Basic amil stuff.
Basic "sounds like" theology. Not very good exegesis. Se Does the Bible predict a Russian invasion of Israel?
Most prophecy experts of today are searching for a new explanation for Ezekiel 38 and 39. In the past, they focused on Europe, Russia, the Common Market, and the so-called Restored Roman Empire. Now that it looks like Russia is staying open to the gospel, they suppose Gog and Magog must refer to the alliance of Muslim nations in the Middle East. The modern prophecy experts are selling a lot of books, videos, seminar and conference registration fees, but they are far removed from presenting the truth.See also Dispensationalism in Transition.
Matchett, I enjoyed your recounting of the “pre-mil” evolution.
It should be noted that Hal Lindsey didn’t come up with his ideas on his own. He simply elaborated on that which was previously espoused by M.R. DeHaan (whose grandson, Maart, continues his ministry from Grand Rapids), and before him, H.A. Ironside.
Darbyism, which as you note, sprang from the visions of Margaret MacDonald, and from the Plymouth Brethren who took up its cause.
The cornerstone of the movement was the iminent return of Christ. That had a couple of consequences: the drive for missionary evangelism led by such people as J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, Frederick Fransen, founder of the Scandinavian Alliance Mission (now The Evangelical Alliance Mission, TEAM) and D.L. Moody and others.
The motivation was that Christ would come when all people had a chance to hear about Him.
The other consequence was the return of puritannical lifestyles, such as a ban on dancing, drinking, movie going, etc. The rationale was “you don’t want to be found in a movie theatre when Christ comes”.
In the late 1870’s the Niagara Conferences were instituted to formulate concepts and strategy. These were taken over by C.S. Scofield and his compatriots in the 1900’s. As you note, Moody Bible Institute, Dallas Theological Seminary, Fuller, etc became the predominant institutes for evangelicalism and therefore, pre-mil, pre-destinationism.
The above is an off the top of the head summarization and therefore subject to valid criticism, and not meant to be authoritative in any way.
Nothing to be afraid of. It's fiction from a "modern Nostradamus".
Oh, and by the way, “The King is Coming” is still one of my favorites.
That's funny. No Bible scholar prior to 1830 believed this nonsense, and the same is true for most Bible scholars today, except for the ones is a handful of fundamentalist "Bible colleges".
We’re a long way from 1830.
That's only assuming pre-Trib rapture believing Christians are right. I'm getting ready just in case. If you are in fact correct, it's Christmas for someone when I'm gone. If not, you guys would be the kind of people I take in.
Not long enough, apparently. This abysmal teaching is still with us.
When Barry sends his domestic army to collect the guns, my story is that I sold all of them because I figured he was bringing the Great Tribulation so I would be gone and not need them when society breaks down.
Some hold that Thessalonians was the first of Paul's writing. Now if that be true why was Paul telling the Ephesians later to (Ephesians 6:11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.....-17 if the believers were going to escape tribulation? Doesn't one escape the tribulation if they know what the tribulation is?
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places....
Isn't Paul telling us what the tribulation is... Didn't Christ say the first sign of His return was 'deception' of those claiming to be Christ, or Christian?
Like I said before, the church isn’t mentioned again in Revelation from the first 3 or 4 chapters. With Christians gone, there will be NO ONE to support Israel when the nations gather against them. If you think the Catholic church is going to, think again. They have already condemned Israel’s cast lead operation. Just read a quote from a cardinal yesterday.
Obama claims to be a Christian, but we all know he’s Muslim.
I seriously doubt the man actually believes any of it. His narcissism precludes any other god but himself.
Yes, I am aware of what is written.
I’m just a bit skeptical of our ability to correlate today’s events with Revelations.
I’ve been reading “guesses” as “fact” for 35 years, not to mention all of the similar attempts over the centuries.
You presented “...This generation shall not pass....” without acknowledging the possibility that 80% of Revelations occurred in the first century.
There are very well written interpretations that support that.
First Christ said Mark 13:23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
Paul says ICorinthians 10:1 For the sake of space and time I am not typing verses 1-10 but the point Paul makes and puts in writing verse 11 Now all these things happened unto them (note Paul 1-10 starts with Moses to Christ as to who the them are) for ensamples: (examples) and they are written for our admonition, (warning) upon whom the ends of the world (age) are come.
I am not ignoring the rest of the chapter but only pointing out that Paul of all New Testament writers was well learned in the 'ensamples' prophets which was all that was penned when Paul wrote these words.
And yes Jeremiah has much to say about Babylon, the word means 'confusion', and one example that has not yet happened is Jeremiah 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant... and just like Judah refused to hear the Word of the Lord, there is nothing new under the sun.
Most Christians view the prophets as has been and not even applying to them this day. Yet Christ said take ye heed I have foretold you all things.... and He continually quoted these prophets from Moses, David, Isaiah etc... and John tells us in John 1:1 In the beginning (that would be Genesis 1:1) was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
My friend, we certainly do live in interesting times, and things are likely to change in an instant with regards to Israel, or any other nation.
We could very well see a peace deal brokered, and the walls (well, the fences and partial wall) come down in Israel. In the years prior to 1948, there were not many who believed a state of Israel possible. Yet, it happened, and suddenly. Anything is possible.
Events in our world today strikingly foreshadow the prophecy of the battle of Gog and Magog in Ezek 38-39. All of the necessary antecedents for the fulfillment of this prophecy are in place or are moving in that direction. The Jewish people have been regathered to their land in unbelief, the Middle East peace process is front and center in international diplomacy, and the invaders in Ezek 38 are identifiable nations who have both the desire and the potential to fulfill the Gog prophecy.
In reading Ezekiel, I see the book divided as this:
Ezekiel 1 -24 refers to the captivity of Israel and the reasons for the captivity.
Ezekiel 25 - 32 refers to the judgments upon the nations who have come against Israel.
Ezekiel 33 - 39 refers to Israel in the last days before the return of the Messiah.
Ezekiel 40 - 48 refers to the Millennial temple and reign of the Messiah.
There are some who even believe that references to "unwalled" villages aptly describe modern Israel as the cities & towns are not divided as was common in historical Israel, and that the fences in place are border partitions. They believe that references to Israel living securely doesn't necessarily refer to them living at peace, but in security, having confidence in their own military abilities.
Personally, I believe we are living in the last days. I don't claim to have a time frame for when things are going to wrap up. I do know that Jesus says when we see these things happen, to look up for our redemption draweth nigh. Well, there's a lot happening; a lot I don't necessarily understand fully, so I am going to be looking up...
Jesus said there would be "great tribulation" which His followers (the "elect") must endure. Yet for "the elects sake, those days shall be shortened."
God's final people "came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." They did not escape it, but endured through it, being purified.
After describing the persecutions and tribulations which the early believers where enduring, Paul wrote: 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
Paul was expecting that the church would be enduring persecution and tribulation right up until the coming of Jesus at the very end of the world.
The idea that the church will be raptured away before the period of tribulation sounds good, because no one wants to go through persecution or hardship, but the fact is that throughout history Christians have suffered for their faith, and there will be no relief from that until the end of the world.
This silly Darbyist rapture nonsense is not biblical. It is making millions of christians into useless couch potatoes. Just who do you think God will be using to preach to the unsaved during the Tribulation?
There is one and only one Resurrection. That IS biblical. Christ does not come two and a half or three times. Twice and twice only. One more time. No passage of scripture is of private interpretation. The scriptural disproof of the whole ‘rapture’ heresy is massive and irrefutable if the Bible is any authority to you.
Read it all here:
http://www.answersinrevelation.org/
You are a false prophet. Repent.
As for my disbelief in the rapture; there are just too many scriptures to negate that doctrine. Jesus Himself said,I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
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