Premillennial, Postmillennial, or Amillennial: How Will the World End?

Premillennial postcolonial or, what you know which one is right. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi there, and happy Friday. I'm Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez.

This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com well before we get to our first question today. We need to acknowledge that today is a very special day.

It's the birthday of our host a drill Sanchez yeah I am the let me give you my van mow. Just joking. Yes, it is my birthday today and excited to celebrate with my wife tonight and got to dinner and I got a babysitter so yeah grateful to the Lord for his for his goodness and kindness another year.

It's great.

Will thank you, Mrs. Sanchez your mom for giving birth so many years ago today to this wonderful little boy who grew up to be our pastor and drill Sanchez yeah thanks mom that you're listening went through all that pain but it was worth it. Let's get to our first question of the day and this is a difficult one. This comes from one of our listeners named Michelle mining town and the mentally ill be saved. I have training bipolar one and PTSD and I've been saved 15 times. Thank you bye-bye.

Well sister the answer to your question is yes. Absolutely those who battle with mental illness can be saved because were saved by the Lord through his grace the power of the Holy Spirit you know it is in our our physical ability or condition that makes it so that we can be saved, it's, it's the work of the Holy Spirit. I think of what Jesus himself said in Matthew chapter 11, when he prayed in verse 25 I thank you father, Lord of heaven and earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. Yes father, for such was your gracious will.

In other words, you know it. You don't have to be a biblical scholar of the wise and understanding to grasp the gospel even even a childlike understanding can lay hold of saving faith and so so those who are young those who you know struggle with with mental illness and an battle with things like depression.

The gospel is for them. The gospel is for you and God's grace and mercy extends to you, and it's so important for you to understand that know you said you've been saved 15 times.

Let me just say God is the one who saves. And I don't think we go from being saved and not being saved. He loves me he loves me not that kind of thing when you trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit and welcomed into the family of God. Now we can struggle with sin and sickness in and to have times in our lives, we feel distant from the Lord. But God does not let go of his sheep. And if you've trusted in Jesus Christ. He's not going to let go of you either and so may God be with you and bless you sister thank you for your call will be praying for you Michelle that you will really experience the assurance of your salvation because it has been done once and for all.

As drill said this is core Christianity with pastor a drill Sanchez and you know we do get a lot of calls here about the end times. The last days and the book of Revelation, which can be a stumbling block for a lot of people when they get into that book, and we've actually produced a wonderful Bible study on the book of Revelation. Yeah, you know a lot of people ask questions today that are answered in the book of Revelation.

You should Christians discern the signs of the times. Why hasn't Christ returned yet questions related to that, the coming of our Lord but also one of the things I love about the book of Revelation. Some people miss this is that it was written to Christians who were suffering mean they were being persecuted. The book is supposed to be a comfort to believers what what practical purpose the book serves. And yet, often times we don't study this book because were intimidated by it and so I want you to receive the comfort that that the Revelation gives to the church and to those who are who are struggling as as believers get a hold of this resource over it. Core, Christianity.com available for gift of $20 or more and thank you again for your support.

By the way, if you'd like to get the yes Bible study for your small group or your Sunday school class. We do offer a group discount on those. So feel free to check out core, Christianity.com/Revelation. You can also call us for that resource, or with any of your questions or phone lines are open right now. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 will be taking calls for the next 20 minutes or so.

So pop on the phone right now with your question for a drill with peers in a voicemail we received earlier this week from one of our listeners named Chris three here in New Jersey.

I wanted about 30 some years and I wanted to know what your separation is filled apology. I see that acknowledgment, leaving a lot of nihilism being basically Christ is billed at all like to know your long yeah so eschatology is the study of the last things were thinking about the end times here and you there's a lot of you know confusion about this specific we just talked about the book of Revelation are Revelation study.

I think that could shed some light on this, but let me say a couple of things. First, there are differences that Christians have with regard to the end times, but those differences don't don't determine whether or not were believers of somebody who disagrees with you or with me on this, specifically that that doesn't make them not a Christian.

This is something that we can you know as we approach Scripture and study the Bible have differences on now my view and more Eileen. It sounds to me like this is where your leaning to as well as the millennial view the millennial view into what were talking about the, the millennium where you go to in Scripture is Revelation chapter 20 where John says in verse one.

I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding his holding in his hand.

The key of the bottomless pit and a great chain and he sees the Dragon that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw them into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended so that the thousand years the millennium that's that's where that talk comes from it's from here in Revelation chapter 20 and the millennial view, which is the view that I take is that that thousand years described in Revelation 20 is is the figurative number symbolic, not a literal 1000 years and that right now Jesus Christ is presently raining as the gospel is advancing in the world, his kingdom has been inaugurated right it, it's already here. In one sense, and yet there's a sense in which it's not yet has it has yet to be consummated will be consummated at the second coming and so be the millennial view believes or borrower understands that Christ comes after that millennial reign if you will the same thing with with the post-millennial view little bit different there from millennialism the post-millennial view of the end times beliefs of Jesus and a come back after a rain that he executes here on earth. A time of peace and prosperity where the gospel is advancing throughout the world and the pre-millennial view differs from both of those and there are many many Christians who embrace the premillennial view which is the view that Jesus is going to come back prior to the millennial reign. So he's an easy to come back and then he can establish his kingdom on earth and rain literally here on earth for a thousand years, and so those are some of the did the differences again. Revelation 20 is the key text Eileen towards the millennial view. If you're looking for a book that that would be helpful in learning more about that. There's a book called a case for millennialism understanding the end times by Kim Riddle Barker. I would recommend that book and I appreciate you calling in and digging into the Scriptures and of course we have that the Bible study on the book of Revelation, which will be helpful to you as well and you can find that at our website. Core, Christianity.com. Let's get into our phone calls. If you have a question for pastor a drill on the Bible Christian life doctrine, theology, or maybe what's going on in today's world and how your Christian life intersects with that were open to your questions. If you're you consider yourself an agnostic or an atheist. If you have doubts about the Christian faith it will be happy to take your questions. Well here's the number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Chris Sandra in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma presented what your question for a drill drill for taking my call. I a Christian and my husband. Well, we have children, adult children and trying to witness to them. One of my strategies. He has said that in LGE belief in God that he has a problem with the Christian faith wanted the things that he mentioned was that if God well he knows that God created the world, creator of heaven and earth, the beginning and the end and he is all-knowing and with that said, all-knowing.

Why did she not stop Satan in the beginning, the first sister I want to. I do want to pray for you.

I know that you're not alone, that there are many other listeners right now who who are wanting to see their children love the Lord and walk with the Lord in their thinking. How do I answer those those difficult questions I want to pray for you and for for your adult children who you're sharing Christ with your son. Specifically, father II do pray for the sister of Cassandra and ask Lord, that you would be with her that you would give her wisdom. I pray Lord that you would help her to just clearly articulate your grace, your goodness who Jesus is the the the power of the gospel Lord as she has conversations with with her children. Would you would you bless her, would you fill her with your Holy Spirit. Would you be specifically Lord with with her son God. We know that you're the one who opens parts and I pray that as he hears your word that your spirit would work together with your word to to open his heart that he might see on the goodness of Christ, the glory of the glory of Christ and be drawn father to your son Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen this question is is one that many people have asked enough if if God knew that Adam and Eve were going to father why did he allow this to happen you know it in the first place.

Why did God permit that that the devil could could tempt Adam and Eve in it and we have to say right like from our perspective is as finite human being something for it is not going to have you know that the perfect cookie-cutter answer that we want all the questions that are asked one of the ways it that many great thinkers and theologians have responded to this question specifically is by saying God did not permit or allow anything that he had not already purposed to to resolve. So while God allowed Satan and and and sin to enter into the world, God had already determined how he was going to fix the problem that we we created for ourselves through the mean of the freedom of our own choice. Thinking back there in the garden to Adam and Eve and God gave them freedom of choice to choose to love him or to reject his law into sin against him.

And of course they sinned against him, but we have a very clear and beautiful picture of the gospel, even there in those early chapters of Genesis is as God clothes the naked couple that this picture of grace this picture of sacrifices. Well, you may close them with animal skins and then gives that great promise that we often referred to here on this broadcast in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent and and so right here wheat we already get a picture of how God is going to resolve the problem resolve the issue the blame. No foot for sin. You know that it is on us wheat we sin we choose to turn away from God, we reject his holy word that's not does not God's fault were responsible for our actions, but he's merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. And even when we had turned away from him sinking down into sin lower and lower. He pursued us in Jesus. And so it's an opportunity. I think sister to talk about that undeserved grace that God shows to sinners. Yes, God allowed us to fall into sin, but he didn't leave us in this condition he sent his very own son into the world to live the perfect life of righteousness, so that we might be justified by believing in him and experience the grace that comes through his death and resurrection, and so sister II just want to encourage you to continue to pray for your children to have these conversations with them and to enter focus on grace of God in the gospel through Jesus, as you have those conversations that bless no Israel, I'm so glad you said that because oftentimes we can get caught up in kind of secondary arguments or philosophical speculation when really we need to keep bringing it back to the finished work of Christ on the cross and that it's available and it's a free gift and that's where we start with it with anyone, especially with someone who maybe says well I can't believe because of this, yet others there's gonna be challenging questions but my home. I that's that's where you have to go right back to the gospel. Yeah, totally. And I think that there is right, we've got to find the balance between we do want to respond to the questions you know it would want to brush the challenging questions under the rug because it that sends a message that will maybe there's just not a good answer. Maybe Christianity can't deal with these kinds of problems and the reality is that there really are answers and sometimes we have to do a little bit of digging to find them. But that's that's okay so we want we want to pursue the truth. Dig into the Scriptures.

Think about what Christians for the last 2000 years have have said enough of the great minds that have thought about this and respond to the, the, the questions that the people have the struggles that people have when it comes to faith while also getting to the gospel and that has to be primary because right you might resolve somebody's you know dilemma with regard to a particular passage of Scripture and and that doesn't mean that you shared the gospel with them.

The gospel is the message of Christ's victory over sin that we can have life in him, through him, and so we want we want to make sure that were responding to those difficult questions, but not not stopping there also going further and sharing the glorious message of God's grace I meant the score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez's were taken.

Your phone calls. In fact, our phone lines will be open for the next five minutes or so. If you have a burning question about the gospel, the Christian life doctrine or theology hop on the phone right now.

833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day. We do try to check our voicemails daily. And here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Linda will Bible Israel and that Jews are not bad people trying to kill Mike on he got unfortunately elected political group that believes the Jews are not people to believe in or their good people. So he thinks that Christianity, Jewish gradient that we should follow it and believe in it. So how do I prove to him that that Bible is real. When you need to want to believe in God believe in God, I hope it can help me. My heart is broken. I'm trying not to lose his fellow I know God can lead someone to him that and talking and talking on and it's very hard to help me.

I greatly appreciate it if I there's another one right bill with with wanting to share the love of Jesus with with your son sister may God be with you and bless you and give you wisdom as well as you have these conversations and of the first passage that I guy I thought I was your talking is what Paul says in in Colossians chapter 2 verse eight see to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world and not according to Christ. Sounds to me like your son is gotten caught up in some some political system philosophy that's empty and deceitful and and so you know how how do you respond to that.

Well, the first part of your question is how to write how I tell him that the Bible is real. How do I shown that the Bible is real and there there also two things that we can point to their we can point to the prophetic testimony of Scripture. The fact that the Bible predicted things related to the coming of Christ, the Messiah things related to world history with clarity with accuracy. That's one of the ways I think that God himself is that you know that this is real, that this is not just middle made up stuff in Isaiah chapter 46 versus 910 God said, I am God and there is no other.

I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things not yet done. The Lord God himself points to that prophetic record but at the end of the day it's it's only by the work of the Holy Spirit that anyone truly embraces that the word of God is in fact the word of God, and I think that comes through hearing the word of God hearing the Scriptures.

I would just encourage your son to read the Bible for himself not to listen to what other people are saying you know what the folks in this political group are saying but but the pick up the word of God himself, and to read it and so often the spirit works together with the word to convict our hearts.

The new Paul said in Romans chapter 10. Faith comes by hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. And so I would say you can get a good point. All the evidence can point to the fulfilled prophecies, you can point to just the majesty of the Bible and in how it's coherent and how is this this book was written over over but a great long period of time by multiple offered authors and yet has this uniformity in terms of the message of the gospel being central, you can point all those things but at the end of the day it's the work of God's Spirit and God works through his word so expose your son to the word to Scripture share Scripture with him and continue to pray for him that the Lord would deliver him from this this group that he's gotten caught up with and just. It is an encouragement to you, and I think of the story of St. Augustine and in his mother Monica St. Augustine was caught up in these these weird groups in of the sex with beliefs that were ungodly and untrue, and his mother prayed and prayed for him and the Lord did a great work in his life and I and I say that you just just to encourage you so that you would know that God is able to work in the situation continue to pray and continue to share the scriptures with him great encouragement. Thank you for that. I drilled the score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to party calling in from Illinois party what your question for April Harvey Miller law. I have a question about predestination. How does that affect Christian and how is pre-destination determine me for we are ever born Harvey hey thank you for for your question.

So yeah, the word predestination is a Bible word receipt in places like Ephesians 1 in Romans chapter 8 it's the Greek word protein so and it it refers to the fact that it really it and it helps us understand the sovereignty of God in Romans eight for examples were predestined to be conformed to the image of God's son, that is Jesus. In Ephesians 1 says it in love he God predestined us in choosing us before the foundation of the world and inserts as a malignant party your question, there is what is the basis for that predestination. Then some people will say will God predestines us on the basis of the fact that he foresees that you know working to choose him working to do good things and and that's why he chooses us.

That's not my view and I don't think that's the view of the Scripture is God's predestination. His choice is is made. Like Paul says in Ephesians 1 prior to the foundation of the world, but it's not on the basis of our marriage or our righteousness. Anything that we do. It's it's really rooted in God's love again what he says there in Ephesians chapter 1 verse five will ask you verse for the end of verse four in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace was in love and according to the purpose of his will, and who was it that he predestined well later in the book of Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 2 Paul is an essay. It was those who were dead in trespasses and sins of those who were walking according to the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air. Another which is not something that was in view that God saw this person is pretty spiritual, pretty righteous, no, it was purely God's grace and God's so we give thanks for that.

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