Username who was a full Preterist"Stormcrow?___jasonc
I have no idea what you mean by that. Can you enlighten me?
If you knew Reba ,here then I should know you.hitch was rather blunt and crude and well disliked futurism.
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
Strengthening families through biblical principles.
Focus on the Family addresses the use of biblical principles in parenting and marriage to strengthen the family.
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Username who was a full Preterist"Stormcrow?___jasonc
I have no idea what you mean by that. Can you enlighten me?
Username who was a full Preterist
If you knew Reba ,here then I should know you.hitch was rather blunt and crude and well disliked futurism.
She left the forum,I havebt talked to her much .
JohnDB,
In reading back through this thread, I think I have done something that I never intended to do, namely to challenge what appears to be a dearly held certain belief of the good Christian folks here at cf.net. That was the very last thing I wanted to do. I thought that there would be several posters here that would agree with the proposition in my Opening Post and that the discussion would be strictly academic without any comments on the spiritual qualities of the various posters, for example I don't have any problem with pride, and because I don't, I think I ought to just let this subject go for the sake of peace and quiet. I do not have any desire to "win" the argument. I do not mind you good folks here being the victors on this subject.
Before I end my part in this thread, I am going to see if the following makes any sense to you? (or to anybody else here)
I am going to take a close look at 1 John 2: 18-19
"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. ___ 1 John 2:18-19
Note the particulars from 1 John 2:18-19
(1) "this is the last hour" That compellingly refers ONLY to the time of the first century.
It CANNOT refer to the year 2020. That would be an incorrect interpretation.
It CANNOT refer to any future time.
It could not refer to the year 950 A.D.
Or to the year 1200 A.D.
Or to the year 1880 A.D.
Or to the year 2018 A.D.
It MUST refer ONLY to the time it was written, namely the first century.
Could the people who lived say 200 years ago, have correctly said "this is the last hour" refers to our time period? No of course not.
`
(2) "even NOW many antichrists have come"
The "NOW" refers to the time of the first century.
It CANNOT refer to the year 2020. That would be an incorrect interpretation.
It CANNOT refer to any future time.
It could not refer to the year 450 A.D.
Or to the year 1100 A.D.
Or to the year 1680 A.D.
Or to the year 1760 A.D.
It MUST refer ONLY to the time it was written, namely the first century.
Could the people who lived say 300 years ago, have correctly said that "even NOW many antichrists have come"? No, of course not.
(3) "MANY antichrists have come."
"Many is plural. There were many antichrists that had ALREADY come in the
time of the first century.
It CANNOT refer to any future time.
It CANNOT refer to the year 2020. That would be an incorrect interpretation.
Just as it could not refer to the year 450 A.D.
Or to the year 1000 A.D.
Or to the year 1480 A.D.
Or to the year 1260 A.D.
It MUST refer ONLY to the time it was written, namely the first century.
"Many antichrists have come" (they were living THEN at the time John wrote this verse.)
(4) "They went out from us. but they did not belong to us"
This compellingly is a reference to the first century, when John wrote 1 John.
It CANNOT refer to any future time.
It CANNOT refer to the year 2020. That would be an incorrect interpretation.
Just as it could not refer to the year 450 A.D.
Or to the year 850 A.D.
Or to the year 1380 A.D.
Or to the year 1860 A.D.
It MUST refer ONLY to the time it was written, namely the first century.
"They went out from us" means they went out from the Apostles who wrote that. It cannot be interpreted to refer to a future time.
______________
Does any of that up there make any sense to you?
We really don't debate here. We will discuss things but there is no "winning" or trying to teach the others how "they are wrong and you are right here"."It does"___JohnDB
I am glad that what I wrote made at least some sense to you. And thanks for telling me that it did.
"but I would still say that there are many points that you haven't addressed"___JohnDB
I am not that smart. I cannot successfully address all the questions that people can ask me. This is why I wrote my Opening Post as I did. I wanted to narrow what I was claiming down to a manageable size. Christian Eschatology is a HUGE area of study and there are thousands of questions that people have about various aspects of it. I cannot successfully "field all those questions."
"What you have posited is wildly divergent from the norm"___JohnDB
I think it is on this fine forum, but to question the existence of a future antichrist within orthodox Christendom is not at all an unusual thing to do. The notion of an antichrist is not ever mentioned in any Christian Creed. Its is a non-issue as for as the Creeds Of Orthodox Christendom is concerned.
"You are beginning to simply talk with us instead of at us"___JohnDB
My apologies. I did not intend to talk "at you" --- that's just my debate style. That is to stay strictly upon the title of my Opening Post and not deviate from that, to other issues and questions. (That I gladly admit that I can NOT successfully answer.)
"Don't just claim victory when no one has changed their mind"___JohnDB
I did not intend to claim victory in the sense that I had successfully changed anyone's mind. I know that I have not. My intent was to claim ONLY that the proposition title of my Opening Post had not been refuted. I do not believe that there is any clear certain argument that compellingly connects the 4 "antichrist verses" in John's epistles with any other Biblical passage.
"You have that same task here with this wildly divergent theological position"___JohnDB
Goodness! I don't hold to a "wildly divergent theological position." I am a plain old simple down to earth Bible believing Postmillennialist. Postmillennialism is a highly respectable Christian Eschatological view and is held by thousands and thousands of Bible believing Christians. Moreover I do NOT want to "take you there", that is, I have no plans to convince anyone to become a Postmillennialist. I expect, based upon this thread, that all the good folks here at cf.net are Premillennialists and that's good and just fine with me. God bless every one of them. And may they hold fast to what they believe.
By the way, JohnDB, (and please read this carefully).
Here is Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry's definition of Postmillennialism:
"Postmillennialism holds that the Lord Jesus Christ established His
kingdom on earth through His preaching and redemptive work in the
first century and that He equips His church with the gospel, empowers
her by the Holy Spirit, and charges her with the Great Commission to
disciple all nations. Postmillennialism expects that eventually the vast
majority of men living will be saved. Increasing gospel success will
gradually produce a time in history prior to Christ's return in which faith,
righteousness, peace, and prosperity will prevail in the affairs of men
and nations. After an extensive era of such conditions the Lord will
return visibly, bodily, and gloriously, to end history with the general
resurrection and the final Judgment after which the eternal order
follows." End quote.
I believe that the Lord Jesus actually intended for His Christian Church to carry out His Great Commission given at the end of Matthew's gospel, to go and make disciples of all the nations. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 28 that ALL power had been given to Him both in Heaven and on Earth, and THEREFORE go and make disciples of all the nations. I believe that the Christian Church, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and through plain old Spirit-empowered gospel preaching will, in fact, successfully carry out the Lord's Great Commission. Victory! The Christian Church will go and disciple all the nations, just like the Lord said for us to do.
Some notable Postmillennialists are:
Daniel Whitby
Isaac Watts
The Wesley Brothers
Jonathan Edwards
William Carey
Robert Haldane
Archibald Alexander
A.A. Hodge
Charles Hodge
Albert Barnes
David Brown
Patrick Fairbairn
Richard C. Trench
J.A. Alexander
J.H. Thornwell
Robert L. Dabney
William G.T. Shedd
Augustus H. Strong
H.C.G. Moule
B.B. Warfield
O.T. Allis
J. Gresham Machen
John Murray
Loraine Boettner
J. Marcellus Kik
Greg L. Bahnsen
David Chilton
All the above was quoted from
He Shall Have Dominion,
by Kenneth L. Gentry Jr.
pages 106, 107
We really don't debate here. We will discuss things but there is no "winning" or trying to teach the others how "they are wrong and you are right here".
That kind of stuff is for the junk forums. I've never seen people do that kind of thing in any Church I've been to. We don't do that here.
We can discuss differences...but it's not relevant to the faith we hold dear.
It's a minor.
And if you hang out long enough there's things that we can teach each other.
I've already showed you holes in your knowledge...I know where mine are...but it's going to take several PHD research thesis to uncover what I wish to know.
(And I do know some of those guys)
But I'm grateful that there is no Beatitude stating "Blessed are the most theologically correct for they shall...."
"We really don't debate here."__JohnDB
(1) I didn't know that cf.net took that position. My Opening Post was written for the purpose of engaging in civil debate among Christians who love each other and will debate the merits of the arguments in a spirit of love. If I had known that "We really don't debate here" was the policy, I would not have posted my Opening Post.
(2) My view is that it is impossible NOT to end up debating the merits of arguments unless you keep strictly to devotional subjects and prohibit any serious investigation of the dozens and dozens of subjects within Christendom that are controversial in nature.
(3) Regarding discussions of all controversial subjects: What happens in reality is that people actually end up debating, while calling it a discussion. A rose by another name is still a rose. And debate called discussion, is still a debate.
(4)Here is how I define debate:
debate - "a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting . . . in which opposing arguments are put forward."
My view is that it is impossible to have an ongoing talk/discussion about the subject of an alleged future antichrist without debating the merits of the arguments that are put forward to support that belief.
(5) Clearly a debate is taking place in this thread. But you say "We really don't debate here"___JohnDB, therefore since that is the case, there is no point in me continuing because . . .
(6) My Opening Post demands debate. It demands debate because there are only two choices presented by my Opening Post; They are:
(A) There are clear and certain arguments that compellingly connect the 4 mentions of antichrist in John's epistles with other passages in Daniel, Ezekiel, Paul, the Book of Revelation, and other Bible verses . . . or . .
(B) There are NOT any clear and certain arguments that compellingly connect the 4 mentions of antichrist in John's epistles with other passages in Daniel, Ezekiel, Paul, the Book of Revelation, and other Bible verses.
(C) My view is that, so far, there has NOT been a single clear and certain argument advanced that connects the "antichrist" of John's epistles with any other Bible passage.
Does that mean that I am claiming victory? No. All that means is that my view is that, so far, there has not been presented, a single clear and certain argument that compellingly connects the 4 mentions of antichrist with any other Bible passage.
(7) I do not plan to continue my participation in this thread because I fully intend to abide by the rules, the expectations, and the spirit of cf.net. And I cannot do that, and discuss the subject of antichrist, if debate is prohibited or not welcomed at cf.net.
(8) I sincerely thank all the good folks here for taking the time to read my Opening Post. I always appreciate it when my fellow Christians take the time to read what I write. My motive, in everything I write, is to make a positive constructive contribution to the lives of other people. My view is that a civil debate can achieve that.
As an aside:
My wife and I just recently re-watched The Lord Of The Rings:
Quote For Today:
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be the blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.” ___Tolkien
I have always liked J.R.R. Tolkien
So have I.I have always liked J.R.R. Tolkien
This is the third time I have asked this question.
Could you please answer it
Who do these names refer to?
King of kings
Lord of lords
Prince of peace
Mighty God
Wonderful
Lamb of God
The only begotten of the Father
The Word
The Messiah
The Christ
Emmanuel
The Alpha and Omega
The First and Last
The Holy One of Israel
None of the verses that carries these different names connect with one another.
JLB
If that is true then why not answer my question?
I have asked three times.
JLB
All those names of the Lord Jesus appear in Biblical passages where the context within the passage presents clear, certain, and compelling arguments (reasons) to believe and KNOW that they all refer and connect to the Lord Jesus.
So have I.
He and CS Lewis were beer buddies.
Much of his stories were a blend of Christian themes and principles as played out (or not) in History.
Remember the section in the Hobbit where they were to travel through the forest...but not leave the path?
The movie didn't portray that section of the book correctly...the elves deliberately left the path. They knew what they were doing when they done it too. They just didn't plan on the results they got. One of my biggest pet peeves on that movie is that part. Otherwise I liked it.
Where I understand that you want to debate...we really aren't. We are here asking questions that you provide answers for that will clarify why you believe what you believe.
There is meat to our questions...there's a reason why we ask the questions we ask.
For you to believe what you believe surely has some basis and is congruent with your understanding of scriptures. And possibly you are right and possibly you are wrong.
It's not about winning or losing but understanding each other.
Most of my friends don't share in my theologies... doesn't mean that we aren't there for each other. I'm shouting support for their kids just as loud or louder than they are.
All those names of the Lord Jesus appear in Biblical passages where the context within the passage presents clear, certain, and compelling arguments (reasons) to believe and KNOW that they all refer and connect to the Lord Jesus.
So you agree all these different names that appear in different books of the Bible all refer to the Lord Jesus Christ.
That’s good.
We agree.
JLB
I do agree. I agree in the context of my post # 51 to you. By the way, my post 51 to you had a "debate tone" to it. I don't know of any other way to defend the proposition in my Opening Post other than with a "debate tone." Don't take it personal. I am criticizing the argument, and NOT criticizing you (or anyone else.)
Ok let’s examine what you say.
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Please point out the clear, certain, and compelling arguments (reasons) to believe and KNOW that they all refer and connect to the Lord Jesus , in this passage, whereby every Jew who reads this knows for sure that this passage refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.
No offense taken here.
So have I.
He and CS Lewis were beer buddies.
Much of his stories were a blend of Christian themes and principles as played out (or not) in History.
Remember the section in the Hobbit where they were to travel through the forest...but not leave the path?
The movie didn't portray that section of the book correctly...the elves deliberately left the path. They knew what they were doing when they done it too. They just didn't plan on the results they got. One of my biggest pet peeves on that movie is that part. Otherwise I liked it.
Where I understand that you want to debate...we really aren't. We are here asking questions that you provide answers for that will clarify why you believe what you believe.
There is meat to our questions...there's a reason why we ask the questions we ask.
For you to believe what you believe surely has some basis and is congruent with your understanding of scriptures. And possibly you are right and possibly you are wrong.
It's not about winning or losing but understanding each other.
Most of my friends don't share in my theologies... doesn't mean that we aren't there for each other. I'm shouting support for their kids just as loud or louder than they are.