TasManOfGod
February 7th 2005, 09:40 PM
This is my first post here and from the beginning I would like to inform exactly where I am coming from. I am not here to challenge any concept you may have on eschatology but present an understanding that developed from me fervantly seeking the Lord following some concerns I had on "conventional wisdom".
For those who are intersted I am willing to discuss what I now believe but at all times I remain aware that the only belief that matters is in Him who redeemed us.
From the aspect of Church theology I do not differ significantly from the "pre-trib/pre-mill " position. However I only see the "Church" as one of seven covenants that God has made with mankind since Adam, albeit the best and perhaps the easiest to comply with. Knowledge of what God intends for us is indeed important but for others outside of the Church might want to know what is in store for them , particularly after the Church is taken (as pre-tribbers believe). What happens to believers who might be under another covenant.
Some would say that there would be only two options: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or go to hell.
This gave me problems so I took them to the Lord.
Was this a "second chance " in opertion here and if so why would God "pull the plug" before they got saved and wouldn't we who are saved be responsible for their "unsaved condition" in the 2000 years that we had?
Then if they went to hell (for eternity) because of our neglect we would surely suffer eternal hell ourselves. Now is this the God I know and serve and the answer that I got was NO. Not only does He want to load us with guilt but neither does He want to load others with oppression. In one way God shows us less grace than some think and in another way He shows more. (from the understanding that I subsequently received following my questioning.)
What I finally saw was that the Church is only one of seven covenants that God intends to deal with ie. complete and "seal". Revelation then becomes a reference not only for the Church but for every other covenant He has made. The has often been assumed that the contents of Revelation applies almost exclusively to them and have devised theology accordingly. If they do happen to include Israel in the understanding it is often on the basis that they still have to receive Jesus as Christ rather than await Him coming as Messiah according to prophesy.
Although not aways glaringly obvious there is so much hidden in Revelation that points to God's plan concerning covenants which I believe is now intended to be revealed. Without going into explicit detail in this post let me just introduce the reader to the seven covenants as God Himself did - He identified them to the predominent spiritual conditions of the general "assemblies" (ecclesia) of seven places know to John in Asia Minor -ie what is known as the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3. Just look again at the descriptions of these people and see if they dont associate in order with the covenants made with: David (the new covenant as confirmed in Christ) Moses, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Noah, Adam.
I will welcome discussing this further with any who want to listen as I would hearing if you might also give me further understanding.
For those who are intersted I am willing to discuss what I now believe but at all times I remain aware that the only belief that matters is in Him who redeemed us.
From the aspect of Church theology I do not differ significantly from the "pre-trib/pre-mill " position. However I only see the "Church" as one of seven covenants that God has made with mankind since Adam, albeit the best and perhaps the easiest to comply with. Knowledge of what God intends for us is indeed important but for others outside of the Church might want to know what is in store for them , particularly after the Church is taken (as pre-tribbers believe). What happens to believers who might be under another covenant.
Some would say that there would be only two options: Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or go to hell.
This gave me problems so I took them to the Lord.
Was this a "second chance " in opertion here and if so why would God "pull the plug" before they got saved and wouldn't we who are saved be responsible for their "unsaved condition" in the 2000 years that we had?
Then if they went to hell (for eternity) because of our neglect we would surely suffer eternal hell ourselves. Now is this the God I know and serve and the answer that I got was NO. Not only does He want to load us with guilt but neither does He want to load others with oppression. In one way God shows us less grace than some think and in another way He shows more. (from the understanding that I subsequently received following my questioning.)
What I finally saw was that the Church is only one of seven covenants that God intends to deal with ie. complete and "seal". Revelation then becomes a reference not only for the Church but for every other covenant He has made. The has often been assumed that the contents of Revelation applies almost exclusively to them and have devised theology accordingly. If they do happen to include Israel in the understanding it is often on the basis that they still have to receive Jesus as Christ rather than await Him coming as Messiah according to prophesy.
Although not aways glaringly obvious there is so much hidden in Revelation that points to God's plan concerning covenants which I believe is now intended to be revealed. Without going into explicit detail in this post let me just introduce the reader to the seven covenants as God Himself did - He identified them to the predominent spiritual conditions of the general "assemblies" (ecclesia) of seven places know to John in Asia Minor -ie what is known as the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3. Just look again at the descriptions of these people and see if they dont associate in order with the covenants made with: David (the new covenant as confirmed in Christ) Moses, Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, Noah, Adam.
I will welcome discussing this further with any who want to listen as I would hearing if you might also give me further understanding.