There is a problem with the progressive idea of religion. That we will evolve, and become more just, more fair, until justice will roll down like a river, and peace will reign.
The problem is not the dream. We have that dream: that justice will come, that mercy will be given to the penitent, and that there will be no need for war. The problem is that this is not for this world.
The world is promised tyranny, war, famine, rationed food for the masses and luxury for the elite, and death. The church is promised martyrs.
It may be that the West will survive: I would not bet against the tribes of that Northern Plain: I would bet against the elite who lie, steal and cheat to remain on top of a crumbling building, Knowing that after them comes the flood.
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.
I have said before that for many years I ignored revelations. I had read Hal Lindsay’s pretribulational teaching as a teenager, and seen people preach nothing bur prophecy, while neither seeking righteousness nor loving mercy.
Not that I am particularly good at either. There is a reason that we have to ask Christ to lead us to repentance this day. We are fallen, we are broken, and there is much that is not good in us. To claim otherwise is a not merely heresy, it is to deny the truth of our nature.
But we are given these teachings for a reason. The harvest of Martyrs is not complete. There will be a winnowing of the church. The world will wish our defeat: as a church, as congregations, and individuals. For they do not understand: they do not know that they have lost already, and their time is limited.
But we should not be that foolish. The elite of a dying paradigm continue to have power, and become more vicious and arbitrary as their defeat looms.
Which means this is a time indeed to be as crafty as a snake, while being innocent. To take the metaphor from Rowling’s Hogwarts: Syltherin (the house of the snake) can teach us politics, and we need some righteous Slyterins. Because to the gods of the unrighteous we must not bow.
I’m firmly pre-trib – Missler has some great discussion lately on his Q&A youtube channel. But being pre-trib only makes me more interested in doing as well as possible before the trumpet sounds. The doctrine of imminence should make us more attentive to our work here, not less. I find it… interesting… to discuss, but hey – it’s not like you’re going to miss the bus if you’re wrong. We won’t need to pack.
(Although BTDT with the too heavenly minded to be any earthly good business, so will concede that that is a real danger.)
Love the comment about many preaching prophecy only and not the Gospel. I once had the privilege of leading such a young man through the book of Daniel, and the constant question I had for him was this; “If this is true, what difference does it make in your life?”. I think it had moderate success in pointing him to the need to live the Christian life today.