Apostolic Eschatology (Introduction)

Apostolic Eschatology (Introduction)

The eschatology of the earliest Christians is called “Chiliasm” (kill’-E-az-um), from the Greek word “chilia” which means a thousand. The term “Chiliasm” is nearly equivalent to our modern term, “millennialism.” However, it does not only refer to the “millennium” of Christ’s reign mentioned in Revelation 20, but also man’s time on earth living under the curse is divided into a series of six previous millennia. The seventh millennium is the “Seventh Day,” the Millennial “Sabbath,”…

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UNITY & THE CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS (IV), FELLOWSHIP & THE MISSION

UNITY & THE CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALS (IV), FELLOWSHIP & THE MISSION

From the previous posts in this series, we have shown that the primary “fundamentals” of the mature Abrahamic Faith are two points: (1) That there is one eternal, immortal, all-powerful, and all-sovereign God, who is the Father alone, and (2) that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. A secondary “fundamental” is the Hope of the resurrection, the restoration of the whole creation, and the promised land inheritance. As Paul declared, “We…

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Unity & the Christian Fundamentals (III), Progressive Revelation of 2 Mysteries through Paul

Unity & the Christian Fundamentals (III), Progressive Revelation of 2 Mysteries through Paul

The Apostle Paul wrote of two distinct, yet interrelated, “mysteries” that were concealed in the Old Testament Scriptures, yet were progressively revealed to the Apostles over several years after Pentecost. Neither of these two mysteries were fully comprehended by the Apostles at the beginning of their evangelistic outreach. It should not come as a surprise that Jesus sent out His Apostles to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom without their training and knowledge being complete….

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The Casting Down of the World (IV)

The Casting Down of the World (IV)

We now turn our attention to the only three passages which use the clause πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου, “before the casting down of the world.” All three passages place the Son of God prior to whatever this clause actually meant. All three are significant in determining a correct theology concerning the Son of God, whether He was eternally co-existing with the Father (as in Trinitarianism), whether He did not even exist at all prior to the…

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The Casting Down of the World (III)

The Casting Down of the World (III)

The Temporal use of ἀπὸ: In part II of this series, I covered the three passages which contain the clause ἀπὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου in which the preposition ἀπὸ is used causally, meaning “because of the casting down of the world.” In this post I would like to address the remaining four passages which have this clause where the preposition ἀπὸ is used temporally, meaning “since the casting down of the world.” I. Matt. 13:35 (NKJ)…

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The Casting Down of the World (II)

The Casting Down of the World (II)

The Causal use of ἀπὸ: In part I of this series, I pointed out the awkwardness of the noun καταβολῆς (casting down), allegedly meaning “foundation/founding,” and its use in Hebrews 11:11 the only time it appears in the Bible apart from the clause καταβολῆς κόσμου (casting down of the world). In this post I would like to address three passages, where the entire clause appears, which are equally awkward and problematic for the same reason…

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4. The Dangers of Bad Doctrine

4. The Dangers of Bad Doctrine

Sound doctrine is critical for Christians, but not for the reasons most suppose. It is not that holding a particular doctrinal position on the Godhead, free-will vs. election, the exact motions or rituals one must go through to be saved, or any particular eschatological viewpoint are required in order to inherit immortality. God alone decides who His sons and daughters are, not our list of “hoops” someone must jump through to be acceptable to us….

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3. Serving 2 Masters

3. Serving 2 Masters

One of Satan’s greatest deceptions which is embraced by many Christians, including leaders, is that they can cruise through the end-times and into an inheritance in the Kingdom of God with divided loyalties, serving two masters. They set out to follow Christ, but they secretly also serve another master, their idol. Serving their idol-master along with Christ causes them to dismiss or water down those commands of God which conflict with the demands of their…

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2. The Testing of Your Faith

2. The Testing of Your Faith

Over the last couple of years I have been horrified to observe seemingly strong Christians, even some who were supposed to be leaders, utterly fail in their spiritual discernment, critical thinking, and commitment to stand on God’s truth alone regardless of personal cost. I have watched men whom I respected as able teachers of the Word set aside the Word, and instead become passionate evangelists for this or that conspiracy theory. Facebook pages that used…

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The Casting-Down of the World (I)

The Casting-Down of the World (I)

Thesis: There is a very important clause that appears ten times in the New Testament but is mistranslated in virtually all English versions. This mistranslation gives cover to certain incorrect doctrines, including Calvinism, Trinitarianism, and Unitarianism. The important clause is καταβολῆς κόσμου (pronounced kata-bol-ace kos-moo). It is wrongly translated “foundation of the world” in virtually all English versions. This sense comes, not from the meaning of the clause in Greek, but from early Latin translations…

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1. Most Christians are Vulnerable

1. Most Christians are Vulnerable

The greatest spiritual war of all time, which has raged continuously since creation and which is coming to its climax in these last days, is TRUTH vs. DECEPTION. Satan’s first sin was lying to Eve. This initiated the fall of mankind, and consequently the death of all mankind. This is why Jesus called Satan both the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning. “You are of your father the devil, and the desires…

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Unity & the Christian Fundamentals (II), The Meaning of “One God”

Unity & the Christian Fundamentals (II), The Meaning of “One God”

The Shema (Deut. 6:4), “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one,” appears in the last of the books of Moses, composed at the very end of the forty-year wilderness wandering. Yet the basis for the Shema appears in the first of the Ten Commandments. Exod. 20:2-5a NKJV  2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You…

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Unity & the Christian Fundamentals, (I) The Two Creeds of Pristine Christianity

Unity & the Christian Fundamentals, (I) The Two Creeds of Pristine Christianity

Up until the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Christians were considered a “sect” (a subdivision) of the monotheistic Abrahamic Faith. The Abrahamic Faith consisted of those who embraced the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and His covenants, promises, and commandments (Acts 24:5,14; Acts 28:22). The other “sects” of the Abrahamic Faith were the Pharisees (Acts 15:5; Acts 26:5) and the Sadducees (Acts 5:17). Lesser known sects were the Samaritans (John 4:19-26) and the Essenes (Josephus, Wars,…

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