Oh man... I am sort of floored right now in my mind and spirit, and a little angry at all the twisted Bible teaching that I (and so many others) grew up with on the subject of eschatology.
How do you help someone to completely rethink their paradigm (their pre-existing set of beliefs and opinions) on a certain topic that they have been taugh fallacy on since they were very young? How do you help a person completely re-examine their entire belief system on a certain subject -- especially on a subject as full of confusion and fear (paralyzing fear) as this one? How do you help a person to take a huge mountain in their head, break it down piece by piece, rock by rock, and realize that the many pieces which constituted the mountain do not form a mountain - but actually something completely different? Where do you start? How can you help them see the need for a complete re-examination and then be willing to go through the process of re-discovery and re-learning?
Well, I do not doubt, as in anything truly important in this journey of life with God, it must be a God thing. It must be the Lord who initiates the questioning process which eventually leads to a complete re-examination of certain truths. Unless God is in it, trying to help a person see truth on a subject that has been as twisted as this one over the years, is like running into a brick wall.
Well I would like to encourage anyone being led to question their traditional thinking and belief system on the topic of eschatology that the process is worth it. It is so worth it. Imagine not experiencing fear and timidity surrounding the future because you understand the hope that God has given to all those who are in Him, and what He has truly revealed to our forefathers about our future. Picture reading the Bible - especially books like Daniel and Revelation and passages like Jesus' Olivet discourse - and fully understanding what you are reading, and being sincerely and deeply edified by it. Consider having so much more confidence in God, in His inspired writings, and in the apostolic fathers, because for the first time what were fuzzy and twisted sayings and teachings are now clear - and further prove that Him and everything about Him is true and living. This is the glorious result of coming in contact with Truth - and remaining in it.
On a topic as expansive as Bible eschatology, which includes verses and passages from nearly every book of the Bible, the task of rediscovery can seem daunting. Where do you start? Where do you go from there? How do you tell fact from fiction, truth from tradition? Well, on every journey, we start with Jesus. And we end with him too. He IS the truth, and He sent His Spirit to lead and guide us into ALL truth. The best posture before the word of God is one of complete humility and discipleship. Lord, teach me -- re-teach me on this subject. Show me what is true and what is not. Show me where to start and be my guide and my teacher. Protect me from every lie and deception of the enemy. Grant me understanding on this topic.
Let me next say that the right key opens the most frustrating lock with ease. The wrong key will not open the door no matter how hard you try. For many, searching for truth on this subject has been like systematically trying every key on the keychain to try and open that door (and for most, the right key has never been on the keychain at all - they've had to go searching for a new set of keys!). The fact is, when you find the right key to understanding this subject - the right paradigm through which to view this topic - all will become clear. The lock will unlatch, the heavy door will swing open with ease, and a new world of revelation and understanding and edification will be in front of you. For those who love the Bible, this is where it is at! God did not give us the inspired writings to confuse and perplex us endlessly - far be it from Him. He gave us His word to shed light, to give understanding, and to give us peace.
How do you help someone to completely rethink their paradigm (their pre-existing set of beliefs and opinions) on a certain topic that they have been taugh fallacy on since they were very young? How do you help a person completely re-examine their entire belief system on a certain subject -- especially on a subject as full of confusion and fear (paralyzing fear) as this one? How do you help a person to take a huge mountain in their head, break it down piece by piece, rock by rock, and realize that the many pieces which constituted the mountain do not form a mountain - but actually something completely different? Where do you start? How can you help them see the need for a complete re-examination and then be willing to go through the process of re-discovery and re-learning?
Well, I do not doubt, as in anything truly important in this journey of life with God, it must be a God thing. It must be the Lord who initiates the questioning process which eventually leads to a complete re-examination of certain truths. Unless God is in it, trying to help a person see truth on a subject that has been as twisted as this one over the years, is like running into a brick wall.
Well I would like to encourage anyone being led to question their traditional thinking and belief system on the topic of eschatology that the process is worth it. It is so worth it. Imagine not experiencing fear and timidity surrounding the future because you understand the hope that God has given to all those who are in Him, and what He has truly revealed to our forefathers about our future. Picture reading the Bible - especially books like Daniel and Revelation and passages like Jesus' Olivet discourse - and fully understanding what you are reading, and being sincerely and deeply edified by it. Consider having so much more confidence in God, in His inspired writings, and in the apostolic fathers, because for the first time what were fuzzy and twisted sayings and teachings are now clear - and further prove that Him and everything about Him is true and living. This is the glorious result of coming in contact with Truth - and remaining in it.
On a topic as expansive as Bible eschatology, which includes verses and passages from nearly every book of the Bible, the task of rediscovery can seem daunting. Where do you start? Where do you go from there? How do you tell fact from fiction, truth from tradition? Well, on every journey, we start with Jesus. And we end with him too. He IS the truth, and He sent His Spirit to lead and guide us into ALL truth. The best posture before the word of God is one of complete humility and discipleship. Lord, teach me -- re-teach me on this subject. Show me what is true and what is not. Show me where to start and be my guide and my teacher. Protect me from every lie and deception of the enemy. Grant me understanding on this topic.
Let me next say that the right key opens the most frustrating lock with ease. The wrong key will not open the door no matter how hard you try. For many, searching for truth on this subject has been like systematically trying every key on the keychain to try and open that door (and for most, the right key has never been on the keychain at all - they've had to go searching for a new set of keys!). The fact is, when you find the right key to understanding this subject - the right paradigm through which to view this topic - all will become clear. The lock will unlatch, the heavy door will swing open with ease, and a new world of revelation and understanding and edification will be in front of you. For those who love the Bible, this is where it is at! God did not give us the inspired writings to confuse and perplex us endlessly - far be it from Him. He gave us His word to shed light, to give understanding, and to give us peace.
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