Religions > Bible > Preterism, Society and the Modern Church; Tackling the Taboo’s
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Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Pastor Dave" |
| Date: |
28 Dec 2007 06:10:02 PM |
| Object: |
Preterism, Society and the Modern Church; Tackling the Taboo’s |
Preterism, Society and the Modern Church;
Tackling the Taboo’s:
by Tyrone Cropper
Matthew 24: 36 is generally one of the first verses
offered as proof there is to be a yet future return
of Jesus.
Let us notice a few things about another text.
Christians, intentionally or unintentionally, ignore
the clear guidelines commanded by Jehovah to
Israel in order to validate a false prophets from
a genuine prophets of God.
Deuteronomy 18:18-22 is among the most abused
and misused passages of our day (many Christians
have been taught to ignore the guidelines within the
contexts of this "prophetic" passage). Here Jehovah
gives a clear guideline of how to tell the difference
between a false prophets and a genuine prophets
of God. In the fifth book of the Prophet Moses,
Deuteronomy, God told Moses:
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among
their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and
he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone
does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in
my name, I myself will call him to account. But a prophet
who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not
commanded him to say, or a prophet who speaks in the
name of other gods, must be put to death". You may say
to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not
been spoken by the LORD?". If what a prophet proclaims
in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true,
that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet
has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him
(Deuteronomy 18:18-22 New International Version
emphasis added).
This passage needs to be read carefully in context to see
what it is addressing, and therefore what it is really
saying in this context. A closer examination of the context
in which this verse occurs reveals that the issue is about
predictions in Israel’s future. Jehovah would raise up a
prophet from among their brothers.
Deuteronomy 18 ends dealing with a problem and major
concern throughout Israel about false prophets and genuine
prophets of God as seen below.
You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when
a message has not been spoken by the LORD?". If what
a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not
take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has
not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously.
Do not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18:22).
In this context, the validity of a prophets is connected
with what they proclaimed about God and specific
historical events. The emphasis here is on the "word"
of God spoken through the prophet. In other words,
a false prophet cannot bring a word of God that will
prove true, because the false prophet is not bringing
the instruction of God.
He is not a prophet of God if his overall message about
God does not prove true. No matter what the prophet
does or says, if his message does not come to pass
within the time frame he stated that prophet is not
a true prophet of God and has spoken presumptuously.
These words, of God are criteria and not to be generalized.
They are the absolute rules and guidelines for Israel, to
flow in determining specific predictions of a true prophet,
and recognizing a false prophet.
God Himself many years later in the Gospel explained that
the Prophet he would raise up referred to Christ. The New
Testament tells us that Jesus is the prophet Moses foretold.
"For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the
Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto
me; him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say
unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul, which
will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among
the people." (Acts 3:22-23 emphasis added). Here the
apostle Peter, speaking words from God through the
Holy Spirit, identifies the prophet like Moses as being
Jesus Christ.
As Christ rode into Jerusalem, the very great multitude
began to rejoice and praise God, and said, Blessed is the
King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest, v. 9 (Lk. 19:37,38). What took
place here fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies
(Isa. 62:11; Zech. 9:9.). John 12:16-18 points out that
the disciples did not understand at this time what was
taking place.
In Luke 19:39, some of the Pharisees among the crowd
saw what was going on, and asked Christ to rebuke those
who were praising Him. Of course, the Pharisees saw this
praise as blasphemy. In v40, Jesus tells them that if the
people do not praise Him, the stones will cry out in praise.
The religious leaders become fearful of Christ's power over
the people (John. 12:19). Evil men fear anyone, truth or
not, that might undermine their own evil power over people;
this is one reason wicked civil authorities stand against
Christianity, for genuine Christianity recognizes another
King, Jesus (Acts. 17:7).
Drawing near to Jerusalem, Christ he wept over it
(Luke. 19:41ff). He wept because the offer of peace
brought by the King (himself) was rejected; he wept
because he saw the terrible destruction that was to
come upon the city because it rejected its King. The
chief priests and scribes saw what he did and how
the people loved him, and they were displeased.
They question him, but he does not satisfactorily
answer them, starting the final conflict that will end
in his prophesied death.
As we look at this chapter, let us be reminded of some
things: First, prophecy is dated from the time of the
speaker, not from the time of the reader. In other words,
this prophetic passage that Christ gives is prophetic from
the time he spoke it, around AD 30 to AD 33.
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you
not going to answer? What is this testimony that these
men are bringing against you?". But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by
the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of
God.". Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say
to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man
sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on
the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:62-64 emphasis added).
It is interesting that though Christ referred to himself as
the Son of Man, no apostle ever made such a reference.
Now here is the dilemma: Could Jesus have failed to keep
his promises to Caiaphas the high priest about seeing his
coming on the clouds of heaven in his lifetime and still be
called the Son of Man?
Could Jesus have failed and still be called a genuine
prophet of God? Remember in Deuteronomy 18,
God set some absolute rules and guidelines for Israel,
to flow in determining specific predictions of a true
prophet, and recognizing a false prophet. If a prophet
set a time for something to happen, and that thing did
not occur at the time predicted, what would this mean?
Quite simply he would be a false prophet that has
spoken presumptuously.
Many sincere Bible students have seen the problems
presented here for the traditional views of the coming
of the Lord. In fact, Jesus also promised to return before
his disciples finished going through the cities of Israel.
When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.
I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through
the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes
(Matthew 10:23).
What we see then is a pattern of consistency from Jesus'
words in Matthew 10:23 until his words in Matthew 26:62-64.
And it always sets a time-frame of imminency. Not only
does our text say Caiaphas would see the coming of the Lord
in the clouds of heaven but his disciples would not finished
going through the cities of Israel before he returns.
By removing passages such as these from their historical
context, many strange, unique and unscriptural things can
be and are being "documented". Many Christians suggests
that these prophesy are not genuine and therefore Jesus
did not know what he was talking about. One can support
anything he wants to believe by ignoring the context of the
passages he uses. However the idea that Matthew 26:62-64
and Matthew 10:23 are basically fulfilled fits far better
within its context than saying it must yet be fulfilled
which makes Jesus into some kind of false prophet.
Finally, Moses also foretold if anyone does not listen to
God’s words that the prophet speaks in his name, God himself
will call him to account (Deuteronomy 18:19). Peter gives
us an interesting insight into God’s timing in accomplishing
His tasks. Peter tells his audience. And it shall come to
pass that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet,
shall be destroyed from among the people." (Acts 3:2-23).
Jesus tells them that the measure of their iniquity is
almost full, and when it is full, it would bring upon them
God's terrible wrath. The final drop of iniquity would be
the slaying of the Son of God (Matthew 23:32). Did God
destroy the people who would not hear Jesus from among
the people?
You bet he did. The destruction of Jerusalem was more
terrible than anything that the world has ever witnessed,
either before or since! Even Titus seemed to see in his
cruel work the hand of an avenging God. It is time to
stop our Taboo’s of abuse and misuse of scripture in
our day! Jesus was not a Prophet of God, he is the God
who cannot lie Hebrews 6:18 therefore he cannot be
a false prophet as lade out in Deuteronomy 18:22.
--
"It is a poverty to decide that a child must die
so that you may live as you wish." - Mother Teresa
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