Commands Not Prophecy
In a recent live Q & A session, Chalcedon’s vice-president Martin Selbrede identified one of the great problems of the church in the last century.
- Mark R. Rushdoony,
In a recent live Q & A session, Chalcedon’s vice-president Martin Selbrede identified one of the great problems of the church in the last century. After discussing an overview of postmillennial perspectives, he cautioned against operating in terms of eschatological prophecy. We operate in terms of God’s commands, not His prophecy, he warned. That seems counter to Chalcedon’s postmillennial emphasis on the victory of the kingdom in time and history; doesn’t it? In reality, it is not.
We never fully understand prophecy until it is fulfilled. Not even the atonement was understood until after the resurrection. The same can be said for one fulfilled prophecy after another. To operate in terms of our very partial understanding of future prophecy will cause us necessarily to operate in terms of some mis-understanding. Our rational mind then becomes our criteria of obedience; we end up obeying our mis-conceptions.
In a parable, Jesus told us to “Occupy til I come.” The Greek word of “occupy” refers to trade or business activity. It was a command to us as His servants to stay engaged in our work, our business.
Prophecy acts as a “big picture” understanding of the future. It is a general understanding of God’s work that should strengthen us in our day-to-day responsibilities. In those duties, however, we obey God’s commands, His law. They are our marching orders.
I believe postmillennialism is the “big picture” of future history, and it teaches that my present work as a servant of God has a purpose in His Kingdom. However, I cannot, know the specifics of what is going to endure and what is relatively wood, hay, or stubble. I can, however know His law as it pertains to me, and I can follow those commands and be found faithful. We operate in terms of commands, not prophecy.
[If you would like to watch Martin Selbrede’s Q & A session live, go to either Chalcedon’s Facebook page (“Chalcedon Foundation”) or our website (https://chalcedon.edu/live). Martin’s Q & A begins at 12 noon (Pacific) on Sundays, right after my Chalcedon Chapel Sermon, which begins at 11:10 am.]
- Mark R. Rushdoony
Mark R. Rushdoony graduated from Los Angeles Baptist College (now The Master’s College) with a B.A. in history in 1975 and was ordained to the ministry in 1995.
He taught junior and senior high classes in history, Bible, civics and economics at a Christian school in Virginia for three years before joining the staff of Chalcedon in 1978. He was the Director of Chalcedon Christian School for 14 years while teaching full time. He also helped tutor all of his children through high school.
In 1998, he became the President of Chalcedon and Ross House Books, and, more recently another publishing arm, Storehouse Press. Chalcedon and its subsidiaries publish many titles plus CDs, mp3s, and an extensive online archive at www.chalcedon.edu. His biography of his father will be published later this year (2024).
He has written scores of articles for Chalcedon’s publications, both the Chalcedon Report and Faith for all of Life. He was a contributing author to The Great Christian Revolution (1991). He has spoken at numerous conferences and churches in the U.S. and abroad.
Mark Rushdoony has lived in Vallecito, California, since 1978. His wife, Darlene, and he have been married since 1976. His youngest son still resides with him. He has three married children and nine grandchildren.