"The Earth Belongs to HaShem and the Fullness Thereof."
Is the Rapture a Biblical Doctrine? Part 7
(To read the entire piece now go to my Noahide Nazarene Site)
(To read the entire piece now go to my Noahide Nazarene Site)
Go to:
Part One: http://johnofallfaith.multiply.com/journal/item/764
Part Two: http://johnofallfaith.multiply.com/journal/item/766
Part Three: http://johnofallfaith.multiply.com/journal/item/767
Part Four http://johnofallfaith.multiply.com/journal/item/769
Part Five: http://johnofallfaith.multiply.com/journal/item/770
Part Six: http://johnofallfaith.multiply.com/journal/item/771
The Seven Periods of the Church Continued
The Church of Sardis: The Reformation to the Peace of Westphalia and beyond.
1520 CE - 1750 CE: The Church was divided on several fronts. The Eastern and Roman Church had long since split, the Anglicans (Church of England) and the Protestants had also left the Roman Church, but nothing essential changed. The Pagan additions to the Hierarchical Church had become so entrenched that the Reformers didn't know what Master Y'shua had even taught. Christians were woefully ignorant of the Bible, in part because the Church had declared reading it illegal! Now the Church was fragmented and the chaos of infighting was everywhere present. This period of the Church is described as being all but dead. The main issues the Protestants had with the Church are contained in Martin Luther's Ninety Five Thesis of Reformation (Click Here and scroll down for this list). What is woefully absent from this list is the need to return to the Jewish roots of the Master's teachings. Despite this, there were still sincere and devoted people within the Roman, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant Churches and HaShem was limitedly active within them all.
Revelation 3:
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Here the Master clearly tells us that much has now been lost but that some remains.
The Church of Philadelphia: The Church in revival
1750 CE - 1914 CE: There occurred that period of time know as the Great Awakening. This spiritual awakening produced several ministers and ministries seeking to restore spirituality to the Christian faith. These people ministered in all segments of the Church. Early on during this period, in fledgling America, the First Great Awakening occurred. This Awakening began in the Dutch Reformed Churches of New Jersey circa 1726. It soon spread to the Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches. This Great Awakening finally reached its zenith in New England in the 1740's. It produced thinkers such as Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), John Locke (1632-1704), John Wesley (1703-1791) and George Whitfield (1714-1770), people who opposed the high level of emotionalism that was typical of the Enlightenment. Itinerant preachers such as the Reverends Gilbert Tennent, Samuel Davies, Eleazar Wheelock, Samuel Finley etc. traveled throughout the thirteen colonies expounding emotionally charged "American Protestantism," a new brand of religion that was born of American experiences. The Awakening fires spread to Virginia and elsewhere in the 1750's, but soon ended, being replaced by humanist certainty and the growing acceptance of Science and Darwinism and Secular Humanism.
The impact of this Awakening was essential for the colonies as it created a bond between them ("e pluribus unum") and established a sense of identity and national destiny as a distinct people. Protestant Americans began to hail the United States as the New Zion, a virtual Protestant Promised Land. Jonathan Edwards considered the Awakening to be a "surprising work of God." He boldly proclaimed that Jesus had "flung the door of mercy open so that all could enter." During this period, the fatherhood aspect of the Christian God was emphasized, and the Colonists regarded themselves as His special children. These children of God fully expected that God would lead them and punish them for sins they allowed. As a result, "submission of the stubborn human will" became an important concept and the religious life of the day reflected this. Holiness in all things came to typify this Puritan revival.
According to E.S. Gaustad, "the founding of the Separates and the Separate Baptists was the most conspicuous institutional effect of the [first] Great Awakening in New England." It was by no means the only one however. By 1755, there were over 125 Separate (or Strict Congregationalist) churches in New England. By 1776 over 70 Separate Baptist Churches existed. Later came the Universalists, the Unitarians, Free Will Baptists, Shakers and Quakers, the New Light Theologies (later organized as Edwardsianism, Hopkinsianism, and Consistent Calvinism), etc. The general-consensus of these movements was fundamentally Calvinistic, but this view was gradually changing.
John Calvin was one of the primary 16th Century Reformers and a gifted debater and theologian. His teachings had a profound influence on the Reformed Christian Movement. The distinctive teaching of Calvinism is the Doctrine of Predestination. This belief holds that before the foundations of the heavens were set in place, God had already chosen those people who would be saved. The teaching is not that God, in His foreknowledge knew which people would choose to accept Him, but rather that God chose who He would saved. Those He did not choose were damned to suffer eternal torment in Hell no matter what they might do or desire to the contrary, even before entering their mother's womb! This doctrine is not as popular as it once was, but many Christians still believe it. Most Christians do not really understand the Christian Doctrine of Predestination or its dark implications.
The First Great Awakening sparked the notion that God was willing to save anyone who truly repented. This was a harsh blow to then popular Calvinism! To do otherwise, it was argued, would be unAmerican! The ministers of the Awakening viewed America as a potential tool for the establishment of the millennial reign of Christ and themselves as his veritable ministers.
This period transformed into the Second Great Awakening that abruptly ended with the onset of World War One in 1914, as Master Y'shua had foretold (Matt 24:6).
Calvinism was waning and new religious forms and doctrines were developing by diverse Protestant and heterodox thinkers. Among the new Christian groups that arose during this shift away from Cavinism were the Missouri Synod, the Norwegian Evangelical Synod, the Church of the United Brethren, the Disciples of Christ, the Millerites, and Mormonism (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Also appearing was Swedenborgianism, Taylorism (or Beecherism), Mesmerism, Owenism, Fourierism, the Oneida Society, the Mennonites, the Moravians, the Seventh Day Baptists, the Six Principle Baptists and Dunker Baptists, the Free Will Baptists, the YMCA, etc.
This enlivening Americana feeling of divinely inspired individual responsibility and worth began again among the New England Congregationalists and soon spread throughout the United States, being found in all major denominations to some degree. By the mid 19th century however this movement likewise was absorbed into religious structure and the stagnation of traditional dogma. It should be remembered that these flowerings of intellectual and spiritual awakenings did not and do not occur in a vacuum. Each appearance or spiritual renewal is directly tied to the experiences of its predecessors. Such was again the case between the years 1875 and 1914 when the Third Great Awakening occurred.
Some authorities do not see a break between the Second and Third Great Awakenings as I list them here. Its semantics really. I see a decided difference however because with the Third Great Awakening non-Christian religions began to emerge on the American scene.
I discuss these awakenings and share a lot of information about the Third Great Awaking in particular Here. During this Awakening our modern eclectic religious landscape was established.
Then came the first major signs that the End of the Church was dawning.
Revelation 3:
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The Church of the Laodiceans:
Part Eight Coming Soon!
To read the entire piece now go to my Noahide Nazarene Site)
Children
Of Noah All The Noahide Nazarene Way AllFaith.com: Christianity AllFaith Spirituality Interfaith Prayer Group AllFaith.com
The Church of Sardis: The Reformation to the Peace of Westphalia and beyond.
1520 CE - 1750 CE: The Church was divided on several fronts. The Eastern and Roman Church had long since split, the Anglicans (Church of England) and the Protestants had also left the Roman Church, but nothing essential changed. The Pagan additions to the Hierarchical Church had become so entrenched that the Reformers didn't know what Master Y'shua had even taught. Christians were woefully ignorant of the Bible, in part because the Church had declared reading it illegal! Now the Church was fragmented and the chaos of infighting was everywhere present. This period of the Church is described as being all but dead. The main issues the Protestants had with the Church are contained in Martin Luther's Ninety Five Thesis of Reformation (Click Here and scroll down for this list). What is woefully absent from this list is the need to return to the Jewish roots of the Master's teachings. Despite this, there were still sincere and devoted people within the Roman, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Protestant Churches and HaShem was limitedly active within them all.
- Revelation 3:
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Here the Master clearly tells us that much has now been lost but that some remains.
The Church of Philadelphia: The Church in revival
- 1750 CE - 1914 CE: There occurred that period of time know as the Great Awakening. This spiritual awakening produced several ministers and ministries seeking to restore spirituality to the Christian faith. These people ministered in all segments of the Church.
Early on during this period, in fledgling America, the First Great Awakening occurred. This Awakening began in the Dutch Reformed Churches of New Jersey circa 1726. It soon spread to the Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches. This Great Awakening finally reached its zenith in New England in the 1740's. It produced thinkers such as Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), John Locke (1632-1704), John Wesley (1703-1791) and George Whitfield (1714-1770), people who opposed the high level of emotionalism that was typical of the Enlightenment. Itinerant preachers such as the Reverends Gilbert Tennent, Samuel Davies, Eleazar Wheelock, Samuel Finley etc. traveled throughout the thirteen colonies expounding emotionally charged "American Protestantism," a new brand of religion that was born of American experiences. The Awakening fires spread to Virginia and elsewhere in the 1750's, but soon ended, being replaced by humanist certainty and the growing acceptance of Science and Darwinism and Secular Humanism.
The impact of this Awakening was essential for the colonies as it created a bond between them ("e pluribus unum") and established a sense of identity and national destiny as a distinct people. Protestant Americans began to hail the United States as the New Zion, a virtual Protestant Promised Land. Jonathan Edwards considered the Awakening to be a "surprising work of God." He boldly proclaimed that Jesus had "flung the door of mercy open so that all could enter." During this period, the fatherhood aspect of the Christian God was emphasized, and the Colonists regarded themselves as His special children. These children of God fully expected that God would lead them and punish them for sins they allowed. As a result, "submission of the stubborn human will" became an important concept and the religious life of the day reflected this. Holiness in all things came to typify this Puritan revival.
According to E.S. Gaustad, "the founding of the Separates and the Separate Baptists was the most conspicuous institutional effect of the [first] Great Awakening in New England." It was by no means the only one however. By 1755, there were over 125 Separate (or Strict Congregationalist) churches in New England. By 1776 over 70 Separate Baptist Churches existed. Later came the Universalists, the Unitarians, Free Will Baptists, Shakers and Quakers, the New Light Theologies (later organized as Edwardsianism, Hopkinsianism, and Consistent Calvinism), etc. The general-consensus of these movements was fundamentally Calvinistic, but this view was gradually changing.
John Calvin was one of the primary 16th Century Reformers and a gifted debater and theologian. His teachings had a profound influence on the Reformed Christian Movement. The distinctive teaching of Calvinism is the Doctrine of Predestination. This belief holds that before the foundations of the heavens were set in place, God had already chosen those people who would be saved. The teaching is not that God, in His foreknowledge knew which people would choose to accept Him, but rather that God chose who He would saved. Those He did not choose were damned to suffer eternal torment in Hell no matter what they might do or desire to the contrary, even before entering their mother's womb! This doctrine is not as popular as it once was, but many Christians still believe it. Most Christians do not really understand the Christian Doctrine of Predestination or its dark implications.
The First Great Awakening sparked the notion that God was willing to save anyone who truly repented. This was a harsh blow to then popular Calvinism! To do otherwise, it was argued, would be unAmerican! The ministers of the Awakening viewed America as a potential tool for the establishment of the millennial reign of Christ and themselves as his veritable ministers.
This period transformed into the Second Great Awakening that abruptly ended with the onset of World War One in 1914, as Master Y'shua had foretold (Matt 24:6).
Calvinism was waning and new religious forms and doctrines were developing by diverse Protestant and heterodox thinkers. Among the new Christian groups that arose during this shift away from Cavinism were the Missouri Synod, the Norwegian Evangelical Synod, the Church of the United Brethren, the Disciples of Christ, the Millerites, and Mormonism (the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints). Also appearing was Swedenborgianism, Taylorism (or Beecherism), Mesmerism, Owenism, Fourierism, the Oneida Society, the Mennonites, the Moravians, the Seventh Day Baptists, the Six Principle Baptists and Dunker Baptists, the Free Will Baptists, the YMCA, etc.
This enlivening Americana feeling of divinely inspired individual responsibility and worth began again among the New England Congregationalists and soon spread throughout the United States, being found in all major denominations to some degree. By the mid 19th century however this movement likewise was absorbed into religious structure and the stagnation of traditional dogma. It should be remembered that these flowerings of intellectual and spiritual awakenings did not and do not occur in a vacuum. Each appearance or spiritual renewal is directly tied to the experiences of its predecessors. Such was again the case between the years 1875 and 1914 when the Third Great Awakening occurred.
Some authorities do not see a break between the Second and Third Great Awakenings as I list them here. Its semantics really. I see a decided difference however because with the Third Great Awakening non-Christian religions began to emerge on the American scene.
I discuss these awakenings and share a lot of information about the Third Great Awaking in particular Here. During this Awakening our modern eclectic religious landscape was established.
Then came the first major signs that the End of the Church was dawning.
- Revelation 3:
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The Church of the Laodiceans:
Part Eight Coming Soon!
To read the entire piece now go to my Noahide Nazarene Site)
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