We are also told of a trend that will characterize the era between our Lord's first and last physical appearances -- the destruction of God's enemies and the increasing blessedness of His people.
Unlike you, I view the Lord Jesus Christ as a true and reliable prophet, who gave His disciples the news they needed, the prophecies of the events that would affect them, and the time frame during which these events would happen. Unlike you, I take Rev. 1:1-3 literally. Unlike you, I think the "last days" Paul warned Timothy about were the "last days" Timothy had to be alert for. When Paul wrote his last recorded letter, to the only protege who was still on board, he gave that guy the news that guy needed. He did not abruptly STOP writing to Timothy, to speak to folks like us living nearly 20 centuries later.
But, then again, I take God's Word more seriously that I do Cyrus Scofield's footnotes. That's the difference between us.
“... I look for the resurrection of the dead at the end of history. This is, IMHO, the one and only future event we can look for with certainty.”
Fair enough. I think you make it very simple to refute you in that case.
Jeremiah 50:39-40
“39Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.”
When were these prophecies against Babylon fulfilled? When did they become uninhabited for ever?
Jeremiah 3:17
“17At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.”
When was this prophecy fulfilled? When did all nations gather at Jerusalem, call it the throne of the Lord, and worship the Lord?
“When Paul wrote his last recorded letter, to the only protege who was still on board, he gave that guy the news that guy needed. He did not abruptly STOP writing to Timothy, to speak to folks like us living nearly 20 centuries later.”
You speak as if the Apostles did not know that their writings would be the living witness to Christ after their deaths, for generations to come. Of course, they did know this, which is why many of their writings have import both for their original correspondent and for later generations.
“But, then again, I take God’s Word more seriously that I do Cyrus Scofield’s footnotes. That’s the difference between us.”
So do I. I’m not sure if you’re aware of the rules of debate on FR, but “mind-reading” is not acceptable. I haven’t cited a word of Scofield, I’ve only appealed to the Scriptures to support my opinion, so I can only assume you are pulling this Scofield accusation out of thin air. If you want to debate Scofield with someone, start a thread for that and find some Scofield supporter to debate.