Do you ever think about what or why other religions believe? Have you ever thought about studying all the religions to compare what you believe. You might even be open to learning other views. In this study we will look at other views. We will answer questions we all have. Questions like, Where do we go when we die. What was fulfilled before 70AD ect.
Let's start off by identifying other beliefs. Later we will look at Scriptures and History to see their view.
Amillennialism (Greek: a- "no" + millennialism) - Believe that Jesus will NOT have a literal, thousand-year-long, physical reign on the earth. They believe the "thousand years" mentioned in Revelation 20 is a symbolic number. The thousand years is a figurative time for Christ's reign. They believe the thousand year reign has already begun. They believe we're in the spiritual Kingdom now and Christ will return in final judgment and resurrect our spiritual body, then take us to heaven. They believe Jesus is reigning from heaven now before the Second Coming. They believe at the ascension or Pentecost, the millennium began they use the passages Acts 2:16-21, Joel 2:28-32 as the coming kingdom. They state that the kingdom is not a physical realm. Matthew 12:28, Luke 17:20-21, Romans 14:17 They believe the binding of Satan, described in Revelation, has already occurred. They believe when a Christian dies he/she immediately goes to heaven. Catholics believe you go to purgatory.
Amillennialism is common in the following churches. Lutheran, Methodist Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Baptist and some Catholic Churches. Many of these churches believe in Partial preterism as well.
We will stop here. For more information about Amillennialism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amillennialism
Preterism - Preterist believe that all or some prophecies have already happened. The Partial Preterist believes some of the prophecies have been fulfilled. The Full Preterist believes all of the prophecies have been fulfilled. Partial Preterist believe some or all: the destruction of Jerusalem, the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and the Judgment, the coming of Christ were fulfilled in 70 AD. Full Preterist believe that the destruction of Jerusalem fulfilled all prophecy including the resurrection of the dead and Jesus, The Second Coming of Jesus and the Judgment. Preterism is certainly not the majority or popular belief but very believable. It was founded after 1500. They appose Dispensationalists. We will stop here. For more information about Preterism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preterism
Dispensationalism believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. They believe in a literal period of 1,000 years reign with Christ. Dispensationalists teach that there are two peoples of God: Israel and the Church. They believe that salvation has always been by grace through faith alone in God, in both the N.T. and O.T. Dispensationalism is a system that leads to premillennial interpretation of Christ's second coming and sometimes pretribulational belief of the rapture. They organize the Bible into different dispensations or administrations. Dispensationalists begin with a revelation in the Old Testament and read forward in a historical sense. Some ot the churches involved with Dispensationalism are Presbyterian, Baptist, Pentecostal, and Charismatic groups. We will stop here. For more information about Dispensationalism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dispensationalism
Premillennialism believe that Jesus will physically return to the earth before the Millennium. They believe in a literal thousand year reign. Premillennialism is based on beliefs of one or more of the following. A millennial reign of Christ, A Rapture, Tribulation, A New heaven, A New Earth, or a New Jerusalem, or Christ has not yet established His kingdom. They have taken fugitive and symbolic language from Revelation and have interpreted them as literal. Anytime you hear things like the Battle of Armageddon, The Rapture, Earthly kingdom, The end of the world, A 1,000 year reign, A New Jerusalem, that's a Premillennialist. 70% of all Christians are Premillennialist. We will stop here. For more information about Premillennialism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premillennialism
Postmillennialism is the belief of a non literal 1000-year reign before the second coming of Jesus. They believe that Christ will return after a certain time but not a literal 1,000 years We will stop here. For more information about Postmillennialism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmillennialism
Historicism Premillennialism - an interpretation of Biblical prophecies that uses symbolic imagery with historical persons, nations and events. Historicists use Daniel and Revelation to determine the course of their church. Almost all Protestant hold some form of historicist views. Some Historicist have made predictions of the end of the world. They believe the Pope to be the Anti-Christ. Many who follow Martin Luther, John Calvin Charles Wesley, Adam Clarke, William Miller, Seventh-day Adventist, Jehovah's Witnesses are Historicist. We will stop here. For more information about Historicism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicism_(Christianity)
Futurism Believe that parts of Revelation and Daniel are events that will take place in a literal, physical, apocalyptic setting. Other views interpret as past events (Preterism) or in a symbolic (Historicism) or present events in a figurative or siritual way (Idealism) Futurist usually are Premillennialist and Dispensationalist. We will stop here. For more information about Futurism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurism_(Christianity)
Idealism See Daniel and Revelation as figurative (nonliteral). They see it as imagery and symbols. For more information about Idealism see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idealism_(Christian_eschatology)
Millennial Day Theory - It's a belief of the second coming of Christ will take palce 6,000 years after the creation of mankind. They believe each millennium is a literal day Psalm 90:4; 2 Peter 3:8 and the end will be 6,000 years later. Then Jesus will return. They teach the 7th millennium is the Sabbath Millennium. For more information about Millennial day theory see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennial_Day_Theory
Now that we have identified some beliefs. Let's find out what categories our beliefs fall under. Every Christian falls under one of these categories Amillennialism, Premillennialism, Postmillennialism or Historical Premillennialism. (A Christian or Christianity, is knowing that Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father in Heaven.) We are not covering other religions that deny Jesus as their savoir.
A. Let's take this person that is a Baptist. We will call him Mr. A. Mr. A has to choose from 4 categories Amillennialism, Premillennialism, Postmillennialism or Historical Premillennialism. Mr. A believes that Jesus will return one day and establish a kingdom on earth. So this make Mr. A a Premillennialist.
B. Let's take this person that is a Seventh Day Adventist. We will call him Mr. B. Mr. B believes that Jesus will return and resurrect Christians, take them to heaven for 1,000 literal years to a physical heaven. Then, the New Jerusalem or New heaven will come down to earth for eternity. So this make Mr. B is a Historical Premillennialist.
C. Let's take this person that is unsure if he is a Presbyterian, Methodist could even be a Church of Christ type or even Catholic . We will call him Mr. C. Mr. C believes that Jesus will return one day. He believes, he is in the kingdom now which is the body of Christ. So this make Mr. C is a Amillennialist.
D. Let's take this person, he thinks he's Presbyterian. We will call him Mr. D. Mr. D believes that Jesus will return one day after the reign of Christ. Mr. D claims to be a Postmillennialist.
Now as you can see there are four categories for the believer. But notice we still have four other beliefs as well. Preterist, Futurist, Historicist and Idealist. Once we discover where we stand in the millennium (Amillennialism, Premillennialism, Postmillennialism, Historical Premillennialism) we can determine how we view scriptures and history. For example let's use me. I believe we're in the Kingdom of God right now because, we are the body of Christ the temple. The bible tells me the kingdom has been established not a physical one but spiritual. I claim to be a Amillennialist but I have another view of the destruction of Jerusalem fulfilling much prophecy. Thus making me have a Partial Preterist view. So now I'm Amillennialist, Preterist and yet I refer to Josephus writings making me a Historicist. Do you see where I'm going with this. From now on through out our study, we will bring in the views of Preterist, Futurist, Historicist and Idealist.
I want to point out that there are really only 3 categories of millennialist pre post and no millennial. I had to bring in Historicism/Premillennialism to include Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witnesses. Really they are Premillennialist with a Historic view.
I'd like to review three religions in the United States. Only to see their view.
Mormonism was started by Joseph Smith in
New York in the early 1820s. Joseph Smith was killed in 1844. After his death,
the Mormons followed Brigham Young. They came across the U.S. and settled in
Utah and began calling themselves Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(LDS)
The Mormons are known to have doctrines that practice polygamy, even to this
day. Many Mormons were getting a bad rap so in 2001 many left the church and
called themselves the Community of Christ. Although they claim not to be Mormon
they follow Restorationist of the Latter Day Saint doctrine.
The word Mormon came from the Book of Mormon, written by Joseph Smith. He
claimed the book was from the from golden plates with divine assistance from
God. Joseph Smith claimed an angel showed him the location of the plates buried
in a nearby hill, but he was not allowed to take the plates until 1827. Joseph
Smith claimed he had a vision from God and God told him no to join any church
because they were all wrong.
Joseph Smith claimed several angelic visitations, adn was told that God would
use him to establish the true church. He claimes God told him the Book of Mormon
would be the correct doctrine. Joseph Smith was seen by his followers as a
Prophet.
The Mormons left New York to avoid conflict. the move to Ohio then to Missouri
in hope to establish a New Jerusalem. Violence broke out andthey fled to
Illinois. They bought a town and named it Nauvoo. They lived there a few years
and once again tension to place with then non believing Mormons. In 1844 Joseph
Smith was killed by a Mob. The Mormons then headed west and began following
Brigham Young as the new prophet and leader.
It was Utah where the church settled and practiced polygamy which Joseph Smith
started in Nauvoo Illinois.
LDS Church teaches that the Father and the Son have physical bodies and the Holy
Spirit has no body but a body of spirit. They believe the three are one in
thoughts, actions, and purpose. The are referred as the "Godhead" They also
believe that a Heavenly Mother exists. They believe God re-established the early
Christian Church as found in the New Testament through Joseph Smith. Mormons
believe that angels such as Peter, James, John, and John the Baptist appeared to
Joseph Smith and others.
Mormons believe Our life on earth is to choose good over evil and that people
make mistakes and Jesus paid for the sins of the world and that all people can
be saved through his atonement. They accept Christ's atonement through faith,
repentance, formal covenants or ordinances such as baptism, and trying to live a
Christ like life.
The Mormons believe creation was built from existing matter that the earth is
just one of many inhabited worlds and there are many different heavenly bodies
including the planet star Kolob which is to be the nearest the throne of God.
For salvation, the Mormons believe you must be baptized by immersion after the
age of eight. Confirmation and reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit by
laying hands on of a baptized member. Males must be ordained to the aronic and
Melchizedek priesthoods. Including washing and anointing and marriage (or
sealing) to a spouse.
Mormons perform ordinances on behalf of the dead. Living or dead, Mormons
believe that the deceased may accept or reject the offered ordinance in the
spirit world. Just like all spirits decided to accept or reject God's plan
originally.
Mormons use the King James Bible but they claim there are errors which is why
they use the Book of Mormon which is divine scripture and equal to the bible.
Mormons believe that God and his divine agents still communicate to man.
Communication can be by the Holy Spirit, visions, visitations of divine beings,
and others.
Most of the Mormon belief system is located in North America and not recognized
in other parts of the world. The LDS Church is the largest branch of Mormonism.
The LDS Church claims no part of other branches of Mormonism. The LDS Church
rejects the practice of polygamy or who hold the beliefs and practices of Mormon
fundamentalism. For more information on Mormonism see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism
As we can see every religion has a little bit of truth. So why are there so many religions? First of all as we learned there are only four ways a Christian can believe. Lets take the Mormon religion for a example. They believe what they do mostly because their parents and grandparents were taught that belief. A Mormon could say "I believe in the same Jesus as you do." And it could be true. That person could say " I'm Mormon because my parents and my grandparents are Mormon and that's the religion I have been taught. I believe its the right teaching so don't put down my religion or my family." There a many wonderful Mormons out there and if you put them down, It will show that your belief systems is false or of the devil. We don't have to agree with a particular religion but we should consider other views in order to make our belief system stronger. With that in mind let's take a look at the wonderful people in the Jehovah's Witness Church.
The Jehovah's Witnesses follow the
teachings of Charles Taze Russell the Watch Tower Society as well as, Joseph
Franklin Rutherford, and Nathan Homer Knorr. Since 1976 all doctrinal decisions
are made by group of elders. They
use the Watchtower magazine and other publications as their teachings.
The Jehovah's Witnesses often change their doctrine and use the terms
"adjustments", "new light" or "new
understanding" from God. They use Proverbs 4:18 to justify this. they claim
continuous advancement in doctrinal
knowledge and scriptural understanding.
The Jehovah's Witnesses tell their members not to study other doctrines or
outside ideas. Members who privately
teach other than those of the Governing Body may be expelled
Jehovah's Witnesses believe they are the only visible channel by which God
communicates with humanity. They
believe The Watch Tower publications teach that the Bible is an "organizational
book" that does not belong to
individuals and that the Bible cannot be properly understood without guidance by
"Jehovah's visible organization"
Jehovah's Witnesses claim both the Great Apostasy and Russell's "restoration" of
original Christianity were a
fulfillment of Jesus' parable of the wheat and the weeds at Matthew
13:24-30,36-43
Many of the Jehovah's Witnesses teachings have changed from time to time,
Jehovah's Witnesses still claim to be the
only true religion. They claim all other religion are part of "Babylon the
Great" a false religion" under the control of Satan.
Jehovah's Witnesses use the words Hebrew and Christian in place of the Old and
New Testament. They believe that
the Hebrew Scriptures shows prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And the
Christian Scriptures are for the 144,000 chosen Jehovah's Witnesses that are
going to Heaven. The Jehovah's Witnesses do not use the words God or Lord they
use Jehovah.
Jehovah's Witnesses reject the Trinity doctrine, they consider it unscriptural.
They see the Father as invisible spirit separate from the Son, Jesus
Christ. And the Holy Spirit is an active force of God, rather than the third
part of the Trinity. They believe God, is not omnipresent, but has a location in
heaven.
They believe you can have a relationship with God as a friend and he is kind and
merciful. That He would not eternally "torture" wicked people. But save only
those who want to serve him.
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that in 1918, Jesus
resurrected 144,000 (the "anointed") who had already died. Since 1918, any
"anointed" are individually resurrected to heavenly life at the time of their
death.
We are not going to cover all beliefs but will end on this note. Jehovah's
Witnesses teach that God's kingdom is a literal government in heaven,
established in 1914. They claim the soul to be mortal and believe the soul does
not live on when one dies.
While there are many more interesting things about the Jehovah's Witnesses, we
will end here. For more information about the Jehovah's Witnesses see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah%27s_Witnesses_beliefs
Seventh Day Adventist believe at the Second Coming of Christ they will be taken to Heaven for one thousand years. After that, they will live on a physical new earth for eternity. They believe the Sabbath to be the main issue. They grew out of the Millerite movement in the United States and were fully established in 1863. The founder was aand is Ellen G. White. Her writings are still held in high regard by the church.
The SDA belive in a unconscious state of the dead
and the doctrine of an investigative judgment. The (judgment
began in 1844) Althoguh The church is well known for it's diet and health the
investigative judgment is related to
the history of the church add was invented by the churches prophet Ellen G.
White. For more information in the
investigative judgment see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investigative_judgment
William Miller predicted Jesus return (based on Daniel 8:14-16) to be the spring
of 1843 and spring of 1844 The
summer of 1844 the Millerites again believed Jesus would return October 22, 1844
thus became a failed prediction.
The SDA discovered there calculations were correct, so they concluded that
rather than his Second Coming they
conluded that Daniel 8:14 foretold Christ's entrance into the Most Holy Place of
the heavenly sanctuary. The new
understanding of a sanctuary in heaven developed into the doctrine of the
investigative judgment. They determined
thats when every person would be judged to verify their eligibility for
salvation.
The SDA's most prominent figures were Joseph Bates, James White, and Ellen G.
White. Ellen White came played a
central role because of her many visions and spiritual leadership convinced her
fellow Adventists that she
possessed the gift of prophecy. The church's beliefs and doctrines were first
published in 1872 in Battle Creek
Michigan. The official teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination are
expressed in its 28 Fundamental
Beliefs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/28_Fundamental_Beliefs Adventist
doctrine resembles trinitarian Protestant
theology, with premillennial emphases.
The SDA doctrines separated them form the rest of the world. The believe the Ten
Commandments are binding today which includes keeping the Sabbath. They believe
Jesus will return visibly after a time of trouble. The Second Coming follow by a
millennial reign in heaven. Adventist eschatology is based on the historicist
method of prophetic interpretation. They also believe there is no
consciousness after death "soul sleep". The wicked will not burn if hell
forever. they will cease to exist when they are consumed. They believe
that Ellen G. White writings, speak with authority and provide comfort,
guidance, instruction, and correction to the church.
There is a lot more interesting beliefs of the SDA one final is they believe you
should give 10 percent of your net earning to the church. We will end on that
note. for more about the SDA see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh-day_Adventist_Church