I think you are projecting your experience (that of a small minority of fringe people) into a topic about the way large numbers people, and the way the views of various influential people, affect history. I think you need to take a look at the history of Zionism and its relationship with Premillennial and Dispensational politicians, religious leaders, and missionary groups. That's only one area where I think that peoples' view of eschatology has affected major national and international decision making. But, it's a well documented one.TheEditor wrote:Hi Doug,
I think we may be moving goal posts here. Let's reconsider the original proposition as made by Robby:
When I accepted the Full Preterist paradigm, one of the first thoughts that came to mind was how this realization would have changed the course of history. Hitler's atrocities, The Inquisition, The establishment of a Jewish State by Zionist, etc.., and how about the agnostics and atheists, who sit on or off "The Bench" because of supposed "failed prophecies" regarding Yeshua's time statements concerning His return. How many of these people would have been converted if The Full Preterist Paradigm would've been taught?
My arguments were all predicated on that one assertion. I believe the nations walk as they walk apart from any real faith in God. They may think they have a faith. But the fact they control countries and continents and broker the destinies of societal groups, tells me that the profession is merely that.
The only immediate problem the full-blown end times "Jesus is coming for sure next year" mindset creates is for the posessor of that idea. Think of the Great Dissappointment in 1843/1844, or the mini-Great Dissappointment for JWs in 1975. Many of these people sold homes and property so they could spend the remaining months in this system preaching the imminent return. How exactly would these folks ever have a mind to get involved in politics in the first place?
Unfortunately, this is one of those subjects that my OCD driven disposition forced me to become far more literate in (Second Adventism) than your average bear. Coming out of the JWs I had to deconstruct and then reconstruct my (tentative) eschatological views, as well as understand the "how's" and "why;'s" of how they historically got there.
I don't think Hitler was preparing for Christ's return. Many Adventists are a-political. I can see the temptation for Amillenialists and Preterists to become very involved in society. This then brings up a different temptation that is a variant on the same theme: To what extent should Christians be engaged in the affairs of the world?
Regards, Brenden.
Doug