I recently received one of those innocuous notification from a friend on Youtube stating that said friend had "favorited" a video, one featuring popular evangelical preacher John MacArthur. I had never heard this man preach before, and the friend who favorited the video is a Lutheran, so I figured I'd give it a listen.
Now, before I go any further, let me just say this. I had my guard down for this listen. I have a few people who I let my guard down when they preach. One, of course, is when Pastor Gary Held, my cohort on Radical Grace Radio, is preaching. It's likely that I'd also let my guard down for a sermon by Greg LeSieur as well... but for this John MacArthur sermon, I had my guard down because it came from the favorites list of a Lutheran.
I'll never make that mistake again. John MacArthur's sermon nearly killed my faith. I'm dead serious. His sermon was filled with everything from Lordship salvation to works righteousness. He claims that, yes, Christians sin, but if you have a pattern of sin in your life, you need to "check your foundation" before it's too late.
Now, I'm not trying to be too thoughtful here. I'm not interested in talking points, or well crafted prose. What I am interested in is expressing how angry I was with this man. I told Pastor Gary the other day "How dare this man try to take the grace and mercy of God away from me!" I was furious! I wanted to have John MacArthur in my studio for a few minutes, just long enough to ask him this: have you sinned today sir? If so, do you think your going to sin tomorrow? How about the next day? Yes to all? Do we see a pattern here yet? Is there now a discernible pattern of sin emerging?
So back to the point of the day. "Why does Radical Grace matter?" It's simple, yet so difficult for people to grasp: Because we need the Radical Grace of God to match the Radical nature of our sinful condition. We are, as a matter of course, so sinful at any given moment that even if someone were to administer several CCs of curare and render you in a state of coma, the doing of passing out itself would be tainted by sin. The depravity of our existence knows no bounds. That's literal. No pulling punches.
If people are only marginally sinful, then some form of mild grace from God would be sufficient. But the fact is, our sinful nature is matched only by one possible Godly response and that is the immeasurable grace and mercy of our Lord.
Radical Grace matters because it shoots for the dark recesses of our lives and fills up those lives with Christ. You all remember, I'm sure, of that description of the "God-shaped hole" that was a prominent evangelistic analogy for many years. Radical Grace tells us that there is a "sin shaped hole" in our lives that can only be filled with Christ!
I'll be doing more posts on this as time goes by. I have to. It's all I have.
Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
Should Christians celebrate Christmas? Well of course, we answer. However, not everyone agrees.* Apparently the Puritans and Scottish Presbyterians traditionally didn't. Here are the results in a 2007 pole of 104 Reformed voters on Puritan Board:
- Yes: 53/104 or 50.96%
- No: 34/104 or 32.69%
- Still thinking it through: 17/104 or 16.35%
* See defense of Christians who don't celebrate Christmas. http://www.thebluebanner.com/pdf/bluebanner8-9&10.pdf
* See R.C.Sproul's defense of celebrating Christmas. http://www.ligonier.org/learn/qas/celebration-christmas-pagan-ritual/
When we moved to this neighborhood in 2001 we started a tradition that has been in different homes each year. It was our turn again this year to host the annual neighborhood Christmas party. The neighbors can't help but notice the symbolism of our home decorations--definitely not secular. At our home we prayed before the meal. If we did not have or participate in this neighborhood tradition, would our neighbors think we are not Christians now? One Catholic neighbor bought my spiritual memoir at that party. We try to take all the commercialism out of Christmas, to simplify and not overspend the budget, but want to greet friends and neighbors all throughout the year, especially to sit on the front porch them, or go have coffee, and chat about what is important in life.
Dr. William Earl Sullivan
The Elder at my church, and an administrator on this blog, has just received an Honorary Doctorate of Humanitarian Letters from Whitefield Theological Seminary in Lakeland, Florida! I think he was quite surprised, but he is most certainly deserving. Congratulations!
Twelve Days and Doctrine
This is my second year listening to The Daily Audio Bible. Of course we are in Revelation on those podcasts and recently Brian Hardin commented that the study of Revelation is a lifelong pursuit. Yep, Brian, Revelation and eschatology will be a life-long pursuit. I thought within 2009 I would have arrived at a viewpoint and it hasn't happened. Granted that my study has been interupted by other projects, lack of dialogue on this blog, but no firm conclusion as yet.
There is an interesting story of the origin of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". It seems that in England from 1558 to 1829 Catholics were prohibited from practicing their religion. The story goes that an Irish priest penned the song "The 12 Days of Christmas" to serve as a catechism for Catholic youngsters, with "gifts" really referring to Catholic teachings and the true love being God Himself and "me" being baptized Catholics. Here is the symbolism in the song according to this story:
- A partridge in a pear tree refers to Christ who once likened Himself to a hen wishing to shelter chicks under its wings.
- Two turtle doves are the Old and New Testaments.
- Three French hens are faith, hope and charity, theological virtues.
- Four calling birds are the four gospels.
- Five golden rings are the first five books of the Old Testament, the Pentateuch, which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
- Six geese a-laying are the six days of creation.
- Seven swans a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments. (We Reformed/Evangelicals have two--communion and baptism.)
- Eight maids a-milking stands for the eight beatitudes.
- Nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
- Ten lords a-leaping are the ten commandments.
- Eleven pipers piping are the eleven faithful apostles.
- Twelve drummers drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed.
Meanwhile some Reformed dudes got together and made their own twelve days of doctrine, which is absolutely hilarious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW58lVVcu4w
How to fill your spiritual needs
Recognizing God's blessings
On the way up to the station today, we we're delayed due to two accidents on I95, involving what looked like ten vehicles. Praise God it looked like no one was seriously hurt in either accident, but it sparked a conversation that we had on the air... About how God blesses us even when things don't go like we planned, and how our physical and spiritual needs are met.
We were going to have a conversation about online church, but all the show prep went out the window when we were delayed. We'll have the conversation next week.
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
How to fill your spiritual needs
http://media.libsyn.com/media/lutherandifference/Episode_117.mp3
On the way up to the station today, we we're delayed due to two accidents on I95, involving what looked like ten vehicles. Praise God it looked like no one was seriously hurt in either accident, but it sparked a conversation that we had on the air... About how God blesses us even when things don't go like we planned, and how our physical and spiritual needs are met.
We were going to have a conversation about online church, but all the show prep went out the window when we were delayed. We'll have the conversation next week.
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
How to fill your spiritual needshttp://media.libsyn.com/media/lutherandifference/Episode_117.mp3
My Dispensational Friend
Adam has been invited to this blog, but has declined. Even so Adam e-mails me comments. Here are some recent ones:
- "I know that you are not crazy about dispensationalism, but have you ever the theory or idea that the seven churches in Revelation represent seven different periods of time (or covenants)? For example, the first church (Ephesus) could represent the Adamic period of time (or covenant) because it says: 'Remember the height from which you fell.' (Adam fell) And it also says: 'the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.' The tree of life was in the Garden of Eden, which was a paradise on earth for a while. Then the next church (Smyrna) could be the Abrahamic period of time (or covenant) because it says: 'you are rich.' Abraham was incredibly wealthy according to Genesis 13:2. And it also says: 'suffer persecution for ten days.' Abraham sent his servant out to get Rebecca, and they wanted to keep her ten days (Genesis 24:55)."
- Then another time Adam wrote: "I personally believe we are the church of Philadelphia in Revelation. The name 'Philadelphia' means 'brotherly love.' "
- Adam furthermore writes: "The apostle Paul himself was a dispensationalist. How do I know this? Because he said: 'If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God
which is given me to you."' Ephesians 3:2 and 'Wherefore I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God.' Colossians 1:25 - February 7, 2010 Adams writes: "You know that I am fascinated with the rapture. There are three things that are associated with it: 1) a shout 2) a voice and 3) a trump. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) But did you know that the fall of Jericho in the Old Testament is also a"picture" of the rapture? You have 1) a shout 2) the voice of Joshua 3) trumpet blast "...the people will go up, every man straight in." (Joshua 6:5)"
Special Edition: LCMS sells KFUO FM
Another outreach opportunity; Gone
The LCMS leaders have decided to sell KFUO FM in St. Louis, and we've decided to podcast about it. Why oh why are we squandering our resources?
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Special Edition: LCMS sells KFUO FM
The LCMS leaders have decided to sell KFUO FM in St. Louis, and we've decided to podcast about it. Why oh why are we squandering our resources?
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Special Edition: LCMS sells KFUO FM
How to Make 10 137 Dollars Monthly by Blogging n Get FREE eBook
One of the easiest ways to build an online business,
regardless of experience or skill is by using the power
and simplicity of blog software.
With a platform such as Wordpress, you could easily
create a dynamic website without ever having the
traditional start up costs or technical know-how
usually involved in online business.
Not only is blogging one of the easiest methods of
building your website, but it's also one of the fastest
methods of creating an in-depth network of profitable
websites, each one focusing on a different niche
market.
Within a few hours from now, you will know exactly how
to build your online blogging network starting from
ground zero.
I will take you through the steps of optimizing your
blog for maximum search engine positioning, while
showing you exactly how I choose winning niche markets
quickly and easily.
We'll also take it a step further by exploring the
different opportunities for monetizing your blog so
that every square inch of your website is yielding
results AND then we'll top it all off with quick fire
traffic generation strategies that will help you launch
your brand new website effortlessly.
One of the greatest aspects to building an online
business using blogs is in just how incredibly
automated you can set up your entire system.
There is not enough room here in this blog post, to
explain everything, so, download My NEW eBook that I
have written for You. My new eBook is called:
Quick Blogging Profits, and it is 62 pages of
valuable content.
I will show You exactly How I Earn $10,137 Every,Single Month by Blogging. You can use a Wordpress, Blogger, Joomla, or any other Blog Platform, and You will see the exact,same results. I just wrote a 62 Pages eBook, which shows You the exact same, easy and fast steps that I use to earn $10,137 Every Month with My Blog. I named the eBook: Quick Blogging Profits. You can download My, Quick Blogging Profits eBook for FREE, by CLICKING on the Link, below:
CLICK HERE to Download: QUICK Blogging Profits - eBook - for FREE !!
------------------------
regardless of experience or skill is by using the power
and simplicity of blog software.
With a platform such as Wordpress, you could easily
create a dynamic website without ever having the
traditional start up costs or technical know-how
usually involved in online business.
Not only is blogging one of the easiest methods of
building your website, but it's also one of the fastest
methods of creating an in-depth network of profitable
websites, each one focusing on a different niche
market.
Within a few hours from now, you will know exactly how
to build your online blogging network starting from
ground zero.
I will take you through the steps of optimizing your
blog for maximum search engine positioning, while
showing you exactly how I choose winning niche markets
quickly and easily.
We'll also take it a step further by exploring the
different opportunities for monetizing your blog so
that every square inch of your website is yielding
results AND then we'll top it all off with quick fire
traffic generation strategies that will help you launch
your brand new website effortlessly.
One of the greatest aspects to building an online
business using blogs is in just how incredibly
automated you can set up your entire system.
There is not enough room here in this blog post, to
explain everything, so, download My NEW eBook that I
have written for You. My new eBook is called:
Quick Blogging Profits, and it is 62 pages of
valuable content.
I will show You exactly How I Earn $10,137 Every,Single Month by Blogging. You can use a Wordpress, Blogger, Joomla, or any other Blog Platform, and You will see the exact,same results. I just wrote a 62 Pages eBook, which shows You the exact same, easy and fast steps that I use to earn $10,137 Every Month with My Blog. I named the eBook: Quick Blogging Profits. You can download My, Quick Blogging Profits eBook for FREE, by CLICKING on the Link, below:
CLICK HERE to Download: QUICK Blogging Profits - eBook - for FREE !!
------------------------
ELCA decides: Abandon God's Word
The ELCA turns it back on God
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the most liberal Lutheran Church Body in the United States, has voted to abandon the Word of God and support both Same Sex Marriage and Rostered Gay Clergy. In this edition of Radical Grace Race, we talk about the ramifications of this move, about how the media has portrayed Lutherans during this point in history, and how an incident with a Tornado that struck the Convention Center where the ELCA were meeting to discuss these issues may have been a sign from God...
There is a definite sense of pain and anguish over watching this happen. How can we even begin to understand what has happened?
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the most liberal Lutheran Church Body in the United States, has voted to abandon the Word of God and support both Same Sex Marriage and Rostered Gay Clergy. In this edition of Radical Grace Race, we talk about the ramifications of this move, about how the media has portrayed Lutherans during this point in history, and how an incident with a Tornado that struck the Convention Center where the ELCA were meeting to discuss these issues may have been a sign from God...
There is a definite sense of pain and anguish over watching this happen. How can we even begin to understand what has happened?
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Belcher's Theological Novels
I just finished reading Journey in Grace by Richard. P. Belcher. The lead narrator Ira is a student studying to become ordained. In the meanwhile he is serving his second Baptist church and he is engaged to Terry whom he marries in the last chapter. There are several subplots and always theological inquiry with Terry. Throughout the novel they study Calvinism, the definitions, Scriptural basis for the five points of Calvinism and the questions that Calvinism generates. Their inquiry ends just before they marry.https://www.audubonpress.net/product.php?productid=8
At the end of the novel, the narrator Ira writes: "As we left the church after the reception, the question crossed my mind, 'What theological search shall I make next?' The answer came immediately--'Eschatology!' " Belcher did write such a book, but it is out of stock now. Here is how it is described.
A Journey in Eschatology - A Theological Novel
"Dr. Richard Belcher This is the continuing story of Ira Pointer, as he faces another theological search. Thinking he is free of such pursuits for a while, he is again suddenly thrust into the most difficult of all quests, the search to unravel the various eschatological (pertaining to the last day) views of his day. His mind is at times boggled by the many eschatological terms, and claims -- Pre-mil, post-mil, a-mil, preterist, historicist, pre-trib, post-trib, etc. But not only is he searching for an understanding of theology in this difficult area, but he is involved with another search. We learn in this book that he was reared in a children's home, having been abandoned by his parents at 2 years of age. So when the writing of this book opens the door to search for his birth parents, he at first rejects the possibility, but then after prayer, becomes deeply involved in that arduous and even dangerous challenge."
"Dr. Richard Belcher This is the continuing story of Ira Pointer, as he faces another theological search. Thinking he is free of such pursuits for a while, he is again suddenly thrust into the most difficult of all quests, the search to unravel the various eschatological (pertaining to the last day) views of his day. His mind is at times boggled by the many eschatological terms, and claims -- Pre-mil, post-mil, a-mil, preterist, historicist, pre-trib, post-trib, etc. But not only is he searching for an understanding of theology in this difficult area, but he is involved with another search. We learn in this book that he was reared in a children's home, having been abandoned by his parents at 2 years of age. So when the writing of this book opens the door to search for his birth parents, he at first rejects the possibility, but then after prayer, becomes deeply involved in that arduous and even dangerous challenge."
Anyone out there read A Journey in Eschatology?
Keith Mathison on Escahatology
LIVE at 2 PM ET (11 AM PT) at http://live.covenantradio.com/
July 2, 2009 2:00 PM ET (11:00 AM PT): Dr. Keith Mathison will be on the program to discuss his book: From Age to Age: The Unfolding of Biblical Eschatology. Dr. Keith A. Mathison received his B.A. in Christianity and political science from Houston Baptist University and then studied at Dallas Theological Seminary for two years before completing his M.A. in theological studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He has also earned a Ph.D. in Christian thought from Whitefield Theological Seminary.
July 2, 2009 2:00 PM ET (11:00 AM PT): Dr. Keith Mathison will be on the program to discuss his book: From Age to Age: The Unfolding of Biblical Eschatology. Dr. Keith A. Mathison received his B.A. in Christianity and political science from Houston Baptist University and then studied at Dallas Theological Seminary for two years before completing his M.A. in theological studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He has also earned a Ph.D. in Christian thought from Whitefield Theological Seminary.
You've heard it said...
Magical Spiritual Poofle Dust
In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, Pastor Gary Held talks about how the idea of Christians being at war is misused by some Christians, for instance, how the idea of us being Christian Soldiers fighting against the culture is bolstered by the misapplication of certain Scripture.
We also begin what we hope will be a weekly segment, "You have heard it said", where we take some statements of popular teaching of Christian Teachers today, and do what Jesus did with them on the sermon on the mount. This week it's Pastor Michael Youssef and what he believes is the Gospel, and how "if you believe with all your heart, God can do great things".
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, Pastor Gary Held talks about how the idea of Christians being at war is misused by some Christians, for instance, how the idea of us being Christian Soldiers fighting against the culture is bolstered by the misapplication of certain Scripture.
We also begin what we hope will be a weekly segment, "You have heard it said", where we take some statements of popular teaching of Christian Teachers today, and do what Jesus did with them on the sermon on the mount. This week it's Pastor Michael Youssef and what he believes is the Gospel, and how "if you believe with all your heart, God can do great things".
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
There's a fight brewing at Radical Grace!
Fighting for the doctrine of the Trinity
Actually, what's going on is we're fighting for the doctrine of the Trinity. It's Trinity Sunday, and we have the Athanasian Creed in mind, and it's time to set the record straight again before the full blown Modalists get their chance to mess things up... Happily, most Modalists don't celebrate Trinity Sunday. Strange...
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Actually, what's going on is we're fighting for the doctrine of the Trinity. It's Trinity Sunday, and we have the Athanasian Creed in mind, and it's time to set the record straight again before the full blown Modalists get their chance to mess things up... Happily, most Modalists don't celebrate Trinity Sunday. Strange...
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
God doesn't love you in slices
In this edition of Radical Grace Radio Pastor Greg does a mean Sean Connery impersonation as he makes a great point about the love of God, and we answer an emailer who wanted to know...
There's something which confuses me about Sola Fide. If we're saved by
grace alone through faith alone by Christ alone on the authority of
scripture alone, why are sacraments necessary? I'm not necessarily
doubting the necessity of sacraments, I just don't understand that if
access to salvation comes down to faith alone (sola), then how is it
alone if a sacrament must be coupled with it? Thank you in advance for
your answer.
-Chris
Danville, Indiana
________________________________________________
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Episode 89: Listener Emails and Seminary Experiences
Is Jesus merely a condiment on the burger of world religion?
In this Edition of Radical Grace Radio we go over some listener emails, and Pastor Greg LeSeiur Tells about his days at ELCA Seminary in Gettysburg... Where apparently he learned the Jesus is reduced to being a condiment on the burger of World Religion. Apparently other religions are just fine, but they are better if you add Jesus... We know, it's bad.
________________________________________________
Larry in KY Writes
Something Matt mentioned in the last was the first time Iâd heard
someone else really articulate it, someone whoâd been there once and
that is the spirit of antichrist wafting in the protestant church. I
use to tell my wife back during my struggles with âwas Christ really
for meâ, that dark, dark, dark time, âI believe more deception and
covering up of Christ occurs not so much overtly but under the guise of
âniceâ and smiles and from well meaning fellows and pastors. Not the
kind of guys youâd label, âthatâs my enemyâ.â Iâve told her, ââI think
weâve been tainted by dispensationalism and Hollywoodâwe think
antichrist and Pharisees are these âdark smoking back room hand
wringing plottersâ, or the church Lady on SNL a few years back.
But
Iâm beginning to think thatâs a fake or rouse to keep us from looking
at the real antichristic spirit of our age, even in the protestant
church. For the real Christ and him crucified cover uppersare not at all like that. In a sense that would be obvious and EASY
to avoidâlike a thief coming at you a mile away with his gun drawn. No
now days itâs sold to you under nice things and generally morals we all
want. Christ is covered up more there than anywhere so that either you
end up overly proud of yourself that you are doing it OR you end up in
despair thinking, âIâm lost for sureâ.â If youâve been in that you
know what that is like and its hard to uncover. In a sense a Hollywood
Pharisee would be refreshingly easy to refute!
You all have done a WONDERFUL job of reorienting what antichrist and
all involved is. It donned on me the other day listening that it makes
sense â the deception even of dispensationalism. If the devil can get
the church laity to be looking for the boogy man in some political
figure, he can then sneak in under the radar under morals and things
whether from Rome or within the protestant church itself in general and
REALLY cover up Christ. Because we can unite with Rome around a moral
issue but at the price of the Gospel itself.
Great, great, great work brothersâkeep it up you have no idea how much you feed us!
_____________________________________________________________
Josh writes...
I heard the "water valve" illustration and find it to be compelling.
However, I feel that illustration still places a burden on the PERSON
and not on GOD because the person can close the valve. In working with
this illustration, we all close the valve all the time. So, how does
the valve stay open for some even when they try to close it and for
some it closes. If election is truly based solely on God, then he must
choose whose valve opens and whose valve closes at the end of their
life. I don't see how you can get around the fact that God elects for
salvation and selects some for condemnation. If condemnation is based
on something in us denying God's offer of salvation then, by default,
salvation is also based on the lack of that same thing IN US. I don't
believe you can have election for salvation from God without selection for condemnation by God as well.
_____________________________________________________________
Jason writes...
I am listening to the program on "The United States of the Beast".
Didn't Luther, Calvin, and all the Reformers point to the dynasty of
the Popes as the beast of Revelation? It seems to fit to me. Maybe I
am getting ahead of myself because I didn't get to the end yet. Some
Lutherans sound really anti-Calvinist. Am I damned for being
Calvinist? If so let me know why before it's too late. I love
Lutherans no matter what they say. Martin Luther rocks. In Christ,
(unless Calvinists are damned)
Jason
Just heard the end. I agree with Luther. Luther rocks!
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
In this Edition of Radical Grace Radio we go over some listener emails, and Pastor Greg LeSeiur Tells about his days at ELCA Seminary in Gettysburg... Where apparently he learned the Jesus is reduced to being a condiment on the burger of World Religion. Apparently other religions are just fine, but they are better if you add Jesus... We know, it's bad.
________________________________________________
Larry in KY Writes
Something Matt mentioned in the last was the first time Iâd heard
someone else really articulate it, someone whoâd been there once and
that is the spirit of antichrist wafting in the protestant church. I
use to tell my wife back during my struggles with âwas Christ really
for meâ, that dark, dark, dark time, âI believe more deception and
covering up of Christ occurs not so much overtly but under the guise of
âniceâ and smiles and from well meaning fellows and pastors. Not the
kind of guys youâd label, âthatâs my enemyâ.â Iâve told her, ââI think
weâve been tainted by dispensationalism and Hollywoodâwe think
antichrist and Pharisees are these âdark smoking back room hand
wringing plottersâ, or the church Lady on SNL a few years back.
But
Iâm beginning to think thatâs a fake or rouse to keep us from looking
at the real antichristic spirit of our age, even in the protestant
church. For the real Christ and him crucified cover uppersare not at all like that. In a sense that would be obvious and EASY
to avoidâlike a thief coming at you a mile away with his gun drawn. No
now days itâs sold to you under nice things and generally morals we all
want. Christ is covered up more there than anywhere so that either you
end up overly proud of yourself that you are doing it OR you end up in
despair thinking, âIâm lost for sureâ.â If youâve been in that you
know what that is like and its hard to uncover. In a sense a Hollywood
Pharisee would be refreshingly easy to refute!
You all have done a WONDERFUL job of reorienting what antichrist and
all involved is. It donned on me the other day listening that it makes
sense â the deception even of dispensationalism. If the devil can get
the church laity to be looking for the boogy man in some political
figure, he can then sneak in under the radar under morals and things
whether from Rome or within the protestant church itself in general and
REALLY cover up Christ. Because we can unite with Rome around a moral
issue but at the price of the Gospel itself.
Great, great, great work brothersâkeep it up you have no idea how much you feed us!
_____________________________________________________________
Josh writes...
I heard the "water valve" illustration and find it to be compelling.
However, I feel that illustration still places a burden on the PERSON
and not on GOD because the person can close the valve. In working with
this illustration, we all close the valve all the time. So, how does
the valve stay open for some even when they try to close it and for
some it closes. If election is truly based solely on God, then he must
choose whose valve opens and whose valve closes at the end of their
life. I don't see how you can get around the fact that God elects for
salvation and selects some for condemnation. If condemnation is based
on something in us denying God's offer of salvation then, by default,
salvation is also based on the lack of that same thing IN US. I don't
believe you can have election for salvation from God without selection for condemnation by God as well.
_____________________________________________________________
Jason writes...
I am listening to the program on "The United States of the Beast".
Didn't Luther, Calvin, and all the Reformers point to the dynasty of
the Popes as the beast of Revelation? It seems to fit to me. Maybe I
am getting ahead of myself because I didn't get to the end yet. Some
Lutherans sound really anti-Calvinist. Am I damned for being
Calvinist? If so let me know why before it's too late. I love
Lutherans no matter what they say. Martin Luther rocks. In Christ,
(unless Calvinists are damned)
Jason
Just heard the end. I agree with Luther. Luther rocks!
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
The Term Antichrist
I have a Catholic neighbor who thinks Obama is the antichrist. I am not at all ready to go there.
Michael Horton, not the actor, but the author of the insightful Christless Christianity and Professor at Westminister Seminary California, was asked if Obama is the antichrist and he responded to the Washington Post (see Resources here):
I mean no offense, but this is the sort of teaching that many people are getting in extremely conservative churches where Christ is as evidently left out of the picture as in any rant by Jeremiah Wright. Judging by the enormous popularity of the Left Behind best-sellers, many Christians today are more fascinated by the Antichrist than by Christ. How many books on Christ's person and work top the New York Times Best-Seller List for months?According to First John, "many antichrists have gone out into the world" even during the time of the apostles, and John identifies them as those who distort the gospel concerning Christ. Even if one holds that there is still a future Antichrist figure who will consummate this line of false prophets, the New Testament teaches that he will take his throne in the temple-that is, in the communion of saints (the church). He will be a religious figure who uses the secular power of the state to persecute the saints. If we're keeping our eyes peeled for the Antichrist, we should keep our eyes fixed on Christ. If we really know who he is and what he has done in history for our redemption and what he will do when he returns, then we'll know his impostors when we see them. If we are witnessing something like "Christless Christianity" across the religious spectrum today, this is what the Bible calls "the spirit of antichrist." And if that's true, then whatever one's politics, don't look for the Antichrist in Washington, but in false religion.
A poll on a Reformed blog asks if the Roman papacy is the antichirst and that poll is running neck and neck yes and no. There are only four verses in the Bible with the term antichrist. But we don't know that there is one antichrist according to I John 2:18 where John says it is the end times since there are many antichrists. I John 2:22 and 2 John 7 say that antichrists are those who deny the Father and the Son. I John 4:3 and I John 2:18 say that the antichrist was already in John's world. These Scriptures seem to help a Postmil position.
Postmillennialist and Partial Preterist Dr. Kenneth Gentry reviews the passages in first and second John and concludes, "Antichrist is a contemporary heretical tendency regarding the person of Christ, which is current among many in John's day." p. 378 in He Shall Have Dominion, 3rd Ed. In the same book he also in a chapter on "Eschatological Characters" distinguishing the beast, the great harlot and the man of lawlessness. Gentry concludes his "Eschatological Characters" chapter by writing, "Several prominent evil characters lurk in Scripture's prophetic drama. Too often Christians know these names better than their biblical and historical contexts. . . . Adherents to pessimistic eschatologies see these evil minions of Satan as providing evidence against the postmillenial hope. . . .When we carefully study these characters in terms of their historical context, the prophecies concerning their imminent appearance comport well with preteristic postmillennialism." p. 394
Michael Horton, not the actor, but the author of the insightful Christless Christianity and Professor at Westminister Seminary California, was asked if Obama is the antichrist and he responded to the Washington Post (see Resources here):
I mean no offense, but this is the sort of teaching that many people are getting in extremely conservative churches where Christ is as evidently left out of the picture as in any rant by Jeremiah Wright. Judging by the enormous popularity of the Left Behind best-sellers, many Christians today are more fascinated by the Antichrist than by Christ. How many books on Christ's person and work top the New York Times Best-Seller List for months?According to First John, "many antichrists have gone out into the world" even during the time of the apostles, and John identifies them as those who distort the gospel concerning Christ. Even if one holds that there is still a future Antichrist figure who will consummate this line of false prophets, the New Testament teaches that he will take his throne in the temple-that is, in the communion of saints (the church). He will be a religious figure who uses the secular power of the state to persecute the saints. If we're keeping our eyes peeled for the Antichrist, we should keep our eyes fixed on Christ. If we really know who he is and what he has done in history for our redemption and what he will do when he returns, then we'll know his impostors when we see them. If we are witnessing something like "Christless Christianity" across the religious spectrum today, this is what the Bible calls "the spirit of antichrist." And if that's true, then whatever one's politics, don't look for the Antichrist in Washington, but in false religion.
A poll on a Reformed blog asks if the Roman papacy is the antichirst and that poll is running neck and neck yes and no. There are only four verses in the Bible with the term antichrist. But we don't know that there is one antichrist according to I John 2:18 where John says it is the end times since there are many antichrists. I John 2:22 and 2 John 7 say that antichrists are those who deny the Father and the Son. I John 4:3 and I John 2:18 say that the antichrist was already in John's world. These Scriptures seem to help a Postmil position.
Postmillennialist and Partial Preterist Dr. Kenneth Gentry reviews the passages in first and second John and concludes, "Antichrist is a contemporary heretical tendency regarding the person of Christ, which is current among many in John's day." p. 378 in He Shall Have Dominion, 3rd Ed. In the same book he also in a chapter on "Eschatological Characters" distinguishing the beast, the great harlot and the man of lawlessness. Gentry concludes his "Eschatological Characters" chapter by writing, "Several prominent evil characters lurk in Scripture's prophetic drama. Too often Christians know these names better than their biblical and historical contexts. . . . Adherents to pessimistic eschatologies see these evil minions of Satan as providing evidence against the postmillenial hope. . . .When we carefully study these characters in terms of their historical context, the prophecies concerning their imminent appearance comport well with preteristic postmillennialism." p. 394
Episode 88: The First Resurrection: Revelation 20:5
Have we partaken already of the first Resurrection?
In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk about literalism applied to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we look at how Jesus interprets his Revelation, and we get a chance to talk about the consequences of believing messed up versions of End Times Teachings and how it leads us to false Gospels.
Question of the week: Can you get a right faith from wrong doctrines? Email us at RadicalGrace@ live.com your take on this question.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
In this edition of Radical Grace Radio, we talk about literalism applied to the Revelation of Jesus Christ, we look at how Jesus interprets his Revelation, and we get a chance to talk about the consequences of believing messed up versions of End Times Teachings and how it leads us to false Gospels.
Question of the week: Can you get a right faith from wrong doctrines? Email us at RadicalGrace@ live.com your take on this question.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Episode 87: Sowing Hatred by Teaching Doctrine?
Does teaching right doctrine cause hatred?
In this edition of Radical Grace we take time to clarify the historic position that Lutherans have confessed concerning who or what the Anti Christ is. We talk about what our confessions say, and about how this same spirit of Anti Christ exists not just in Rome in the form of the Holy See, but also in Evangelicalism, obscuring the Gospel just as much as Rome does.
Also, a caller challenges us on this, stating that we shouldn't be sowing hatred in a time where religious hatred is rampant in the world.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
In this edition of Radical Grace we take time to clarify the historic position that Lutherans have confessed concerning who or what the Anti Christ is. We talk about what our confessions say, and about how this same spirit of Anti Christ exists not just in Rome in the form of the Holy See, but also in Evangelicalism, obscuring the Gospel just as much as Rome does.
Also, a caller challenges us on this, stating that we shouldn't be sowing hatred in a time where religious hatred is rampant in the world.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Episode 86: The Unites States of the Beast?
Daniel 9
This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSeiur joins us again, and this time we talk about another part of the book of Daniel, Chapter 7 and the four beasts. Also, Pastor Gary has a very disturbing idea of what the beast of Revelation is, plus we answer a listener named Daniel who asks the question we all ask from time to time... If I've fallen away from Christ, can I be restored to the kingdom, or am I lost eternally?
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSeiur joins us again, and this time we talk about another part of the book of Daniel, Chapter 7 and the four beasts. Also, Pastor Gary has a very disturbing idea of what the beast of Revelation is, plus we answer a listener named Daniel who asks the question we all ask from time to time... If I've fallen away from Christ, can I be restored to the kingdom, or am I lost eternally?
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Hyperpreterists and Transmillennialism
You would think we were done or at a standstill wrestling with our four main viewpoints (Historical Premillennial, Pretribulation Dispensational Premillennial, Amillennialism and Postmillennial Part-Preterism), but not so. Here is a view I definitely reject. Red flag it! I heard Roderick Edward on a podcast from Covenant Radio yesterday. Edwards is a former 15-year Hyperpreterist and warms against the movement, as does Dr. Gentry (see resources on this web site). Todd Dennis launched Hyperpreterism on the Internet in the 1990s, although it was started in Ohio in the 1970s. Edwards explains that Hyperreterism puts everything we have been discussing in the past--Christ's second coming, the resurrection and the judgment. It all happened in A.D.70 they say!
Roderick Edwards has also posted the following YouTube Presentation that explains the history of this system. There are several camps in the movement, including an emergent church trend with Virgil Vaduva.
Roderick Edwards has also posted the following YouTube Presentation that explains the history of this system. There are several camps in the movement, including an emergent church trend with Virgil Vaduva.
Episode 85: The Doomsday Clock
Daniel 9: Days of Weeks of Years
This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSeiur joins us again to talk about end times. This time we struggle to find Biblical reference to a 7 year tribulation... Aaaaaand we think we found it. Plus the doomsday clock! Time is running out!
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSeiur joins us again to talk about end times. This time we struggle to find Biblical reference to a 7 year tribulation... Aaaaaand we think we found it. Plus the doomsday clock! Time is running out!
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Episode 84: Wrong or Right on Left Behind?
Darby: The beginning of the end.
The beginning of a series on popular eschatology, Hal Lindsey, Left Behind, and Darby and his dispensationalistic end times dance. In this edition we talk about being left behind and how Jesus seems to think about this differently than popular teachers of today.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
The beginning of a series on popular eschatology, Hal Lindsey, Left Behind, and Darby and his dispensationalistic end times dance. In this edition we talk about being left behind and how Jesus seems to think about this differently than popular teachers of today.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
The Late Great Planet Church
.jpg)
Congratulations, Jerry Johnson, on producing a new DVD, “The Late Great Planet Church: The Rise of Dispensationalism”, Volume One.
This DVD, which is going like pancakes, can be ordered from NiceneCouncil.com.
According to this DVD, Dispensationalism:
--Has broken continuity with church history
--Wrongly interprets the Word of God with a flawed hermeneutic
--Has been a willing participant in the church’s trend toward anti-intellectualism and even Arminianism
--Embraces Greek philosophical dualism that comes dangerously close to the ancient heresy of Gnosticism
--Has embraced an unbiblical view of the Church and Israel with one method of Salvation for the Church and one for Israel
--Is not an eschatology build on theology, but a theology built on eschatology
--Inevitably leads to cultural withdrawal and surrender
--Often holds that the Sermon on the Mount is law not grace and that the doctrine of grace is in the Epistles and not the Gospels
Problems of Dispensationalism have been addressed by "Progressive Dispensationalists". Christians tend to leave Dispensationalism for Covenantal theology rather than vice versa.
Although the DVD is two hours, it can be accessed through scenes for study in adult classes. I recommend!
Episode 83: Making Payments on the Free Gift?
Compound interest on Salvation
How much do we pay God for our Salvation? Seriously, the church is in the same kind of state that our economy is in right now. Think about it. God offers His gifts to us for free, but then we try to create an economy of salvation and sanctification here on earth by parsing out the gifts and making our people pay for the privilege of being partakers in the kingdom of God. We do this over and over again, whether is was Rome with indulgences or today's Pentecostal movement asking it's people to buy their way into spiritual gifts. It's all the same. Even during the second temple era forgiveness came at the cost the temple laid on so called "blemish free" sacrifices they sold for those whose sacrifices were not good enough.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
How much do we pay God for our Salvation? Seriously, the church is in the same kind of state that our economy is in right now. Think about it. God offers His gifts to us for free, but then we try to create an economy of salvation and sanctification here on earth by parsing out the gifts and making our people pay for the privilege of being partakers in the kingdom of God. We do this over and over again, whether is was Rome with indulgences or today's Pentecostal movement asking it's people to buy their way into spiritual gifts. It's all the same. Even during the second temple era forgiveness came at the cost the temple laid on so called "blemish free" sacrifices they sold for those whose sacrifices were not good enough.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Episode 82: Rick Warren's Folly
Putting God in a Box
On the one hand people want us to stop putting God in a Box, but on the other hand they put God in a box by trying to hold some doctrine over God's head as though God can be held accountable to a doctrine. Also Rick Warren and his own words about hos Jesus makes up the difference between my good works and the perfection I need to stand before God's judgment.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
On the one hand people want us to stop putting God in a Box, but on the other hand they put God in a box by trying to hold some doctrine over God's head as though God can be held accountable to a doctrine. Also Rick Warren and his own words about hos Jesus makes up the difference between my good works and the perfection I need to stand before God's judgment.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
The Most Important Christian Event So Far
.jpg)
Imagine sitting at the table after Jesus Christ was crucified. Suddenly you realize that it is the risen Jesus Christ breaking bread with you! Luke 24:30,31
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OEqavkJGCE&feature=channel_page
.jpg)
There Is a Fountain Filled With Blood
from the hymn
There is a fountain filled with blood
Drawn from Immanuel's veins;
And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains. . .
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there have I, as vile as he,
Washed all my sins away. . .
E'er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die. . .
Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved, to sin no more. . . .
Palm Sunday
penned by Fanny Crosby
Praise Him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown him! crown him! Prophet, and Priest and King!
Christ is coming! Over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness,
Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song. AMEN.
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown him! crown him! Prophet, and Priest and King!
Christ is coming! Over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness,
Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song. AMEN.
Turning a TULIP into a Tare
Episode 81: A Calvinist corrective
Believe or not sometimes Christians want to be persecuted. They do. Seriously.
Also Pastor Gary tells us what he thinks is the real problem with the culture today.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Believe or not sometimes Christians want to be persecuted. They do. Seriously.
Also Pastor Gary tells us what he thinks is the real problem with the culture today.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Persecuted Christians
Episode 80: Who's persecuting who?
Believe or not sometimes Christians want to be persecuted. They do. Seriously.
Also Pastor Gary tells us what he thinks is the real problem with the culture today.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Believe or not sometimes Christians want to be persecuted. They do. Seriously.
Also Pastor Gary tells us what he thinks is the real problem with the culture today.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Put on your Happy Faith!
Episode 79: Listener emails
In this Edition of Radical Grace we read some listener emails and we talk about that age old method Christians use to shut down talk of discernment. “Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged”. We will be getting to more of your emails in the future.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
In this Edition of Radical Grace we read some listener emails and we talk about that age old method Christians use to shut down talk of discernment. “Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged”. We will be getting to more of your emails in the future.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Criteria for Picking a Viewpoint
.jpg)
Could I possibly pick a viewpoint? At the beginning of 2009 I was leaning towards Parital Preterism/Postmillennialism after attending a conference in the fall of 2008. Now I am not so sure I want to be dogmatic about any viewpoint. I just want the blessings of studying Revelation.
The Reformers cried, "Sola Scriptura!" Strangely they did not get into this debate. Calvin and Luther were mild, not wild about their Amillennialism. On the Pilgrim Board I read where someone had asked R. C. Sproul about his viewpoints and he said that he was not a Dispensational Premillennialist, but saw positives and negatives about the three other views.
While listening to the Daily Audio Bible on my iPod yesterday, Brian Hardin read from Deuteronomy 4:2:, You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it; that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
I thought about Proverbs 30:5,6 which reads Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
Then of course there is the warning that ends Revelation about not taking away from Revelation nor adding to it. While it is so important to find prophecy in all of Scripture, I want to think about which eschatology viewpoint adds to Scripture.
How can the Gospel get things done?
Episode 78: How sweet the sound
Considering how often it is that people misunderstand what “church” is when compared businesses and corporations, on this edition of Radical Grace we talk about clarifying doctrine, what a church is, and my favorite whipping boy: The idea of the Amazing Grace of God will somehow make Christians lazy and more sinful.
John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace”, understood Radical Grace.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Considering how often it is that people misunderstand what “church” is when compared businesses and corporations, on this edition of Radical Grace we talk about clarifying doctrine, what a church is, and my favorite whipping boy: The idea of the Amazing Grace of God will somehow make Christians lazy and more sinful.
John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace”, understood Radical Grace.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Denver Seminary Gives a Case for Historic Premil
.jpg)
Not since George Ladd wrote on Historical Premillennialism, has a significant book been published on this view of eschatology. Two Denver Seminary Professors each wrote a chapter and edited others in A Case for Historic Premillennialism: An Alternative to "Left Behind" Eschatology, just out this month from Baker Academic of Baker Publishing Group of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Four other Denver professors join these men along with two professors from other seminaries. The book gives new ideas to our discussion in my opinion.
- Who is to say we escape the tribulation? The book argues "I actually think the doctrine of the tribulation is more important than the doctrine of the millennium." (p. 69)
- Believers "will be the ones left behind--on earth to enjoy the glory and grandeur of reigning with Christ during the millennium." (p. 78)
- Why do certain segments in the church dismiss the study of eschatology? Blomberg suggests on page 65 "With the rise of modern (and now postmodern) liberalism, many authors have simply dismissed biblical apocalyptic as the outmoded husk or shell into which the ancients placed their eschatological beliefs. One need not even debate the timing of the rapture, so the argument goes, because we cannot expect a literal rapture ever to occur, or a literal second coming of Christ for that matter. At best, biblical apocalyptic represents, according to this view, theological encouragement, in primitive garb, for beleaguered Christians that God can and will work through the events of this world and through his people to create a better world and that God's people need not fear that the world will become as bad as it could possibly be."
- Book's summary. "The logical corollary of classic dispensationalism is that the world is going to hell in a handbasket and the most we can hope to do is save souls before the end is upon us and we have no further opportunity to do so. Postmillennialism, followed consistently, engenders an unbridled optimism in what God wants to do in Christianizing the earth through his Spirit-filled followers, an optimism that is hard to mesh with humanity's experience in any prolonged period of world history. Amillennialism and historic premillennialism both acknowledge the 'already but not yet' inaugurated kingdom of God, and both allow for God to still want to do great good on this earth through his people and for the devil to still wreak great havoc." p. 172
Mark 8:12 and Luke 21:36
Keith, who will never post here he indicated, e-mailed me: "Like I say I'm a pan millenialist - I have faith it will all "pan" out in the end and find no reason to sift through contradictory hints from the Bible. Real answers are not there and Jesus even warned against speculation. Mark 8:12. Don't mean to be brusk, but that is what I think."
I was thinking about Mark 8:12 where Christ asked the pharisees, "Why does this generation seek a sign?" Yes, Keith, I should not look for the signs. Clinton, you are not a sign--see previous post. But, still, the study of Revelation promises a blessing.
Adam, who I have been trying to get to post because he is a pretribulation dispensationalist, e-mailed me "I tried to post but I'm not sure if it went through or not. 'Watch ye therefore and pray always the ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.' (Luke 21:36) Escape what? The tribulation!" He also e-mailed me about a dispensational conference near here that included LaHaye himself--you mean they just keep up these conferences noting the signs? What do they think about Mark 8:12 as Keith noted! Adam, I don't agree with your ideas about the tribulation. But I will keep a watch and keep thinking and reading and praying.
Earl is busy now and Bill is off studying other issues. Since I am the only one posting of late, I will take a break and concentrate on my other blogs. Hopefully someone will pick up the slack. But I am still enjoying the blessings of Revelation.
I preordered a DVD and will post when I view it. “The Late Great Planet Church: The Rise of Dispensationalism”, can be preordered at http://store.nicenecouncil.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=671
I was thinking about Mark 8:12 where Christ asked the pharisees, "Why does this generation seek a sign?" Yes, Keith, I should not look for the signs. Clinton, you are not a sign--see previous post. But, still, the study of Revelation promises a blessing.
Adam, who I have been trying to get to post because he is a pretribulation dispensationalist, e-mailed me "I tried to post but I'm not sure if it went through or not. 'Watch ye therefore and pray always the ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.' (Luke 21:36) Escape what? The tribulation!" He also e-mailed me about a dispensational conference near here that included LaHaye himself--you mean they just keep up these conferences noting the signs? What do they think about Mark 8:12 as Keith noted! Adam, I don't agree with your ideas about the tribulation. But I will keep a watch and keep thinking and reading and praying.
Earl is busy now and Bill is off studying other issues. Since I am the only one posting of late, I will take a break and concentrate on my other blogs. Hopefully someone will pick up the slack. But I am still enjoying the blessings of Revelation.
I preordered a DVD and will post when I view it. “The Late Great Planet Church: The Rise of Dispensationalism”, can be preordered at http://store.nicenecouncil.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=671
Israel in Prophecy or Just in the News This Week?
Chief amillennial spokesman Kim Riddlebarger writes in "A Case for Amillennialism.jpg)
": "Much like modern dispensationalists expect Jesus to reign over the nations in the future millennial kingdom, the Jews expected the Messiah to establish a political kingdom whereby Israel would rule over the Gentile nations. This explains why the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The New Testament, however, equates Israel's restoration, prophesied in the Old Testament, with Jesus' kingdom--a kingdom not of this world (John 18:26)."
He writes earlier in the book: "Another significant eschatological theme in the Old Testament is the promise that the nation of Israel will be gloriously restored in the distant future. Leading dispensationalists believe these prophecies refer to national Israel even though the authors of the New Testament apply them to the church."
Meanwhile I wonder how dispensationalists this week take Secretary of State Clinton's encouragement of two states for Israel and Palestine.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5840294.ece
Still wondering how it will all turn out and grateful for my faith, that is faith, that doesn't have all the answers.
": "Much like modern dispensationalists expect Jesus to reign over the nations in the future millennial kingdom, the Jews expected the Messiah to establish a political kingdom whereby Israel would rule over the Gentile nations. This explains why the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah. The New Testament, however, equates Israel's restoration, prophesied in the Old Testament, with Jesus' kingdom--a kingdom not of this world (John 18:26)."He writes earlier in the book: "Another significant eschatological theme in the Old Testament is the promise that the nation of Israel will be gloriously restored in the distant future. Leading dispensationalists believe these prophecies refer to national Israel even though the authors of the New Testament apply them to the church."
Meanwhile I wonder how dispensationalists this week take Secretary of State Clinton's encouragement of two states for Israel and Palestine.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5840294.ece
Still wondering how it will all turn out and grateful for my faith, that is faith, that doesn't have all the answers.
May the Force of Faith be with you
Episode 77: Thank you Obi Wan Kenobi
This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSieur of Christ Lutheran in Cape Canaveral joins us as we talk about "the Force of Faith" as the Word of Faith preachers have called it. It's amazing to think that people will play so fast and loose with Holy Scripture that they can actively re write the particulars of our faith and create what amounts to a Folk Religion.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
This week on Radical Grace Pastor Greg LeSieur of Christ Lutheran in Cape Canaveral joins us as we talk about "the Force of Faith" as the Word of Faith preachers have called it. It's amazing to think that people will play so fast and loose with Holy Scripture that they can actively re write the particulars of our faith and create what amounts to a Folk Religion.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
The Prosperity Gospel and Word Faith Movement.
This week on Radical Grace Radio, we talk about the Prosperity Gospel and the word faith movement. Here is a link to a 25 page document on the subject.
The Prosperity Gospel in Modern Christianity.
The Prosperity Gospel in Modern Christianity.
5 Easy Step to Perfect Repentance
Episode 76: 40 Days of Purple?
We at Radical Grace Radio believe that the reason there are so many Christian self help books is because Christians know deep down inside themselves that they are failing in their Christian walk. In the spirit of helping people out in this time of economic uncertainty we have compiled the best and most perfect advice available on the subject of repentance and are now offering them free of charge to our listening audience.
All we ask in return is that you commit to following these five steps daily for 40 days. You must follow them perfectly. We mean it. We REALLY mean it.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
We at Radical Grace Radio believe that the reason there are so many Christian self help books is because Christians know deep down inside themselves that they are failing in their Christian walk. In the spirit of helping people out in this time of economic uncertainty we have compiled the best and most perfect advice available on the subject of repentance and are now offering them free of charge to our listening audience.
All we ask in return is that you commit to following these five steps daily for 40 days. You must follow them perfectly. We mean it. We REALLY mean it.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
Repentence?
Episode 75: What does it mean to repent?
This edition of Radical Grace originally aired in 2007 during lent. In it we talked to a special guest in the second half of the show.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
This edition of Radical Grace originally aired in 2007 during lent. In it we talked to a special guest in the second half of the show.
To listen to the show you can click on the play button, click on "Windows Media" to open in a new tab, or right click on "get mp3" and choose "save target as" to save to your computer.
"Millennial Dreaming" Lyrics
To the music California Dreamin' , 1965, The Mamas and the Papas
All the signs are here (signs are here)
And we want it very clear (want it clear)
We’ve been thinking for a while (thinking for a while)
On a Saturday (on a warm Sunday).
We’ll be sick no more (we’ll be sick no more)
If we were in heav’n (if we were in heav’n)
Millennial dreaming on such a Sabbath day.
Step into the church I pass along the way
Well I got down on my knees (got down on my knees)
And I began to pray (I began to pray)
You know whether I'm pre- post- disp- or amil
He knows I’m going away (I’m going away).
Millennial dreaming on such a Sabbath day.
Spoken during music
Whether Ladd or Lindsey, Kim or Gentry
The Lord will make His glorious entry.
John says so in his Revelations
To gather His elect from all the nations.
The Bridegroom is coming—let’s get ready!
Tell everybody—let’s get ready!
At any moment—let’s get ready!
Tell everybody—let’s get ready!
Whether Ladd or Lindsey, Kim or Gentry
The Lord will make His glorious entry.
John says so in his Revelations
To gather His elect from all the nations.
The Bridegroom is coming—let’s get ready!
Tell everybody—let’s get ready!
At any moment—let’s get ready!
Tell everybody—let’s get ready!
All the signs are here (signs are here)
And we want it clear (want it clear)
We’ve been thinking for a while (thinking for a while)
On a Saturday (on a warm Sunday).
If He doesn’t tell us (if He doesn’t tell us)
We could leave today (we could leave today).
Millennial dreaming on such a Sabbath day.
Millennial dreaming on such a Sabbath day.
And we want it clear (want it clear)
We’ve been thinking for a while (thinking for a while)
On a Saturday (on a warm Sunday).
If He doesn’t tell us (if He doesn’t tell us)
We could leave today (we could leave today).
Millennial dreaming on such a Sabbath day.
Millennial dreaming on such a Sabbath day.
Millennial dreaming on such a Sabbath day.
Lyrics by Carol Noren Johnson
An Historical Premillennialist Takes Issue With Pretribulational Dispensationalism
Dr. George Eldon Ladd (1911-1982)Why does George Ladd, foremost Historical Premillennialist of the last century, dismiss Dispensationalism? In "The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views" he says that Dispensationalists expect the millennium to be all about the Davidic kingdom with all its sacrifices; then he notes that this is impossible because of Hebrews 8 which notes that the old covenant is obsolete—we have a new covenant.
Ladd maintains that Dispensational Premillennialism was an idea that was hatched N. J. Darby and others in the 19th century. Meetings and Bible conferences were held in the early 1800s and at one of these C. I. Scofield hatched the idea for his reference Bible. The Rapture was added before the tribulation—hence pretribulationalism.
Historical Premillennialist Ladd then states in "The Blessed Hope": “We can find no trace of pretribulationism in the early church; and no modern pretribulationist has successfully proved that this particular doctrine was held by any of the church fathers or students of the Word before the nineteenth century.” (p. 31) Christ is to come after the tribulation according to Ladd who uses Scripture to prove his case. A pretribulation rapture is “not supported by any affirmations in the Word of God” (p. 88) Ladd notes that by defining the blessed hope “in terms of escape from suffering rather than union with Christ [one] may be guilty of the positive danger of leaving the Church unprepared for tribulation when Antichrist appears. . . . Questions of theology are not decided by our desires or dislikes; they are decided by appeal to the Word of God. ” (p. 164)
Historical Premillennialist Ladd then states in "The Blessed Hope": “We can find no trace of pretribulationism in the early church; and no modern pretribulationist has successfully proved that this particular doctrine was held by any of the church fathers or students of the Word before the nineteenth century.” (p. 31) Christ is to come after the tribulation according to Ladd who uses Scripture to prove his case. A pretribulation rapture is “not supported by any affirmations in the Word of God” (p. 88) Ladd notes that by defining the blessed hope “in terms of escape from suffering rather than union with Christ [one] may be guilty of the positive danger of leaving the Church unprepared for tribulation when Antichrist appears. . . . Questions of theology are not decided by our desires or dislikes; they are decided by appeal to the Word of God. ” (p. 164)
Blessings of Revelation
Many of the Millennial Dreams posts have been left brain theology and I for one struggle to keep up. But left brain is not all there is to Revelation. In a nutshell Revelation is participating in His rightful eternal glory. Picture the cheering crowds with Christ on the throne.
And so we are blessed by reading Revelation. This book gives us our wonderful future in images and symbols. We in the church are the bride getting ready for our bridegroom. A wedding is the ultimate symbol in a book full of symbols.
We are the bride being prepared for our future
of worshipping Christ,
the Lamb of God,
on His throne
forever
and ever
in Heaven
where there is no
more death nor tears
and all of our existence and theology finally makes sense.
Our bridegroom may come at any moment.
Too wonderful and exciting!
Revelation promises a blessing. Apart from theology, authors and commentators, how are you being blessed by reading Revelation?
And so we are blessed by reading Revelation. This book gives us our wonderful future in images and symbols. We in the church are the bride getting ready for our bridegroom. A wedding is the ultimate symbol in a book full of symbols.
We are the bride being prepared for our future
of worshipping Christ,
the Lamb of God,
on His throne
forever
and ever
in Heaven
where there is no
more death nor tears
and all of our existence and theology finally makes sense.
Our bridegroom may come at any moment.
Too wonderful and exciting!
Revelation promises a blessing. Apart from theology, authors and commentators, how are you being blessed by reading Revelation?
Wishes for the Millennium...
On this early Sunday morning I am at work fixing a critical on-line computer problem. I've just fixed it and am investigating the cause. I am looking forward for the curse of the Fall to be eliminated. It would be nice if it happened now and it effected computer systems.
Earl's Personal Purpose Statement
Some years ago I wrote my personal purpose statement in my blog, MetaSchema. The typical one for most Presbyterian/Reformed people usually follow is the Westminster Shorter Catechism: Q: What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. I agree with the statement, but I decided to take a different tack. It fleshes out my understanding of glorifying God and enjoying Him forever. I also tried to write this so someone without a Christian background could have some hope of understanding what I was saying. My purpose statement is:
Christ-Centered, Cross-Focused
It’s not original, it’s not catchy, it’s not grammatically correct for a purpose statement. Where are the verbs?
There are several reasons I selected this:
Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Father created the universe through Christ, for Christ.
God, in addition to everything that he is, is holy and perfect. God demands perfection from me. I am anything but perfection. I fall far short of perfection in everything that I do. It’s not because of my finiteness, my weakness. It is because I have a deep streak of rebellion against God and all that he is (the term for this rebellion is sin). God is perfectly just in condemning me. There is no hope for me against the perfect God.
But God, in full cooperation with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sent the eternal Son, Christ, who became the man Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life and took on all the sin in my life and others who would place their faith in him, and took the punishment for my sin on the cross. God also gives Jesus’ perfect life, his righteousness, and gives it to me. All of this is done on God’s part, even the part where I awaken, to realize my sin, to have a desire for God, repenting about my rebellion, and relying on what Jesus has done for me in paying for my sin on the cross and having Jesus's good life credited to me -- all of this is done by God. This is the reason of the lack of verbs in my purpose statement. God has done it all for me in Jesus' perfect life and in Jesus' death on the cross.
Even as I continue walking in faith throughout my life, the growth is brought about by God. Hence there is still the lack of verbs in my purpose. It is all centered on Christ. Christ is there for me, and where I do any action is this: relying on Christ, seeking him where he can be found. The places where Christ can be found is what the Reformers in the Reformation referred to as the means of grace. These include reading the Bible, prayer, hearing the word of God preached, baptism, and communion. None of these things are things I do to make myself better, rather these are where God is, where I know that God interacts with me. Everything flows from this, including all the works that God has prepared in advance for me. This colors how I view the rest of the world.
Christ-Centered, Cross-Focused
It’s not original, it’s not catchy, it’s not grammatically correct for a purpose statement. Where are the verbs?
There are several reasons I selected this:
- Jesus Christ is the goal of creation, and the goal of my life.
- Jesus’ death on the cross is the pivotal work that Jesus did.
- There are no verbs in this statement because God in Christ did all the work.
Christ is the eternal Son of God, the second person of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Father created the universe through Christ, for Christ.
God, in addition to everything that he is, is holy and perfect. God demands perfection from me. I am anything but perfection. I fall far short of perfection in everything that I do. It’s not because of my finiteness, my weakness. It is because I have a deep streak of rebellion against God and all that he is (the term for this rebellion is sin). God is perfectly just in condemning me. There is no hope for me against the perfect God.
But God, in full cooperation with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sent the eternal Son, Christ, who became the man Jesus. Jesus lived a perfect life and took on all the sin in my life and others who would place their faith in him, and took the punishment for my sin on the cross. God also gives Jesus’ perfect life, his righteousness, and gives it to me. All of this is done on God’s part, even the part where I awaken, to realize my sin, to have a desire for God, repenting about my rebellion, and relying on what Jesus has done for me in paying for my sin on the cross and having Jesus's good life credited to me -- all of this is done by God. This is the reason of the lack of verbs in my purpose statement. God has done it all for me in Jesus' perfect life and in Jesus' death on the cross.
Even as I continue walking in faith throughout my life, the growth is brought about by God. Hence there is still the lack of verbs in my purpose. It is all centered on Christ. Christ is there for me, and where I do any action is this: relying on Christ, seeking him where he can be found. The places where Christ can be found is what the Reformers in the Reformation referred to as the means of grace. These include reading the Bible, prayer, hearing the word of God preached, baptism, and communion. None of these things are things I do to make myself better, rather these are where God is, where I know that God interacts with me. Everything flows from this, including all the works that God has prepared in advance for me. This colors how I view the rest of the world.
"The Greatness of the Great Commission" by Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
+(Book+Cover+Page).jpg)
The Greatness of the Great Commission: The Christian Enterprise in a Fallen WorldDownload PDF File
"Save Souls, Not Cultures!"This has been the motto of twentieth-century evangelism. Having encountered heavy resistance to the prophet's message of comprehensive revival and restoration in history, modern evangelical Christianity has abandoned the prophets. Unlike Jonah, who grew weary of life in the belly of a whale, modern evangelicalism has not only grown accustomed to the Church's cultural irrelevance today, it has actually proclaimed this pathetic condition as God's plan for the "Church Age." But is it? Not according to Jesus' instructions to His Church: the discipline (putting under God's discipline) of all nations. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:19-20).
Paul makes it clear that the progressive expansion of Jesus' kingdom in history will continue until all things are under His dominion, on earth, before He returns physically to judge the world. "For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death" (I Corinthians 15-25-26).
*
This was David's message, too: The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies (Psalm 110:1-2).
*
In The Greatness of the Great Commission, Rev. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. presents a comprehensive biblical case for God's comprehensive salvation and restoration in history. Sin is comprehensive; God's healing grace is no less comprehensive. Whenever sin reigns today, there God speaks to sinful man and offers a way of escape. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). To argue that the Great Commission does not include every aspect of today's cultures - all of Satan's kingdom - is to argue that there is no way of escape in many areas of life.
In The Greatness of the Great Commission, Rev. Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr. presents a comprehensive biblical case for God's comprehensive salvation and restoration in history. Sin is comprehensive; God's healing grace is no less comprehensive. Whenever sin reigns today, there God speaks to sinful man and offers a way of escape. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (I Corinthians 10:13). To argue that the Great Commission does not include every aspect of today's cultures - all of Satan's kingdom - is to argue that there is no way of escape in many areas of life.
The war between God's kingdom (civilization) on earth and Satan's kingdom (civilization) on earth is total, encompassing every aspect of life. The Great Commission calls the Church (in this "Church Age") to make a full-scale attack on modern humanist civilization, but always in terms of a positive message and practical program: a better way of life in every area of life. This is the greatness of the Great Commission. It must not be narrowed to exclude culture from God's special grace.
"Go therefore and disciple all nations." the Great Commission states that all nations are to be discipled. Sadly, today's evangelicals have reduced Jesus' last command to mean only that individuals and families are to be discipled. Dr. Gentry takes a careful look at the biblical context and background of the Great Commission. His conclusion? That when God tells us to take over the world, He means it! Gentry shows the biblical methods of world conquest, which do not involve political takeovers but rather service and evangelism.
"Why I Am A Postmillennialist" by Dr. Greg L. Bahnsen -- Part 2
Question 2: What does the Bible teach about the nature of Christ's kingdom in earthly history before Christ's return? (little physical success? or lots of physical success?)
Matt. 28:18-20 Jesus has all power in heaven and earth. He is with the church and tells the church to disciple the nations.
Heb. 10:9-13 Christ is now sitting at the right hand of God reigning over all creation expecting that His kingdom is going to subdue all enemies.
Rev. 11:15 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever. Jesus has already established His kingdom and is reigning.
Math. 12:28 Christ has already established His kingdom.
Psalm 2:8 The Son merely needs to ask the Father, and the Father will give Him the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession.
Matt. 12:29 Jesus tells us that the establishment of His kingdom will have the effect of spoiling Satan's house. He has bound the strong man so that now He can take whatever the strong man once controlled (what was once under Satan's domination).
Rev. 20:1-3 When Jesus came into this world, He bound Satan. Christ did this, so that Satan would deceive the nations no more. Satan is still active but Christ specifically curtails Satan's ability to ruin the religious mentality of the nations, to lead the nations into superstition, idolatry, and unbelief.
Matt. 16:18 Christ is building His kingdom in the world through the church by the power of His Spirit. The gates of Hell shall not hold up against the onslaught of the church.
Heb. 2:9 Jesus is crowned with glory and honor.
Heb. 10:9-13 Christ is now sitting at the right hand of God reigning over all creation expecting that His kingdom is going to subdue all enemies.
Rev. 11:15 The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever. Jesus has already established His kingdom and is reigning.
Math. 12:28 Christ has already established His kingdom.
Psalm 2:8 The Son merely needs to ask the Father, and the Father will give Him the heathen for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession.
Matt. 12:29 Jesus tells us that the establishment of His kingdom will have the effect of spoiling Satan's house. He has bound the strong man so that now He can take whatever the strong man once controlled (what was once under Satan's domination).
Rev. 20:1-3 When Jesus came into this world, He bound Satan. Christ did this, so that Satan would deceive the nations no more. Satan is still active but Christ specifically curtails Satan's ability to ruin the religious mentality of the nations, to lead the nations into superstition, idolatry, and unbelief.
Matt. 16:18 Christ is building His kingdom in the world through the church by the power of His Spirit. The gates of Hell shall not hold up against the onslaught of the church.
Heb. 2:9 Jesus is crowned with glory and honor.
Premillennialism teaches that Christ's enemies will be subdued, but physically by violence and threats AFTER Jesus returns.
But Scriptures teach that Christ is working through His Spirit to persuade the hearts of men to follow Him willingly.
Ps 110:3 People will give themselves willingly in the day of Christ's power.
Amillennialism teaches that Christ's enemies will be subdued, but AFTER Jesus returns, because in the New Heavens and New Earth all enemies will be banished. (Typically, the amillennialist thinks of the subduing of the nations [understood as the gentiles] in history as the kingdom of God being established in the gentile regions, but it does not mean that the gentiles in mass will be subdued. It is a representative conversion, rather than a wide spread conversion that is anticipated by the Great Commission.)
Thus, both premils and amils believe that the subduing of Christ's enemies occurs AFTER He returns.
It is distinctive to postmillennialists to believe that the Holy Spirit will bring a day of revival and that this world will belong to the Lord Jesus Christ someday if the church is faithful to its commission.
The postmillennialist asks the amillennialist to follow out his basically correct premises. If Satan is bound, then what do you expect to take place? The Bible gives reasons for confidence. Pick it up. Run with it. Let's go.
According to Paul, what is the timing of the subduing of the enemies of Christ? Consider 1 Cor. 15:20-28 >> Christ has risen from the dead. His rising is only the first fruits of a great harvest that is coming. Because Jesus rose from the dead, all of His people will rise from the dead. Christ's people will rise from the dead at His coming, then the end will ensue. When Christ comes and delivers the kingdom to His Father, He will have subdued all other opposition. The last enemy to be abolished is death. Death is defeated by the resurrection of the dead. The enemies of Christ must be subdued before the last enemy is subdued. Christ comes back, then we rise from the dead.
Thus the postmillennialist expects this glorious success for the kingdom to take place before Christ returns.
The confidence of the postmillennialist comes only from believing the promises and power of God.
Isaiah 9:6-7 Jesus will come and be made the Prince of Peace (God's king). And of the increase of His government and righteousness and justice and peace, there shall be no end. And this shall be accomplished not by human agency but by the zeal of Jehovah.
Ps 110:3 People will give themselves willingly in the day of Christ's power.
Amillennialism teaches that Christ's enemies will be subdued, but AFTER Jesus returns, because in the New Heavens and New Earth all enemies will be banished. (Typically, the amillennialist thinks of the subduing of the nations [understood as the gentiles] in history as the kingdom of God being established in the gentile regions, but it does not mean that the gentiles in mass will be subdued. It is a representative conversion, rather than a wide spread conversion that is anticipated by the Great Commission.)
Thus, both premils and amils believe that the subduing of Christ's enemies occurs AFTER He returns.
It is distinctive to postmillennialists to believe that the Holy Spirit will bring a day of revival and that this world will belong to the Lord Jesus Christ someday if the church is faithful to its commission.
The postmillennialist asks the amillennialist to follow out his basically correct premises. If Satan is bound, then what do you expect to take place? The Bible gives reasons for confidence. Pick it up. Run with it. Let's go.
According to Paul, what is the timing of the subduing of the enemies of Christ? Consider 1 Cor. 15:20-28 >> Christ has risen from the dead. His rising is only the first fruits of a great harvest that is coming. Because Jesus rose from the dead, all of His people will rise from the dead. Christ's people will rise from the dead at His coming, then the end will ensue. When Christ comes and delivers the kingdom to His Father, He will have subdued all other opposition. The last enemy to be abolished is death. Death is defeated by the resurrection of the dead. The enemies of Christ must be subdued before the last enemy is subdued. Christ comes back, then we rise from the dead.
Thus the postmillennialist expects this glorious success for the kingdom to take place before Christ returns.
The confidence of the postmillennialist comes only from believing the promises and power of God.
Isaiah 9:6-7 Jesus will come and be made the Prince of Peace (God's king). And of the increase of His government and righteousness and justice and peace, there shall be no end. And this shall be accomplished not by human agency but by the zeal of Jehovah.
God is going to see to it that this kingdom grows in a mighty way. At Christ's return there will be a history of success with the church, not set backs.
The kingdom is like a mustard seed: from a very small start it grows to hugh proportions.
The kingdom works very subtlely but very thoroughly to permeate all areas, like leaven in bread dough that permeates throughout the loaf and causes it to rise.
According to the New Testament, Jesus is spoiling Satan's house right now. Christ is going to have every enemy subdued before the end. Jehovah's zeal is going to see to it.
Daniel 2:35,44,45 The day will come when mighty kingdoms will no longer exist. God is going to set up a kingdom that will supplant the kingdom of men. God's kingdom will grow into a mountain that will fill the earth: this is certain and sure.
Isaiah 2:2-4 In the latter days God will establish His house in His hill above all the others. God is going to exalt the church above all other kingdoms. As all nations come into the church they will learn God's law. As a result, the nations will no longer be consumed with matters of warfare.
Psalm 72:7-11 All nations shall serve Christ while moons (months) endure (while history is in operation). Those who dare to oppose Him are going to lick the dust.
Psalm 22:27 All the nations on earth are going to be converted (turned to Jehovah). This will occur before Jesus returns, because at His return there will be no more opportunity for conversion, because it will then be the end of history.
Isaiah 11:9 In that day (when all the above things promised are accomplished) the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the water covers the sea (not just little representative puddles or drops here or there as in the amillennial view). This refers not to representative conversions from the nations, but of wide spread conversions.
The kingdom is like a mustard seed: from a very small start it grows to hugh proportions.
The kingdom works very subtlely but very thoroughly to permeate all areas, like leaven in bread dough that permeates throughout the loaf and causes it to rise.
According to the New Testament, Jesus is spoiling Satan's house right now. Christ is going to have every enemy subdued before the end. Jehovah's zeal is going to see to it.
Daniel 2:35,44,45 The day will come when mighty kingdoms will no longer exist. God is going to set up a kingdom that will supplant the kingdom of men. God's kingdom will grow into a mountain that will fill the earth: this is certain and sure.
Isaiah 2:2-4 In the latter days God will establish His house in His hill above all the others. God is going to exalt the church above all other kingdoms. As all nations come into the church they will learn God's law. As a result, the nations will no longer be consumed with matters of warfare.
Psalm 72:7-11 All nations shall serve Christ while moons (months) endure (while history is in operation). Those who dare to oppose Him are going to lick the dust.
Psalm 22:27 All the nations on earth are going to be converted (turned to Jehovah). This will occur before Jesus returns, because at His return there will be no more opportunity for conversion, because it will then be the end of history.
Isaiah 11:9 In that day (when all the above things promised are accomplished) the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the water covers the sea (not just little representative puddles or drops here or there as in the amillennial view). This refers not to representative conversions from the nations, but of wide spread conversions.
Typically, the amillennialist professes no confidence of widespread growth of Christ's kingdom in history. Rather, some see the optimistic biblical promises as referring to the New Heavens and New Earth AFTER Christ's return. Others see these promises as referring to spiritual blessings within the church. However, some amillennialists expect almost a total lack of success of the church in history.
But the postmillennialist believes the expectations of Christ: that all His enemies will be subdued prior to His return. Yes, there will be suffering and struggles in many battles along the way. But in the end, Christ and His church will win and will triumph over all opposition in history. Then Christ will return and defeat the last enemy, death.
1 Corinthians 15:57 In spite of corruption, death, etc., God gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. But be steadfast, for our labor is not in vain in the Lord. Suffer? Yes, but unto victory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
