I’m almost at a total loss.
So many people talk about how Christians are so closed minded and I try
and defend Christians on this argument – but the way I’ve been talked to in
regards to my Christian beliefs – I can now understand where people are coming
from.
Yes, I am a Christian, but I’m not a fundamental Christian – perhaps
Conservative, BUT I don’t even think that fits the bill. We call ourselves believers of fulfilled
eschatology, and eschatology is “the study of end times” if you will. In simple terms I believe the entire Bible has
been fulfilled and therefore – there won’t be a future second coming of Jesus.
So as a result of this – I’ve been told many things: “You’re believing another gospel and Paul
warned us about that”; “that doesn’t make any sense”; “your beliefs are false”;
oh and let’s not forget “I’ll pray that God brings you back to repentance”.
I almost can’t believe what I’m being told. The main reason being – the people who say
these things don’t even try and understand why I believe what I do. So instead of trying to understand my beliefs
I guess it’s easier to say the things I mentioned above. How can you love me as your neighbor if you don't understand where I'm coming from?
Clearly – these people forget or disregard the part when I tell them
“I used to believe what you do, BUT I had too many questions that nobody could
answer, so after I praying one day, literally the next day I discovered this”. So to tell me to turn back to what you used
to believe – means I have to go back to reading Bible verses from a certain
perspective and again the questions I had before come back and nobody is able
to answer them. Then they say “Well ask
God about it” – and as you can see we come back right full circle.
I used to believe in a future Second coming of Jesus. I used to believe in a rapture and trust me, I
studied it over and over. The thing is –
I no longer believe in a future second coming of Jesus.
In simple terms here’s what I believe……Jesus spoke to his disciples
and apostles around 30ad – saying he would return in the future and that His
generation shouldn’t pass until he returned.
So in 70AD – there was a destruction of the temple. Jerusalem was surrounded by armies(romans)
and yes there was a war. So in
70AD(Future from 30AD) – I believe is when Jesus returned.
So – things like the Apostles creed – Yeah I don’t believe parts of
it because it says “he will come again to judge the living and the dead” – well
I don’t believe that. So it’s even more
difficult to try and find a church that doesn’t have these “futurist” type of
beliefs and/or teachings.
So to understand my beliefs – you need to start with that. To disprove them – you have to show me from
my paradigm why my beliefs are wrong.
While reading the Bible from this paradigm – I haven’t had any questions
that I can think of. By trying to
disprove my beliefs based on questions you now have that you can no longer
answer – doesn’t mean my belief isn’t true.
It just means that your belief may not align with this paradigm.
So again – Christians judge me because I’m not open to their
beliefs. Trust me – I’m open to hearing
about it. The thing is – I already know
everything about it. The question is –
what do you know about my beliefs other than what you watched and/or read on
the internet.
So people say my beliefs are a “new belief system” and I shouldn’t
believe it because it’s “another gospel”.
SO let’s start here:
2 Peter 1:20 states: Knowing
this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
So – this would mean that what Jesus said 2000 years ago – would have
to have the same meaning then as it does today.
Right?
So – 2000 years ago Jesus said these things:
Matthew 24:34 Verily I say
unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Luke 21:32 Verily I say unto
you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
Mark 8:12 And he sighed deeply
in his spirit, and said, Why does this generation seek after a sign? verily I
say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.
Mark 13:30 Verily I say unto
you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
Matthew 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here,
which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his
kingdom.
What did “this generation” mean when Jesus said this to people 2000
years ago? It meant that generation of
his time, right?
Interesting how Mark 8:12 answers this for us – with the help of the
content from it’s former verse:
Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with
him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
To which Jesus says: Why does
this generation seek after a sign?
Somehow – futurists magically make Matthew 24:34 to be “that
generation”.
Compound all of this with Matthew 16:28 – and BAM I don’t know any
2000 year old person standing on the earth – which means I guess the Son of man
coming in his kingdom has already happened – OR this verse makes Jesus to be a
liar.
Now – does it all line up with “his generation” – yes I’d say so.
So before condemning my beliefs – start answering these questions
and perhaps you can lure me back to a Future second coming of Jesus:
- How does “this generation” all of a sudden become a generation in the future – when in every other passage it’s referring to the generation of Jesus’ day.
- Why isn’t there any 2000 year old people walking the earth? Didn’t Jesus also reference this in John? I don’t see apostle John walking the earth
- Why don’t we have to live by the law anymore? See Matthew 5:17-18 for this
Keep in mind that 2 Peter 1:20 states: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation.
So – I don’t want to be reading ideas nor having “this is what was
taught by the elders” – I’d like to read good sound biblical evidence.
So – with that said, if you want me to believe your beliefs you need
to disprove my beliefs and not just simply discard them by saying they’re false
and that I should repent.
