Posted on 01/14/2011 5:57:52 PM PST by topcat54
Evangelical book catalogs promote books such as Planet Earth: The Final Chapter, The Great Escape, and the Left Behind series. Bumper stickers warn us that the vehicle’s occupants may disappear at any moment. It is clear that there is a preoccupation with the idea of a secret rapture. Perhaps this has become more pronounced recently due to the expectation of a new millennium and the fears regarding potential Y2K problems. Perhaps psychologically people are especially receptive to the idea of an imminent, secret rapture at the present time. Additionally, many Christians are not aware that any other position relative to the second coming of Jesus Christ exists. Even in Reformed circles there are numerous people reading these books. Many of these people are unaware that this viewpoint conflicts with Scripture and Reformed Theology.
(Excerpt) Read more at reformed.org ...
And here I thought you said you read the Bible! :o)
Actually, "Hell" doesn't exist just yet. If you remember after the Eden fiasco, God cursed the Devil and said he would crawl on his belly and eat the dust of the Earth. Gen. 3:14
In Luke 10:19, Jesus said Satan, as lightning fell from heaven. We know this goes back to when he first rebelled against God and led 1/3 of the angels with him. So he was cast onto the Earth. Rev. 12:9 also reiterates this.
In Job 1:7, Satan is said to be going to and fro on the Earth and walking up and down it. We know from many other Scriptures that Satan and his demons (fallen angels) are present in a spiritual realm on Earth and tempt people and sometimes, possess them. Christians are warned to be wary of his wiles.
In Jude 1:6, there are fallen angels who did not "keep their first estate" and they are in everlasting chains under darkness reserved until the great judgment.
Then after the tribulation and when Jesus rules for 1000 years on Earth, Satan is "bound" (Rev. 20:2) someplace, probably the same place the ones who are bound in chains are (Hades/Sheol). The "Beast" and the "False Prophet" have been cast into what sounds like Hell and it is at that time that I believe the actual final Hell is actually created. At the end of the millenial reign, Satan is "loosed" and he tries to start the war all over again (Rev. 20:7). This time, he doesn't get far, Rev. 20:10 says he is finally cast into Hell. His demised is spoken about:
Rev.20:7-10
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Careful there, you just might be an Anti-Semantic!
Where does he say he is God?
You are quoting one man’s opinion. And by your comments, you do not appear to have read the article you’re referencing since you’ve used the terms in the article incorrectly.
And heresy is not a death sentence, Cronos, unless you’re a Protestant at the hands of the RCC which burned people at the stake for what it wrongly determined to be a transgression.
No Protestant damns to hell any other Christian. Even those who might spout heresy (like some Roman Catholics on this forum who doubt the inspiration of Scripture) may be brought to the truth, if God so wills.
Do you believe Roman Catholicism is Christianity?
I dot't know, you'll have to negotiate with Kolo on that one. :)
| Dear Metmom We in the Catholic Church have as rule 101 that you gotta believe that Jesus Christ is God. perhaps some may think that this is too strict a rule and they leave the Church, but we won't bend that rule: to be Catholic you must beleive Jesus = God, otherwise, bye-bye and thank you for leaving Thank you, Cronos |
The Gentiles believed, and were appointed for eternal life
That's not what the verse says. Can you read? Is dyslexia a problem?
The verse says all those who were first appointed to eternal life then believed.
Funny, you can castigate someone and accuse them of repeating lies, and then you just go right on and repeat this easily disputed one. How many times have you been corrected on this, yet you still say it?
Do note, a dialogue between two persons on the same side of a point of view is hardly a debate
That's a long stretch Cronos...and even then seems more like your digging for something which isn't there.
There are more than two people in the debate Cronos. Further I do not see you both with the same view as you apparently do.
BTW...why haven’t you answered the questions which Daniel listed awhile back...they were good ones I thought for sure you would take time for? I’ve been waiting to see what you might say.
Amen! "Can not." Not "will not." Dead men cannot hear nor repent nor believe. They first must be born again.
Lexicons, commentaries, seminaries, counselors, miracles, logic and so on will not help someone who does not have "ears to hear."
Amen!
Salvation is a free, unmerited gift. That gift comes with ears to hear and eyes to see and a renewed mind and a heart of flesh. It's delivered by the Holy Spirit directly to each and every adopted son and daughter of God who then come to Christ with a heart broken by sin and an admission of their own inability to please God, to perform righteousness, to save themselves.
We're brought to our knees in sorrow for our sins against a perfect God and mercifully made whole again by Christ within us.
Such a deal. 8~)
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. - Revelation 1:7-8
AMEN! What wondrous assurance. Who can hurt us?
10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of[b] them. How then can we live?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’ 12 “Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.’ 13 If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done. 14 And if I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ but they then turn away from their sin and do what is just and right— 15 if they give back what they took in pledge for a loan, return what they have stolen, follow the decrees that give life, and do no evil—that person will surely live; they will not die. 16 None of the sins that person has committed will be remembered against them. They have done what is just and right; they will surely live.
You were addressing that question to Kosta, right?
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