Defining Some Terms

Defining Some Terms

The Daily Devo #8

Today’s text:

NLT Matthew 24:1-3

1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple grounds, his disciples pointed out to him the various Temple buildings. 2 But he responded, “Do you see all these buildings? I tell you the truth, they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”  3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?”

There it is...   Those are the questions:  When this this happen…?  What will be the sign...?

Good Day to you and Welcome to The Daily Devo!  This is Pastor Steven, coming to you from my home to yours.  Thank you for taking time out of your day to watch and review this devotional.

I am humbled that you would take time to study with me.

Today, I come to Matthew 24.  This passage is so important to a study of the End Times, that will become clear as we move through this over the next several weeks…

It is interesting to me that there is so much important truth in Matthew 24 and 25 and by and large this two chapters are seldom taken as a text to study, or preach from.   

I have been asking people to take the survey - because I was curious as to how many people have heard a series of messages on Matthew 24 and 25?   So far 57% of the people who responded said No I have not ever heard a series on Matthew 24 & 25.   10% said I don’t remember and only 33% of the people who responded to this survey said Yes I remember hearing a sermon series on Matthew 24 & 25.  

I want to ask you to take a moment and fill out my survey,  It is provided for you at the end of my blog or if your watching on Youtube it is in the comment section.  if your on the app there is a link there also.  

I was recently told by  church member  that most preachers do not tackle such a text or such issues.  

I may do a lousy job but I’m going to do my best!  The fact is books are not being written  the end times, but not many from Matthew 24, 25. 

Sure, you had a few, but not very many.  This text is important because Jesus said: this is what I want you to know about my return, and yet those who preach, teach and Study the word of God often neglect this passage.   It’s kind of like the song of Solomon its there but no one wants to dare touch it…  

Today, I need to define some terms for us,  so we are all on the same page.  Our terms that we use are very important.

for instance:  Jesus is saviour.   means one thing to a baptist and another to a mormon -  I know because I I’ve been raised in a Baptist, preached in baptist churches and I have witnessed to 100’s of Mormons through the years around the world.  Jesus  means one thing to a Baptist and another to a Jehovah Witness.  I know because a large part of my family is Jehovah witness and I have studied that religion deeply to understand it, and I also have witnessed to Jehovah Witnesses that come knocking on my door.   Jesus to as I understand him at the basic talking point is this:  HE is my Saviour and Lord THE only begotten son of God the only way to be saved. Not a begotten god, and not lucius brother, and not a god of this world giving an example for you to be a god of your own…

So my point is terms are important.

For the purpose of this study if I refer to eschatology, i am likely referring to the study of  the end times  in general.  You find eschatological passages all over the  Bible, and all of them are important, and some are clearer than others, but none less important. 

As we begin this study there are some things I want you to keep in mind.  First of all we need to understand the theological concept of Millennialism.    

Inside the study of Millennialism you will need to study the difference between Amillennialism, Postmillennialism, and Premillennialism.   

As quickly as I can in this brief moment let me overview  in laymen terms if i can as best i can these terms  for us today  as we embark on this study:

Amillennialism:  is the view of the last things, which believes that the Bible does not predict a “millennium”, as such.    This view teaches that there will be a parallel development of good and evil, that God’s kingdom and Satan’s kingdom will coexist in this world and will continue to do so, until the Second Coming of Christ. 

This view is largely held by many Catholics and some Protestants hold to this view under the teaching of Preterism.  The year 70 AD is important  -  I’ll not get into those reasons here or right now. 

To be fair this view is widely misunderstood.  It has been said, “the term amillennialism is not a happy one” 

It has also been said that Amillennialist do not believe in any millennium, or that they ignore the first 6 verses of Revelation 20.  None of the statements are fair to level against someone in this theological understanding.   It is true that Millennialist do not believe in a literal thousand year earthly reign which will follow the return of Christ, that much is true, but their position is that the millennium of Revelation 20 is not future, but past  and even present.  and it’s in the process of realization right now.   

Now, personally I take issue with this position as a student of the word of God an over the course of the next 2 to 3 months I hope it will be clear as to why.   but in short they do not see Revelation 20 as a literal 1000 year reign, but understand it to be figurative in meaning. 

Keep in Mind this is a non-futurist view.

Postmillennialism - Again Revelation 20 is important.  This interpretation of chapter 20 see the Second Coming of Christ occurring after or post the millennium.

In this  view the kingdom of God is now being extended in the world through the preaching of the gospel saving work of the Holy Spirit. This View teaches the world will eventually be Christianized, and that the return of Christ will occur at the close of a long period of righteousness and peace called the “millennium”.

This view does not teach that every person will be a Christian, or that all sin will be abolished. But rather, it teaches that evil in its many forms will be eventually reduced to proportions so small as not to have influence over the world ideas or philosophies.  This view teaches that Christian principles will be the rule, not the exception and that Christ will return to a truly Christianize world.   This view does have some Futurist viewpoints but not quite to the level as the third view.

Premillennialism - this view teaches that The second Coming of Christ will occur before the millennium.   Following the Second Coming of Christ to the earth Christ along with his saints who are resurrected at this general time will rule the nations for a literal 1000 year period of time.

During this time this view teaches that the devil will be bound until one day at the end of the thousand-year period. The devil will be loosed again to the earth and a great and final battle will occur and finally death will be abolished Then the final resurrection and transition of God’s kingdom, to its final, permanent, eternal, perfected state known as the new heavens and new earth will take place…  

This view has very Futurist tendency’s.   

So that is a bit of an overview of these three views and interpretations and it is really more than I have time for in this devo, but I think it is important for you to understand these terms because I will likely reference them over the next 10 or so weeks.  

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