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Jesus had a nice big house, Jesus wore designer clothes
-- John Avanzini, "Believer's Voice of Victory" broadcast on TBN
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Preterism: I need some help with explaining paranormal activity
Posted on Sunday, June 27 @ 19:42:32 PDT by Virgil |
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57chevypreterist submitted: "While I have read sufficient preterist material that explains this from a scriptural standpoint, I have a harder time with Christians who recount first person encounters with seemingly demon-possessed folk, spirits of dead persons, etc., etc.
Hello all:
I am looking for some help with regards to "evangelizing" my futurist brethren in preterism. Invariably, with any serious discussion of preterism, the topic will turn to Satan, and evil, and if Satan truly was bound in the first century, what about all the evil that exists today, blah, blah, blah.
While I have read sufficient preterist material that explains this from a scriptural standpoint, I have a harder time with Christians who recount first person encounters with seemingly demon-possessed folk, spirits of dead persons, etc., etc.
How, as preterists, do we begin to interpret such phenomena as this, along with UFO's, poltergeists, and other so-called paranormal activity? Do we automatically dismiss it as imaginative?
At least our futurist brethren can blame such activity on Satan and his demons! We preterists, on the other hand, have no such luxury with our hermeneutic.
I hope that this topic can lead to a scholarly and thoroughly biblical discussion here (should Virgil consent) so that we can have a ready answer for the Christian skeptic who is used to blaming Satan and his minions for such things.
Thanks,
Bryan Mion
a57chevypreterist@yahoo.com"
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Re: I need some help with explaining paranormal activity (Score: 1)
 by Parker on Sunday, June 27 @ 20:44:51 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | There is no reason to believe that the lost have been delivered from spiritual darkness and evil. |
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Re: I need some help with explaining paranormal activity (Score: 1)
by Batman on Sunday, June 27 @ 20:50:40 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Hi Bryan,
Many things are unexplained in this life. I have personally seen magicians defy all logic. Are they "demon possessed"? Hardly! The magician has information that you and I are not privy to. Not having all of the information leads us to wrong conclusions when in reality it was only an illusion.
As Christians, we are to begin with the Word of God and not our own limited experiences. Our senses can be fooled. God himself reveals truth to us through His Word.
I begin with asking Christians to read this verse.
"But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state." -Philippians 2:19
Then I ask them this question.
According to the verse above, do any Christians today expect Timothy to arrive shortly? If not, why not?
They will always answer that they don't expect Timothy because that letter was written to the Philippians of the first century. I agree with their assessment completely.
Next I ask them to read this passage.
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen. -Romans 16:20
Then I ask them to answer this series of questions.
1. Who wrote the verse above and to whom was it written?
2. Was the writer of this passage inspired by the Holy Spirit?
3. Are any of those Roman Christians to whom this was written alive today?
4. Was Satan crushed under the feet of those first century Romans? If not, why not?
5. What happens when a snake's head is crushed?
6. Is this a fulfillment of Genesis 3:15? If not, why not?
7. According to your previous answers and the verse above, is Satan alive today or was he crushed in the first century?
Usually at this point when a man is confronted with an honest mistake, he will either cease to be honest or mistaken. Most Christians today read these passages removed from their first century context and apply them to their own current situations.
"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." -1 John 3:8
"Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." -Hebrew 2:14-15
According to the above two verses, did Jesus destroy the works of the devil or did He fail? If Jesus did destroy the Satan, when did He accomplish this? (Hint: see Romans 16:20 above)
The implication is this; If Satan does exist today, then Jesus failed in His mission and the inspired apostle Paul lied to the Roman Christians of the first century. I for one choose to believe the Word of God.
In Conclusion:
As followers of Christ, we should always begin with God's Word and not the experiences of men. Jesus Christ accomplished His mission according to the Bible. Skeptics come and go, but I will trust in Him. This should always be our answer! |
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- by spiderich on Sunday, June 27 @ 21:20:17 PDT
- by JohnC on Sunday, June 27 @ 23:01:15 PDT
- by Batman on Sunday, June 27 @ 23:10:08 PDT
- by chrisliv on Monday, June 28 @ 00:21:20 PDT
- by BigD on Monday, June 28 @ 12:28:29 PDT
- by chrisliv on Monday, June 28 @ 17:12:10 PDT
- by Parker on Monday, June 28 @ 04:15:00 PDT
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Re: I need some help with explaining paranormal activity (Score: 1)
by JohnC on Sunday, June 27 @ 22:52:49 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | | There is a great book that I just finished reading called "Mind Games" by Andre Kole and Jerry MacGregor. The subtitle is: "Exposing Today's Psychics, Frauds, and False Spiritual Phenomena". It is written by two Christian magicians (who are not Preterists, by the way). They cover an amazing range of phenomena, from psychics to demons to witchcraft to UFOs, and they even take aim at the "Christian" charlatans who falsely claim "words of knowledge," "prophecy," and "on-demand" miraculous healing. The Amazing Randi, although not a Christian, is also a good source of info. |
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Re: I need some help with explaining paranormal activity (Score: 1)
by BigD on Monday, June 28 @ 12:38:39 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | I just cast a demon out of my seven-year-old, now its in my bird dog. Last month it was in my golf bag!
You've been provided some lengthy answers, but the short answer is simply that, whether Satan still exists/is free, man always has and still has an inherently sinful nature and will do incredible evil on his own. Today it isn't cool to blame people and hold them accountable for their actions, so we blame Satan. (I don't mind felons saying "the Devil made me do" as long as their saying it from behind bars!)
Dave |
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- by Parker on Monday, June 28 @ 14:40:11 PDT
Re: I need some help with explaining paranormal activity (Score: 1)
 by 57chevypreterist on Monday, June 28 @ 20:04:42 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Thanks for all the posts here.
Let me state clearly: I do believe Satan was cast forever into the lake of fire in 70 AD (together with his minions.)
This, however, does NOT explain paranormal activity.
Two examples:
1. Johnny Cash, a self-professed born again Christian, recounted an occurance in his Jamaican house with numerous guests present, whereby a lady apparition appreared to all of them during a meal.
2. A personal friend of mine, born again, recounts the time his mother cast a (supposed) demon out of a woman, who was instantaneously healed.
As preterists, we cannot blame Satan or demons for these occurences.
Ergo, my question: how do we explain paranormal activity from a preterist viewpoint?
Thanks
Bryan
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- by Parker on Monday, June 28 @ 22:27:33 PDT
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- by 57chevypreterist on Friday, July 02 @ 17:46:52 PDT
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- by spiderich on Sunday, July 04 @ 17:36:01 PDT
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