Addressing False Assumptions Futurist Make.
By Tuese Ahkiong
A futurist is a Christian who believes many if not all NT prophecies are in the future. Futurists believe the following prophecies are in the future: The Return of Christ, The Great Tribulation, The Resurrection, The Great White Throne Judgment, Satan and Hell being cast into the lake of fire, The End of The World, The End of Time, The Rapture, Yeshua returning physically to reign in Jerusalem, Earth Melting down to its physical elements, … Btw, some of these prophecies do not appear in Scripture.
FLASE ASSUMPTION #1:
THE WORLD will be a Utopia, free from sin at The Parousia of Christ (Return of Christ).
W.H.O.INTERPRETS THE BIBLE
W ords of the text, in context. All words have meaning. God’s words communicate God’s thoughts to us! Genre-The type of literature. Accordingly particular rules of interpretation will apply to each kind of writing; Historical Narrative, poetry and wisdom, or prophetic writings.
Historic setting.The time of the writing, the writer and his purpose, and those to whom the message was addressed must be considered! *Audience relevance is so important because the Bible was NOT written “to” us in 21st century but “for” us. Many readers are very egotistic in that they constantly read themselves into the text.
O ther Bible Texts. TheBible has unity of doctrine. We must compare Scripture with Scripture to seethe whole picture (This is known as the analogy of faith put forth and taught by The Protestant Reformers.).
Here’s a great acronym for interpreting Scripture: HAT HAT
H ermeneutics
A udience Relevance
T ime Statements
H istory
A pocalyptic Language
T ypology
During the writing of the New TESTAMENT 45-68AD, The Old COVENANT was passing away andthe new was coming in. The old covenant was referred to as:
“THIS AGE,”
“present age,”
“present time,”
“present evil age,”
“THE WORLD”
“this world,”
“heaven and earth,”
“passing away”
The New Covenant was referred to as:
“the age to come”
“in the new world”
“new heavens and new earth”
** Notice how a person will NOT be forgiven in "the age to come" which means their is still sin with "the new covenant age."
1. Matthew 12:32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in THIS AGE or in THE AGE TO COME.
** Notice that in the New Heaven and New Earth when The Lord makes all things new, there are still sinners 8, 27, 22:15
2. Revelation 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had PASSED AWAY, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have PASSED AWAY.”
3. 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”…
4. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
5. 22 And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.
6. 27 But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.
7. Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
THERE IS DEATH IN THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH
v6-7 Israel will fill up the measure for her sin and God would repay them.
v8-15 God execute Israel.
v15-16 God will create a new people with a new name
v17-19 God will create a new heavens and new earth with a new Jersusalem; a new covenant people.
Isaiah 65
I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;
I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
to a nation that was not called by my name.
2 I spread out my hands all the day
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
3 a people who provoke me
to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
and making offerings on bricks;
4 who sit in tombs,
and spend the night in secret places;
who eat pig's flesh,
and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;
5 who say, “Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all the day.
6 Behold, it is written before me:
“I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their lap
7 both your iniquities and your fathers' iniquities together,
says the Lord;
because they made offerings on the mountains
and insulted me on the hills,
I will measure into their lap
payment for their former deeds.”
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
to a nation that was not called by my name.
2 I spread out my hands all the day
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
3 a people who provoke me
to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
and making offerings on bricks;
4 who sit in tombs,
and spend the night in secret places;
who eat pig's flesh,
and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;
5 who say, “Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all the day.
6 Behold, it is written before me:
“I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their lap
7 both your iniquities and your fathers' iniquities together,
says the Lord;
because they made offerings on the mountains
and insulted me on the hills,
I will measure into their lap
payment for their former deeds.”
8 Thus says the Lord:
“As the new wine is found in the cluster,
and they say, ‘Do not destroy it,
for there is a blessing in it,’
so I will do for my servants' sake,
and not destroy them all.
9 I will bring forth offspring from Jacob,
and from Judah possessors of my mountains;
my chosen shall possess it,
and my servants shall dwell there.
10 Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks,
and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down,
for my people who have sought me.
11 But you who forsake the Lord,
who forget my holy mountain,
who set a table for Fortune
and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,
12 I will destine you to the sword,
and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter,
because, when I called, you did not answer;
when I spoke, you did not listen,
but you did what was evil in my eyes
and chose what I did not delight in.”
13 Therefore thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, my servants shall eat,
but you shall be hungry;
behold, my servants shall drink,
but you shall be thirsty;
behold, my servants shall rejoice,
but you shall be put to shame;
14 behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart,
but you shall cry out for pain of heart
and shall wail for breaking of spirit.
15 You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse,
and the Lord God will put you to death,
but his servants he will call by another name.
16 So that he who blesses himself in the land
shall bless himself by the God of truth,
and he who takes an oath in the land
shall swear by the God of truth;
because the former troubles are forgotten
and are hidden from my eyes.
“Behold, my servants shall eat,
but you shall be hungry;
behold, my servants shall drink,
but you shall be thirsty;
behold, my servants shall rejoice,
but you shall be put to shame;
14 behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart,
but you shall cry out for pain of heart
and shall wail for breaking of spirit.
15 You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse,
and the Lord God will put you to death,
but his servants he will call by another name.
16 So that he who blesses himself in the land
shall bless himself by the God of truth,
and he who takes an oath in the land
shall swear by the God of truth;
because the former troubles are forgotten
and are hidden from my eyes.
AND A NEW EARTH,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,
and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent's food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
Isaiah 66
22 “For as THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH
that I make
shall remain before me, says the Lord,
so shall your offspring and your name remain.
23 From new moon to new moon,
and from Sabbath to Sabbath,
all flesh shall come to worship before me,
declares the Lord.
***The New Heavens and the New Earth are the New Covenant World.
** PRESENT AGE, THIS WORLD, THIS AGE - Again notice how the historical context of these words fits perfectly with The Old Covenant and its rulers; Apostate Jerusalem under slavery to the law which was passing away.
8. 1 Corinthians 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Whereis the scribe? Where is the debater of THIS AGE? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of THE WORLD?
9. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 [ Wisdom from the Spirit ] Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of THIS AGE or of the rulers of THIS AGE, who are doomed to PASS AWAY. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of THIS AGE understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
10. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From NOW on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with THE WORLD as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of THIS WORLD is PASSING AWAY.
11. Galatians 1:3-5 Grace to you and peace from God ourFather and the Lord Jesus Christ,4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age,according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
12. Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared,bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the PRESENT AGE, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
13. Luke 16:8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of THIS WORLD are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
14. John 8:23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of THIS WORLD; I am not of THIS WORLD.
15. John 9:39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into THIS WORLD, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”
16. John 11:9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble,because he sees the light of THIS WORLD.
17. John 12:25 Whoever loves his life loses it,and whoever hates his life in THIS WORLD will keep it for eternal life.
18. John 12:31 NOW is the judgment of THIS WORLD; NOW will the ruler of THIS WORLD be cast out.
19. John 13:1 [ Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet] NOW before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of THIS WORLD to the Father, having loved his own who were in THE WORLD , he loved them to the end.
20. John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of THIS WORLD is coming. He has no claim on me,
21. John 16:11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of THIS WORLD is judged.
22. John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of THIS WORLD. If my kingdom were of THIS WORLD, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from THE WORLD.”
23. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to THIS WORLD (aeon forage not world), but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
24. 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of THIS WORLD is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
25. 1 Corinthians 5:10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of THIS WORLD, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of THE WORLD.
26. 1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who deal with THE WORLD as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of THIS WORLD is PASSING AWAY.
27. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of THIS WORLD has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
28. Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of THIS WORLD, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is NOW at work in the sons of disobedience—
29. 1 John 4:17 By this is love perfected with us,so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in THIS WORLD.
30. 1 Corinthians 7:31 and those who deal with THE WORLD as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is PASSING AWAY.
** THE OLD COVENANT HEAVEN AND EARTH PASSED AWAY IN 70 AD.
33. Matthew 5:18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth PASS AWAY, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
34. Matt hew 24:34-35 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not PASS AWAY until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will PASS AWAY, but my words will not PASS AWAY. .
35. Mark 13:30-31 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not PASS AWAY until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will PASS AWAY, but my words will not PASS AWAY.
36. Luke 16:17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to PASS AWAY than for one dot of the Law to become void.
37. Luke 21:32-33 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not PASS AWAY until all has taken place. 33 and earth will PASS AWAY, but my words will not PASS AWAY.
38. James 1:10 and the rich in his humiliation,because like a flower of the grass he will PASS AWAY.
39. 2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will PASS AWAY with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
40. 1 John 2:8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is PASSING AWAY and the true light is already shining.
41. 1 John 2:17 And THE WORLD is PASSING AWAY along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
42. Revelation 21:1 [ The New Heaven and the New Earth] Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had PASSED AWAY, and the sea was no more.
43. Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things havePASSED AWAY.”
** THE NEW COVENANT WAS COMING IN DURING THE WRITING OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 45-68AD. IT WAS FULLY PRESENT AT 70AD WHEN THE OLD WAS REMOVED AT THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM AS YESHUA PROMISED.
44. Jeremiah 31:31-34 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord.33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. AndI will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
45. 2 Corinthians 3:6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a NEW COVENANT, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills,but the Spirit gives life.
46. Hebrews 8:13 In speaking of a NEW COVENANT, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.
** THE NEW COVENANT BRINGS ETERNAL LIFE, RESURRECTION, PEACE WITH GOD, A NEW HEART, HEALING …
47. Matthew 19:27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes ofIsrael. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
48. Ephesians 1:15-23 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord JesusChrist, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in THIS AGE but also in THE ONE TO COME. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
49. Luke 20:34-36 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of THIS AGE marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to THAT AGE and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
50. Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
51. ** THE CHARISMATIC GIFTS WERE GIVEN FOR THE TRANSITIONARY PERIOD OF BUILDING THE BODY OF CHRIST UP TO MATURITY AS THE CHURCH BY 70AD.
52. 1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never ends. As for prophecies,they will PASS AWAY; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will PASS AWAY.
53. 1 Corinthians 13:10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will PASS AWAY.
54. ** A PERSON IN CHRIST IS GOD'S NEW CREATION, NEW PEOPLE, NEW CHILDREN OF GOD
55. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,he is a new creation. The old has PASSED AWAY; behold, the new has come.
ADDITIONALVERSES
Mark10:29-31 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold NOW in THIS TIME, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in THE AGE TOCOME eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Luke18:29-30 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in THIS TIME, and in THE AGE TO COME eternal life.”
Hebrews6:4-6 For it is impossible,in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of THE AGE TO COME, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.
Hebrews9:8-10 By this theHoly Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the PRESENT AGE). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings,regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
Luke12:54-56 He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and it happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the PRESENT TIME?
1Timothy 6:17-19 As for the rich in this PRESENT AGE, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Romans3:21-26 But NOW the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at thePRESENT TIME, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans8:18-25 For I consider that the sufferings of this PRESENT TIME are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning to get her in the pains of childbirth until NOW. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. NOW hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Romans11:1-5 I ask,then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” 4 But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too at the PRESENT TIME there is a remnant, chosen by grace.
2Corinthians 8:13-15For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the PRESENT TIME should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”
2Timothy 4:10 For Demas, in love with this PRESENT WORLD, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
1Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in THIS AGE, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named,not only in THIS AGE but also in the one to come.
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