Christianity has had at least three end-times interpretations from the Bible over its history (hermeneutics). The popular evangelical interpretation has been popular in the U.S.A. since the mid 19th century. It's easy to teach and a powerful tool for conversion and control during difficult times. It is wrong though.
http://www.kennethgentry.com/he-shall-have-dominion-paperback-book/
http://www.kennethgentry.com/he-shall-have-dominion-paperback-book/
Old Testament prophecy led up to Jesus who fulfilled scripture. He was also the most accurate prophet in addition to being the Messiah or Maudi. Unfortunately most Christians in some way misunderstand the prophecies of the Lord and misunderstand John's book of Revelation too.
Jesus lived and was crucified to reconcile humanity unto God through remission of sins for those that have faith in the Lord's atoning gift. After the crucifixion Jesus returned from the dead appearing to his disciples before returning unto the Father. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit appeared to guide the saved while the kingdom of God was increasing.
The Biblical apocalypse occurred in the first century a.d. just as Jesus said.
Jesus lived and was crucified to reconcile humanity unto God through remission of sins for those that have faith in the Lord's atoning gift. After the crucifixion Jesus returned from the dead appearing to his disciples before returning unto the Father. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit appeared to guide the saved while the kingdom of God was increasing.
The Biblical apocalypse occurred in the first century a.d. just as Jesus said.
Matthew 24 verses 1 & 2 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."
Foretelling the apocalypse accurately, the Lord foretold what should occur after. He would leave and the Holy Spirit would appear and the kingdom of God would build to become a majority. The building up of the kingdom of God would occur until the age of the gentiles was fulfilled.
The Lord described the apocalypse content in some detail. Later in Matthew 24 he mentions the persecution of Christians, and after that, with mention of the witness to all the nations of the world, is a reference to the great commission. And this period of building up the kingdom of God continues presently, and could go on for a month or thousands of years, until the age of the Gentiles is fulfilled.
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
Christian pastors are not being helpful to Christians or the nation politically in adding to the panic of a challenging social environment with wrong-headed theology about a Biblical apocalypse ahead. The world will have more conflict of course, and people may destroy much of it or even the viability of the ecosphere of the Earth however that is incidental. The kingdom of God building up in new people over history will continue into the future as God deems it useful. Then when Gentiles can go no farther the Lord will return. Attempting to precipitate a fulfillment of Gentiles probably isn't a good social engineering plan.
No comments:
Post a Comment