Ed Walsh
Puritan Board Senior
A preface which must be read.
In a sentence - My purpose was an attempted reductio ad absurdum to challenge people to expect great things yet from Jesus our King of Glory. For with God, all things are possible. But, to my horror, one godly man wrote the following to me in a private correspondence:
This criticism is the exact opposite of what my intentions where. I have the highest regard for the Word of God, which is pure and trustworthy - though all men are liars, God is true. I think all will agree that the Kingdom on Earth has progressed since Jesus' appearance to "above five hundred brethren at once," ( 1 Cor. 15:6) and today where there are around two billion who profess Christ. Why do some say it's all downhill from here? How do you know but in the secret mind of God that there aren't yet ten thousand years, or even longer for further development of the Kingdom? Please read what I wrote below in the spirit of what I am saying in this preface, knowing that I believe with all my heart that "all things are possible with God." Is not God "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us?" (Eph 3:20)
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Greetings Pilgrims,
Some food for thought about the future.
To the two mournful doubting disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus, after hearing their story gave them this rebuke and further teaching:
Over ten times in the New Testament, Christ is called the savior of the world. (or equivalent) - John 1:9; John 1:29; John 3:16,17; John 4:14; John 4:42; John 6:33; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:47; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:19
Hyperbole or prophecy?
Three times in John Jesus prayed that his disciples and those that would believe in Him because of their word would become one just like the father is one with the Son. (John 17:11, 21,23) He added (v 21) that this oneness would be visible and powerful enough to convince the God-hating world that God sent his Son into the world. Verse 23 shows that this includes an outwardly visible oneness of God's people that has a future fulfillment that will convince the world that God sent his Son Jesus and the disciples are beloved of God even as God loves his Son. "that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." (John 17:23 ESV)
More hyperbole or prophecy? Or is it as yet unanswered prayer?
Revelation 20:1-3 (ESV)
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while.
Hyperbole or prophecy?"
Ministers and commentators have often told me that we are living in the day of this binding of Satan. And as Spurgeon and others have said: "the devil is bound but with a long chain." And I am sure I will be told again today that we are now living in that "golden age."
Of what I said above, this is the sum.
If Jesus is said to be the savior of the whole world, and if the devil is said to be bound in such a way that the nations of the world can no longer be deceived, then it seems to me that the Bible and its author God is given to wild exaggeration. I ask you, which of all the nations in the world appear to you as being undeceived?
Some questions.
If the thrice repeated prayer for oneness among Christians is a fact in the present day, then why isn't the world more impressed with that oneness? Are a thousand denominations and sects of Christianity in any way a display of that oneness? Again, it seems that God is given to using hyperbole and exaggeration to an extent that would not be acceptable in any other circle. To believe that the Christians in the world have been united as one in Christ today would be like saying the current Republicans and Democrats in the United States are of one mind and one spirit seeking the same goals and purposes and making that clear to all who will observe.
If the oneness of Christians and the binding of Satan at this present time are as good as it gets then, I wonder what else God is exaggerating? I mean, is heaven really as good as the Bible makes it out to be? Is God really all-powerful? Is He as glorious as the Bible characterizes Him? Is the Great Commission really all that great after all? One has to wonder where the hyperbole ends and where reality begins.
Note.
I avoided quoting from the scores of prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of a yet future latter rain expansion of the Kingdon on Earth because I have been criticized before for misinterpreting them and thinking that they have anything literal to do with the future of Christianity in time and on Earth. Hyperbole! I guess I'm a fool, after all, for believing all that the prophets have spoken.
Perhaps it is time to take a lesson from the two on the road to Emmaus. You might also want to reread about God's opinion of the 10 spies who brought an evil report. (Numbers 14)
Reactions?
In a sentence - My purpose was an attempted reductio ad absurdum to challenge people to expect great things yet from Jesus our King of Glory. For with God, all things are possible. But, to my horror, one godly man wrote the following to me in a private correspondence:
"this sounds deeply cynical and sarcastic regarding the character of God, and trustworthiness of His word! Perhaps you are simply referring to the misinterpretation of those who deny hyperbole in the Bible (and there are instances of such, but not in the examples you gave), but what it comes across as is disrespect along with doubt as to the goodness and trustworthiness of His character and word."
This criticism is the exact opposite of what my intentions where. I have the highest regard for the Word of God, which is pure and trustworthy - though all men are liars, God is true. I think all will agree that the Kingdom on Earth has progressed since Jesus' appearance to "above five hundred brethren at once," ( 1 Cor. 15:6) and today where there are around two billion who profess Christ. Why do some say it's all downhill from here? How do you know but in the secret mind of God that there aren't yet ten thousand years, or even longer for further development of the Kingdom? Please read what I wrote below in the spirit of what I am saying in this preface, knowing that I believe with all my heart that "all things are possible with God." Is not God "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us?" (Eph 3:20)
Matthew 28:18-20
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.
All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.
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Greetings Pilgrims,
Some food for thought about the future.
To the two mournful doubting disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus, after hearing their story gave them this rebuke and further teaching:
Luke 24:25-27 (ESV)
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Over ten times in the New Testament, Christ is called the savior of the world. (or equivalent) - John 1:9; John 1:29; John 3:16,17; John 4:14; John 4:42; John 6:33; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:47; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 2:2; 2 Corinthians 5:19
Hyperbole or prophecy?
Three times in John Jesus prayed that his disciples and those that would believe in Him because of their word would become one just like the father is one with the Son. (John 17:11, 21,23) He added (v 21) that this oneness would be visible and powerful enough to convince the God-hating world that God sent his Son into the world. Verse 23 shows that this includes an outwardly visible oneness of God's people that has a future fulfillment that will convince the world that God sent his Son Jesus and the disciples are beloved of God even as God loves his Son. "that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me." (John 17:23 ESV)
More hyperbole or prophecy? Or is it as yet unanswered prayer?
Revelation 20:1-3 (ESV)
"Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while.
Hyperbole or prophecy?"
Ministers and commentators have often told me that we are living in the day of this binding of Satan. And as Spurgeon and others have said: "the devil is bound but with a long chain." And I am sure I will be told again today that we are now living in that "golden age."
Of what I said above, this is the sum.
If Jesus is said to be the savior of the whole world, and if the devil is said to be bound in such a way that the nations of the world can no longer be deceived, then it seems to me that the Bible and its author God is given to wild exaggeration. I ask you, which of all the nations in the world appear to you as being undeceived?
Some questions.
If the thrice repeated prayer for oneness among Christians is a fact in the present day, then why isn't the world more impressed with that oneness? Are a thousand denominations and sects of Christianity in any way a display of that oneness? Again, it seems that God is given to using hyperbole and exaggeration to an extent that would not be acceptable in any other circle. To believe that the Christians in the world have been united as one in Christ today would be like saying the current Republicans and Democrats in the United States are of one mind and one spirit seeking the same goals and purposes and making that clear to all who will observe.
If the oneness of Christians and the binding of Satan at this present time are as good as it gets then, I wonder what else God is exaggerating? I mean, is heaven really as good as the Bible makes it out to be? Is God really all-powerful? Is He as glorious as the Bible characterizes Him? Is the Great Commission really all that great after all? One has to wonder where the hyperbole ends and where reality begins.
Note.
I avoided quoting from the scores of prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of a yet future latter rain expansion of the Kingdon on Earth because I have been criticized before for misinterpreting them and thinking that they have anything literal to do with the future of Christianity in time and on Earth. Hyperbole! I guess I'm a fool, after all, for believing all that the prophets have spoken.
Perhaps it is time to take a lesson from the two on the road to Emmaus. You might also want to reread about God's opinion of the 10 spies who brought an evil report. (Numbers 14)
Reactions?
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