I guess as far as eschatology goes, we can view the earth as a burning building where we need to rescue as many people as possible before it collapses, or we can view it as a country that has been invaded by an enemy force that has taken people captive.

I say both.

Could it then be pointing to something?

hey joe:

because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.
Hebrew 12:6
Yes! Love wins.

I probably should have stated that sooner!

Blessings to you as well.

Do you think Jesus spoke of restoration and not much on condemnation because he knew that they would not be living in the times we live now?

I’m not exactly sure what you mean by this statement.

Jesus did talk of condemnation, too, fo course. But it was mainly to the Jewish leadership who had lost the point of their true calling. There were different groups who were into self-preservation or power grabbing to various degrees, and Jesus condemned for forgetting that they were chosen to be a blessing to other nations. They had neglected to care for the poor, the widows, and the orphans.

So Jesus brought good news for the oppressed and marginalized, but He spoke of judgement for the religious unless they repented. I think that message is the same today. The Church can be content being wealthy and powerful, or it can give sacrificially to a lost and dying world.

Our hope is in the fact that Christ is working with us to reach the world, and the eventually things will be made right when He returns.

I guess as far as eschatology goes, we can view the earth as a burning building where we need to rescue as many people as possible before it collapses, or we can view it as a country that has been invaded by an enemy force that has taken people captive. I see it as the latter. Christians are to go about setting people free, and we know that the ultimate victory will be consummated when Christ returns.

Let me be clear though: I don’t believe in the rapture in the sense it’s promoted in mainstream religion (ie: Left Behind or John Hagee are way off the mark).

I simply believe that Jesus Christ will be returning to establish His everlasting Kingdom on earth (as opposed to us all making our home in heaven). I do believe He’s returning soon, but that could be in 5 yrs, a decade, 50 yrs, 100 yrs… God only knows. I still save for retirement, work to pay off my home, save for my kids’ university and so forth. I don’t think Oscar or Rick have a distorted view either.

I would only suggest not becoming so hardened (based on your bad experience in the past) to the fact that Jesus couldn’t possibly return in our lifetime. Again, that’s warned about in scripture in numerous areas – especially by Jesus Himself. God bless you.

Do you think Jesus spoke of restoration and not much on condemnation because he knew that they would not be living in the times we live now?

Phil – not sure how this is a false dichotomy. Especially since I made clear that your response would not give us license, one way or the other, to fold up our tents and run off to the hills.

I would say my issue is with your use of the word “only” in your second choice. I would rather use the word “ultimate”.

Well, then, you know I started to question some of that stuff. I started doing some research and found that the Rapture was pretty much made up, and that a lot of the stuff I grew up hearing wasn’t necessarily true. I’m not bitter about it, I just don’t want to pass on the same mistakes I heard. I don’t want to tell the people I teach that things are hopeless in the world, and that they shouldn’t bother trying to change things. I want to inspire them to use the gifts God gave them to change the world. I don’t want to manipulte them through fear and guilt.

I agree that we are to be salt and light in this present, evil world (Gal 1:4). We are to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (Phil 2).

Rick – I get the same sense. Somehow, it seems very foggy when it should be one of the clearest elements underpinning our faith.