2 Thessalonians 2_ 7      Is the Church Age Over?

Rev. David Holwick  *                                 Evening study

First Baptist Church                         

Ledgewood, New Jersey 

October 23, 2005

2 Thessalonians 2:7


IS THE CHURCH AGE OVER?



  I. Harold Camping's radio ministry.

      A. Long-running ministry over a multitude of radio stations.

          1) Distinctive, gravelly voice.  No frills.

          2) "Open Forum" program.


      B. Not connected to any church, though he has Reformed background.


      C. Predicted Jesus would return in 1994.  (He didn't)


II. Camping now claims the church age is over.

      A. Church exists in heaven, but the earthly version is gone.

          1) Just as Israel was destroyed because of "high places,"

                God has now destroyed the church.


      B. Existing churches are just "empty shells."

          1) Pastors are not preaching the real gospel.

          2) No one is really being saved in churches.

              a) Those who think they have been converted, haven't been.


      C. Churches no longer have any authority or legitimacy.

          1) Church leadership - deacons, teachers - is obsolete.

          2) Church ordinances - baptism, communion - are not valid.


      D. What should real Christians do?

          1) Resign from leadership positions.

          2) Drop your church membership and no longer attend.

          3) Form a small fellowship with a few friends and family.

          4) Listen to the radio together.

          5) The best program is with Harold Camping.

              a) He will still accept your money...


III. Why he comes to this conclusion.

      A. An allegorical approach to interpreting the Bible.

          1) St. Origen's method of interpretation:

              a) Basic, literal meaning.

              b) Moral meaning.

              c) Spiritual meaning.

          2) "Spiritual meaning" can be anything the interpreter wants.

              a) To Camping, the two witnesses in Revelation 11,

                   Jerusalem, Judea, all of Old Testament Israel,

                   Hezekiah's life, and the boat the disciples used in

                   John 21 are "pictures" of the church.

              b) Within less than the span of five verses Peter can

                   "represent" the church as a whole, a disciple, and

                   Christ.

              c) There is no limitation to what can be "seen" with such

                    "interpretation."

          3) The alternative is historical-grammatical interpretation.


      B. His conclusion that the Tribulation has begun.

          1) The Holy Spirit has been removed from the church.

          2) Christians must flee before it is too late.

          3) (When did the Tribulation begin?  Perhaps 1994?  Hmmm...)


IV. Why Camping is wrong.

      A. Christ is behind the church "until the end."    Matthew 28:18-19


      B. Christ's glory in the church is to last for "all

            generations."                                  Ephesians 3:20


      C. We are to celebrate communion "until he comes."      1 Cor 11:26


      D. The Antichrist has not appeared, so the Tribulation has

            not begun.



======================

Websites on this issue:


Camping's website:

http://www.familyradio.com/graphical/literature/church/church_contents.html


A good critique of his theology:

http://www.equip.org/site/c.muI1LaMNJrE/b.2715797/k.B1E9/DC989.htm



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