Posted on 01/26/2024 8:36:57 AM PST by ducttape45
The Laodicean (”modern”) Church is not the only church around these days. We also have the Philadelphia Church.
Here are words of comfort and encouragement that Jesus has to say to them (hopefully, “us”)...
1) “You have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Rev. 3:8. [Resting in the grace of Christ, the center],
2) “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it”. Rev. 3:8. [Spreading the Gospel of the Grace of Christ worldwide in these last days],
3) “I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” Rev. 3:9. [Reigning victorious lives], and
4) “Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Rev. 3:10. [The “raptured” church escaping the soon-coming tribulation of the wrath of the Lamb (1 Thessalonians 4:17)].
And a word of exhortation from the Lord...
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Rev. 3:11. [Keep looking to the Lord for everything.]
geenna
gheh’-en-nah
Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell.
Kinda odd that He would mention that the punishment is to simply be dead.
(Mat 5:22) But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be liable to the judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the sanhedrin; but whoever shall say, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of hell.
Although Hebrews talks about men dying once and then being judged, Jesus speaks four times in Revelation about the “second death.” This second death, I’ve always thought, was to happen after the Great White Throne judgment when people who didn’t “make the cut” would be utterly destroyed by God. No eternal torment, no everlasting fire (except for Lucifer and his angels); just snuffed out.
I will take a very close look at the linked material.
However, it seems like this is pretty close to the modern day teaching of that theologian John Lennon (and many others): There is no hell.
So a distinction without a difference?
Later
That is the first time I have seen a disparaging comment about Francis Schaeffer. However, in my reading of Schaeffer I have found him rather ... incomprehensible!!
Seriously!!
A lot of people seem to comment on how his writing is deep. I agree with them on the “dense” part (and not in a good way). But I honestly feel like he says many things in a confusing way, and so much so that it is not possible to pin down EXACTLY what he is saying.
I had been planning on going back to read his stuff again and make notes of what I see that is “difficult”, or even worse.
I’ve never attended a church with these attitudes. And I’ve been a churchgoer since 1977.
Most of the night.
Psalm 119 is especially important to me. God used that Psalm to break some bondages in my life and to set me free. I consider that day as significant in my life as the day I was born again.
I cried all over the pages of that Psalm and wept to God that I wanted what the Psalm is calling for, but I couldn’t do it.
When I was through, everything had changed radically and permanently. But it took me two years of prayer and Bible study to grasp exactly what He had done.
I’ll have to reread that again myself then.
“Open for discussion, and please, be kind and respectful.”
Well said, and thank you.
Interesting backstory. Francis Schaeffer was severely dyslexic. As a rule, no one saw him reading a book — just the Bible, and occasional popular magazines. He found writing an excruciating ordeal, and frequently had to pause and shout for a family member to spell a common word. May God grant us to be as dogged and faithful to our own vocations.
Apparently, he gained a lot of his insights by spending hours with guests, talking to them, learning what they believed, what they yearned for, where the pain points were. He had his finger on the pulse of a generation — but that generation is now in its 70’s. Or older. The world has moved on.
For his most profound insights, Schaeffer devoured the cassette tapes from Vallecito, CA. Eric Wagner reported thus on the connection:
[
I know firsthand (I knew Rushdoony and went to his church in the early 1980’s in Vallecito) that Francis Schaeffer spent time at Vallecito and “borrowed” lots of Rush’s published works (read A Christian Manifesto - anyone who has read Rush will recognize the language) Rush knew about it and did not care for the most part. He said he would reach thousands, but Schaeffer would reach millions. He was correct, but as you have pointed out, Schaeffer pointed out the problem (secular humanism) but not the solution (Christian Reconstruction).
]
Schaeffer served his generation by the counsel of God. 500 years from now, however, Rushdoony’s work will still be read. I like Hilaire Belloc’s prayer:
And when I die
May it be said,
Though his sins were scarlet,
Yet his books were read.
That’s how I see it too. Over and over again it says we’re saved from death.
I say it this way. The question is am I going to hell or am I going to heaven. It’s not about geography. It’s about condition. Am I alive or am I dead?
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