Fulfilled prophecy of use to people in the future (2 Peter 2) When a land transgresses it has many rulers; but with men of understanding and knowledge its stability will long continue. Proverbs 28:2 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith. 1 Timothy 6:20-21 RSV But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority. 2 Peter 2:1-10 I’ve been asked what then do we have to look forward to if there is no rapture. (I believe this concern arises from the false equivocation of the ‘rapture’ with what has been historically regarded as the ‘Second Coming.’ I believe in the Second Coming—even as an amillennialist.) Well, firstly, an attitude and drive towards peace once we get it out of our heads that the world is doomed to nuclear holocaust and satanic rule. We peacefully carry out our commission, doing what we ought to be doing, so that eventually we don’t need any more ‘swords.’ Next, we look forward to understanding the truth of who God is as we disentangle ourselves from all the contradictions that dispensationalism creates. And then we can relax and know that God keeps His promises because He has proven faithful in the past. We then move confidently as amillenialists (as we largely have been throughout church history) into the future having faith that God will keep His promises while we are doing what we ought to be doing. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. John 12:31-33 In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. Daniel 2:44-45 Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. Revelation 15:3-4
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 00:29:54 +0000
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