I done reading book - 'The Dualism of Eternal Life'.
There are so many things that I do not agree with his intepreting.
He talked lot on Eschatology and Soteriology doctrine.
I read of Introduction. Very interesting, he mentioned about the two classes of millennial position. He said, the two classes of millennial position are: Premillennial and Postmillennial. He wrote that book in year 1916. He does not say anything about amillennialism.
Two years ago, I brought a book '
A Case for Amillennialism' by Kim Riddlebarger. In page 31, he says, Amillennialism was not recognized as millennial position until around the turn of the 20th century. Dutch statesman and theologian Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) probably was the first person to use the term - 'amillennial'.
S.S. Craig wrote of that book in year 1916. I learned that postmillennialism was popular and large class among churches in America during 18th century and 19th century. Till year from 1914 to 1917, World War I occured, postmillennialism suddenly declined or collapsed. Because postmill teaches, Church revolutionized world into Christianity or better condtional. Postmill does not believe apostasy prior the end of the world.
Amill might be the young class during 20th Century.
But, same idea as posttrib class. Many Christians like baptists think posttribulation class or camp is a youung doctrine, it appeared during in the mid of 20th century.
Actually, posttrib doctrine is very, very old since back to Christ's time of his ministry on earth. During Early Church history, Christians believe there is the only one coming of Christ at the end of the age. It was not necesscary for them to saying, "I am posttrib", because there was no position of rapture timing till in the late 19th Century.
When John N. Darby visited America 6 times in year between 1850's to 1860's. He taught pretribulation rapture to churches in America. Many Christians begun to adopt Darby's teaching. Then, in year 1878, there was a prophecy conference hosts in Niagara. Few pastors, and evangelists attended that conference. Liked the new teaching of pretribulationism doctrine. That how pretribulationism doctrine was born in America around year 1880's.
During that period, the popular of premillennialism in America was growing so slowly. Till year around 1900's, C.I. Scofield's teaching was influenced upon churches in America. Then the popular of premillennialism increasing so rapidly around year 1920's, thank to Clarence Larkin's chart book - '
Dispensational Truth'. Many churches and colleges use Larkin's chart book.
Interesting, during 18th century and 19th century, in America, there was very, very rare or small group of Christians were premill. Mostly Christians were amill or postmill.
Till in the mid of 19th Century, Darby visited America, himself was strong premillennialist.
Many Christians are aware that Darby was the Father of Dispensationalism. Because Darby taught there are distinction between Israel and Church.
Now, I would like to quote S.S. Craig's teaching, many things that I do not agree with his teaching.
S.S. Craig mentioned on a young rich man lot in his book. He believed that a young rich man is saved. I strongly disagree with him. He quoted about a young rich man from Luke 18:18-30.
Earlier I already discuss on Matt. 19:16-25 about a young rich man in this topic.
No wonder, that James Newman gaves the link of the article to me, that article mentioned on young rich man. Now I know why Newman gave it to me by post in this topic.
Mr. Craig said:
In proving, specifically, that this Young Ruler was already a saved man when he came to Christ... pp 9
I disagree with him. What about Pharisees? There are many records in the four gospels that, Pharisees came to Jesus, and ask questions. Are Pharisees saved? Same with a young rich man came to Christ, that does not prove that himself was true saved. During Christ's ministry, a person came to Christ by asking questions, that do not mean that a person is already saved or not.
Craig said:
'1. This man must have been honest and truthful...' pp.20
I am no doubt that a young rich man was been honest and truthful by asked question to Christ. But, this passage does not prove us that a young rich man is saved.
Many religions include baptists are doing serve and good works for the Lord today, but that do not mean they are saved just like as a young rich man. Many religions are eager to serve the Lord by obeying the Lord, and keeping the commandments, just like as a young rich man kept the commandments. Many religions do keeping the commandments, but that do not mean that they are saved.
In Matt. 7:21-22 telling us, many religions do their works by obey the commandments, and they actually serve the Lord, same as baptists do. But, Lord shall saying to them, He never know them, depart them from him, cast them into everlasting fire. Why? Because Christ said, "depart from me, ye that work -
INIQUITY." - Matt. 7:23. Word, 'iniquity' means wicked or sinful. Many religions include baptists doing serve the Lord by obeying the commandments, but they do not repent of their sins, or remain in wicked ways of their life. That why Christ will send them to everlasting life because of without repentance.
A young rich man asked Christ, what things he can do to have eternal life.
Eternal life never so called, 'Messianic Kingdom' or 'Millennial Kingdom'. Because during Christ's ministry on earth, a young rich man never hear of premillennial doctrine, that doctrine was not yet existed till during Reformation Period(year around 1500's A,D.). Also, a young rich man never hear of 'a thousand years of kingdom', because none of this teaching find anywhere in the Old testament books (New Testament books were not yet canon together till about 300 years later after Christ's ministry). A young man never think of 'a thousand years' while he asked Christ. A young rich man desired want to know how can have
eternal life, obivously, he was asking Christ about after his death for eternal life. I am sure that a young rich man must have believed in resurrection. Scribes or Sadducees, (I am not sure which one of them) do not believe in resurrection.
Christ told man, if he desires to have eternal life, then he have to obey the commandements, just like as Christ commanded us to obey his commandments - John 14:15.
Then, a young rich man asked Christ, what thing, he miss to do thing to have eternal life. Then, Christ told him, he have to give up everything what he have, and to sell things to poor people, come and follow Christ.
A young man bittered, and walked away from Christ. Was a rich man saved? NO! S.S. Criag believed a rich young man is saved.
John 10:27-29 teaching us very clear, Christ promises us, if any person hear his voice(commandment & gospel) and
FOLLOW, no one include Satan can take person away from Christ's hand, Christ have his power to hold person of salvation long as person still follow Christ. OR.... if a person stopped follow Christ, Christ could loose person out of his hand.
That mean, a person was once follow Christ, then turn away, a person become lost (Luke 15:32), is on the way to everlasting fire.
Criag said:
Salvation is won by BELIEVING, but he prize by DOING pp. 14
Salvation is not yet offically or being guaranteed by believing. Believing means to continue believe. Or, if a person stopped believing, then shall be cut off - John 15:6 & Romans 11:20.
Criag quoted Matt. 10:22; Matt. 24:13, he said:
Only those who endure unto the end will have salvation in the second degree. Matt 24:13. And if those who do not endure unto the end miss the second stage of salvation, what will be the consequence, the penalty? They will lose the Messianic Kingdom for bliss and glory of which the Young Ruler was longing... pp. 15
Christ never saying of Matt. 24:13, that if a person does not endure to the end, then shall not be saved-miss "Messianic Kingdom". That was Criag's own intepreting. I disagree with him.
Matt. 10:22 & Matt. 24:13 both are clearly warn us, if we do not endure all the way to our death, then we shall not be saved - not have eternal life, go to everlasting fire.
Craig said:
But in passages like Matt. 18:3, it has reference to the Messianic Kingdom in the age to come when Christ through restored Israel will reign over all the nation in the world pp. 17
Matt. 18:3 says nothing about millennial kingdom, because Christ does not saying, 'a thousand years'. Also, 'the kingdom of heaven' never so called, 'Messianic Kingdom' or 'Millennial Kingdom'.
Matt. 18:3 tells us, we must be repent of sins, to have eternal life, that's simple.
Craig used young ruler and Peter by comparing them, that he said, both are saved in the page 30. No way, that Craig can prove that a rich man is saved, because he already turn away from the Lord.
Craig intepreted 'shall inherit everlasting life' & 'the age(world-KJV) to come eternal life' of Matt. 19:29 & Mark 10:30. That he said, both are speak of Messianic Kingdom(1000 year kingdom) in page 31.
Both Matt. 19:29 & Mark 10:30 do not saying, 'a thousand years'. Both are clearly speak of eternality life.
Craig said:
"He that endureth to the end shall be saved." Matt 24:13. This is the path into "eternal life"; that is, the Messianic Kingdom pp. 41
Christ never saying of Matt. 24:13 that a person shall be saved for Messianic Kingdom. Simple, Christ telling us, that we must be endure all the way to the end(our death) then shall be saved - have eternal life. Also, Christ does not saying, 'a thousand years' of Matt. 24:13.
Craig intepreted John 3:16, he said:
"...so that once saved he might not perish but have eternal life in
(emphasis mine)
the Messianic Kingdom. pp. 41
His intepreting does not make a sense to me. Christ simple telling us, anyone whosoever believing on Christ shall never perish, but have eternal life. Eternal life simple means everlasting - no end, and being immortality (1 Cor. 15:51-57). Many Christians can easy understand reading John 3:16 telling us, that if any perosn believing on Jesus Christ shall never go hell, but have eternal life - heaven. Craig should use his good common sense what Christ was talking about of John 3:16.
Craig continued discuss on John 3:16 in the same page:
In the sense that they are excluded from kingdom and have no part in the glory of the first resurrection, being still held by the power of death. But the believer does not thereby lose what he had in the 'first place' the gift of eternal
(emphasis mine)
Christ never saying of John 3:16 that if any person do not believe on Christ, shall miss "Messianic Kingdom"-1000 year kingdom.
Criag mentioned of 'Five Facts' in the page 48, he said:
2. It subdivides the saved into TWO CLASSES - the carnal who live according to the flesh; and the spiritual who live according to the spirit. Rom. 8:13-14
.
Paul never saying so called, 'two classes' or 'two groups' of Christians.
Of course, the book of Romans was written for Christians. Understand, Romans 8:13-14 was given with warning to Christians, IF we walk after the flesh, we shall die, that means if we walk after sins, our spiritual will be die- lost of Luke 15:32.
Craig continued in the same page:
carnal believers will not be able to enter the kingdom in the glory in the age to come. Gal. 5:19-21; Matt. 5:20
.
The kingdom of heaven never so called, 'Messianic Kingdom' or 'Millennial Kingdom', because, both passages do not saying, 'a thousand years'. Both passages simple telling us, a person cannot have eternal life, go into everlasting fire- lake of fire.
Craig said:
Heb. 10:17: "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." A mere glance at the context shows that the Holy Spirit is not here speaking of Christians, nor of this dispensatin(I think the correct spelling is dispensation, because of his spelling seems not correct to me), but to the saved remant of Israel at the second coming of Christ. pp. 49
I disagree. Heb. 10:17 is not just speak for the Jews of Israel only, also, it apply to the Church both Jews and Gentiles, this verse is speak of Calvary, that Christ forgived all our sins away, that's simple.
I better stop now, because of toooo long post. I will continue in the next post for Part two of his book.
In Christ
Rev. 22:20 -Amen!