Dispensationalism: Putting Caesar where he wants to be
TheFarSideOfCrazy
I just read an article that Jerry B. Jenkins, co-author of the Left Behind Series, wrote about Paul. In it he returns again and again to the raptre. In fact, the main body of the article is basically a series of atempts to show the similarities between Rayford Steele, the protagonist in Left Behind (although it seems like the anti-Christ would be the protagonist, or maybe Jesus is-who knows.) At any rate, my instant reaction to this article and the underlying hermeneutical model that shaped it [dispensationalism] give the distinct impression to adherents that there is a way to tell these times from some other (or end) times. That persecution will exist at that point, in sharp distinction from now. And that this persecution will be waged only, or at least primarily, against Christians for their resistance to this man who'll come to set himself up instead of/against Jesus. I suppose my beef, as it were, with this way of thinking is that it projects an already as a not yet. The elevation of an idolotrous and wicked "king" is not yet to come; it's here now.
This can be seen in any part of the world in a way that is completely unique to each culture. But the same charactersitics have always made it easily identifiable. I would use the name empire for this "beast." Empires exist for their own benefit, and anyhting that they have to take from their subjects is just par for their course. When the people of Israel cried out to YHWH to make them like the nations around them, he warned them that if they had a king who was any other than him would:
...take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle [b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
Thus Israel wanted, for some reason, a life totally contrary to that which YHWH had promised to provide. It's clear in this picture that justice and mercy would not be representative values in their world without YHWH as king. And so the ever-descending spiral of sinful and idolatrous Israel went. Into the captivity under several diffierent cruel kings and emperors and ultimately into the most methodically cruel yet; Rome. And it's within this world of a people in mourning for their exile into captivity under wicked, dehumanizing forces that the king came. Jesus walked into that world and challenged Caesar as well as the frustrated attempts to violently overthrow him waged by a Jewish people trying to bring YHWH's kingdom about.
Jesus didn't merely bring a message but a new way of living exemplified in his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension; in a word his vindication. And consequently the people that follow him are to exemplify that way of living as well. But men like Jenkins, Tim Lahaye, Hal Lindsey, John Hagee, Jack Van Impe, etc. give their reader and viewers the impression that the life of a typical American is okay. That the world built by western civilization is okay to be a participant in. And in doing so they put Caesar right where he wants to be, on his throne and in his people's hearts. To watch the popularity of these men is a very depressin thing indeed... If I didn't know any better, I'd think that Winston alwasys ends up loving Big Brother. But in the end Caesar won't be victorious. The very fact that that name is a metaphor for empire in general is a reminder that none of the Caesar's lived forever. But Jesus is still the same man. He doesn't need a dynasty to follow in his wake.
I just read an article that Jerry B. Jenkins, co-author of the Left Behind Series, wrote about Paul. In it he returns again and again to the raptre. In fact, the main body of the article is basically a series of atempts to show the similarities between Rayford Steele, the protagonist in Left Behind (although it seems like the anti-Christ would be the protagonist, or maybe Jesus is-who knows.) At any rate, my instant reaction to this article and the underlying hermeneutical model that shaped it [dispensationalism] give the distinct impression to adherents that there is a way to tell these times from some other (or end) times. That persecution will exist at that point, in sharp distinction from now. And that this persecution will be waged only, or at least primarily, against Christians for their resistance to this man who'll come to set himself up instead of/against Jesus. I suppose my beef, as it were, with this way of thinking is that it projects an already as a not yet. The elevation of an idolotrous and wicked "king" is not yet to come; it's here now.
This can be seen in any part of the world in a way that is completely unique to each culture. But the same charactersitics have always made it easily identifiable. I would use the name empire for this "beast." Empires exist for their own benefit, and anyhting that they have to take from their subjects is just par for their course. When the people of Israel cried out to YHWH to make them like the nations around them, he warned them that if they had a king who was any other than him would:
...take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. 12 Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. 15 He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. 16 Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle [b] and donkeys he will take for his own use. 17 He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
Thus Israel wanted, for some reason, a life totally contrary to that which YHWH had promised to provide. It's clear in this picture that justice and mercy would not be representative values in their world without YHWH as king. And so the ever-descending spiral of sinful and idolatrous Israel went. Into the captivity under several diffierent cruel kings and emperors and ultimately into the most methodically cruel yet; Rome. And it's within this world of a people in mourning for their exile into captivity under wicked, dehumanizing forces that the king came. Jesus walked into that world and challenged Caesar as well as the frustrated attempts to violently overthrow him waged by a Jewish people trying to bring YHWH's kingdom about.
Jesus didn't merely bring a message but a new way of living exemplified in his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension; in a word his vindication. And consequently the people that follow him are to exemplify that way of living as well. But men like Jenkins, Tim Lahaye, Hal Lindsey, John Hagee, Jack Van Impe, etc. give their reader and viewers the impression that the life of a typical American is okay. That the world built by western civilization is okay to be a participant in. And in doing so they put Caesar right where he wants to be, on his throne and in his people's hearts. To watch the popularity of these men is a very depressin thing indeed... If I didn't know any better, I'd think that Winston alwasys ends up loving Big Brother. But in the end Caesar won't be victorious. The very fact that that name is a metaphor for empire in general is a reminder that none of the Caesar's lived forever. But Jesus is still the same man. He doesn't need a dynasty to follow in his wake.
posted by Anglopressy at
4:14 AM
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