Christadelphian Website Monitor
An Ongoing Evaluation of
Christadelphian Website, Book and Periodical Content
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to compare the content of Christadelphian websites, books and magazines against original Christadelphian writings. If these present either doctrines or offerings that are significantly different * from those of the first Christadelphians, we designate such as pseudo-Christadelphian. Our service is complimentary to the general public and should be particularly useful to those who are conducting Internet searches on the Christadelphians.
If any "Christadelphian" Website, Book
or Magazine teaches or promotes the following
errors, they are Pseudo- Christadelphian:
Preterist view of the Apocalypse, i.e., most already fulfilled (Harry Whittaker).
Futurist view of the Apocalypse, i.e., most not fulfilled (A.D. " Alfred " Norris)
Clean-Flesh, i.e., no sin in the flesh.
Partial Atonement
Christ not offering for himself, i.e., for cleansing of his nature
Only covenant-makers will be raised and judged.
Evolution of any kind
Genesis creation account not literal
Open (or at) door fellowship
Participation in police or military service.
Participation in politics or voting.
In the Kingdom now.
Eternal life now.
Christ on his throne now.
Salvation at Baptism
Saved by faith: works not necessary.
Partial inspiration of the Scriptures.
Suing at law.
Nebuchadnezzar's Image being Arab.
No Papacy in prophecy of Daniel and Revelation.
Russia not the invader of Ezekiel 38-39.
No Literal Millennial Temple.
No Post-Millennial Rebellion and Resurrection.
Paid ministry and seminarians.
Lax (or no) pre-baptismal confession of faith.
Present possession of the Holy Spirit.
Ecumenism.
Gay Lifestyle.
And any doctrine that violates the BASF
If you are uncertain about any website
or publication you may contact us
at christadelphos@yahoo.com
One area wherein certain sites have departed from original Christadelphian beliefs, in either content or offerings, is in both Daniel and the Apocalypse. From the beginning, Christadelphians have believed the Apocalypse to be continuous historical with the overall theme being the ultimate triumph of Spiritual Israel over the doctrines, practices and tyranny of Papal Rome†. It is a truth for which we have always contended. "Come out of her, my people," is not a suggestion. It is a command; the obedience to which is vital to our individual salvation (Rev. 1:1-3; 18:4; cf. 20:4).
Such obedience requires that we first correctly identify the iniquitous system in all of her manifestations. We cannot maintain separation from a system unless we first identify it. This necessitates that we work toward achieving at least a proper rudimentary understanding of the symbolism employed throughout both the Apocalypse and its companion, the book of Daniel. These websites, that claim to be Christadelphian, imply otherwise by offering non-Christadelphian and un-Biblical notions concerning these prophecies both to the household of faith and to the general public.
Does it matter what we believe? Please consider the following:
Such obedience requires that we first correctly identify the iniquitous system in all of her manifestations. We cannot maintain separation from a system unless we first identify it. This necessitates that we work toward achieving at least a proper rudimentary understanding of the symbolism employed throughout both the Apocalypse and its companion, the book of Daniel. These websites, that claim to be Christadelphian, imply otherwise by offering non-Christadelphian and un-Biblical notions concerning these prophecies both to the household of faith and to the general public.
Does it matter what we believe? Please consider the following:
In the book of Revelation we are informed that those brethren who separate from the Beast-system described therein shall live and reign with Christ during the Millennial Aion. John records: "And I saw thrones, (and they sat on them, and judgment was given them,) and the persons of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus, and because of the word of God, - even those who did not worship the Beast, nor his image, and did not receive the mark on their forehead, and on their hand; and they lived and reigned with the Anointed One the thousand years" (Rev. 20:4).
A wonderful day is promised to the faithful in Christ Jesus. However, the antithesis is also clear. Those who do not maintain separation from this System shall not be among the symbolic 144,000 who reign with the King during the Age to Come. This is, therefore, an issue related to eternal salvation.
In order for one to effectively separate from a system, he or she must first correctly identify it. The book of Daniel provides the first clue. Among other things, the prophet forecasts a fourth world empire symbolized by legs of iron, and feet and toes of iron and clay (ch. 2). History reveals this power to have been Rome. He describes it further as brass and iron bands around an Assyro-Babylonian stump (ch. 4), and ultimately depicts it as an unnamed terrible Fourth Beast (ch. 7). This vital information provides the historical framework in which to set the prophecies of the Apocalypse; for it presents to the reader a general prophetic timetable of relevant Gentile activity commencing from the Greco-Roman period.
Against this backdrop, the Apostle John enters the scene. He receives the Revelation during this selfsame Roman period and writes of key political and religious events: "The things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter." Therein does the Spirit reveal much greater details concerning Daniel's prophecy -- especially with respect to the Fourth Beast -- elaborating a continuous series of events reaching even unto the Eighth Day when sin and death are no more (Rev. 1:1; 2:19; 13:1-8; cf. 21:1).
The Apocalyptic Beast-system is, therefore, Roman in nature. It has to be. No other Biblically defined Beast is extant during John's day for him to prognosticate about (cf. Rev. 17: 3, 10). And it still exists today. Geopolitically, it is to be found in a fragmented state upon the territorial power centers of the old Greco-Roman domain across Continental Europe. One day soon these remnants of Rome will come together to oppose the Multitudinous Christ, and they will suffer the everlasting defeat foreordained by the Deity.
The official State religion of the Roman Empire was Roman Catholicism. In fact, it can be said that Rome gave birth to this great system of iniquity. The Revelation places particular emphasis upon this ecclesiastical aspect of the Beast. The saints are to utterly eschew it. Accordingly, as Christ's brethren we must make every effort to correctly identify Rome in all manifestations and not fall under her influence in either doctrine or practice. Unfortunately, some have seriously compromised their separation therefrom by declaring that the Apocalyptic Beast is not a Roman-based entity: They have adopted as their belief Roman Catholicism's primary prophetical heresies -- Preterism and Futurism -- both of which take Papal Rome out of the prophetical equation.
In 1897 Robert Roberts, the first editor of The Christadelphian Magazine wrote upon alternate schools of Apocalyptic interpretation which take Rome out of the picture. He concluded that "...it is impossible not to sympathize with faithful men who cannot remain in any community where such nullifying doctrines are tolerated." Clearly, the organizations that produce such misleading websites would not have enjoyed fellowship with the original Christadelphian community.
We also invite you to visit our
LINKS PAGE.
These sites present
original Christadelphian
Biblical expository writings (c.1847-1898).
*Criteria is specifically the Scriptures, the complete BASF in tandem with the various fellowship positions of The Christadelphian 1864-1898, and, generally, the mainstream Christadelphian writings of 1847-1898. In this endeavor, we focus upon significant teachings that have their fundamental basis in Scriptural truth as exemplified through the early writings of our community. LINKS PAGE.
These sites present
original Christadelphian
Biblical expository writings (c.1847-1898).