Seminary

[Guest]

Steve,

I didn't quite know where to post this question, so I figured this section would work. I was wondering if there were any seminaries that you would recommend for a Master's Degree and/or PhD to someone who believes that Jesus has called them to eventually teach at a seminary. Thanks!

-Rachel

[Guest]

Hey there Rachel,

I'm in seminary myself, and if I were you, you should get a book by Dr. Rick Walston on Christian distance learning. It will help you about what degree's are about and the best chocies to make. It will give you a list of good accredited and unaccredited seminaries that you can learn your degree through distance learning or not. At least your have a list of good schools and bad ones as well. I go to Coulmbia Evangelical Seminary where Dr. Walston is the president and my mentor. Also Dr. James R White teaches there as well. Read Dr. White's article at www.aomin.org on his education it great. You can also call Dr.Walston at the seminary and he'll help you find a seminary that will fit your needs, he as turn down student for his school because CES couldn't give them what they needed, and helped them find good schools that could.

Hope this helps

Michael

[_Steve]

I don't know much about seminaries, but it is interesting to hear about what Dr Walston is doing now. He once came to my home in Oregon to talk to me about hooking up my program at the Great Commission School with the seminary he was then leading in Longview, WA. Say hello to him for me.

[Guest]

Hey Steve,

I'll tell Dr.Walston that you said hello. I was wondering if you will reply to my question?

thanks,
michael

[_Steve]

Sorry, I didn't mean to overlook your question. What was your question?

[Guest]

Hey Steve,

My question was about the book of Revelation. I been reading through your commentary (which is great by the way, and no I couldn't tell what veiw you hold.) I also been reading G.K. Beale commentary as well. His arguement against preterism is that, it seems that in the book of Revelation the Christians are killed because they refused to worship the beast. Those who hold the view that Nero is the beast, from history know that the Christians were blamed for the fire in Rome, that's why they were killed not that they refused to worship Nero. I mean later that was a reason to be killed but not at the start. How do you answer that?

Thank you,
Michael

[_Steve]

My view of the beast is different from most preterists. I understand the beast as do the idealists (the view called the "spiritual" view in my book). On this view, the first beast of Revelation 13 represents any and every politically-organized power that Satan would ever use to oppose the kingdom of God. The beast-power has often been worshipped throughout history, as blind patriotism and statism have often been the motivations for people to persecute Christians, because the latter preach that there is "another king, one Jesus" (Acts 17:7).

While I do believe the book of Revelation was written during the reign of Nero, and that the number 666 refers to Nero, my understanding is that Nero is merely one of the heads of the beast (the current one at the time of writing). The beast has seven heads (Rev.13:1). One head receives a deadly wound, but the beast recovers and survives it (Rev.13:3). I take this either to be the death of Nero (which the Roman Empire barely survived, but did, to the astonishment of many), or else the fall of the Roman empire, but the beast continues in other expressions that succeeded it.

The other heads of the beast, in my opinion, represent other rulers in the remainder of history (after Nero), who also persecute the Christians, many of whom have been idolized by their subjects.

[Guest]

Hi Michelle!

Since Steve and I disagree on this point (even though I think there is some truth to what he's saying), I'm going to post a short study on the Beast of Revelation in the "Revelation" section of the forum. I think you'll find it very interesting. Look for it there.

Damon

[Guest]

Hey Steve,

I just talk to Dr. Walston today and told him what you said. He said at first he didn't remember you but the more I spoke he jump in and said this guy Steve live in oregon right. Then I mention the school that your apart of and he said if it the same guy he thinking of he remembers you. He also said he belives that you were self taught and had no formal training. Which I said no from reading your Bio. Dr. Walston also said that you were brilliant and that he remembers that you had teaching on audio tapes through the whole bible. I told him that, he is the same guy.

What a small world.

Michael

[Guest]

Steve,

Do you think that the seven heads of the beast represent seven distinct "beasts" or kingdoms throughout time (starting with Nero) that set themselves up against Jesus, or would it be just a symbolic number? Thanks!

-Rachel