Sheshbazzar

The context for the peaceable Kingdom which is to come, and is so often referenced in The Gospels and Epistles, is that nation of spiritual Israelites, the true offspring, children, and heritage of Abraham. (Gen 17:4-5, Rom 4:1-17, 9:6-8) whom through faith receive the adoption (Rom 8:14-17, Eph 1:5) to become the fulfillment of the promise (Hosea 1:10, 2:18-23, 3:5, and Acts 2:39 (Rom 4:16-17) Rom 9:8, Gal 4:28, Eph 2:12 & 2:19)

"Christian nation" or "nation of Christians" is a misnomer and a mis-identifier of the NTs' faithful believers.

The terms "nation of Christians" and "Christian nation(s)" are however, correct in identifying those multitudes who have "in another name", carried out exactly that apostasy which was predicted in Rev 17, note the " peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." in v. 17:15.

The Mother (church) and her "harlot" daughters, will yet be stripped bare, humiliated and shamed, in the sight of all men.
Revelation was composed in opposition to Rome, and corrupt church doctrines being formulated under the guise of being "Christian".
Long have the "protestants" pointed to Rome as being the fulfillment of the "MOTHER OF HARLOTS", yet they, her "daughters" ARE THE "HARLOTS",
Both, together, have spread in the self-same bed, and fornicated with the same lovers.
They are of the unfaithful, and of the deceitful "Christian religion" that has deceived the kings, rulers, and the multitudes of the earth.
And YHWH or no YHWH, their days are numbered, and their deceptions, in due time, shall become known to all.

gentleexit

Are you saying that "Christians" == "in group" and "nations" == "others" whether non Christian or errant Christian. I think that agrees with "gentile" (which means "other nation" vs my nation) but not with the literal meaning of "ethnos".

"Church"/Eclesia is another "grouping word" to throw in - along with Heathen/Gentile/Ethnos. The Greek means "assembly" or "those called out" right? Unlike the disputed "nations", there were definitely orthodox (in group) and heretical churches. Both were called out. Horray!

NT vs "The Shepherd" is surely getting ahead of a time. Early on, the Shepherd was just as well received as other holy texts, certainly as well or better than Revelations. It captured the spirit of a growing "in-group". Join or you'll regret it when the time comes! This Church is very "nation-like".

mountainman

All across the nation
Such a strange vibration
People in motion, people in motion
There's a whole generation
With a new explanation


The highways were covered
with galloping bishops.

IamJoseph

:constern01:

Would that it was! What's universal about this:

"NO SALVATION BUT THROUGH ME" ?

That made the angelic BE A LIGHT UNTO THE NATIONS [= via example only] shot to bits! More innocent humans were murdered by European christianity than any other force.

Here's a universal premise:

'LOVE THE STRANGER; DO NOT LIE TO THE STRANGER; DO NOT CHEAT THE STRANGER'

'EQUAL JUSTICE FOR THE STRANGER AS THE INHABITANT.'

'ONLY THE SOUL THAT SINNETH IT SHALL PAY - THE SON SHALL NOT PAY FOR THE FATHER - NOR THE MOTHER FOR THE DAUGHTER'.

mountainman

Constantine's Hypothesis

What sort of hypothesis was/is this?
Any ideas out there?

According to hypothesis do you accept as a figment him
who has condemned the figments of the heathen?

Do you call foreign and – as it were – a servant of duties him
who without reflection and reasoning, in that he coexists
with the Father’s eternity, perfected all things?

How does the term "heathen" fit in here?
Can anyone cite the source underlying "heathen" here?

Best wishes,


Pete