What difference?

Francis Gummerlock, in his book “The Day And The Hour”, lists over six-hundred times since the first century when Christians were sure Jesus was about to return. At times, it seems like there have been that many predictions just in my lifetime. The one thing all these predictions have in common is they proved to be false. If you want to know how to identify false prophets, the biblical test is whether or not their predictions come to pass. To their relief, we live beyond the time when false prophets were to be put to death; there would be a lot fewer prominent televangelists if the death penalty for prophesying falsely remained.

One doesn’t have to spend much time watching the TV prophets to realize they don’t even agree among themselves. Such was not the case with biblical prophets! Why do Christians put up with such nonsense? In part, most never learned how to study the scripture for themselves, so they rely on what they hear from others, especially if large numbers seem to be promoting a particular view.

Nevertheless, if one attempts to engage others with differing views of the last days, it isn’t long until one or the other concludes, “It really doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you know Jesus.” I’ve mentioned the problem of reducing the gospel to personal salvation elsewhere, but just stop for a moment and think about what such a statement really says.

Done thinking about it? What would compel anyone to say that it really doesn’t matter what you believe about any biblical doctrine?! (I wish there was an “excla-question” mark). What THINKING person would be so careless as to say it isn’t important to properly understand God’s revelation to us?

Not surprisingly, when I’ve attempted to share what I believe with others, all too often the response is “What difference does it make?” I do give others the benefit if the doubt they are not saying it doesn’t matter; they just don’t think they would be living any differently if a fulfilled view is correct. I get that. Paul told his readers they should be living kingdom life even though the kingdom had not yet been consummated. He wanted to present them as “a chaste bride”. Nevertheless, it does matter whether we see the sun setting or the sun rising.

Think for a moment about your mindset at the beginning and the end of the day. Is there any difference? Indeed! Biblically, prior to the birth of Jesus, the world was in darkness. The Light of Bethlehem had covered the world by the time the New Testament was written.Consequently, Paul could faithfully write, “The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” (Rom. 13:12) The eternal day broke on the horizon in the events of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. They were to live as though they were living in the day, but we ARE living in the day. Does this make a difference? You bet!

A proper understanding of eschatology is important because so much of the scripture deals with this topic. R. C. Sproul, in “The Last Days According to Jesus,” says “It has been said that no less than two-thirds of the content of the New Testament is concerned directly or indirectly with eschatology.” This means if your view of eschatology is wrong you cannot properly understand most of the New Testament! Others suggest that as much as thirty-five percent of the Bible as a whole is related to this subject. Diligent study of scripture is impossible without diligent study of the biblical last days.

Understanding biblical eschatology is important because what we believe shapes our worldview. As we noted above, it makes a huge difference whether one sees prophecy as fulfilled, or yet to be fulfilled. For example, our understanding plays a huge role in how we view the modern state of Israel. If it is “the chosen people,” as many futurists teach, then two-thirds are doomed to die prior to the so called “final coming” of Christ. This is good news??? Preterists (i.e. those who believe prophecy has been fulfilled), agree with Jewish rabbis that biblical Judaism ended in A.D. 70.* The curse fell on that generation as Jesus proclaimed it would (Matt. 23:36), and the gates of the city are open to all who will enter, including Jews living today who acknowledge Jesus as LORD and KING. Contrary to what John Hagee and others say, Jew do not have a different way to the kingdom of God.

Because of the errant ideas of Christians United For Israel (CUFI) and other organizations, many have been duped into believing  we must support the Zionist state. How sad it is that they don’t know (or won’t acknowledge) other Jews who abhor the Zionist state, and who give aid and comfort to Palestinians (see www.nkusa.org). This is a bit of a rabbit trail, but so important to understand.

Continuing with the answer to the title question; a proper understanding of the timing of Jesus’ Parousia is important because it is directly tied to other important events which cannot be divorced from one another: namely, the resurrection, judgment, and the consummation of the kingdom (2 Tim. 4:1).  These are broad headings which I hope to develop in more detail in future postings. I was certainly raised to believe all these things were to happen in the same time period. However, others start back-pedaling when they see the consequences of fulfilled eschatology.

To be sure, there is in the scripture a sense of what is called the “already but not yet.” This is exactly what we would expect to see in writings prior to the consummation. However, just because things were future to the original audience, in no way implies they are future to anyone living after that terminal generation. They were told what they would see, and they saw it. We’ll get to that elsewhere, but realize they experienced what they were told to expect and they fled the city, just as they were instructed to do.

If we see biblical prophecy as yet unfulfilled, we challenge the truthfulness of Christ and His disciples. They all proclaimed these events would transpire in their generation. To insist they said no such thing one must insist that words can mean anything the reader wants them to mean. To deny fulfillment in that first century generation is tantamount to calling Jesus and His disciples liars, or deceivers, or worse. Bible scholars largely agree the text teaches fulfillment in that first century generation. However, their presuppositions (based on entrenched tradition) compel them to do verbal gymnastics to avoid what is otherwise obvious in the text. In short, they generally say Jesus was unable to do what He came to do because of the unbelief of the people. How sad! When did the unbelief of the people ever keep Yahweh from doing what He said He would do?

Of tremendous importance is the fact that salvation is tied to the fulfillment of prophecy. Christ was to appear “a second time unto salvation” in fulfillment of the type found in the High Priest’s service on the Day of Atonement. The people waited with bated breath for him to come out of the Temple a second time to announce their salvation. If Jesus has not appeared a second time unto salvation, our salvation is yet in question.

Further, failure to study eschatology forces the individual to accept one position or another as a matter of tradition, instead of studied doctrine. When we place our trust in traditions we embark on a perilous path. Traditions are not to be treated lightly because they frequently have a basis in truth. Nonetheless, it is imperative for us to exercise individual diligence to avoid allowing tradition to be seen and practiced as truth.

As believers, we have a duty to join one another in the pursuit of and obedience to God’s truth. Disregarding or minimizing any part of it is, quite simply, poor stewardship (at best). Someone has to be wrong, which is to say bluntly, someone is teaching error. If one view is correct, all others are wrong. This is inescapable. If I’m wrong, I want to know, and I will be most grateful to those who help me revise and correct my understanding. We are ALL wrong about some things, and the admonition of scripture is for us to love one another and forebear one another while we all seek a clearer understanding. This is what biblical fellowship is all about.

Sadly, my experience has been that most Christians are willing to accept a situation where some or all of us not only maintain, but also teach error while we look the other way. This is unacceptable. While it is true scholars have debated such issues for generations on end, this in no way excuses us from diligent personal study. Yet, it is the rare individual who will take the time to seriously investigate things with which they disagree.

I pray this will not be the attitude of those reading these thoughts.