Jul
15
Pretribbers deny free will
July 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There is a group of pretribbers who believe in free will because they don’t believe in predestination. They believe that they have the free will to choose the Lord and His salvation. However, they say they believe in free will, but then actually deny it by saying something like this: If someone denies the Lord or will not be allowed into heaven, then that person was never saved (born again) to begin with. They believe their conversion experience was false.
When Christians believe this, they don’t really believe in the doctrine of free will. They deny the doctrine of free because the “opposite rule” has to apply. If you can choose Jesus with your free will, then you can also choose to reject Jesus with your free will. They have change the doctrine of free will into their own meaning because they don’t like the idea that a truly born again Christian can go to hell. They believe in the “once saved always saved” doctrine and cannot stand the fact that a born again Christian would choose to go to hell. It makes them uneasy. Their salvation and their families’ salvation could be in jeopardy by their choice and they don’t like that. So they say that person was not truly a Christian or truly born again to begin with, because if they were, they would be saved. This thinking is denying free will.
However, the doctrine of free will, means a Christian can choose to be born again and filled with the Holy Spirit and do great things for the Lord Jesus Christ and then deny the Lord by choosing not to follow Him any longer for what ever reason they want. Any other explanation is not the doctrine of free will. Free will means just that: free will to choose at any time whatever your hearts desires. If you don’t have that, then it is not free will. If a Christian cannot choose to go to hell, then he or she is a puppet. God is controlling our outcome. He is placing you where he want you, and we all know that is not fair. For God to pick who He wants to go to heaven and hell is just not right. If you get picked for hell are you going to be happy? No! You are going to say to God on your judgement day, “I never had a chance. You picked me for hell. This is totally unfair. I never had a choice!” Stop to think about this: If God is sovereign in picking people for heaven and hell, why can’t God pick you to be a Christian for a while and then send you to hell for His own good pleasure? He can do whatever He wants, right?
Wrong! The only way God can be fair and get people who truly love Him (without a bunch of robots or puppets bowing down whenever He demands it) is to allow total free will. And that is what He has done. In the appendix, there are over 100 scripture passages establishing the doctrine of conditional salvation which is based on free will.
CONSEQUENCES
What are the consequence for believing the “once saved always saved” doctrine? You could possibly lose your salvation and spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. Or let’s say you get to heaven, but because you were teaching this false doctrine, you influenced twenty people to go to hell. Let me give you an example. Here in Texas, we have a Christian ministry program that plays in many states on the radio that believes in the “once saved always saved” doctrine. Almost every day people call in wanting to know more about this doctrine or to argue against it. There are people who are alcoholics, drug addicts, people who claim to be backslidden, and other stages of depravity that call in and want to know if they are saved. The minister replies something like this: “Have you ever been born again?”
“Yes. When I was a teenager, I gave my heart to the Lord. It was a powerful experience. I could feel Him come into me and fill me with the Holy Spirit. I could feel my sins being washed away. I was on fire for God for years, but when I went to college, I fell away and started drinking with my new friends. I got hooked. It’s been over twenty years now. I haven’t been in a church for about the same amount of time.”
The minister asks, “Do you have a relationship with Jesus now?”
The alcoholic replies, “No, how can I? I’m sinning against Him. I feel condemned.”
The minister says, “All your sins, past, present, and still future has been done away with when Jesus died on the cross. You are forgiven.”
He then reads 1 John 2:1-2: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 1JN 2:2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2; NASB; Pradis CD-ROM).
The minister then says, “You shouldn’t feel condemned because all your sins have been washed away. Even those who haven’t accepted Jesus have their sins washed away. So should you feel condemned?”
The alcoholic replies, “Well, I suppose I shouldn’t, but I feel condemned because I know what I’m doing is not right. It say some where in the Bible that drunks will not get into heaven.”
The minister then says, “You cannot go by your feelings. You have to believe God’s word and He says all of your sins have been forgiven.”
The alcoholic replies, “Does that mean I’m still saved? Do you mean to say that if I die as an alcoholic, I will go to heaven?”
The minister then asks again, “Were you born again?”
“Yes, I told you when I was a teenager.”
“Then if you are born again, you will go to heaven.”
“But I’m sinning.”
“I know, but if you are born again Jesus washed those sins away, remember the verse I just read. All your sins were washed away. When you were born again, God gave you eternal life, not temporary life. So you are in His kingdom. You are in the hands of God and no one including your sin can take you out of His hands. Isn’t that good news?”
“But what about my addiction and my sinning. I have destroyed my family and hurt a lot of people. I have tried to stop, but I can’t. I have gone in for help, but nothing seems to help. You mean to tell me that if I die, I will go to heaven?”
The minister says, “I don’t know about you, but I choose to believe God’s word. He says your sins have been all washed away. He says He gives eternal life. If you have been born again, then you are in His kingdom. You are a child of God.”
“But I’m living like the devil.”
“Well, that’s the gospel. It’s good news.”
“But, there are other Christians who believe I’m going to hell. They don’t believe in the ‘once saved always saved’ doctrine.”
“Yes, I know, but they are wrong. We just read that all your sins were washed away. You said you have been born again. If that’s true, God gave you eternal life. He doesn’t give temporal life. Listen to this verse, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:6; NIV). God began a good work in you didn’t He?”
“Well, yes, I guess, but that was a long time ago. I don’t do anything but drink now.”
“There’s nothing you can do. Salvation is not by works. It is a free gift from God. Don’t worry, you are going to heaven. Just accept His free gift.”
“But I can’t quit drinking.”
“You don’t have to. God accepts us where we are at.”
“Are you sure, I have no peace. I don’t feel saved. I have repented many times, but I can’t stop drinking. It’s just a vicious cycle. I can’t get out of it.”
“You need to quit going by feelings and accept your salvation by faith. Just believe in the “once saved always saved” doctrine and take your salvation by faith. It’s the word of God. I showed you the scripture, right?”
“Well, yes, I guess so.”
A conversation like this happens numerous times a week. No matter what kind of addiction, this kind of conversation goes on. Each time the minister is leading the person into further deception. They are crying out for help, their gut feeling and the conviction of the Lord is telling them that they are going to hell and the minister is telling them from verses out of the Bible, “Don’t worry! If you have been born again, you are saved.” The devil couldn’t have a better helper or advocate.
So what’s wrong with what the minister is saying? Well, He is saying a lot of truth. It’s true that everyone sins have been forgiven, even the people in the world. It’s true that we cannot work for our salvation, it’s a free gift. However, the problem is free will. This man has taken Jesus off the throne of his heart and placed liquor there. He hasn’t made Jesus Lord of His life. Many alcoholics have quit drinking and made Jesus Lord. Some have been supernaturally delivered.
The minister should have said, “Yes, you need help. You need to go to a Christian program which deals with alcoholics, because right now you are on your way to hell. I am willing to lead you in a prayer to lead you back to God if you are willing. But if you were to die today, you will be going to hell. I say this out of love. God wants to help you, but you have to be truly willing to overcome this addiction or it will overcome you and you will pay eternity in hell for it.”
So why does the minister keep asking if the alcoholic is born again? Because in the minister’s mind, that’s the only way this person will not make it into heaven. He believes you are “once saved always saved.” It doesn’t matter if the alcoholic has been unfaithful and living for the devil for twenty years. If the alcoholic was truly born again, he is going to heaven.
Sadly when this minister gets to heaven, He’s going to see most of his work burn up because he is teaching a host of false doctrines and sending a lot of people to hell, thinking they are going to heaven. Meanwhile, all the other Christians listening to this radio program are being told that they can sin as much as a drunk and still get into heaven. If a Christian want a licence to sin, they are getting it from this minister and this doctrine. And there are thousands of ministers who believe in this doctrine. Most of them have the sense not to be this bold, but the same message gets through and because of it millions of Christians have lost their salvation throughout the centuries. This doctrine of eternal security started around the fourth century with St. Augustine. Just think how many more millions could lose their salvation in the future. Lies have consequences.
I met a man who did not believe in the secret Rapture doctrine, (he was a posttribber) but did believe in the “once saved always saved” doctrine. He told me straight to my face that if he was ever in the Tribulation Period that his plan was to deny the Lord so they wouldn’t torture him because he said he had a low tolerance for pain (my thought was “who doesn’t”). If needed, he said he would even take the mark of the beast. He believe the Lord would forgive his denial and honor the “once saved always saved” doctrine, no matter what he did. I couldn’t believe my ears. Where does it end? You could be born again and kill six million Jews and still make it in heaven, right? Well, they are wrong and if you are smart, you will realize this doctrine is false and of the devil. Paul said, “Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us“ (2 Timothy 2:11-12; NIV).
If you are a true Christian, faithful to the end of your life, you will be judged after Armageddon, not in heaven like the pretribbers teach. We will be married to the Lord and be invited to the marriage supper of the lamb after Armageddon. If you are living when the Tribulation Period begins, you will not be secretly Raptured like the pretribbers teach, but you will have three options. (1) You will have to endure it or (2) be killed in it for the Lord’s sake or (3) betray the Lord, take the mark of the beast and go to the Lake of Fire, which is called the second death. After Armageddon, the Lord (through the church and Israel) will rule the nations for a thousand years.
If you want more on this subject, read this book. Are You Believing In the “Once Saved Always Saved” Lie? by Gene Stone. You can order this book at 1-866-909 2665. It’s a must read.
Jul
15
The pretribbers teach Ezekiel 38 & 39 is not Armageddon. They’re separate.
July 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
In the 1800′s, most or nearly all commentaries on Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 taught this northern invasion was the Battle of Armageddon. Then in the 1900′s, some Christians, mostly pretribbers like J. Dwight Pentecost, John Walvoord, Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey, Thomas Ice, Grant Jeffery, etc. began to write that Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39 is not the Battle of Armageddon but is another battle that takes place before or during the seventieth week of Daniel for reasons we will soon discuss. You may believe this way also. If I left your name out, you can put it right here_________. However, you won’t want it there after you read this.
Most pretribbers teach that the battle of Ezekiel 38 &39 takes place in the middle of the Tribulation Period and then Armageddon takes place three and a half years later. Here are seven reasons out of a total of 23 reasons why that’s not true:
(1) Another reason the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon is because both invasions (if there were two) have the same purpose. Therefore, only one invasion is needed. “…In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes” (Ezek.38:16; NIV). God, to show Himself holy to the nations, has chosen Gog, a leader of many nations, to come against Israel to show His holiness by using His power to destroy those nations. God wants the nations to know He is God by destroying their armies. “And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD” (Ezek. 38:23; NIV). “I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel’ (Ezek. 39:7; NIV). The Lord again restates this purpose in Ezek. 39:21-29.So the stated reason God brings Gog against Israel is so He can display His power, which will show the nations of the earth that He is God. And that is what God does at Armageddon. Why would God do the same thing two times within three and a half years? If He has to do it again, then He didn’t accomplish what He set out to do the first time. In other words, God failed at His stated purpose and had to bring these same nations back again in three and a half years to get the nations to “…know that I am the LORD” (Ezek. 38:23; NIV) again! In fact, in the pretrib scenario, their teachings make God look like a liar. If this battle takes place in the middle of the Tribulation like the pretribbers teach, then God said those nations would know and honor Him, but now three and a half years later, these same nations continue to profane His name and dishonor Him by coming to Armageddon to fight against Him and His people a second time. Is this going to happen? No! Is God a liar? No! Does God have to bring them back again so they will know Him? No! If He does, He is a liar. Therefore, this battle is Armageddon.
(2) Another reason the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon is because these nations could not possibly forget what just happen to them. If this invasion happens during the middle of the seventieth week of Daniel as the pretribbers teach and if the nations learned God’s stated purposes (that they would know Him and respect Him), how could these same nations in just three and a half short years forget what God just did to them? Maybe they could forget in fifty or a hundred years, but three years, no way. If God’s stated purpose and will was totally manifested just like He decreed in the above verses, how could these same nations even dare lift a finger against the Lord? It’s unimaginable! In simple terms, no nation would forget what just happened to them and come back again.
You might think, they didn’t forget, that they are mad at God for defeating them and that’s why they come back. However, God cannot lie, “I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel” (Ezek. 39:7; NIV). Therefore, the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon. They would profane God’s name and make Him a liar if they came back. Now you have to make a choice here. You have two choices. (1) Either God word is not true in these passages and you choose to keep believing what you have been taught that the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is not Armageddon or (2) God’s word is true and He made a very strong statement that His name will no longer be profaned, which means this has to be Armageddon.
(3) Another reason the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon is because the Lord wants His people, the Jews, to know Him through this invasion. “I will make known my holy name among my people Israel” (Ezek. 39:7; NIV). Now the purpose of the seventieth week of Daniel (most Christians agree) is to deal exclusively with Israel, to deal out judgment upon the Gentile nations and the Jews, and to get the whole world to recognize who the true God is, Jesus. The seventieth week of Daniel or the Tribulation Period as most Christians call it is the end of an age. After this seven year period, a new millennium will begin with Jesus as King for a thousand years on this earth. As the Tribulation Period unfolds and Armageddon begins, Israel will go through a terrible crisis where two-thirds of Jews will be killed (Zech. 13:8). In this time of crisis, Israel cries out to their God for deliverance. After Israel’s repentance, He answers their prayers by coming to destroy the nations who come against them. And this is God’s stated purpose for this invasion. The Lord is bringing the nations from the north, east, and south of Israel so He can let them know He is the sovereign God of Israel by destroying their armies on the mountains of Israel.After God destroys those nations, then Israel will recognize their God. “From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God” (Ezek. 39:22; NIV). Therefore, there are two stated purposes for the Lord bringing about this invasion. (1) God wants the nations of the world to know who He is. He is Jesus. (2) God wants Israel to know who He is and from that day forward the house of Israel will know He is Jesus.
Now here is a very serious problem. If this invasion take place in the middle of the Tribulation Period like the pretribbers teach, and “From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God” (Ezek. 39:22; NIV), then why does Israel fall away again and worship idols? If this invasion takes place in the middle of the Tribulation Period and if all of Israel knows their God after it, then why do we need Armageddon three and a half years later? Do they all backslide? Do they go back to unbelief? If they know their God, then why does God kill two-thirds of the Jewish people for being unfaithful?
The answer is: Israel does not repent in the middle of the Tribulation Period like the pretribbers teach, it’s at the end of the Tribulation Period. Here’s why. In the Armageddon passages at the end of the Tribulation Period, the people of Israel are worshiping idols which is being unfaithful to the God of Israel. Therefore, Israel did not repent in the middle because two-thirds of the Jewish people follow the antichrist and that’s why God kills them.
The arrogance of man will be brought low and the pride of men humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, [the Day of the Lord] ISA 2:18 and the idols will totally disappear. ISA 2:19 Men will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from dread of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. ISA 2:20 In that day [the Day of the Lord] men will throw away to the rodents and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. (Isaiah 2:17-20; NIV)
Throughout the ages, men have not been very smart. They make an idol with their own hands and then bow down to it. However, at the end of the Tribulation Period, most (if not all) of the idols will be of the antichrist who declared himself to be God and demands worship from all or be killed. Isaiah says the Jewish people put their trust in the antichrist. “In that day [the Day of the Lord] the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him [antichrist] who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 10:20; NIV). So when the Lord comes back, He will cleanse the land from idols of the antichrist. The antichrist will have his image in the temple and many of the Jews, along with the whole world will have his idols.
On that day [the Day of the Lord] a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. ZEC 13:2 “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. 3 And if anyone still prophesies, his father and mother, to whom he was born, will say to him, `You must die, because you have told lies in the LORD’s name.’ When he prophesies, his own parents will stab him. (Zech. 13:1-3; NIV)
If Israel knows their God in the middle of the Tribulation Period like the pretribbers teach, then Israel drastically backslides in three and a half years to idols. And then, of course, the Lord lied when He said, “From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God” (Ezek. 39:22; NIV). However, when you put these words at the battle of Armageddon, then everything fits perfectly.
I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them. 22 From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. 23 And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them. (Ezekiel 39:21-24; NIV)
Once Israel has been dealt with by the hand of the Lord, then the Lord pours out His Spirit on those who are left. It’s the remnant who will be saved, two-thirds will perish “because they were unfaithful to me.” Once the unfaithful have been dealt with and once those who are left repent, then the Holy Spirit is poured out on the remnant.
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me [Jesus], the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him [Jesus] as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son. 11 On that day [the Day of the Lord] the weeping in Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo” (Zechariah 12:10; NIV).
After Israel’s terrible judgments (by the hand of the Lord for their unfaithfulness), then they will know their God and He will bring restoration. Therefore, this battle is Armageddon.
(4) Another reason the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon is because Jesus lives in Israel after this invasion. “I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel’ (Ezek. 39:7; NIV). If you take this verse at its literal meaning, which we are suppose to do, Jesus is in Israel. Jesus lives “in” Israel after the battle of Armageddon for a thousand years. Therefore, this is Armageddon.
(5) Another reason the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon is because the nations will learn a history lesson from the Lord. Now that Jesus is living in the land, He teaches the nations a history lesson. What they learn would never make them want to attack Israel again. In Ezekiel 39:23, God will teach these nations this lesson. “… the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them [Israel] and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them” (Ezek. 39:23; NIV).
What will the nations learn after they are defeated by God? The nations will know or learn that “Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me.” If this battle took place in the middle of the Tribulation Period like the pretribbers teach, then the nations would learn that Israel’s sin was that they made a covenant with the antichrist. God calls it a covenant with death in Isaiah 28. God wants Israel to trust in Him, but they rejected Him and make a covenant of death with the antichrist. You cannot get more unfaithful. That’s the history lesson that God will teach the nations.
Will they forget this history lesson in three and a half years and come against the God of Israel again at Armageddon? No, of course not. That’s why this battle is Armageddon. They will now understand that Israel has always been the apple of God’s eye. And that God had a sovereign plan for the seventieth weeks that they (these nations) will be a part of. These nations will help God destroy the unfaithful Jewish people and then God will turn against them. “Very soon my anger against you [Israel] will end and my wrath will be directed to their [the nations] destruction” (Isaiah 10:25; NIV).
But according to the pretribbers, the nations obviously didn’t like God’s history lesson and chose to dishonor the Lord’s name and come again at Armageddon. Do you see how ridiculous this is? Therefore, this invasion is Armageddon. At Armageddon, the whole world and Israel will recognize for the first time Jesus is God. And they will not forget the Lord’s stated purpose and declaration: “I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the LORD am the Holy One in Israel’ (Ezek. 39:7; NIV).
When Israel became a nation in 1948, the Arabs attacked Israel to destroy it. Through God’s help Israel won the war. Did the Arab nations recognize God was helping Israel? No, of course not. If they had, they would not have attacked again in 1969 to be defeated again. How can you win against God? The nations in this present world don’t recognize the God of the Jews and they hate the Jews. Most nations in the U.N. vote consistently against Israel and/or God. The only people who recognize God helped Israel in these wars are Christians and we are a minority in the earth. We control no nations. But in Ezekiel 38 & 39, Israel and the nations know without a doubt the God of Israel. They learn the history lesson the Lord teaches them and they won’t forget it in three and a half years. Therefore, the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon.
(6) Another reason the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon is because of the amount of people who come against Israel. The language is consistent with other Armageddon passages. “You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land” (Ezek. 38:16; NIV). These are not just northern troops. These troops come from the south and east, just like they do at the time of Armageddon. Ethiopia and Put are just some of the nations who come from the south. Ancient Persia takes in the area of present day Iraq and Iran. Both these nations from the east come against Israel at the time of Armageddon. If these countries’ troops are almost totally destroyed, how can they come back again in a few years for the Battle of Armageddon? “…with your whole army…with all its troops–the many nations with you…” Most, if not all of the men are dead. What are they going to do, send women?
(7) Another reason the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion is Armageddon is because God has prophesied this Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion before through His other prophets before Ezekiel’s time. “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them” (Ezek. 38:17; NIV). “This is the day I have spoken of…” (Ezek. 39:8; NIV). The prophets of Israel prophesied for years that Gog would come against Israel. Two things we must consider: (1) These prophets will have to be before Ezekiel’s time so that limits the prophets because some prophesied after Ezekiel. (2) These prophets have to speak of a future war with Israel that has not yet been fulfilled up to this time.
There are four prophets who declared a war that is still future with Israel, but not one of them speak of Gog. Let me repeat that: not one of them speak of Gog. Is God a liar? Did God get confused? The answer is: No! God is not a liar and He is not confused. The only war that these prophets predict in the future, that has not been fulfilled, dealing with these nations in Ezekiel: Magog, Put, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Gomer, Beth and Togarmah is during Armageddon. In fact, Gog is not ever mentioned in any of the prophets but some of these same nations are. Therefore, the Lord is telling us that Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion that He prophesied through earlier prophets is Armageddon because their prophesies are only about Armageddon. The battle of Gog is the same as Armageddon. Here’s the proof:
(1) The book of Joel written in 830 years before Christ (roughly 200 years before Ezekiel) gives us the first prediction of a war with Israel that has not already been fought.
“In those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, JOEL 3:2 I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will enter into judgment against them concerning my inheritance, my people Israel, for they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land. JOEL 3:3 … JOEL 3:9 Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare for war! Rouse the warriors! Let all the fighting men draw near and attack. JOEL 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, “I am strong!” JOEL 3:11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD! JOEL 3:12 “Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side. JOEL 3:13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow–so great is their wickedness!” JOEL 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. JOEL 3:15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine. JOEL 3:16 The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. JOEL 3:17 “Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. JOEL 3:18 “In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias. JOEL 3:19 But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood. JOEL 3:20 Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.
Is this Armageddon? Yes! Is this the Gog invasion? Yes! This is one of the many passages the Lord was referring to when He said, “Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them” (Ezek. 38:17; NIV). However, none of these prophets ever speak of Gog, but they do speak of Armageddon. Gog invades at Armageddon.
(2) The next prophet is Isaiah written 700-680 B.C. (roughly a 100 before Ezekiel). He writes:
An oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw: Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles. ISA 13:3 I have commanded my holy ones; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath–those who rejoice in my triumph. ISA 13:4 Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war. ISA 13:5 They come from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens–the LORD and the weapons of his wrath–to destroy the whole country. ISA 13:6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. ISA 13:7 Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man’s heart will melt. ISA 13:8 Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame. ISA 13:9 See, the day of the LORD is coming –a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger–to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. ISA 13:10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. ISA 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. ISA 13:12 I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. ISA 13:13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger…ISA 13:19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. ISA 13:20 She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there. (NIV)
There are thousands of Arabs living around Babylon which propels this prophecy into the future.
Grant Jeffrey (a pretribber) writes this about this passage. “Isaiah’s prediction that no Arab will pitch a tent in that region (13:20) has not been fulfilled yet in history and therefore must refer to Babylon’s final destruction when Christ returns to defeat the forces of Satan at Armageddon.” (Grant R. Jeffrey, NIV Prophecy Marked Reference Study Bible, page 747.)
This is the Day of the Lord (verses 6 & 9) when the battle of Armageddon takes place and all the nations come against the Lord. The people of the land of Babylon allow the kings of the east to come through their land to go to Armageddon (Rev. 9:12-16). This is one of the passages the Lord was referring to when He said, “Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them” (Ezek. 38:17; NIV). Under Gog’s leadership, Babylon will be one of “the many nations with you” (Ezek. 38:6; NIV) that come against God from the east.
(3) Here’s another passage of Armageddon that God in Ezekiel 38 & 39 refers to.
The LORD is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter. ISA 34:3 Their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will send up a stench; the mountains will be soaked with their blood. ISA 34:4 All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree. ISA 34:5 My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed. (Isaiah 34:2-5; NIV)
Is this Armageddon? Yes! Is this the Gog invasion? Yes! It has to be or the Lord is a liar. Why? Because there are no other battles that take place in the future in Isaiah, except Armageddon. Is Edom one of the many nations with you (Ezek. 38:6; NIV). Yes, Edom is east of Israel. This passage in Isaiah is Armageddon. Verse 4 refers to the second coming when the sky is rolled up like a scroll. This is one of the prophecies the Lord was referring to when He said, “This is the day I have spoken of…” (Ezek. 39:8; NIV) through my prophets. At Armageddon Edom becomes a perpetual wasteland just like Babylon does.
(4) Here’s another passage of Armageddon that God in Ezekiel 38 & 39 refers to.
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” ISA 63:2 Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? ISA 63:3 “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them [the nations] in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. ISA 63:4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. ISA 63:5 I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. (Isaiah 63:1-5; NIV)
Is this Armageddon? Yes! Is this the Gog invasion? Yes! It has to be or the Lord is a liar. This passage is another word picture of Armageddon. “This is the day I have spoken of…” (Ezek. 39:8; NIV). Isaiah 63 resembles how Jesus comes riding on His white horse in Revelation 19. The pretribbers write of this passage: “If there was any doubt as to the identity of this person, it should be resolved by now. Only one man can say, “I who speak in righteousness.” Only one man has the power that is “mighty to save.” This figure is Jesus the Messiah, who is marching toward Israel from the land of Edom and the city of Bozrah…Both Isaiah 34:1-7 and 63:1-6 state that the initial place of the second coming will be the city of Bozrah.” (Tim LaHaye, Ed Hindson, general editors, The Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary, page 147)
(5) Here’s another passage of Armageddon that God in Ezekiel 38 & 39 refers to.
See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. ISA 66:16 For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men, and many will be those slain by the LORD. (Isaiah 66:15-16; NIV)
Is this Armageddon? Yes! Is this the Gog invasion? Yes! There are no other battles that take place in the future against Israel in Isaiah that the Lord speaks about. This is an Armageddon passage. “For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all men...” (Isaiah 66:16; NIV). Now notice how similar this verse is with Ezekiel’s invasion. “I will send fire on Magog and on those who live in safety in the coastlands, and they will know that I am the LORD’ (Ezek. 39:6; NIV). “This is the day I have spoken of…” (Ezek. 39:8; NIV). There are only four passages in Isaiah referring to a future war that has not been fulfilled yet and not one of them speak of a Gog invasion, unless the Gog invasion is Armageddon. And of course they are the same, or the Lord is lying.
(6) The next prophecy of Armageddon in our time frame is Zephaniah written 635-630 B.C. (roughly 60 years before Ezekiel).
Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them–all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger. ZEP 3:9 “Then will I purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder. ZEP 3:10 From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. ZEP 3:11 On that day you will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from this city those who rejoice in their pride. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. ZEP 3:12 But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the LORD. ZEP 3:13 The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.” ZEP 3:14 Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!… ZEP 3:20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD. (Zep. 3:8-14 & 20; NIV)
Is this Armageddon? Of course it is! Grant Jeffrey writes, “This prophecy looks forward to the tribulation and final Battle of Armageddon when Jesus Christ will destroy the armies of the antichrist and his allies.” (Grant R. Jeffrey, NIV Prophecy Marked Reference Study Bible, page 1056.) This is one of the prophecies God spoke of about Gog because there are no others.
(7) Now let’s look in the book of Jeremiah written 585-580 B.C. (roughly 10 years before Ezekiel) to see where the Gog invasion or Armageddon is discussed.
See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.’ JER 25:30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ” `The LORD will roar from on high; he will thunder from his holy dwelling and roar mightily against his land. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who live on the earth. JER 25:31 The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; he will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword,’ ” declares the LORD. JER 25:32 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.” JER 25:33 At that time those slain by the LORD will be everywhere–from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground. (Jeremiah 25:29-33; NIV)
This of course is Armageddon, a picture of the Day of the Lord bringing judgment on all mankind. This is one passage out of two that is still future in Jeremiah. “This is the day I have spoken of…” (Ezek. 39:8; NIV). Therefore, it has to be when Gog invades Israel. Gog comes against Jerusalem and the people of the whole world will be destroyed because the Lord take vengeance on them.
(8) Here’s the last passage of Armageddon.
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3 The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, `when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,’ says the LORD.” JER 30:4 These are the words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 5 “This is what the LORD says: ” `Cries of fear are heard–terror, not peace. JER 30:6 Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale? JER 30:7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it. JER 30:8 ” ` In that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, `I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. JER 30:9 Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. JER 30:10 ” `So do not fear, O Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, O Israel,’ declares the LORD. `I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. JER 30:11 I am with you and will save you,’ declares the LORD.`Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only with justice; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’ (Jeremiah 30:1-11; NIV)
God said through Ezekiel, “This is the day I have spoken of…” through My prophets in the past (Ezek. 38:17 and 39:8; NIV). These eight prophecies coming from four prophets are the only prophecy passages that describe a great war on the Day of the Lord, a day of great wrath and vengeance on the world, and a day of restoration for Israel that is still future before Ezekiel’s time. These passages are the only prophecies that God can be referring to because there are not any others before Ezekiel’s time that refer to a future war with Israel. The pretribbers in their writings have confirmed these passages are about Armageddon. And for your information, the rest of the prophets who came after Ezekiel only speak of one battle in the future and that is Armageddon.
What do the pretribber’s write about these past prophets? “In the opening verse of this section about the defeat of God, [Gog] God mentions that the prophets had foretold this last-days invasion (verse 17). Though Gog is not named by the prophets, the other prophets did make reference to the future defeat of the enemies of Israel.” (Tim LaHaye, Ed Hindson, general editors, The Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary, page 193)
That’s it! The pretribbers acknowledge other prophets who prophesied of the future defeat of Israel’s enemies, but do not give one prophecy. Why? Because all the prophecies are about Armageddon. You have just read them. There are not any more. They didn’t quote any, because there are none to quote, beside Armageddon passages. Therefore, the Ezekiel 38 & 39 invasion whom the prophets prophesied about is Armageddon. Gog is leading Armageddon.
Jul
15
When does the Day of the Lord begin?
July 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
When does the Day of the Lord begin? The pretribbers teach “the Day of the Lord” starts at the time Israel makes a covenant with the antichrist at the beginning of the seventieth week of Daniel. They teach that the Day of the Lord is the seven years of the Tribulation Period and continues through the millennium. Hal Lindsey, a pretribber, writes:”In 2 Thessalonians, Paul primarily writes to reassure the Thessalonian believers that they are not already in ‘the day of the Lord’ and/or the Tribulation or the Seventieth Week of Daniel. (The first seven years of ‘the day of the Lord’ coincide with the Tribulation period.)” (Hal Lindsey, Vanished Into Thin Air The Hope of Every Believer, page 236.) “The Roman Dictator must be unveiled a short while before the actual beginning of Daniel’s Week, which also begins the Day of the Lord.” (Hal Lindsey, Vanished Into Thin Air The Hope of Every Believer, pages 257-258.)
Although this is what the pretribbers teach, it is not true. The Day of the Lord has a definite starting place and it is only when the Lord comes publicly at the end of the seven year Tribulation Period. Here is the proof. In Joel 2:29-31, three prophetic events have to take place before the Day of the Lord can take place.
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. JOEL 2:29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. JOEL 2:30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. JOEL 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. JOEL 2:32 And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls. (NIV)
These three prophetic events that have to take place before the Day of the Lord are: (1) The Lord has to pour out His Spirit. “Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:29; NIV). Peter quotes this passage out of Joel when the New Covenant began on the day of Pentecost. “These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: AC 2:17 ” `In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:15-17; NIV).
Since the New Covenant is eternal, the Holy Spirit will be poured out through the Tribulation Period which we will discuss later in more detail. However, we have a contradiction already with the pretribbers teachings. They teach the Holy Spirit is taken out during the Tribulation Period with the church. Hal Lindsey writes,
“Since the Tribulation is the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks of years, and since the first 69 weeks of years were under the conditions of the Mosaic Law economy, it stands to reason that the same conditions must return for the final week. Thus the present ministries of the [Holy] Spirit must be removed.” (Hal Lindsey, Vanished Into Thin Air The Hope of Every Believer, page 383.
But that contradicts what Joel said to the Jewish people, `In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17; NIV). The last days deal specifically with the Tribulation Period. God says it is a time when He will pour out His spirit on His people and “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke” (Joel 2:30; NIV). The Holy Spirit will be poured out right through the Tribulation Period because the New Covenant is eternal and because that is the only way a man or woman can be saved. Jesus said to a Jew in John 3:3 & 5, “…I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again…I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (NIV). “And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ” (Romans 8:9; NIV Pradis CD-ROM).
Therefore, the Holy Spirit will be poured out on the Jewish people and the world during the Tribulation Period before the Day of the Lord because the New Covenant is eternal. How are you going to stop an eternal New Covenant? You can’t. Some pretribbers have seen this truth. For example, Tim LaHaye writes this about the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation Period:
Although widely accepted, this erroneous idea (caused largely by footnotes in the Scofield Reference Bible interpreting the “restrainer” of 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8) creates more problems than it solves. First, it is not a good translation of the Greek text…Second, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent and thus will not leave the world. Third, no man can be saved without the Holy Spirit… (Tim LaHaye, Revelation Illustrated and Made Plain, page 116.)
(2) “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke” (Joel 2:30; NIV). These things take place during or at the end Tribulation Period. Luke writes about this time in 21:11 and 26, “There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven…. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken” (NIV). We know from the plagues in the Book of Revelation the water is turned to blood and fire burns up the grass and trees. “The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up” (Rev. 8:7; NIV). With all this burning, it will give off “billows of smoke” (Joel 2:30). All these things have to happen before the Day of the Lord.
(3) “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” (Joel 2:31; NIV). There is a very important key word in this verse. It is the word “before.” These things have to happen before the Day of the Lord can take place or start. (1) The out pouring of the Holy Spirit during the Tribulation Period. “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev. 7:14; NIV). It’s only the Blood of the New Covenant that can save people. (2) Signs in the heaven, blood, and fire. (3) Sun turned to darkness and moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Jesus says the same thing when He pin points the Day of the Lord:
Immediately after the distress of those days” `the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ MT 24:30 “At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matt. 24:29-31; NIV)
Immediately after the Tribulation Period the cosmic signs take place and Jesus comes in the Day of the Lord. When Jesus appears, that is when the nations mourn because it will be a day of wrath and vengeance. Jesus is actually quoting some words from the Day of the Lord in Isaiah 13:10:
See, the day of the LORD is coming–a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger–to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. ISA 13:10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. ISA 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. ISA 13:12 I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. ISA 13:13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13; NIV)
Notice the Day of the Lord begins “with wrath and fierce anger,” not peace and safety like the pretribbers teach. Peter writes that the Day of the Lord, is a day of fire and destruction. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief in which the heavens…and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10; NASB). “Wail, for the day of the LORD is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty” (Isaiah 13:6; NASB).
Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light. AM 5:19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. AM 5:20 Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light–pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? (Amos 5:18-20; NIV)
When the Day of the Lord starts, there is sudden doom for the whole earth and Armageddon is just one part of it. Here is another verse pin pointing when the Day of the Lord begins at the end of the Tribulation Period. “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. JOEL 3:15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine” (Joel 3:14-15: NIV). In this Armageddon passage, the armies of Armageddon have assembled, but the Day of the Lord has not yet started. It’s near, but the sun and moon have to be darken first and then Jesus will come in the sky to destroy the armies who have gathered for Armageddon. So the Day of the Lord begins when Jesus appears at the end of the Tribulation Period, not at the beginning of the seventieth week of Daniel like the pretribbers teach. It starts when Jesus steps into our atmosphere at His public coming–right after the tribulation of those days.
Here is another reason why the pretribbers make a terrible mistake when they say the Day of the Lord starts at the beginning of the Tribulation Period. Isaiah writes that no one will be exalted in the Day of the Lord. Isaiah 2:12 says, “For the day of the Lord of host shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low” (KJV). And verse 17 says, “And the pride of man will be humbled, And the loftiness of men will be abased, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day“ (NASB). And verse 19 says, “And men will go into caves of the rocks, And into holes of the ground, Before the terror of the Lord, And before the splendor of His majesty, When He arises to make the earth tremble” (NASB). This is the Day of the Lord, “And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” (NASB). The pretribbers have the antichrist being exalted in their Day of the Lord. That contradicts these verses! The antichrist even claims that he is God. You can’t get more proud and lofty than that. However, when the Day of the Lord starts, he will be humbled and thrown in a pit and the Lord alone will be exalted just like these holy scripture verses predict.
Now who are you going to believe? God or the pretribbers! The Day of the Lord is a worldwide event with billions upon billions of people being killed throughout the whole earth by the Lord. The Lord will use the words from His mouth–which is the sword to start the devastation against man. By His word, the greatest earthquake ever will start. Then fire, hail, blood, pestilence, meteorites, and ocean waves will wipe out the people on the earth. God will speak a word and confusion will cause armies to turn on each other on the battle field of Armageddon. The battle of Armageddon will be just a part of this destruction and it may be just a small part. Look at this passage in Jeremiah about the Day of the Lord.
The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; he will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword,’ ” declares the LORD. JER 25:32 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.” JER 25:33 At that time those slain by the LORD will be everywhere–from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground. (Jeremiah 25:31-33; NIV)
Once we see the nations gathering for Armageddon, then and only then will the Day of the Lord be near. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets prophesied many times about this day. They gave us a clear picture of when it starts and it starts at the end of the Tribulation Period. Some of the pretribbers are seeing these truths and some are converting. Some are breaking rank from the others. Richard L. Mayhue, a pretribber, writing about Joel 2:31, writes:
Most significant in [Joel] 2:31 (NKJV) is the statement that the great cosmic signs will be a prelude “before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” This seems to limit the day of the Lord to the very end of the Tribulation if Joel 3:15, Matthew 24:29, and Revelation 6:12 refers to the same event. The day of the Lord at the end of the Tribulation will contain unmistakable manifestations of God’s greatness. It will include both physical disturbances (see 2 Peter 3:10) and spiritual revival. (Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson general editors, Wayne A. Brindle managing editor, The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, article written by Richard L. Mayhue, page 74.)
As you can see, some of the pretribbers are coming around to the truth. The Apostle Paul taught that the Day of the Lord would not start until after the antichrist is revealed.
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God…8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. (2 Thess. 2:1-4; 8; NIV)
Two things have to happen first according to Paul before the Day of the Lord can start. There has to be a rebellion and the antichrist has to be revealed. (1) The rebellion takes place during the Tribulation Period with the mark of the beast. Angels preach the gospel and announce to the world not to take the mark of the beast (Rev. 14:9-12), but the rebellious people of the world take it anyway. (2) The people of the world are deceived by the antichrist until he is revealed. He is not revealed to the world as the antichrist until Jesus comes in the air. On the Day of the Lord, the real Christ (in great glory) will come in the air to reveal and destroy the antichrist. The world will continue to believe in the antichrist until the Day of the Lord, then “…the Lord Jesus will overthrow [the antichrist] with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming” (2 Thess. 2:8; NIV).
Here is another passage from Paul describing the Day of the Lord. “Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thess. 5:1-3; NIV). The world will be saying “peace and safety,” but sudden destruction from the Day of the Lord will come on them.
The Day of the Lord does not start at the beginning or the middle of the Tribulation Period like most pretribbers teach, it starts when Jesus steps into the earth’s atmosphere at His public coming and not a day sooner. It’s His day, not the antichrist’s day, like the pretribbers teach. If you want more on this subject read: Jacob’s Trouble, by Gene Stone at 1-866-909-2665.
Jul
15
Babylon has to be rebuilt before the Lord’s return.
July 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Now when it comes to Babylon being rebuilt, not all Christians believe this. In fact, some don’t like these prophecies at all. Why? Because it destroys their imminency doctrine and it puts off the coming of the Lord for many years. Remember, the so-called secret Rapture is just before the seventieth week of Daniel to save us from it. If the seventieth week is forty or more years in the future because Babylon has to be rebuilt, then that makes the pretribbers’ teachings false. Jesus is supposed to come in this generation according to them.
John Hagee, a pretribulationist, sees this problem and writes, “Many scholars once believed that Saddam Hussein would rebuild the city of Babylon as described in Revelation 18. If this were true, it would take multiplied decades for this “Babylon” to come to fruition, and the coming of Christ would not even be close to becoming a reality in our lifetime.” (John Hagee, Beyond Iraq The End of the Age, John Hagee Magazine, September/October 2004, Page 24.) John Hagee then goes on to list five reasons why Babylon will not be rebuilt. For the sake of fairness and hearing the other side, let’s discuss his five reasons.
“Reason # 1: The Bible makes it clear that Ancient Babylon has been destroyed and will never rise again.” (John Hagee, Beyond Iraq The End of the Age, John Hagee Magazine, September/October 2004, Page 25.) John Hagee quotes the first part of Isaiah 13:20 to prove his point. However, Babylon has never been destroyed. It was invaded and taken over by other countries, but it has never been totally destroyed like the Lord describes in Isaiah 13:19-20. “Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. ISA 13:20 She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there.” (NIV)
If this prophecy has already been fulfilled then there should be no Arab living in the area. Saddam Hussein (an Arab) built a palace there and restored many of the buildings in the ancient city at the cost of one billion dollars. Arabs live all around the ancient city. Their flocks pasture in near by fields. The whole country is filled with Arabs. If this prophecy has been fulfilled, then why are there so many Arabs? The truth is this prophecy has not been fulfilled. It’s still future.
This prophecy of total destruction given to Babylon from Isaiah in chapter 13 will take place on the Day of the Lord. When you read the part that we didn’t read earlier, you will see the terrible destruction that can only take place on the Day of the Lord.
Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land. ISA 13:15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword. ISA 13:16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives ravished. ISA 13:17 See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold. ISA 13:18 Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants nor will they look with compassion on children. ISA 13:19 (NIV)
In the middle of this whole prophecy about Jesus coming on the Day of the Lord to destroy Babylon, the Lord interjects a prophecy now fulfilled (verses 17-19) to the fall of Babylon in 539 B. C. Then starting in the next verse, the Lord once again speaks to the future rebuilt Babylon by saying this:
Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. ISA 13:20 She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there. ISA 13:21 But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about. ISA 13:22 Hyenas will howl in her strongholds, jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged. (NIV)
God will overthrow Babylon by His hand with fire. The total destruction of Babylon will be in the future because of all the Arabs living in the land right now. When this prophecy is fulfilled, there will be no Arabs in the land. Therefore, this prophecy has not been fulfilled. John Walvoord, a pretribulationist, writes this about Isaiah 13:20-22:
As far as the historic fulfillment is concerned, it is obvious from both Scripture and history that these verses have not been literally fulfilled. The city of Babylon continued to flourish after the Medes conquered it, and though its glory dwindled, especially after the control of the Medes and Persians ended in 323 B. C., the city continued in some form or substance until A. D. 1000 and did not experience a sudden termination such as is anticipated in this prophecy. (John Walvoord, The Nations in Prophecy (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1967) pages 63-64.)
Charles Dyer, another pretribulationist, writes:
…about the year 1000 a Jewish traveler, Benjamin of Tudela traveled to the Near East. He left a written account that was preserved…He also records that there were seven thousand Jews still living in Babylon, and he worshipped at the synagogue of Daniel, still on the site. The veil drops again until the beginning of this century. The German archeologist, Robert Koldewey, excavated Babylon and he records that inside the ancient walls were still three villages. He lived in one as he excavated. Babylon declined in importance, but it has never been destroyed the way God said it would be destroyed: in the day of the Lord, when God’s judging the world for its sin, totally wiped out, supernatural signs in the heavens, destroyed like Sodom and Gomorrah so no one will live there for generations, or for a few months, or for a single night. (Charles R. Swindoll, John Walvoord, J. Dwight. Pentecost, and other members of the Dallas Seminary Faculty, The Road To Armageddon, The inside story is: Babylon: Iraq and the Coming Middle East Crisis, by Charles Dyer, page 124-125.)
To show further proof that this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled, archaeological discoveries have found bricks and stones from the city of Babylon being used in other construction throughout this time period. The prophet Jeremiah writes this about the city of Babylon, “No rock will be taken from you [Babylon] for a cornerstone, nor any stone for a foundation, for you will be desolate forever,” declares the LORD” (Jeremiah 51:26; NIV)
The fact that Saddam Hussein (an Arab) began to rebuild Babylon makes this prophecy still future. When God destroys Babylon, it will be desolate forever. No Arab will be moving stones around. In fact, let’s look at how far Saddam Hussein was able to rebuild Babylon before he was over thrown and captured. Charles Dyer writes:
I was in Iraq in 1987 and again in 1988 for the Babylon Festival. Most people don’t realize that Saddam Hussein started rebuilding the city of Babylon shortly after he became ruler in Iraq in 1979. Eight years after that he held his first Babylon Festival…Most people think there’s nothing left of Babylon, that the Bible says it should just be a haunt of jackals. No one can live there; no Arab will pitch his tent there…But since 1979 Saddam Hussein has been rebuilding the city of Babylon on its original foundations…Procession Street is the main street leading into Babylon. When I was there for the opening night of the Babylon Festival, they had a cast of thousands march down this street dressed as ancient Babylonian soldiers promoting the rebirth of this city under Saddam Hussein. Some of the temples and other buildings have been rebuilt. One of the temples, called the Ninmach Temple, was rebuilt on its original foundations…Even more exciting, Saddam Hussein has built one of his many palaces in Babylon on a hill constructed beside Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace. Actually, Hussein has two palaces in Babylon and many others throughout Iraq. He built his palace so he could look down on Nebuchadnezzar’s palace. (Charles R. Swindoll, John Walvoord, J. Dwight. Pentecost, and other members of the Dallas Seminary Faculty, The Road To Armageddon, The inside story is: Babylon: Iraq and the Coming Middle East Crisis, by Charles Dyer, page 105-107.)
Obviously, the city is on its way to being restored now. Once the oil begins to flow, the Arabs will rebuild Babylon to superpower status.
“Reason #2: The people of Iraq are not Babylonians. The majority of the population is Arab. Why would God punish Arabs for something the Babylonians did 2,500 years ago?” (John Hagee, Beyond Iraq The End of the Age, John Hagee Magazine, September/October 2004, Page 25.) When John Hagee quotes Isaiah 13:20 in his magazine to prove Babylon will not be rebuilt, he leaves out the last part of the verse: “…no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there.” Why? Because it contradicts what he is trying to prove. Now in Reason #2, he acknowledges there are Arabs in the land, and he wonders why the Arabs will be punished instead of the Babylonians.
The answer is simple. Most Arabs are Muslim. The Muslim nations in the Middle East would love to drive Israel into the sea and kill all the Jews. They have proven this in the past by coming against them in three wars in less than 25 years. This hatred will continue until God destroys Babylon and establishes His own kingdom on earth. Right after the flood, Babylon began the false religions of the world, which in time led millions of Jews into false religions and killed millions of God’s people. During the past centuries and right up to this time, the Islamic nations have killed millions of Christians and Jews. Every false religion originated in Babylon.
MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. REV 17:6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus…The woman you saw is the great city [Babylon] that rules over the kings of the earth… REV 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven! Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets! God has judged her for the way she treated you.’ ” (Rev. 17:5-6;18; Rev. 18:20 NIV).
On the Day of the Lord, God will destroy this great-rebuilt city of Babylon filled with Arabs in one hour to avenge the Jews and Christians killed in this era and for all others. “He has condemned the great prostitute [Babylon] who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” REV 19:3 And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her [Babylon] goes up for ever and ever” (Rev. 19:2-3; NIV) If Babylon was destroyed in centuries past like John Hagee believes, why don’t we see the smoke from her destruction rising up eternally like this verse says will happen once Babylon is destroyed?
“Reason #3: Ancient Babylon does not fit the Bible’s specification for “mystery Babylon” in Rev. 17 and 18.” (John Hagee, Beyond Iraq The End of the Age, John Hagee Magazine, September/October 2004, Page 25.) At the time that Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation, the Roman Empire controlled the world. Babylon was still a city, but declining. Even then it was a mystery: How would Babylon become a superpower again? Well today, we are asking the same question. How will Babylon be rebuilt and become a superpower? It seems impossible and that’s why many Christians believe New York City is Babylon. However, New York City is not Babylon! In order to get Jesus to come in this generation, Christians are coming up with all kinds of wrong end time scenarios.
It is true that the city of Rome looks like it fits the specifications of Babylon better today than Babylon. However, Rome is not Babylon. The Catholic Church headquartered in Rome is a part of spiritual or mystery Babylon through the false church. All those who are not born again in the Catholic Church are in a false church. She is one of the many prostitutes, but she is not Babylon. Babylon is a city that will come into being just like Israel became a nation again when many thought it would never come back. Just give it time.
Spiritual Babylon has many daughters called prostitutes who seduce the peoples of the world through false religions from the only true God. All false religions are a part of this spiritual Babylon. These false religions started in Babylon and they will continue to flourish until Jesus wipes out Babylon and set up His kingdom. Even though this is true, Babylon will become a great-rebuilt city no matter how many years it takes to rebuild her. It will become a superpower like Revelation 17 and 18 describes. It has great oil reserves to bring this about. The world will be knocking on her door to get her oil.
“Reason #4: Ancient Babylon, when on fire, is not visible from ships in the Mediterranean as stated in Rev. 18:17.” (John Hagee, Beyond Iraq The End of the Age, John Hagee Magazine, September/October 2004, Page 25.) Revelation 18:17-18 says:
“In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’ “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18 When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, `Was there ever a city like this great city?’(NIV)
Nowhere in these two verses or anywhere else in the Bible does it say the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient city of Babylon is a little more than 200 miles from The Gulf that leads into the Indian Ocean. Once Babylon is destroyed by fire, it continues to burn forever. The oil in the ground may cause this. Whatever the cause, the perpetual smoke will rise high into the atmosphere and the wind may blow it toward The Gulf, allowing all the ships on the sea to see Babylon’s destruction.
Once they begin to rebuild Babylon, it is also possible they could dredge out the Euphrates so ships can get closer to Babylon. In the past, they had limited river freight routes using barges. They could do this again or even expand the dredging once the billions of dollars start rolling in from oil. The oil will make the people of Iraq very rich. They will buy goods from the rest of the world just like Revelation 18 describes.
“Reason #5: Intellectual resources in Iraq (Babylon) are one among the lowest in the world. Less than 58% of the country’s population over 15 years of age can read and write. History proves intellect is needed to lead.” (John Hagee, Beyond Iraq The End of the Age, John Hagee Magazine, September/October 2004, Page 25.) This is true if they were to begin to lead now, but for this reason Babylon will not become a superpower for many years. In the next forty years, Iraq can change that around. As of 2004, the nations have forgiven Iraq’s debt. Through the sale of oil, they will have the money to give a good education to every person in the country.
As you can see, John Hagee’s five reasons are not true. Babylon will be rebuilt and it will take many years for this to happen. The reason John Hagee has turned on his own pretrib teachers is because of the imminency doctrine. The pretribbers have been teaching Jesus is coming back in our lifetime. He realizes if Babylon has to be rebuilt, then the coming of Jesus is far off and the pretribbers in this generation will all be dead and false teachers.
If you want more information on this subject and why the Lord cannot not return until after 2040, read this book: Prophetic Reasons Why Jesus Cannot Return Before 2040, by Gene Stone at 1-866-909-2665.
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The angel Gabriel told Daniel, “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression…” (Daniel 9:24; NASB). The transgression has not been finished. Biblical scholars have determined that each of Daniel’s 70 weeks is made up of seven years or 7×70. In other words, 490 years were decreed against Israel for breaking the Old Mosaic Covenant with God, not just 70 years. 483 years were fulfilled right up to when Jesus was cut off not for Himself, but for all of mankind. After a gap of some 2,000 years, the last seven years will begin. This time is called the seventieth week of Daniel or the Tribulation Period. When this period starts, it will be the last seven years of Gentile reign. After the seventieth week of Daniel, the Lord Jesus Christ will reign on earth.
Even though the pretribbers agree with these statements, they believe we (the church) won’t be here during the Tribulation Period. They use human reasoning to come to this understanding, instead of the Scriptures. Hal Lindsey writes:
“Since the Tribulation is the final seven years of Daniel’s prophecy of 70 weeks of years, and since the first 69 weeks of years were under the conditions of the Mosaic Law economy, it stands to reason that the same conditions must return for the final week.” (Hal Lindsey, Vanished Into Thin Air The Hope of Every Believer, page 383.) The probem is: the New Covenant is eternal, it cannot stop for seven years. Israel broke the Old Covenant. It has been stopped, never to exist again (Heb. 8). Israel and the church will go through the Tribulation Period together. If you want more information, read Jacob’s Trouble, by Gene Stone at 1-866-909-2665.
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The pretribbers teach that Christians will be judged in heaven during the Tribulation Period. “The believers’ evaluation judgment, called the judgment seat (bema) of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), transpires in heaven after the rapture of the church, during the seven-year Tribulation on earth.” (Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson general editors, Wayne A. Brindle managing editor, The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, article written by Robert Dean Jr., page 339.) But Paul, Peter and John contradict the pretribber’s doctrine by telling us that we will receive our crowns and be judged at the public coming.In 1 Peter 5:4, Peter writes to us, the church: “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (NASB). The word “appear” is the Greek word “phaneroo” which means “appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self)” (Strong’s). “Phaneroo” comes from the Greek word “phaneros” which means “publicly, externally, abroad, appear, known, manifest, openly, outwardly” (Strong’s). Words have meanings; God chose this word to show that He is coming back to reward the Christians with a crown of glory at His brightly, shining, glorious, public coming.
In 2 Tim. 4:8, Paul tells Timothy and us, the church: “in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day [the Day of the Lord]; and not only me, but also to all who have loved His appearing [epiphaneia]“ (NASB). Epiphaneia means: “a manifestation, i.e. (spec.) the advent of Christ (past or fut.) appearing, brightness.” “Epiphaneia” is related to “epiphaino” which means “to shine upon, (lit.) visible, appear, give light” (Strong’s). Paul is saying we will be judged and will receive our crowns at the time of the epiphaneia which is the public coming.
The pretribbers teach this word represents the public coming also. Tim LaHaye, a pretribber, in an effort to show two comings, writes that there are two comings in Titus 2:13 in one verse.
The blessed hope is a reference to the Rapture of the Church–the cause of great rejoicing by the Church. The Glorious Appearing, however, refers to the public coming of Christ in his majesty and power to rule the earth. They both refer to the Second Coming but to different stages of that coming.” (Tim LaHaye, The Beginning of the End, page 24.)
In Titus 2:13, this is how the pretribbers want us to interpret this verse: “Looking for that blessed hope [secret Rapture], and the glorious appearing [epiphaneia, the public coming] of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (NASB).
According to the pretribbers, the Greek word “epiphaneia” becomes a technical word referring to the public coming. This is a serious mistake the pretribbers make because it contradicts other passages of scripture which then, contradict their doctrine. For instance:
(1) Paul tells Timothy and us, the church to: “…keep the commandment…until the appearing [epiphaneia] of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Tim. 6:14; NASB). (2) Jesus slays the antichrist, “…with the brightness [epiphaneia] of His coming [parousia]“ ( 2 Thess. 2:8; KJV). The pretribbers falsely teach the “parousia” is the secret Rapture. This verse proves them wrong.
Another technical word the pretribbers like to use is the Greek word “apokalupsis.” In Luke 17:30, “the Son of man is revealed,” the word “revealed” is the Greek word “apokalupsis” which means: “disclosure: appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, be revealed, revelation” (Strong’s). Apokalupsis means revelation. It is the title of the Book of Revelation (apokalupsis).
Grant Jeffrey, a pretribulationist, describes the public coming (the Revelation) like this: “The Rapture of the saints will not be a public event. It is for the Church, not the world…In contrast to the private Rapture, the Revelation will be witnessed by the whole world.” (Grant Jeffrey, Apocalypse, page 119.)
Here again the pretribbers make a huge mistake. They contradict their own doctrine because Paul and Peter promised that the church would be caught up at the apokalupsis. Again apokalupsis means revelation, the public coming of Jesus.
(1) In 1 Cor. 1:7, Paul is telling the Corinthians and us, the church “…awaiting eagerly the revelation [apokalupsis] of our Lord Jesus Christ” (NASB). (2) In 1 Peter 1:7, Peter writes to us, the church “that the proof of your faith…may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation [apokalupsis] of Jesus Christ” (NASB). (3) In 1 Peter 1:13, Peter writes to us, the church “fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation [apokalupsis] of Jesus Christ” (NASB). (4) In 1 Peter 4:13, Peter writes to us, the church “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation [apokalupsis] of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation” (NASB).
As you can see the pretribbers are wrong in their teaching of the secret Rapture by these verses. John tells us exactly when the saints will be judged, it’s after Armageddon. Revelation 11:18 gives us the sequence of events.
And the nations were enraged [and gathered for battle], and Thy wrath came [battle of Armageddon on the Day of the Lord], and the time came for the dead to be judged [first resurrection], and the time to give their reward to Thy bond-servants the prophets and to the saints and to those who fear Thy name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroyed the earth. (NASB)
The small and the great include all saints from every age. Jesus said in Rev. 22:12, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me to render to every man according to what he has done” (NASB). Every man includes every man in the church because He is bringing rewards for them which Jesus so well points out in verse 16. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches” (NASB).
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1. Psalm 2:8-9. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter…
2. Psalm 72:8-11. He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts. All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him. 3. Psalms 110:1-2. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies.
4. Isaiah 2:4. He will judge between the nations, and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
5. Isaiah 14:1-2, The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel…Nations will take them and bring them to their own place. And the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the Lord’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.
6. Isaiah 49:22-23. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I will beckon to the Gentiles, I will lift up my banner to the peoples; they will bring your sons in their arms and carry your daughters on their shoulders. Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”
7. Jeremiah 3:17. At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.
8. Ezekiel 36:36. Then the nations around you that remain [survive] will know that I the Lord, have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate.
9. Ezekiel 37:27-28. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the Lord makes Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.
10. Daniel 7:27. Then the sovereignty, the power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.
11. Micah 4:1-3. In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established…Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
12. Zechariah 2:11. Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
13. Zechariah 14:16. Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
14. Rev. 2:26. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations–He will rule them with an iron scepter…
15. Rev. 19:15. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” (All verses NIV)
As you can see the unsaved people will live on the earth into the millennium. This verse in Zechariah 14 is very clear.
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem
will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. 18 If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zech. 14:16-19; NIV)Let’s pretend the pretribbers are correct about these people being Tribulation saints. If these saints were willing to follow Jesus during the worst Tribulation Period ever, why would they refuse to come worship at the Feast of Tabernacles? That makes no sense and yet that’s what the pretribbers want you to believe! In addition to the 15 passages, there are four judgments on the Gentiles (nations) at the end of this age, therefore, a fifth judgment (the Matt. 25 judgment) is not necessary.
(1) The judgment of the nations. In Joel 3:2-17, God gathers the nations to the valley of Jehoshaphat (Jehovah judges) to enter in to judgment with them there, which is the battle of Armageddon. At the public coming, the Lord smites the nations (Rev. 19:15) with great judgments of fire, war, and bloodshed to the horse’s bridle (Rev. 14:20). In other words, Armageddon is a time when billions die.(2) The judgment of the Day of the Lord. Two men will be in a field; one will be taken, and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at a mill; one will be taken, and one will be left (Luke 17:34-37). Where will they be taken? Jesus said, “Where the body is, there also will the vultures be gathered” (Luke 17:37; NASB). In other words, body means they are dead and the vultures are gathered to eat them. They will be killed in God’s judgment during the Day of the Lord. Jeremiah prophesies about this day, “At that time those slain by the LORD will be everywhere–from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like refuse lying on the ground” (Jer. 25:33; NIV). Billions will die in this judgment.
(3) The judgment of the mark of the beast. Those who have the mark will be already judged (Rev. 14:9-11). All of them once they die will automatically go to Hell. The unbelievers who live will populate the nations of the world and the overcomers (the church/Israel) will rule over them and their offspring with a rod of iron (Rev. 2:26).
(4) The judgment of separation. When Jesus comes, He will separate the righteous from the wicked when He catches the saints up into the air at His public coming. At that time, the saints receive new bodies. These new bodies (immortal verses mortal) create a total separation. “Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before him, and around him a tempest rages. PS 50:4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people: PS 50:5 “Gather to me my consecrated ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice.” PS 50:6 And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge” (Psalm 50:3-6; NIV). The saints on the earth are the Tribulation saints. “And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens” (Mark 13:27; NIV). Who is going to hold the Tribulation saints down when the Lord calls for them on earth. They will be caught up into the air and given new immortal bodies when the Lord comes at His public coming. Then they will be judged. Revelation 11:15-18 declares this judgment. At the coming of the Lord, all saints from every dispensation will be given new immortal bodies. These new bodies separate us from the nations.
Once again, Tim LaHaye goes against his contemporary pretribbers. He writes this about the Tribulation saints at the public coming in Psalms 50:1-6, “This would indicate that He will rapture the tribulation saints still living and the tribulations saints whose souls are under the altar (Rev. 6)…Now, having raptured all believers from all ages, He will come to an exclusively unsaved earth.” (Tim LaHaye, Revelation Illustrated & Made Plain, page 260.) According to Tim LaHaye, when Jesus comes publicly, there will be no saved people on the earth and that’s why we don’t need a Matt. 25 judgment. Therefore, Jesus doesn’t have to separate the sheep from the goats because they were separated at His public coming.
Because of these four judgments against the nations, there is no need for a Matt. 25 judgment. This Matt. 25 judgment will take place at the end of the millennium where a judgment is needed. After the millennium, the devil is allowed to deceive the nations for one last time.
When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth–Gog and Magog–to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9 They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev. 20:7-10; NIV)
Billions once again will choose to follow the devil instead of God. Once again the fire comes down and destroys these people who surround Jerusalem, the people in the nations will need to be judged. There will be large numbers of people who did not come to Jerusalem, but agreed with their mission and supported them. The angels will go into the nations of the earth and put the sheep on the right and the goats (those who supported the rebellion) on the left of the throne of God. After the thousand years, the Matt. 25 judgment is for the living and the great white throne judgment is for the dead. The Matt. 25 judgment is needed here at the end of the millennium and it might take place in the air above earth because the old earth is going to flee away at this time and a new earth will replace it. More information in the book: Jacob’s Trouble, by Gene Stone at 1-866-909-2665.
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Tongues
July 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There are millions of pretrib Christians who speak in tongue. They have had the wonderful personal experience of having the Holy Spirit speak through their spirit to God. “For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Cor. 14:2; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). They have felt this experience lift them up and encouragement them. “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 1CO 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues…” (1 Cor. 14:4-5; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).God wants us all to speak in tongue because of the spiritual benefits, but He has certain rules He wants us to follow when we are in church. There are many pretrib Christians who break these rules in their churches every Sunday. The rule is that they are not to speak in tongues in church. Many churches allow their members to speak in tongues during their worship meeting and sometime the pastors encourage the whole congregation to speak in tongues all at one time. These Christians don’t realize the Lord doesn’t want them to do this. Why? Because if there are any unbelievers in their mist, they will think they are mad. God doesn’t want the unbelievers to think Christians are nuts. He wants the unbeliever to feel welcome so that during the message, the Holy Spirit can convict them of the sin of not accepting the Lord. But if they think everyone is mad, they will not want to be there. They will feel uncomfortable. He or she would not want to be like the people there.
The Lord through Paul says it this way.
Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 1CO 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 1CO 14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. (1 Cor. 14:23-25; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Unbelievers through the world have heard of these Christians who speak in tongues in this way and most don’t understand it and think they are mad. It’s like all the Christians in the church turn into spiritual Doctor Jeckle and Mr Hide for a few minutes. They become unintelligible barbarians. Paul writes, “If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me” (1 Cor. 14:23-25; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Will these Christians in these churches stop? Many won’t. But the goal of this blog is to see where we error and change. God wants us to walk in truth. If the shoe fits, wear it. In other words, God has all throughout our lives been trying to get the truth to us. Once we see where we error, we are suppose to change. If we don’t, we are being rebellious. We will stand before Him some day and be judged for the good and bad we did in the body. For those who believe in many false doctrines, it is going to be devastating.
Jul
14
Why Don’t All Christians Get Healed?
July 14, 2008 | 1 Comment
Does God heal today? A well known pretrib minister from California said on his radio program that his sister had called him saying she had breast cancer and she wanted him to pray for her healing. He said that he believed and taught that the gift of healing stopped with the last disciple and that he couldn’t pray for her to be healed because God doesn’t heal any longer. If he prayed, it would go against what he taught. He then tried to reassure her by telling her not to worry that when she died, she would go to heaven and that is a better place than here.There are two prominent false doctrines the pretribbers teach today on healing. The first is that Jesus doesn’t heal any longer. The gift of healing stopped with the last disciple. (2) The other is it has to be God’s will. He might heal some, but not others. In other words, God might put the disease on you to teach you a lesson, but the next person God will heal because He has compassion on them. In other words, it depends on how God feels. He’s fickle, who knows what God thinks and will do.
So how can those who would like to get healed, get healed? Well they cannot under these two false doctrines. If they are serious, they should get out of those churches and go to a church that believes in healing. They have to educate themselves on healing and change their thinking. Let’s use this woman as an example of what a person would have to do to get healed. Let’s give her the name, Mary. What would Mary have to do to get healed from breast cancer?
(1) The first step she would have to do is get away from those people who don’t believe God heals any longer, including her brother. It takes faith to get healed. Some Christians don’t have any faith or even believe God heals. There is no faith in that environment. So Mary has to separate herself from unbelief.
Jesus had to do this in the city of Bethsaida in Mark 8:22-26. He took a man who was blind out of the city to heal him. He didn’t want the unbelief of the people in the city to effect the man’s faith and healing. He wanted the man healed. Being around unbelieving people can influenced you to doubt. “Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. MT 11:21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matt. 11:20-21; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Even after seeing many mighty miracles in those cities, they didn’t believe. The same thing happened in Jesus’ home town of Nazareth. “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief” (Matt. 13:58; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). God was limited because of their unbelief. It is good for Christians who want to be healed to be around Christians who believe in healing.
(2) Next, Mary has to realize that God wants to heal her. There are millions of Christians who believe God heals, but they believe it is by His will only. If she believes that God heals, but thinks He only does it when He wills, then she will not know if it is God’s will in her case. Therefore she will not have faith to be able to pray confidently. She will probably not be healed because she doesn’t know if it is God’s will for her. Not knowing God’s will, will cause doubt and double mindedness. Doubt will cause her prayer not to be answered. There are many kinds of doubt, but how do you over come this kind of doubt? Is it God’s will to heal me? The answer is in #3.
(3) Mary has to realize that it is God’s will to heal everyone every time. How does she find this out? It is in the Atonement. When Jesus died for our sins, He also was whipped for our sicknesses. Where does it say that? Isaiah 53.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. ISA 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. (Isa. 53:4-5; NASB Pradis CD-ROM)
In these verses, we see where Jesus died for our sins and “…by His scourging we are healed.” Jesus bore our sins, sicknesses and diseases as part of the atonement. That means in the same way we receive our forgiveness of sins, we receive healing. We just believed for the forgiveness of sins, so we just believe for our healing. Jesus bore both. Matthew quotes Isaiah 53 for the reason why Jesus performed healings: “…He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. MT 8:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES.” (Matt. 8:16-17; NASB Pradis CD-ROM)
Not only did Jesus take all the sins of the whole world, but He also took all the sickness and diseases of the whole world upon Him and He died for both. It’s God’s will that all men to be saved and it’s God’s will that all men be healed–every person, every situation. We have the power of the Holy Spirit living inside of us to forgive sin and to heal. That’s great news. That’s why Peter didn’t even pray when he healed the man by the gate. Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (Acts 3:6; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Here is another passage showing the atonement for sin and healing. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; PS 103:3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases…” (Psalms 103:2-3; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
And Peter writes, “…He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
There’s no doubt that Jesus made atonement for sin and sickness. God sent Jesus to die to save and heal everyone. He wants everyone saved and He wants everyone healed. That’s His nature; He’s loving. In heaven where God is in control, there’s no one sick. It’s not God’s fault unbelievers are going to hell. God has made salvation available to them. And it’s not God’s fault Christians are sick. God has made healing available to every Christian. However, not everyone chooses to be saved and not everyone chooses to be healed, not because God wills it, but because man wills it. It’s their choice to be saved and/or healed. God wants everyone healed. He wants the sacrifice that Jesus made used for as many salvations and healings for people as He can, because it was a great sacrifice.
Just think about that sacrifice. Because God loved us/you so much, He sent Jesus into the world to die for our sins and our healings and only a few million Christians believed it compared to the billions who have rejected Jesus in the last two thousand years and chose to go to hell.
(4) Mary has to believe that God loves her. When you love someone, you want the best for them. God loves us. He wants us totally healed. He doesn’t want us sick. Sickness is under the curse (Deut. 28:59-61) and Jesus died to take the curse away from us. The Father wants you healed. Jesus only did what the Father wanted. “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Because Jesus was doing only what the Father wanted, that means that Father God wants people healed, especially His Christians. Once Christians understand this and then believe it, they can be healed. If we believe God truly loves us, it will causes faith to grow. How can you love God if you are not sure He’s totally loves you? If God is the one who put sickness on people, how can you love a God like that? What we end up doing is fearing Him. When we fear God in the wrong way, we don’t really trust Him. He wants us to totally trust and love Him. When we do, it will cast the fear out of us. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
We have to get rid of all fear. If we have fear, it will cause doubt and double-mindedness. Fear is opposite of faith. It will kill our faith and render our prayers in vain. In order to counter this, we have to build ourselves up in faith and love. “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, JUDE 1:21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. JUDE 1:22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting…” (Jude 1:20-22; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
This passages tells us two ways we can build ourselves up in the faith. (1) By praying in the Holy Spirit. Either through your prayers in your own language or through tongues. Many Christians believe this verse is speaking of tongues. When we speak in tongues, it edifies and builds us up. “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…” (1 Cor. 14:4; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
(2) We can build ourselves up by keeping “…yourselves in the love of God…” How do we do this? Besides speaking in tongues, we remind ourselves that God loves us. The above verse says “we” have to do it. How? By either reading scripture verses on His love like this one: “We love [Jesus], because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19; NASB Pradis CD-ROM) or by talking to ourselves. Saying things like, “God loves me so much, He sent Jesus to die for me. He is not the one who sent this disease on me. God made the whole world and put man in it so that if I choose Him, He could live with me forever. He created me and loves me. If God had a purse or a wallet, He would have my picture in it. I am the King’s kid. Everything God created was just for me and the ones who love Him. If God did all this for me, He will surely heal me.”
The fact is, He has already healed you thousands of years ago. You and I have to just believe and receive it. It was done in the atonement on the cross. But in order to receive, we have to believe God really loves us, because “…faith…worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6; KJV). In other words, if we really believe God loves us, then it is easier to have faith to receive the healing. If we don’t have faith, we will not be healed. The more we love God and understand how much He loves us, the more faith we will have to receive because healing has already been provided in the atonement.
If God healed without faith, then everyone could and would be healed. Healing doesn’t come because of need. If it worked by need, then everyone would be healed. Billions of people are sick throughout the earth. There is a great need, but the only ones who are healed are those who have faith. When a Christian believes, then they receive their healing. It’s easier to receive if you believe God loves you and wants you healed.
(5) Mary has to pray the right way. Most Christians ask God to heal them. There’s a better way to pray. Jesus taught His disciples to command healing not to ask for healing. Notice what Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (Acts 3:6; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). He commanded the person to walk. He didn’t ask God to heal the man like this: “O Lord, this man is lame and cannot walk will you please heal him.” No, He commanded the man to walk. He didn’t even pray, just commanded. He was doing what Jesus taught him (His disciples–us) to do. This is what Jesus taught them to do.
Being reminded, Peter *said to Him, ” Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” MK 11:22 And Jesus *answered saying to them, ” Have faith in God. MK 11:23 “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. (Mark 11:21-23; NASB Pradis CD-ROM)
God has given His disciples (you and me) authority to speak to our problem (mountain) and it will be removed if we have faith and don’t doubt. Do most Christians pray this way? No. They tell God their problems and ask Him to remove them like this: “Dear Lord, I’m dying of breast cancer. I don’t want to die. I’m full of fear. Lord, I ask you to take the pain away and heal me of this cancer. I don’t know if this is your will or not, but I hope it is. If You love me, You will heal me. I am really suffering here, please do something for me. I ask this in Jesus name, thank you.” And Jesus is saying, “No, I gave you the authority and power to command it out of your body, you do it.” And we are saying, “No, I’m asking You to do it. You do it.” Therefore, we/they will stay sick because we are not obedient. You have to command the sickness to leave your body and believe your command (what you say) will happen or it won’t. “…believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him” (Mark 11:23; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
This is good news! Why? Because it is up to you and not God. If it was up to God’s will (like they falsely teach), He might not will you to be healed. Then what do you do. You’re stuck with your disease. However, God provided healing for everyone in the atonement. So it’s not up to God, He is good so He has already done His part. He was the Initiator. It was His plan. He wants you healed. He already provided the healing. It is now up to you to get it. If you have faith and don’t doubt, you can be healed. And if you don’t receive the first time, you can keep trying until you receive. You can build your faith and get rid of your doubt to be healed. That’s great news!
However, the critics don’t like this for two reasons. (1) They say that when we (Christians) command the mountain to be moved or command our healing to come into our bodies that God become the Responder instead of the Initiator. They say we are acting like little gods. They say that God is not sovereign, that He is doing what we command Him to do. That we are the initiators and God is the responder. We are kings and He is the servant, get the picture.
However, God is sovereign by declaring this is how I want you to do it. Actually, He is the Initiator by telling us how to move the mountain and we are the responders by doing what He told us to do. We are obeying what He sovereignly told us to do. Once we are obedient, the power in His name moves the mountain.
(2) The critics would say that it put the blame of not getting healed upon themselves. They don’t like the idea that they don’t have enough faith to get healed. Therefore, it is easier to blame God. They say things like: “I prayed, but it must not be God’s will for me to be healed because I didn’t get healed.” Or if a minister prays for you and you don’t get healed, they don’t want the blame so they say things like: “It must not be God’s will for you to be healed, otherwise you would have been healed. God’s ways are not like ours, He must have a different plan for you. This suffering you are going through is for His glory.”
No one wants the blame for you not being healed, so they came up with the false doctrine: “if it’s God’s will.” It all sounds good, but it’s baloney. It is God’s will in every case and in every situation to be healed until you get to seventy or eighty years old. God has declared that we should live to these ages. “As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years…” (Psalms 90:10; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). This is God’s will for man and you don’t have to die of a disease. You can die in your sleep healthy. But if you die or someone you know dies before these ages, they died prematurely. If they died before these ages, it wasn’t God’s will. The devil robbed them. Their lack of knowledge killed them.
This is good news! Any sickness that come against you, God wants you to be healed and live. However, if you die, it’s still good news if you are a true Christian because you will go to heaven to be with Jesus. But if you ask Jesus when you get to heaven why it was His will to take you early, He will say, “It wasn’t My will. The whipping I took on My back was for your healing. You didn’t command the sickness or you didn’t have faith or you had to much doubt. It was your fault, not Mine.” There will be some reason, but it will not be His will. He wanted you healed. That’s great news, because you can realign your thinking and still get healed. Or if someone you know is sick, you can tell them this good news.
(6) Mary has to have faith without any doubt in order to get healed. Most Christians learning that they have breast cancer or some other kind of cancer would be filled immediately with fear. Fear is of the devil. Fear is opposite of faith. Because they are afraid (fear), they cry out to God in prayer for God to save them or heal them, but it is motivated by fear, not faith. Their prayers will not be answered because they are filled with fear, not faith. When they realize that they are not healed right away, they may think it is not God’s will. Now they may feel God has abandon them or wants to teach them something through this sickness. They want to live so they turn to a doctor. In all of this they become double minded and are unstable in all their ways. Christians generally cannot get healed this way.
Once Mary understands the above things, she has to get rid of her doubts and fears. Most Christians believe God can heal, but they are not sure if God will heal them right now. Being not sure is doubt. Most Christians have faith because God has given each Christian faith and it is enough to get healed (Rom. 12:3). You just need faith the size of a mustard seed, which is just a little bit bigger than a pin head. Every Christian has enough faith. Faith is not the problem, doubt is the problem. When we have doubt it will interfere or cancel out our faith and stop us from receiving our healing. Our faith is like a horse harnessed to pull. It can do a lot of work for us. But if we hook up another horse (doubt) that is pulling the opposite way to the horse of faith, they will be fighting against each other and not go any where. They will be at a stand still. The doubt horse stops the faith horse from getting anything done.
So it is with our prayers. If our doubts are bigger than the little mustard seed of faith, it can stop our faith from working. We have to get rid of the doubt. “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him” (Mark 11:23; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
This is great news, because we can get rid of the doubt and get what we pray for. If you are sick and you are doubting, you can get rid of the doubt and then you can get healed. How do we do that? First, by recognizing it. It’s part of the lack of knowledge why we perish. Once you recognize doubt is negating (or stopping) your faith, you can decrease the doubt.
The disciples had this problem. They couldn’t cast out a demon in a little boy. The father of the little boy said to Jesus, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” Mk 9:23 ” ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Mk 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24; NIV Pradis CD-ROM).
Notice the father believed and disbelieved at the same time. Then he asked Jesus to help him with his unbelief. We can believe God heals, but we might not believe He will heal us right now at this moment. Or we can believe God wants to heal us and yet have unbelief or doubt (the two are the same) that it will happen right now. Our past experiences and what we hear and see will cause us to doubt. The disciples saw this little boy acting very strange. He foamed at the mouth, fell on the ground and shook. This extreme behavior could have caused the disciples to doubt. The disciples had cast out many demons before this one. They had enough faith to try to cast the demon out but was unsuccessful this time. Maybe this was the first time a demon didn’t come out. They asked Jesus why they couldn’t cast it out. Jesus said they didn’t need a lot of faith only the amount of a mustard seed. But it was their doubt and the father’s doubt that stopped the deliverance.
Jesus said to the father and the disciples, “O unbelieving and perverse generation…” (Matt. 17:17; NIV Pradis CD-ROM). All of them were in unbelief and that’s why they couldn’t cast out the demon. And that why many Christians are not healed. They don’t have this knowledge: they have doubt and faith mixed together. They have to get rid of the doubt before they pray. Notice what Jesus said, “… and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him” (Mark 11:23; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
When they commanded the demon to come out, it didn’t come out right away like they were use to. When the boy fell down on the ground and acted out, it cause the disciples to not believe it was coming out. They doubted what they commanded was going to happen because of what they saw with their eyes. As soon as the battle became a little harder than what they had experienced in the past, they became unbelieving. They were still babes instead of seasoned warriors. The battle is in the mind. A season warrior would have stood his ground and believed until the demon left. They quit believing. All they needed was the faith of a mustard seed to cast it out. That’s not much faith. But because of what they saw, doubt became greater than the mustard seed and stopped their faith from working.
When Jesus came and the boy fell on the ground and acted dead, He still believed and the demon came out. He believed the demon had to go no matter what strategy the demon was going to employ to cause doubt this time.
“Why could we not drive it out?” (MT 17:20 NASB Pradis CD-ROM) the disciples asked. And Jesus’ answer has become controversial. Do we have to fast in order to cast out certain demons? Or is the name of Jesus more than enough?
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” MT 17:20 And He *said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. MT 17:21 [" But this kind [demon or doubt?] does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”] (Matt. 17:19-21; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Notice you don’t need much faith to move a mountain, but if you have a lot of doubt it will certainly over come the little faith you have. How do we know Jesus is talking about doubt, instead of a demon in verse 21? Because He is speaking of faith in the verses before He said “this kind.” Doubt is unbelief and Jesus said to His disciples in this situation, “O unbelieving [you doubting] and perverse generation…” (Matt. 17:17; NIV Pradis CD-ROM). The disciples were unbelieving and it made their faith smaller than a mustard seed and that’s why they could not cast the demon out.
Now many will argue that Jesus is telling His disciples that they have to fast before they can cast “this kind” of “demon” out. However, there are three reasons why this is not true. First of all this verse is not included in many manuscripts shown by brackets in most Bibles. [" But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."] (Matt. 17:19-21; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). So there is a good chance that Jesus never said these words. (2) These words “this kind” some would say refers to a stronger demon. However, the name of Jesus is strong enough to cast out any demon if the person who is using it does not doubt. If it is by fasting, then it is by works. His name plus man’s works will do it? That’s crazy. That’s another reason why Jesus would have never said that sentence.
(3) When we look at Jesus’ response to His disciples, He wasn’t happy with them. He was upset because they should have cast it out. “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” MT 17:17 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” (Matt. 17:16-17; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
You can see from Jesus’ response that He expected the disciples to cast the demon out and He was very upset with them for not doing it. Therefore, it would have been unfair of Jesus to rebuke His disciples if they were required to fast before casting “this kind” of demon out. So the idea that the disciples had to fast first before casting this demon out is false because Jesus expected them to cast it out without fasting.
But let’s pretend Jesus did say verse 21. We (those who believe like I do) would argue that Jesus was referring to “doubt and/or unbelief” when He said “this kind,” instead of a demon. This kind of doubt or unbelief doesn’t come out of us unless we fast. When we fast we take charge of our mind and body. We control it. We tell it that we are not going to eat. It rebels against us, but we overcome it. We control our will and emotion and tell our bodies to line up with our decision. We quit being led by our five senses or our natural or carnal self. We control them or it. And that is what Jesus did when He saw the boy fall down and act as if he was dead (Mark 9:26-27) another ploy of the devil. Many disciples would have thought, “Oh, no is he dead? Now what do I do?” Jesus continued to believe the demon left and that the boy was alright. He didn’t let His sight and emotions lead Him to doubting. He believed, but the disciples were led by their sight and emotions and started to doubt Jesus’ words that they could cast out demons in His name (Luke 9:1). Because of their doubt, it didn’t come out.
If we were to fast, the best fast would be from doubt and unbelief. We should fast from wrong thinking. We should believe that we can do it. We should believe that once we command it, it will happen if we don’t doubt. Therefore, we should expect that whatever we command, it will come about. We should prepare ourselves for the victory and not the defeat. We should stand there believing our command even if it doesn’t happen right away.
(7) Mary has to realize that sickness is of the devil and that we have power over him and sickness. “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
God isn’t putting sickness on people, the devil is. All sickness is from the devil. God is good, the devil is bad. People who are deaf or cannot speak could have an evil spirit causing it. “…He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again” (Mark 9:25; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). Other ailments could be caused by evil spirits. “And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all” (Luke 13:11; NASB; Pradis CD-ROM).
In the above situations, Jesus cast the demons out. Therefore, we need discernment in order to pray right. Mary or someone else might have to take their authority (that God gave them) to cast a spirit of cancer out. In other cases, it maybe from natural circumstances like a headache in which we command the headache to leave or be healed in Jesus’ name. We need to know the difference in order to pray properly. (A good example is coming.)
God gave us authority and power to fight against the devil who is trying to put diseases and sicknesses on us. We have to know who we are up against so that when we pray we know what to command. We know these things through the word of God, through the gifts of the Spirit, and by discernment, asking how we should pray in each situation. Jesus didn’t always heal in the same way. Some times He laid hands on them, other times He put saliva in their eyes and other times He made mud with saliva. If praying for others, we should ask for discernment before we lay hands on them so we know how to pray. They may have unforgiveness toward someone and their/your prayer will not be answered.
(8) Some times we need to know if we should pray for healing or a miracle. Andrew Wommack is a contemporary Bible teacher who prays for the sick. The Lord has raised three people from the dead through him. He has seen many marvelous healings. Andrew tells of a seventeen year old boy who was blind in one eye. They prayed for him but nothing happen. Here’s his words.
I laid hands on him, prayed, rebuked everything I knew to do, and commanded him to see. Then I said, “Cover up your good eye and look through the other. How many fingers do I have up?” I held my hand up in front of his face, but he couldn’t see anything–not my hand, not light, nothing! There was zero manifestation. I even had to grab his face and turn it toward my hand because he wasn’t even looking in the right direction. (Andrew Wommack, You’ve Already Got It! page 98.)
They continued to pray to seek God. Andrew said the Lord spoke to him and said, “He doesn’t need a healing. He needs a miracle” (page 99). While Andrew was pondering this, someone else said the same thing to him. Then they ask the boy about his eye and he said the doctor surgically removed the lens and retina.
So I cupped my hand over his face and declared, “Lens and retina, I command you to come into this eye in Jesus’ name.” Then I had him cover up his good eye and look through the other one. I asked, “How many fingers do I have up?” He answered, “1, 2…” and he could see! The Lord had opened his eye! (Andrew Wommack, You’ve Already Got It! page 100.)
God wants to heal us, but we have to pray the right way. We need perseverance, discernment, and the right commands some times to make it happen. This is where the gifts of the Spirit are helpful.
(9) It would be helpful if Mary understood all of these things before she ever prays. Most Christians when they find out they have a disease, they begin to pray by begging God to heal them. What they need to do is understand all of these eight points before they pray to be the most effective. We should examine ourselves to see if we have faith and/or any doubt before we pray. We should deal with the fears and doubts first. This may take some time before the Lord through fasting, seeking direction, and being in His word. But when you get rid of the fear and doubt, we can command the disease to come out and it will.
(10) If healing doesn’t take place, Mary needs to realize that it’s not God’s fault. This is great news, because then she/we can find out what is hindering our prayer and change it. Then pray again at some other time and still be healed. Jesus did this with the blind man at Bethsaida. He asked the man, “Do you see anything?” MK 8:24 And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.” MK 8:25 Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. MK 8:26 And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village” (Mark 8:23-26; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
God wants us healed and if we don’t receive right away, we need to be patient and seek Him. We can still get the answer. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6; NASB Pradis CD-ROM).
Jul
14
Have the Gifts of the Spirit Stopped? Of course not!
July 14, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There are millions of pretribbers who believe the gifts of the Spirit stopped at the time the disciples died. They believe those who claim to be using the gifts of the Spirit at this time are being influenced by the devil, not God. Those who are against the gifts the most, who come right out and say they are of the devil, could possibly lose their salvation because of blasphemy. Jesus says some very strong words about this.”He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
MT 12:31
“Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. MT 12:32 ” Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come. (Matt. 12:30-32; NASB Pradis CD-ROM)The Pharisees had accused Jesus of casting out devils by the main devil Beelzebul. It has not changed today. Millions of born again pretrib Christians believe those who cast out devils or use the gifts of the Spirit are of the devil. They have been taught that these gifts stopped. If these gifts of the Spirit have not stopped, then these Christians are blaspheming the Holy Spirit. They could possibly lose their salvation, only God, the righteous judge, knows and will judge.
Notice Jesus words: “…either in this age or in the age to come.” It’s quite clear that the age to come is our age. The Holy Spirit is still working and He is still casting out devils and using the gifts of the Spirit. Those who are saying that those people who do those things are of the devil, could lose their salvation. If you are one of these, that should send a chill down your spine.
Let’s see if the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul said, “It was he [Jesus] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (NIV).
Many Christians will accept apostles as missionaries, evangelist, pastors, and teachers, but they don’t accept or believe in the prophet ministry. Since prophesying has to do with the gifts of the Spirit, many Christians have thrown this ministry out of their Bibles and church. However, a prophet is listed within the fivefold ministries the Lord gave to His church to bring them into the unity of the faith–to bring the Church to maturity and attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
The church has not achieved unity. We have not achieved maturity. We have not achieved the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Therefore, the prophets are very much needed in the church today. In fact, the prophets ministry has always been there, but Christians have not pursued it.
Why? (1) Because of this false teaching. (2) Because we have an adversary, the devil. He has been very good at controlling and manipulating the truth for centuries. It is obvious the gifts of the Spirit were flowing when Paul wrote to the Corinthians because he gave us correct directions how to use them. Through the Dark Age, true Christianity was almost wiped out for centuries. The Catholic church and some protestant churches killed saints for using the gifts saying they were witchcraft. There was revival in Europe in the 1700 and 1800, but few used the gifts because (1) it wasn’t taught and (2) because of the negative stigma attached to them. Then in the 1900, God began to revive the gifts of the Spirit. Through Pentecostalism, Christians began to speak in tongues, prophesy, receive healings, and perform miracles once again. All of these gifts have been labeled of the devil through most of history. For Christians to begin to receive them takes a lot of courage. In our present time, there has been a tolerance of the gifts so far by the media, unbelievers, and most Christians. That could change at any time.
Some pretribbers use the doctrine of dispensation and some scripture verses to claim that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased. Some claim that when the last disciple died (John) that miracles and the gifts of the spirit died also. Saint Augustine who believed this false doctrine changed his mind later on.
Augustine (354-430), bishop of Hippo, was the greatest theologians of the early medieval Church and systematized much of the theology that governed the teaching of the Western Church for over a thousand years. Although in his early years Augustine believed that all miracles had ceased by the end of the lives of the apostles, his view was transformed by the compelling evidence of many well-attested miracles that occurred during a powerful revival that occurred throughout the churches of North Africa that were under his supervision. In the last section of his epic work The City of God, Augustine wrote about numerous miracles that he had personally witnessed and investigated, including remarkable miraculous healings involving breast cancer, paralysis, blindness, and even people who were resurrected from the dead. (Grant R. Jeffrey, Unveiling Mysteries of the Bible, page 229.)
These miracles are still going on today and there are a lot fewer Christians leaders denouncing them for fear of blasphemy. Let’s look at the scripture verses they use to claim that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased.
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 1CO 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 1CO 13:10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 1CO 13:11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 1CO 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. (1 Cor. 13:8-12; NASB Pradis CD-ROM)
The phrase in question is: “…but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.” Those who believe the gifts ceased long time ago teach that the words “perfect comes” represent the New Testament, the canon. They teach that when the books in the New testament were finally agreed upon, at that time the gifts ceased because the “perfect” (the New Testament) the word of God was now complete. They teach the gifts of the Spirit were temporary until the perfect came, therefore we don’t need tongues, prophecy, or any of the rest of the gifts of the Spirit.
However, most Christians believe (because of the wording) that these verses are speaking of the public coming and the resurrection. The “perfect comes” represents Jesus at His coming and “…but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known” is referring to after the resurrection. There is a compare and contrast with the words: now, then. When we get our new bodies, then we will know as Jesus knows us.
Some pretribbers agree. They write: “But in the future believers will see “face to face” and shall, as Paul puts it, “know fully just as I also have been fully known” (verse 12). This refers to the resurrection, when all believers will stand together in their new, glorified bodies and enjoy the company of each other and the Lord.” (Tim LaHaye, Ed Hindson, general editors, The Popular Bible Prophecy Commentary, page 412)
Since these verses in 1 Corinthians 13 are referring to the resurrection and not to the New Testament canon or the gifts of the Spirit, then the gifts of the Spirit have not ceased. They are still available to anyone who chooses to access them. In fact, they will always be needed in the church until Jesus comes back, because the church needs them. There are millions of Christians throughout the world who use some of these gifts on a daily bases. God gave them to help us.
The church would have a bigger impact if they did use them. For example, look at this order and sequence the church is suppose to be in.
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 1CO 12:29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 1CO 12:30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 1CO 12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. (1 Cor. 12:28-31; NASB Pradis CD-ROM)
Paul is trying to get the Christians to see that they are a part of a many membered body of Christ. Each Christian has a gift or part in the body and that each person has a function in the body of Christ. For what purpose? So that when they come together, God through gifted Christians can minister to His people. He wants to speak a word to His people through tongues, and the interpretation of the those tongues and through the prophets. God want to supernaturally communicate to His people words of edification, exhortation, and consolation through prophecy (1 Cor. 14:3).
Miracles bring in unsaved people so that they can hear the gospel and be saved. Miracles help desperate Christians get back on their feet to serve the Lord. For example, a Christian receives a large sum of money when the bank is trying to foreclose on them and he pays the bank off. A man of God is saved from a gun attack to continue to minister for many years like Paul who was raised up after being left for dead after a stoning. Miracles can be whatever is needed in a desperate situation. Miracles can be blind eyes opening, paralyzed people walking, deaf people hearing, deathbed people recovering, and etc.
If there were real (true) miracles done on a regular bases, the unsaved would believe there is a God and many would be saved. But very few churches even believe that miracles happen today. Most churches have only four of the eight gifts or ministries working in their church. They allow Apostles call missionaries. They allow teachers called pastors. They allow some Christians to do help ministries and they allow administration of these helps ministries. Where are the prophets, miracles, healings, and tongues?
The church is functioning at 50% of what God wanted it to be. Are denominations going to change this around and get back in the right order? No. There would be huge splits and they wouldn’t know how even if they wanted to. That’s why God has to raise up nondenominational Christians to do His will in the gifts ministries. Since God is not sovereign even in His own church, and because Christians have free will to believe a host of false doctrines, He is limited to what He can do on the earth today.
Millions of Christians are dying prematurely because of these false doctrines. The prophet predicted rightly and God is saying: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6; NASB Pradis CD-ROM). A huge part of the church today have rejected knowledge. Instead of a strong powerful church ministering to the nations, the church cannot even minister to itself. Why? It lacks the gift ministries.