You probably don’t know this.. or maybe you do if you’ve been hanging around this site for a long time. But I have a Lutheran background. I was Baptized and Raised in the Lutheran Church.
A number of years ago the Lord took me on a journey.. I felt ‘called’. I came very close to pursuing the road of becoming a Pastor; I was an Elder in my Church for a while..
And my faith grew deeper and I felt called to bury myself in the Scriptures more so then in the past.
I was eventually drawn to one specific area of Scriptures - the Last Days - Prophecy - The End Times - Eschatology. And there was certainly a plethora of information on the Internet regarding it.. books everywhere about it! I read and read..
And I started this site to help me explore this area… I wanted to learn about others views (and what an educational journey it’s been!).
But the odd thing was even though I spent many years studying the Bible, going to Church every week, Bible Studies… even Bible Camp when I was younger. Much of what I was reading about the End Times was VERY foreign to me.
The Lutheran Church seemed to sort of skim over the entire subject. And that was where I left it for a while. I thought, well, they just don’t deal with the subject matter.
But then my eyes were opened one day! No, it turns out, that wasn’t the whole story; it wasn’t that the Lutheran Church was just not talking about it. The whole story is they believe in a shade of something called Amillennialism - a very different view from many that frequent this website.
Amillennialism is a widely held belief by many Christian denominations (more popular then many of you might immediately think). It’s popularity might surprise you because of the attention other lines of Doctrine (i.e., pre-millennialism) get through the media, movies and the many very popular books over the years - you’ve probably heard of the Left Behind books?
It is the official position of the Roman Catholic Church and is held by many Lutherans and others in the Reformed tradition.
For fun the other day I did a search through our End Times Forum.. now we have over 30,000 posts by members over the last couple years.
I did a search for Amillennialism or Amillennialist (it might have been talked about since I wrote this) and nothing came up. Nothing! Did I mention above it’s widely held? Lutherans? You’ve heard of them right? Catholics? Yep, I bet you’ve heard of them! Some of you reading this are even going to belong to one of those..
There isn’t much love for this view in our community..
I’m not going to go into great detail in this post (although expect me to talk more about this doctrine view in the future!).
Just a few high points..
The biggest difference that affects many things is that those that believe in this view do not believe that there will be a literal one thousand year reign of Christ on earth to come. Amillennialism: If you break the word itself down, ‘A’ is a prefix in Greek meaning not - no. So it literally means ‘no millennium’.
Actually that’s not really accurate though.. because they do believe in a millennial reign of Christ. The difference is it’s a spiritual reign through His church and not an earthly reign in the future. And we’re in it. 
Have you read the Left Behind books? Do you spend every waking hour trying to connect current events to the Bible? What’s going on with Israel? How’s the U.S. fit in the Bible? Who’s the Anti-Christ? Are you waiting for the secret Rapture?
Well, if you are an Amillennialist.. you won’t be.
That’s why it’s all foreign to us (Lutherans, Catholics etc..) when we go outside what we are taught in the Church and by our Pastors. It’s taught as a very simple scenario. And many things in the Bible are not taken literally (another important difference)..
Take a look at this one person’s writing from a number of years ago.. still relevant today:
It’s a great, passionate, personal read… You can hear the frustration in her words!!
When you have a Church you love and people you trust indoctrinating you.. it’s a tough pill to swallow when you start to ask questions and you can’t get satisfactory answers.
Again, I’ll chat more about this because it is something that has and does influence me considerably. I just wanted to put it out there.. It’s never been discussed directly in the forum here.. and I think it deserves to be looked at and discussed.
-Brother Matt
We need more specifics than Hagee provides to document end times prophecy. Here is the real deal today..
King Nebuchadnezzar had more than one dream. The worlds most renowned theologians have missed an extremely important clue about these dreams. (Daniel 2:1.) Daniel plainly reveals the fact that this king’s deepest concerns were not intended for his present day kingdom, but, his true concern was to preserve his kingdom far into the future. “Thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he (God) maketh known to the king what should come to pass in the latter days. (Daniel 2:28-29.)
What a huge mistake! Christians have long overlooked vital clues and ignored important instructions as they have tried to interpret Daniels prophecies as being applicable within his own time. No wonder so many Christians are confused about the book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar is very much like many politicians today and he was more concerned about his legacy than his current kingdom’s status. God answered this king’s concerns with prophetic dreams which could only be understood after the prophecies for our day came to pass. This is why God sealed the entire book of Daniel until the time of the end. “Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” (Daniel 12:9.)
This explains why Daniel repeatedly emphasized the fact that no one could possibly understand, or interpret the entire meaning of Gods clues. Certain prophetic events would have to occur in our time for the book of Daniel to make sense within its true context. Until these latterday prophecies came to pass, no person could possibly understand their true meaning. This means Christians today must unlearn what they have supposed themselves to understand about these prophecies. The frosting was not to be placed on the cake until something extremely important happened to the people of this generation. Daniel again makes it abundantly clear that Gods message was not given for anyone who was living in that time, but for the sake of those living in the latter days.(Daniel 2:30 )
Daniel makes another shocking statement by suggesting that his entire mission into Babylon was to deliver a message intended for the people of our day.
“Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days.(Daniel 10:14.)
” King Nebuchadnezzar’s entire life was a type of puppet show which only became benificial when it connected important parallel events intended for our day. Everything Nebuchadnezzar did in regards to Daniel or Babylon, which included his huge golden statue, were clues about events in the latter days. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego were also types and shadows of understanding for specific parallell events occuring in our day. The fierry furnace was to become a latter day event! Gods deliverance of His people by speaking to Moses from the burning bush also has a paralell in Babylon. Israel being delivered from Egyptian bondage also becomes a type for Babylon. God establishes two clues about these deliverances using the terms “bush, and also eagle’s wings”.
“Yee have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle’s wings, and brought you to myself.” (Exodus 19:4.)
The burning bush and eagle’s wings became a prophetic symbolism for delivering branches of Israrel to salvation and freedom. Such indicates living branches which burn and are not consumed, but are delivered from the fire. Is this not like unto a “baptism by fire” burning away the sins from Israelite branches (Gods people)? Israelites were carried to freedom upon eagle’s wings (Gods power) and gathered to one place in order to witness God’s fire within a bush, another type for the the tree of life which represents Jesus Christ..
Another clue is apparent when Nebuchadnezzar imitated Moses by gathering all of the gentile nations to one place to worship Babylon’s god. Nebuchadnezzar orders three Hebrews to be cast into the fiery furnace after they refused his command to “fall down and worship his golden image.” They were defying his political authority, which was like rejecting god himself. Three Israelite branches were then cast into this furnace. Suddenly, he who dwelt in the bush, who is “like unto the son of God,” appears inside the flames. Man’s fire is changed into God’s fire in the burning Bush.
This powerful event demonstrated to each gentile present in Babylon that God’s only son represents the root branch of Israel while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego were the Israelite branches gathered to the burning bush unto healing wings of deliverance.
These branches were not consumed by fire because the son of God’s representative dwelt in the bush with healing in his wings.. This same God came to Babylon inside Iraq, demonstrating Gods future plans to gather gentiles to the Bush as before. God symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar as a “Lion having eagle’s wings.(Daniel 7:3 ) Nebuchadnezzar was trying to gather his zion by the use of political type wings which immitated God’s wings for eagle’s freedom. Nebuchadnezzar’s political wings were plucked off when God removed Nebuchadnezzar from his kingdom for a seven year period. “Dan.7: 3.”
When Nebuchadnezzar later repented of his pride he then had a second dream where he witnessed true eagle’s feathers growing from within his old political wing’s roots. Metiphorically he was being transformed from a cruel lion nature to the true freedom of an eagle, which wings represented Godly freedom and redemption..(Daniel 4:33.) Remember, this Babylonian king was a prophetic puppet for events to transpire in our day. The gentile Christians of our day were delivered to America’s freedoms, another symbol of eagle’s wings.
A modern Bush is currently delivering Iraq upon these American eagle’s wings obviously doing Gods will by delivering Nebuchadnezzars ancient land from another evil captivity. When Nebuchadnezzar repented, God commanded that Nebuchadnezzar’s gentile family tree be cut down to a stump, which symbolizes his family tree be humbled and left in the earth. (Daniel 4:23.) God then commands that these roots be kept alive and watered for a future purpose in Iraq. (Daniel 4.26)
God then commands this symbolic tree stump be bound until a future time. (Daniel.4.) Just take Gods obvious clue as it stands inside your Bible. If you cut down a tree and keep the stump watered what will it someday become? A Bush! Why a bush?
The tree trunk cannot possibly grow back again as before, but new branches certainly will grow in time. The stump is transformed into a freedom bush, or a gathering of eagle’s wings, which explains why eagle feathers grew out from Nebuchadnezzar’s heart within his famous gentile dream.(Daniel 4:33.)
Nebuchadnezzar’s life was used as a puppet for a modern day Iraq, wherein God would revive ancient Babylon again as a result of His promises through Daniel’s interpretations of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. Iraq is being transformed into a democracy following the image of the eagle and its modern deliverer named George Bush. A type of God’s deliverance for freedom today like a Bush
consistantly on fire from Babylon’s liberal criticism but never consumed.
How many Hebrews were cast into the furnace of fire in ancient Babylon? Was it not three! Why were they cast into that fire? They stood up for religious freedom, did they not! Is this not the very reason America came into existence by declaring religious liberty above an evil King? Were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendego not symbols of the modern eagle called America? Were they not willing to die for their religious freedom? How many American eagle’s (planes) were cast into the firey furnace on 9 - 11? Were there not three separate planes? Did the trade center and the Pentagon not become modern fiery furnaces made many times hotter because of the jet fuel, paralleling ancient Babylon’s fire?
Why else did Nebuchadnezzar order Shadrach and the other two men to pack all of their clothes into a kind of “suit case” before being cast into the fire? Why were Shadrach, Meshach, and Abindego cast into the fire after being bound with all their specific clothing? (Daniel 4:21 ) Was this not a twin prophecy matching 9 - 11 when people entered modern planes being bound with their clothing in suit cases? Were they not likewise cast into the fiery furnace along with all of their clothing on board the planes? We could literally name each plane on 9 - 11 after Shadrach, Meshach and Abindego.
Was there not a fourth eagle (jet plane) which unexpectedly came on the scene? Was this not the climax of the entire 9 - 11 event?
Did the 4th plane called flight 93 not sacrifice itself by coming down from heaven to the earth in order to save others from a terrible fate? When the press and fire trucks arrived at flight 93’s crash site, they discovered an empty hole in the earth with no trace of a plane inside it? “Where is flight 93?” they cried! The fourth eagle, which came down to earth from heaven created an empty tomb! When Christ’s followers ran to his tomb it was found empty. Flight 93 truly represents a touching sacrifice for others in a true American memorial. “I see a fourth.. who is like unto the son of God. (Daniel 3:25.)
Can you now begin to understand why it is a mistake to interpret the book of Daniel for Daniel’s day alone? The complete message is now unsealed. It was published in a new book titled “Bible Prophecies of 9 - 11.” http://www.eternaltruth.net You are about to witness actual biblical prophecies fulfilled in a way that could not posssibly be a manipulation of context. Daniel the prophet just sent you direct messages from God about 9 - 11 and Iraq. Become a living witness today! The book is powerfull beyond words! There are hundreds of 9 - 11 and Iraq witnesses within this 340 page book. Please verify this biblical claim for yourself and share the news with everyone you can!
Analysts are already predicting a huge sweep of leftists coming into both houses of congress along with the white house this fall. These leftists openly consider Christians the enemies of the state, and even above the terrorists. These people are itching to pass the fairness doctrine to put an end conservative talk radio. They are already targeting hate legislation aimed directly against all Christian patriots. They plan a massive overhaul of the judicial system to impose legislation against 1st and 2nd amendment rights.
McCain will make the Iraq war the central issue of this campaign because Obama promises to withdraw our troops regardless if the terrorists declare victory. Christians may have one last chance to grandstand against another Vietnam and the establishment of an anti Christian socialistic state in America. But there is now a new hope!
A new biblical discovery has just hit the market, bringing a miraculous prophecy about Iraq. There have been a large number of related biblical scriptures which have passed silently under the radar.
Iraq is to be freed by a great eagle’s wings in the latter days! This is welcome news coming straight from the Bible just before the election.
If the war in Iraq represents Gods will as predicted in Bible prophecy, this may be our chance to unify Christian patriots before this critical election takes place. Obama claims to be a Christian. Could he now be exposed publically for opposing America or “the great eagle” freeing Iraq in Bible prophecy? A Salem Christian group published an important press release concerning this true Biblical discovery! This stunning declaration comes from one of the most reputable Christian Publishers in America.
http://www.eternaltruth.net/bpo911.html
One critic asked the author how he could possibly announce he had discovered 9/11 and Iraq in Bible prophecy?
“Aren’t you exploiting thousands of American deaths in both this current war and 9/11 just sell a book?”
Author..” “That is my greatest consolation! As we speak many people including veterans are purchasing this book witnessing the very references which prove this book’s biblical promises. People are witnessing biblical prophecies as they unfold before their eyes concerning 9 - 11 and Iraq freed by a modern eagle. Amazon.com just announced upon their web sight that they have sold out the book and must now order more!”
“There are no unsatisfied customers who complain having not received anything less than what was promised by the author. There are steady reports of people who find far more than what they expected possible. It would be unforgivable for any author to promise people such to exploit a national tragedy just for book sales. Many lives are lost and many families with children grieve after having lost their parents. I am not letting those people down who purchase this book in good faith. We are delivering a true message from biblical prophets that was meant for our time. “I have four children of my own, if my book were to become exposed as a manipulation of biblical text such would forever mark my children’s name as well as my own. I have been blessed to have discovered a message placed into the Bible, which could unite believers together before this election. The media does not want people tp hear this message.”
Author of this book,
Paul Gregersen
Listen likewise to an educated critics expert opinion regarding this miraclulous book.
“Reading this particular book has made me aware of how christians have come to accept biblical spin and less than honest interpretations when reading books on Bible prophecy.” When I started reading “Bible prophecies of 9 - 11″ the whole idea of 9 - 11 and Iraq being in Bible prophecy admittedly was quite appealing to me.
But it seemed very far fetched and I fully expected to discover another fiction story cleverly masked behind a another “new” biblical declaration. I fully expected to see the familiar hand picking of quotes deliberately coming from the authors’ selection of unrelated texts to manipulate the meaning of Bible text. I’ve learned that it is a common trick to cleverly combine unrelated verses from separated biblical context in order to stretch readers’ perception beyond the original focus toward the authors’ conclusions, creating the appearance that authors conclusions are also supported by the Bible.
My first surprise while reading this book was to see this author approach things quite differently by laying a biblical foundation from Adam and Eve with the tree of life story, establishing common threads for his entire biblical claim. As the first chapters began to build solidly on biblical themes I quickly realized this particular author was either seriously attempting to link legitimate patterns of bible prophecy, or he was using an even more clever deception to mislead me. This author surprisingly understood the procedure to outline proper types and shadows and stay within one context while linking proper biblical themes. Since the author was not spinning I suspected that he would postpone taking of his liberties until he would be forced into a corner having to demonstrate 9 - 11 towers falling and eagle’s wings into modern Iraq. Instead of the expected biblical spin I witnessed the most beautiful combination of biblical harmony I have ever seen in my life thrilling my soul and bringing tears to my eyes. I knew ammediately that it was a real prophecy not coming from some maufactured context or clever manipulation. I was literally watching 9/11 unfolding a second time from my own Bible. I have no words capable of convincing anyone else other than recomend that they read it for themself. A wise man tests before he talks. Ross David http://www.eternaltruth.net
Hello, Brother Matt! Every once in a while, I do a Google search to see if anyone is talking about my “Questioning Amillenialism” site - and that’s how I ran across your recent blog.
(I wondered why I had such an upswing in visitors recently)
I’ve never been to your site before, so I don’t know what you believe about amillennialism. I bookmarked your page here, so I can peek back and see what else you have to say.
Lee (the Lutheran woman from Questioning Amillennialism)
Hello Lee! You are welcome to visit anytime.
Thanks for the great site.
God Bless,
-Brother Matt
And Ed.. thanks for your thoughts and congrats on delivering one outstanding pre-sell and link strategy.
Good Luck with your book!
-Matt
THIS GUY IS UNDER-STATING THE POWER OF THIS BIBLE DISCOVERY ABOUT IRAQ! You have got to see this youtube video if it is the last thing you ever do as a christian!
Our husbands in Iraq and our wounded vets need
to hear about this new Bible discovery.
Suppose it could be documented that this Bible
prophecy was verified to have been fulfilled in our
day predicting the war in Iraq?
Thousands of people are entering this web sight…
http://www.eternaltruth.net
Critics have sought to rip this biblical discovery a
part in order to disprove it.
Such attempts continue to fail as ambitious Bible
critics seek to expose it as another hoax.
Critics eventually fade as the people who see
value in this fulfilled prophecy are moved to
inform others of this possible miracle arriving in
our day!
Could God have revealed an actual Bible prophecy
supporting America going into Iraq? Everyone is
invited to prove or disprove this newly discovered
prophecy.
If you can demonstrate a way to disprove this claim
you may become a guest on Glenn Becks show or
Shaun Hannity. If you can bring a case forward
which supports this prophecy as being true you
may also become a guest.
This Bible discovery was mentioned on the Rush
Limbaugh show as millions heard of this web sight.
If you can find any evidence disputing this claim
or any evidence confirming it true, please contact
Shaun at…
“Media track” dogtrack88hotmail.com
Or contact Glenn Beck and make your case
to him on line. glennbeck.com You may contact
Rush Limbaugh if possible?
For additional information
concerning this matter contact
Ed Cook at ecdistibutions or
or 208 251 3519
You could receive national recognition for worthy evidence
if your information is convincing. Why?
If no one can dispute this biblical claim this discovery
can be submitted in the media as an actual fulfillment of
biblical prophecy. If not, you may be the one exposing as
a hoax.
The new President of the united states may be determined
by the condition of our economy and the war in Iraq.
What could a Bible prophecy depicting America as
the biblical eagle bringing freedom to Iraq have upon
this presidential election?
Could it perhaps reveal the presidential election from a new
spiritual perspective?
This biblical prophecy could unite our American resolve
for supporting the Iraq war and help our troops.
A subsidiary of Salem communications has already
declared this work to be a monumental discovery of
“biblical proportions” in their recent national press release.
To confirm this national press release go to the Salem
Xulon press release at- http://www.eternaltruth.net or enter
their Salem web sight.
There has been no theological criticism having any
teeth which has demonstrated convincing red flags
which cast doubt upon this claim. The Bible can be spun
by people who often take things out of proper context.
Today modern writers cleverly manufacture their own
evidences from the Bible and years later we then discover
such insights were false.
This means that the specific criteria for documenting
a fulfilled Bible prophecy is even more difficult to accomplish
than many secular discoveries which also require high
standards from sound research.
We need a consensus from several credible Christians
who can collaberate a consistency of legitamate insights
which identify key prophetic types and shadows clearly
identifying the cyclic nature of true prophecy within
Bible history.
Such an insight for understanding true Bible prophecy
should not require a degree in theology. We welcome
either.
We welcome the critics who aspire to prove this wrong.
No credable evidence has been presented showing
any confirmed manipulation of the biblical text nor its
context.
Watch the you tube video as it takes you through
specific Bible scriptures which reveal the
great modern eagle (America)l transforming Iraq
into a free nation in the end times..
Locate now..
“Bible prophecies of 9-11
sincerely,
Bet Patterson
ecdistribution
.
.
Hi Brother Matt,
DO you have a list of denominations or other churches that are amillennial? I’ve search the internet some and can’t find a complied list.
Great work, thanks!
Frank