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Eschatology

Discussion in '2000-02 Archive' started by Aaron, Dec 1, 2001.

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  1. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    What was the consensus of Baptist theologians prior to J. N. Darby concerning the End Times?

    Was it pre-millennial or amillennial?

    If pre-millennial, what brand of pre-millennialism? Dispensational, historic, etc.?
     
    #1 Aaron, Dec 1, 2001
  2. Chris Temple

    Chris Temple New Member

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    Some mix of all three, but largely postmillennial and amil.
     
    #2 Chris Temple, Dec 1, 2001
  3. swaimj

    swaimj <img src=/swaimj.gif>

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    I would think the consensus immediately prior to the rise of dispensationalism was post-mil. If you go back earlier, the consensus would have been a-mil.

    Now, let me ask a question. What was the consensus in the church prior to the reformation on salvation by grace alone through faith alone? Now let me answer. The consensus was that salvation was attained through works. The consensus was wrong. In every generation, we must wrestle with the text and what is says and not assume that the previous generation/generations were correct. God's Word is always correct and never changes, but our understanding of it develops over time, unless we stop studying, thinking, and wrestling and just assume that we are right.
     
    #3 swaimj, Dec 1, 2001
  4. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by swaimj:
    The consensus was wrong. In every generation, we must wrestle with the text and what is says and not assume that the previous generation/generations were correct<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Well said. Society has ALWAYS huddled on the fringe of truth in all the sciences, including theology the "queen" of science.

    A generation ago they said that smoking was a bad habit but not harmful. Today we scoff at that.

    A hundred years ago they operated with unsanitary knives but everyone agreed it was safe.

    Two hundred yars ago they drank polluted water and died of cholera but everyone agree it was safe.

    Three hundred years ago they thought the King was directly descended from God and everyone agreed.

    Four hundred yars ago Christians spent a lot of time killing other Christians and nobody had a problem with that.

    Five hundred years ago they thought the world was flat (except for an Italian sailor).

    Consensus has been proven consistently wrong!
     
    #4 Dr. Bob, Dec 1, 2001
  5. Chris Temple

    Chris Temple New Member

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    <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by swaimj:
    Now, let me ask a question. What was the consensus in the church prior to the reformation on salvation by grace alone through faith alone? Now let me answer. The consensus was that salvation was attained through works. The consensus was wrong. In every generation, we must wrestle with the text and what is says and not assume that the previous generation/generations were correct. God's Word is always correct and never changes, but our understanding of it develops over time, unless we stop studying, thinking, and wrestling and just assume that we are right.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

    This is mostly true, and consensus or majority must never be thought to be correct simply by number. However, we must also be careful not to reject a truth because it is ancient or because we have "new information". There is often no reason to reinvent the wheel. This is why historic creeds and confessions, although always subservient to Scripture, are invaluable to the faith, as they remind us what the church has histroically believed as well as keep us out of heresy.

    We must also guard against the Religion of the Scholar, i.e., the belief that today's man is so much more smarter, refined, enlightened, etc than the ancients. We can fall into creeping Naturalism if not cautious.
     
    #5 Chris Temple, Dec 1, 2001
  6. swaimj

    swaimj <img src=/swaimj.gif>

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    Good cautions Chris.
     
    #6 swaimj, Dec 1, 2001
  7. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    Dr. Bob,

    I didn't ask what society thought of the End Times.

    I echo Chris' sentiments. The Scriptures have not changed, and it is far-fetched to think those who first received them understood their true meaning less than we do. In fact, I would venture to say they understood them more.

    Thanks for the info.
     
    #7 Aaron, Dec 1, 2001
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