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Fellow Bible believers,
I'm trying to understand just how important the question of one's eschatological view should be?
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My belief is that it's very important, because it is by definition the revelation and good news of the present and coming Kingdom of Christ, and the gospel truth of that Kingdom
is very important. Look at it this way--how important is it to the true believer that he teach the doctrines of sovereign grace in election, as opposed to doctrines of election by genealogical hierarchy? How important is it that he teach that we must interpret God's Word by His Word, that there be no private interpretation based on world events or the predictions of men? How important is it that believers teach that Christ has defeated Satan by His cross, and has already established His Kingdom reign, rather than will do this? Or to teach that He has set His people Israel free, rather than that this is something that is all our personal opinions? How important is it to teach this is the fulfillment of prophecy rather than something that will be done in the future? Well, all that
"is" eschatology. You see the bottom line is that the real importance of our eschatology is the difference between teaching supposition and lies, and teaching the truthful doctrines of scripture. Not in teaching my personal opinion of eschatology mind you, but teaching what is written plainly upon the pages of the Holy Bible, as opposed to doctrines that are "read into" the Bible. My view is that this should be something that is not only very important to the true believer, but
essential. Yes, I said it. Eschatology is an essential, which is precisely why God incorporated it into His sacred word.
Psalms 119:9-11- "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
- With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
- Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Unfortunately, with all the proverbial lemmings of our day, the Panmillennialists and slothful Christians in the church, the importance of one's eschatological view is put on the level of one's choice of a brand of socks. In other words, it's not deemed that important at all. However, when we seek to be faithful to God, that means we do our best to hold to faithful teachings of His Word, "whatever" it may be.
Proverbs 30:5-6- "Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
- Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar."
Adding to God's Word by speculation and supposition should be at the top of our lists of "what not to do," but it a bad habit that so characterizes theology today. Proverbs 20-5-6 is the attitude that we should take regarding the importance of His
every word. It is an attitude where we love God so much that we get on our knees and pray earnestly for His wisdom and understanding of "His" kingdom. Not one of throwing up our hands in the air declaring "we'll understand it by-and-by" as we set our minds on watching the latest TV program. In other words, to deem it important.
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Is it really that important to strive for uniformity of our views,
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Is Christ divided? Is it important that His doctrines not b subject to personal or private interpretations? Does He teach uniformity of His kingdom reign or a mishmash of diverse views according to one's own choosing? I believe that the church should
first strive to conform to the Word of God in doctrinal purity and consistency, and the for doctrinal unity in the church will followsuit (
based upon that consistency of scripture). We must seek the harmony of our truth of scripture in all areas of our doctrine. By the Spirit of God residing within faithful Christians, usually a humility is manifested before God's Word, and therefore unity
should follow. Unity
should follow because while we tolerate certain inevitable differences of opinion in charity, we do not compromise scripture or the clear Biblical declarations of God for the sake of (
so called) peace. In other words, while we understand that no man's theology or eschatology is perfect, we also understand that God's Word, by definition is! Therefore we must not (
and indeed cannot) give leeway to private (
personal) opinions or interpretations based upon the fables and imaginations from the hearts of men. In the Spirit, we are made honorable or honest (
as the Bereans) in order that we may
consider, harmonize and study the scriptures humbly because of that Spirit of Truth, we love the truth. So we
"should" ultimately come to some sound mutual agreements concerning what the Bible does and does not actually say. That Spirit teaches us this, not the sundry books and prognostications of theologians.
1st John 2:27- "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."
Alas, the problem is that so many in the church today relegate the Holy Spirit to the unbiblical position of being an idle bystander as they study man's words. Almost as it it doesn't guide us into truth, it is merely there with us. But nothing could be further from the truth. It is the light that is within us that ultimately shines upon scripture allowing us to actually see it, to discern it, to understand and know explicitly that it was not the private interpretation or opinions of the prophets, and thus
cannot be of any personal opinion or private interpretation of anyone bearing witness to it today. A sure word of prophecy doesn't come from reading tea leaves, newspapers or Christian authors. It comes from reading the Word of God and comparing Scripture with Scripture.
2nd Peter 1:19-20- "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
- Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation."
Not being of private interpretation of men of old, it is THUS
not subject to our own private interpretation. Do not interpretations belong to God (Genesis 40:8 )? If so, then the only true interpretation of Scripture
must come from God's Word itself. We cannot wrest or twist it to our own imaginations, traditions or beliefs. For the Holy Spirit within every "true Believers" (the key word being,
true) does not bear witness or give assent to lies. That is not to say that we understand all truth (we don't), but that we understand lies because they are inherently
not from within the Holy Scriptures themselves. They are from outside of Scripture or outside of the Bible. Hypothesis, Assumption, Supposition and conjecture.
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or should we just be open minded and accepting of others opinions on it?
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We should be open minded
to scripture, not to professing Christian's personal opinions "of" scripture. Not mine or anyone else's. And there really is
a difference. For example, to be open minded, respectful, and accepting of the doctrine of Dispensational eschatology simply because some teachers claim it or because you want unity with those who have the opinion that it is true, is
folly or rank foolishness. Eschatology has to be proven by Scripture, not accepted for the sake of unity.
1st Thessalonians 5:20-21- "Despise not prophesyings.
- Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
Study to prove what is from Scripture and more importantly what is not, and then hold fast to that which is. It's a simple test really, and so amazing that so many fall short of it. Open minded doesn't mean we let everything in, rather it is a testing or filtering process where we're "straining" everything through the scriptures to see if it will stand its test. The simple idea that it must conform to scripture, else it is
obviously not "from" scripture.
Acts 17:11-12- "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
- Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few."
Here we learn that we must always be open minded (
to the witness of scripture, not mere opinions). Asa you witness to other "professing" Christias, you will find right away that
few truly are. We are not to be slothful or neglectful in testing man's words by the Word of God, or to try the spirits. So if I were to declare that Christ's kingdom has already come, no one should be open to that unless I provide scripture that says that Christ's kingdom has come. This is the lesson taught here in acts--that we must all have a
"teachable spirit by being open to the Word of God, even as the more noble/honest Bereans were. Unfortunately, most church members today have a prideful spirit and will not be taught anything that goes against their particular church tradition, or against what they like, or that goes against what they have already learned from the leaders whom they serve. Some church traditions on eschatology transgress God's Word just as surely as those of the Jews did at the time of the first advent. But it seems that many professing Christians are blind to biblical historical similarity or examples meant to teach us that Christ's Kingdom is Spiritual, not a kingdom that can be physically observed. Unfortunately, "The more things change, the more they remain the same."
Luke 17:20-21- "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
- Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Did they not understand because they were simply
innocently mistaken, ignorant, confused, misguided or because they thought that it wasn't an essential? Or, in truth, did they not understand because they were blinded by their congregation's traditions in understanding the Kingdom of Messiah as a physical Kingdom so that they would not receive the truth in love? You see we look at everyone as innocent and misguided, but God does not because He looks upon the heart.
Matthew 15:2-3- "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
- But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
If the traditions of the elders or leaders of the congregation transgress God's Word, then by the Spirit of God within us we ought to obey God rather than man--not tell them that they may have a correct understanding and we'll all find out by and by. Not tell them that they should not worry about it because it's a non-essential for Christ's people. Yes, today eschatology is often called the "great non-essential" doctrine, however I have never subscribed to that flawed point of view, and God willing I never shall. No one can convince me that the truth God Himself has incorporated into scripture concerning His Kingdom is insignificant or a non-essential to the Christian's walk in this world. Again, that is not to say that one's eschatology is the proof of his salvation, it is to say that it is far from unimportant. Who is saved and who is not saved is God's business, not mine. I judge not another master's servant. But neither are the truths of the Kingdom of no import or consequence to the church. And I do believe that the more clearly scripture speaks to a subject, the less we should tolerate teachings against it. We either serve God in the Holy Temple, or we serve the idol or image of man there. And make no mistake, spiritual idolatry is rampant in the church because nearly everything is considered a non-essential. Sound eschatology, doctrines of divorce, remarriage, teachings against sovereignty, women leaders, homosexuality, etc., etc. All these things are allowed to be taught in the church, and they deceive God's servants under the guise of either love or unity. Will those leaders in the Church who allow this go blameless in God's sight? I think not! Despite teachings to the contrary, eschatology
IS the important teaching of the Kingdom of Christ. It is not some other non essential teaching,
it is the gospel. And thus it
must be the gospel taught truthfully.
Revelation 2:20- "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."
The church allowing teaching of falsehoods of any kind is not non-essential or something that is not essential. God Forbid! According to God, those in the church who have taken the mantle of teacher will be judged more severely. For to teach such clearly unbiblical doctrines such as a Premillennial Dispensational kingdom, is not something we should wink at, nor label as sound or justifiable church doctrine. Not to appease other professed Christians, not for the sake of a perceived unity and not to "appear" progressive and charitable. It is something that we should speak out against as Christian doctrine by showing through scripture its unbiblical nature.
May God give us the wisdom, knowledge and fortitude to do so.
nosce te ipsum"
Peace,
Tony Warren
"I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. -Psalms 32:5"
Topic: What is Eschatology and is it Important? (Read 13968 times)