Jim Parker
Member
I'd say it has taken a turn for the worse. The 19th cnetury new wind of doctrine called dispsnsationalism also teaches that the Gifts of the Spirit are no longer active. The Holy Spirit has retired.Since the rise of dispensationalism, biblical literalness has taken a turn for the better.
And the Bible should only be taken literally when the context so requires.
That's because the scriptures do not teach the Rapture doctrine which John Darby made up.Early church did not believe in the rapture.
Scripture teaches that Jesus is coming ONCE more, not twice (once secretly) and when He comes for the ONE and only judgment, the dead in Christ will rise and those of us who are still alive will rise to meet Him in the air and escort Him in His triumphal return.
Dead? What dead. Nobody's dead to God (Mar 12:27) and nothing is impossible for God. (Luk 1:37)They believed also in prayers for the dead.
It is amazing how people think we are so much smarter today than the people who were taught by the apostles and their disciples. In fact, we're so smart today that we can change any doctrine that has stood since the day of Pentecost if we see that it's wrong. And we would know because we're so much smarter than all the apostles and all their disciples.
Actually, the average American believer couldn't hold a candle to the brilliance of the early church theologians.