I believe that Scofield Futurism is one of the main reasons Christianity has been so ineffective for the last 50-60 years. The unBiblical teaching of the Rapture, a Tribulation, an Anti-Christ, and that Matthew 24 and Revelation are talking about events in the future has, in essence, caused most Christians (as this Scofield doctrine has been shoved down our throats in every church and seminary for the last 100 years) to passively stand by while evil has been allowed to flourish massively...especially in the political realm.
This Dispensational, Scofield Futurism wasn't even a thing until about 100 years ago and the early church Fathers all believed...contrary to Scofield...that Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation had already occurred. This fundamental belief that Jesus had "actually" won the decisive victory 2,000 years ago when He "actually" rose from the dead was the cornerstone of faith back then. Onward Christian Soldier was the battle cry because Jesus had won the war and Christians were marching on to victory! The rest of history was just cleanup...working to spread God's Word, the message of the Gospel, and win souls for Jesus.
Most Christians today...attending 501c3 Zionist Scofield Churches...are so heavenly minded, they have become no earthly good. They are so enamored with a Rapture (being sucked up outta here before the bad stuff happens), and are so sure that an evil man called the Anti-Christ is going to actually win for a time and set up a global government that there's really no reason to fight. I mean, if the Bible teaches that a One World Government is inevitable and that the Anti-Christ is going to control the world for a 7 year period, why would you fight against something the Bible teaches is absolutely going to happen. I mean...who in their right mind thinks they are going to change Bible Prophecy...right? Hence...you have a Church that doesn't have the will to get involved politically and stop a march toward global governance.
The early Church Fathers believed that the beautiful, simple, message of the Gospel would eventually take over the world in the love and truth of Jesus Christ. This view of the end times was called "Dominion Theology," and was the pervasive belief that led to the spread of Christianity all through Europe and is the very reason why America exists today. Had the Church leaders followed the teachings of Scofield Futurists back in the day, there would have never been a Declaration of Independence or Revolutionary War! Scofield effectively "castrated" the Church...but the good news is that is changing! God is still in control and people are waking up to the Scofield hoax!
So what about Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation. Well, books have been written detailing the true meaning of each verse of these portions of Scripture and why they are not saying what Scofield says they say. A good resource for books on this subject can be found at Americanvision.org. However, if one simply pays attention to the time stamps in the context of both Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation, you can clearly see, in both instances, that the Authors are speaking of events that were going to occur very soon and in the time that Jesus disciples were living. Just read Matthew 24:34...Jesus plainly tells His disciples the following statement with regard to timing..."Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Jesus told His disciples that everything He said previously in the entire chapter of Matthew 24 would happen before their generation would pass. And it did happen when Rome sacked Jerusalem in 70AD. Christians who disbelieve how horrific this period was and that indeed everything Jesus said would happen...did indeed happen...needs to read the eyewitness account found in the writings of Josephus. Josephus was a first century Jewish historian who had a front row seat of this event. The great tribulation that is supposed to happen in the future, according to Scofield...well...that was it according to Jesus (read Matt 24:21-22). So do you believe Christ or do you belief a snake oil salesman like Scofield?
And John tells us plainly in the OPENING verses of the Book of Revelation..."The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Now do you think John would have use words like "shortly" or "the time is at hand" to describe events that are going to occur thousands of years hence? Again, the entire Book of Revelation (which was written about 66AD) was John's more detailed description of what was going to occur in Heaven and on earth when God's judgement fell on Jerusalem in 70AD. Christians today...again...in these anemic, 501c3 Scofield Futurist churches...are just not taught exactly what went on when God unleashed His wrath on Jerusalem through the armies of Rome. All I can say is that this event was the greatest, most horrific, and earth shattering event to ever occur in the history of man...and yes...that includes the Great Flood of Noah! Everyone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus should study exactly what took place when Rome laid waste to Jerusalem. I say this because you will come out the other end with a much greater appreciation for the New Covenant of Grace in which we now live and you will have a much greater understanding of where we are in the "real" timeline of God's plans for this earth and mankind.
The rapture is the greatest lie the devil has ever injected into the church. It has neutered the modern church.
No one polishes brass on a sinking ship.
Edit: here's a YT playlist of some of the best sermons, discussions, debates, and presentations on the end times.... with the best minds from all major positions represented.
These are all very well respected theologians, pastors and scholars and not some weird fringe nutters trying to sell you food buckets and prayer cloths.
Pre-mil, amil, post-mil, pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, none of it matters for salvation. None of it should change your faith or how you praise Jesus. We are saved by faith and faith inspires works. Only faith saves you and only faith continues God’s will on earth.
Eschatology is given to us to inspire hope. He told us the end from the beginning to comfort us. Not to separate and judge each other. Think about it, nobody knows anything for certain regarding unfulfilled prophecy. While God has revealed enough for us to know Him by His characteristics, nobody knows His mind or how He will carry out His plans. How can we be prepared no matter what happens? Living in the Spirit of Christ.
Live in the Spirit and you will know what “you” need to know. Live in the Spirit and you will be comforted by what “you” need to be comforted with. Above all, live in the Spirit and the narrow path will be wide enough for “you”.
Pre-mil, amil, post-mil, pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, none of it matters for salvation. None of it should change your faith or how you praise Jesus.
Never said it did. But it does matter for other reasons. There's a difference between praising Jesus that he will rule on earth one day and praising Jesus because he's ruling right now.
Not to..... and judge each other
Christians are commanded to judge each other by God's standards. In fact you just judged me for judging didn't you? So are you a hypocrite or do you maybe have an inconsistent view of what scripture commands?
Live in the Spirit and you will know what “you” need to know.
Hardly. You're not commanded to live by the spirit alone. Your commanded to study and meditate on God's word as well.
Eschatology matters. It affects how you fight, build, and interact with the world.
As I said before, no one polishes brass on a sinking ship. If you think you're about to be yeeted into heaven are you going to fight, build, and take Dominion and start projects that your great-grandchildren will have to finish? Doubtful.
My church is Post Mill. We run EndAbortionNow.com and wrote the amicus brief that overturned Roe v Wade. We have bills of full abolition criminalization pending all over the nation. We have shut down multiple abortion clinics and saved countless babies and equipped churches all over the world to fight abortion In a biblical manner. We know this fight is gods. We know all we have to do is be faithful and step out in faith and do the work and God will give us the victory. Whereas other churches simply see abortion as a sign of the end times and refuse to do anything about it. Eschatology matters.
I frequently see churches with pessimistic eschatological views and positions being wildly ineffective to the world and the culture and their communities at large. I don't think this is an accident. If I was the enemy I would see this as a total victory.
Typical combative religious answer. You flaunt your knowledge and works as if you are superior. Pharisee much? Studying the word is a given, I never said live in the Spirit ignorantly. Your church isn’t the only defender of life. Please continue to qualify your earned authority on unfulfilled prophecy. Give it a rest.There are really strong arguments on more than one line of thought. None conclusive in my opinion. Yes we should stand in strong opposition to evil and bring more hearts to Jesus even more so. Let’s not bicker about what might come in the future. If your heart is right with God, come what may, you will be prepared to go about the Father’s work in whatever scenario you find yourself in.
As a Catholic who attended 12 years of Catholic Schools from 1970 to 1981, and had religion class every day for those 12 years, we were never taught anything like the modern version of Revelation. My Dad scoffs at things like the "Left Behind" series as revisionism and heresy. I call it psychological warfare.
I believe that Scofield Futurism is one of the main reasons Christianity has been so ineffective for the last 50-60 years. The unBiblical teaching of the Rapture, a Tribulation, an Anti-Christ, and that Matthew 24 and Revelation are talking about events in the future has, in essence, caused most Christians (as this Scofield doctrine has been shoved down our throats in every church and seminary for the last 100 years) to passively stand by while evil has been allowed to flourish massively...especially in the political realm.
This Dispensational, Scofield Futurism wasn't even a thing until about 100 years ago and the early church Fathers all believed...contrary to Scofield...that Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation had already occurred. This fundamental belief that Jesus had "actually" won the decisive victory 2,000 years ago when He "actually" rose from the dead was the cornerstone of faith back then. Onward Christian Soldier was the battle cry because Jesus had won the war and Christians were marching on to victory! The rest of history was just cleanup...working to spread God's Word, the message of the Gospel, and win souls for Jesus.
Most Christians today...attending 501c3 Zionist Scofield Churches...are so heavenly minded, they have become no earthly good. They are so enamored with a Rapture (being sucked up outta here before the bad stuff happens), and are so sure that an evil man called the Anti-Christ is going to actually win for a time and set up a global government that there's really no reason to fight. I mean, if the Bible teaches that a One World Government is inevitable and that the Anti-Christ is going to control the world for a 7 year period, why would you fight against something the Bible teaches is absolutely going to happen. I mean...who in their right mind thinks they are going to change Bible Prophecy...right? Hence...you have a Church that doesn't have the will to get involved politically and stop a march toward global governance.
The early Church Fathers believed that the beautiful, simple, message of the Gospel would eventually take over the world in the love and truth of Jesus Christ. This view of the end times was called "Dominion Theology," and was the pervasive belief that led to the spread of Christianity all through Europe and is the very reason why America exists today. Had the Church leaders followed the teachings of Scofield Futurists back in the day, there would have never been a Declaration of Independence or Revolutionary War! Scofield effectively "castrated" the Church...but the good news is that is changing! God is still in control and people are waking up to the Scofield hoax!
So what about Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation. Well, books have been written detailing the true meaning of each verse of these portions of Scripture and why they are not saying what Scofield says they say. A good resource for books on this subject can be found at Americanvision.org. However, if one simply pays attention to the time stamps in the context of both Matthew 24 and the Book of Revelation, you can clearly see, in both instances, that the Authors are speaking of events that were going to occur very soon and in the time that Jesus disciples were living. Just read Matthew 24:34...Jesus plainly tells His disciples the following statement with regard to timing..."Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." Jesus told His disciples that everything He said previously in the entire chapter of Matthew 24 would happen before their generation would pass. And it did happen when Rome sacked Jerusalem in 70AD. Christians who disbelieve how horrific this period was and that indeed everything Jesus said would happen...did indeed happen...needs to read the eyewitness account found in the writings of Josephus. Josephus was a first century Jewish historian who had a front row seat of this event. The great tribulation that is supposed to happen in the future, according to Scofield...well...that was it according to Jesus (read Matt 24:21-22). So do you believe Christ or do you belief a snake oil salesman like Scofield?
And John tells us plainly in the OPENING verses of the Book of Revelation..."The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Now do you think John would have use words like "shortly" or "the time is at hand" to describe events that are going to occur thousands of years hence? Again, the entire Book of Revelation (which was written about 66AD) was John's more detailed description of what was going to occur in Heaven and on earth when God's judgement fell on Jerusalem in 70AD. Christians today...again...in these anemic, 501c3 Scofield Futurist churches...are just not taught exactly what went on when God unleashed His wrath on Jerusalem through the armies of Rome. All I can say is that this event was the greatest, most horrific, and earth shattering event to ever occur in the history of man...and yes...that includes the Great Flood of Noah! Everyone who calls themselves a follower of Jesus should study exactly what took place when Rome laid waste to Jerusalem. I say this because you will come out the other end with a much greater appreciation for the New Covenant of Grace in which we now live and you will have a much greater understanding of where we are in the "real" timeline of God's plans for this earth and mankind.
Bingo. I've been telling people this for years.
The rapture is the greatest lie the devil has ever injected into the church. It has neutered the modern church.
No one polishes brass on a sinking ship.
Edit: here's a YT playlist of some of the best sermons, discussions, debates, and presentations on the end times.... with the best minds from all major positions represented. These are all very well respected theologians, pastors and scholars and not some weird fringe nutters trying to sell you food buckets and prayer cloths.
There's a lot here but pick a video that interests you and go from there. (They are in no particular order) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm4vxYfDpoYaWjqK76eZukIyKtyX5Xa-J&si=dMrtPF2UordHRGXZ
Pre-mil, amil, post-mil, pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, none of it matters for salvation. None of it should change your faith or how you praise Jesus. We are saved by faith and faith inspires works. Only faith saves you and only faith continues God’s will on earth.
Eschatology is given to us to inspire hope. He told us the end from the beginning to comfort us. Not to separate and judge each other. Think about it, nobody knows anything for certain regarding unfulfilled prophecy. While God has revealed enough for us to know Him by His characteristics, nobody knows His mind or how He will carry out His plans. How can we be prepared no matter what happens? Living in the Spirit of Christ.
Live in the Spirit and you will know what “you” need to know. Live in the Spirit and you will be comforted by what “you” need to be comforted with. Above all, live in the Spirit and the narrow path will be wide enough for “you”.
Never said it did. But it does matter for other reasons. There's a difference between praising Jesus that he will rule on earth one day and praising Jesus because he's ruling right now.
Christians are commanded to judge each other by God's standards. In fact you just judged me for judging didn't you? So are you a hypocrite or do you maybe have an inconsistent view of what scripture commands?
Hardly. You're not commanded to live by the spirit alone. Your commanded to study and meditate on God's word as well.
Eschatology matters. It affects how you fight, build, and interact with the world.
As I said before, no one polishes brass on a sinking ship. If you think you're about to be yeeted into heaven are you going to fight, build, and take Dominion and start projects that your great-grandchildren will have to finish? Doubtful.
My church is Post Mill. We run EndAbortionNow.com and wrote the amicus brief that overturned Roe v Wade. We have bills of full abolition criminalization pending all over the nation. We have shut down multiple abortion clinics and saved countless babies and equipped churches all over the world to fight abortion In a biblical manner. We know this fight is gods. We know all we have to do is be faithful and step out in faith and do the work and God will give us the victory. Whereas other churches simply see abortion as a sign of the end times and refuse to do anything about it. Eschatology matters.
I frequently see churches with pessimistic eschatological views and positions being wildly ineffective to the world and the culture and their communities at large. I don't think this is an accident. If I was the enemy I would see this as a total victory.
Typical combative religious answer. You flaunt your knowledge and works as if you are superior. Pharisee much? Studying the word is a given, I never said live in the Spirit ignorantly. Your church isn’t the only defender of life. Please continue to qualify your earned authority on unfulfilled prophecy. Give it a rest.There are really strong arguments on more than one line of thought. None conclusive in my opinion. Yes we should stand in strong opposition to evil and bring more hearts to Jesus even more so. Let’s not bicker about what might come in the future. If your heart is right with God, come what may, you will be prepared to go about the Father’s work in whatever scenario you find yourself in.
Love that last line...can I use it?
Hey check this playlist I made out of you love eschatology. I put some killer stuff in here.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLm4vxYfDpoYaWjqK76eZukIyKtyX5Xa-J&si=dMrtPF2UordHRGXZ
Absolutely 💯
As a Catholic who attended 12 years of Catholic Schools from 1970 to 1981, and had religion class every day for those 12 years, we were never taught anything like the modern version of Revelation. My Dad scoffs at things like the "Left Behind" series as revisionism and heresy. I call it psychological warfare.
You were taught lies about Mary.
Lies about Mary? Enlighten us fren.
The way I see it, basically every denomination is going to have some degree of lies incorporated into it.
Part of our job is to take what’s good and leave the rubbish, and be very careful about it.
Excellent points u/MalonLabe777