Eschatology and Man's Prophetic Office
Man in his prophetic office is called to speak for God to all of creation. He is called to order, to interpret, and to understand all things in terms of the word of God. Now the popular understanding of the word prophet is one who predicts the future. This however is a secondary meaning of the word. The essential meaning of a prophet is one who speaks for God, a preacher. A prophet is God’s mouthpiece if he is faithful. He is God’s law-man, a lawyer for God who sets forth the law-word of God and says “this is the way, walk ye in it.”
- R. J. Rushdoony
Man in his prophetic office is called to speak for God to all of creation. He is called to order, to interpret, and to understand all things in terms of the word of God. Now the popular understanding of the word prophet is one who predicts the future. This however is a secondary meaning of the word. The essential meaning of a prophet is one who speaks for God, a preacher. A prophet is God’s mouthpiece if he is faithful. He is God’s law-man, a lawyer for God who sets forth the law-word of God and says “this is the way, walk ye in it.”
- R. J. Rushdoony
Rev. R.J. Rushdoony (1916–2001), was a leading theologian, church/state expert, and author of numerous works on the application of Biblical law to society. He started the Chalcedon Foundation in 1965. His Institutes of Biblical Law (1973) began the contemporary theonomy movement which posits the validity of Biblical law as God’s standard of obedience for all. He therefore saw God’s law as the basis of the modern Christian response to the cultural decline, one he attributed to the church’s false view of God’s law being opposed to His grace. This broad Christian response he described as “Christian Reconstruction.” He is credited with igniting the modern Christian school and homeschooling movements in the mid to late 20th century. He also traveled extensively lecturing and serving as an expert witness in numerous court cases regarding religious liberty. Many ministry and educational efforts that continue today, took their philosophical and Biblical roots from his lectures and books.