10th Negative By Buster Dobbs
Readers of the discussion know brother Preston’s claim that I admit to not answering his arguments is false.
My opponent should be ashamed of himself.
I did say that his groundless assertions and assumptions are not arguments, and deserve no requital.
My respondent asserted that 2 Peter 3 is from Isaiah 64-66. Here, again we have a blank assertion, and no proof B none! It is his unsupported declaration. Fair-minded people will see the inanity of falsely assuming something not granted, and then demanding an answer. I do not grant his assertion.
One does not answer hot air. One dictionary definition of Ahot air" is Aimpressive or boastful talk about achievements or intentions that has no substance."
If friend Preston wants me to answer his arguments, he must first make an argument.
He addresses his remarks to a few people pre-conditioned to accept his silly position. However, he makes no logical statement with a conclusion (Aa unit of reasoning moving from premises that provide evidence to a conclusion"). The conclusion, obviously, must follow from the proven premises. This is what Preston has not Y will not Y cannot do.
Until Preston makes an argument, I am at liberty to offer biblical arguments refuting his proposition B these Anegative rebuttal arguments" are perfectly acceptable in any debate format.
Dobbs does not admit that his eschatology is different from Peter’s eschatology, as charged by Preston. To say Peter’s eschatology is from the Old Testament, as Preston does, indicates ignorance of what Aeschatology" means, or ignorance of the Old Testament, or both.
Eschatology is doctrines about death and its aftermath. The Old Testament does not confidently address immortality. That distinctive feature of the New Testament rests solidly on the resurrection of Jesus, and is unique to the New Testament. Prophets may have foretold it, but did not understand it (See 1 Pet 1:10-11). Correct doctrine does not rest on misunderstanding.
SECOND COMING
Preston says Jehovah did not make a "literal, visible" appearance at the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70. If it was not literal and visible then it was figurative and invisible (a symbolic return).
Good Y we agree. The actual, visible return will happen (Acts 1:11; Rev 1:7) — and is future.
When Jesus comes a second time unto salvation, all things material will cease B earth and its works and contents, suns, moons, planets, and stars will be forever gone. My proof of this is 2 Pet 3:8-11; Rev 6:12-17; 20:11 to 21:8.
Humans on the earth will be transformed into spirit beings (1 Cor 15:51-53, and all spirits in Hades will be called into Jesus’ presence, and all will be judged according to their works (John 5:28-29. A person, in a physical body, cannot look on God, but the transfigured, with spirit eyes, will be able to see the invisible God B a thing no one in the flesh can do.
Here is a properly framed argument:
Premise one: Humans (in the flesh) cannot see God, who is spirit and therefore invisible to mortal eyes (1 Tim 6:16; John 1:18; John 6:46; 1 John 4:12).
Premise two: Humans (in the flesh) will one-day change into spirits, enabling them to see God (1 Cor 15:50-54; Job 19:26; Phil 3:21; 2 Cor 5:6-8; Job 19:26).
Conclusion: Non-fleshly righteous beings (the immortal) can see God as he is Y that is, spirit, and be like him (1 John 3:1-2). That has not happened, but it will.
The inescapable conclusion is — Jesus has not appeared Aa second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation" (Heb 9:27-28).
When Jesus comes the ultimate time the earth and its works, suns, moons, planets, stars, death, decay, tears, sorrow, pain, night, the sea, and time shall be no more.
These things continue, therefore the end is not yet.
If the ultimate coming of Jesus and the resurrection has already occurred, we should
(a) be as the angels (asexual) and therefore neither married nor given in marriage.
(b) The Lord’s Supper, which is to continue until Jesus comes, is invalid, if he has come.
(c) All human misery, all wickedness, and all evil men will cease to be at the parousia.
(d) When he comes the final time, sin is no more, and baptism is of no use.
Jesus warned us that some would claim that he ultimately returned to earth at the destruction of Jerusalem in A. D. 70, and to Abelieve it not" (Matt 24:26).