No misconception here! Amils say that the literal Theocratic Kingdom spoken of in the OT must be understood in a spiritual NOT literal sense. The references which you so lightly gloss over as “all fulfilled in the Gospel” are quite specific in detail. God has always ruled over the earth! It has always been His, and He has done as He was pleased. Christ’s rule in Heaven now is little different than it has been from the beginning. He is not on David’s Throne which was an earthly throne in a Jerusalem (DID YOU EVEN READ THE REFERENCES? OR DOES THE SPECIFIC WORDING NOT REALLY MATTER ANYWAY?)
No way you can be “astounded” that I do not view the many detailed and specific promises as fulfilled in the Gospel. HAVE YOU READ ANYTHING ELSE I HAVE WRITTEN ON THIS THREAD? IS THIS THE FIRST TIME YOU HAVE HEARD OF CONTEXTUAL LITERAL GRAMMATICAL HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION?
If we are going to look at the Messiah sitting on David’s throne it is not sufficient to look at it ONLY from the viewpoint of a New Testament citation of Amos 9:11 without looking at both the context of the passage and the Davidic Covenant upon which it is predicated. THIS IS MY GRIPE WITH AMIL THEOLOGY!!! IT TAKES A BRIEF CITATION THAT IS NOT EXPLAINED IN CONTEXT IN ANY GREAT DETAIL AND DIVORCES IT FROM THE CLEAR CONTEXT IN WHICH IT WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN AND CALLS THAT BIBLE INTERPRETATION!!!
First, Peter did not make the statement to which you allude! However your lack of precision in this regard is not surprising. Peter said that the Gentiles had heard the Gospel from his own lips and had believed. The result of his preaching and their faith was that their receding of the Holy Spirit demonstrated that Jews and Gentiles are now on equal footing in the Church on the basis of faith. JAMES says, “Simeon (Simon Peter, ) hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” James continues, “15 to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”
Second, note what James does and does not say: James does say that what Peter has described is in full AGREEMENT with what the prophets said. He does not say that ALL the words of this, or any prophecy have now bees spiritually fulfilled by the death, burial, resurrection of Jesus, and now the birth of the Church. That is what amils assume, that is not what James says.
Peter cited Joel 2 in his sermon in Acts 2, yet all that Joel prophesied did not come to pass then and much of it has not yet come to pass. The principle of double, or split reference is clearly demonstrated by Jesus’ citation of Isa 61:1-2 when He stops reading in the middle of the verse and announces “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). There is no indication in Acts that all of the prophecy in Amos 9 is fulfilled!, only that the words of Peter are in full agreement with the OT Scripture.
Third, what does the prophecy to which James alludes really say? It is from Amos 9. Let’s look at the passage
11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: (the Tabernacle of David has not been built “as in the days of old”. The passage requires a literal physical fulfillment. The amil spiritual fulfillment does not fit the prophecy.)
12 That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the LORD that doeth this. (Israel has not yet possessed all the heathen.)
13 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. (This fits with a literal interpretation of a literal Theocratic kingdom, it does not fit with amil theology, so it must be allegorized away.)
14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. (Bring again the captivity... sounds like restoration to the promised land per Deut 30, Matt 24, Luke 21. Building the waste cities and inhabiting them, vineyards, gardens, fruit...? Amils must spiritualize all of this to make it fit their theology. Premils can take the Word of God as it is written.
15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God. (Israel was “pulled up out of their land” at the destruction of Jerusalem. This was foretold by Jesus and the OT prophets. If that part was literal, TELL ME, HOW CAN THEIR RESTORATION BE ANY LESS LITERAL?)
NO. I do not see the numerous OT prophecies as having been fulfilled. NOR is Acts 15 and indication that they were FULL filled. It only indicates that they were PART filled. AND THIS IS A CLEAR INDICATION THAT ONE DAY, THEY WILL BE FULFILLED IN ENTIRETY!!!
