The General Conversation Section – If You Don’t Know Where to Say it, Say it Here!
This is the General Conversation Section.
If You Don’t Know Where to Say it, Say it Here!
Under this section you can discuss anything you want.
It can be a Q & A section or a ‘Have you heard’ section…
But please do try and stick to commenting under the relevant Article before commenting here.
Thanks Deborah, will do. Can a christian be friends with atheists? I have witnessed to this person, he refuses to even listen. He’s asking me if Jesus is really so full of love, why I can’t be friends with him just because he doesn’t believe in God. I can tell this is really bothering him. Can someone please point me in a direction here as far as scripture goes?
Dan
>> Can a christian be friends with atheists?
Yes most definitely if its not going to affect your faith i.e., it’s not going to cause you to stumble. You will find out soon enough if your friendship with this guy is worth it or not… If you find that his darkness is encroaching on your light, you will have to walk away. That statement of ‘if Jesus so really full of love….why can’t yoube friends with him’ sounds like Satan talking to me. Why is this guy even bothered with Jesus’ love if he is an atheist. If he seems REALLY bothered then test him out, see where this goes, but I have a feeling it’s not going to go where you want it to and you are going to come off second best. Just letting you know… BUT then maybe a miracle happens and he listens to what you have to say to him!
Thanks! That’s a big help.
Paul: you said: “Larking was a minister of Satan of the worst kind, masquerading as a minister of Christ.”
These are pretty serious charges to level at someone whose name you are spelling wrong. Have you read his book or are you going by hearsay?
Even if we disagree with some of his ideas, is the man’s gospel of Christ correct? This is the criteria by which he should be judged. Are his teachings leading away from the doctrines of Christ? Is he adding to the gospel of salvation?
There is much that we don’t know about what happened with the “sons of God” marrying the “daughters of men”. And today there is much being done behind closed doors in the area of biogenics and cloning from DNA “information” producing soulless, conscious-less, robotic-type individuals being passed off as humans. Another reason that judgment is near at hand. There are things we don’t know…for sure…and we should admit it. Facts are facts. Speculation is speculation on both sides of an argument.
But be careful when you slap a label on someone because he has a few different ideas (apart from salvation) than you do. We are not to judge by unknowns and irrational arguments producing fear mongering and false accusations.
If Larkin is a false teacher, produce logical, factual evidence, please.
Reply to Paul’s #240
Dan
This comes from someone who calls Dave Hunt a wolf. Dan, I hope you will consider the source.
Yes, Paul is correct that Larkin (not Larking) did subscribe to what is known as the “Gap Theory”. This has been a topic of discussion amongst Bible scholars for quite some time.
I do not believe that this is grounds to outright reject Larkin’s teachings on dispensational theology and label him “a minister of Satan”. Again, I ask you Paul: Do YOU have any blind spots?
You would have been correct to alert Dan about the “Gap Theory” but to pronounce judgment on Larkin based on this was arrogant on your part.
I recommend Larkin for his excellent teachings on dispensational truth and his eschalogical views. It is rare to find such solid teaching today except in those who have passed from the scene. I highly doubt that Dan or anyone else would be harmed by Larkin’s “Dispensational Truth”.
Those who condemn Larkin always return to the tired old argument of the Scofield/Darby influence. Another harsh critic of Larkin also puts H.A. Ironside in the same category and labels him as a false teacher, but manages to misspell his name repeatedly as “Ironsides”.
I have personally been edified by both Ironside and Larkin, but always with their commentaries in one hand and the Word of God as the supreme authority in the other. I have not detected any checking of the Holy Spirit as I have read their commentaries, only a confirmation. I would never say they are perfect because the only perfect tool we have is the Bible in a proper translation.
Paul, you are causing confusion and discord by your harsh and condemning comments about men of God who operated in the light they were given. I do not idolize them or venerate them – they would have rejected any attempts to do so and this is clearly reflected in their writings.
Dan:
From experience, I will tell you that you have a pretty good shot at expressing your views for the first couple of months, (I’m married to an unbeliever), but after that you will be shut down. You will put up (with accusations, abuse or malicious behaviour) or you will shut up.
Another possibility is that he will simply be a distraction, taking up your time and your interests away from what is important (God’s Word and friendship with other believers). In one case, for me, the friend listened with rapt attention to what I had to say and we made a pact not to judge or control one another. However, I noticed that in the end, we both came under the influence of a third party who WAS willing to judge and control.
Ezekiel 33:32
Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
Read the verse below VERY carefully and prayerfully, because it means what it says and says what it means. I have learned this truth the hard way. To be “associated with” is different than being “close buddies”. My advice…be friendly but keep your distance. Guard your heart. Don’t be won over by human arguments…because truth is not ambiguous. Someone will end up influencing the other…and historically, bad behaviour corrupts good behaviour. Leaven corrupts the whole batch. Just some thoughts…
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Paul, since I don’t want you to hate me, I want to soften my words to you. I realize that we all make mistakes. I made another one in my blog #244 to you when using the word “conscious-less” when I meant “conscience-less”. And because I make so many mistakes I am “pride-less”.
I was just remembering that after leaving the Charismatic camp, I took up some of the angry, reactionary, accusatory words of those who seemed to be knowledgable in the discernment world. Now I understand that they were not. They were just venting their own propaganda.
I did google Clarence Larkin and he sounds pretty orthodox. He died in 1924, so he is not available for comment and unable to defend the criticisms levelled against him, but his legacy is there for all to see.
As you shared earlier, you were mixed up in a cult for a few years and are getting back into the more fundamental Christian blogosphere. How easy it is, when starting out in the discernment world, to take information at face value without checking out the facts for ourselves and to take up the taunts of controversial, argumentative people. We are learning to discern in love.
I want first to apologize to all those I have hurt by my comment about Larkin, and withdraw those comments. I was too offended and horrified by what I read in Dispensational Truth ).
The thing is, I have become so allergic to false teaching, that I can be too quick to label someone a false teacher.
Sure I have many blind spots. I am the chief of sinners. I sin daily. I am a hell deserving sinner, save the Grace of God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ His Son.
I would agree with Redeemed that he operated in the light he was given.
My point about doctrine is this: If someone does not know, let him keep quiet and search the Scriptures. But what we see often is people put forward their “vain imaginations” and present them as doctrinal truths. That has been my observation. I believe that we have to make due diligence to make our doctrine 100% correct, be quick to correct ourselves when we find out or someone shows us our error. We better let the Bible speak for itself to everyone who is born of God and indwelt with the Holy Spirit of Truth. That is why I consider Study Bibles an abomination (ie Bibles filled with men’s thoughts ,ideas, interpretations). I have nothing against good commentaries provided they are not mingled with Scripture.
And the following verse is a very important verse in Scripture.
Deut 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
God has not revealed everything to mankind in Scripture (of course there are no more new revelations today, apart from Scripture). God has not revealed to us when He created the spirits world (angels, heavenly hosts) because we do not need them to “do all the words of this law”. The secret things must remain to the Lord alone, and those that are revealed to us. Larkin went too far in his “vain imaginations” into the secret things of God.
I think he landed in a territory where he will find common ground with those who believe in reincarnation or evolution or Aliens or calvinism for example. You just need to take some of his doctrines and just think a little bit about their potential necessary implications.
Carolyn, if Satan had the power to create, he would fill this world with his creation in a split second. In the same manner, if Satan had the power to kill the lost (who are under his dominion), he would sweep them into hell in a split second.
Do you believe Genesis 1? I know you do. See all the “after his kind”. Today science is trying to cause us to doubt God. I would say “let God be true and every man a liar”
God help us.
Thanks “Redeemed”, that is good and sound advice. I have decided to get a more solid foundation in the bible, before reading other material. @ Carolyn: (“associated with” is different than being “close buddies”. My advice…be friendly but keep your distance. Guard your heart. Don’t be won over by human arguments…) Thank you, this rings very true. This was my original thought thought and now you have confirmed it.
Another question here I hope someone can help me clear up please. In (Joh 14:3)Jesus says He will go and prepare a place for us and then come back to get us so that we can be with Him. But He is coming back to establish His kingdom on earth? What is this refering to then?
Carolyn said:
“There is much that we don’t know about what happened with the “sons of God” marrying the “daughters of men”.”
Debs has a good article here about that topic. Also, reread my comment 240 above.
Simply put, these “Sons of God” where fallen descendants of Adam (like you and me), who needed salvation by grace alone through faith alone in the Promised Seed of the woman (Jesus Christ).
For them too, the Lord was “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
For them too “God so loved [them], that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever [they included, all human beings created by God] believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Do you see how Larkin’s doctrine will lean towards calvinism? “His” incarnated demons would of necessity have been predestined for the lake of fire…
I have a question. On the day of the Rapture, the dead in Christ will arise and together with the bride – will depart for heaven. But with the Second Coming, ALL these people will return WITH Christ to live in His new Kingdom on earth? Is that correct? If so that means that all those verses in the Bible about Him “preparing a feast in heaven”, is refering to what we’ll be doing during the period AFTER the Rapture and BEFORE the Return to earth. Am I way off here? This also means that “going to heaven when you die” – is a myth. Because the scriptures clearly say “on that day the dead shall arise”?
Paul…there are two sides to this argument. Who were the Sons of God? Were they angels transforming themselves into men? Why is there an obvious distinction made between the “Sons of GOD” and the “daughters of MEN”? What does it mean: they left their first estate?
Jude 1:6
And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
I think we can discuss these things but what we should NOT do, is to discount the thoughts of other Christians on the basis of our own bias. I have a bias toward thinking that the angels actually mated with humans. I will not be shaken from my point of view by use of sarcasm. I am not closed to other points of view. For me it is information resides in the circle of speculation. We are not seeing everything clearly. So it’s not that important for me to “win the argument”. I see a little at a time.
Can we explain the UFO phenomenon? I believe they are demons masquerading as angels of light. What are they up to? Don’t know for sure. Can we explain the rise in occult phenomenon? No…but we can see it. We can observe that it happening. And biblically, it is related to the rise of evil in the last days.
From my perspective, I see what’s going on today and the battle in the spiritual world is increasingly fierce. It revolves around Israel (God’s land which has become a cup of trembling to the whole world) and the rebirth of that tiny nation. I am watching with rapt attention. I can’t comprehend it yet, but I can predict the final outcome because the Bible tells us in no uncertain terms. Hallelujah!
Dan, to me, figuring out the whole end times scenario is like a puzzle. First you find all the edge pieces and then you start filling in the story. Sometimes, you get a piece in the wrong place. It seemed to fit but then you find out it wasn’t quite right. As time goes on, more and more of the pieces fit and as the picture begins to come together, the excitement builds. 30 years ago, it was hard to know where to start…now we’re flying.
Yes, Christ went to prepare a place for us. That’s a certainty.
Being caught up to meet him in the air, a certainty.
Marriage supper of the lamb…a certainty.
Coming back with Christ ….a certainty.
Your question: “Going to heaven when you die is a myth? First…answer me these questions:
What does it mean to absent from the body and present with the Lord?
How can God be in the past, present and future all at the same time?
What is eternity outside of time?
Is time simply “a measurement of change”?
See how complicated it gets? What we need to deal with are certainties first…and then the unknowns will fall into place.
Dan wrote:
Dan, as I understand it you have it right. You ask good questions! I am not a Bible scholar by any definition, but will attempt to answer. Others may have better explanations.
When someone dies their spirits are taken to be with the Lord but their physical bodies are still in the grave. The living Church will be raptured and given new glorified bodies instantly. The dead in Christ will be resurrected first and given new bodies. Their spirits are in heaven.
The tribulation saints, those who are martyred for their faith during the Great Tribulation will receive their glorified bodies later.
The Apostle Paul speaks of visiting the throne of God in 2 Corinthians Chapter 12. Also check out Philippians 1:23 where he reaffirms his greater desire to depart from his earthly life and be with Christ. That would not indicate that he would be asleep in the grave.
There is a false teaching of “soul sleep” in cults such as 7th Day Adventism.
One can speculate as to how those who have passed on now appear in heaven. That is a mystery, but the Bible often speaks of robes of righteousness. I prefer to think that the departed saints are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. What that looks like is empty speculation, but I trust that the Lord has them “covered”. LOL
I have a question on 1 cor 13:10. The perfect the verse refers to, my understanding of this verse is that the perfect is the New Testamen, the Bible. I am correct in my understanding of this.
Now verse 12 states “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Some bible commentries suggest that verse 12 makes it unlikely that the perfect is the Bible. Does the perfect mean an imperfect age, and that the perfect will only happen at the Second coming of Christ?
If we look at Eph 4:11-13 “11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”
The apostals, prophets, evangelists etc. were given to build the body of Christ to maturity. Does the maturity in eph 4:13 refer to the perfect in 1 cor 13:10. And does this maturity of the body of Christ also refer to 1 cor 13:12?
In light of this verses, is the perfect the Bible, or the second coming of Christ? Is eph 4:13 also a reference to completion of the new testament, or the second coming of Christ?
There seems to be different opinions around these verses. Your input will be highly appreciated.
Deborah,
I think it good that Paul has retracted his language regarding Clarence Larkin.
Indeed it was very, very strong! However, I can see where he was coming from, somewhat.
Larkin, I understand, made a good living, selling many books and his celebrated ‘Prophetic Charts’.
There seem to many self styled ‘Biblicists’ around who are quick to criticise others who hold to a different understanding of Scripture, and dare not question their own belief system.
We need not add to the division that already exists in the body of Christ.
Dispensationalism, from my understanding (and many, many others),is a man made system of theology, and many errant doctrines flow from it.
Not least soteriology.
A contributor of yours, Carolyn, touched on this very subject in comment 244.
She quotes; ‘Is he adding to the gospel of salvation?’ To which my answer is a resounding ‘YES’.
It is NOT just Larkin, it is Dispensationlism as a whole. It teaches two ways of salvation.
Dispensationalism separates the Church from Israel, law from grace, and part of it’s core theology is that the Old Testament Saints are not saved by the blood of Jesus, but by the blood of bulls and goats.
The Old Testament Saints will be among those who will rise first in 1 Thessalonians 4.16…
Carolyn
Please read http://www.discerningtheworld.com/2013/01/04/jacob-prasch-chuck-missler-preach-the-false-teaching-of-demonic-nephilim-returning-in-end-times/ it explains everything. There IS a correct Biblical explanation for the Nephilim and UFO’s etc etc etc.
Dan
>> I have a question. On the day of the Rapture, the dead in Christ will arise and together with the bride – will depart for heaven. But with the Second Coming, ALL these people will return WITH Christ to live in His new Kingdom on earth? Is that correct? If so that means that all those verses in the Bible about Him “preparing a feast in heaven”, is refering to what we’ll be doing during the period AFTER the Rapture and BEFORE the Return to earth. Am I way off here? This also means that “going to heaven when you die” – is a myth. Because the scriptures clearly say “on that day the dead shall arise”?
It’s not complicated as Carolyn would like to think. The Bible EXPLAINS EVERYTHING. You are correct in your thinking regarding the rapture and the marriage supper etc etc. Now…
Colin
I say this again, YOU in your own mind THINK that dispensationalism teaches two ways of salvation. BUT IT DOES NOT. You do not understand what you are talking about. John already EXPLAINED to you that what you are talking is a load of rubbish, but yet you keep insisting on spewing your lies. You say, “Dispensationalism separates the Church from Israel, law from grace, and part of it’s core theology is that the Old Testament Saints are not saved by the blood of Jesus, but by the blood of bulls and goats.” RUBBISH! But you REFUSE TO LISTEN TO TRUTH. Now mention this again on this blog and I will ban you from commenting here again. You are like a little ‘false teacher’ on this blog – I’ve kept you here because I thought you would pay attention to BIBLICAL REASON but I see you are as blind as a bat.
Colin Ford wrote:
Colin, regarding Larkin, as far as I can see, he taught salvation by grace and faith correctly and did NOT preach a false gospel. I am sorry, but you are confused. Also, Larkin was not a man who served the Lord for personal gain. He was a pastor for many years but then dedicated himself fulltime to his written works and diagrams so he could keep up with the demand. He was not out hawking his wares – God stirred hearts and they were hungry for the truth. God gave him an uncanny ability to make illustrations and it was quite laborious as they were so detailed and reguired much care and study.
The OT saints were saved by FAITH, that was the continuous thread throughout all the dispensations. The blood sacrifices were always to point toward the Lamb of God Who was sacrificed. Also, the OT saints were awaiting the Savior in the “bosom of Abraham” until He came for them after His crucifixion. They are now with Him in heaven.
Colin, you just do not understand the true meaning of biblical dispensationalism and sadly, you seem to be confused about many things. If you could look past all the negative rhetoric, you would find the truth. I pray that you can and will.
Debs:
*crest fallen*
I don’t mean to say it’s complicated…just that we complicate it by getting ahead of ourselves with our questions. When you start out in eschatology (the study of end times) you want to see the whole picture in the first sitting. God doesn’t work with us that way…he puts the picture together in a “faith” building way. It’s not just information. End times prophetic teaching is about God’s plans and purposes for mankind.
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who’s always been so helpful on this blog. I’m so thankful to the Lord for that. When I first started reading my bible, I read through the New Testament like a book. It was very interesting and I kept going. Now, the Word has come alive and it is impossible to put my bible down. Here’s another question I hope someone can help to answer please. When the Anti Christ arrives, will the Jews accept him as the Messiah? Is there scripture to support if so?
Dan
Jews await a Messiah, but they are not looking for Jesus Christ, so the man to come and fulfill these prophecies for them, to us is the Anti-Christ – and they will accept him.
———-
Judaism teaches that the messiah will fulfill the following prophecies:
* The Sanhedrin will be re-established (Isaiah 1:26)
* Once he is King, leaders of other nations will look to him for guidance. (Isaiah 2:4)
* The whole world will worship the One God of Israel (Isaiah 2:17)
* He will be descended from King David (Isaiah 11:1) via King Solomon (1 Chron. 22:8-10)
* The Moshiach will be a man of this world, an observant Jew with “fear of God” (Isaiah 11:2)
* Evil and tyranny will not be able to stand before his leadership (Isaiah 11:4)
* Knowledge of God will fill the world (Isaiah 11:9)
* He will include and attract people from all cultures and nations (Isaiah 11:10)
* All Israelites will be returned to their homeland (Isaiah 11:12)
* Death will be swallowed up forever (Isaiah 25:8)
* There will be no more hunger or illness, and death will cease (Isaiah 25:8)
* All of the dead will rise again (Isaiah 26:19)
* The Jewish people will experience eternal joy and gladness (Isaiah 51:11)
* He will be a messenger of peace (Isaiah 52:7)
* Nations will end up recognizing the wrongs they did to Israel (Isaiah 52:13-53:5)
* The peoples of the world will turn to the Jews for spiritual guidance (Zechariah 8:23)
* The ruined cities of Israel will be restored (Ezekiel 16:55)
* Weapons of war will be destroyed (Ezekiel 39:9)
* The Temple will be rebuilt (Ezekiel 40) resuming many of the suspended mitzvot
* He will then perfect the entire world to serve God together (Zephaniah 3:9)
* Jews will know the Torah without Study (Jeremiah 31:33)
* He will give you all the desires of your heart (Psalms 37:4)
* He will take the barren land and make it abundant and fruitful (Isaiah 51:3, Amos 9:13-15, Ezekiel 36:29-30, Isaiah 11:6-9)
—————
Will the anti-Christ be a Jew or not, that I can not answer… he might very well be a fake Jew, someone with a fake Jewish lineage: John 5:43 and Jesus said, “I have come in my Father’s name and you have received me not. If another shall come in his own name, him will you receive. ”
Anti-Christ will confirm a 7 year peace treaty (Start of Tribulation) and in the middle of the week (3.5 years) he will stand in temple and declare himself to be God: Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
When the anti-Christ enters the temple and declares himself to be God, Judeans must flee to the mountains: Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains
I know a lot of people who used to go to church but couldn’t find God there. Too many false teachings, dead religious customs etc. We all know the drill. Some of these people have turned to Darwinism for answers, others just gave up searching all together. I don’t know if this is way off or not. Please help me if I am. Jesus was not crucified by unbelievers, He was crucified by the church leaders (Matt 20:18) In an effort to witness to these people, is it unbiblical to say that God exists outside of organised religion? “Organized religion” in the sense of dead, man – made systems.
Dan, re comment #265: consider these verses:
Acts 7:48
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,
Acts 17:24
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
The Church is not a building. We sometimes meet in buildings. But the Church is Christ’s body, made up of individuals who believe God’s Word. In Acts, they met in homes, on river banks or wherever they could to strengthen each other’s faith, to sing hymns or study Scripture. Today we meet on the internet as well.
The fact that people are not finding God in organized religious institutions should tell us the truth about it. He is not to be found there. He is found in a personal relationship as you read the Word…just what you are doing. The fact that you can’t stop reading the Word proves that you have a living faith that needs spiritual food. Read, my friend. Read for your life!
Become convinced of what you believe first. Then you will witness naturally.
re comments 256 and 260
Hi Colin
I would like to give a more simplified version of dispensationalism (as I understand it) bringing clarity to the subject.
(Debs would you please also use this as a separate article because so many people get us completely wrong.
Simplified Explanation of Dispensationalism
A dispensation is a specific period of time different from other periods of time. It also could be described as various stages of history, in God’s dealings with mankind.
For example, No-one can deny that there was a period of time BEFORE Christ and a period of time AFTER Christ. Therefore, that gives us at least 2 dispensations of time. Was the time before Christ the same or different from how things were afterwards? No-one can deny that there was a difference SURELY?
It is just a question of describing what the differences were and to what extent. This at its basics is the thinking behind dispensational doctrine. The extent of these differences is debatable. Those who recognise these dispensations have wide and various views on these things. You cannot label us or put us in specific boxes because we all are dedicated to the theology of the BIBLE alone and therefore may interpret slightly differently, but we all recognise TRUTHFULLY that there ARE different stages in God’s dealings with mankind.
I will now look beyond those 2 main dispensations, to break them into other stages.
Can anyone deny that there was a period of time BEFORE the Law of Moses was introduced? Or can it be denied that there was a period of time before sin entered the world? (albeit very brief period of time). Can anyone deny that there was a period of time After the final OT book was written and the beginning of the NT times (approx. 400 years)? What about the VERY UNIQUE period of time period of time when Jesus lived on Earth and especially the period of 3.5 (or so) years of ministry? Then what about the period of time from the destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70) until now? Then what about the dark ages of the Catholic reign of terror? What about the period of time since the reformation? There are many more and they ALL have differences.
These are all separate periods of time in which God was at work in different ways and through different stages. All of these stages can be joined together into ONE overall eternal plan of redemption for mankind (past, present, future).
If you do not believe that God works in different ways, consider this text from Hebrews 1:1-2
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;”
There you have it! “in time past”, “in these last days”. Here is mentioned 2 dispensations and He spoke in “divers manners” ie in different ways!!!
Colin, do not discard dispensational doctrine JUST BECAUSE IT SEEMS irrational to you. The FACT IS the bible tells us that there were different stages in God’s whole plan of redemption and it is blatantly clear (anyway) when we look throughout history.
He planned according to His foreknowledge of how man would respond throughout history based upon the freewill He gave them. The WHOLE plan was fulfilled (for ALL time (past, present, future) through Jesus, but until that perfect time of sacrifice everything else revolved around that once (and for all time) sacrifice. It STILL revolves around it. The dispensations simply show us the different stages or ways that God led mankind to that perfect time in history.
It required and has always required faith, but for a period of time God gave the Law for the purpose of revealing how sinful man is and why he/she needs salvation. Jesus came to save us and NOW we are in a period of time spreading the good news and waiting for the Return.
When we look at (and honestly admit that there is) so many different stages (periods of time) throughout the Bible years, why should it be so difficult to understand that there can be more periods to come, such as a rapture and the post church Tribulation age, followed by the Millennium reign of Christ?
Dan, i think there s a lot of these churches where you would not find God but you will find a lot of money there.
I was on dream week one s and the pastor told the people they must tithe that every one can drive merc s not only the pastors. They dont tell you it works the other way around. Like dont tithe and you drive merc and pastor not.
It s all about the MONEY, i think if you take away the money you going to take a lot of these churches away.
Thank you for the clear explanation Deborah.
Hey Dan.
I know exactly how you feel/think. I found when one leaves a “dead” church one seems to grow faster spiritually. Most claim to be raising the dead while they can’t even stir the living?
I am not saying all churches are dead. What I do know is that God does not reside in man-made buildings.
The yes… I heard nasty things about the last days spirits of religion.