The basis for the next reformation of Christianity

The basis for the next reformation of Christianity.

Four Steps to Bible Prophecy Reform

Step #1. Acknowledge that the physical world is never going to end. By “world” we mean planet Earth, the cosmos, and humanity. The terra firma and all else has been eternally established, and is sustained by our Creator God. He has charged us with the responsibility of keeping it, protecting it, and passing it along to future generations in better condition (spiritually, physically, socially, culturally, politically, environmentally, and theologically) than we found it.

Step #2. Honor the plain, face-value meaning of all prophetic time statements, timeframes, and imminency expectations–no gaps, no gimmicks, no delays, no twisted meanings, no deceptions. Our fundamental error has been the failure to understand the historical context of the 1st century for the fulfillment of all end-time biblical prophecies. Therefore, we have lifted “the perfect ending for the world” out of its divinely appointed timeframe and exchanged our divinely determined heritage for a hodge-podge of flawed human hopes.

Step #3. “Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). “Once for all” here means exactly the same as it means in Romans 6:10 when applied to Jesus’ death; in Hebrews 9:12 with Jesus entering the Most Holy Place to pour out his blood; in Hebrews 9:26 with Jesus’ appearance and sacrifice of Himself; in Hebrews 10:10 with us being made holy by the sacrifice of his body; and in 1 Peter 3:18 with Christ dying for our sins.

Hence, the past tense use of this phrase can only mean one thing. Biblical faith is a finished faith; the Messiah’s two great works, that of the kingdom and salvation, are complete. This is the firm foundation that must be restored, better understood, and more fully realized. We need to take an honest look at history and see how all promised eschatological events happened and all redemptive realities were completely established and made everlastingly available by the time Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jewish age ended circa A.D. 70 – 73. Nothing more remains to be done. But plenty remains to be accomplished because of this perfect fulfillment.

Step #4. Unify the current competing, conflicting, confusing and divisive system of four major eschatological views into one view via a “solution of synthesis.” The four major views of end-time prophecy are: preterist, premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial. Each contains strengths and weaknesses. Thus, each needs to and must participate in this reform. A “solution of synthesis” would keep the strengths and dump the weaknesses of each view and unify the strengths into one meaningful, coherent, and consistent view that is more Christ-honoring, Scripture-authenticating, and faith-validating than any one view in and of itself.

In conclusion, the time is ripe and the climate prime to finally recognize and face up to the fact that Christianity in the modern world is not as strong as it could and should be. This must and can be changed. It starts with getting our faith right. On with the Prophecy Reformation!

Sources:

1The Perfect Ending for the World by John Noe

2Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times by Hays, Duvall, and Pate

3Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy by J. Barton Payne