Thank you Pastor Ralston for being steadfast, standing on God's Word and teaching Church history a topic sadly overlooked far to often. I'm leaving this comment everywhere I can before it's to late as a testament to the Truth. So those left may understand and know why so many have suddenly disappeared. The true reason will be hidden behind lies and deceptions I can't even imagine but this should help leave no doubt as to what actually occurred. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has come for His Bride, (all true Christians), so that where He is we may be also, just as promised in Scripture. I want to share some information about His gathering of His Church, Christ's Bride to Himself. Just some information to help understand why so many are blinded today to the "Doctrine of Imminency". This should help when you are attacked for a Pre-Trib view or if you are confused about it. The Great Tribulation is the Holy Wrath of God being poured out on the deserving. Show me from Scripture where God has allowed His Wrath, to be poured out on those He's found righteous, other than our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus as a propitiation for all? The tribulations of today and the past that Jesus and Scripture warned us of are perpetrated by the sinful, men/women, not the LORD. The Great Tribulation will be God's Holy Wrath poured out on the deserving and none else. P - Placement of His Church (Revelation) R - Removal of the Restrainer E - Exempt from God's Wrath (as promised in Scripture) T - Twenty Four Elders (with crowns priests/kings) R - Rapture confused with Second Coming I - Imminent return of Christ B - Blessed Hope Augustine of Hippo, (354-430), was one of the church fathers as they're known. He is revered as a great teacher but flawed by the circumstances of his day. He taught during the time of monarchies and rather than offend them he did not teach as those that came before him such as Clement, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Ephraim, Polycarp and many others. He's the first we see in history who downplayed and didn't truly teach the "Doctrine of Imminency" according to Scripture. I'd imagine those in the monarchy would not have liked to be told how the real and true King, our Lord and Savior, the Lord of Lords and King of kings could return at any moment. As a result for all the sound doctrine and his magnificent work against heresies Augustine has left behind in his writings, his lack of teaching on the "Doctrine of Imminency" has left a lasting impression on our faith. There is also another huge issue in that Augustine was a "supersessionist" as in he taught in his work the "City of God" that the Church had replaced Israel as the LORD's Chosen. This of course is not true, the Church has been grafted into the "rich root" of promise and has in no way replaced Israel as the apple of God's eye and His chosen people. The Apostle Paul has amazing teaching on this in the Book of Romans chapters 9-11. I often hear those that confuse the Trumpet of God with the Trumpets in the Book of Revelation. They apparently have no understanding of how the LORD used the Trumpet of God in the Old Testament to signal His People to come/gather to Him for Instruction, Worship or to follow Him. Please study these Scriptures: Gen 5:24, John 14:1-3, Matt 25:13, 1 Cor 15:51-53, 1 Thes 4:13-18, Rom 8:19, 1 Cor 1:7-8, 1 Cor 16:22, Phil 3:20-21, Col 3:4, 1 Thes 1:10, 1 Thes 2:19, 1 Thes 5:4-9, 1 Thes 5:23, 2 Thes 2:1-3a, 1 Tim 6:14, 2 Tim 4:1, Titus 2:13, Heb 9:28, Heb 10:37, James 5:7-9, 1 Peter 1:7 (13), 1 John 2:28 - 3:2, Jude 21, Rev 3:10-13, Rev 4:1 (4), Rev 22:20. Now tell me what you see in the Word of God. Tell me you don't see it, the (Harpazo/Rapturo/Rapio)? Watch as the early followers of the "Way" are told to encourage each other with the words of Jesus and the Apostles John, Peter and Paul. As their instruction is for us to be ever looking upward for our Lord's imminent return at any moment. Paul's proclaiming of, When the dead in Christ will be raised first and then we who remain will be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, and be "caught up" together with them to meet our Lord in the clouds/air/heavens. Notice it isn't on the ground that we will meet our Lord, but in the air? An early Hymn of Praise and Hope: Jesus may come today. Glad day! Glad day! And I would see my friend! Dangers and troubles would end, If Jesus should come today. Jesus is coming to earth again. What if it were today? the Didache dated about 100-120 A.D., which contains the exhortation: "Watch for your life's sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh". The Lord's Return believed by the Apostolic Fathers: They expected the return of the Lord in their day. They believed the time was imminent because their Lord had taught them to live in a watchful attitude." And concerning the Ante-Nicene Fathers most of them: By tradition they knew the faith of the Apostles. They taught the doctrine of the imminent return of the Lord. So get out there my brothers and sisters and proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Yeshua Ha Mashiach) for time is short and the day is near. Marana tha !!! Come Lord Jesus, come, Amen... If you are reading this after the Rapture find a Bible and read as it truly is your only hope. Start in the Gospel of John and then read Acts and the teaching Epistles. He is the only way and if you're brave enough to want to know the truth of what is to come read Revelation starting at Chapter 6 because that is all that is left to you of our Lord's as yet unfulfilled Prophetic Word. The first 5 chapters dealt with His Bride, His Church/Body made up of true believers, who are now and forever will be with Him. It will not be an easy road and you will loose your earthly life that is but a vapor compared to eternity. Give your life to and for Jesus so you can be with Him in paradise... Romans 10:9 Say it, mean it, believe it and trust in Him. He will save you even now no matter what you've done or not done unless you take the mark willingly. No matter what they threaten you with do not take the mark or worship the beast. Do not fear anything they can do to you in this life now but fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in Hell for eternity. God Bless...
Another excellent lecture. Lance do you have a citation or reference for your statement at 6:40 regarding the pre-millenial views of Irenaeus? I would love to read what he said. Thanks.
Thank you for watching and for your support! Much of Irenaeus's premillenialist views are recorded in his work "Against Heresies," Book V, chapters 27-28, and 32-36.
Hello, I have to go over your series as I enjoy reading about the early church history. I don’t know a lot but I find it interesting ! One of the matters that really makes me ponder is the quarterdeciman controversy. Polycarp seems to follow the teachings of the bishops before him and the Apostle John. While others seem to follow A non Jesus calendar for Passover. I was wondering did you know of any who claim that they were taught this change by the Apostle Paul or his disciples? Thanks.
Irenaeaus' teaching of apostolic succession was one of the bishop being ordained by another bishop who held apostolic succession. He did not look at succession as merely handing down of the faith. "It is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the Church-those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles; those who, together with the succession of the episcopate, have received the infallible charism of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father. But [it is also incumbent] to hold in suspicion others who depart from the primitive succession, and assemble themselves together in any place whatsoever, either as heretics of perverse minds, or as schismatics puffed up and self-pleasing, or again as hypocrites, acting thus for the sake of lucre and vainglory. For all these have fallen from the truth". - Ireneaus of Lyons (an disciple of Polycarp of Smyrna), Against Heresies, 4:26:2, 180 AD
I'm having trouble waiting for a whole week for new videos. Great series!!!
Thank you pastor Ralston wonderful message I will need to listen to this several times. I'm older so absorption is slow. Love it
Always enjoy your videos. Thank you for teaching me so much.
Thank you Pastor Ralston for being steadfast, standing on God's Word and teaching Church history a topic sadly overlooked far to often.
I'm leaving this comment everywhere I can before it's to late as a testament to the Truth. So those left may understand and know why so many have suddenly disappeared. The true reason will be hidden behind lies and deceptions I can't even imagine but this should help leave no doubt as to what actually occurred.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has come for His Bride, (all true Christians), so that where He is we may be also, just as promised in Scripture.
I want to share some information about His gathering of His Church, Christ's Bride to Himself.
Just some information to help understand why so many are blinded today to the "Doctrine of Imminency".
This should help when you are attacked for a Pre-Trib view or if you are confused about it.
The Great Tribulation is the Holy Wrath of God being poured out on the deserving.
Show me from Scripture where God has allowed His Wrath, to be poured out on those He's found righteous, other than our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus as a propitiation for all?
The tribulations of today and the past that Jesus and Scripture warned us of are perpetrated by the sinful, men/women, not the LORD.
The Great Tribulation will be God's Holy Wrath poured out on the deserving and none else.
P - Placement of His Church (Revelation)
R - Removal of the Restrainer
E - Exempt from God's Wrath (as promised in Scripture)
T - Twenty Four Elders (with crowns priests/kings)
R - Rapture confused with Second Coming
I - Imminent return of Christ
B - Blessed Hope
Augustine of Hippo, (354-430), was one of the church fathers as they're known. He is revered as a great teacher but flawed by the circumstances of his day. He taught during the time of monarchies and rather than offend them he did not teach as those that came before him such as Clement, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Ephraim, Polycarp and many others. He's the first we see in history who downplayed and didn't truly teach the "Doctrine of Imminency" according to Scripture. I'd imagine those in the monarchy would not have liked to be told how the real and true King, our Lord and Savior, the Lord of Lords and King of kings could return at any moment. As a result for all the sound doctrine and his magnificent work against heresies Augustine has left behind in his writings, his lack of teaching on the "Doctrine of Imminency" has left a lasting impression on our faith. There is also another huge issue in that Augustine was a "supersessionist" as in he taught in his work the "City of God" that the Church had replaced Israel as the LORD's Chosen. This of course is not true, the Church has been grafted into the "rich root" of promise and has in no way replaced Israel as the apple of God's eye and His chosen people. The Apostle Paul has amazing teaching on this in the Book of Romans chapters 9-11.
I often hear those that confuse the Trumpet of God with the Trumpets in the Book of Revelation. They apparently have no understanding of how the LORD used the Trumpet of God in the Old Testament to signal His People to come/gather to Him for Instruction, Worship or to follow Him.
Please study these Scriptures:
Gen 5:24, John 14:1-3, Matt 25:13, 1 Cor 15:51-53, 1 Thes 4:13-18, Rom 8:19, 1 Cor 1:7-8, 1 Cor 16:22, Phil 3:20-21, Col 3:4, 1 Thes 1:10, 1 Thes 2:19, 1 Thes 5:4-9, 1 Thes 5:23, 2 Thes 2:1-3a, 1 Tim 6:14, 2 Tim 4:1, Titus 2:13, Heb 9:28, Heb 10:37, James 5:7-9, 1 Peter 1:7 (13), 1 John 2:28 - 3:2, Jude 21, Rev 3:10-13, Rev 4:1 (4), Rev 22:20.
Now tell me what you see in the Word of God. Tell me you don't see it, the (Harpazo/Rapturo/Rapio)? Watch as the early followers of the "Way" are told to encourage each other with the words of Jesus and the Apostles John, Peter and Paul. As their instruction is for us to be ever looking upward for our Lord's imminent return at any moment. Paul's proclaiming of, When the dead in Christ will be raised first and then we who remain will be changed in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, and be "caught up" together with them to meet our Lord in the clouds/air/heavens.
Notice it isn't on the ground that we will meet our Lord, but in the air?
An early Hymn of Praise and Hope:
Jesus may come today.
Glad day! Glad day!
And I would see my friend!
Dangers and troubles would end,
If Jesus should come today.
Jesus is coming to earth again.
What if it were today?
the Didache dated about 100-120 A.D., which contains the exhortation: "Watch for your life's sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh".
The Lord's Return believed by the Apostolic Fathers:
They expected the return of the Lord in their day. They believed the time was imminent because their Lord had taught them to live in a watchful attitude."
And concerning the Ante-Nicene Fathers most of them:
By tradition they knew the faith of the Apostles. They taught the doctrine of the imminent return of the Lord.
So get out there my brothers and sisters and proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Yeshua Ha Mashiach) for time is short and the day is near.
Marana tha !!!
Come Lord Jesus, come, Amen...
If you are reading this after the Rapture find a Bible and read as it truly is your only hope. Start in the Gospel of John and then read Acts and the teaching Epistles. He is the only way and if you're brave enough to want to know the truth of what is to come read Revelation starting at Chapter 6 because that is all that is left to you of our Lord's as yet unfulfilled Prophetic Word. The first 5 chapters dealt with His Bride, His Church/Body made up of true believers, who are now and forever will be with Him. It will not be an easy road and you will loose your earthly life that is but a vapor compared to eternity. Give your life to and for Jesus so you can be with Him in paradise...
Romans 10:9 Say it, mean it, believe it and trust in Him.
He will save you even now no matter what you've done or not done unless you take the mark willingly. No matter what they threaten you with do not take the mark or worship the beast. Do not fear anything they can do to you in this life now but fear Him who can destroy both body and soul in Hell for eternity.
God Bless...
Another excellent lecture.
Lance do you have a citation or reference for your statement at 6:40 regarding the pre-millenial views of Irenaeus? I would love to read what he said. Thanks.
Thank you for watching and for your support! Much of Irenaeus's premillenialist views are recorded in his work "Against Heresies," Book V, chapters 27-28, and 32-36.
Thank you. This is helpful.
Hello, I have to go over your series as I enjoy reading about the early church history. I don’t know a lot but I find it interesting ! One of the matters that really makes me ponder is the quarterdeciman controversy. Polycarp seems to follow the teachings of the bishops before him and the Apostle John. While others seem to follow A non Jesus calendar for Passover. I was wondering did you know of any who claim that they were taught this change by the Apostle Paul or his disciples? Thanks.
What an interesting fellow, this Origin. But the trinity debates sort of make my head explode... but i am bracing myself.
Irenaeaus' teaching of apostolic succession was one of the bishop being ordained by another bishop who held apostolic succession. He did not look at succession as merely handing down of the faith.
"It is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the Church-those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles; those who, together with the succession of the episcopate, have received the infallible charism of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father. But [it is also incumbent] to hold in suspicion others who depart from the primitive succession, and assemble themselves together in any place whatsoever, either as heretics of perverse minds, or as schismatics puffed up and self-pleasing, or again as hypocrites, acting thus for the sake of lucre and vainglory. For all these have fallen from the truth".
- Ireneaus of Lyons (an disciple of Polycarp of Smyrna), Against Heresies, 4:26:2, 180 AD