Thank you for asking. I did realize I had not gotten back with a report of this gathering but I have been colossal busy since returning. Eight of us attended which included my pastor and co=-pastor and a brother from our church congregation who gave a presentation on Daniel's 70 weeks.
The pastor who brought together the conference opened the gathering with sort of an overall talk on eschatology and why eschatological study is likely one of the things most lacking in the church today. A large majority of the church just doesn't know much about eschatology and probably become confused at just the mention of it and have likely been taught it isn't important anyway. He gave a few guidelines of the conference and said straight out contention would not be allowed. He spoke also of the historic-grammatical method of interpretation and why he thought it was very important in the field of hermeneutics etc. He did a very good job throughout the days together moderating keeping a order to the gathering.
The opening session we heard a simple but powerful message on Matthew 24. It was a pre-trib brother but he really didn't so much delve into that.
The next session a very well spirited pastor, saved from the mean streets of Minneapolis many years ago, gave his presentation from a pre-trib view. This was the message I disagreed wit the most but it came from a man whom I liked the most. Wow! His spirit was tremendous. I'm sure he was dispensational. His argument was that to subject the bride of Christ to the tribulation would be a form of domestic abuse - abuse of the spouse Christ is going to be married to.
Then we heard from a historic pre-millennialist. He laid our his case and if I am correct, though not dwelling on it long, at some point he gave a criticism of the seven mountain mandate.
We also heard from a partial preterist who was a Jewish man and he explained his reasons why based not entirely on but somewhat revolving around his interpretation of the "this" generation shall see" controversy. At the urging of the moderator who knows him, Hhe told some self-depreciating Jewish jokes before his message and they were hilarious. (Do you know how you can tell if a Jewish mother is on a parole board? She is the one who never lets anyone finish their sentence!)
Full Preterism was not presented but spoken of a few times in all the discussions but I do not remember anyone saying anything much positive about it.
One of the brothers I attended with and who is a close friend in our church gave a presentation on Daniel's seventy weeks and why he believes it is still future and very relevant Israel and the church today.
Another pastor who was of a mid-trib belief gave a stirring message to stir the church to passion for the church and the lost.
The next morning we had a Question and Answer session and it was powerful. The various brothers all gathered in a panel and questions were asked of them regarding their views. So they defended their views and occasionally would criticize other positions represented but it worked well.
Though a post-millennial position was not presented, post- millennialism was mentioned a bit and post-millennial giants like Johnathan Edwards were alluded to. For reference, though Johnathan Edwards was post-millennial, he believed in a definite future for Israel. I don't remember anyone at this gathering mentioning anything along the lines of Israel is done for and has no more relevance in the Lord's overall prophetic plan. Replacement theology was mentioned and most seemed to express their disbelief in it yet it was not the main subject at all. It was just mentioned a bit from time to time.
Then we concluded this Saturday Question and Answer session with a closing powerful message to evangelize the lost no matter what your position is. It was heart rending. A bit of time was also spent praying a bit for one another and God gave some words through one another for each other. The worship throughout this gathering was great and deep and everyone was edified. by it.
It proved that men from different view points can get together and move in a type of divine unity and respect regardless of their differences. There was not a note of contention or disunity during the entire gathering and we now understand each other better because we had sat and looked to each eye to eye. Person to person. Together and close. The audience, those who attended but didn't give presentations had a excellent attitude throughout. It all was fun and edifying.
In the aftermath, there was some grumbling though from a "Doc" who attended because he lost track of his truck keys during the proceedings and had to come home without them. He was heard to be saying thins like, "Isn't his so funny! Ha ha ha. I misplaced my truck keys. Ha ha ha. Praise the Lord in all things." I suppose he was saying these things. He may have been saying other things also.
At this point, this "Doc" a has neighbor, living in the residence attached to his. They are friends a bit and his neighbor is at a very low point in his life. He is divorced single and trying hard with is two kids and recently became unemployed and is at his wits end to a degree. Three years ago he had a very good job and was married and all was well. He keeps saying he doesn't understand what is going on and what has become of his life that was going pretty good. Considering all things, although he is into eschatology, "Doc" is thinking he doesn't necessarily need to share a end time view with this pummeled neighbor but needs to share him the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the proper order "Doc" is thinking. CHRIST AND HIS ATONING SACRIFICE FIRST.
