I want to take this topic in shorter, manageable posts. My goal is to take you through my thought process in shorter increments than usual. This topic seems to require it. We'll start in the Old Testament. Anyone can tell from a lexicon or the list of verses I posted...
Israel and the Church
Amos 9 and Acts 15
This case is a fascinating one, as I am sure you all know now. Opinion on the questions I posted varied in the comments: 1. What would you assume the "booth" or "tabernacle" of David is, referred to in v. 11? * some saw a structure here; others saw David's dynasty or...
The OT Cited in the NT: A First Look at Amos 9:11-12
Amos 9:11-12 will be our next passage. I am only giving you the reference here because I want you to read it and answer in your own mind the following questions after you do so. As an Israelite contemporary to the time of Amos, when you read Amos 9:11-12 ... 1. What...
Why An Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 6
Now that we're out of the covenants, it's time to move on to other items that demonstrate how anyone's position on end times is driven by presuppositions. Our discussion of the covenants (and some reader comments) brought to light how readily many Christians assume...
Why An Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 4
In the last post, we talked about how certain views of end times are tied to certain views of the biblical covenants with Abraham and David, as well as the New Covenant. Many Christians want to argue for a literal millennium on the basis of the irrevocable nature of...
Why An Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 3
To this point, we've talked about a single dispute that divides biblical scholars and students on eschatology: whether or Israel and the Church are to be kept distinct when interpretating prophecy. The question matters since any position that wants a literal...
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 2
In the first installment of this series, I talked about how certain systems of eschatology need the New Testament to distinguish between the Church and national Israel for certain elements of their eschatological system to work. Let me unpack that a bit again here by...
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 1
Naked Bible enthusiasts (and despisers) may recall that, long ago, I posted a list of presuppositions that are brought to the Bible that ultimately dictate one's position on eschatology ("end times"). I posted this because all too many Christians assume that their...
End Times Questions for Left-Behinders, Part 2: How Everyone Cheats on Eschatology
Thanks to Debra for provoking this post earlier than I had thought! 🙂 ANY view of eschatology is about the presuppositions that are brought TO the text. NONE of the views are self-evident ("I just look at my Bible and there it is--Amen!" Aaarrgghh!). How you...