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Originally Posted by Overcomer on Apr 18, 2010
Last year I began to look at the other “Rapture Theories” primarily to be able to have a solid understanding of them, where their arguments were weak, where they were strong, and how to defend my own position based on a sound exegetical defense rooted in scripture. Since I was about 15 I have been told, and taught by men whom I have respected, that the rapture will occur prior to the 7 years of tribulation. When I began to look at the many options it seemed staggering, almost confusing. I didn’t realize there were so many. Here are just a FEW of the major positions:
- Pre-Tribulation
- Mid-Tribulation
- Post Tribulation
- Historical Premillennialism
- Dispensational Premillennialism
- Pre-Wrath
- Partial Rapture
- Amillennialism (non-millennialism)
- Postmillennialism
- Christian Reconstruction
- Kingdom Now Theology
- Preterism.
One morning, as I was making coffee, a random thought came into my head. How many lies does one have to tell to be considered a “liar” one, right? So then how many false teachings would a pastor have to teach to be considered a “false teacher,” one, right? Would one heretical teaching be enough to destroy a church and it’s congregation for an eternity? How many “false prophecies” would someone have to claim to be considered a “false prophet”? As I consider the profound implications this has regarding labeling someone a “false teacher” or a “false prophet” it gives me pause as I contemplate the seriousness of being a teacher of Biblical matters. Whether it is related to doctrine, or prophetic matters the bible covers both. We are expressly warned in Matthew 7:15:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
The text goes on further until the end of the chapter describing the conduct of those who are false prophets. Again in are 2nd Peter 2:1 it says this:
“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”
Swift destruction…destructive ways, wow.
Preaching is dangerous if you aren’t right on the money so to speak. Woe to you if you purposefully misdirect God’s children. There are other verse in scripture that teach on false prophets and false teachers and how to spot them. Contemplating them makes me realize the seriousness with which one needs to approach picking up a bible, standing in the pulpit, and teaching where you can be help personally responsible for the direction and growth of a flock, which has been entrusted to you.
Because truth is exclusive not all of them can be right.
Some false teachers are obvious; yet, still they draw crowds and people flock to hear them teach. Collections are taken, and the “sheeple” are fleeced of their hard earned money. Thinking it will be put into use for the work of the Lord, it is instead diverted to the Mercedes(s) payments, fabulous vacations flown aboard private planes, or lush living in what can only be described as a compound rather than a home. Those are the more obvious examples. However, how does one identify the false teacher who isn’t as obvious?
What would you do, how would you respond, to discover on your own, through the study of God’s word (which is sharper than any double edged sword), that a doctrine you believe or have been taught is not explicitly taught in scripture. How would you respond to learn that under careful scrutiny the position you have held for years, fails miserably because it was not founded on solid exegesis? What would you do if you discovered that a position you may have held violated the basic rules of hermeneutics? Would you repent? Would you stonewall the other person and dig your heals in deeper or would you drop to your knees and ask God to show you the truth, even if it was contradictory to what you had been taught? Bear in mind that the one exception and rule is that the correct position MUST adhere to scripture, it MUST bear sound doctrine, it MUST not be taken out of context, and it MUST use solid exegetical methods to arrive at the conclusion. Likewise it MUST harmonize all passages and cannot contradict itself.
Because truth is exclusive not all of them can be right.
Some false teachers are obvious; yet, still they draw crowds and people flock to hear them teach. Collections are taken, and the “sheeple” are fleeced of their hard earned money. Thinking it will be put into use for the work of the Lord, it is instead diverted to the Mercedes(s) payments, fabulous vacations flown aboard private planes, or lush living in what can only be described as a compound rather than a home. Those are the more obvious examples. However, how does one identify the false teacher who isn’t as obvious?
What would you do, how would you respond, to discover on your own, through the study of God’s word (which is sharper than any double edged sword), that a doctrine you believe or have been taught is not explicitly taught in scripture. How would you respond to learn that under careful scrutiny the position you have held for years, fails miserably because it was not founded on solid exegesis? What would you do if you discovered that a position you may have held violated the basic rules of hermeneutics? Would you repent? Would you stonewall the other person and dig your heals in deeper or would you drop to your knees and ask God to show you the truth, even if it was contradictory to what you had been taught? Bear in mind that the one exception and rule is that the correct position MUST adhere to scripture, it MUST bear sound doctrine, it MUST not be taken out of context, and it MUST use solid exegetical methods to arrive at the conclusion. Likewise it MUST harmonize all passages and cannot contradict itself.
“The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.” ~Proverbs 18:17
“How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen to silver. ~ Proverbs 16:16
“He who distains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.” ~ Proverbs 15:32
To borrow a phrase from the hit television serious “Highlander,” “There can be only ONE.”
This is something that has bothered me for YEARS and I have been waiting for a Pastor to do a thorough and convincing teaching on the subject of Revelation and how it fits with other prophetic scripture like Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jude, Joel and Zachariah, .
For many years I have had questions about the “Pre-Tribulation” rapture of the church that weren’t answered. I was seeing inconsistencies in verses being pulled out of context in order to support that particular position (theory), and exegesis that didn’t follow the rules of Hermeneutics. The supports that were leaned upon in the Book of Revelation, weren’t as strong as I had been lead to believe. Nor did other versus used to support to position in other passages of scripture satisfy lingering questions.
Another area that was problematic for me what the harmonization of scripture with time lines. When was Ezekiel 38 in comparison to the Battle of Armageddon? All of the verses I found seemed to tie them into one event; yet, most evangelicals teach they are two separate events. The problem is that scripture has the Lord himself fighting against his enemies in both events. That would mean he would have to come three times, not twice. He came once as a Lamb and then again as a Lion, oh yes…and one more time because we can’t make the passages fit. He comes once in the air, and another time his feet touch the ground…what?
All along I was taking the position on “faith,” “It’s that way because Pastor Brian, or Chuck Smith, or Greg Laurie or Raul Ries says it’s that way.” At one point I had heard a VERY good teaching on Preterism and why it can basically be set aside as a false teaching. However, the bottom line is that when I stand before God it is not a Pastor who will speak for me…but Christ alone, so I had better make sure I am right before God.
He wants us to OBEY; however, if one is turned aside to false teaching, they cannot obey what is written. We cannot, and should not ignore the study of passages, verses, or books that seem difficult or hard to master. The more time we devote to study, prayer and asking for the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the truth in God’s word the greater the likelihood that he will do just that, reveal to us the truth that has eluded us.
One of the questions that had been plaguing me was this:
If the Pre-tribulation rapture of the church IS the correct view point, why is it NOT CLEARLY TAUGHT in scripture like other doctrine, and why is it that the early church fathers didn’t teach it, or believe in it?
Another question that lingered like a splinter in my mind was this:
What event could cause Christians to “fall away” as in 2 Thessalonians 2:3?
Out the 12 texts I referenced it says “falling away” and “rebellion.”
For many years I have had questions about the “Pre-Tribulation” rapture of the church that weren’t answered. I was seeing inconsistencies in verses being pulled out of context in order to support that particular position (theory), and exegesis that didn’t follow the rules of Hermeneutics. The supports that were leaned upon in the Book of Revelation, weren’t as strong as I had been lead to believe. Nor did other versus used to support to position in other passages of scripture satisfy lingering questions.
Another area that was problematic for me what the harmonization of scripture with time lines. When was Ezekiel 38 in comparison to the Battle of Armageddon? All of the verses I found seemed to tie them into one event; yet, most evangelicals teach they are two separate events. The problem is that scripture has the Lord himself fighting against his enemies in both events. That would mean he would have to come three times, not twice. He came once as a Lamb and then again as a Lion, oh yes…and one more time because we can’t make the passages fit. He comes once in the air, and another time his feet touch the ground…what?
All along I was taking the position on “faith,” “It’s that way because Pastor Brian, or Chuck Smith, or Greg Laurie or Raul Ries says it’s that way.” At one point I had heard a VERY good teaching on Preterism and why it can basically be set aside as a false teaching. However, the bottom line is that when I stand before God it is not a Pastor who will speak for me…but Christ alone, so I had better make sure I am right before God.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always [obeyed], work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
He wants us to OBEY; however, if one is turned aside to false teaching, they cannot obey what is written. We cannot, and should not ignore the study of passages, verses, or books that seem difficult or hard to master. The more time we devote to study, prayer and asking for the Holy Spirit to reveal to us the truth in God’s word the greater the likelihood that he will do just that, reveal to us the truth that has eluded us.
One of the questions that had been plaguing me was this:
If the Pre-tribulation rapture of the church IS the correct view point, why is it NOT CLEARLY TAUGHT in scripture like other doctrine, and why is it that the early church fathers didn’t teach it, or believe in it?
Another question that lingered like a splinter in my mind was this:
What event could cause Christians to “fall away” as in 2 Thessalonians 2:3?
Out the 12 texts I referenced it says “falling away” and “rebellion.”
Why would a Christian rebel against God? Elsewhere I had read that it can also mean “to shrink away” as in shame. So I considered what action could a Christian take that would cause them to “shrink away.” Could an outright denial of Christ be what is meant?
Although Wikipedia is not the preferred source for scholarly writing its definition of “rebellion” is interesting. “A refusal of obedience.” Once again the wheels in my mind were turning, what event, or conditions could cause a Christian is refuse to be obedient?
So one day as I was sitting in the Jack in the Box across from the college where I am currently in school, I was drafting a letter to a good friend who is a Pastor. As I was writing I was struck with a thought.
What does “refusal” mean? So I Googled it…are you ready for this? Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “refusal” as “the act of refusing or denying.”
As I read this my spiritual radar went on full alert. An act of denying…could that be what the writer was trying to explain? So I decided to open up my E-Sword application on my trusty Laptop to see what Strong’s has to say about that particular verse.
So those who “fall away” will literally defect from the truth, or forsake Christ, they will divorce themselves from him. Interesting, so…does someone who changes their position on when the rapture occurs, or another doctrine that isn’t eternal that some churches may disagree upon; divorce themselves from Christ? I can’t definitively answer yes to that. However, because I have changed my position on WHEN the rapture will occur it made more sense when I began to study Islam, its eschatology and began to compare it to our own. As I was doing this my “radar” began going off again, BIG TIME.
There are too many coincidences that occur when one begins to seriously to study Islam, what the Koran says, the Hadith, and Muhammad’s Biography to ignore. They are all very revealing. I find that they all point very clearly towards something discussed by Daniel in chapter 7 when the angel was describing to him the final beast empire.
Many mainstream pastors teach that the Final Beast Empire will be a version of the revised Roman Empire based upon a verse in Daniel 9:26c:
We know from history that in 70 AD the Romans destroyed both Jerusalem and the Temple in Jerusalem. The assumption for many years, which has been taught in mainstream evangelical churches nationwide, is that the final beast empire and the Antichrist would come from a revised Roman Empire. This idea combined with Revelation 17:19 has lead to the idea that somehow the papacy (Catholic Church) would be the “woman” riding the beast empire.
Although Wikipedia is not the preferred source for scholarly writing its definition of “rebellion” is interesting. “A refusal of obedience.” Once again the wheels in my mind were turning, what event, or conditions could cause a Christian is refuse to be obedient?
So one day as I was sitting in the Jack in the Box across from the college where I am currently in school, I was drafting a letter to a good friend who is a Pastor. As I was writing I was struck with a thought.
What does “refusal” mean? So I Googled it…are you ready for this? Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “refusal” as “the act of refusing or denying.”
As I read this my spiritual radar went on full alert. An act of denying…could that be what the writer was trying to explain? So I decided to open up my E-Sword application on my trusty Laptop to see what Strong’s has to say about that particular verse.
According to the KJV with Strongs the “falling away” is number G646 ἀποστασία or apostasia pronounced ap-os-tas-ee’-ah. This word is Feminine of the same as G647; defection from truth (properly the state), (“apostasy”): – falling away, forsake. So I decided to look up the Masculine as well. The masculine G647 ἀποστάσιον apostasion ap-os-tas’-ee-on is Neuter of a (presumed) adjective from a derivative of G868; properly something separative, that is, (specifically) divorce: – (writing of) divorcement.
So those who “fall away” will literally defect from the truth, or forsake Christ, they will divorce themselves from him. Interesting, so…does someone who changes their position on when the rapture occurs, or another doctrine that isn’t eternal that some churches may disagree upon; divorce themselves from Christ? I can’t definitively answer yes to that. However, because I have changed my position on WHEN the rapture will occur it made more sense when I began to study Islam, its eschatology and began to compare it to our own. As I was doing this my “radar” began going off again, BIG TIME.
There are too many coincidences that occur when one begins to seriously to study Islam, what the Koran says, the Hadith, and Muhammad’s Biography to ignore. They are all very revealing. I find that they all point very clearly towards something discussed by Daniel in chapter 7 when the angel was describing to him the final beast empire.
Many mainstream pastors teach that the Final Beast Empire will be a version of the revised Roman Empire based upon a verse in Daniel 9:26c:
“And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.”
We know from history that in 70 AD the Romans destroyed both Jerusalem and the Temple in Jerusalem. The assumption for many years, which has been taught in mainstream evangelical churches nationwide, is that the final beast empire and the Antichrist would come from a revised Roman Empire. This idea combined with Revelation 17:19 has lead to the idea that somehow the papacy (Catholic Church) would be the “woman” riding the beast empire.
I’m embarrassed to admit it; however, I used to think this as well.
This is where I must inject something that happened to me back in May of 2001 before I go any further.
At the time I was living in Vista with my first ex wife. I had moved there to make an attempt at working out our marriage which was failing miserably. At the root of all our problems were Spiritual Issues, as are most problems we have in life.
During this time I was reading a book by David Hunt entitled “A Woman Rides the Red Beast” by Dave Hunt of the Berean Call. I was also personally reading in 1 Samuel: 3 about how the Lord kept calling Samuel out in the night.
This is where I must inject something that happened to me back in May of 2001 before I go any further.
At the time I was living in Vista with my first ex wife. I had moved there to make an attempt at working out our marriage which was failing miserably. At the root of all our problems were Spiritual Issues, as are most problems we have in life.
During this time I was reading a book by David Hunt entitled “A Woman Rides the Red Beast” by Dave Hunt of the Berean Call. I was also personally reading in 1 Samuel: 3 about how the Lord kept calling Samuel out in the night.
I do not specifically recall for sure what day it was; however, I believe it was a Sunday night. I couldn’t sleep and felt as if I had been woken up. Although I kept trying to go back to sleep I was wide awake. It wasn’t normal behavior for me at that time and I went into the living room. Instead of watching TV I started praying. At some point I remember speaking out loud, “I’m awake Lord what do you want of me?” I had what I can only describe as a strong urge to leave the house and go for a drive.
I didn’t understand it at the time, but I did what I felt I was being urged to do. I drove for about 20 minutes and the entire time it was as if I was being directed, it was very unusual. I arrived at a 7-11 and the parking lot was vacant, it was around 4 o’clock in the morning.
Upon my arrival I remember asking God, why am I here? You brought me to a 7-11? For what, a slurpee at 4:00 AM? The inaudible; yet, very clear response was to just wait. I waited, and waited, and waited. I didn’t even know what I was waiting for. Finally a delivery truck rolled up and and the driver got out and unloaded several large stacks of newspapers. After he left I again was urged and it was simple. Get a paper. That was it. I remember thinking, you woke me up, had me drive to a 7-11 at zero dark 30 (I’m a former Marine so excuse the slang) and all you wanted was for me to purchase a newspaper? Give me a break Lord. I thought you were going to reveal something significant me. So I purchase my paper and a cup of hot coffee and sat back in my car to read. Here was the front page headline for that day.
“Pope Enters Muslim Mosque For First Time In 1,000 Years.”
Pope John Paul had entered the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus on the 6th of May 2001. It made front page news. At the time the book I was reading by Dave Hunt was speculating that the final beast empire would be a revised Roman empire and the Antichrist would have some connection with the Roman Catholic Church. He made a very convincing case and I thought that the Lord was showing me a conformation about my position. It would not be until earlier this year that I would recall that evening and make a connection with its significance. It would also not be until this year that I would learn what the Catholic Church’s official teaching within the Catechism is regarding Islam.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 841. For further reading on this particular issue CARM has an interesting article on its website:
“The Church’s relationship with the Muslims.” The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator, in the first place amongst whom are the Muslims; these profess to hold the faith of Abraham, and together with us they adore the one, merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day.” (CCC, 841).
Unfortunately I would have to strongly disagree with the Catholic Church and question their understanding of the true character of “Allah” the god the Muslims worship. Quoting from the CARM Website here is what THEY had to say (this is quite brief based upon the length of the article but I think it makes its point rather succinctly.
“Obviously, the Muslims do not adore the one true merciful God because they serve a false god. They deny the Trinity and the deity of Christ. Quite simply, they deny the true God and are not capable of adoring the true God as long as they hold to the false teachings of Islam. Therefore the paragraph in the CCC cannot be correct.”
Sometimes the answers we are looking for are hidden in plain sight. Islam, it was right there in my hands…and I didn’t even take the time to investigate the significance. Now that I think about it, I may have been quite distracted by the turmoil we were having at home; yet, God wanted me to read those headlines. He wanted me to read the story so later on it would make sense to me.
It is interesting to note that although history tells us there were four Legions of Roman soldiers stationed outside Jerusalem in 70 A.D. only one of them is credited with the actual destruction of the Temple itself…
Check back soon. The next post will cove the four legions responsible for the actual destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the city.
Until then, press in my friends, dust off your Bible and ask for the Holy Spirit as your children ask for G.I. Joe with Kung Fu Grip and Tyco train sets for Christmas. Ask with belief in your heart that he will give you what you seek. Don’t rest in man for your answers, but in God’s word.
“Let no man deceive you in ANY way.” A Command from non other than Jesus himself.
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