I am more optimistic on point #6. I agree it seems like the signs of judgment are on the west, Isaiah 3. But, I do not know where this is going to fit in history. Are we going to go through another major upheaval such as before the Reformation and things improve and be even more godly in the future? I take the parable of the tiny mustard seed growing into a large tree to indicate the kingdom of God will keep growing larger and larger. I can't bring myself to believe that Satan on "the last day" will walk off with more of mankind than God Almighty will.
1. The parable of the mustard seed simply teaches that the kingdom of God on earth which is the gathering of the elect out of the world into the visible Church. What it doesn't deal with is the proportional size of the Church to the world's population in all history. There are other passages which do address that subject directly (2Kg 19:31; Isa 1:9, 10:20-22, 11:11,16; Jer 23:3; Ezek 14:22; Joel 2:32; Mic 7:18; Zech 8:12; Rom 9:27, 11:5).
2. And I can't logically comprehend that Satan on the last day won't walk off with every single man, woman and child who ever lived.
For some reason, I could not make the "Reply" work as I had in prior replies.
Not enough information for me to make a comment on this one. Such issues should be posted in the
HELP Forum.
Looks like I need to get rid of my wireless keyboard.
Speaking of the state of our country, this happened about a mile from my house early this past Sunday morning:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4775844/Teens-deadly-stolen-total-126-arrests-them.htmlI'll check your verses later, thanks.
I view the eschatological systems; amil, premil & postmil as theories, theological constructions; so I am not dogmatic in my support of the postmil position. Yet, if I am going venture an educated guess, I go with postmil.
Rv 20:2 indicates the 1000 years begins at the binding of Satan, which took place at the 1st Advent: Jn 12:27,31; 16:11; Mt 12:28,29; Hb 2:14; Col 2:14,15; 1 Jo 3:8. The end of the 1000 years sees Satan released for a short period of time and then the resurrection and judgment takes place. The 1000 years are symbolic of the full time between 1st & 2nd advents.
Mt 7:14 mentions the "few" saved, but Jesus is talking to Jews. In Mt 8:11 there are "many" saved from the Gentiles. The reference to "remnant" seems always aimed at Jews.
The kingdom of God is like the mustard seed, smallest of all seeds and it is said to grow into the largest of shrubs. Growth does not happen overnight, the kingdom grows over time.
"Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt 6:10, NRSV) Did Jesus teach the disciples to pray for something that will not happen? No! So, I expect God's will to be done here on earth just a it is in heaven.
"For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (Rom 4:13, NRSV) also with: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise." (Gal 3:28-29, NRSV)
We believers are heirs who "inherit the world". So, we come under this prophecy also:
"Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession." (Ps 2:8, NRSV)
John Gill taught the spiritual reign of Christ and his description fits well my view of the kingdom of God as it grows, from 1st to 2nd Advent. For those interested, you may read it here:
http://www.gracesermons.com/hisbygrace2/bk5-ch14.html (Gill was hist. premil, not postmil) Gill was Baptist, the next two men who influenced my view are Presbyterians.
My view has been strongly influenced by Gill and J. Marcellus Kik who can be viewed here:
https://www.preteristarchive.com/StudyArchive/k/kik-marcellus.htmlI also believe Dr. David S. Clark in his preterist, postmillennial teaching is the clearest on Revelation in "The Message from Patmos:
https://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/pdf/1921_clark_message-from-patmos.pdf1. Postmil got a bad name by the social gospel types, and the idea of joining the gospel of Jesus Christ to a human government, as is portrayed in the heretical, anti-Christ song "Battle Hymn of the Republic".
2. I must believe God's word the best that I can, no matter how I see current events, or history from my perspective.
3. I chat almost daily with a few men in Africa and to them, America and my life is a paradise, so the point of view makes a difference.
4. I believe the following verse alerts us to what to expect:
"All of life is far more boring than words could ever say. Our eyes and our ears are never satisfied with what we see and hear." (Ecc 1:8 CEV)
I wonder, am I just not satisfied with how utopian the 1000 years have grown into, or are we going though a time as preceded the Protestant Reformation and we still have a long future? Yet, maybe we could be in the period at the end of the 1000 years when Satan is released from his prison. So, my postmil viewpoint does keep the time of Christ's 2nd Advent very secret but it may be centuries or more away.
