God's Word to the Calvinist

[rockytopva]

Eternal security is undeniably supported by scriptures.
Loss of salvation is likewise undeniably supported by scriptures.
Hence the long-standing disagreement between Christians (despite Acts 15).
The question is: what dispensation are you quoting from? Those seven churches are primarily tribulation churches, not church-age churches.
In the church age, salvation is entirely by grace through faith: therefore eternal security.
In the tribulation and the millennial kingdom, as it was under Moses' law, salvation is by faith and works: therefore loss of salvation.
- Cue the howls.

Are you, then, disagreeing with John MacArthur?

"These letters, as you know, are directed at seven churches, actual churches, historical churches in actual cities in Asia Minor. But they transcend their time and space and they become model letters to various kinds of churches that exist in all eras of church history." - John MacArthur Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church, Part 1

 

[George Antonios]

Are you, then, disagreeing with John MacArthur?

"These letters, as you know, are directed at seven churches, actual churches, historical churches in actual cities in Asia Minor. But they transcend their time and space and they become model letters to various kinds of churches that exist in all eras of church history." - John MacArthur Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church, Part 1

What you quoted there, no, I do not disagree with it, that's why I boldened the word "primarily". The main doctrinal application is to 7 tribulation churches, a time when, unlike in the church age, loss of salvation is a possibility and a time when one must endure unto the end (of the 7 years). But that doesn't exclude spiritual applications to us since the word of God is a twoedged sword (Heb.4:12): two applications to every verse, usually a doctrinal but also a spiritual one - but those two different applications are often confounded as being one and the same.

 

[rockytopva]

What you quoted there, no, I do not disagree with it, that's why I boldened the word "primarily". The main doctrinal application is to 7 tribulation churches, a time when, unlike in the church age, loss of salvation is a possibility and a time when one must endure unto the end (of the 7 years). But that doesn't exclude spiritual applications to us since the word of God is a twoedged sword: two applications to every verse, usually a doctrinal but also a devotional one - but those two different applications are often confounded as being one and the same.

I am hopefully not presenting my view as rigid. The Seven Churches are written that one can read into and find things not discovered by others... Things in time, space, and geography...

"These letters, as you know, are directed at seven churches, actual churches, historical churches in actual cities in Asia Minor. But they transcend their time and space and they become model letters to various kinds of churches that exist in all eras of church history." - John MacArthur Laodicea: The Lukewarm Church, Part 1

 

[George Antonios]

I am hopefully not presenting my view as rigid. The Seven Churches are written that one can read into and find things not discovered by others... Things in time, space, and geography...

Agreed. And I'm even agreeing with you that the doctrine of the 7 churches points to loss of salvation rather than eternal security. My point however is that we can't take that and apply it to church age Christians since the 7 churches are doctrinally tribulation churches, not church age churches.

 

[rockytopva]

Agreed. And I'm even agreeing with you that the doctrine of the 7 churches points to loss of salvation rather than eternal security. My point however is that we can't take that and apply it to church age Christians since the 7 churches are doctrinally tribulation churches, not church age churches.

I believe that the seven candlesticks, stars, and seals came about pre-trib. The removing of the seals from the Lambs Book of Life will be a post-trib event. I believe a rapture will happen after the last soul is sealed within the Lambs Book of Life.

Candlesticks - Seven church congregations
Stars - Individuals within the congregations, all held in the right hand of Christ
Seals - The seven seals sealed each congregation within the lambs book of life

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. - Revelation 5:4

If this interpretation is not correct why all the ado?