Is The Church Guilty Of Putting...

Webdog,

My wife has read the Alcorn book, and she liked it, too. Someone else is borrowing it, but I plan to read it when we get it back. I think we have lost the idea that the new heavens and earth is a physical place. We have also neglected our future hope - the resurrection of our bodies. I agree that we have become too gnostic when it comes to our eternal life. I've heard Piper's Future Grace is also a good book on these topics. I have it, but haven't read it yet.

 

Not regarding eschatology, he's not. Only one thing that his word really brings out is that the next world war will be religious! Christian nations will be forced to take a warlike attitude regarding the Muslims and cut through the lies that Islam is a peaceful religion.

Him, Walvrood, Moody, McGee --- they're all a "good start," solid. Better, more current, I find are Hinson, LaHaye, Van Impe, Froese, Ice, Lindsey, myself. Then there are ones I won't pick up a book of theirs again cause it is all "rehash" -- Hitchcock, Jeffery, Price.

Well, we're a "rich" church in goods, no? We've got so much going on in our lives- especially TV, job, kid activities, internet - that we are really pretty "lukewarm" to spiritual things (I'll speak for myself at least). And do you know that the Catholic Church and even many evangelical churches are trying to "make peace" with Islam and ignore Israel, God's "timepiece" for the end?

skypair

 

Isn't the rebuilding of the Temple a big deal in Pre-Mil thinking?

What is going to be the purpose of the Temple if it is rebuilt. Will God re-inhabit it and accept sacrifices there again?

Doesn't that kind of undo what Jesus did 2000 years ago?

Just curious.

 

A temple will be rebuilt, yes...but it won't be accepted by God. Those jews who have rejected Christ will be the ones rebuilding it, and it will occur after the rapture, IMO.

 

Try this book:

http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/pdf/1987_chilton_days-of-vengeance.pdf

By the way, the "end times" were a 1st century reality:

1Pe 1:20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,

 

Do they only present one view or do they explore all the different views? If one view, which view do they support?

 

Grasshopper, I'm going to read that book when I get a chance. Question: Do you deny a bodily resurrection for believers? Would that be a "hyper-preterist" teaching?

 

I don't know what I believe about that. It is the most difficult topic for me. I have one foot in full-preterism and one foot in partial-preterism. I am convinced the Truth is somewhere in this area but till I figure out exactly where, I ride the fence.

These might help present a scholarly view from a full-preterist position:

http://thereignofchrist.com/index.p...tion-of-the-dead&option=com_content&Itemid=48

http://thereignofchrist.com/index.p...ody-or-same-body&option=com_content&Itemid=48

http://www.eschatology.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=124&Itemid=61

I think maybe I have hit my IQ ceiling with this topic. I think it is much more complicated than just worm-eaten, physical bodies coming up out of the ground. I don't think that is what Paul had in mind, but I'm not sure.:BangHead:

 

First, because the Jews are involved (Zech 12-14), we see that it is against one "faith." And what does Israel possess that is worthy of world hatred? Certainly not wealth or political power. So the "plot" is centered on Satan's desire to destroy the inheritors of the earth (as has always been his wont).

I find the white horse to represent false Christianity and it's rider to be the false Christian leader -- the soon-to-be AC. Similarly, according to my dispensational approach, I find the red horse to be Islam, the black atheistic Gog, and the pale horse sickly Israel.

Another clue: the beast arises from being ridden by the MYSTERY BABYLON religion in Rome before becoming a political leader (he is "ridden" pretrib, Rev 17 -- he is the one "riding forth" when the trib opens, Rev 6:2).

And then, of course, there is the "abomination that causes desolation" which all are to worship. And for God's side, He says of this era "compel them [the "guests," Luke 14:23's version of Mt 22) to come in."

Yeah, the "final showdown" is spiritual -- Good vs. evil in all its forms.

Do all today's churches practice all the errors mentioned? Or do you discern differences in errors among different churches? Instance: one is going to be thrown in a bed and into great tribulation, Rev 2:22. Another will be "kept from the hour of testing," Rev 3:10. Same one church - "body of Christ?"

skypair

 

I agree. We are told that no one knows the hour of Christ's return. We can pray for it, but we have no influence over it. We can talk about it, but I don't believe that I know or can know anything about it. I have plenty of responsibilities in this world and in this time. These include proclaiming the gospel and dealing with the opportunities that God places before me each day to make the world a better place to live in. I refer the critics again to the parable of the Judgment in Matthew 25.31-46.

Tim Reynolds

 

Yes we ought to be stressing living holy and godly lives, and in helping our neighbors. We should not be naval gazing concerning on when the Lord will return. That is up to God and "no man knows." So to spend time on the unknown future when so much needs to be done NOW ... it is the now we have, it is the now we live in, it is the now we should be concerned about. If we take care of the "now" the future will take care of itself. Why? Because the future end times is up to God.

 

To anticipate is one thing. To spend time and resources dwelling on something thay may happen today or in ten million years is wasteful. It is in God's hands when, so leave it there.

It is not end times that should drive our willingness to serve and help others ... rather it is the command of Christ to do so. Is the end times our god and the driving force of our faith, or is Christ?