If Christ Has Not Come
Richard K. McPherson
Updated:
September 26, 2007
This
article is about the Second Coming of Christ. The main ideas came from an
article by Todd Dennis
“New Testament Realized Eschatology”. We will look at each one and see
if the Bible is a true book and if God knows what he is talking about. Does God
know how to tell time? The answer to that question is “yes”, because he is the
creator of time. The time statements in the Bible, which is “God-breathed” or
“inspired”, are written in a way that man is able to understand. A “generation”
is always used as 40 years and 70 years is 70 years in man’s time, a long time
means a long time and “soon” means “soon”. To change the meaning of a text is a
way of saying that God CAN NOT express Himself or He does not really understand
what He is saying. The Bible is not a book of hidden codes. Throughout this
article, pretend that we are with those first century people that heard or read
what was written. What were they thinking when they first heard or saw those
words. Gentry’s comments about the book “The Parousia” by James Russell says
this, “ Although I do not agree with all the conclusion of J. Stuart Russell, I
highly recommend this well-organized, carefully argued and compellingly written
defense of Preterism to serous and mature students of the Bible. It is one of
the most persuasive and challenging books I have read on the subject of
eschatology and have had a great impact on my own thinking. Russell’s
biblicotheological study of New Testament eschatology set a standard of
excellence.” My question to Mr. Gentry is this,” What scripture did Russell use
that was taken out of context? If all the scriptures were in context, then what
conclusion is the correct conclusion? He never states what text that Russell
used was taken out of context.
The
names mention in this article are by no means denying their love for God, but I
do have to question their beliefs and motives. In preaching one thing while the
Bible says another is a BIG problem. The problem is not what they are saying,
but what they are not saying. I question their type of “God” they worship. In
their belief their God is someone that is confused, forgetful and strange. Their
actions speak louder than their words. Some of their beliefs in God and who
Jesus is needs to be questioned.
(1)
If
Christ has not come, then we are still waiting to be where he is.
John 14:3 “And I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you
also may be where I am.”
John 14:18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to
you.”
John 14:28
“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved
me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater
than I."
Every time a person dies, you hear the preacher says that the deceased person is gone to be with Jesus. What he is saying is Jesus in not here with us on this earth. You have to die in order to be with Jesus. At the same time, you hear the same preacher say in his sermons that Jesus is here. Which one is it? Is He here or in Heaven with the Father? Futurists teach something that is really funny. They teach that when a person dies the spirit goes back to the Father and the body turns back to dust from hence it was made. When Jesus returns on the clouds the spirit that is in Heaven returns back to the body and then the physical body is then raised from the grave and start flying in the air to be with Jesus so it can be changed back into the form it was before and enters back into heaven. Some even teach that when a person dies the spirit goes back to God in Heaven to be with Jesus and when Jesus returns to the earth from Heaven to set up His kingdom, all of those people that with Jesus are no longer with Him, because Jesus is on the earth and they are still in Heaven.
(2)
If
Christ has not come, then we are still waiting for the plan of redemption to be
fulfilled.
Revelation 10:7 “But in
the days when the seventh angel is about to (mello) sound his trumpet, the
mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the
prophets.”
Ephesians 4:30 “And do no grieve the Holy Spirit of God,
with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
How many
times have you heard in sermons that we have been redeemed? There is even a
songs about it, “Redeemed, How I Love To Proclaim It, Since I Have Been
Redeemed, Victory In Jesus” just to name a few. If the first century Christians
were waiting to be redeemed, then we should be waiting to be redeemed if Jesus
has not returned, in order to be consistent with the Bible. Futurists and
Partial Preterists here is a question for you. What and when is the “day of
redemption”? Why do you teach something that goes against the word of God? See
comments: #3 and #12.
(3) If Christ
has not come, then we are still waiting to be individually redeemed from our
sins.
Luke 21:28 “When these
things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your
redemption is drawing near.”
Colossians 1:13-14 “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness (the Law, Old Covenant) and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption for forgiveness of sins.
Paul wrote Colossians somewhere around 60 AD. That is ten years before 70 AD. Then why did Paul write this in past tense? Paul knew of the closeness of the coming of Christ and all the things that will follow. John did the same thing in 1 John 2:8. “….because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” The apostles were expecting the coming of Christ in their lifetime. The “darkness” in Paul’s text is the same darkness in John’s letter. Both are talking about the same thing.
See
comments: #2 and #14. In Luke 21:28, this has to be 70 AD, because of two
reasons: 1) It is before the verse 32,”..this generation will certainly not
pass away until all these things have happened.”
2) If PP
believes that Matthew 24:1-34 is 70 AD then to be consistent they must believe
that this is 70 AD.
Futurists are still waiting for redemption to happen and if this is true then we
are not forgiving from our sins and the law is still intact. See comments: #5.
Jack Van Impe, Tim LaHaye, Chuck Smith better get their act together, because
beliefs like that have very serious consequences.
(4) If Christ
has not come, then we are still in the "last days," 1900 years later.
Hebrews
1:1-2 “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many
times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his
Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the
universe.”
Acts
2:16-20 “No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel; “In the last days,
God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will
prophesy, your young men will see visions your old men will dream dreams. Even
on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and
they will prophesy. I will show wonders I the heavens above and signs on the
earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to
darkness and the moon to blood the coming of the great and glorious day of the
Lord.”
If we are still in the “last
days”, where are the signs and wonders? Who is prophesying today? PP says that
we are living in the last days, but without prophesy, signs and wonders. You can
not have one without the other. Everything goes hand in hand. This also goes
against this text, but Matthew 24:29, which they believe is part of 70 AD,
because it is before the break verse 34. Here is a example that one belief is
not consistent with another belief. PP what you are really saying is that God
does not have a clue what He is saying. You are twisting scripture to make it
fit your creeds, belief or statements of faith. Futurist on the other hand like
Tim LaHaye and Jack Van Impe, believe that we are still in the “last days” and
the last part of verse 16 -20 is still waiting to happen literally. Benny Hinn
and others are so far off from scripture that they contradict themselves, every
time they open their mouth.
I have even seen a web page
that is a FP and they still believe that the miraculous gifts are still here.
Scripture should be our FINIAL authority. It says they have cease, and then they
have cease with no questions asked. See comments: # 7.
(5) If Christ
has not come, not one jot or tittle has passed from the Law.
Matthew
5:17-18 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I
have not come to abolish them but to fulfill then. I tell you the truth, until
heaven and earth disappear. Not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a
pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
PP and
Futurist have a hard time explaining this one. It clearly states that heaven and
earth will disappear, (Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33) before the Law
will disappear. It even says that “everything” must be accomplished before the
Law will disappear. That “everything” is all of prophecies about Christ in the
Old Testament. If there is just one thing left then we, today should be under
the Law. Futurist teaches that Matthew 24 is all future. This includes Matthew
24:15. If that is true, we should be under the Law of Moses today. PP and
Futurist teaches that we are under the law of Christ, but the Bible say
something else. You want to take the Bible literally, and then take this one
literally. You might want to rethink you beliefs on this one. Did heaven and
earth disappear? (Yes or No) Has everything in the Law and Prophets been
fulfilled? (Yes or No) A “No” answer to any of these questions brings about some
problems. Look at the phrase “I tell you the truth”, Jesus (God) is telling the
truth or He is lying. See comments on number 15. Your beliefs have
consequences. In Like 16:17 it says, “It is easier for heaven and earth to
disappear than for the least stoke of a pen to drop out of the Law.”
(6) If Christ
has not come, then some Christians are being quite aged.
Matthew 16:27-28 “For the
Son of Man is going to
(mello)
come in his Father’s glory
with his angles, and then he will reward each person according to what he has
done. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death
before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Jesus is talking to his
disciples.
1 Thessalonians
5:23 “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.
May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at
Jesus Christ."
Paul is talking to
Christians in Thessalonica.
1 Corinthians 15:51) “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not
all sleep (die),
but we will all be changed—…..”
Paul is talking to Christians
in Corinth.
* Mark
14:62 “…..And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the
Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven”. Jesus
is talking to the high priest (Caiaphas, Matthew 26:57), teachers of the law,
elders.
* Revelation 1:7 “Look, he
is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him; even those who pierce him
and all people of the earth will morn because of him. So shall it be Amen."
* Hebrews 9:11 "But
Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater
and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this
creation, “
These
scriptures clearly state that there were certain people would be alive when
Jesus would return. Tim LaHaye and Chuck Smith teach that Matthew 16:27-28 are
talking about things that will happen a week later (chapter 17). Mr. LaHaye and
Mr. Smith, what does the scriptures say? Don’t you believe the Bible, God’s
Word? Here are some problems with that teaching. In context chapter 17 is
talking about the Mount of Transfiguration.
1.)
Which disciple died
during that week latter?
2.)
Where did Jesus go
that the disciples did not see him for a week?
3.)
Where were the angels
in chapter 17? They are in Matthew 24:31.
4.)
Was there a judgment
that happens a week later? (Chapter 17)
5.)
Did the “kingdom” come
a week later?
A “No”
to any of these questions puts a big whole in that teaching. All PP (understand
that there are some PP that puts this text Matthew 16:27-28 with 70 AD) and all
futurist teach that Christ has NOT come, then according to scripture there must
be a very old person still living. What kind of God do you know? A God that
means what he says or one that forgets what He says. Start teaching truth
instead a lie.
There is
another teaching that says this is talking about Pentecost in Acts 2. Here are
problems with that teaching. Look in Acts 1, there you have Jesus ascending into
Heaven (1:9-11) and also in that chapter the apostles chose (you could say that
God chose) by casting lots (1:15-26). In Acts 2, you have the Holy Spirit coming
with power 2:2-4) and then Peter addressing the crowd of people (2:14-40). Here
are the problems:
1.) Where are the angels?
2.) Where is the judgment? in verse 40, Peter said, "Save yourselves from
this corrupt generation."
3.) Is this the
"kingdom" that was promised? If it was, then Paul through the Holy Spirit, which
is the same Holy Spirit that was there on Pentecost, forgot , because in 2
Timothy 4:1 Jesus' appearing and His kingdom are linked together and will happen
at the same time.
* added
by RKM
(7) If Christ
has not come, then the charismata (tongues, prophecy, etc.) are still in effect.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10
“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there
are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away,
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfection comes, the
imperfect disappears.”
I am
going to go out on a limb. What I am about to say, even some in the Full
Preterist camp may disagree with me. I would like to add the following text. It
has to do with pastors (elders) (The denominational world misuses this word.),
preachers, and apostles into this section. You might be thinking that this is
going to the extreme. Am I taking this out of context? If I am wrong, prove it
to me. You will see more on this subject on my web site.
*
Ephesians 4:11-13 “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be
prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors
(shepherds,
elders) and
teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of
Christ my be build up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge
of he Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness
of Christ.”
The
first text is quite simple to understand. There were tongues, prophecy, and
healings until when? The perfection comes. The perfect being Jesus coming in 70
AD. The next text is a little to swallow. God gave some to be apostles,
prophets, evangelists, shepherds, teaches to do what? If the body is not built
up then where are the apostles and prophets? Does that mean that the apostles
failed, the prophets failed, so everything is left up to the others. Was the
“unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God” ever happened? Did
the first century Christians ever reach the “whole measure of the fullness of
Christ”? I say “YES”. When? 70 AD. In 1 Peter 5, Peter is talking to the elders
in assemblies throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (1:1).
Peter is telling the elders how to be shepherds of God’s flock (5:2). In verse
4, “And when the Chief Shepherd (Jesus) appears, you will received the crown of
glory that will never fad away.” In verse 10 it says, “…after you have suffered
a little while, will himself restore you…” What does “a little while” mean?
First Peter was written around 60 AD. That is ten years from the appearing of
the “Chief Shepherd”. I have much more on this topic on my web page under
“Issues After 70 AD”. You can go to the Preterist Archive Links and click on
“Save Christianity: Fire the Preacher. If you think that is far out just wait
until my “Issues After 70 AD” comes out. Can you prove with scripture alone,
why they should still exist?
I had a FP that disagree with me on this issue and that is fine, but I would like to ask him some questions. What does the scriptures say at face valve? It clearly calls the "gifts of the Spirit": prophecies, tongues, knowledge, etc and says they WILL PASS AWAY. The text calls them "imperfect". YLT puts it this way, "and when that which is perfect may come, then that which is in part shall become useless." What is the "Perfect"? Some say, Christ, the New Perfect Covenant, the fulfillment of ALL prophecies. Whatever it is all happened at the same time 70 AD.
* added
by RKM
(8) If Christ
has not come, then we still wait the day when Christ will finally accomplish
that which He said he would do over 1900 years ago, when it was declared He
"would not tarry." (Yet we hear many preachers today say, "We will meet again
next week, if the Lord tarries," as if it is a given that the Lord has tarried
all this time).
Hebrews 10:37 “For
in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay.””
*Revelation
3:11 “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take
your crown.”
Revelation 10:6
“And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens
and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all
that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!””
Revelation 22:20 “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes,
I am coming soon””
God
through His word told the first century Christians that he was coming soon,
without delay. God, who is creator of time, spoke to man using words and phrase
that he could understand. Jesus meant what He said and He said what He meant.
“Soon” meant “soon” not 2000 years and still counting. When the writer of
Hebrews told the Jewish believers that Jesus would not delay, he meant it. To
add anything to it would a slap on God’s face.
* added
by RKM
(9) If
Christ has not come, then the dead are still waiting to enter into heaven, and,
to this day, "sleep" in their graves, waiting to enter into his rest.
1 Corinthians 15:20-23 “But at this moment Christ stands risen from the dead, the first one offered in the harvest of those who have died. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ will all be made alive. However, this will happen to each person in the proper order: first Christ, then those who belong to Christ when he comes.”
What kind of “death” did Adam
bring? Spiritual. What kind of “Life” did Jesus bring at His coming? Spiritual.
The word “ALL”, people has a problem with. I don’t. Before you go any farther
please read my article on “Does Satan Exist Today”. It explains in detail why
“death”, “sin” are no more and why “Satan” does not exist today. All three are
tied together. You can not have one without the other. Remember, who was Paul
to? What is the setting of the text? Who is the “all”? The save people in the
First Century. “All” of them, not us today. This text is clearly talking about a
pre-70AD event.
Death came through Adam and
the resurrection of the dead came through a man called Jesus. The resurrection
of the dead is for the rightness and for the uprightness. (Matthew 25, Acts
24:15 and others) The judgment was for the rightness and uprightness. When did
these two events happen? 70 AD at Jesus’ coming. If the resurrection has already
happen then the first part really doesn’t apply to us today, correct. The next
two verses are where people have problems. Some want to say that “all” die in
Adam and “all” are made alive in Christ, which translate that “Everyone was
saved and will be saved.” (If God wants to save everyone then he has that right,
because God is God. Who am I to question God?) To teach that, is to take the
text out of context. You have to read verse 22 and 23 together to the meaning
of text. In this two verse the “all” is referring to the save only, (the first
century Christians) not to the lost. If you look at verse 23 it says,
“However, this will happen to each person in the proper order: (What order?)
(1) first Christ, (2) then those who belong to Christ (When will
this happen) when he comes.” (3) The lost. Since we know that the
resurrection happened to the save and lost at the same time, we can see that
there was an order to the resurrection. (Who is the “we” in 1 Corinthians 15:51?
See number : 6.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
“With a shout of command, with the archangel's call, and with the sound of God's
trumpet, the Lord himself will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ
will rise first.”
You might want to read the
book of Hebrews and see how things in our Old Testament were shadows of the New
Testament, what we are living today.
(10) If
Christ has not come, then the Old Covenant is still waiting to vanish away.
Hebrews 8:13 “By calling this covenant “new”, he has made the
first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.”
Hebrews
10:8-9 “Fist he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin
offerings you did not desire, nor where you pleased with them” (although the law
required them to be made). Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your
will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.”
If you
ask anyone, “Are we under the “law” or “Old Covenant”? The answer would be a big
“No!” We don’t go to Jerusalem once a year and sacrifice animals. Do we have a
high priest that goes into the most holy place and makes atonements for our sins
for the pass year? Do we today follow the rules and regulations that God gave
Moses? NO is answered to all of those questions. This one and number (5) go a
little together. In the fist text what was “obsolete and aging will soon
disappear”? What is the “new” Covenant? The New Covenant did not start at the
cross or on the day of Pentecost as PP and Futurist teach. This text tells us
that the Old Covenant was still active after those two events. Hebrews was
written somewhere around 67-68 AD. References to the temple (Hebrews 10:11,
13:10-11) indicate that the book was written prior to the fall of Jerusalem in
70 AD. Why do PP and Futurist teach something that is not in the Bible?
In the
second text, what was the “first” that had to be set aside for the “second”?
Verse 8 tells us the Old Covenant (the law) and everything that went with.
(11) If
Christ has not come, then we can still miss salvation after having been
partakers of the Holy Ghost.
Hebrews 6:4-6 “If is
impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the
heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness
of the word of God and the powers of the coming age
(the age that came in 70 AD
and what we are living in today),
if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because they are crucifying
the Son of God all over again and subjection him to public disgrace.”
This
passage discusses believers who “fall away” (verse 6) by consciously rejecting
the spiritual enlightenment they have received (verse 4). They had experience
the taste of God’s goodness (verse 5), and even have been part of the assembly.
They have given intellectual assent to the truth of Christianity. In turning
away from the sacrifice of Christ and returned to Judaism (the Old Covenant
system, the law), they rejected the only means to salvation, which God has
provided.
2 Corinthians 5:5 “Now it
is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a
deposit guaranteeing what is to come”
The
first century Christians had only a “deposit” while we today, have
assurance.
(12) If
Christ has not come, we are still waiting to be adopted as sons.
* Romans
8:18-19 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with
the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation
for the sons of God to be revealed.”
Romans 8:23 “ Not only so,
but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we
wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our
bodies.”
See
comments on number 2 and 3. Again preachers say, “We are adopted sons to God”.
The above text states that even the first century Christians were waiting to be
adopted. Then how can we be adopted? Adoption as sons and redemption goes hand
and hand. PP and Futurist need to get their Bibles out and reread it.
*
Added RKM
(13) If
Christ has not come, we are still waiting for salvation.
Hebrews
9:27-28 “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that face judgment,
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away sins of many people and he will
appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are
waiting for him.”
Galatians 5:5 “But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit
the righteousness for which we hope.”
* Romans
13:11-12 “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for
you to wake up from you slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when
we fist believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.
Why do
PP and Futurist teach that “salvation” is here today? The Bible clearly teaches
that the coming of Christ and “salvation” goes hand in hand. The Bible clearly
teaches that when Jesus returns, then salvation comes. The first century
Christians was looking for salvation. If they did not have salvation, because
Jesus has not come; then we should not have it today. PP and Futurist it is just
plan logic. In the Romans text, do you notice is says “present time” and “the
day is almost here”? The first century people were expecting Jesus’ return in
their lifetime. If that did not come true the apostles lied or misunderstood
what Jesus was teaching them or Jesus lied and did not understand what He was
saying to His disciples. You decide.
(14) If
Christ has not come, we are still dead in our sins. If Jesus is still in the
Most Holy Place (Heaven) and our sins will not be forgiven until he leaves.
Hebrews 9:23-28 "It was
necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these
sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than
these. For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the
true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor
did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest
enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then
Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But
now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by
sacrifice of himself, Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to
face judgment, so Christ was sacrifice once to take away sins of many people;
and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to
those who are waiting for him.”
If you
read the book of Hebrews, you will notice that throughout the book it compares
the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. It states that the Old were a shadow of
the New. In the above text, it is comparing Jesus entering Heaven by calling it
the Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place under the Old Covenant is where the
High Priest went in and made atonement for sins committed in the past year. The
sins were not forgiving (rolled back) until the High Priest come out of the Most
Holy Place. If you read Josephus, the Jews even tied a rope on the High Priest
just in case something happened to him, so they could drag him out. Hebrews 4:14
tells us that we have a “great High Priest…Jesus the Son of God..” Jesus
went to heaven (Acts 1), which is called the Most Holy Place, in the presence of
God to “do away with sin”. See my article on “Does Satin Exist Today”.
The article goes into detail about “the end, sin, death, the law” and 1
Corinthians 15:24-25.
Why do
we preach that our sins will be forgiving as soon as we ask for forgiveness? We
preach one thing while the Bible says another. According to this text, they will
not be forgiving until Jesus leaves heaven (the Most Holy Place). The first
century Christians was so certain that His return was in their lifetime. What
event happened with the phrase “at the end of the ages to do away with sin..”?
Look at Daniel 9:24 and Matthew 24:15. PP this must have happened on 70 AD,
because it is before Matthew 24.34. Futurists like Tim LaHaye and Chuck Smith
and others teach that Matthew 24:1-3 is 70 AD, verses 4-ff in a future coming
and end of the world. See comments: # 11 and 13
(15) If
Christ has not come, we make Christ a liar.
Hebrews 6:18 “….which it is impossible for God to lie,…
There is
not a believer that will openly say that Jesus Christ, God, the Creator lied. If
Jesus lied about one little thing, then why believe anything He says. When Jesus
says that something will happen, it will happen and in the time frame he said it
will happen. When the readers read or the hearers heard those words from Jesus,
“Behold, I am coming soon.” It happed the way he said it. John Bray puts
it this way, “God is a God of order and not confusion”. All of these time
statements that Jesus said either came true or he lied. How could Jesus in
Matthew 24 be talking about two different comings thus confusing the disciples?
To make matters worse, the disciples taught only what they were taught and Jesus
did nothing about correcting them. To teach something or to believe something
that the Bible says just the opposite is in a way telling God, “We don’t trust
you”. It is that simple. PP and Futurist, ask you this question. Do I want to
believe what God says or do I want to believe what man says? The choice is
yours. God’s word should be treated as fact and truth or full of lies.
Futurist’s and PP beliefs are very serious when it comes to God’s word.
Beliefs do have consequences. It is about time to set aside traditions,
creeds and statements of faith and let God speak for Himself. There are even
Full Preterist who have believed things that totally goes against the Bible. For
example: I have seen web pages that believe in Full Preterism, but still believe
in tongues, healing. etc. There are some that believe that it is of to have more
that one wife. What do the scriptures say? They fall into the same trap with the
Futurist and PP. Will only FP be saved? NO! I have seen PP and Futurist actions
and their life they live and some of them have a better relationship with God
than FP do. I have seen the HATE on web pages and the tone of the voice. There
is on web site that is listed on the Preterist Archive that will not be listed
on mine, because of that same reason. This web page stats that the only
people that have it all together are those who believe in Full Preterism and
Calvinism and even the name on the church building. We need to grow beyond that.
(16) If Christ has not come, the 12 disciples are still going through the city of Israel.
Matthew 10:23 (ASV) "But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone through the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. "
Please see comments on number 6.
Conclusion
There
are many articles on each of the issue presented. Read them and study them for
yourself. The only place that has answers to your questions, are the scriptures
and scriptures alone. Each of us grows in a relationship with God and with
others differently. Some may grow faster that others, but that is OK. Keep
praying for wisdom. I pray that this article will help you in any way. I hope
you can see how certain beliefs and ideas have consequences. I have receive many
e-mails for my thoughts on my articles on “Baptism, After 70 AD” and “Why The
“Church” Is Not The Kingdom”. They are coming soon. I have had hard drive
problems and lost part of them. At the same time, I am working on my web site (www.perterism-eschatology.com)
and trying to get it online. I am putting the finishing touches on it so it
will be up and running before the year is up, Lord’s willing. So as you can see,
I am working on four things, counting this article at the same time.
I, myself do not like
“statements of faith” on web sites, because even with those there are not
consistent with scripture. Why don’t we just use the Bible at face value? If God
says it then it has to be true. Looking in God’s word and looking at the WHOLE
picture is the way we should at scripture.