SamIam wrote:But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time —he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:11-16)
I know this is a simple-minded answer that the full preterists will find naive and unconvincing. Paul tells Timothy to "keep the faith" until the appearing of Jesus, who's appearing God will display when the time is right. The notion that the (at that time) future judgement carried out on the religious establishment in Jerusalem is the event being referenced here is puzzling. Why would Paul encourage Timothy to be faithful a few years until a city hundreds of miles away falls to the Romans. It
seems more likely that Paul would encourage Timothy to remain faithful until a terminal event. He could have told Timothy to be faithful unitl his death. He chose, however, to tell Timothy to remain faithful until the appearance of Jesus. It
seems that Timothy is instructed to live with that future terminal event in mind.
That is why I teach the yet future second coming.
Yes, it SEEMS that way as you have demonstrated. And no, we don't consider what you say as being "a simple-minded answer that the full preterists will find naive and unconvincing." We were futurists once before and we understand the struggle regarding the things we say.
How can you read 2 Timothy 3 and not understand that the last days were the time frame in which Timothy lived? Remember, Paul is writing to Timothy.
2 Timothy 3:1-17 – [Timothy] This know also, that in the
last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
[Timothy] from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are
they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do
these [who you will know, Timothy] also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But
they shall proceed no further: for
their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
10 But thou [Timothy] hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me [Paul] at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me [Paul].
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But [you, Timothy] continue thou [Timothy] in the things which thou [Timothy] hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou [Timothy] hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou [Timothy] hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee [Timothy] wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All [Old Testament] scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I keep asking where in the Scriptures does it teach the end of the planet or the end of time and history, especially from the OT. If one has an incorrect view of what the "end" really was, then how can we understand any of its implications?
Perhaps you would like to take a stab at the question I asked Douglas:
"Do you believe the part in those two parables about the return being to that same generation that he left?"
