Practical application of Pentecostal theology in politics, economy and social issues
Hello, I’m doing some research on PC eschatology. Am I correct in thinking that premillenialism is dying among Pentecostals in general? Which Pentecostal denomination or influential church/movement, save AoG and CoG (Cleveland, TN), requires premillenialism in its statement of faith?
The Gospel of John describes a scene where John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and he made the following statement:
“Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is
the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed
me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the
reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to
Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down
from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know
him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man
on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one.” (John
1:29-34)
At first sight, it seems the writer was describing the actual baptism itself, as per Matthew’s account. However, the next few days finds Jesus choosing his disciples – not going into the wilderness as the Synoptics relate it. So, is this scene a ‘revisit’ so to speak? Is it Jesus coming out of the wilderness, walking past John, at about Passover season, some months following his actual baptism?
If so, then the Gospel of John is not recording the baptism event directly, but is recording John B’s testimony of that event. In other words, John B. sees Jesus returning, and calls out, “This is the man I baptised several months ago! This is the man the dove descended upon!”
So, is the Gospel of John recording the actual baptism event, or is he recording an occasion when Jesus revisited the same place on his way back from the wilderness? The latter explanation may reconcile some of the perceived differences between John and the Synoptic Gospels.
Guest;
Following
Guest;
Yes, it’s dying. Postmillennialism and Amillennialism seem to be growing rather rapidly, and most of these are taking the form of partial-preterism. Books like Raptureless by Jonathan Welton, The Art of Revelation by Jonathan Welton, and Victorious Eschatology by Harold Eberle have been taking the Charismatic world by storm.
Within the Pentecostal world, NT Wright seems to have a lot of influence in the seminaries and so he is bringing a partial-preterist, post-millennial eschatology to the Pentecostals though he himself is an Anglican. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to who at one time we’re dispensational premillennialists, but after reading NT Wright, Gordon Fee, and and a few others, they’ve abandoned their view entirely. Personally, I’m seeing Pentecostals leave dispensationalism and return to the eschatology (and liturgy) of their Wesleyan and Anglican heritage.
Guest;
UPDATE!!! So this is what I’ve found out so far. I urge especially those who are familiar with OBSC and ICFG to disprove my possible error.
In the UK: AoG, CCI and Elim and in the US: OBSC and ICFG do not mention millenium at all within their statements of faith or in their “foundational truths.”
BFP, GCE or VMeC in Germany do not emphasize it in their statements of beliefs either.
The only two big Pentecostal denominations that do mention millenial reign of Christ on earth are AoG and CoG, Cleveland, TN.
The Czech Apostolic Church’s statement is somewhat idiosyncratic. It clearly tries to emphasize the rapture, but does not give a hint about the earthly millenial reign of Christ. Thus it can accommodate any position as long as it acknowledges the rapture experience. [Btw… have you ever heard of postmillenialism that counts with a rapture of some sort?]
Just for a comparison within Central European context, the Slovak Apostolic Church does confess premillenialism and the Romanian Cultul Creștin Penticostal is also firmly premillenial.
Guest;
It should have died when the Crusades (ugh) failed.
Varnel Watson
is an on going thing nowadays Philip Williams tell us some you participated in besides finding the ark
Philip Williams
Troy Day I didn’t find the Ark. My friend did.
Varnel Watson
I met the guy who found Titanic He said it looked much like the AG