Hermeneutics - Tumblr Posts
A Response to Academic Atheism
You totally misunderstood my position. When I stated that "The difference between a theist and an atheist is the degree to which God has revealed himself to them,” I was not referring to biblical revelation—I was referring to “personal” revelation. Knowledge of God doesn’t come from a philosophical inquiry or from reading the Bible, but from a deep existential experience (in the Heideggerian sense) where a “personal revelation” takes place! Perhaps you’re not familiar with my work. I’m convinced that the Bible is a collection of mythic prophecies, not a record of historical events. For example, I totally agree with you that the story of Noah is a myth. Even the story of Jesus is a myth in a certain sense. Jesus never existed—he is not an established figure in history, and the gospels simply borrow material from the Old Testament to prove that he is the messianic fulfillment of the Jews! So the gospels are mythical: theological. I’ll grant you that. However, the rest of the New Testament gives us a very different account of Jesus, one that is not historical but rather prophetic and apocalyptic:
“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10), NOT history!
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these LAST DAYS has spoken to us in His Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2, emphasis added).
“Once IN THE END OF THE WORLD hath he [Jesus] appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice [death] of himself” (Hebrews 9:26, emphasis added).
Conclusion: the Bible is a collection of “theologies” or mythic prophecies that point to the messianic age when Jesus Christ will appear once and for all “at the consummation of the ages” (Hebrews 9:26, New American Standard). And this truth is not known by reading the Bible but through a “personal” revelation. Hence I believe!
Since ancient times, sacred texts from around the world foretold about a time period in human history when a mighty demi-god would appear on earth. Whether we call this figure Perseus, Krishna, or Messiah, he is epitomized in the figure of Jesus Christ—the modern equivalent of which is Superman!
Eli Of Kittim, author of "The Little Book of Revelation: The First Coming of Jesus at the End of Days"
― Eli Of Kittim, The Little Book of Revelation: The First Coming of Jesus at the End of Days
After much research, author Kittim has uncovered biblical information that changes everything we thought we knew about Jesus. His groundbreaking work will change the way you view the Bible! http://www.amazon.com/Little-Book-Revelation-First-Coming/dp/1479747068/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main/182-1801190-2345619?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402775551&sr=1-1
Eli of Kittim's unique interpretation of the New Testament account of Jesus as prophetic rather than historical!
Author Eli of Kittim has uncovered new information that changes everything we thought we knew about Jesus! ― Eli Of Kittim, The Little Book of Revelation: The First Coming of Jesus at the End of Days
Scholarly Debate: Did Jesus Rise From The Dead? - Bart Ehrman Vs William Lane Craig "Although I believe in Jesus, I hold to Ehrman's view because Craig relies on dubious evidence." —― Eli Of Kittim, author of The Little Book of Revelation: The First Coming of Jesus at the End of Days
https://youtu.be/5-9-vWtTcU8
Scholarly Debate: Shabir Ally Vs William Lane Craig Did Jesus Rise from the Dead?
“In my view, the gospels are true, not historically, but theologically, or, as I would argue, prophetically! What we have is, the Messiah’s history written in advance in story form.“ ― Eli of Kittim, author of The Little Book of Revelation: The First Coming of Jesus at the End of Days
The Biblical "Last Days" Have Not Yet Happened
By Author Eli of Kittim
It is of the utmost importance that we compare scripture with scripture so as to understand the author's intentions rather than projecting our own subjective interpretations into the text. For example, many conservative biblical scholars insist that the term “last days” refers specifically to Jesus’ first coming some two thousand years ago. They often refer to a handful of verses that seem to support this interpretation. One such reference can be found in the book of Hebrews chapter 1 and verses 1-2:
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these LAST DAYS has spoken to us in His Son.” (Emphasis added).
Here is the assumption: if Jesus’ first coming has come to pass, then the “last days” have already begun during the time of antiquity. But this is a forced interpretation that does not take into consideration the overall context of scripture, much less the rendering of the term in the original language. The actual words in the original Greek text are “ep escaton ton imeron,” where the word “escaton” means “last.” This is the same word from where we get the term “eschatology,” or the study of the final events of human history, also known as the “end times.” Now, imagine for a moment what these same scholars would say if we suddenly announced to them that we are studying eschatology, which we define as the study of antiquity. They would either laugh or think we were mad. Yet, they are quite serious when defending the exact same preposterous postulate! If we turn to the book of Isaiah, we find that the term “last days” refers to the end of the world, not to the time of antiquity. Just as in the book of Daniel—where the angel says to Daniel: “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end” (8:17)—Isaiah is not referring to the time of antiquity, but to the end of time. How can we tell?
Firstly, Isaiah refers to the Messiah’s future reign. Secondly, he mentions the peace that will finally endure on earth under the messianic reign. Thirdly, Isaiah clearly indicates that all wars will end and there will be a Day of Judgment! And all this is mentioned in the context of the “last days.” Isaiah writes,
"This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the LAST DAYS the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.' The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." (2:1-4, emphasis added).
As you can see, the intended meaning of the term, “last days,” is the end of time. Therefore, according to Hebrews 1:1-2, Jesus speaks to mankind not during the time of antiquity, but in the end of the world! So, it should come as no surprise that this view is reiterated elsewhere in the text:
“Once IN THE END OF THE WORLD hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself" (Hebrews 9:26, KJV emphasis added).