Coming on the Clouds of Heaven
March 23rd, 2011 | Eschatology | 8 Comments
Is Christ Coming on the Clouds of Heaven?
The influence of Dispensationalism and Amillennialism have persuaded many that Jesus may at any moment be seen coming on the clouds of heaven. By this they mean that his return is near and that we will see him in the air riding upon literal clouds. But is this the manner in which the Bible uses the terms coming on the clouds of heaven? Should we look for a literal descent of the Lord in the skies?
Coming on the Clouds in Old Testament Literature
We must remember that the language of the Bible is set ...
Christian Prophecy
July 1st, 2010 | Christian Prophecy | 3 Comments
Christian Prophecy
Christian prophecy is a misnomer of sorts, a name used to describe prophecies of the Old Testament reiterated in the New. Yes, there are many claiming to have a prophetic gift today
complete with the ability to foretell the future. Yet, the future or prophecy in the New Testament was not far-sighted but near-sighted. In other words, all prophecy looked forward to that which was soon-to-come-to-pass. (Phi. 4:5; James 5:7-8, 1 Pet. 4:7, 17, Rev. 1:1-3). Shortly thereafter, (A.D. 70) the role of divinely inspired prophets ceased. There was no more forth-telling to do. What once was legitimate forth-telling became ...
Spiritual Gifts Discernment
May 18th, 2010 | Eschatology | 5 Comments
Spiritual Gifts Discernment
In Paul's list of spiritual gifts discernment of spirits is among those listed, (1 Cor. 12:10). What is this particular gift of the Spirit and how was it used? Clarke's commentary says it is a gift by which the person so privileged could discern a false miracle from a true one; or a pretender to inspiration from him who was made really partaker of the Holy Ghost. It probably extended also to the discernment of false professors from true ones, as appears in Peter in the case of Ananias and his wife. (Adam Clarke, First Corinthians, p. 259, ...
The Acceptable Year of the Lord
December 19th, 2009 | Dispensationalism | 4 Comments
The Acceptable Year of the Lord. A major failure of end times prophecy teaching is the inability to make the transition from national geo-centric Israel to spiritual Christo-centric Israel. It is the chief source from a biblical view for the support of Dispensational Zionism. Ultra-literalism describes their method of interpretation. Stephen Sizer points out that often when quoting texts, Dispensationalists supply their interpretation right in the text. (Zion's Christian Soldier's, p. 34)
For example, when Hal Lindsey writes of the holy place in Matthew 24:15, he adds the words . Yet, no where in verse 15 is there any indication ...
Did Christ Promise and Earthly Kingdom?
November 11th, 2009 | Kingdom | 4 Comments
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 ...