By Reverend Mark Hunnemann
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit1 and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and resealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
Responsible biblical scholars differ in their interpretation of the meaning of "the thousand years" (millennium), and these verses are among the mostly controversial in Revelation. I will only be able to give a brief outline of the three main views.Since this is not an issue essential to salvation, gentleness and a desire to learn from each other should mark the way we view differ.
This book is apocalyptic in genre, and that means that there is much symbolism. The issue is how much of Revelation is symbolic and how much is "literal". It needs to be said that the use of symbols does not detract from the authority of the bible.(see ch 1 for how symbols begin...."lampstands")
Some see this book as primarily future....some see it a primarily past (fall of Jerusalem),,,,and some see it as mixture of both.
1. Premillennialists--those who believe Christ will return "pre" (before) the millennium. This is usually thought to be a literal thousand years, which will be a time of great peace and justice, with Christ physically reigning here on earth, along with believers. They tend to minimize symbolism as much as possible.I cannot deal with the differing views of the tribulation nor the notion of the rapture.However, classical premills differ from pre-trib premills in that they believe the rapture/second coming are same event.
2. Postmillenialists--those who think that Christ will return "post" (after) the millennial period, and that the gospel will triumph in changing individuals and culture, and peace and justice will reign for a thousand years (or a long time). They see a future which will be systematically transformed by the gospel, but that prior to Jesus' return there will be an unleashing of wickedness....then Christ will return for Judgment. .Not all post-mills are reconstructionists...again, I have to leave it at that.
3. Amillennialists--those who hold an "a" ( non, or non-literal view of the thousand years), and believe this "thousand years" is the same as this present church age, and that this is the "millenium" before Christ's return. As with the others, they believe in a great apostasy before Christ's literal return.What differentiates them from post mills is that, even though they believe in the extraordinary transforming power of the gospel, they do not believe in a golden age prior to Jesus' Second Coming.The victory is that deceased believers reign with Christ now...and the alive believers are more than conquerors in Christ.
Each of these views are to be understood in terms of interpretation of other passages (e.g. Matthew 24), and each view falls within the framework of historic Christian othodoxy. In addition, many folks adhere to a mix of these views!
v. 1-3 (cf 12:9-17) The nature of this binding of Satan is crucial to each millennial view. Premills read this as predicting a complete removal of Satan from the earth during the millennium. They argue that "shut it" and "sealed it over him" picture a removal of Satan from Earth too complete to represent the current age. Postmills also think this will be a future golden age, but believe that Christ will not return until after the end of that time. Amills note that the NT affirms that Jesus's first coming has already bound Satan (Matthew 12:29) and brought God's light to the nations (Matthew 4:14-16; Luke 2:32; Acts 14:15-17; 17:30-31) Hence, they argue that this binding of Satan for a "thousand years" refers to the gospels spread among all nations during the present age, and to the present restraint of the church's persecutors until an outbreak of rebellion before Christ's return (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8) v.4-5 "...and reigned with Christ for a thousand years".Premills think this means that resurrected believers will assist with Christ's thousand year reign as King over the earth. Amills think this means that deceased believers now (and during the entire "thousand years", which means from Pentecost to second coming) are reigning with Christ from heaven. Postmills see it as a future triumph of Christianity in the world.
Historically, there are significant differences amongst those who are premill, and there are other overlapping factors amongst the three views, but this is a humble attempt to clarify the basic three views held during the last 2,000 years. The main issue is that Jesus is most certainly returning to judge the living and the dead, and that He reigns supreme NOW.
Mark Hunnemann is the author of Seeing Ghosts Through God's Eyes: A Worldview Analysis of Earthbound Spirits. It's also available in eBook format.
Looking inside the spiritual & literary worlds
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Secular Ethics is the Light of Hope: Dalai Lama
Vaishali Balajiwale
"Tibet had remained dark till light from India reached the place; enlightenment came to Tibet from India, and historically Indians are our gurus, and we the chelas," said Dalai Lama, addressing the International Conference on Secular Ethics in Nashik on Saturday.
Dalai Lama, who captivated the audience with his thoughts, also answered questions of the gathering.
Stressing the need to lead a happy life, Dalai Lama said we needed to think of a happy world. "Oneness means all the people being one and leading a happy life. The basis of human rights is happy life. Everyone wants to lead a happy life for which we need to have a holistic approach. Faith is important, religions can be different," Dalai Lama said, giving example of the Chinese following the communist thought. He said: "The Chinese I met were non-believers, but were dedicated to working for the poor. What is important is becoming a good human being with deep human values."
On religious tolerance, Dalai Lama said: "Religious differences are borne by retarded thought. Acceptance of humanity should lie in the head and the mind."
Many problems in the society arise due to short-sightedness, or on account of looking at something in just one angle. The reality however is much complex. It is necessary that we look through six dimensions, or else we may fail to see the reality, Dalai Lama said.
On secularism, he said: "Secularism does not mean disrespect for other religions. No religion teaches violence. It will be unfair to generalise the bad tendencies in a religion and say it does not teach good."
On religious fundamentalism, Dalai Lama said: "Religions preach devotion to Allah, the Almighty or God. Saying that a particular religion teaches conflict would be totally ridiculous. No religion is negative. Any religion that teaches people to live happily cannot be bad. A religion may have mischievous people, but saying that their behaviour reflects the whole religion will not be correct."
On similarities in Buddhism and Jainism, Dalai Lama said: "Both believe there is no beginning or end, as well as non-violence (ahimsa)."
Saying it was important to develop an investigative bend of mind, Dalai Lama urged people not to follow any religious leader blindly. "Question", he said adding, "Buddha said investigate a thought thoroughly. Study the qualifications of a guru or a leader, meet them, observe till you develop a conviction that what the leader says can be followed."
"Know the qualities of a disciple, and as a disciple conduct unbiased investigation; use your intellect and develop enthusiasm to practise what you have accepted and believed. This is the Nalanda tradition and time has come to follow it, he said.
Compassion and affection are important in life for even those who have had cruel or unfavourable experience in early stages of life. With some effort we can turn to positivity, that is the basic human nature, Dalai Lama said.
Praising Dr Ambedkar, he said the maker of Indian Constitution was a great scholar. "His contributions are great."
On science and Buddhism, Dalai Lama said many scientists had come to accept that science had a role in transforming thinking. Even Albert Einstein believed that religion and science could go side by side. Many people say Buddhism is a way of life and not a religion. Buddhist psychology is all about building a healthy mind, healthy body and a healthy society.
Leaders of different religions expressed themselves on religion and all of them emphasised that the "true religion is secularism, brotherhood and peace" – "One God, one world and one family, binds all together," he said. "Secularism is the call of the day and secular ethics, the light of hope."
original link: http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-secular-ethics-is-the-light-of-hope-dalai-lama-2049349
Sins of the Forefathers: Generational Curses
In this blog I hope to help give you the reader a better understanding in certain aspects of Exorcism, dealing with generational curses. Generational curses for a common sense understanding is stated as “sins of your forefathers”, on both sides of the blood lines. Each of our bloodlines descend from other areas of the world as our ancestors made impacts into their world at the time they lived.
Exorcism is removing the Demonic from within the person. Curse breaking is used to sever ancestry ties to past sins as the “back door” gateway to the human in conjunction with the mortal sins the person committed. So how does a generational curse actually work?
Generational curses work as follows, let’s say for example you know a family that has a history of anger issues. Suppose a man went to see his Minister to discuss his anger and violent temper issues because his father too is an angry as well as violent man. The young man asked the Minister about deliverance of this generational curse with the Minister to which the Minister responded in a manner such that this is a learned behavior.
The Minister might discuss with the young man that this is not scripturally based, because these anger outbursts are being works of the flesh so to speak. Thus as Christians we are to have the Holy Spirit which overcomes this under accordance of scripture (see Galatians 5:16, 20). A generation is defined as the age between the birth of the parents and the birth their child according to Webster’s. A curse is defined as a prayer or invocation to cause harm to a person, a call to a supernatural power to send or cause injury upon someone.
Many people do suffer from a burden that seems to be handed down (alcoholism, anger, violence, molestation, etc…). So what does the Holy bible state about generational curses? Exodus 34:7 states, "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting (punishing) the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." Lamentations 5:7, "Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne (been punished for) their iniquities."
Based upon what ancestors have done within the bloodlines who lived in the past is impossible to determine. Very few people know how to properly break these generational curses that affect them to this day. Why is that? Well the answers can be many, but the simple truth is two-fold in my assessment:
A. People do not view these generational aspects anything but a physiological issue. Example if the grandfather was angry, the son/daugther will be a angry due to living in this situation. The physiological issue can be a legitimate scenario but truly dark forces are at work behind the scenes to keep this activity alive.
B. Ministry is not addressing these as generational curses because Ministry is not taking the time talk about these areas of human lives as curses set forth from ancestors which GOD is punishing people.
Many times people want to view GOD as an all loving, all compassionate GOD when frankly that is clearly not the case. Many people who are Christian as they claim to be are confused (which they are from conversations I have had with many) that GOD could not be completely loving and jealous at the same time.
In Exodus 20:4-6, GOD is not using the word "jealous" as you or I would in the same context. Use the word "jealous" to describe the feeling we get when someone else has something that we want or has qualities that we wish we had.
In the scripture of Exodus GOD states "Thou shalt not make up for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shalt not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." What is being stated is that GOD will not tolerate one of His creation worshipping or bowing down to a GOD other than Himself.
People want to assume that there is some “grey” area that GOD will give a pass for and simply that is not the truth. People use the logic that if GOD was not loving then he would not send a savior so therefore he is ultimately not to be feared. Well then, if that is not the case then according to James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” So if the Demons tremble in the name of GOD according to the scripture then why shouldn’t we as humans?
Ministry is not talking about the power of GOD acting in a subjugative manner anymore. Instead our churches are focusing on talking about the redeeming love for his children. Here is the major issue, there is no fear in the Lord our GOD anymore from our churches and this is very dangerous. Psalms 111:10 states “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.”
This is the plan from Satan to make certain that Ministry is becoming “watered down” so to speak, thus people are struggling heavily in the churches. Satan is having his way inside the churches with the Ministers not employed to break the hold of the Demonic upon people.
This ties right into our discussion on generational curses issues. Why? For now we can see how these curses are even passed through the churches unchecked of weak Ministry setting up and supporting other weak Ministers. So therefore these weak Ministers cannot truly help the flock with issues of spiritual bondage when it comes to dealing with the Demonic and breaking generational curses.
If you were a person suffering in this manner and you went to your Minister to request assistance and this Minister were to say to you “Well you just need to pray this situation to GOD and he will provide you the answers you need.” First of all you would be disappointed in this Minister and secondly you would still be in this bondage until properly broken. Nothing has been done to break the hold the Demonic have in or upon you or your bloodline. Therefore to be free it might take the Demonic within Exorcism to renounce the generational curse in place to be truly set free.
The job of Exorcism Ministry is to remove people from spiritual bondage which they are being held captive. Generational curses are spiritual bondage at its finest. These are demonic forces who are enacting this form of imprisonment upon people.
If you feel that you are suffering from a generational curse you can break away and become free. Many people whom I have helped break curses felt like they took anchors as well as chains off their necks and bodies. Feel free to contact me if you need assistance to do this properly.
Rev. Bradley Luoma, Exorcist Minister
Exorcism is removing the Demonic from within the person. Curse breaking is used to sever ancestry ties to past sins as the “back door” gateway to the human in conjunction with the mortal sins the person committed. So how does a generational curse actually work?
Generational curses work as follows, let’s say for example you know a family that has a history of anger issues. Suppose a man went to see his Minister to discuss his anger and violent temper issues because his father too is an angry as well as violent man. The young man asked the Minister about deliverance of this generational curse with the Minister to which the Minister responded in a manner such that this is a learned behavior.
The Minister might discuss with the young man that this is not scripturally based, because these anger outbursts are being works of the flesh so to speak. Thus as Christians we are to have the Holy Spirit which overcomes this under accordance of scripture (see Galatians 5:16, 20). A generation is defined as the age between the birth of the parents and the birth their child according to Webster’s. A curse is defined as a prayer or invocation to cause harm to a person, a call to a supernatural power to send or cause injury upon someone.
Many people do suffer from a burden that seems to be handed down (alcoholism, anger, violence, molestation, etc…). So what does the Holy bible state about generational curses? Exodus 34:7 states, "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting (punishing) the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." Lamentations 5:7, "Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne (been punished for) their iniquities."
Based upon what ancestors have done within the bloodlines who lived in the past is impossible to determine. Very few people know how to properly break these generational curses that affect them to this day. Why is that? Well the answers can be many, but the simple truth is two-fold in my assessment:
A. People do not view these generational aspects anything but a physiological issue. Example if the grandfather was angry, the son/daugther will be a angry due to living in this situation. The physiological issue can be a legitimate scenario but truly dark forces are at work behind the scenes to keep this activity alive.
B. Ministry is not addressing these as generational curses because Ministry is not taking the time talk about these areas of human lives as curses set forth from ancestors which GOD is punishing people.
Many times people want to view GOD as an all loving, all compassionate GOD when frankly that is clearly not the case. Many people who are Christian as they claim to be are confused (which they are from conversations I have had with many) that GOD could not be completely loving and jealous at the same time.
In Exodus 20:4-6, GOD is not using the word "jealous" as you or I would in the same context. Use the word "jealous" to describe the feeling we get when someone else has something that we want or has qualities that we wish we had.
In the scripture of Exodus GOD states "Thou shalt not make up for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shalt not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." What is being stated is that GOD will not tolerate one of His creation worshipping or bowing down to a GOD other than Himself.
People want to assume that there is some “grey” area that GOD will give a pass for and simply that is not the truth. People use the logic that if GOD was not loving then he would not send a savior so therefore he is ultimately not to be feared. Well then, if that is not the case then according to James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” So if the Demons tremble in the name of GOD according to the scripture then why shouldn’t we as humans?
Ministry is not talking about the power of GOD acting in a subjugative manner anymore. Instead our churches are focusing on talking about the redeeming love for his children. Here is the major issue, there is no fear in the Lord our GOD anymore from our churches and this is very dangerous. Psalms 111:10 states “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth forever.”
This is the plan from Satan to make certain that Ministry is becoming “watered down” so to speak, thus people are struggling heavily in the churches. Satan is having his way inside the churches with the Ministers not employed to break the hold of the Demonic upon people.
This ties right into our discussion on generational curses issues. Why? For now we can see how these curses are even passed through the churches unchecked of weak Ministry setting up and supporting other weak Ministers. So therefore these weak Ministers cannot truly help the flock with issues of spiritual bondage when it comes to dealing with the Demonic and breaking generational curses.
If you were a person suffering in this manner and you went to your Minister to request assistance and this Minister were to say to you “Well you just need to pray this situation to GOD and he will provide you the answers you need.” First of all you would be disappointed in this Minister and secondly you would still be in this bondage until properly broken. Nothing has been done to break the hold the Demonic have in or upon you or your bloodline. Therefore to be free it might take the Demonic within Exorcism to renounce the generational curse in place to be truly set free.
The job of Exorcism Ministry is to remove people from spiritual bondage which they are being held captive. Generational curses are spiritual bondage at its finest. These are demonic forces who are enacting this form of imprisonment upon people.
If you feel that you are suffering from a generational curse you can break away and become free. Many people whom I have helped break curses felt like they took anchors as well as chains off their necks and bodies. Feel free to contact me if you need assistance to do this properly.
Rev. Bradley Luoma, Exorcist Minister
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