Author
|
Topic: The Perfect Storm
|
KnowHim
Admin
Member # 1
|
posted
Prophecy Today June 2009 Newsletter (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)
E-mail address for newsletter subscription: Contact David Brenneman at ptnewsletter@columbus.rr.com E-mail address for general communication: Contact Mike Wingfield at prophecytoday@aol.com The Perfect Storm (Part Two)
By Mike Wingfield
As presented in the last newsletter, our world is facing the perfect storm that will usher in the unique time known as the Tribulation. The Bible tells us that during this unique period of time, our Lord will judge the nations in His wrath. Last month, we examined the global political and economic firestorms that are brewing on a global scale and setting the stage for the final drama of the ancient conflict in the spirit world between heaven and hell. As we explore some of the massive details of the developments of this future period of time, it is very important that we not lose focus of the big picture. According to the prophetic Word of God, our Lord is moving our world toward the day when His Son, Jesus the Messiah, will rule over the nations of the world from Jerusalem, Israel, for 1,000 years. (Isaiah 2:1-3; Revelation 20:4) While Jesus is ruling the nations, Satan, for the very first time, will be supernaturally confined in “the bottomless pit” for 1,000 years. (Revelation 20:1- 3) We are told that this is necessary so that during the Kingdom rule of our Lord, Satan will not be able to “deceive the nations.” (Revelation 20:3) During a brief release at the end of the 1,000 years, the Lord will allow Satan one final attempt to bring about a global rebellion against Him by those who were born during the Kingdom Age. (Revelation 20:7-9) The Lord will supernaturally end this satanically inspired rebellion and cast His ancient opponent “into the lake of fire and brimstone,” [where he] “shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10) You can believe that this powerful, finite, shrewd, and ancient adversary of God does not like this prediction. He has been strategizing for millennia how he might defeat God by deceiving the nations, using them in his war with God to establish his own evil empire to potentially either delay or destroy God’s eternal plan that spells his own doom. It is vitally important for us to understand that this war between the Lord Jesus and Satan is real and that our world is being prepared for the final storm that will conclude the war between heaven and hell. You can believe that Satan will not spare anyone or anything in his desperate attempt to defeat the Lord Jesus. The Bible warns us that this will be a very dangerous time for the inhabitants of earth who have been left behind after the Rapture of the church. (Revelation 12:12) Furthermore, the almighty, eternal, sovereign, Creator and Ruler of the universe, Jesus Christ, will literally shake the heavens and earth during His predetermined divine display of His control over His creation to establish “a kingdom which cannot be moved.” (Hebrews 12:28) What an awesome privilege we have to watch the beginning of this storm that is setting the stage for the final conflict of the ages. Praise the Lord we are on the winning side! In light of all of this, the Spirit of God exhorts us, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29) When the Bible student examines the multitude of passages which describe global developments that take place during this seven year period, it is evident that Satan’s greatest attempt to defeat God will pit the world against God’s chosen people, Israel, and God’s Holy Land, and holy city, Jerusalem. (Zechariah 1:14, 17; 2:8, 12; 3:1-2) When one examines the Biblical prophetic events surrounding the return of the Jewish people to the Holy Land in the last days, it is imperative to remember that the Lord gave this land to their fathers as part of an eternal, unconditional covenant. (Genesis 12:1; 13:14- 15; Deuteronomy 1:7-8; 34:1-4; Joshua 1:3-4; Ezekiel 36:24) What God has ordained will come to pass. (Isaiah 14:24, 26-27) All of the demons of hell and all of the nations of the world cannot alter the outcome of His eternal plan! (Daniel 4:35) As a matter of fact, the prophetic Word of God reveals how Satan will attempt to defeat God during the last days. He will seek to destroy the Jewish people and prevent them from living in and controlling the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. When the Lord calls the sons of Jacob back to their own land in the last days, a regional conflict will erupt between Israel and the nations around it. (Ezekiel 36:1-7, 24) This regional conflict will eventually involve all nations. When the end comes, the regathered modern nation of Israel will be isolated from the global community and will be repeatedly attacked. (Ezekiel 38-39; Joel 3:2; Zechariah 14:2) Satan’s final effort to destroy Israel will begin when the Antichrist forces a false peace covenant upon a secular Israeli government for seven years. (Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 28:14-22) After three and one-half years, the Antichrist will break his covenant and turn against Israel. Finally, at the end he will call for its destruction as he assembles his global forces in the Valley of Armageddon. This is Satan’s final global solution against the Jewish occupation of the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem. (Revelation 16:12-16) When Jerusalem is attacked by the Antichrist’s forces, half of the city will fall, and many of the Jews in Jerusalem will be brutally tortured and killed. (Zechariah 14:2) However, a remnant of its inhabitants will valiantly, with divine aid, repel the forces of the Antichrist. (Zechariah 12:4-8) Finally, at the last hour of the seven years, the Lord Jesus will supernaturally return from heaven and destroy all of the forces of the Antichrist gathered in Israel. (Joel 3:1-17; Zechariah 1:9, 14:3; Revelation 19:11-21) In light of all of this, it is apparent that we are witnessing the beginning of Satan’s strategy for the final isolation of Israel and the global threat to annihilate the one and only Jewish nation in the world. For the last 90 years, since the beginning of the Jewish people’s immigration to Israel after World War I, Jews in Israel have been rejected, hated, and attacked by the Arab Islamic nations in the Middle East. The history of this modern 90-year-old conflict clearly demonstrates that the Muslims of the Middle East have not and will not accept the dominant presence of a Jewish minority in the Middle East! The presence of the Jewish nation in a land that was dominated by Islam for 1,300 years is in conflict with the doctrine of Islam. According to Islamic beliefs, the Jewish people are a demonic occupier that must be removed from Islamic land at any cost for the glory and honor of their god, Allah. An examination of the written covenants of Israel’s Islamic enemies demonstrates that they are working together for the common goal of the complete destruction and removal of the Jewish nation of Israel! During this time, most of the international community has been openly sympathetic to the Arab/Islamic cause, which is aimed at Israel’s destruction. Powerful players, such as Europe and Russia, have been supporters of this Islamic agenda. Humanly speaking, Israel, from her beginning as a nation in 1948, has enjoyed the support and protection of a good democratic friend, the United States of America. The support of the world’s most wealthy and powerful superpower has apparently been a restraining influence to keep the enemies of Israel from attacking the Jewish nation. The special relationship between Israel and the U.S. has been good for both nations. Both have benefited economically, militarily, medically, technologically, and agriculturally from this good relationship. Spiritually, the Guardian of Israel, who neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4), has used the United States in the last 61 years to provide a measure of security for Israel. Because of this, the United States has been blessed by God in numerous ways, in spite of her sinful ways, which are offensive to a holy God. (Genesis 12:3) However, this is all about to change. In the last two decades, we have witnessed a gradual shift in various U.S. presidential administrations’ support of Israel. During this time the United States has attempted to lead the international community in an effort to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Islamic community in the Middle East by trying to force Israel to trade land that she acquired while defending itself against these Arab/Islamic neighbors in June 1967. All of this is for a piece of paper that promises that these Islamic nations will accept Israel and live in peace with the Jewish people. Please note that during this same period of time the gradual spiritual, moral, political, and economic decline of the United States has accelerated. Our Lord does curse those who curse Israel and oppose His eternal plans for them! However, this gradual shift in U.S. support of Israel, on the part of the executive branch of the U.S. government Prophecy Today June 2009 2 and the State department, has brought us to a very critical moment in time. In recent months President Obama has demonstrated by his appointments, policies, and speeches that he views our relationship with the Islamic world to be more important that our relationship with Israel. Eitan Haber, an Israeli, writes, “As opposed to almost all American presidents in recent generations, Barack Obama views himself as one who is guiding his country and the free world towards a new history, far beyond what we can see. Obama wishes to shape new universal discourse, which seeks to replace the confrontation with the radical Muslim world emerging before our eyes in recent times. Obama leads a line of reconciliation [within] this hostile world, and the price – whether we’d like it or not – will be paid by the State of Israel.” (ynetnews.com, May 20, 2009) In early May, Obama invited Jordan’s King Abdullah to the White House to discuss a future peace initiative in the Middle East. He commissioned Abdullah to meet with key Arab leaders to modify and adopt a peace initiative put forth by Saudi Arabia in 2002. This meeting was followed by a meeting between Obama and the newly elected prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and finally a few weeks later, the president of the Palestinian people, Mahmoud Abbas. The meeting with Netanyahu was very strained. Obama rejected the pleas of the Israeli leadership concerning the growing threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, while at the same time making it clear that he wanted Israel to begin negotiations with the Palestinians to create a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount as the capital of the Palestinian state. All of this ignores the fact that the charters of the various groups within the Palestinian entities still call for the destruction of Israel, while their school books, sermons in the mosques, and governmentcontrolled media still incite hatred, and acts of violence and war against the Jews and the Jewish occupation of the entire land once called Palestine. It also ignores that this is the same for all other Islamic nations in the Middle East, especially Iran, who has boastfully proclaimed that they will wipe Israel off the face of the earth. How can the world expect Israel to have peace with a society that promotes the hatred of Jews and Christians and their violent removal from this earth? President Obama rejects this reality, while stating that his policy is in the best interest of the security of the nation of Israel and world peace. Such statements have no reasonable or logical foundation based upon the real facts, and appear to be nothing more than empty, deceptive words aimed at covering up the support of a new U.S. policy that views our relationship with the Islamic world to be more important than our relationship with the only democratic, true friend and ally that we have in the Middle East. According to several sources, President Obama is charting a course that will lead the Middle East into a war that will betray Israel and make the Jewish nation vulnerable to destruction! According to Israel Today, “A former top U.S. intelligence official warns that the Obama administration is about to break America’s long ties of friendship with Israel, and maybe take steps toward the dissolution of the Jewish State. “Speaking on condition of anonymity to Douglas Hagmann of Northeast Intelligence Network, the source said, ‘I have every reason to believe , based on what I’ve seen at my level of [security] clearance over the last several years, that Israel will soon be completely on their own … or worse.’ He went on to note that the betrayal likely won’t happen in one dramatic moment, but rather subtly, behind the scenes, and over the course of several years. “The Obama administration is preparing to ‘provide support to Arab countries [with] financial and military aid, undercutting Israel’s defense efforts, all while pushing Israel to succumb to the pressure of unreasonable demands designed to end with their political annihilation as a nation,’ said the source.” (www.Israeltoday.co.il, March 19, 2009) Christian Friends of Israel in Jerusalem report that the new U.S. administration is determined to set a new course in which they will improve their standing in the International Islamic community. They comment, “If the President sees Israel as the main roadblock to that goal, it is believed that he will either try to manipulate Israel to his own ends, or, if Israel proves intransigent, eventually abandon her.” (www.cfijerusalem.org, March 5, 2009) According to Israeli intelligence, the newly formed Israeli administration has been given the following assessment, “Obama wants to make friends with our worst enemies and until now the worst enemies of the United States. … Under this policy, we are more than irrelevant. We have become an obstacle.” (www.WorldTribune. com, April 21, 2009) The Israeli public believes this intelligence report. Recent polls indicate that only 38 percent of the Israeli public believes that Barack Obama is a friend of Israel. (www.Israeltoday.co.il, May 4, 2009) Joel Rosenberg, a born-again American Jew, recently wrote, “Israeli leaders and citizens are very much feeling alone these days. They see the radical Islamic world – led by Iran – preparing to annihilate the Jewish State. And they see very few, if any, around the world willing to stand with them against the forces of barbarism. Historically, an Israeli prime minister and his people could always count on the strong friendship and strategic support of the United States. But that is no longer the case. … The White House and State Department do not seem Prophecy Today June 2009 3 to understand the [end-time Islamic doctrine] that is driving Teran, and thus do not understand how high the stakes are. Worse, they are dangerously close to being appeasers of the [Iranian] regime (Joel Rosenberg, www.worldviewtimes.com article, April 28, 2009) A newspaper in Israel, Yediot Aharonot, noted that several nations at the recent Durban II conference in Geneva applauded when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gave a speech in which he called for wiping Israel off the map. The article went on to state, “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was absolutely right when he said that we are alone, and believes that, The Americans will not lift a finger unless it becomes clear that the main target is America. [Israel] should prepare for war in an arena and at a time not to our liking.” (Joel Rosenberg, www.worldviewtimes.com article, April 28, 2009) After President Obama’s meeting with Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, a few weeks ago, Abbas reported that Obama has promised him the he is willing to force the Israelis to surrender the West Bank (Biblical Judea and Samaria) to the Palestinians, including East Jerusalem and the Temple Mount as the capital of their state. Abbas has also reported that Obama told him that the U.S. is committed to the removal of Jews from Judea and Samaria. “The new Obama plan will also reportedly include a firm timetable for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state that will not be adversely affected by ongoing Palestinian violence.” (www.Israeltoday. co.il, May 20, 2009) In recent days Israel has learned that Obama has threatened the Israeli administration with the possibility that the U.S. will stop supporting Israel at the UN if they do not conform to his demands and strategy for peace in the Middle East. Ariel Cohen reports, “The [U.S.] administration is spending precious time and political capital trying for a quick fix to an intractable conflict. Obama and his top officials are meeting with the Kings of Saudi Arabai and Jordan, the Egyptian president, the Europeans, and the Russians to effectively develop a plan that Israel has no part in formulating – and which would be imposed on it by extreme pressure.” (www.csmonitor.com, May 13, 2009) “Senior officials in Jerusalem have reported a sharp decline in the coordination between Israel and the U.S. on security and state affairs since President Barack Obama entered the White House. Members of the Obama administration have chosen to depart from the Bush era practice of consulting in advance with Israeli counterparts on Middle East policy and security matters.” (International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem News, May 8, 2009) One of the greatest U.S. announcements that caught the Israelis off guard was the call for Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. In other words, Obama wants Israel to surrender its nuclear arsenal, while not dealing with Iran’s threat to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Furthermore, in effect, he wants to make Israel vulnerable to dangerous short-range missiles by shrinking its size to only 8 miles wide at one point north of Tel Aviv, while at the same time demanding Israel to give up her ultimate deterrent ability – nuclear weapons. All of these developments are creating a sense of distress in Israel. This mood of great concern for the future of Israel is openly expressed in a newly released book by a Jerusalem-based American Jewish journalist, Aaron Klein, The Late Great State of Israel. Worldnetdaily comments, “Klein pulls no punches, fingering the Israeli government as often being its own worst enemy. He also shows how policies from the Obama administration and international community harm Israel’s interests and how Iran, Hamas, Palestinian terrorists and a host of other players are poised to end the Mideast democracy once and for all.” (www. worldnetdaily.com, April 28, 2009) [We are offering this book this month for $19.00. Please see the order form to obtain this excellent book.] Long ago, the prophet Jeremiah described the desperation that the Israelis are feeling when he expressed their fear with these words: “We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.” (Jeremiah 30:5) All of these developments are extremely significant in the light of Biblical prophecy! It is most interesting to note that Isaiah 28:14-22 gives us a very important prophetic look into the false covenant of the Antichrist that will be forced upon Israel, in effect beginning the Tribulation Period of seven years. [You may want to order our recorded message on “The Tribulation Covenant.” See advertisement at the end of this newsletter.] According to this text, secular, godless Israeli leaders will support a covenant of “lies” with an enemy that is plotting the destruction of Israel. (Isaiah 28:15) While the world promises Israel peace and security, their actions demonstrate otherwise. Israel Today recently exposed some of these lies with the following report: “A top Palestinian official admits the ‘two-state solution’ is really just a means of bringing about Israel’s collapse, and the American general training up the new PA army reveals those troops could turn on Israel. Speaking with Lebanon’s ANB Television [in early May], Palestinian Authority representative in Lebanon, Abba Zaki, said he personally doesn’t desire any kind of peace deal with Israel, but explained that establishing a state in Judea and Samaria with eastern Jerusalem as its capital will be a step toward Israel’s destruction.” (www.israeltoday. co.il, May 15, 2009) The strategy of accepting a twostate solution as a part of a false peace deal with Israel, to ultimately bring about its demise, was the brain child of the current leader of the Palestinians, Mahmoud Prophecy Today June 2009 4 Abbas, over 30 years ago! Israelis have known about this, but in the last few decades have been so desperate for peace that they have attempted to ignore these lies and have knowingly participated in the a peace process that is not in the best interest of Israel’s future. Isaiah’s prophetic revelation is coming to pass, just as he said over 2,700 years ago! These developments are moving our world one giant step closer to the beginning of the Tribulation. Concerning the Antichrist’s deceptive peace treaty with Israel, Daniel 8:24-25 states: “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practice, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many; he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” These verses, in light of the larger context of the prophetic Word of God, indicate that the Antichrist will speak lies concerning his support and protection of Israel, while deceptively strategizing how he can destroy them. He will force the covenant upon them (Daniel 9:27), and then in the middle of the Tribulation break his covenant, causing the believing Jewish remnant in Jerusalem to flee into the wilderness [probably Petra in Jordan], where they will be supernaturally protected by the Lord for the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation. (Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:13-17) In Psalm 55, while speaking about a time when an enemy is oppressing and threatening him (verses 1-8), a friend is betraying (verses 12-15), and breaking a covenant of peace (verse 20), King David says about the betrayer, “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.” (verse 21) In light of the prophetic context of a multitude of Scriptures, it appears that these words effectively illustrate the deceptive words of the coming Antichrist. In light of all of this, the storm clouds of divine judgment and war are on the horizon. The nations of the world, and the U.S. in particular, are about to come into the crosshairs of the wrath of Almighty God! A multitude of Scriptures warns all nations what the Lord will do to the nations that attempt to divide the Holy Land and Jerusalem in the last days. (Consider: Isaiah 29:7-8; 41:8-16; 49:25-26; Jeremiah 30:11, 16, 23-24;; 51:19- 20; Ezekiel 36:1-7; 38:18-23; Joel 3; Micah 4:13; Zechariah 12:1-4, 9; and 14:3.) The divinely stated purpose of the final confrontation of the nations with the Lord at Armageddon is spelled out in Joel 3:2. The Lord warns that He will destroy all nations because of what they have done to His people, Israel, and because they have “parted my land.” (Joel 3:2) Please be aware that the swift and wrathful judgment of God will fall upon America any day now, unless we repent and turn from our wicked ways. (Jeremiah 18:7-10) The Antichrist will not respect the God of the Bible nor His covenant with Israel. He will be self-willed and will speak monstrous things against the God of the Bible. (Daniel 11:36-37) Writing about the Antichrist, the Apostle John stated: “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” (Revelation 13:5-6) In May, 76 out of 100 U.S. senators signed and sent a letter to President Obama, urging him “to carefully weigh the risks to Israel’s security before pushing his new Middle East initiative.” (www.israeltoday.co.il, May 20, 2009) We need to pray that our president will heed this warning. President Obama has set a course for the Middle East that many feel will bring the region to a cataclysmic war within 12-18 months! Jordan’s King Abdullah has stated that if Israel does not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, that they will face war within 18 months. (www.israel nationalnews. com, April 27, 2009) According to a former top American intelligence official, retired Lt. General William Boykin, a war will take place in the Middle East within the next 12 months. (www.newsmax.com, May 16, 2009) American Jewish believer, Joel Rosenberg, writes, “Dividing Jerusalem would trigger an apocalyptic war in the Middle East the likes of which the region has never seen. Already, the Radicals believe that Israel is doomed to destruction. Hearing that the American President is now ready to apply intense pressure against Israel to divide their capital will only embolden the Radicals and convince them further that Allah is on their side, the wind is at their back, and they will soon triumph over the Jews and Christians. “While I am not surprised by where the president is headed, I am horrified nonetheless. Right at the moment when the U.S. and Israel need to be working with Arab states in unity against the Iranian nuclear threat, this White House is systematically turning against Israel. Despite all the smiles and boilerplate rhetoric from senior administration officials …promising to stand with Israel and maintain her security – what the administration is actually advancing in terms of policy is dangerous and destabilizing. They are playing with fire, and they must be publically and peaceably challenged and resisted.” (Joel Rosenberg, www.worldviewtimes.com, May 29, 2009) Prophecy Today June 2009 5 While many voices are warning that this may lead to a major conflagration in the Middle East, could it be that the Gog and Magog war of Ezekiel 38-39 is next on the horizon? Consider this possibility. Israel will be forced to attack Iran sometime in the next few months because recent Israeli intelligence has reported that Iran will have enough material for a nuclear bomb by the end of this year. Obama has already warned Israel that if they should attack Iran that they will be on their own, isolated from the international community! If Israel attacks, and her mission is successful, but, in the process, as Iran has threatened, Iranian missiles destroy oil instillation and interrupt the flow of oil out of the Persian Gulf for a few weeks or months, then, the entire world would face an immediate oil crisis like we have never witnessed before in modern times. The Russians and Iranians would be enraged against Israel. Ezekiel said, “Thus said the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought.” (Ezekiel 38:10) The Obama administration would verbally reprimand Israel and abandon them. The world would also be angry due to a real oil crisis, creating a complete global economic meltdown. The likely response could be the attempted invasion of Israel by Russia and the Islamic nations mentioned by Ezekiel. The world would not stop them, and Israel would be totally vulnerable, with exception of divine intervention! While we cannot say that this will be the definite outcome in the next few months, one can certainly see how it would fit the details in Ezekiel 38-39 and the present current events. In the meantime, Israel is facing the reality of this hour. She knows that she is all alone. The world is ready, once again, to offer the Jewish people up on the altar of appeasement to satisfy those who hate them. Israel is preparing for war. The Israeli Defense Ministry has just successfully tested their “Iron Dome System” – a system designed to protect Israel from short-range missiles, to accompany the already successful Arrow System, designed to fly so fast that is will destroy longrange missiles over enemy airspace before they get over Israeli airspace. In mid-May the Israeli Air Force took part in a four day drill that simulated Israel defending herself against at attack from both the north from Lebanon and Syria, and the south, from Hamas in Gaza. Several months ago, Israel carried out a simulated long-range attack against the nuclear facilities in Iran and the successful test of its anti-ballistic missile defense system against a possible Iranian long-range missile attack. In early June Israel conducted a five-day drill called “Turning Point 3.” This extensive drill was designed to simulate an all-out attack against the nation that would have the entire population within three minutes in a bomb shelter. Deputy Defense Minister, Matan Vilna’i has reported, “This is not an imaginary situation. This isn’t detached from reality and if there is a war, it’s very likely that this is what will happen. … If someone attacks us, we will be ready.” (The Jerusalem Post Online Edition, May 25, 2009) I did not know if we would see these kinds of developments before the Rapture. But we are, and it is both exciting and horrifying. As we face these life-changing days that are ahead we should find our comfort and hope in the Word of God. We must not forget that our Lord will not abandon Israel or His church. I am convinced that very soon the saints of God will be in the presence of their Lord in heaven! In the meantime, we have much work to do. There are souls to win, people to warn, sins to confess, and revival to seek. Please read over and meditate upon the following verses in the days that are ahead: “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” – Romans 13:11 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”- Luke 21:28 “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”- Psalm 121:4 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersover he will.” - Proverbs 21:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” - John 14:1-3 Does the Bible teach that a Rapture will take place? (A part of an ongoing study about the Rapture) In our consideration of the doctrine of the Rapture we must consider the serious challenges that are directed at the existence of this very doctrine. There are some people who do not believe in the Rapture. They believe that this entire doctrine is a newly contrived, man-made escape route from the seven-year Tribulation Period that was dreamed up by a few British preachers about 150 years ago and has been perpetuated by a new view of the Scriptures, called dispensationalism. They claim that the early church never believed in or expected to be suddenly snatched out of this world in what we call “the Rapture.” They argue that the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible. While the word is not in our English Bible translations, Prophecy Today June 2009 6 this is not a good reason to reject this doctrine. For example, the word “trinity” is also not in our English Bibles. However, if you reject the doctrine of the triune God – that there is only One God who has revealed Himself in three persons (the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) – then you cannot be a Christian. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that the rejection of the trinity is the spirit of Antichrist. 1 John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.” So, we cannot reject the doctrine of the “trinity” because the word is not in the Bible. Consequently, neither should we reject the doctrine of the Rapture because the word is not found in the English Bible. While the word “Rapture” is not in the English translation of the Bible, the doctrine of this unique event is taught in the Scriptures. The word “Rapture” has been coined to give a name to the event that is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, and is derived from the Greek word “harpazo”, which is translated “caught up” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. This Greek word means “to seize upon with force,” or “to snatch up.” In the Latin Vulgate, one of the oldest Bible translations (preceding the King James Version by 1,200 years), the Latin word for “harpazo” is “rapio”, which means “to take away by force.” The past participle of “rapio” is “raptus,” which is the root word from which we get the English word Rapture. Therefore, the term “Rapture” is contained in one of the oldest New Testament translations we have. Others who reject the doctrine of the Rapture attempt to point out that this term, and the doctrine it represents, are relatively new and were not a part of the teachings of the church prior to about 150 years ago. However, these accusations overlook the fact that while the word “Rapture” may be a modern term, the doctrine is as old as the first century church. To say that the early church did not believe in or have a practical daily hope to be suddenly snatched up into the air to meet the Lord in what we call the Rapture ignores many New Testament passages and their literal meaning. The teaching of the Apostle Paul to the believers at Thessalonica was so real to them that when one of their fellow believers died they were concerned enough to ask Paul what would happen to the deceased believer when Jesus would come for those who were still alive. Hence, we have Paul’s Spirit-directed response in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Notice that Paul’s answer indicates that He and those who had sent him this question expected to be alive when Jesus returned for them as He promised in John 14:2-3. Paul wrote, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them [the resurrected dead saints] in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17) About five years later, when he wrote to the believers in Corinth, the Spirit directed Paul to give a more direct and detailed explanation of the Rapture, which defies death for the final generation of church believers. The Bible teaches that all men must die. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden it has been the normal and expected pattern for all men to die. Hebrews 9:27 clearly informs us that “it is appointed unto men once to die.” This is why Paul calls this supernatural event that we call the Rapture “a mystery.” (1 Corinthians 15:51) The word mystery simple means that this is something that the normal human mind cannot grasp without the aid of divine revelation and illumination. Accepting the supernatural developments connected with the Rapture is impossible for the human mind to grasp without the work of the Holy Spirit. This is exactly why the belief in the Rapture is connected to the resurrection of Jesus Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:14. Paul in essence is saying, “If you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then you should also believe in the supernatural change and transport that will take place for all those who are in Christ, both dead and alive, when Jesus comes for them.” In 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 Paul connected the resurrection of Christ with the Rapture. Jesus was the first to receive the eternal heavenly body, in which He appeared to more than 500 believers over a 40 day period after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:5- 7), after which He was “taken up” to heaven. (Acts 1:9) Paul explained to the church that Jesus’ reception of this heavenly body was the guarantee that the church would receive the same kind of body at the time of the Rapture. He careful spelled this out with these words: “Behold, I show you a mystery; We [the church believers]shall not all sleep [die], but we shall be changed [supernaturally transformed], In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound [a clear reference to the trumpet blast mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16], and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, [explained in verses 53-54] and we [the living church saints] shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) The hope of the sudden and supernatural transformation and transport to heaven of the early church believers in the first century is woven throughout the New Testament epistles. They really expected Jesus to return for them in their lifetime. Let us examined some of these expectations recorded in the New Testament. The Apostle John, writing in the last decade of the first century, testified that the disciples who saw the resurrected Lord Jesus on the shores of the Sea of Galilee in 30 A.D. misunderstood the words of Jesus to Peter about John when he said, “If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?” (John 21:23) As a result, the apostles introduced a rumor around 30 A.D. that Jesus Prophecy Today June 2009 7 had said that John would not die before Jesus returned. The fact that the aged apostle John, as the last living apostle, clearly stated Jesus did not say unto Peter, “He shall not die,” (John 21:23) indicates that John was directed by the Holy Spirit to include this correction of this rumor because, as is usually the case with rumors, it was still being repeated more than 65 years later. The fact that this rumor was believable to the apostles and many, if not all, of the early disciples, certainly proves that they were expecting Jesus to come during their lifetime at any moment. James wrote the very first New Testament book to the Jewish believers who were a part of “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad” (James 1:1), in 45 A.D. This book, written only 15 years after Jesus’ promise of His return in John 14, and about 5 years before Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, gives us a wonderful picture into the early church’s daily expectation of the Rapture. In James 5:7-11, James repeatedly exhorts the believers of his day to be patient as they wait for the coming of the Lord. The word “wait” in this text means to wait long, expectantly, with a sense of anticipation. All of this clearly indicates that these early believers, living only 15 years after the ascension of Jesus into heaven, were really thinking about the words of the angel to the disciples on that occasion, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) The fact that James had to tell his fellow believers to be patient as they waited for the Lord’s return, indicates that they were very anxious in their expectation of His return. As he exhorted them to be patient he reminded them that “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh,” and in the next verse he proclaimed, “behold, the judge standeth before the door.” (James 5:8-9) How can anyone who understands the literal truth of these words deny that these early believers were expecting Jesus to come at any moment for them? Around 51 A.D. the Apostle Paul responded to another rumor that was circulating within the circle of believers at Thessalonica that they had missed “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and …our gathering together unto him,” and were in the day of the Lord [the Tribulation Period]. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-2) In other words, these Christians thought they had missed the Rapture and were in the Tribulation Period. In the following verses, the Holy Spirit through Paul informed them that they are not in the Tribulation. First, in verse 3 he told them that the Tribulation will be preceded by a time of apostasy [“falling away”] within the professing church, and then the revelation of the Antichrist, which begins the Tribulation Period, would come. The fact that the time of apostasy had not yet come, and the Antichrist was not yet revealed, certainly indicated that the Tribulation Period had not begun. To prove that the Rapture must precede the Tribulation, he taught them in verses 6- 8 that the Holy Spirit’s restraining influence [notice the personal pronoun “he” as a reference to the Holy Spirit in verse 7] through the church must be “taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked [the Antichrist] be revealed.” The fact that these believers had been misinformed and were “shaken in mind” and “troubled” (verse 2) that they had missed the Rapture and were in the Tribulation is powerful evidence that they were expecting to be Raptured at any moment, and before the Tribulation began. When Peter wrote his second epistle about 67 A.D. (37 years after the ascension), the scoffing enemies of the church were already taunting the believers with the question, “Where is the promise of his coming?” (2 Peter 3:4) Apparently, the early believers had been fervently proclaiming for 37 years that their Lord was coming at any moment. The fact that these scoffers heard them consistently proclaim their expectation of the imminent coming of the Lord, saw their passion for this hope, and witnessed their urgent and sacrificial commitment to the great commission that was fueled by the expectation of the Rapture, energized these scoffers to taunt the church. In essence, these scoffers were saying, “You have been telling us for 37 years that He is coming at any moment. So, where is He?” The fact that these scoffers were using this question to ridicule the early church certainly once again proves that the early church was looking for the Rapture in their lifetime! A study of the writings of the early church fathers illustrates that they were expecting the event we now call the Rapture to take place at any moment in their lives. While we must admit that the early church had not yet developed many details about the doctrine of the last days, “expressions of imminence abound in the apostolic fathers. Clement of Rome (90-100), Ignatius of Antioch (98-117), The Didache (100-160), The Epistle of Barnabas (117-138), and The Shepherd of Hermas (96- 150) all speak of imminency.” (Editors: Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson, The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, p. 316) For example, the Didache exhorted believers: “Watch for your life’s sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh.” (Ante-Nicene Fathers, VII, p. 382) Consequently, those who charge that the doctrine of the Rapture of the church is a relatively new doctrine are wrong. The teaching of the apostles and their fellow saints, along with their succeeding generations of believers were looking for and expecting their Lord to come at any moment. They were not looking for the Antichrist, but Jesus Christ! (To be continued next month)
-------------------- Video Tracts Christian Media LiveTracts Friend Me On Facebook Evangelism TackleBox
Posts: 3276 | From: Charlestown, IN | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged |
|
|
|
Betty Louise
Advanced Member
Member # 7175
|
posted
I can't open it. I tried word perfect and microsoft word. betty
-------------------- Luk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Posts: 5051 | From: Houston, Texas | Registered: May 2008
| IP: Logged |
|
|
KnowHim
Admin
Member # 1
|
posted
Greetings to all of our friends! This issue is, in my estimate, one of the most important newsletters I have ever published! The evolving "new" U.S. policy concerning Israel being promoted by the White House is alarming and dangerous. According to Joel 3:2 and Zechariah 14:2, when the end comes Israel will be totally isolated from the international community of the nations. We are perilously close to that point at this hour! As mentioned in this newsletter, according to the prophetic Word of God this international rejection of God's will concerning Israel and the Promised Land will evoke a very devastating response of the wrath of God that will escalate throughout the Tribulation Period. I urge you to be "redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:16) The world we have all known for most of our lives is about to come unraveled. Take heart! Our Lord is on the throne! Don't be a Lot's wife- don't look back! Be concerned about only one thing- obeying the Lord and taking as many with you and us as we can when the Lord comes for us - soon! Be ready for the shout that will take us out! Please share this newsletter with many of your friends. Mike Wingfield
Click below to read this newsletter: http://churchwebs.tv/document/185/the-perfect-storm
.
Posts: 3276 | From: Charlestown, IN | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged |
|
|
|