CAN THOSE WHO ARE PRETERIST GO ANY FURTHER?

Let me explain for those who wonder how the world could become so far off course and deceived for hundreds of years, believing that Christ has not yet come. Even though it is so plainly and clearly written that he would come in 70AD. The explanation for this is that the world has been deceived into believing a lie because the world "heaps to themselves teachers, having itching ears," (11 Tim. 4:3) replacing the preachers of God with their own.

It is this departure from God that caused truth to be lost. Just think about it, it would be like all your children hiring other people (counterfeit representatives) to teach them about your home rules instead of coming to you personally? It is these counterfeit preachers who pulled man away from the Father. The Catholic translators in the King James Version changed "age" to "world" and the counterfeit preachers took it from there. The writings of God are written so those who trust and follow man will not be able to see clearly the writings of God. Our spiritual manna from heaven is being cast aside and replaced by manna confusing from the pulpit.

It was nearly 25 years ago that I began to see that which the Church of Christ and other "churches" were teaching was in serious conflict with the writings of the Holy Scriptures. According to the Preterist web site I would be called a "Preterist," however, I prefer "Christian."

More recently I have found more information that is just as important to me as what I found many years ago concerning Christ’s return in 70AD. I found the reason the world has accepted the big lie about Christ’s return. The "Christian" world has already divided itself into more than 33,000 versions of denomination, doctrines and preachers who are of enough variances as to call themselves by different names. At this rate by 2025 we may very well see 100,000 varieties of "Christians"and counting.

For many years I saw that there was another serious conflict between the writings of God and what the "Christian" world was teaching and believing. I found that the preacher and clergy system in place today, in all the "churches" of organized and unorganized "Christian churches" in the world is totally and forever foreign to the Scriptures from the Father. Even the Church of Christ condemns the clergy system, yet, that is what they have and it didn't originate from the Father.

There cannot be found in the New Testament a single preacher in a single congregation established by Paul and the others. God sent Paul and he sent others to carry the good news and raise up congregations. Those chosen men sometimes returned to visit these congregations as Paul did. Nowhere can one find a reference to a single preacher in any one of these assemblies after Paul left. There is no such creature to be found. This is why we have more than 33,000 varieties in the world today. God "never" gave the "Ekklecia" the right or the responsibility to select for themselves a preacher in this age or the previous age. This is why Christianity has divided itself into a National Joke.

I am enclosing the evidence of my conviction and my study.

B. R. Young
http://users.erols.com/wfreedom/

SAVE CHRISTIANITY

Fire Your Preacher!

B. R. Young

Romans 10:14.15, "….and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent." 2 Tim.4:3, "For the time will come when ….they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears….turn away ears from the truth." God never had a preacher that wasn’t sent by Him!

I would like to expose the real reason Christianity is very rapidly losing its influence in the world, even to the point of becoming a national joke. We live in the only nation on earth that is referred to as a Christian nation until recent years.

Did God remove all preachers, pastors, teachers, elders, deacons, apostles, priests and prophets back in 70AD? Study with me and let us see.

Because of a clergy or preacher system, we have now more than 33,ooo voices speaking for God and saying, "come follow me (or us) because we have found the right way." On top of that, most of these "counterfeit" preachers feel that God has somehow chosen them for that work and some even try to convince the world that God talks to them directly. For all 33,000 varieties I would like for them to look at what the Scriptures have to say about that.

(John 3:34)...For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. [Jesus]

(I Cor. 1:17) [Paul said] For Christ sent me...to preach the gospel:

(I Cor. 15:3) [Paul said] For I delivered unto you first of all which I also received...

(I Pet 3:15)...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. [Peter speaking to those scattered]

(I John 2:20,27) But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy Spirit and ye know all things... (27) ...and ye need not that any man teach you.

As the people once told Moses at the Mount that they would rather hear him (man) speak to them than God. The people of this age have returned to the Mount and said the same things all over again, except they have chosen their own preachers who are not sent by God to speak to them, yet, Moses was sent by God. God gave Moses to them and later sent preachers to them, but He never, ever gave us preachers for each congregation in this age or the age before 70AD as the "Christian world has today.

Christ spoke only in parables so that the ‘world" could not understand his words. God also has written so that those who follow man cannot and will not see what is written. We now have nearly 34,000 different kinds of preachers. How many more must we get before we acknowledge that this is not the Work of God which He gave Christ to put into place. It is impossible to find a single reference to a single preacher found in any congregation in the New Testament times. That should bother you a great deal. Paul did address once the bishop and deacons on one occasion, but then turned his attention to the congregation; never to a preacher of any congregation.

Nowhere in the Scriptures can one find where man was ever given the right or responsibility to chose his own preacher or elder; only God has that right. If you usurp God’s authority and choose preachers and elders, why not choose apostles as the Mormons have done? Acts 20:28, "Take head therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers….."

Who was the great commission spoken to in Mark 16:14,15,16? For today’s preachers who feel they have received their authority to preach; read vs.14 which says only the eleven were present and vs. 20 says, "and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the words with signs following." Matt. 28:16-20, "I am with you always, unto the end of the age." That age has come and gone!

If God wanted us to have preachers and elders in this age He would have given us preachers and elders and there would be no questions about it. The very same and only preachers chosen by Him are still with us speaking to us through the Scriptures today, the very same words spoken to those prior to 70AD and Paul was one of those preachers..

It is the voices of man’s preachers, chosen by man, that are being listened to today and not the voices of God’s preachers. That is a terrible sin and I’m sure a great disappointment to God the Father. Man choosing preachers against God’s will is why man is changing the meaning of God’s Words such as "now" and "soon" to accommodate foreign doctrines, all 33,000 of them.

Col. 1:23,28, "….the gospel, which ye have heard, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister. " (28) "….(Christ) whom we preached, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we many present every man perfect in Christ Jesus…."

PREACHERS

Hear what Paul told the Christians at Colossae. Read Col. 3:16 - 4:6, (16) "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Paul then speaks to the wives then the husbands, fathers and servants and masters of servants; then Paul tells them to (2) "continue in prayer, watch in the same with thanksgiving." (3) "withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a doer of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ,… (5) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time (6) Let your speech (be) always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye (the people of the congregation, not preachers) may know how ye ought to answer every man."

Now I want you to notice that something is missing here in this picture! Can you find what it is? "PREACHERS!" If ever God had put preachers in the congregation, it would be here. Instead of preachers we find that the teaching and admonishing was by "ONE ANOTHER." How were they to teach? In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, to the Lord. Paul also asked these people to pray that the preachers who God did send, such as Paul, and others sent by God will be successful and then he told them to do what? "Let your speech (be) always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye (the members of the congregation) may know how ye ought to answer every man." Notice, answer every man, not teach every man.

See also what Paul spoke to the Ephsians congregation. Eph. 5:18,19, "….be filled with the Spirit (19) speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord." What you should be gathering from these words is a picture of the normal congregational life which does not include a preacher standing before those congregations, making it clear as possible to us that what is going on today is forever foreign to what was going on back 2,000 years ago.

It is so obvious that the Christian world has rejected the Words of God to protect and save what they have been taught and paid good money for even though what they believe is in total opposition to what is written. Their trust has been put in man and his long tradition of believing in things that are totally wrong which have been passed down to them from generation to generation. They disregard everything true and hold to what they trust and love and spend their hard-earned money on. Yet, we should step back and compare their loved and trusted traditions to that which is written and to eternity where time does not exist. Is it really worth holding on to?

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

[Hear the voice of God, not the voice of man]

(Matthew 28:18,20)...all power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (20)... I am with you always, unto the end of the age. [The Jewish age]

(Luke 11:10,13) For everyone that asketh receiveth;...seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. (13)...how much more shall (your) heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. (spiritual gifts)

(John 3:34)...For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure (unto him). [speaking of Jesus Christ]

(John 16:7,8,13) ...It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (8) And when he is come, he will reprove (convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (13) When...the Spirit of truth is come, he shall guide you into all truth:...what things soever he shall hear, shall he speak; and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.

(Acts 1:2,8) ...he [Jesus] through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen... (8) ...ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you...

(Acts 2:16,18,20) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; (17)...in the last days, saith God, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (18) And on my servants and on my hand maidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (20)...before that great and notable day of the Lord come. [in 70A.D]

(Acts 2:33,38)...and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear... (38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [These gifts were done away with in 70 A.D.]

(Acts 11:17) [Peter speaking] Forasmuch then as God gave them [Greeks] the like gift as unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

(I Cor. 1:7,17,21)...So that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (17) [Paul said] For Christ sent me...to preach the gospel... (21) ...the world by wisdom knew not God, it please God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [He was speaking of His preacher, not ours]

(I Cor. 13:8,10) ...charity never faileth: but whether prophecies, they shall fail; whether tongues, they shall cease; whether knowledge it shall vanish away... (10) But when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away. [spiritual gifts were in part, as was apostles, prophets, preachers, elders, etc.]

(II Cor. 12:2) I knew a man... [Paul] ...fourteen years ago...caught up to the third heaven... (4) ...caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which is not lawful for a man to utter.

(Rom.:15:18,19) For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me...[nothing has been wrought by God to man today except His Holy Words] (19) Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God...I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

(James 3:1)...be not many masters [teachers] knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation...[This verse shows a limited number of teachers and preachers!]

(I Tim. 6:3,4,5) If any man teach otherwise... (4) He is proud, knowing nothing but doting about questions and strife of words; whereof cometh envy, strife, railing, evil surmising. (5) Perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself... [These words explain today’s preachers and teachers--from such withdraw thyself]

(II Tim. 2:2,7,14,17,18,23,24,25) And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also... (7) Consider what I say: and the Lord give thee understanding in all things... (14) ...charging...they strive not about words to no profit... (15) Study to show thyself approved unto God...rightly dividing the word of truth... (17) ...Hymenaeus and Philetus (18) who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already: and overthrow the faith of some (23) But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strife... (24) ...be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient, (25) in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves...

(II Tim. 4:3) For the time will come when...they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears...turn away ears from the truth. [This certainly describes how things are today]

(I Pet 4:10,11)...as every man hath received the gift, (evenso) minister the same one to another... (11) If any man speak, (let him speak) as the oracles of God, if any man minister, (let him do it) as the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ. [Read again vs. 11 very carefully]

(Phil. 1:1) Paul and Timotheus...to all the saints...at Philippi, with bishops and deacons...[His letters never address any preachers, because there were none. In this case he included also bishops and deacons but addressed it to the saints.]

SUMMARY

If you read carefully and listen to these scriptures, then you should see clearly who God’s preachers and teachers really are, chosen and sent by Him without question and that God never had a preacher that was not sent by Him. Also you would have noticed that they could heal the sick and do miraculous things which no one can do today. Even the seventy which the Lord sent out two by two were given these powers. [Luke 10:1,3,9] In John 8:28,38, Jesus said, "I do nothing of myself, but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things." In Acts 2:16-20, we learn that as spoken by the prophet Joel concerning the last days which ended 70 A.D. that all flesh [those who believe] shall be given the gift of the Holy Spirit. [see also Acts 2:38] In Acts 11:17 we see that not only Jews but also the Greeks receive, "like gift as unto us who believed...". In Acts 20:28, we see clearly it was the Holy Spirit that made elders to oversee and told them to feed the flock with the help of the Holy Spirit: they were not chosen by the congregation. Is there any way we can duplicate this today? Also can any elders today do what the elders did in James 5:14,15? It was through faith, not the Law, they received the Spirit of God. [Gal. 3:14]

In 1 Cor 1:17, Paul said that it was Christ who sent him to preach the gospel and, "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe". He was speaking of those who he sent such as Paul, and not the counterfeits we hear and see today! 1 Cor. 2:10,13,16, "But God hath revealed unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (13) ...which things also we speak...which the Holy Spirit teaches, (16) ...we have the mind of Christ". 1 Cor 3:16, "...ye are the temple of God and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you". Can you find a person on the earth today who can duplicate or replace these people who God sent?

Now in 1 Cor. 12, we find the explanation of what Joel said back in Acts 2:16-20, that the gift of the Holy Spirit was given to all who believed, to every man to profit withal. Heb. 8:10,11, (vs.7) [see also: Heb. 10:16, 1 John 2:20,27, 1 John 3:24] (vs. 9) "To another faith... to another the gift of healing...", etc, etc. Then in 1 Cor. 13:8,10, we see that along with "knowledge" these gifts would cease when the nobleman returned from a far country after "receiving for himself a kingdom". [Lk. 19:12-27] It was then he required of his followers what usage they had made with the gifts he had left with them. [see also: Romans 12:3,4,6,7,8 ]

The clearest statement possible concerning this point is in Romans 10:14,15..."and how shall they hear without a preacher? (vs.15) and how shall they preach except they be sent"? I put forth a challenge to anyone who can find any references where God ever placed preachers in His congregations before or after 70 A.D. as all the world has today.

See James 3:1, "...be not many masters [teachers, instructors] knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation". He declared in this scripture that the number of teachers and preachers would be limited. The Lord foretold what would happen before and after 70 A.D. in II Tim. 4:3, "For the time will come when...they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears...turn away ears from the truth"...a time when they no longer accepted God’s preachers as being sufficient which He sent and which were recorded, to be for all times the "only" preachers of God. In the year of 2001 we have more than 33,000 doctrines and denominational "churches" all having preachers not chosen and sent by God. What will we have in 2050, maybe 100,000 doctrines and denominational "churches" created and promoted by preachers? Christianity cannot survive such divisions, in fact, Christianity cannot survive any divisions. If we do not FIRE ALL THE PREACHERS who have stolen man from God, Christianity will be diluted down to a national joke and that time is now. Most preachers are looking for their own glory, fame and money and should be ashamed of calling themselves one of God's preachers.

(Gal. 1:12) "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught (it) but by the revelation of Jesus Christ". The only revelation we receive from God today is the scriptures, His words, the only evidence of His revelation, just as He had left the written word by Moses for the Jews at Mount Sinai. Anyone today who claims to be a preacher sent of God is not being honest with himself or us: so also is anyone who claims to be receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Those gifts ended when Christ returned in judgment in 70 A.D., which ended all mysteries and prophecies. This was the time when man ceased being separated from God, redeemed after 4,000 years of separation.

Read with me 1 John 2:20,27, "But ye have an unction [anointing] from the Holy Spirit and ye know all things...(vs. 27) ...and ye need not that any man teach you". What they received by the Holy Spirit, we have received from them also, that we also need not that any man teach us. It was the Holy Spirit who taught them back then; and it is the same Holy Spirit from which we receive truth today in the written Words for all generations. We need not any man teach us. There is no one now to come between us and the Father or His Son. We are free and given all knowledge and truth, and truth stands.

There is no one on earth today chosen by God to preach. There are, however, people who chose to be preachers, impostors and counterfeits and should be ashamed.

One more comment, I would dare say that all the people on earth who look to Christianity for their hope also feel that it is necessary that they become a part of one of the 33,000 denominations to find God. It is very sad that people look to man to find the Father instead of going directly to the Father whose Words for our salvation are written in a book we know as the Bible. Looking to man’s guidance for our salvation is a great evil upon the earth where man has put himself in this position instead of being truthful.

Final comment -- I personally feel that those who wish to hang on to what they have now, whether they are a member of the Church of Christ, Baptist Church or any of the 33,000 varieties of churches they will always be what they are now, one of 33,000 and counting. The 33,000 are sinking ships trying to patch and keep themselves afloat will end in tragedy. They will never weather the storms that are coming. I believe they will never be able to fulfill and enjoy what the Father has to offer them. That which the ‘Christian" world is involved in today is adultery as surely as the Jewish people had committed adultery against God.

B. R. Young

5/29/02