April 4, 2004
Pastor Steve
Dear Pastor Steve,
I want to thank you for coming to Astoria and presenting your seminar on biblical prophecy. I was only able to attend three of the evening sessions so my comments will only be based on those that I was able to participate in.
First let me make known that I agree with you that the bible is the word of God, that its authors were indeed divinely inspired and that it is well that we daily peruse its pages. I was taken by your introductory remarks and hope I can accurately recount them. First you stated that the assumption for the class was that the bible was as stated above and that you supported that assumption by indicating it is the only one of the worlds ?holy? books that contains prophecies. What an intriguing way to begin the evening, if only it were true! You see pastor; I have two wonderful daughters-in-law, one from Sikh background and one from Muslim heritage. Both of them have shared with me many of the prophecies of their respective religions. For instance, the Holy Quran has literally dozens of prophecies about the ?return of Christ? and the ?end times? and ?day of judgment?. In addition the Hadith, companion scripture to the Quran, nearly half its renderings have to do with the return of the 12 th Imam, the Qiem, and the advent of the Lord Christ. I also checked further and found in the Hindu literature, there are similar prognostications. In Buddhist text the ?return of the fifth Buddha? is mentioned when world situations become so corrupt. He assures humanity the He will come and bring the spiritual teachings needed for that day. I was wondering what the members of your audience were thinking, those that appeared to be of East Indian origin. Did they not know their own scriptures?
You were well to point out the need to not interject human interpretation into understanding the bible, even to the extent of making sure your ?teacher is tested?. In keeping with Proverbs 18:17 this admonition was well advised. Surely, I thought, there would then be an opportunity for us to ask questions, but alas, the ?seminar? was not structured for audience participation, except for singing and the occasional ?yeah brother?. You also cautioned your ?students? not to depend upon one or two verses to understand the scriptures, but to look at all those that pertained to a subject. This would provide clear understanding. I could do nothing but concur. I became concerned that you were yourself giving your meaning or understanding to scripture and assuring us it was ?thee truth?. I couldn?t help but think of the Prophet Daniel in his anxiety to understand the visions God was sharing with him and how perplexed he was not being able to understand. Finally the Lord instructed him to ?shut up the books, Oh Daniel, for they are sealed until the time of the end?. Surely you must in your thirty years of study of the bible know of this. Likewise you must surely know that try as they might, humans would not be allowed to ?unseal the books? until ?the one like-unto the Son of Man? would unseal them. Now, I understand this glorious being, if not Christ, one very much like him, would be the only one capable of bringing meaning to the body of scripture oft referred to a ?Apoctalyliptic?.
So, my dear friend, as I sat and listened to your presentation of the Return of Christ coming on a cloud with millions upon millions of angels, how it was that you could be so assured of the literalness of this event when there were other scriptures that clearly indicate that ?flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God? and that ?all scripture must be discerned spiritually?. Was not the mistake of the Pharisees taking the Old Testament scriptures literally? How is it that you have the capacity to ?discern the meaning? when you claim that Christ has not yet returned? Are you the ?one like unto the Son of Man? or are you claiming this event has already occurred and the rest of us missed it?
Surely my friend, it behooves us to consider all scripture that bears on the subject since Jesus, himself, made over two hundred references to His ?return? or to one that would ?glorify Him? all should be considered.
I hope that my random comments have not been received negatively. It is my intention only to point out what I heard and saw as flaws in what was otherwise a well-composed and orchestrated production. It must be agreed upon, however, that building an argument on fallacious concepts or designing the event to exclude participation by seekers, is much like building your house upon sand, which you concede is not advocated by scripture.
May you be blessed in your endeavors.
Yours truly,
Tod Jones