And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27–28) There is a translation issue in Hebrews 9:28. The Greek word “time” is not used. Literally, it’s “out of the second” (ἐκ δευτέρου). [...]
Gary continues speaking with Kim Burgess about 1 Corinthians 15 and the timing and nature of the resurrection. This eschatology debate is not going to have any hope of getting anywhere if we simply argue back and forth among ourselves over a series of isolated proof texts. The solution to this deep and complicated debate is not simply going to be a matter of comparing this verse with that verse in [...]
This week marks the 405th anniversary of when the Pilgrims and other settlers agreed to the principles known as the Mayflower Compact. “The Mayflower Compact was important because it was the first document to establish self-government in the New World. It remained active until 1691 when Plymouth Colony became part of Massachusetts Bay Colony,” explained History.com. I suspect that if the Scofield [...]
Gary discusses the current state of eschatology debates online. A post on a Facebook page had an interesting discussion on Luke 17 and its relationship to Matthew 24-25 and Greg L. Bahnsen’s view of that relationship. Dr. Bahnsen took the view that Luke 17:22-37 refers to the Second Coming while Matthew 24:1-34 refers to the judgment on Jerusalem that took place before that first-century generatio [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 66 Gary discusses how “end-times” prophecy is overflowing on social media lately and how many are claiming that we are in the last days. In each new prophecy book that hits the bookstores we are told that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. The authors point to various signs that they say are compelling evidence that Jesus’ ret [...]
Gary continues going through 1 Corinthians 15 with Kim Burgess. In this episode, they discuss death as being the final enemy. In Acts 24:14-15, Paul says this: “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; having a hope in God, which these men [...]
One of the frustrating aspects of debating eschatology with the Three Questions Letter signers is their shifting interpretations and inconsistencies among them. As to their inconsistencies, Doug dismissed them as irrelevant to the topic because not all full preterists agree. I suspect that on the big issues, they do agree. We all make adjustments over time as we study more. I certainly have. I not [...]
Gary continues his discussion with Kim Burgess on 1 Corinthians 15. One cannot say that it was all done at the cross or that it was all done at the ascension, or all done at Pentecost, and that is it, and then we move on. No, it was not. The covenantal consummation of this accomplishment of redemption was still being expected by the saints, post-AD 30, as they all were looking to the events that w [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 65 Gary shares his takeaways and summary of the recent discussion/debate he had with Douglas Wilson in Moscow, Idaho. What verse goes with the Nicene Creed’s “He shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead”? Where in the NT does it say Jesus will “come again”? Of course, based on Matthew 16:27, Jesus [...]
During our discussion about eschatology, the topic of animal death and resurrection came up. Doug Wilson believes there was “entropy” before the fall. This would include death. He stated the following in his article “Full Preterism and the Death Problem.” What was the nature of perfection in the Garden of Eden? What did an unfallen world look like? Too many Christians have the idea that a world wi [...]
Gary begins a series of podcasts on 1 Corinthians 15 with Kim Burgess. The New Covenant order could not and would not be fully in place, established and ready to go, unless and until the prior Old Covenant order was fully removed, historically and visibly. This means that, vastly important as all these events surely were, it took more than the cross, the resurrection, the ascension of Christ, and [...]
Guest article by Bruce Axtens As I am sure you are all aware, the chapter and verse numbers in your Bible aren’t inspired. They weren’t part of the originals. After centuries of various ad hoc mark-ups and divisions, one Stephen Langton, in the 12th century, came up with the chapter numbering that we still use today. Then in the 1500s, Robert Estienne, devised a verse numbering. This also became s [...]
In a conference talk recorded years ago, Gary discusses the Battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39. Most interpreters have tried to find the fulfillment in events of their day using current events as the interpretive grid. For example, in the fourth and fifth centuries, Gog was thought to refer to the Goths and Moors. In the seventh century, it was the Huns. By the eighth century, the Islamic em [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 64 Gary gives his “state of the union” of current teachings about Bible prophecy coming from non-Dispensational critics. Debates continue over which biblical passages refer to the AD 70 judgment coming of Jesus and those that refer to what is commonly called the yet Second Coming of Jesus. As I have repeatedly pointed out, there is no unanimo [...]
Penn Jillette and Raymond Teller are stage magicians. Their act is a mix of comedy, irreverence, and skill. They are also known for exposing quacks, frauds, paranormal beliefs, and claims of the supernatural in the tradition of Harry Houdini and James Randi in their show Penn & Teller: Bulls***t! They ventured into the realm of politics by taking on global warming, gun control, PETA, the War o [...]
Martin Luther posted his 95 challenges to the wicked practices of the Church on October 31 for a reason. He picked this day intentionally, and ever since Halloween has also been Reformation Day. The supernatural power which energizes God’s kingdom is never bound by political rhetoric: “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20). The battle against the kingdoms of [...]
Popular culture is one way to track shifting opinions about paranormal and occult experiences. Before television’s debut, soon after the Second World War, music, literature, and film were expressions of popular culture for the masses. Film brought literary works to life that many people talked about but rarely read. Abraham “Bram” Stoker’s Dracula(1897) was the first novel of its type to make it t [...]
Gary discusses several recent news events, including a crazy leftist relationship coach claiming Taylor Swift is showing her “tradwife” leanings by wanting to have children. A number of Christian leaders profess that the church’s job is only “to preach the gospel.” This seems to be the emphasis of Cal Thomas and Ed Dobson in their book Blinded by Might. Dobson, former board member of t [...]
Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 63 Gary continues his discussion of Matthew 23-25 with Darren Doane. Matthew 24:33 tells us what audience Jesus had in view: “so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” It’s obvious, and without any need for debate, that the first “you” refers to those who asked the questions that led to Jesus’ extended rem [...]
P. Andrew Sandlin posted the following on Facebook: “Greg Bahnsen’s name has been invoked in the defense of the hyper-preterist heresy.” He doesn’t say who. For those of you who do not know, Greg Bahnsen was a professor at Reformed Theological Seminary in the 1970s when I was a student there. He taught apologetics, ethics, and a course on eschatology. His article “The Prima Facie Acceptability of [...]
