The Reformed Olive Press

                               Refuting Original Sin: A Biblical and Logical Examination The doctrine of original sin—the idea that all humans inherit guilt and a sinful nature from Adam—has been a central teaching in much of Christian theology, particularly in Augustinian and Reformed traditions. However, a careful examination of Scripture and reason challenges this doctrine. Below, we will explore why original sin is neither a necessary nor a biblical teaching. T he Bible Teaches Personal Responsibility for Sin One of the strongest biblical arguments against original sin is the consistent teaching that individuals are responsible for their own sins, not Adam’s. Ezekiel 18:20 English Standard Version “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son.” NOTE: This verse explicitly refutes the idea that guilt is inherited. Each person is judg...

1,000 Years Image of 70AD and the Bar Kokhba Revolt According to Greek writers such as Plato, Virgil and the Orphics, 1,000 years or more can represent a reincarnation or a change/transition in the non-living realm. Therefore, it makes sense that Gentile converts would be familiar with this concept of coming to life through cultural exposure. The middle of chart represents an indeterminate amount of time because it is the living realm. During this time, only 62 years has only passed by (70AD-132AD). The 1,000 years has no influence on the living realm. I believe Gog and Magog or Gog of Magog represent Simon Bar Kokhba and his armies. They attempted to resurrect the Old Covenant Temple system and persecute the Christians living in Jerusalem at that time. Bar Kokhba and the Zealots believed that they could destroy the Church one last time with a larger army. Hence, the symbolic name of Gog of Magog. This event is supposed to mirror/invert Haman’s ancient world-wide assault in the Book...

  The New Heavens and Earth: A Fulfillment of the New Covenant, NOT about Heaven. When we hear about the “New Heavens and New Earth” in Scripture, it's easy to associate it with the idea of Heaven as an eternal, otherworldly paradise. However, this biblical vision is not primarily about a distant Heaven, but rather a profound fulfillment of the New Covenant established through Christ. The New Heavens and Earth symbolize the culmination of God's promise to restore and redeem all of creation, where His people, in perfect unity with Him, live in the fullness of His Kingdom. It's a restoration not just of the physical world, but of the relationship between God and His people, as foretold through the New Covenant. In this post, we will explore how the New Heavens and Earth point to the realization of this covenant, transforming the world into a place where God’s presence fully reigns. Reasons why the New Heavens and Earth is NOT about Heaven 1. There is n...

                             Refuting Amillennialism: A Biblical and Theological Critique Amillennialism, the belief that there is no future, literal 1,000-year reign of Christ on earth, is a widely held eschatological position. However, there are several biblical and theological arguments that can be used to refute this perspective. See below. 1. The events of 70AD (early date of Revelation) and The Bar Kokhba Revolt (late date of Revelation) are downplayed or ignored entirely. The Bible's audience is primarily Jewish. It is not about the Reformers. Instead of the Old Covenant Age and New Covenant Age, the Reformers redefined these terms as: Church Age as the present time and the Age to Come as the afterlife. This is problematic when considering Hebrews 8:13, 9:10, which focuses on the Old Covenant and New Covenant dichotomy. 2. They fail to realize that the 1,000 years only affect those in the spiritual realm ...