## Neo-Calvinism and Bible Prophecy - The speaker introduces [[Neo-Calvinism]] as a movement seeking to revive the teachings of [[Protestantism | Protestant]] reformers like [[John Calvin]] and [[Martin Luther | Martin Luther.]] [(00:06:52)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=412s) - The speaker argues that [[Neo-Calvinism]] leads to a de-emphasis on [[Bible prophecy]], citing John Calvin's interpretation of [[Zechariah (Hebrew prophet) | Zechariah]] 14:4 as an example. [(00:08:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=519s) ## John Calvin's Interpretation of Zechariah 14:4 - John Calvin believed that in Zechariah 14:4, when it says the Mount of Olives will split, it is not meant to be taken literally. [(00:13:46)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=826s) - Calvin adopted this method of interpretation from [[Augustine of Hippo | Augustine.]] [(00:15:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=925s) ## Neo-Calvinism and the Book of Revelation - [[John Calvin]], at age 26, wrote in his Institutes of the Christian religion that people who interpret the thousand years literally are under the influence of [[Satan | Satan.]] [(00:24:25)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=1465s) - [[Robert Thomas (ice hockey) | Robert Thomas]], in his commentary on the [[Book of Revelation]], observed that no number in Revelation is verifiably symbolic. [(00:23:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=1390s) ## Amillennialism - [[Amillennialism]] is the idea that [[Jesus]] started his kingdom 2,000 years ago and that we are currently living in it. [(00:26:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=1569s) - Amillennialism is a doctrine that originated in the 4th century and was not invented by John Calvin. [(00:26:27)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=1587s) ## Neo-Calvinism and Israel - Churches with a Calvinistic eschatology are being swept into believing [[Israel | anti-Israeli]] propaganda. [(00:30:29)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=1829s) - [[Kenneth Gentry]], a proponent of [[Reformed Christianity | neo-Calvinism]], interprets the Harlot in [[Book of Revelation | Revelation]] 17 as the city of [[Jerusalem]] destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, not the literal city of Babylon. [(00:31:28)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=1888s) ## Kenneth Gentry's Interpretation of the Thousand-Year Reign - Gentry, known for his premillennialist views, believes the thousand-year reign of Christ represents a long, glorious era, not a literal period of 365,000 days. [(00:36:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=2170s) - Gentry views the number 10, representing quantitative perfection, as significant in understanding the thousand-year timeframe, suggesting God's ultimate victory. [(00:36:41)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=2201s) ## Neo-Calvinism and Salvation - Some preachers teach that people must live lives full of faith and good works to prove they are among God's elect, or they risk jeopardizing their salvation. [(00:39:10)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=2350s) - This teaching can have negative emotional and psychological effects on people, causing them to doubt their salvation and their relationship with [[God]]. [(00:39:26)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=2366s) ## The Meaning of "Save" in the Bible - The word "save" in [[Bible | the Bible]] does not always refer to going to heaven after death; it can also refer to physical protection or deliverance from difficult situations, as seen in Philippians 1:19. [(00:43:54)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=2634s) - Noah and his family were physically saved from a flood. [(00:44:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=2693s) - [[Jesus]] will physically protect Jewish people from the [[Antichrist]] at the end of the tribulation period. [(00:46:22)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=2782s) ## Neo-Calvinism and the Perseverance of the Saints - [[John MacArthur (American pastor) | John MacArthur]] interprets [[Matthew 24]]:13, "He who endures to the end will be saved," as evidence of the [[Perseverance of the saints | perseverance of the saints]], a concept not supported by the context of the verse. [(00:51:53)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3113s) - [[R. C. Sproul | RC Sproul]], a proponent of the perseverance of the saints, believed that true believers cannot lose their faith, even on their deathbed. [(00:55:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3336s) - Dave Anderson argues that Augustine's misinterpretation of Matthew 24:13 as a requirement for salvation, rather than a tribulation verse, influenced John Calvin's theology. [(00:57:00)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3420s) - Augustine's incorrect interpretation of Matthew 24:13 as spiritual salvation instead of physical salvation led to significant changes in his soteriology, particularly the concept of the perseverance of the saints. [(00:58:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3489s) - [[John Calvin]] adopted Augustine's flawed understanding of Matthew 24:13 and incorporated it into his theology, which has influenced the [[Protestantism | Protestant]] movement's understanding of the verse. [(00:59:39)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3579s) ## Neo-Calvinism and the Great White Throne Judgment - [[Neo-Calvinism | Neo-Calvinists]] generally do not differentiate between various judgments described in [[Bible | the Bible]], such as the sheep and goat judgment, the judgment of surviving [[Jews]], and the Great White Throne judgment, instead viewing them as a single event. [(01:03:34)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3814s) - Most Neo-Calvinists do not believe in a 1,000-year reign of Christ on [[Earth]] after his return. [(01:04:45)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3885s) - Most Neo-Calvinists believe that the Great White Throne Judgement is intended for all people of all time periods and will determine salvation. [(01:06:09)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3969s) - Neo-Calvinists often combine different mentions of "trumpets" in the Bible, which the speaker believes is sloppy handling of scripture. [(01:05:36)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvq6UvL0zg&t=3936s) ## Sources - [website](https://www.youtube.com/live/nhvq6UvL0zg?si=WzEaQncAzCx-nkN7)