Y2k was nearly a decade ago. It's been 22 years since 1987, and 21 since 1988.
It's 2009.
So what's next?
Two millennia have passed since Christ was incarnated as a man on earth. When is He coming back?
I heard all of the scary sermons with the Y2k theory- all of 1999 pastors preached, every Sunday, about how "this could be the last year." And I was not yet potty trained in 87/88, but I've heard the stories.
Many of you know I'm reformed, and those that didn't just found out. My theological bent is no secret, just read the quotes section at the bottom of the page!
But most of us don't know what we believe about the end times, or last things- known to theologians as eschatology. Most people who grow up in church just adopt the views of their denomination or their family.
Those that take the time to study for themselves usually end up believing that there is no way to know, or at least that's the case with the people I know who have studied it for themselves, and essentially I end up there to some degree.
Professional theologians, the Ph.D. kind, usually end up with something other than dispensationalism. I'm on my way there, though still less than half way, and therefore ascribe primarily to partial-preterism. Most preterits are partial.
Anyway- I came across this fabulous article in some of my feeds: Eschatology 101: Repent! The End is (possibly) Near(er)!, and thought you guys might find it interesting!
It's a very concise and rather short overview of the primary eschatological views. It covers the broad spectrum in a very brief yet clear way. I highly recommend that all of you interested in eschatological studies read it.
While some of the views may seem absurd to you, due to your theological tradition, remember that they all have substantial biblical evidence, philosophi-logical stupport, and are held by large groups of Christians and various scholars today, and in centuries past.
Just because 80% of American "Christians" read and agree with Lahaye and Jenkin's rather poorly written series and find it intriguing enough, and better literature than most of the junk Christians write these days, doesn't make it true.
Sorry about the bash against Christian literature... But majority view has never meant right view. Israel at the edge of the Promised Land, Jesus and the Pharisees, the Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation.
Majorities in Christendom are often wrong, so seriously consider the possibility that your church, you, and your parents, could have believed wrongly about the prophecies of the Bible and God's plan for the future.
This discussion should be fun... Enjoy!
-R.T.
It's 2009.
So what's next?
Two millennia have passed since Christ was incarnated as a man on earth. When is He coming back?
I heard all of the scary sermons with the Y2k theory- all of 1999 pastors preached, every Sunday, about how "this could be the last year." And I was not yet potty trained in 87/88, but I've heard the stories.
Many of you know I'm reformed, and those that didn't just found out. My theological bent is no secret, just read the quotes section at the bottom of the page!
But most of us don't know what we believe about the end times, or last things- known to theologians as eschatology. Most people who grow up in church just adopt the views of their denomination or their family.
Those that take the time to study for themselves usually end up believing that there is no way to know, or at least that's the case with the people I know who have studied it for themselves, and essentially I end up there to some degree.
Professional theologians, the Ph.D. kind, usually end up with something other than dispensationalism. I'm on my way there, though still less than half way, and therefore ascribe primarily to partial-preterism. Most preterits are partial.
Anyway- I came across this fabulous article in some of my feeds: Eschatology 101: Repent! The End is (possibly) Near(er)!, and thought you guys might find it interesting!
It's a very concise and rather short overview of the primary eschatological views. It covers the broad spectrum in a very brief yet clear way. I highly recommend that all of you interested in eschatological studies read it.
While some of the views may seem absurd to you, due to your theological tradition, remember that they all have substantial biblical evidence, philosophi-logical stupport, and are held by large groups of Christians and various scholars today, and in centuries past.
Just because 80% of American "Christians" read and agree with Lahaye and Jenkin's rather poorly written series and find it intriguing enough, and better literature than most of the junk Christians write these days, doesn't make it true.
Sorry about the bash against Christian literature... But majority view has never meant right view. Israel at the edge of the Promised Land, Jesus and the Pharisees, the Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation.
Majorities in Christendom are often wrong, so seriously consider the possibility that your church, you, and your parents, could have believed wrongly about the prophecies of the Bible and God's plan for the future.
This discussion should be fun... Enjoy!
-R.T.
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