Only What the Bible Teaches Not Opinions- God’s got it Covered
In his book, Ancient Church Fathers what the Disciples of the Apostles Taught Dr. Ken Johnson goes through the writings of the early church fathers. Some of the information below contains quotes from that book. For the first 200 years, the early leaders of the Church all agreed on the basic doctrines. But by 300 A.D. allegorizing the Bible had become widespread.The disciples of the Apostles taught Premillennialism, which means that Jesus will return to earth in the future, and set up a Kingdom that will last for a literal 1000 years (Millennium) as prophesied in the Scripture. Jesus will reign from the city of Jerusalem. Prior to this, there will be a seven-year period during which the Antichrist will rule the Earth. During the last days, the Jews will return and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. In the years, A.D. 200–300, a movement arose teaching that these doctrines were symbolic of historical events.
Polycarp traveled with the Apostle John for almost 40 years. Polycarp had a disciple named Irenaeus. In 170 AD Irenaeus wrote a five volume set of books covering much of Church doctrine titled Against Heresies. In it he said that those Premillennial events above must be fulfilled. Against Heresies 5.35 “these are literal things, and Christians who allegorize them are immature.”
There are teachings that some of the main line denominations hold to today that are not contained in the Scripture or taught by the early church fathers. One of those is Amillennialism. It teaches that there is a Second Coming then comes Heaven. They leave out that the Messiah has an Earthly Kingdom, which he will rule with a rod of iron. You know, the lion will lie down with the lamb stuff, see Isaiah 65:16-25. We Christians will be in our eternal state. Because the 1000 year Millennium period is mentioned only in the book of Revelation, the focus is on how Revelation should be properly interpreted. Most of the older denominations do not believe it should be interpreted, literal, or, at least, never talk about it. By the fourth century, Amillennialism was the standard, and the legend that the book of Revelation was never originally designed to be read, or studied by the average Christian was firmly in place.
Revelation starts with, 1:1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation ends with, 22:10 And he said to me, “Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. Then in 22:17-19 it commands to not add or subtract from the prophecy in this book. Read the last page of God’s Word, the penalty for adding to subtracting from or changing is that they will receive the curses in the book.
I’m a big Jesus guy; I’ll take his advice, and not in some Church traditions. He is calling us not to seal up, but to take Revelation to heart and by reading it to be blessed by it. Revelation has details but most future prophecy is in other scripture, Daniel, Isaiah, Matt 24 etc.
After his Resurrection, Jesus met two disciples on the road to Emmaus that were downcast after the crucifixion, Luke 24. Jesus scolded them for not applying prophecies, to understand that he fulfilled the qualifications for the Messiah. Is this an example for us today that we are going to be held accountable for including prophecy as a part of our Christian hope?
Luke 24:25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
We are not supposed to set dates for Christ’s return, but some do. Some people will refer to them as examples of why we should not examine prophecy. This is called a “Straw Man” argument, not addressing but skirting around the subject. We must use the Bible only, not someone’s opinion. Some will use Matthew 24:36 to discourage people from understanding the basics of Bible prophecy. In it Jesus said, “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.”
Every person in Jewish society knew this expression; it is from the Jewish wedding ceremony. The father was in charge of telling the son when he could go get his bride, only he knew when. The groom would go to the bride’s house to pay a dowry, Jesus paid with his blood. Then go to his father’s house to build an addition for himself and his bride. About one year later the father would tell the son to get his bride. The bride would meet him outside her house, and go to his father’s house for the ceremony. The bride is always to be ready!
On the night he was arrested Jesus told the disciples don’t worry you’re my bride. John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (At the Father’s House in Heaven)
The “imminent” return of Christ, see: James 5:7-9, 1 Peter 4:7, Rev. 1:3, 22:7,10,12, 20.
Jesus himself tells us to watch and to stay alert for him coming for his Bride, because it could happen at any moment. That is what is meant by the term “imminent.” The opposite of staying alert and being ready for Jesus’ return is to scoff at it, ignore, or even allegorize it. 2 Peter 3:3 …in the last days scoffers will come mocking the truth… 4 They will say, “Where is the ‘coming’ he promised? …everything goes on as it has since the begging of creation.”
Mark 13:33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! 34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip…35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—37 I say to you what I say to EVERYONE: Watch for him!”
Prophecy’s purpose is to comfort us! If you miss that you miss the whole thing. A major theme in the entire Bible is that, this is not the perfect world that God created, and that he is going to judge this fallen one. After that he will create a “New Heavens and Earth.” We as Christians are “the children of God.” We will never be judged of our sins, they were paid for by Jesus, the Son of God, on the Cross. We are not appointed to the judgement and the wrath of God. That will be against the unbelievers at the end of things, please read Isaiah 24, Matt. 24.
Jesus said that, “everything written about him WILL come true” (Isaiah 53 is an example). He’s not pleased when we allegorize his Bible or ignore it. Prophecy is difficult to put together but it is our HOPE not our doom, after all it’s ¼ of the Bible! Watch and be Ready!