Posts Tagged ‘Christianity’

Victory of the Redeemed – Zechariah 3

Posted by William Bell on February 3rd, 2010

Arkhangelsk (Arkhangelsk oblast), coat of arms...

Victory of the Redeemed - Zechariah 3"

The Victory of the Redeemed, Zechariah 3. At the time of the writing of Zechariah, God’s people were in trouble. Satan stood at the right hand of Joshua the high priest to oppose him. He sought to condemn the people of God. However, Joshua stood before (in the presence of) the Angel of the Lord.

The reason Satan sought to condemn Joshua (representative of the righteousness remnant of Israel) derived from verse 3 of Zechariah 3. Joshua, clothed with filthy garments declared their sinful condition. In offering the “blood of bulls and goats” he could effect no lasting cleansing and thereby righteousness through them, (Heb. 10:1-4). Mere shadows of the coming redemption in Christ, they failed to atone.

Objection Overruled!

Satan knew this and sought to cash in early on his winnings. However, the Angel of the Lord intervenes. Rather than attack Satan, he replies. “The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire? Meaning, the remnant being spared destruction in (more…)

Posted in Preterism, Realized Eschatology, Zechariah Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

That I May Plant the Heavens – Genesis 1 or the Kingdom?

Posted by William Bell on February 1st, 2010

Original caption from NASA: "S103-E-5037 ...

Foundation of the Earth

That I May Plant the Heavens, Genesis 1 or the Kingdom?, is part of a text from Isaiah 51:16. The controversy around this text offers three possible solutions for its interpretation. Some believe that it refers historically to Genesis 1:1, but not to a physical creation, rather to the covenantal creation of Israel. Others offer Sinai at the giving of the Law. Yet another group believe it refers to the kingdom age.

And I have put my words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, that I may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” (Isaiah 51:16).

Adam Clarke is verse sparse in his comments on the text. He offers justification for what we wrote above saying the text is very obscure. That doesn’t help much!  Young, a bit more (more…)

Posted in End of the World 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

But of That Day and Hour Who Knows?

Posted by William Bell on December 11th, 2009

Roman Triumphal arch panel copy from Beth Hate...

But of That Day and Hour>

But of That Day and Hour Who Knows? This is a common response by those who yet believe Jesus’ second coming is future. This is a brief response to demonstrate why that reasoning does not follow. The view addressed here comes from a study citing Luke 21:34-35, as a day of uncertainty. The writer maintained that since those verses followed Luke 21:32, which clearly delineated the A.D. 70 fall or Jerusalem, then they must of necessity be speaking of a yet future unknown coming of the Lord.  The following is a partial reply.

Not Knowing the Day and Hour

Luke does not mention the phrase, “but of that day and hour no man knows” as does Matthew and Mark. That does not mean that the idea is not present in the text. Clarke correctly deduces the idea from the language of surprise suggested by the (more…)

Posted in Eschatology Tags: , , , , , , , 5 Comments »

Caught Between a Temple Rock and a Hard Place?

Posted by William Bell on December 6th, 2009

Arch of Titus

The Temple Destroyed in 70 AD

Caught between a temple rock and a hard place? This best describes the campaign of “Christian Zionists” who support the rebuilding of a Jewish temple in Palestine. Tracing its history before 1948, the idea of rebuilding a temple in Jerusalem met opposition from Christians and Jews. Thomas Ice and Randall Price write: “It is a legitimate enterprise for the fulfillment of the Jewish religious hope and an important steppingstone to the realization of the Christian destiny.” (1)

This statement implies that the Jewish hope and Christian destiny (i.e. Christian hope) are not the same. Paul’s defense before Agrippa affirmed that his Christian hope rather than being different, was identical to that of the Jews. Yet, they wanted to kill him because he claimed that hope was already being fulfilled in Christ! (Acts 24:13-15). See also Acts 26:6-8; 28:20).

God’s decree and the prophecies of Jesus, Israel’s Messiah, made clear that not one stone of the Temple would be left standing upon another, Matt. 24:2. The Romans carried out the details of burning the Temple to the ground in A.D. 70, (Lk. 21:20-22).  Thus, God’s (more…)

Posted in Eschatology Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

Do the Egyptians Belong in Mount Zion?

Posted by William Bell on November 24th, 2009

Egypt's coat of arms

Egyptians to worship in Mt Zion

Do the Egyptians belong in Mt. Zion? From the beginning of Covenant Israel’s history and quest for nationhood, a mixed multitude traveled with them from Egypt.  Moses was married to an Ethiopian. In the latter days Egypt and Israel’s relationship once again unite, not as master and slave but as brethren in the new temple keeping the Feasts of the Lord.

In the prophetic imagery of Zechariah 14, the nations share in the post parousia (coming of Christ) blessings of Israel.

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.

And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain.

If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, (more…)

Posted in Eschatology Tags: , , , , , , , , 1 Comment »

Did Christ Promise and Earthly Kingdom?

Posted by William Bell on November 11th, 2009

St Augustine's Commentary on THE SERMON ON THE...

Christ's Kingdom Mission

Did Christ promise an earthly kingdom? One of the big deceptions of Dispensationalism is its teaching that Christ came to establish an earthly political kingdom. They see the modern Zionist Israel as a key player in the fulfillment of kingdom prophecy. Here are reasons from the scriptures why Christ’s kingdom is present, spiritual and non-political.

The Kingdom of God Is At Hand

Christ announced that his kingdom had drawn near. Citing Daniel, he preached the kingdom of God saying, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:14-15) Daniel prophesied God’s time for the kingdom as the “days of these kings”, i.e. during the ancient Roman Empire, existing in the days of Christ. John the Baptist, preached during the reign of Tiberius (more…)

Posted in Kingdom Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments »

Do We Have the Right Focus on the Millennium?

Posted by William Bell on November 6th, 2009

Preterism_Eschatology_Every_Eye_Saw_Him_Revela...
Image by allthingsfulfilled via Flickr

How do we understand eschatology versus teleology? Eschatology focuses on the end of prophetic events. It relates to what is temporal. The word means the study of last things. In this definition, the judgment, the resurrection, the parousia, and the end of the world comes to mind.

Teleology is the study of ultimate purpose or design. To help one understand the difference, you may ask? What is the ultimate pupose of bringing all things to an end? The answer to that question is teleological.

For some, eschatology means an end to time, life on the planet, and opportunities for salvation. This view fails to understand both (more…)

Posted in Eschatology Tags: , , , , , , , , , , No Comments »

Are Problems with Preterism Imaginary Born of Fear and Ignorance?

Posted by William Bell on September 9th, 2009

The Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem by the ...

A Day Known Only to the Lord

In view of some recent podcasts attacking the preterist position of eschatology, we want to address some of the fears and misinformation being disseminated.  Are problems with Preterism imaginery ideas born of fear and ignorance? Listening to some futurist eschatology podcasts and examining their writings one would think so. However, it’s always best to hear both sides of the story.

Preterism is now being defined and tagged as “extreme preterism” and “moderate preterism”,and even sometimes is styled “hyper preterism” versus “partial preterism.” There are other names but the purpose here is to present some distinction between the concepts above. By “extreme or hyper- preterism,” those who strongly disagree use inflammatory and (more…)

Posted in Preterism Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments »

Two Witnesses Prophesy – Do Hagee’s 10 Road Signs Countdown to Armageddon?

Posted by William Bell on August 25th, 2009

Bible pages

The Two Witnesses

So far, we have completed a survey of the first five of the alleged “signs of the times” to the terminal generation. Each of them were shown to be without Biblical basis. America and the world is being sold a bag of plug nickel’s for Bible prophecy. It is so serious that those who do advocate blowing entire countries off the map with nuclear weapons, all “in the name of the Lord!”

In today’s lesson, “Two Witnesses Prophesy – Do Hagee’s 10 Road Signs Countdown to Armageddon?, we examine number 6 of the alleged 10 Road Signs to End Times, and further answer the question, Are We the Terminal Generation?” In other words are we living in the last days of a generation about to see Christ return to this earth and set up camp in Jerusalem of Palestine? As bluntly as we can be, no.

Now those strongly disagree have probably already stopped reading, so if you’re still here, it means that you at least (more…)

Posted in Day of the Lord Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments »

End Times Road Signs: When Were the Times of the Gentiles Fulfilled?

Posted by William Bell on August 21st, 2009

London 2005 Roman Solder

Times of the Gentiles

It is stated by some that Jerusalem will not be under Gentile rule in the terminal generation, a situation which had existed from A.D. 70 allegedly until the Six Day War of 1967.  This is an argument assumed to be based on the text found in Luke 21:24.

The verse says “And they shall all fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations.And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Today we respond to the fifth of Hagee’s 10 signs that we are headed for Armageddon with “End Times Road Signs: When Were the Times of the Gentiles Fulfilled?”

John Hagee’s Book Beginning of the End, Are We the Terminal Generation, (BOE) says that Gentile rule continued until the Six Day War of 1967.  Following this statement, he adds that David predicted the Lord would rebuild Zion and appear in his glory there, (Psalms 102:6). His objective is to show that after Gentile rule has ended and Israel sets up their own sovereign state having banished the indigenous population and government of Palestine, that Christ will then return to Zion.

We addressed the issue of when Christ returns relative to the inheritance above. Here, we examine the text of Luke 21:24 and the (more…)

Posted in Featured Articles, Kingdom, Matthew 24, Premillennialism Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments »
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