Monday, October 10, 2016

Eschatological Essentials

There are many eschatological views within the Apostolic movement. I would think that pre-mill, pre-trib, dispensationalism is the predominant view—by far. The second most popular view would be some form of post-trib. But these views do not make up the sum total of end-time views among Apostolics. You name the eschatology and there is a self-identified Apostolic who will espouse it.

There are Apostolic who are pre-trib, mid-trib and post-trib. There are Apostolics who are a-mill, post-mill and pre-mill. There are all forms of preterism that exists under the Apostolic label also.

So how much room should we allow for diversity of opinion? Some post-tribbers think that all other eschatologies are heresy. And there are some pre-tribbers who think that all other eschatologies are heresy. A certain post-tribber used his Facebook page to encourage everyone in non post-trib churches to leave those churches and find a post-trib one. I also heard a tape of a pre-trib pastor calling post-tribbers heretics. Both sides demonstrated wrong spirits and wrong thinking. There is nothing about pre-trib or post-trib that is in conflict with the gospel.

So what are eschatological essentials? To answer that question, one must ask how it affects the gospel. I think any eschatological scheme that distorts the biblical teaching of resurrections is problematic. I think hyper preterism does just that. It denies corporate, future, literal, physical resurrection of the dead and second coming of Christ.

When an eschatology messes with the resurrection, it messes with the gospel (1 Corinthians 15). When one denies bodily resurrection of believers, they deny the bodily resurrection of Christ. Christ's resurrection is the model of believer resurrection. And nothing is more essential to the Christian foundation than the resurrection (Hebrews 6:1-2). There is a lot of room for differences of opinions on eschatology. But the doctrine of bodily resurrection is non-negotiable. 

6 comments:

  1. WHY do we need our body resurrected? It should be obvious in Genesis that Adam was created OUTSIDE of the Garden and had to be placed INSIDE the Garden where LIFE was...Would He not have died anyway if He was created mortal?

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    1. I think there are several reasons why we need resurrected bodies. Not least of which, is because Christ's resurrected body is is the model of what our resurrected bodies will be like (1 Corinthians 15).

      I could reverse question and ask, why don't we need a resurrected body?

      No he wouldn't die as long as he continued to eat of the tree of life.

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    2. Steve Mullican, I am assuming you are a full preterist?

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  2. For 6,000 years of humanity it has been When-You-Die-Trib. In the 50s and 60s and other eras preachers dis-fellowshipped each other due to differing beliefs on this, and Im sure it separates some today. They all died before they knew who was right. To bring it to our day, Bishop GA Mangun, Rev Murell Ewing, Bishop Urshan, Generations of Urshans even, Bishop Don Johnson, and 100s of 1,000s even Millions have died. None affected by pre Mid or Post trib. All affected by when-you-die trib. Until the day The Lord comes back it’s when you die trib. It is the coming of the Lord for all of us. Until that day when one generation is right. Any thoughts on this 4th view? God Bless!

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    1. Great response. I am sorry that I am just not seeing your post. The truth is that we all have blind spots in this area. I do want to be ready for whenever Jesus comes.

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