Has man advanced spiritually?

[Rick W]

Most certainly we have technologically. No doubt. Can we claim that because we are smarter in technology it also follows we're more learned spiritually? I don't think so. When we speak of "the old" ways, the ways of living, of thinking, the old ways of doing anything we immediately assume the new is better and that the old no longer has a place for us. I've known engineers, experts in their fields, to carry over their "expertise" into other areas they know little about. But they believe themselves to be so.
Are we, as a technologically advanced society, guilty of the same thing in matters of spiritual things also? And are we indeed more learned toward matters of God than those who lived when Christ divided time as we measure it?
As time passes we see more and more new ideas coming about that deviate one way or another from the original, especially in the cults. Is evolution of the spiritual, even just a little bit, a good thing or does it dilute and detract from the original to the extent of becoming useless?

 

[GundamZero]

Unfortunanantly, spiritual evolution doesn't really happen. Why? Because you cannot record the Spirit. We can write about it. We can try to each others about its nature. But the real important things need to be taught by the Spirit intimitly and to each person. Because of this, new vantages show up all the time, but they are all only witness to what God makes obvious. And remember, though technology andvances and changes, theology doesn't, because God never changes. There is nothing that we can learn about God that was not revealed to us through scripture and by Christ, because all else, even if it is true, has nothing to be compared to in order to prove its validity.

It is tempting to think that with all the academic knowledge that man has ascertained makes a difference, but it really doesn't. Think about it. There is so much to know that fields of study are becoming more and more specific and isolated. One surgeoun does not do the same operations as another. One scientist does not study the same field as another. Even those everything men of ages past like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates, oculd only standardize mans understanding of the spiritual. Man will never advance to it's full capacity spiritually until the end, when Christ restores all.

 

[phatcatholic]

i think "society", as in, the secular world separate from the Body of Christ, has gotten stupider over the years! haha. But, i think the "Mind of the Church" has increased. if you look at how doctrine has developed over the years (for example, concerning the anthropology of Christ and the nature of the Godhead) then i think u'll see that we have come a long way and that there is a lot of truth to the saying that we "stand on the shoulders of giants"

pax christi,
phatcatholic

 

[destiny]

Has man advanced spiritually?
Only those who are in right relationship with Jesus will go from glory to glory.

Jesus told us what the last days would be like and He doesn't lie.

Matthew 24: 4-21

And Jesus answered and said to them: See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will mislead many. And you will behearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be d by all nations on account of my name. At that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.

Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken for through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place let the reader understand, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse s in those days!

But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath; for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.

Matthew 24: 37-39

Jesus: For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.

 

[reznwerks]

tell us

Has man advanced spiritually?
Only those who are in right relationship with Jesus will go from glory to glory.

Jesus told us what the last days would be like and He doesn't lie.

Matthew 24: 4-21

And Jesus answered and said to them: See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in my name, saying, "I am the Christ," and will mislead many. And you will behearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be d by all nations on account of my name. At that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.

Therefore when you see the Abomination of Desolation which was spoken for through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place let the reader understand, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; let him who is on the housetop not go down to get the things out that are in his house; and let him who is in the field not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are with child and to those who nurse s in those days!

But pray that your flight may not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath; for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.

Matthew 24: 37-39

Jesus: For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.

Can you tell us when this wasn't the current state of affairs in mans history?

 

[Geo]

This time is special, because it's 'conclusion time'. Both the true and the false
will come to its conclusion. If someone doesn't see this, let me pinch you a bit
with one of the 'old guys':

"A man says to me, 'Can you explain the seven trumpets of the Revelation?'
No, but I can blow one in your ear, and warn you to escape from the wrath to come."
Charles Spurgeon

Is there spiritual evolution? Mostly in the counterfeit department, they are working
on raising the global consciousness level. I will post an audio under "Masters of
Deception", I know it's content is true because I was young and stupid too.

Does walking with Jesus lead to more understanding and faith? Without question,
the intention is building relationship and fullness of Christ. But that's not evolution,
it's more of the cross. And more of the resurrection life as result of it.

 

[mutzrein]

Does walking with Jesus lead to more understanding and faith? Without question,
the intention is building relationship and fullness of Christ. But that's not evolution,
it's more of the cross. And more of the resurrection life as result of it.

Good one Geo

 

[Rick W]

Is there spiritual evolution? Mostly in the counterfeit department

There it is.
Because we're technologically more knoweledgable the pride reasons "The newer the better". And why not? Newer is better than the old in the technical world. And that's how it should be. But the counterfeit uses the pride of increased technology to make what cannot change appear changable. From everlasting to everlasting God is the same. His Word is the same, His love is the same and His judgments in righteousness are the same.
Terry Long the Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Salt Lake said, "If it's new it's not true. If it's true it's not new." Doesn't tickle the ear but that's a fact of the nature of God.

 

[reznwerks]

conclusion time

This time is special, because it's 'conclusion time'. Both the true and the false
will come to its conclusion. If someone doesn't see this, let me pinch you a bit
with one of the 'old guys':

Conclusion time? It's been conclusion time over 200 times in the past.

http://www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm

What makes this time special? I know it's comforting to think that this is all a movie that just has to play out and the good guys win in the end but it's not. Actually things are better now for man than they have ever been in the past. All the prophecies about the mideast and oil being the "unknown" instigator for the apocolypse are quickly being shown to be wrong. Technology is quickly advancing that will put oil on the backburner and hence our political objectives will be focused elsewhere. Is this bad news for Israel? Probably but that is another thread. Advances in medicine and every other facet of life is improving not getting worse. Global warming is going to cause all nations to work togerther whether they like it or not. Survival depends on it and if man no longer exists on this planet things will go on without us. The cavalry is not coming.

 

[Geo]

reznwerks yeah yeah, or so it seems.

I know exactly what the global majority thinks and what they believe,
it's similar to your synopsis. But that's all based on a shell reality that
has nothing to do with actual truth. And the crazy thing is, it's neither
the ambition of Satan nor the truth of God.

Personally I'm not good at date setting, but I understand the season.
And we're in that final season. Everyone alive today will see major
change coming to this world. I'm sure about that from God's word,
as He explained it to me in spirit. I was equally certain looking behind
the scene of some major players having big ambitions. That's verifyable
to a large extend, but it's not benefitial spiritually, in fact it leaves you in
misearable despair to look at plans of some powerful groups. I just want
to say this much: both the first and the second WW didn't happen
accidentially, someone pulled the strings. It was orchestrated. Even the
third one is planned since over 150 years. Oil is not the final agenda,
re-arrangement of global power is.

But to know that has no real benefits, because there is no deeper truth or
solution included. I just want to tell you that change will come very suddenly,
whenever it will come, there will be almost no time to rearrange your mind set
and adjust it according to the new circumstances. People not walking
with Jesus will be caught off guard, and your only chance will be to call
on His name for protection. IF this chance will be given to you, unfortunately
many already rejected His knocking on the door for too long and will not
receive another notice.

 

[ArtGuy]

Well, it seems we're less likely to use the Bible as justification for roaming the countryside and converting unbelievers at thepoint of a sword, or for enslaving people of other races, or for forbidding things like a man and woman dancing together chastely. I dunno, does becoming less biblically stupid qualify as spiritual advancement?

 

[reznwerks]

how so

reznwerks yeah yeah, or so it seems.

I know exactly what the global majority thinks and what they believe,
it's similar to your synopsis. But that's all based on a shell reality that
has nothing to do with actual truth. And the crazy thing is, it's neither
the ambition of Satan nor the truth of God.
Sorry but it's not a shell reality. It's what we see every day.

Personally I'm not good at date setting, but I understand the season.
And we're in that final season. Everyone alive today will see major
change coming to this world.
Everyone who has ever lived has had a story to tell regarding how the world around them has changed. It's no different today.

I'm sure about that from God's word,
as He explained it to me in spirit. I was equally certain looking behind
the scene of some major players having big ambitions.
Major players always have big ambitions. Nothing new here.

That's verifyable
to a large extend, but it's not benefitial spiritually, in fact it leaves you in
misearable despair to look at plans of some powerful groups.
It all depends on what your perception is of what the plans are.

I just want
to say this much: both the first and the second WW didn't happen
accidentially, someone pulled the strings. It was orchestrated.
Every war is orchestrated.Someone always has to start one for one reason or another. It has been going on for as long as recorded history and probably before. Again nothing new here.

Even the
third one is planned since over 150 years. Oil is not the final agenda,
re-arrangement of global power is.
Re arrangement of global power has been going on forever. Again nothing new here. Read a history book.

But to know that has no real benefits, because there is no deeper truth or
solution included. I just want to tell you that change will come very suddenly,
whenever it will come, there will be almost no time to rearrange your mind set
and adjust it according to the new circumstances.

Change may come suddenly and maybe it won't . Either way it has happened before. Again nothing new here.

People not walking
with Jesus will be caught off guard, and your only chance will be to call
on His name for protection.
Jesus told those in front of him that some standing here would not die before he came back. The very apostles he spoke to believed him. That was not true then and there is no reason to believe any differntly now.

IF this chance will be given to you, unfortunately
many already rejected His knocking on the door for too long and will not
receive another notice.
Who can blame anyone for not believing when you look at the example I just provided. If anything man was decieved the first time and Jesus needs to cut some slack if he really comes back in the future.

 

[Ajax 777]

Re: how so

...Jesus needs to cut some slack if he really comes back in the future.

He's been cutting us slack for 2,000 years.

Reznwerks, if you're such an unbeliever, why don't you go to another forum? Just a suggestion, and I mean no offense. But you sure don't seem to agree with anything anyone says around here...

Well, whatever. I can take it if you can. :smt023

 

[MrVersatile48]

I recall an old lady say, cynically, "They said Hitler was the Antichrist & World War 2 was Armagedon"

My answer?

Jesus & the OT prophets made it clear that the climax generation of history would start with the rebirth of the nation of Israel: WW2 was 1939-'45 & Israel was reborn in 1948 & Jesus said that this generation will be cut short by His return, otherwise no-one could survive - see Matthew 24

Right up to the last moment, they weren't sure whether to call the Holy Land Zion - but God's Word had prophesied Israel, & 'He watches over His Word, to perform it'

He had promised that 'the desert will bloom as a rose'

In '48, Israel was desert wasteland, but the desert does indeed bloom as a rose & 'the ancient ruins rebuilt' as also promised

God even said that Israel will 'fill the world with her fruit'

She does

He promised that, once Israel was reborn, she would remain in the Jews' possession & not be defeated again: witness the miraculous victories of '48, '56, the 6-Days War of '67, the 1-day Yom Kippur War of '73

Arab lands - N Africa, the Arabian Peninsular & Iraq/Iran over 10% of Earth's surface

There are 250 million Arabs - @ 1 billion muslims who would also love to see Israel destroyed & her 5 million Jews (plus 10 milion still scattered worldwide) - annihilated

God said that He would vindicate His holiness & would fulfil all these promises & more so that the whole world will know that the Lord alone is God & will not share His glory with idols - like mere stone idol moon-god 'Allah'

Soon He will give tiny Israel the even more miraculous victories of Ezekiel 38-39, where a vast alliance of E-European, African & Arab powers, under a re-militarised Russia, will invade Israel & be defeated by the sheer miraculous wonders of God

Also Zechariah 12 - 'God will make Israel's leaders like firebrands in a woodpile, like flaming torches among sheaves to burn up all their surrounding enemies'

Iran has today said that she will finance Hamas, who said that they don't fear the UN

They will learn the fear of the Almighty Creator the hard way for their blasphemies

Any who missed Tuesday's Hal Lindsey Report can click on it @ http://www.HalLindsey.com - his thoroughly-researched, well-written book, 'The Everlasting Hatred: The Roots Of Jihad' - exposing what the Koran & Hadith plainly teach but the West fears to expose - is available there, contrasting, on every point, the lies of false prophet mad megalomaniac Muhammad with the clear truth of Man's Maker's Manual, the Bible

When Jesus' friends asked Him when He'd return & what signs He'd give to show it was near, you can sum up His Matthew 24 answer in 1 word: 'birthpains'

Birthpains, in all species, multiply & intensify just as we see wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences/epidemics, falling away from faith with false christs/messiahs/prophets/teachers, persecution of true born-again, Bible-believing, Spirit-led Christians, etc

& make no mistake: Revelation predicts the classic pattern of escalation leading up to Armageddon

& Hell is even worse than Armageddon - it's eternal, conscious torment, as in Revelation 20 & Matthew 13, etc

If you haven't done so already, dear readers, right now, in the quiet of your own heart & miond, you can ask Jesus to forgive al your sins & invite Him to live in your heart as Saviour & Lord of life - see John 3, Romans 3, Galatians 2:15-16 & Ephesians 2:8-9, etc, for full assurance of salvation by the sheer grace of God thru faith in Christ's once-for-all sacrifice on Calvary's cross

The reason Jesus could pledge, in spite of such unprecedented scale of all kinds of disasters & suffering, "Don't be afraid..don't be alarmed..trust in God..trust in Me" is that the birthpains only serve to bring on the Great Delivery - the instant airlift (Rapture) rescue of all who love Jesus before the worst time ever comes - see Matt 24:30-31, 1 Corinthians 15:51-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-5:11, etc

Don't delay: don't miss it - don't be left behind for the worst time ever, as 'people will long for death but it won't come' says Revelation

Jesus will soon 'tread trhe winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God' - as Revelation also says

Use this half-term break to tell your friends to 'flee the wrath to come'
As Jesus said, 'I am the Way, the Truth & the Life: no-one comes to the Father except by/thru Me' - (John 14:6)

Get training in internet evangelism @ http://www.gospelcom.net - click resources there & subscribe to the free monthly bulletins

God bless!

Ian