BY GIMELLIN Furthermore those Church Fathers who do not accept this notion of a thousand years ruling go against this teaching. Saint Justin Martyr, talks on behalf of Scripture as something which is thought to be contradicted. Justin on behalf of this says that ...if a Scripture which appears to be of such kind be brought forward and there be a pretext for regarding it as contradictory, since I am totally convinced that no Scripture is contradictory to another, I shall admit instead that I do not understand what is spoken of, and shall strive to persuade those who assume that the Scriptures are contradictory to be rather of the same opinion as my self.[11] Therefore those who have ideas about the second coming should try and understand the true meaning rather then stating something which is not relevant and may be getting in the way of the salvation of others. Saint Augustine of Hippo strongly lays it down against the notion of a thousand years and says that the same Evangelist John has spoken of these two resurrections in his book which is called Apocalypse, but in such a way that some of us have not understood and thereby have turned it into some ridicules fancies.[12] Augustine is talking about different Church Fathers and other scholars who are taking up the notion of a thousand year ruling, and therefore saying they are wrong and are misunderstanding the whole concept of John the Evangelists teaching. Furthermore Theodore of Cyr says it very well, that God has promised to give not a perishable nor a transitory enjoyment of good things but an eternal one. For unlike that of Cerinthus and of those whose views are similar to his, the kingdom of our God and saviour is not to be of this earth, nor circumscribe by a specific time. Finally Theodore of Cyr says that those men who wrote about the one thousand year ruling of God have created for themselves in image a period of a thousand years, and luxury that will pass, and other pleasures, and, along with them, sacrifices and Jewish solemnities.[13] As for ourselves he says we wait for the life that knows no growing age. This is something which I think all should understand, as even now some dont know the difference between these two teachings and this is a stumbling block for their salvation. Moreover the Fathers of the Church such as Clement of Rome, Barnabas, Justin Martyr, Cyprian, and many others have written and stated clearly that the Church will undergo the persecutions of the Antichrist before the second coming of Christ. Furthermore some quotes which directly come from the Fathers give further evidence to the truth. Justin Martyr wrote that the man of apostasy (Antichrist) shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us the Christians.[14] Justin Clearly believed that Christians will be persecuted by the Antichrist but he thought that Antichrists persecution would not defeat true Christians who were already undergoing severe persecutions in his day. Barnabas also write about the Antichrist and says that this will be the final stumbling block approaches, concerning which is written as Enoch says for this the Lord has cut short the time and the days, that His beloved may hasten; and he will come to the inheritance.[15] This tells us about God shortening our time here on earth, meaning everything will come to pass much faster in order for us to be saved. Thus if this was not done we would all parish and no one would have a chance of being saved due to the great amount of sins which one would commit if time was not shortened. This can be true when looking at our modern age, as it seams that time was not there or in other words time tends to pass away by ever so quickly. Another Church Father Polycarp of Smyrna also writes about who the Antichrist is and says, that everyone who does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is an Antichrist; whoever does not confess the testimony of the cross is of the devil; and whoever perverts the sayings of the Lord for his own desires, and says that there is neither resurrection nor Judgment, such a one is the firstborn of Satan.[16] Therefore all whoever they may be are considered antichrists if they show disproof of God, meaning his works and teachings. St. Irenaeus of Lyons also writes about the Antichrist and what he will do before the second coming. Irenaeus writes that, by means of the events which shall occur in the time of the Antichrist it is shown that he, being an apostate and a robber, is anxious to be adored as God, and that although a mere slave, he wishes to be proclaimed as king. For he, being endued with all the power of the devil, shall not come as a righteous king nor as a legitimate king in subjection to God, but as an impious, unjust, and lawless one setting aside idols to persuade men that he himself is God, raising himself up as the only idol.[17] What Irenaeus contributes about the Antichrist becomes very important for the faithful, for when one sees events such as these taking place they may know what this means. The Church Father Hippolytus contributes his thoughts on the Antichrist as well, which are quite interesting. Hippolytus says that now as our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also God, was prophesied of under the figure of a lion, on account of His royalty and glory, in the same way have the Scriptures also beforehand spoken of Antichrist as a lion, on account of his tyranny and violence. For the deceiver seeks to liken himself in all things to the Son of God. Christ is a lion, so Antichrist is also a lion. Christ is a king, so Antichrist is also a king. The Saviour was manifested as a lamb, so he too in like manner will appear as a lamb; within he is a wolf.[18] This is a very thoughtful interpretation of the Antichrist by Hippolytus which shows us that there will be no difference between Jesus and the Antichrist visibly to those who will be expecting such magnificent doing as he will perform in order to seduce, as Hippolytus says, all men to believe in him. This entire life and activity of the Antichrist who will come before Christ can be simplified and explained in a short manner. First of all since his birth to the moment in which he will appear socially his life will pass secretly. Saint John of Damascus also said that he will be raised in a secret manner.[19] Then the Antichrists will be revealed to the world in a roaring way which may be as a prophet or a universal teacher of some sort. It is said that it may be possible that he will start his activities during world war, meaning when people will not see any way out and lean towards his solution which will seam at the time very splendorous. The main idea to his success in luring people to believe in him and follow him will be because he will offer successful plans for solving crisis of the world from the perspective of political and social understanding. Mainly it will be people exhausted from worldwide crisis which will make them spiritually blind at the moment and will be unaware that this is happening to them, for they will want a way out of their crisis but instead will fall into most humiliating and merciless slavery. In my opinion people who truly will not see what is occurring are those people who always praised material things. For this will be a matter mostly about fixing material development and prosperity which will be under crisis and those people who will want more material goods and to live a better life will lose everything by trying to seek them back through the help of the Antichrist. Therefore keeping these teaching in mind, it will benefit those who truly want to reach salvation and not fall under the lies of the Antichrist but faithfully await the second coming of our Lord. Furthermore some Christians today do not feel the need to study what the Bible teaches about the end times since they know that, in the end God wins. An opposite view to this popular modern thinking is that there are many reasons to know the detail of the end of time which the Church teaches. Furthermore these teachings of the prophecy are a part of Gods word, as the apostle Paul told his young disciple Timothy: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). Also the prophecies prove that the Bible is Gods word, therefore when these prophesies are fulfilled people will have concrete reason to believe and put their faith in the God of the bible. After all Jesus spoke of the apologetic values of prophecy when He said, Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe (John 14:19). Although this may already be like apostle Tomas when Jesus had said to him Have you believed because you seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and believe (John 20:29). Therefore when we see and believe it, it will not be the same as not seeing and believing, for it is harder to believe in what you have not seen. Moreover studying the end of time is important because Jesus gave us signs of His second coming and commended us to watch for their fulfilment. (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21). Also God promises a special blessing for those who study the end of times; Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for time is near (Revelation 1:3, 22:7). Finally, end prophecies are important for they help protect us from spiritual deception. The Bible warns us against false prophecies to precede the coming of the Antichrist, and many professing Christians will follow them. End of time prophecies show us what to watch out for (Matthew 24:24-26, Mark 13:21-22, 2 Thessalonians 2:3, Revelation 13:11-18). These teachings of the end of times should be carefully watched and followed in order to seek and receive life everlasting after the second and glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Judgment.
Posted on: Tue, 29 Oct 2013 19:53:57 +0000
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