Church services essential

[consapente89]

Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968

What do you believe is future?

I believe like Paul,

Ephesians 1:13-14
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Strongs Definition for Earnest
Of Hebrew origin [H6162]; a pledge that is part of the purchase money or property given in advance as security for the rest: - earnest.

I believe this life we have in Christ while were on this physical earth is our security for what is to come. I believe in Heaven or the eternal abode with God. With that said, I believe we reign as kings and priests right now while on this earth, I believe we have power over sin while on this earth, I believe we have authority over evil spirits right now. I dont believe we have to wait until were in that eternal abode to partake of some of the benefits we have in Christ. We can enjoy them right now, Praise God!

Peter said,

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

If we cant live in a place with God while on this earth that shows us whats ahead then we above all men are most miserable.

1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Look at this verse in another way, maybe you do already,

1 Corinthians 15:52-58
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. [54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I want you to read these verses, and frankly this isn’t about future coming, no future coming, this is I believe the way we should be living.

When were we dead?
When did we go from corruptible to incorruptible?
When have we been raised?
When did we have power over DEATH, HELL, and the GRAVE???
When has Christ given us victory?

Now, before you cast me off like I’m a heretic, please understand I believe this life is not it, I believe I will be called home to my Jesus one day and I will leave this life and go to be with my husband. Yet, I’m living now, what i am going to live FULFILLED then.

Remember we need to be like Jesus, we preach the death, burial, and resurrection. And we correlate that with Acts 2:38. The Holy Ghost that was given to us, is our resurrection! Death, hell, and the grave have no authority over us, it was in the blink of an eye I started speaking in an unknown tongue and my life was changed.

Any kind of end or culmination of this thing?
I believe the end is when you breathe your last breath on this earth, you will be with the Lord. I’m not living for God because of some end time extravaganza, (not be factious) I live for him because he loved me enough to call me out of sin!

Or is this what eternity looks like?

Ill answer like this, I dont believe Hell is flames of fire. I dont believe Hell is a big lake where sinners are going to burn for all eternity. I believe what Revelation is talking about was Jerusalem. Thats my opinion, I could be wrong, I wont be there to find out. I believe Hell is a place where the presence of God will not dwell, and for the first time a sinner will know what it feels like not to have his presence available.

I believe Heaven is going to be something wonderful, words wont be able to explain it. We’re going to have no hindrances, were not going to have this flesh to contend with, our focus is going to be on him. So shall we ever be with the Lord.
A saint just passed, his Pastor and I have been friends for many years. He told me this, before he died he said, “Pastor, the chariots of fire, they are REAL” that’s what were reaching for!!!

Wow. So sin and iniquity will continue on the earth forever? The continuous cycle of being born and dying? When will the saints judge the world?

Revelation 21:1-5 (KJV) 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

This doesn’t sound like simply dying and going to heaven to be with Jesus. Brother, it’s not my intention to ridicule you, but while you are in the cockpit with God and Verbal Bean, try to see that God is not going to allow things to continue on this earth as they are! There is a change coming! There MUST be and end to sin. There MUST be a judgement.

[consapente89]

1 Corinthians 15:51 (KJV) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Paul said we SHALL be changed. If he was referring to the new birth he would have said we have been changed. Sorry, but these verses are about the resurrection that is coming for the saints.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by consapente89

Including a futuristic view of the millennial reign?

I lean towards amilllenialism

[consapente89]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I lean towards amilllenialism

To be frank, life is too hard for me to believe that we are in the millennium now. I wonder if historicism and premillennialism overlaps?

[Nicodemus1968]

Originally Posted by consapente89

1 Corinthians 15:51 (KJV) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Paul said we SHALL be changed. If he was referring to the new birth he would have said we have been changed. Sorry, but these verses are about the resurrection that is coming for the saints.

Absolutely, I totally believe what your saying. I was saying we have an inheritance before we are with him. Are we fulfilling everything God has for us here in this earth. No, I just believe we have this treasure in earthen vessel. This is just a down payment, if you will to what is to come.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by consapente89

To be frank, life is too hard for me to believe that we are in the millennium now. I wonder if historicism and premillennialism overlaps?

Esaias is historicism. Pre Mil

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by consapente89

To be frank, life is too hard for me to believe that we are in the millennium now. I wonder if historicism and premillennialism overlaps?

There are many historicists who are premillennialists. Myself being one. Some are postmillennialists, and some are amillennialists, though.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by consapente89

Including a futuristic view of the millennial reign?

Yes, but check this thread out if you haven't already: Kingdom, Millennium, and the Reign of the Saints. It gets into the Present Reign of Christ and His saints and provides a proper and balanced perspective of the both the Millennium and today.

[consapente89]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Yes, but check this thread out if you haven't already: Kingdom, Millennium, and the Reign of the Saints. It gets into the Present Reign of Christ and His saints and provides a proper and balanced perspective of the both the Millennium and today.

Will do. Thanks.

[Esaias]

So are church services "essential"? Some states say yes, some say no, some say yes but limit how many can partake of those services at a time, etc.

But what does THE BIBLE say?

Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Are we to consider one another? Are we to provoke one another to love and to good works? Then we are to continue to assemble together.

Two governments have issued directives on this. Man's government, and God's. Who has authority to decide? Man? Or God? Who do YOU listen to?

Who is YOUR god?