A-, Pre-, or Post mil?

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by Sean

Jermyn, I have similar beliefs as you, just a little different though, I see the 3rd world countries that are unable to go cashless as countries that the mark cannot be fully imposed. The 1st world countries will lead the way in a cashless society, with the U.S. out in front. The church will be likely gone before Rev. 13 is actually enforced though.

Well if nothing else, I appreciate your online demeanor.

[Sean]

Thanks bro.,likewise

[Jason B]

Pre

[Abiding Now]

I would imagine folks that are seeing the slaughter of "Christians" by ISIS right now, might feel like the Tribulation is on going. Just a thought.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

I would imagine folks that are seeing the slaughter of "Christians" by ISIS right now, might feel like the Tribulation is on going. Just a thought.

All through history, any time Christians were being persecuted they thought it was the tribulation. Imagine in WW2 when Hitler was persecuting the Jews. Hooboy, the end of the world for sure! That was 75 years ago. Whatever the current trouble of war is in the world, SOMEONE SOMEWHERE thinks it's the deal leading to Armageddon.

[Abiding Now]

Originally Posted by mfblume

All through history, any time Christians were being persecuted they thought it was the tribulation. Imagine in WW2 when Hitler was persecuting the Jews. Hooboy, the end of the world for sure! That was 75 years ago. Whatever the current trouble of war is in the world, SOMEONE SOMEWHERE thinks it's the deal leading to Armageddon.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Abiding Now

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

That is more the truth of the matter than anything. We must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of heaven. Acts 14:22. Rather than say THIS or THAT is the "Great Tribulation" foretold by Jesus, I claim it is long past, and everything we see now is simply the standard for every believer in one form or another. I think of THESE verses when I see troubles it the world today.

But we'll still see experts analyze the idiosyncrasies of each trouble in current times we happen to be in, and point to indications that it is THE "GREAT" one prophesied.

[Esaias]

I am pre-mil but I can see the merits of post-mil.

(Post-mil affirms there will be a millenium, although it may not be a literal EXACT 1000 years. The millenium is - according to post-mil teaching - a long period of time when the Gospel will be the dominant spiritual force on earth, satan will be bound and the nations will serve God. This means society will be ordered according to God's Word. It will be a time when sin and rebellion will be greatly reduced, like never before. At the end of this period of Gospel dominance and success there will be a final worldwide rejection of Christ and an attempt to destroy the Church. This end time apostacy and rebellion will be put down by the Second Advent, in which the heavens and earth will be burned up, the resurrection and Final Judgement will take place, and the new heavens and earth will be established.)

[mfblume]

Anybody suspicious of a Millennial view that Jesus never laid out in plain teaching at all anywhere, nor did the apostles, that is derived from a passage in Revelation 20, while Revelation is highly symbolic?

Would God place a doctrinal point in the midst of a Book that has symbols that are not interpreted for us in many cases, where we are not flatly told where the symbols start and end, when Jesus and the Apostles never said anything in plain teaching manner about the millennial concept?

That's why I claim the passage in rev 20 CAN ONLY be symbolic of what the Apostles and Jesus plainly taught elsewhere in the New Testament.

Revelation 20:4 KJV And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them,...

Ephesians 2:6 KJV And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

[Esaias]

If Rev 20 is symbolic of non-existent things (like the millenium) then there is no return of Jesus depicted in the book... which is rather strange, imo.

Also, the idea that no new information can come from the REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST WHICH GOD GAVE TO HIM is without any scriptural warrant. There is no verse that says "the contents of this book are not suitable for DOCTRINE" or "this book shall not bring anything new to your understanding". Such a rule of interpretation is ENTIRELY and COMPLETELY ARBITRARY, and is designed ONLY to avoid certain obvious truths clearly and UNMISTAKABLY taught by the Apocalypse. The millenium is only one such concept.