Is the Great Controversy Scenario outdated?

[Sophia7]

It could be right, or it could be wrong, but in neither case would it be "outdated".

I tend to agree.

BFA

I think that the "great controversy" is outdated in the sense that the whole Adventist prophetic scenario, including an end-time "Sunday law," seemed plausible, even likely, to people in the 19th century, who were expecting Jesus to come within a few months or a few years and who lived in a time when Sunday was more commonly observed as a holy day than it is in Christianity today. To most people in the 21st century, the Adventist eschatological expectations would probably seem much less plausible, whether they are right or wrong. Perhaps "outdated" isn't the best word to describe that, but I think that both right and wrong beliefs can become irrelevant to people over time. My opinion is that many Adventist doctrines are both wrong and irrelevant.

 

[Joe67]

Consider what was being taught and preached by western christianity at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. 16th century reformation doctrine had taken a back seat to vain deceit and philosophy. Will worship and voluntary humility had come back to life. Now they are supported by the false prophet.

The undoing of corroded and/or rusty nuts and bolts is a different process than if they are not corroded and rusty. When they have an electrical charge flowing through them it is even more dangerous.

In the world of practical work, I have had to go backward before I could go forward. Forward, in most all mechanical processes, is a gradual gaining of momentum.

Joe

 

[Pythons]

I don't have a steak in the outcome of this discussion yet after reading over the thread I thought I would offer this video as it offers a perspective on the Book of Rev that chould help clear the air on what the Rev of St. John was talking about.

Fr. Thomas Hopko speaks at St. Elijah about Christianity and Armageddon#

 

[Laodicean]

I don't have a steak in the outcome of this discussion yet after reading over the thread I thought I would offer this video as it offers a perspective on the Book of Rev that chould help clear the air on what the Rev of St. John was talking about.

Fr. Thomas Hopko speaks at St. Elijah about Christianity and Armageddon#

What an interesting speaker, Pythons! I listened to the first half this morning, and just finished it up tonight.

I really enjoyed the lecture and the question-and-answer session....and especially Hopko's wry sense of humor. Plus I gained some interesting new perspectives. Thank you! Also, I found that I could agree with just about everything that he said...maybe with some elaboration or rephrasing here and there, but basically in agreement. It sure would be fun to have a one-on-one conversation with him!

I've always appreciated the views of the Antiochan Orthodox Church. They seem to be the most faithful to scripture, and maybe that is because the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch, and thus the Antiochan Orthodox Church has remained closest in faith to that first church.

I recommend this lecture as an enriching "listen." I was quite taken with some of his expressions:

"Orthodoxy is paradoxy." So true.

In this age, humans are getting to where they are no longer human but just "computers and consumers, calculators and copulators."

Humans now worship a "deity without majesty, who is bringing humanoids without dignity into a lifestyle without responsibility, through the administration of a god or goddess of their own choice..."or something to that effect, anyway.

And his explanation of "eon" answers the question of why in every age, people thought they were living in the last days. Because, as he says, there is no end of the world (I agree) just end of an age.

So many insights. As he says, we want a God without wrath, man without sin, a kingdom without judgment, Christ without the cross, and Christianity without a crucified Christ.

I'd love to discuss Revelation further with him. So much to learn!

 

[Pythons]

I'm glad you liked it. I found myself liking this Hopko guy as well and have found myself thinking I agree with many of the things he says.

Here is another one Fr Hopko does on "death", it's part one of a two part teaching..

What happens when you die? Fr. Hopko - orthotracts.org

 

[Laodicean]

I'm glad you liked it. I found myself liking this Hopko guy as well and have found myself thinking I agree with many of the things he says.

Here is another one Fr Hopko does on "death", it's part one of a two part teaching..

What happens when you die? Fr. Hopko - orthotracts.org

Pythons, I couldn't access this video, nor any of the other links.

So what is Hopko's view on what happens when you die?

 

[Pythons]

Pythons, I couldn't access this video, nor any of the other links.

So what is Hopko's view on what happens when you die?

I think the video streams via quicktime plug-in so you would need quicktime ( it's free ) to watch it....
...Hopko claims the western church got it wrong with the immortality of the soul.
...Goes through Scripture, Tradition and secular history to discuss it.

Normally what he's said seems pretty much like I'm used to but the Orthodox view of death seemed a little different. I guess you would have to watch it.
...He also mentioned something about purgatory and claimed he didn't like aspects of it if it ment paying for "previous sins".