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No Christian should ever be sick...
-- Benny Hinn
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Do you see what I see?
Posted on Monday, May 12 @ 06:43:49 PDT by Davecollins |
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Dear Christian Leader,
Greetings in the matchless Name of Jesus!! I hope all is wonderful in your world. We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. What a great blessing we share as children of the King. I have always admired your dedication and commitment to the cause of Christ.
In 2001, a life altering event happened to me. I was sharing the gospel with 80 yr. old Jim Lawson, who was dying of kidney cancer, when I asked for his response to what I had shared, he said something that no one else had ever said to me. He remarked that he could not believe the story of Jesus’ love and grace because he could not believe the Bible, or the apostles who had written it, due to the fact that they all taught that Jesus was to RETURN IN THE FIRST CENTURY and that obviously did not happen….so he could not believe anything that comes from the Bible. Wow, This was his life long view of God’s Word, as he had nursed this conclusion for 50 years prior to my visit. I was dumbfounded at this response, but I was intrigued and promised him that I would research his claim and get back to him. God used that unique statement, in that witnessing opportunity, for me to really examine the scriptures from a fresh, and precise angle.
My search began by praying for Gods illumination and by reading the New Testament with a focused eye on what was being communicated about Christ’s return. I saw quickly that Jim was correct, almost every letter promised a near, soon, within their lifetime, at the door, etc. arrival of the King.
Sadly, I believe we have missed the glorious truth of God’s promised Messianic Kingdom. Since J.N. Darby, believed E. White, who had listened to M, MacDonald and began to teach a futuristic eschatology, being aided by his friend, Scofield who decided to publish it in his 1909 reference Bible, this “escapism” fairy tale has been widely received as the “gospel”.
This would not be so significant of a theological misstep, if not for the fact, that our view of the “end times” and Christ’s return plays such a large role in our personal decisions, as well as being the foundation of our national middle eastern policies.
My concern goes far beyond a ”misplaced hope”, and far past the folly of waiting for something, that has already happened, but to grave and serious issues, issues that can cause tremendous harm. I know of many folks who have quit funding their retirement due to their belief that Jesus is going to return” soon“, and of those who have left the church, due to a confused “last days” understanding. Politically, our unfaltering national support of the nation of Israel today, is greatly based, on our misunderstanding of the chronology of Scripture. We should be horrified by the treatment of Palestinian Christians and others at the hands of Israel, a nation that we mistakenly believe, is still in a covenant relationship with God.
The failure of much of today’s church to access the fullness of Christ power and joy, I believe, can be traced to an improper understanding of the Kingdom promises. Too many are wondering, watching and waiting FOR Christ ,when we should be rejoicing, ruling and reigning WITH Christ.
There is, also, a real credibility concern, when the famous, prophecy preachers of the day, the assumed experts, who promise a imminent “soon and quick” return and ALWAYS have to backpedal and recalculate etc…These false predictions bring scoffing and ridicule to our doorstep. In most churches Revelation is either ignored as incomprehensible or ineffectively taught due to a failure to grasp the subject, timing or the nature of the prophecies.
My personal journey began when I was born from above in 1986, into a Christian culture and time, where Pre- millennial dispensationalism was the dogmatic “bedrock” teaching. My own experience, as a new Christian, resonated more so with a New Covenant description of salvation, much different from what was being taught at the church, but I was always told that the New Covenant fulfillment was coming sometime in our future. My own studies led me to engage A-millennialism as a better fit, but still without answering all my questions. Today, many have just checked out of the study of eschatology altogether, they become “pan-millennialists“, but I think God expects us to get it right.
Jesus encouraged and comforted His disciples as He assured them that He would arrive (His Parousia) before THEIR generation had past. This means a 1st century fulfillment. This prophetic word propelled me to question the timing and the nature of the so called 2nd coming of Christ. My goal was to prove the faithfulness of Jesus’ words. To my amazement and great joy I did discover, what I firmly believe, is the Bible’s message of the “last days” of Old Covenant Israel. The consummation of their age, and the beginning of the everlasting New Covenant age.
There were three things that really helped me grasp a fulfilled covenantal eschatology understanding. The first two were absolutely brand new to me, even after being in the church for 15 years. Number 1 was the idea, held by many scholars, that ALL of the New Testament was recorded before A. D. 70, ( All of my Bibles said that Revelation was written around A.D. 95 based on some supposed vague identification by someone who might had known or saw someone) and #2 that the Roman army had completely destroyed Jerusalem as a final act of God’s judgment on a rebellious, unfaithful, rejecting nation around A.D. 70., as promised in Matt. 21.and also in many Old Testament books. Both of these discoveries produced many questions and caused me to search the whole Bible with a new perspective. In retrospect, I think I would have accepted the Preterist position probably 10 years earlier if I had known about the dating and the destruction before this time. The third thing that has helped me, is the simple idea that the Bible is written FOR us, but not directly TO us. To correctly interpret N.T. Scripture we must ascertain how the original, 1st century audience would understand the message, The message can’t mean one thing to them and something different to us. Specifically, how would the Jewish mind understand these prophecies and how would they relate to their hope for the restoration of Israel, the redemption of the promised Messiah?
The familiar Old Testament books have many references that the faithful Jew would pick up on immediately, nuances that our western culture mindset, 2000 years removed, gloss right over. In another 2000 years what do you think people will think of when they hear our common expression “raining cats and dogs”? Will they think we were stepping in puddles or on poodles? The Jewish mind of the 1st century when they heard of Stars falling, Sun being darkened, or God coming or riding in a cloud, they would automatically think of times in the history of Israel where the “collapsing universe “ language was utilized to describe Gods wrath and judgment of various nations. The typical western believer would not associate the stories of Israel’s history in Isaiah and other O.T. prophecies/books in the same way. We would naturally tend to think in “physical” terms, whereas they would interpret the language in the way it had been used in their past, metaphorically, hyperbole, figuratively, apocalyptically etc.
Tim LaHaye, John MacArthur, John Hagee, and hundreds of others, just as influential and respected teachers could not possibly be wrong about something so important as Jesus’ arrival as King, could they?? Could they possibly be wrong about the timing and the nature of the Kingdom? Could their presuppositions regarding the time of the end, have blinded them to a better alternative? Is it possible that our seminaries have unwittingly propagated these views due to agendas other than a desire to honor God’s word? I am not trying to be harsh, but I ask this with the humility of a willing learner, not as a judge of motives or intentions.
My studies, over these past 7 years, have been personally very rewarding, spiritually, but socially challenging, as I have tried to share what God has been teaching me with friends there has been some genuine openness, but mostly I have been met with a recital of church tradition and creeds. I have learned that the word” interesting” really conveys the attitude, are you out of your mind!? Nonetheless, bruised but undaunted I press on.
I am convinced that All of God’s promises have been perfectly fulfilled in Christ. I am convinced that all futurist theories are based on mans ideas rather than proper hermeneutic exegesis of the Bible. I have heard (quite often) and answered all the reasons from my friends as to why this view can’t be true…However most of these folks have not really studied to see if their confident assertions have a biblical basis. The bottom line is, my perspective is better balanced since I have been where they are, but they still have not or can not see my position.
When I first began to examine and adopt this idea of past fulfillment, the local bookstore owner, would only point me to books which opposed this position. He was trying to protect me from “heretical doctrine”. This actually strengthened my resolve to find the right answers. Currently, I am greatly benefited by teachers much farther along the covenant eschatology path, men like Don Preston, and John Bray.
I would like to appeal to you, as a Christian leader with influence, to re-examine your beliefs and to help me bring clarity, truth and voice to prophetic issues. My passionate conviction is that, for the past 150 years or so, the dominant eschatological theory is flawed at every turn…future rapture, future physical 1000 year millennial kingdom, future New Jerusalem, etc… anxiously, these things are all STILL being waited for, but the reality is, all these and more have been accomplished in the spiritual realm, and within the time frame, as prophesied by Jesus.
What was anticipated, as future to the N.T. writers, is long past to us today, as promised, or we can’t trust any thing that was taught.
I whole heartily agree with the sentiment expressed by Martin & Vaughn in their new book, Beyond Creation Science, “The only hope for truly understanding biblical prophecy is to abandon the blinding presupposition that Jesus’ promise about His coming simply must refer to something which will happen in OUR future. As long as the presupposition prevails, the biblical evidence will remain a chaotic, incomprehensible confusion. If you were there and heard Jesus make these claims in front of you,( Matt. 16:27-28 etc.) would you not trust Jesus at His word?”
My faith in our sovereign God compels me to be optimistic that His children will start to open the Book and seek after His heart and wisdom and to dig deep after these truths. Don’t you think God does handsprings of joy ,when we crawl into His lap, to ask Him family questions? Isn’t God’s Word worthy of diligent, prayerful study?
The last Christian leader who acted on my encouragement to search and study these things for himself, was ostracized and dismissed as heretical, by many. ( Even though many had prejudged his conclusions, without the benefit of truly studying the position for themselves). This is where we find ourselves after 150 years of a mostly unabated flow of futurism. Should a church constitution or statement of faith trump the Scriptures?
I will always admire this brother’s bravery to willingly risk, being on the “cutting” edge, for Jesus. ( Makes me think of Martin Luther at the Wittenberg door) .
Finally, as I am sure you can discern, this is a very important topic to me, but you may not share my passion. Irregardless of your position or your decision on my appeal, please know that I love you, and I am very proud to know you and to call you my friend. May God continue to bless you and use you to bring many lives into His kingdom.
Tragically, Jim Lawson died a bitter skeptic. He simply could not trust his perceived “unfaithful” or powerless Jesus. This is probably the wellspring of my “obsession” for correct Bible doctrine. Thanks for taking the time to think and to read this “book”.
Milton Terry, a well respected 19th century Pastor/educator and author of a widely used text book on biblical hermeneutics, wrote a very poignant piece concerning the virtue of being open minded towards” new truth”, he penned “ We cannot believe the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has any respect for a tradition of elders that cannot commend itself by open, manly, convincing argument, but presumes rather to hold its ground by dogmatic assertion and ecclesiastical oppression…..God will smite that whited wall of Protestanism which boasts its encouragement of a free and fearless searching of the Scriptures, and yet dishonors its throne of judgment by imposing stripes on the truth loving disciple of Jesus, who studies with all diligence to present himself approved unto God and to handle aright the Word of Truth”
I am praying for you, will you please pray for me? God Bless, Dave Collins
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Average Score: 5
Votes: 1
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Re: Do you see what I see? (Score: 1)
 by Reformer on Monday, May 12 @ 10:20:29 PDT
(User Info | Send a Message) | Dear David,
Your friend was right for the wrong reason. Jesus did not return in the 1st Century (nor will He ever) because, and as He said, He never left.
Hence, as the late-great theologian George Eldon Ladd correctly pointed out in his highly acclaimed book, "The Blessed Hope," "the words 'return' and 'second coming' are not properly speaking Biblical words in that the two words do not represent any equivalent Greek words" (p-69). This is a major admission with even greater implications.
And why aren't these two expressions used in the Bible. Simply, they are inappropriate.
For more on this, go to www.prophecyrefi.org and click on the article titled "He Never Left." |
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