The Pandemic of End-Times Dysfunction (E.D.)

The Gary DeMar Show ^ | Nov 12, 2009 | Joel McDurmon

[Quix]

THANKS TONS AND TONS FOR YOUR KIND PRAYERS AND CARING.

[cinciella]

I so agree! I think if we had any idea how far our thoughts truly were from His thoughts, we’d be so humbled to think that we could figure anything out! I so appreciate that God wants us to come to Him as little children...that He wants just our simple faith as He leads us by His Holy Spirit into all truth and from glory to glory...a wonderful, never ending process!

[Quix]

INDEED.

[RJR_fan]

The Apostle Paul exhorted BELIEVERS IN THE CHURCH ERA TO DESIRE THE BEST GIFTS—PARTICULARLY TO PROPHECY.

Parenthetically, it's interesting to note how classical dispensationalism makes MOST of the Bible irrelevant to MOST of God's people MOST of the time.

For example, since Christians alive in THIS DECADE are ALMOST CERTAIN to see all the anticipated events happen, then the prophetic scriptures had no relevance to people in any other decade -- including the people the prophetic letters were actually and literally written to! And since THIS DECADE is a moving target, it means that most of the people who viewed life in these terms over the last 150 years were wrong. But THIS time, of course, we REALLY ARE living in the THIS DECADE Paul wrote about, when he stupidly thought that he was writing to Timothy about Timothy's pastoral challenges. And THIS time, of course, we REALLY ARE living in the THIS DECADE John wrote about, when he stupidly thought that he was writing to the seven churches he was responsible for.

We've been wrong every time before, but THIS TIME we MUST be right because -- (fill in the blanks).

R J Rushdoony cited the case of a lady who became obsessed with The Millionaire television show, and anticipated, every day, that the doorbell would ring and her life would be transformed. It was transformed, of course, spiraling into shabbiness, self-delusion, and impotence. A toxic hope != a blessed hope. Personal example/confession/prayer request: job hunters can weird out, becoming frustrated and overly dependent on divine intervention, when there is practical stuff to do right in front of them.

Returning to my point: it's ironic to note how many Pentecostal and Charismatic saints fell into this poisoned snare of dispensational futurism -- when classical dispensationalism is cessationist. The Gifts of the Spirit, you see, were only for the "apostolic era," and ceased with the closing of the canon. This was a bigger issue 40 years ago, when people took the Bible more seriously, and churches split over "tongues." In extreme cases, fundamentalist churches preached that spiritual manifestations were demonic distractions, rather than gracious provisions of a kind heavenly Father.

The post-millennial church I attend yearns to have the best of both worlds, to worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Our pastors take classes at, and graduate from, a Calvinist seminary. And we are frankly pentecostal. Given that we have God's Truth and God's Spirit available to us, we should expect to make progress with our lives and families. And the Gospel should expect to make progress wherever we take it, here or abroad. When the Soviet Union broke so many dispensational hearts by rudely collapsing, our optimistic church had "boots on the ground" within months. Campus ministers were repurposed and retasked with the mission of planting churches over there, where disillusioned former Soviets were desperate for hope.

SO:

• there is a charismatic gift of prophecy -- the ability God gives some folks to have insight into immediate circumstances, and to craft a supernaturally appropriate word picture to summarize what's going on. This gift brings God's perspective to bear upon some issue, to edify, encourage, and exhort those who hear.
• Then, there is "prophecy teaching" -- the knack for making MOST of God's Word irrelevant to MOST of God's people MOST of the time.

Which of these, do you think, brings glory to God and blessings to His people? Especially if, as Scofield asserted, and as some of his acolytes continue to assert, you can't have both?

[Library Lady]

I’m very sorry. Prayers for you and your father. Blessings.

[grey_whiskers]

I'll pray for you and him. Forgiveness is a biggie.

Keep us posted.

[CynicalBear]

>>when he stupidly thought that he was writing to Timothy about Timothy’s pastoral challenges.<<

On the other hand, we who understand that it was actually the Holy Spirit who inspired the words and whatever Paul “thought” he was doing was transcended by what the Holy Spirit knew. And maybe we “stupidly” believe that the Bible applies to more then just the people Paul “thought” he was writing to. Of course if Paul was truly only writing to Timothy then it would have no “relevance” to people after his time so we should just discard it as irrelevant right?

>>R J Rushdoony cited>>

Yeah, let’s all follow Rushdoony looneys into the land where God either changes His mind or lies and doesn’t keep the promises He made to Israel. Where they believe that Jesus taught that we should set up an earthly kingdom before Jesus can return. Maybe we should all go back to believing that adulterers should be stoned and the death penalty should be imposed on children who rebel against their parents.

>> the knack for making MOST of God’s Word irrelevant to MOST of God’s people MOST of the time<<

In the first part of your post you say that Paul was writing only to Timothy, therefore not applicable to others, and then you accuse others of claiming that “most” of God’s word is irrelevant? Seriously?

[OrthodoxKirkPresbyterian]

I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. When I think of End Times I think of my lost years as an Adventist. But that does not mean I am attacking your beliefs, so I am sorry

[RJR_fan]

In the first part of your post you say that Paul was writing only to Timothy, therefore not applicable to others, and then you accuse others of claiming that “most” of God’s word is irrelevant? Seriously?

I love the way the give=and=take on this forum compels one to clarify his thinking and wording!

Paul was writing to Timothy about problems Timothy faced in the era ("Last Days" of the Old Testament age) Timothy lived in. The advice Paul gave THEN is valuable NOW to anyone who finds himself in a similar situation.

[Quix]

THANKS TONS for your kind caring and prayers.

[Quix]

INDEED.

THX GREATLY FOR YOUR KIND REPLY,CARING, AND PRAYERS.

Will likely continue to share whatever’s going on with my loved ones on FR.

[Quix]

You are welcome to attack any of my beliefs you believe to be UNBiblical, if that’s what you are convinced The Lord’s priority is for you.

I do hope there’s a capacity to be logical and Biblical about such things.

[cinciella]

I’m not sure where you got the idea from my post that my feelings were hurt (they’re not), but thanks for your concern. I was simply stating that all denominations believe their doctrine is found in the Bible. Unfortunately we don’t all have the “mind of Christ” on every issue, which is why there are so many doctrines & denominations!

[The Theophilus]

Parenthetically, it's interesting to note how classical dispensationalism makes MOST of the Bible irrelevant to MOST of God's people MOST of the time.

In the interest of truth, more Christians are alive today than those who are "asleep" in Christ since the prophecies were once spoken. Even snopes agrees that there are more people alive now than have died since the pyramids.

So the argument of "most" of the people isn't valid here.

When the Soviet Union broke so many dispensational hearts by rudely collapsing... where disillusioned former Soviets were desperate for hope.

Dispensationalism being a largely Western phenomenon would certainly alienate the "Soviets desperate for hope" by calling them "Gog and Magog", "enemies of Israel" and of God, and to be destroyed by God. I'm sure that is part of the Gospel message that was conveniently deleted when evangelizing the Soviet people - it seems so very Cold War Propaganda-ish.

[Quix]

GOD’S WORD REMAINS TRUE

re Gog and Magog . . . and evidently their two different assaults on Israel . . . one in these END TIMES and again at the end of the Millenium.

[presently no screen name]

And he affirmed on this call that he was ready.

Quix, believe him. Rest in the Lord, rest in the fact the HS put on his heart all that he needed to do. Sometimes we see things differently and always questioning did we do enough or are they really ready. Last night I just heard my dear cousin (a former nun) died - of course, you know where my mind went. We do what we can and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit. I believe your dad wants to be ready; and, thus he is ready. Feel good about he was given time to be ready and you did all you could in that regard. What a blessing that is!

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN!

I just talked with his brother’s wife—Mary—were missionaries to the Pacific region as Pentecostals . . .

Anyway—she talked to him on the phone last night and they are going to him at 16:00 this evening.

She talked to him about being ready, talking to Jesus etc. and Dad assured her he had been. I’m much comforted by that. PRAISE GOD. They will certainly pray with him, if possible when they get there.

The DR’s had predicted another massive stroke within 48 hours but it hasn’t happened. Mary said he hadn’t been taken to the hospital or Doc for 24 hours. Then they refused and sent him to the eye doc. The eye doc wisely insisted on an immediate MRI. Showed a massive stroke in the back of his brain. It’s a wonder he has motor coordination at all.

Yes, God has been merciful in giving him this time to insure things are right with God.

Martha heard him on the phone refusing something from the nurse as his right to refuse treatment. I’m not surprised. I didn’t think he’d want to prolong anything.

Still not sure if I’m going to be up to the trip with my chest congestion. Still not much energy etc. Laying low for now and praying and waiting on God as to what to do about that.

YOUR WISDOM AND EXHORTATIONS ARE QUITE APT.

GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR CARING AND PRAYERS.

[presently no screen name]

It’s a wonder he has motor coordination at all.

Quix, I was thinking - a massive stroke and he was able to speak with you and was coherent? Praise God. What a blessing that is, also. He has family there and more on the way to pray with him. God has heard all your prayers and has answered them. GOD IS FAITHFUL, all the time, every time! And it leaves us to only rest in Him.

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

!HALLELUJAH!
!HALLELUJAH!
!HALLELUJAH!

w/ great gushing tears
of thankfulness.
PRAISE GOD!

THANKS ENORMOUSLY
FOR YOUR ANOINTED EXHORTATIONS
AND CARING TO ME AT THIS TIME!
PRAISE GOD! PRAISE GOD! PRAISE GOD!

And may He return all such 100 X's over
TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY in this life and eternity!

[presently no screen name]

And may He return all such 100 X's over TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY in this life and eternity!

Thank you for that. I receive it for myself and my family and know it will come to pass because HE does hear and answer you and it's in agreement with my prayers. Thank YOU, Jesus!