Post by mellontes on Nov 16, 2009 14:33:12 GMT -5
2012 – The Movie
On Saturday, November 14, 2009, my wife and I went to view the movie 2012. It was a special effects extravaganza! Unfortunately, it was not biblical in any respect. It is assumed by most of North American evangelical Christianity that our planet (world) is going to come to an end in accordance with biblical prophecy, but such is not the case, and nor has it ever been the case.
But before I get into all the reasons why such an assumption is incorrect, I should like to address those who also believe the world that was going to end has already done so. This world is what we refer to as the old covenant world of Judaism with its temple worship system. Not one single Jewish temple sacrifice has ever taken place since the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed in 70 AD. And because the temple no longer exists, neither does Judaism because the temple is at its very center of practice.
The movie 2012 dredged up as many references as possible to new worlds and theologies. The phrase a brave new world was used by the president in the movie to allude to Aldous Huxley’s novel of the same name. The “left behind” people in this movie were those who remained to face the cataclysmic effects of a planet gone awry. Even the Christian “rapture” was mentioned to give emphasis to the movie’s theme. But one thing the movie’s president of the United States (what other country!) did do was something we all should do as preterists. He chose to remain behind for one reason only – to tell the people the truth of what was coming. Perhaps he thought the truth would set these people free if only for a few brief moments before imminent death overtook them. The president’s task would not be a pleasant one for it entailed his own demise as well as telling the people something they all wished not to hear.
I think it was at that moment in the movie that I realized my mandate. It was to tell the people the truth, not only about the Gospel and its ability to set men free from sin, but also to Christians that their predominant eschatology is wrong. People do not like to be told they have been wrong all of their Christian lives and will do just about everything to hide from it. We have seen evidence of that on this forum and on many other forums as well.
Many Christians who have recognized and embraced the truth of fulfilled eschatology remain quiet, perhaps not willing to “suffer affliction” by those opposed to this truth. Being castigated by family members or close friends (?) is just too much for them to bear. Perhaps this is because they have not yet come to this realization on their own. They have been taught it and just believed it because they have trusted the individuals who taught it. I have been there once before and no matter what the facts are, they must be experienced by individual, personal study. I believe those who once said they were of our congregation of fulfilled eschatology did not experience the changes necessary for personal belief, and hence, have fallen away and developed into our most voracious antagonists.
While I sat and viewed the movie, I could not help but be empathic to countless millions of Christians and non-Christians who believe this kind of demise may be coming within their own generation. They expect this gloom and doom to come upon them and their children. Is this not a life of constant anxiety and fear? Why invest for the future? Why plan for anything too distant into the future? What a relief to know that this is not at all how the Lord intended for us to live. He is victorious in all He planned to do!
This movie presents us with a tremendous opportunity. The normal Christian who still expects these kinds of tragedies in their lifetime will be affected greatly by this movie. It will enhance their fears. It will increase their ungodly last-days teachings. More people will come to believe that Jesus and His inspired Apostles lied about the timing of the “end of the world.” We must be busy about the Lord’s work by telling everyone that the end of the world was but the end of the age of Judaism. It is past! He has conquered! He reigns victorious over us! If we do nothing, it may result in the end of our eschatological world, buried again in the depths of time to await discovery by another brave group of individuals ready to stand true for the Lord. “He did not lie!” they shall proclaim…and on it will go, again. Let us not be one of those who stand silent in this day and in this age.
On Saturday, November 14, 2009, my wife and I went to view the movie 2012. It was a special effects extravaganza! Unfortunately, it was not biblical in any respect. It is assumed by most of North American evangelical Christianity that our planet (world) is going to come to an end in accordance with biblical prophecy, but such is not the case, and nor has it ever been the case.
But before I get into all the reasons why such an assumption is incorrect, I should like to address those who also believe the world that was going to end has already done so. This world is what we refer to as the old covenant world of Judaism with its temple worship system. Not one single Jewish temple sacrifice has ever taken place since the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed in 70 AD. And because the temple no longer exists, neither does Judaism because the temple is at its very center of practice.
The movie 2012 dredged up as many references as possible to new worlds and theologies. The phrase a brave new world was used by the president in the movie to allude to Aldous Huxley’s novel of the same name. The “left behind” people in this movie were those who remained to face the cataclysmic effects of a planet gone awry. Even the Christian “rapture” was mentioned to give emphasis to the movie’s theme. But one thing the movie’s president of the United States (what other country!) did do was something we all should do as preterists. He chose to remain behind for one reason only – to tell the people the truth of what was coming. Perhaps he thought the truth would set these people free if only for a few brief moments before imminent death overtook them. The president’s task would not be a pleasant one for it entailed his own demise as well as telling the people something they all wished not to hear.
I think it was at that moment in the movie that I realized my mandate. It was to tell the people the truth, not only about the Gospel and its ability to set men free from sin, but also to Christians that their predominant eschatology is wrong. People do not like to be told they have been wrong all of their Christian lives and will do just about everything to hide from it. We have seen evidence of that on this forum and on many other forums as well.
Many Christians who have recognized and embraced the truth of fulfilled eschatology remain quiet, perhaps not willing to “suffer affliction” by those opposed to this truth. Being castigated by family members or close friends (?) is just too much for them to bear. Perhaps this is because they have not yet come to this realization on their own. They have been taught it and just believed it because they have trusted the individuals who taught it. I have been there once before and no matter what the facts are, they must be experienced by individual, personal study. I believe those who once said they were of our congregation of fulfilled eschatology did not experience the changes necessary for personal belief, and hence, have fallen away and developed into our most voracious antagonists.
While I sat and viewed the movie, I could not help but be empathic to countless millions of Christians and non-Christians who believe this kind of demise may be coming within their own generation. They expect this gloom and doom to come upon them and their children. Is this not a life of constant anxiety and fear? Why invest for the future? Why plan for anything too distant into the future? What a relief to know that this is not at all how the Lord intended for us to live. He is victorious in all He planned to do!
This movie presents us with a tremendous opportunity. The normal Christian who still expects these kinds of tragedies in their lifetime will be affected greatly by this movie. It will enhance their fears. It will increase their ungodly last-days teachings. More people will come to believe that Jesus and His inspired Apostles lied about the timing of the “end of the world.” We must be busy about the Lord’s work by telling everyone that the end of the world was but the end of the age of Judaism. It is past! He has conquered! He reigns victorious over us! If we do nothing, it may result in the end of our eschatological world, buried again in the depths of time to await discovery by another brave group of individuals ready to stand true for the Lord. “He did not lie!” they shall proclaim…and on it will go, again. Let us not be one of those who stand silent in this day and in this age.
