preterism - Modern Humans 3
Man (3)
Inauguration
From that time the Father has "dwelt" in the "hearts" of His PEOPLE and "reigned" in them and the "Lamb" and His "servants" have "reigned" with Him (1 Cor 15:24, Rev 21:5, 22:3).
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| "City of God"/"New Jerusalem"/"Bride of the Lamb" |
This manner of "life" is where the "faithful" meet with God and "walk" in His "light"; true "Paradise" (Gen 2:9, Rev 2:7, 21:3-4, 24).
Adam's "unrighteous act" (Gen 3:6) meant that "life" was forfeit for the "church". Nevertheless, it would be won on their behalf by his "Seed" who would "come into the world" through the "faith" of his "righteous" heir (Gen 3:15. Gal 3:16). Thus, it continued to be "promised" to THEM through God's "saints" (Matt 25:34, Eph 3:5-6, Rev 21:12-14).
3. Eve became the "mother of ALL" who received natural "life" "in" Adam and the "promise" of spiritual "life" "in" his "Seed" (Gen 3:20). The NT "church" is the fulfillment of that "promise".
She is the "mother of ALL" who receive "life" "in" Christ (Matt 25:34, 1 Cor 15:22, Eph 2:5).
Those given the "gift of life" before Christ's parousia (Rom 5:17-18, 6:23) "eagerly waited" for its fullness to arrive (Rom 8:11, 23, 25, Gal 5:5, Phil 3:20, Heb 9:28) and made themselves "ready" to receive it (Rom 6:11, 1 Cor 15:44, 2 Cor 5:4, Heb 9:28, Rev 19:7).
Indwelling
i. The Second Coming (Matt 10:23, 16:27, Phil 4:5, 1 Thess 5:23, 1 Thess 1:6-7, 1 Tim 6:14, Heb 10:37, Jam 5:7-8, 2 Peter 1:19, Rev 3:11, 22:7, 12, 20). ii. The age/world of "promise" (Matt 12:32, Eph. 1:21, Heb 2:5, 6:5). iii. The manifestation of the way into the true "Holy Place" (Heb 9:8-10, Gal. 4:19, Eph 2:21-22, 3:17, 4:13). iv. The "new Jerusalem" (Heb 13:14). v. The "end" of "all things" (1 Peter 4:7). vi. The resurrection/judgement of the "world" — "living and dead" (Matt 16:27, Ac 17:31, 24:15, 25, 2 Tim 4:1, 1 Pet 4:5, 17, Jude 4, 14-15). vii. The "redemption" of their "bodies" (Rom 8:11, 23, 1 Cor 15:51-52, Phil 3:21). viii. The "crushing" of Satan beneath their "feet" (Rom. 16:20).
It truly is amazing how 'futurists' can place texts such as these thousands (millions?) of years in the future.
2. We notice that Rev 22 has time-texts connected to: i. the "holy city", ii. seeing God's "face", iii. the "Tree of Life", and iv. "no more curse". These were all "things" that would "shortly" be received (Rev 22:6). The "city" is also found in Rev 21 where we find "no more death" (Rev 21:4).
Thus, "no more death" is connected to the "city" and therefore to ALL the time-texts found in these passages.
[ See, 'Death'. ]
3. Much of Rev 20-22 speaks of the consummate "new creation" order; i.e. the religio-social environment in which God's PEOPLE would "live" free from "death" — symb. the "new heavens and earth" in which dwells "righteousness" (2 Pet 3:13, Rev 20:14, 21:4).
"New covenant" Christianity supplanted "old covenant" Judaism (Heb. 8:13; Rev. 2:9; 3:9; 11:1-2) and at Christ's "return" to the "air"/"clouds" (NOT to planet earth!; 1 Thess 4:17) the Holy Spirit "indwelt" church became the FATHER, Son, and Holy Spirit "indwelt" church. Eusebius well said that the Christian age is “a dispensation more divine than many are disposed to think."
This is the age of the "Kingdom of God" and "everlasting life".
Christ's Golden Rule is no longer buffeted by "enemies" and
"love" underpins the ENTIRE socio-religious environment (symb. "heavens
and earth") in which the "church" now lives.
4.
After Christ's ascension we read that the "faithful" were "filled" with the Spirit
(Ac 2:4), and "sealed" by the Spirit (Eph 1:13), and they were being "built up"
— note 'CBV' advocates, "built up",
not "raised
up", which had to do with the individual "bodies" of the "faithful",
NOT the
corporate "body of Christ" (1 Cor 15:35, 42, 44, 51-52) — by the Spirit as a "spiritual" Temple in
readiness for the Father's "indwelling" presence (1 Cor 3:16, 6:19, 2 Cor 6:16,
Eph 2:21).Notice, the Father Himself did not come and "dwell" with His PEOPLE until the "first heaven and the first earth had passed away" (Rev 21:1, 3), which was yet future during the apostolic generation (2 Pet 3:13).
The Father could NOT "dwell" in His PEOPLE whilst "death" reigned in them; hence all the "shadows" in the OT (Lev 11:31-32, 21:11, Num 6:6, etc).
5. The Father's "indwelling" of the "church" came AFTER the parousia ( when "death" was "swallowed up by life" (Jn 14:23, Rom 8:11, 23, 1 Cor 15:26, 2 Cor 5:4, Eph 1:13, 4:30, Rev 21:3).
Since then "life" with the Father has "come" (1 Cor 13:12). This is described symbolically in Revelation as being found within the "gates" of the "city" (Rev 21-22).
This is the dispensation in which "God" (FATHER, Son, and Holy Spirit) has become "all in all" in the "hearts" of His PEOPLE (1 Cor 15:28).
6. "God is love" (1 Jn 4:7-8); His Law is "love" (Matt 7:12, 22:37-40, Rom 13:8, 10); His will is that people "love" (Jn 13:34-35, 15:12, 17, 1 Jn 3:23, 2 Jn 1:5).
Since the destruction of the Temple (70AD) "love" is the only standard of justice/righteousness that the "church" needs in order to judge its own actions and the actions of others. "Love", unopposed by any "enemy" (1 Cor 15:26), lies at the heart of the socio-religious environment (symb. "heavens and earth"; 2 Pet 3:13) in which God's PEOPLE live. To "love God" and one's "neighbours" is to do God's will (Matt 6:10).
Since the "last enemy" was "destroyed" earthly Temples, animal sacrifices, and "tablets of stone" are no longer needed (Jn 4:21, 23-24, Gal 3:24-25, Heb 10:4).
7. Does this mean that post-parousia "believers" need nothing more after "conversion"? No (cf. Rom 12:2, Eph 4:22-24, Col 3:10). Even when the LORD's mighty "power" gave "witness" to His "glory" and to Christ's "victory" during the transition period (30-70AD; Mk 16:20, Heb 2:4) some were committing gross "sins" (Ac 5:1-10, 1 Cor 5:1, Rev 2:15, 20).
"Perfection" only comes AFTER a "believer" has finished his "pilgrimage" in this "world" and receives his "upward call" to "be where Christ is", "seated at the right hand of God" (Eph 1:20, 4:13, Phil 3:14, Heb 8:1, 12:23).
8. In order to help establish the "church" miraculous "gifts" were given to it during the apostolic generation, which aided it in its infancy. But after "death" was "destroyed" at Christ's parousia (1 Cor 15:26, 54-55, Rev 20:14) "faith alone" (sola fide) is required. The only things that "abide" on earth are "faith, hope, and love" (1 Cor 13:8-13).
If any expected the "Kingdom of God" to be some kind of Utopia/"golden age" after Christ's second "coming" they were just as mistaken as those who expected Him to expel Rome from Israel after His first "coming" (Ac 1:6, Lk 17:21, Jn 4:21, 23).
The "carnal mind" is a difficult beast to tame. Men will ever love bells, smells, fancy costumes, grand sounding titles, and letters after their names. This is how dead 'religion' and all the seminaries, colleges, etc, that support it, is kept alive (Col 2:13-23, 1 Pet 1:18).
9. Once the Father's "enemies" were made His "footstool" (Heb 1:3, 10:13) — e.g. sin, death/hades, dead works, and the Devil (1 Cor 15:54, Heb 6:1, 9:14, 26, Rev 20:15, 20) — He began to "dwell" with, and in, His PEOPLE (Jn 14:21, 23-24, Rev 21:3).
Even as the "faithful" make their "pilgrimage" to the next "world" (Jn 8:23, 1 Thess 4:17) there is no longer any "coming in" and "going out" of His "presence" (Rev 3:12).
This is the "glory" of the "Kingdom of God" and the "new covenant" dispensation.
10. During this era one is either "in" Christ, or "out" of Him; and to be "in" Him is to HAVE "life" with God. [ Which is what His PEOPLE should have received "in" Adam (1 Cor 15:22). ]
Do the "faithful" still have "trials in the flesh"? Yes.
Spiritually however they are "complete" "in" the LORD (Col 2:9-10).
Servants
Christianity transcends all physical limitations.
2. "Elect" Israelites (Gal 5:16) were to continue as God's "servants" in the "heavenly country", which is the "land" they inherited a "second time". Christ's parousia marked the time when they began to "reign over" it with Him under the Father's direct "rule" (Isa 61:7, Dan 7:18, 27, Rev 7:15, 17:14, 22:3-5).
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| "Archangels" appointed to facilitate "order" |
But that does not mean that EVERYONE has the same "ministry" before Him.
3. There is no circumcision "made with hands" in God's "Kingdom" (Col 2:11-15), but being equal does NOT mean that everyone is an "Israelite" (as some erroneously claim), or that everyone has the same "office" (Matt 20:13).
The "living God" is a God of "order". Even "angels" have "archangels" appointed over them (1 Thess 4:16, Jude 1:9). The "house of Jacob" were "loved with an everlasting love" (Jer 31:1-4) and the "work of ministry" was given to them as a "gift" (Rom 11:25-29).
The OT Israeli "elect" remain God's "servants" in the "world above" (Isa 49:13-16, Rev 21:12, 14).
4. Adam's "sin" brought "condemnation" upon ALL who were "in" him (Rom 5:16, 18, 1 Cor 15:22). Thus, the "Lake of Fire"/"Second Death" was a "judgement" that affected THEM and THEM alone (Matt 25:41). [ Aborigines and ancient Britons knew nothing of Adam, a Tree/River of Life, Sabbaths, etc. ]
Since the fall from "grace" of 'modern humans' the first "death" — i.e. the rendering of the "inward (esōthen) man" — has ever been their fate. But Adam should never have "tasted" of this bitter fruit (Gen 3:22).
Albeit, upon the "natural" demise of his "outward (exō) man" (Gen 5:5) his "soul" passed into hadēs (1 Pet 3:18-20, 4:5-6) and its immediate "covering" (or "body"/sōma) "returned" to "dust" with the rest of his "flesh" (Gen 3:19).
5. In exchange for perfectly "obeying" God's direct command in a "land" ('erets) "prepared" (bârâ') to offer Adam every encouragement (Gen 1:31, 2:17), he was given a one-time opportunity to have his transgressions "blotted out" and his "sinful nature" renewed.
As "covenant head" these "blessings" were not designed solely for him, but for the ENTIRE 'covenant community'; i.e. his posterity (God's "servants"; the original "church") and ALL who "joined themselves" to them.
But though promised "life", Adam's "sin" brought them ALL into "bondage" to the first "death" (Rom 5:16-18). Thus, a "resurrection" was determined that would see them ALL "raised up" from the "dust", "just AND the unjust", to receive their eternal awards (Dan 12:2, Jn 5:28-29, Ac 24:15, 1 Cor 6:14, 15:12, 35, 42-43, 2 Cor 4:14).
6. Once the aspect of "flesh" that provided the "souls" of God's PEOPLE with a "covering" (or "body"/sōma) was "raised up"/"changed" on the "last Day" of the OT dispensation — that is, once its "natural"/"mortal"/"corruptible" properties were EXCHANGED (allassō) for "spiritual"/"immortal"/"incorruptible" properties (1 Cor 15:44, 46, 52-53) — they were "ALL made alive" (1 Cor 15:22).
Thus, their "inward (esōthen) man" either began to experience everlasting "communion" with the Father, which is true "life" (Jn 17:3, Heb 9:28, Rev 21:3), or "everlasting" separation from Him, which for THEM was a "second death" (Mat 10:28, 2 Thess 1:9, Jude 1:13, 2 Pet 2:17).
[ See, 'Death. ]
Tested
Those who prefer to believe that a literal "serpent" tempted Eve (Gen 3:1-5) and that God brought literal "animals" to Adam to see if he could find a "helper"/"wife" from amongst them (Gen 2:18-20, 24), are free to do so.
Had Adam not "sinned" he would have been "born again" into a personal relationship with God that would NEVER have ended.[ NB After the Fall the "animal" motive continued to be used by the holy authors of scripture. Not only to symbolise non-adamic "peoples" (Ethiopians, Egyptians, etc), but ANY "peoples" (gôy/ethnos) not of the "holy" line; compare, Gen 2:19-20, Hos 2:18, Ac 10:11-12, 15, 28. ]
2. We learn from scripture that the LORD took Adam into "covenant" (Hos 6:7). But before the original "head" of the "church" could enjoy its "blessings" — e.g. the "blotting out" of his "sins", the "renewing" of his "sinful nature", and "everlasting life" with God — he would be "tested" (Gen 2:16, 3:1-5; compare, Matt 4:1, Mk 1:13).
AFTER he had proved himself worthy of becoming God's "servant", fit to "minister" the "gospel of the Kingdom" in "power", those who had "joined themselves" to him (symb. "animals"; Gen 2:19-20) would have received the same "blessings".
3. When Adam "sinned" God's PEOPLE lost the opportunity of being "reconciled" to their Maker. Thus, they were ALL "condemned" to "futility" and the "bondage of corruption" (Gen 3:19).
Nevertheless, as they "groaned" under its weight they were "subject" to it in the "hope" of one day being "delivered" by Adam's "Seed" (Gen 3:15, Rom 8:20-22).
The "condemnation" of "death"
pronounced upon Adam
had nothing
to do with the inevitable decay of his "outward
(exō) man" (Ps 49:12, 2 Cor 4:16). It was aimed at his
"inward (esōthen) man" and his soul's immediate
"covering" (or "body"/sōma). On the "day" he "sinned" (Gen 2:17) its
"natural"/"mortal"/"corruptible" properties lost the "promise of life" and
in due course it "returned"
to "dust" with the rest of his "flesh" (Gen 3:19, 5:5). It was
"redeemed" from the "dust" at the parousia when
it received "spiritual"/"immortal"/"incorruptible" properties (Rom 8:11, 23, 1
Cor 15:44, 46, 53). [ See, 'The Resurrection'. ]
4. Before Adam's calling in approx. 4,000BC we have no indication that God had entered into "covenant" with any other human-being or given anyone else a direct command (Gen 2:17). That is why Adam's trial was unique and carried with it a unique outcome — "everlasting life".
By rendering perfect "obedience" until the end of his time of "testing" Adam would have had his sins "blotted out" and his "sinful nature" renewed. Thus, "wrath" would have been diverted and permanent "access" to the Father won (symb. the "Tree of Life"; Gen 3:22), both for him, and for the ENTIRE 'covenant community'. Had he not committed "the sin" of "disobeying" the LORD's direct command he would have been "born again" into a personal relationship with God that would never have ended.
In other words, "all things" would have "made new" (cf. Rev 21:5).
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT
TAFFY WITH YOUR VIEWS. MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY DONE SO.
If you're a preterist or have any views on preterism it would be great to hear from you.
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