hisalone,

1) I don't have a clue as to what "preconceived notions" you are referring to... NONE here!

2) I never said the state of the VISIBLE church was anything but miserable. It is the TRUE Church within the visible church that is being increased according to God's perfect plan. In fact, it is clearly written that in the last days, which could last another 5000 years????, things will become increasingly worse and if it wasn't for Christ returning, even the elect could be seduced and stray due to false teachers, etc. (Mk 13:22). Thus while some think this is unwarranted pessimism, it is actually a realistic and biblical view which also has a large measure of optimism since Christ's Church will be and is victorious.

3) This idea of "partially fulfilled prophecies re: Israel" is so typical and is the foundation of sand upon which myriads base their hope of a future prominence of Israel. A book I would highly recommend for your edification and serious thought is: The Once and Future Israel, by R.B. Yerby. The author deals with most all of the "popular" prophecies used to support this idea and shows them to be misunderstood, twisted out of context, their actual fulfillment etc. [Linked Image]

Over and out! [Linked Image]


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simul iustus et peccator

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