It occurred to me following this year's Tikkun Conference entitled RESTORE that I'm truly a Restorationist. I"m not necessarily an optimist. I believe that the world will grow darker and colder, however, simultaneously (as if one causing the other to happen) I believe that the body of Messiah (the Church) will grow warmer in love, unity, and power in these last days.
Imagine a parent telling his/her child, "You'll never amount to anything." How terrible that is! Well, on a corporate level that's exactly what one of two major theological systems (Dispensationalism) in our western world has told us. They espouse a "Low Ecclesiology." They've told us that the Church will end in failure---dismal failure. In fact that failure is needed to bring about the next dispensation which also ends in failure.
But this is not in accordance with Yeshua's words in John 17, that "we may be one even as He is one,,, that the world might believe." This was His dying prayer for His Church. This is what was most deeply on His heart before His death. Imagine a prayer on the Son of God going fulfilled!
I'm not a Post-Millennialist---I don't believe that through human effort alone we will bring the Kingdom on earth. I'm a Pre-Millennialist---I believe that Yeshua's return is the primary factor in bring the Kingdom, however, the Church hastens this by her unity.
Consider in the book of Revelation that Satan doesn't just decide, "O, I think that this is a good time to attack the body of Messiah." No, he's on the defensive! As one theologian said, "We smoke him out." He has to respond because of the fervency of the church.
Yeshua even says that that His glory is given to us that "they may be one." His glory is given to the Church for this very reason, that we might fulfill His purpose and continually grow in unity and love in these days. This unity among the Church will set in motion end-time events and will have an impact on the world "that the world may believe that You sent Me."
~ Rabbi Nathan Puro
