THIS PAGE DEDICATED TO THE SCOFIELD REFERENCE BIBLE...
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SO WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SCOFIELD REFERENCE BIBLE...?
C.I.SCOFIELD...and his Reference Bible,
The Scofield reference Bible, more than any work, has served to popularize the dispensational and pre trib or tribulational rapture view of theology.
We owe it to ourselves to examine the beliefs and writings of this scholar and the fruits of the dispensational movement.
Who was this dog who could not even bark, C.I. Scofield
"You will learn how he defrauded his mother in law out of her life savings. How he was convicted of forgery and in another case was sent off to prison... he openly carried on with other women, abandoned his wife and family, and never sent them a dime of support. When his wife finally divorced him he married the woman with whom he was living. All the time he was writing the now infamous notes to the Scofield reference Bible. As a Christian he was a disgrace. As a man he lacked ordinary chivalry of a gentlemen. He called himself Dr. yet he never went to any college which could convey that degree. His life as a minister makes the recent escapades of some modern ministers pale into insignificance.
His financial support for the reference Bible came from conspiratorial groups out of Boston Massachusetts. Chiefly known as the Secret Six
So what did Scofield teach in his reference notes? Quoting from page 1227, (note 6):
All these ideas are pulled out of context from other places in Scripture and cut and pasted together into the theology called dispensationalism.
Today this theology is popularly known as Judeo-Christianity and for good reason because it is first and foremost Jewish in origin, character, and reality.
Judiasm is a heresy as it denies the incarnation of God in the flesh, virgin birth, the sinless life and death of Jesus. Judiasm denies the vicarious atonement of sin by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus who is Christ.
Judiasm awaits a messiah, that The Bible calls the beast....wake up judiasm...the Messiah already came.
The Scofield reference Bible, more than any work, has served to popularize the dispensational and pre trib or tribulational rapture view of theology.
We owe it to ourselves to examine the beliefs and writings of this scholar and the fruits of the dispensational movement.
Who was this dog who could not even bark, C.I. Scofield
"You will learn how he defrauded his mother in law out of her life savings. How he was convicted of forgery and in another case was sent off to prison... he openly carried on with other women, abandoned his wife and family, and never sent them a dime of support. When his wife finally divorced him he married the woman with whom he was living. All the time he was writing the now infamous notes to the Scofield reference Bible. As a Christian he was a disgrace. As a man he lacked ordinary chivalry of a gentlemen. He called himself Dr. yet he never went to any college which could convey that degree. His life as a minister makes the recent escapades of some modern ministers pale into insignificance.
His financial support for the reference Bible came from conspiratorial groups out of Boston Massachusetts. Chiefly known as the Secret Six
So what did Scofield teach in his reference notes? Quoting from page 1227, (note 6):
All these ideas are pulled out of context from other places in Scripture and cut and pasted together into the theology called dispensationalism.
Today this theology is popularly known as Judeo-Christianity and for good reason because it is first and foremost Jewish in origin, character, and reality.
Judiasm is a heresy as it denies the incarnation of God in the flesh, virgin birth, the sinless life and death of Jesus. Judiasm denies the vicarious atonement of sin by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus who is Christ.
Judiasm awaits a messiah, that The Bible calls the beast....wake up judiasm...the Messiah already came.
Cyrus I. Scofield
Dr. Scofield was supposed to be a lawyer and a Doctor and yet I can not find out where he went to law school at or what Theological seminary he went to...
This is the scofield reference Bible
Let us take a look at the introduction and preface to the Scofield reference Bible...
Some say this is a trojan horse to allow FALSE doctrines into the church...
Some say this is a trojan horse to allow FALSE doctrines into the church...
Does Scofield line up with the modern versions of the Bible...?
(Scofield Reference Bible, 1909 Introduction, Page iii)
The discovery of the Sinaitic MS. and the labours in the field of textual criticism of such scholars as Griesbach, Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Winer, Alford, and Wescott and Hort, have cleared the Greek textus receptus of minor inaccuracies,
READ THAT AGAIN...CLEARED THE TEXTUS RECEPTUS (KJV) OF MINOR INNACCURACIES...
while confirming in a remarkable degree the general accuracy of the Authorized Version of that text.
the results of the study of God's Word by learned and spiritual men, in every division of the church and in every land, during the last fifty years, under the advantage of a perfected text, already form a vast literature, inaccessible to most Christian workers.
SCOFIELD LIKED WESTCOTT AND HORT...? WHY...?
The discovery of the Sinaitic MS. and the labours in the field of textual criticism of such scholars as Griesbach, Lachmann, Tischendorf, Tregelles, Winer, Alford, and Wescott and Hort, have cleared the Greek textus receptus of minor inaccuracies,
READ THAT AGAIN...CLEARED THE TEXTUS RECEPTUS (KJV) OF MINOR INNACCURACIES...
while confirming in a remarkable degree the general accuracy of the Authorized Version of that text.
the results of the study of God's Word by learned and spiritual men, in every division of the church and in every land, during the last fifty years, under the advantage of a perfected text, already form a vast literature, inaccessible to most Christian workers.
SCOFIELD LIKED WESTCOTT AND HORT...? WHY...?
THESE ARE SOME OF SCOFIELDS REFERENCE NOTES:
Some of Scofield's Margin Notes
Here are some comments from the Scofield Reference Bible (1917). Did Scofield like the Alexandrian Text?
Page 1271, 2 Thessalonians, Introduction
The theme of Second Thessalonians is, unfortunately, obscured by a mistranslation in the A.V. (KJV) of 2:2 where "day of Christ is at hand" See [1Co 1:8] should be, "day of the Lord is now present" (See [Isa 2:12], ref).
Page 1325, 1 John 5:7, margin note "o"
It is generally agreed that v.7 has no real authority, and has been inserted
THIS IS ONE OF THE 2 TWO STRONGEST VERSES SUPPORTING THE GODHEAD (TRINITY) AND SCOFIELD LINES UP WITH VATICAN MANUSCRIPTS AND WESTCOTT AND HORT...? WHY....?
Page 1212, 1 Corinthians 1:8, footnote "2"
A.V. has "day of Christ," #2Th 2:2 incorrectly, for "day of the Lord"
Recognizes that 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 in the KJV actually refutes the pretribulation rapture doctrine, and thus explains that there is therefore is a mistranslation in the KJV that obscures the real meaning. (1917 Scofield Reference Bible, p. 1270)
Here are some comments from the Scofield Reference Bible (1917). Did Scofield like the Alexandrian Text?
Page 1271, 2 Thessalonians, Introduction
The theme of Second Thessalonians is, unfortunately, obscured by a mistranslation in the A.V. (KJV) of 2:2 where "day of Christ is at hand" See [1Co 1:8] should be, "day of the Lord is now present" (See [Isa 2:12], ref).
Page 1325, 1 John 5:7, margin note "o"
It is generally agreed that v.7 has no real authority, and has been inserted
THIS IS ONE OF THE 2 TWO STRONGEST VERSES SUPPORTING THE GODHEAD (TRINITY) AND SCOFIELD LINES UP WITH VATICAN MANUSCRIPTS AND WESTCOTT AND HORT...? WHY....?
Page 1212, 1 Corinthians 1:8, footnote "2"
A.V. has "day of Christ," #2Th 2:2 incorrectly, for "day of the Lord"
Recognizes that 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 in the KJV actually refutes the pretribulation rapture doctrine, and thus explains that there is therefore is a mistranslation in the KJV that obscures the real meaning. (1917 Scofield Reference Bible, p. 1270)
READ THIS FOR WHEN THE PAPTURE OCCURS: WOULD YOU DIE FOR JESUS? HE DIED FOR YOU...DO YOU LIVE FOR HIM...? WOULD YOU SERVE JESUS IF THE PRE TRIB RAPTURE WAS A FALSE DOCTRINE....?
Revelation 4:1
The 1917 Scofield Reference Bible states that Revelation 4:1 "...seems to clearly indicate the fulfilment of 1 Thes. 4:14-17." Scofield points out that the word church does not appear again in Revelation "till all is fulfilled." However, the word "church" does not appear in Rev. 19 (marriage supper of the Lamb), Rev. 20 (the first resurrection and the thousand year reign), or Rev. 21 (the new Jerusalem).
Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come](SECOND COMING), except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
THE MAN OF SIN (ANTICHRIST) MUST BE REVEALED FIRST.
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
1Cr 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Cr 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
WHEN WILL WE BE CHANGED AT THE RAPTURE...?
AT THE LAST TRUMP....THE LAST TRUMP...LAST TRUMP...
WHEN IS THE LAST TRUMP...?
I BET IT IS IN THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE...REVELATION....!
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
THIS IS THE FIRST 1ST RESURRECTION...HOW MANY RESURRECTIONS ARE BEFORE THE FIRST ONE....?
THIS IS AFTER THE TRIBULATION AS THE MARTYRS THAT DIED FOR REFUSING THE MARK OF THE BEAST...666.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD REASON TO SAY NO RAPTURE:
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book
of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says:
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.
This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week this woman called up a
silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at
work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for
her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the
process of refining silver.
As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of
silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained
that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver
in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest
to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought
about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she
thought again about the verse, that he sits as a
refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silver
smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front
of the fire the whole time the silver was being
refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to
sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his
eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.
If the silver was left even a moment too long in the
flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the
silversmith, how do you know when the silver is fully
refined? He smiled at her and answered, Oh, that is
easy--when I see my image in it.
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember
that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you
until He sees His image in you.
Malachi 3:3
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of
the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The 1917 Scofield Reference Bible states that Revelation 4:1 "...seems to clearly indicate the fulfilment of 1 Thes. 4:14-17." Scofield points out that the word church does not appear again in Revelation "till all is fulfilled." However, the word "church" does not appear in Rev. 19 (marriage supper of the Lamb), Rev. 20 (the first resurrection and the thousand year reign), or Rev. 21 (the new Jerusalem).
Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come](SECOND COMING), except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
THE MAN OF SIN (ANTICHRIST) MUST BE REVEALED FIRST.
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
1Cr 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Cr 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
WHEN WILL WE BE CHANGED AT THE RAPTURE...?
AT THE LAST TRUMP....THE LAST TRUMP...LAST TRUMP...
WHEN IS THE LAST TRUMP...?
I BET IT IS IN THE LAST BOOK OF THE BIBLE...REVELATION....!
Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Rev 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This [is] the first resurrection.
THIS IS THE FIRST 1ST RESURRECTION...HOW MANY RESURRECTIONS ARE BEFORE THE FIRST ONE....?
THIS IS AFTER THE TRIBULATION AS THE MARTYRS THAT DIED FOR REFUSING THE MARK OF THE BEAST...666.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
THIS IS A VERY GOOD REASON TO SAY NO RAPTURE:
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book
of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says:
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.
This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.
That week this woman called up a
silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at
work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for
her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the
process of refining silver.
As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of
silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained
that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver
in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest
to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought
about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she
thought again about the verse, that he sits as a
refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silver
smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front
of the fire the whole time the silver was being
refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to
sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his
eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire.
If the silver was left even a moment too long in the
flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the
silversmith, how do you know when the silver is fully
refined? He smiled at her and answered, Oh, that is
easy--when I see my image in it.
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember
that God has His eye on you and will keep watching you
until He sees His image in you.
Malachi 3:3
Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of
the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
SORRY, NO PRE TRIB RAPTURE...
Sorry, No Pre Tribulation Rapture
Revelation 20:4-6
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
This passage tells us that tribulation martyrs will be among those "dead in Christ" resurrected at the rapture. It follows, then, that the rapture takes place some time AFTER the antichrist starts persecuting those who will not take his mark.
In order that they hang on to their "pre-trib" rapture hope, some Christian authors posit a second rapture during the tribulation which will account for those saints described in Revelation 20:4-6. A "pre-trib" rapture would have already removed the faithful prior to antichrist's persecution, so according to this theory these tribulation martyrs must be those newly converted, having missed the "pre-trib" rapture.
However, there can be no "pre-trib" rapture/resurrection and then a "second rapture/resurrection" at some point within the tribulation. We are clearly told that "THIS is the first resurrection", the resurrection which INCLUDES THOSE SAINTS MARTYRED DURING ANTICHRIST'S PERSECUTION. The rest of the dead do not live again until after the thousand years.
The Bible says nothing of three resurrections of the dead. There are merely the two: the first resurrection of the dead in Christ, which will include those martyred during the antichrist's persecution BECAUSE it takes place at some time after antichrist comes to power, and the resurrection of the rest of the dead after Jesus Christ's millennial reign.
If one can get past the basic arguments for a "pre-trib" rapture perhaps we in the Body of Christ can piece together a more Biblical end time chronology. We here at watcher have heard the pre-trib arguments many times, and the scripture used to support these arguments remain unconvincing. Really, we would love to optimistically believe that we will be raptured prior to antichrist...but all the arguments for this just don't make sense.
Here are some typical comments we get, and our response.
The word Rapture is only used once in the Bible describing what happened to Phillip. Rapture means caught away, taken away (suddenly) and FALLING AWAY. Many have said that there will be a great falling away and equated that with men/women turning away from the Faith. Men and women are constantly "falling in and out" of faith and this is too ambiguous a sign to signify the end.
Let's just take it for granted that we in the Body of Christ who use the term "rapture" refer to the mysterious event in which the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and then the living in Christ will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we will all receive glorified, incorruptible bodies. We can all agree that the word "rapture" and the word "apostasy" are quite different in meaning, and should not be used in place of one another. If the Bible says apostasy, it means apostasy.
The Bible is precise, and does not use the word apostasy in II Thessalonians to refer to the simple "falling in and out" of faith of the common wishy-washy religious folk. The apostasy of the end times is on a grand scale. It is when a huge number of those who thought themselves Christians, who claimed to believe in Jesus Christ, will SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE ANY LONGER. Somehow the end time deception of the antichrist will convince formerly religious folks to fall away from the Truth. This falling away will be dramatic and final, not wishy-washy, and sudden, not a gradual growing cold in faith.
This sudden mass denial of the truth of Jesus Christ will PRECEDE the rapture, we are told. II Thessalonians provides more specific details of what comes BEFORE THE RAPTURE.
II Thess 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him (the rapture)... Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
This passage tells us the "gathering together unto" Jesus, the rapture, will not occur until two other things come first. There will be the falling away-- the apostasy, the dramatic mass denial of the truth of the Word.
And most importantly, the rapture will not occur until THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED. The antichrist will come to power before the rapture. The antichrist comes to power when the treaty of Daniel is signed--the treaty specifically dealing with the rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple and the daily sacrifice. The tribulation begins when this treaty is signed, so the tribulation will begin before the rapture. There can be no pre-tribulation rapture.
II Thess 2:6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy witht he brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with deceivableness of unrighteiousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie;
Many will argue that the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ is what restrains the antichrist from coming to power, and that the Body of Christ must first be removed before the tribulation can begin. Some even argue that the "saints" during the tribulation who are persecuted are Jews, not Christians, because the Holy Spirit would prevent antichrist's continued rule. Revelation clearly tells us that there are Christians, those washed in the Blood of Christ, during the Tribulation...so there must still be the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ during the Tribulation. The Holy Spirit must not be what restrains antichrist.
an angel addresses Daniel
Daniel 10:12
...
I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days...
There are angels associated with nations. This angel was not powerful enough to get past the opposing angels who have authority over the kingdom of Persia. It was necessary to have the angel Michael intervene to get this particular messenger past the powerful rebel angels of Persia. Michael is the angel who is associated with Israel...he has authority over what goes on with respect to Israel.
The antichrist will set up his kingdom in Israel, and even defile the temple in Jerusalem. If a man who is empowered by satan himself is going to do such things in Jerusalem, don't you think that the angel of Israel, Michael, would know about it? For this to occur the angelic authority over Israel must allow it...Michael must step aside and let it happen. Michael is the being in charge of "allowing and preventing", of "letting and restraining" things of a spiritual nature from occuring with respect to Israel. Michael, not the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ, is the "restrainer" preventing the antichrist from coming to power before God's appointed time. When it is time for the tribulation, the time of Jacob's Trouble, a time of trouble for Israel, God will give the cue to Michael to step aside.
Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:
Another argument is:
The Rapture is the Falling Away. We are not appointed unto Wrath. The Christian saints can't go through any parts of the Tribulation because Jesus Christ covered us from all of the Wrath that will be determined on this Earth. The Tribulation, The Great Tribulation is 7 years of actual Hell on Earth. The Church (which means the Lord's ) is the body of Christ. The body of Christ has already suffered once and to try and say that we must go through even one day of the 7-year tribulation would be saying that what he did was not good enough to save us, wouldn't it? If not then how can our suffering or persecution add anything to our salvation? Well it can't because nothing more is needed.
Joseph Stalin murdered over 50 million christians in the lifetime of my father...
they died for their faith...who was stephen....?
was he chopped liver...?
TRUTH IS MANY HAVE DIED FOR THEIR FAITH...ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL TILL CHRIST RETURNS...
The Rapture and the Falling Away are two separate things. We are not appointed to God's wrath, but notice that the wrath of God is not poured out onto the earth until Revelation 16. Many awful things happen during the Tribulation prior to the actual pouring out of God's wrath...much harm and persecution can befall Christians which can not be considered "the wrath of God". It in no way negates Christ's sacrifice to say that the Church will endure persecution and suffering -- look at the early Christian martyrdoms! Of course no one says that the Body of Christ needs to suffer for our salvation, but no one said being Christian would be a picnic, either. Why shouldn't we suffer as much as the Early Church? We are no better than they. I pray for their kind of courage.
By that point in the tribulation in which God's own wrath is poured out, yes, we will be raptured. Even if we were not raptured by that point, it would be obvious who took the mark of the beast and who didn't -- God would surely be able to delineate whom to pour out His wrath upon. Is it clear that the "not appointed to wrath" argument for a "pre-trib" rapture is not compelling?
Revelation 20:4-6
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
This passage tells us that tribulation martyrs will be among those "dead in Christ" resurrected at the rapture. It follows, then, that the rapture takes place some time AFTER the antichrist starts persecuting those who will not take his mark.
In order that they hang on to their "pre-trib" rapture hope, some Christian authors posit a second rapture during the tribulation which will account for those saints described in Revelation 20:4-6. A "pre-trib" rapture would have already removed the faithful prior to antichrist's persecution, so according to this theory these tribulation martyrs must be those newly converted, having missed the "pre-trib" rapture.
However, there can be no "pre-trib" rapture/resurrection and then a "second rapture/resurrection" at some point within the tribulation. We are clearly told that "THIS is the first resurrection", the resurrection which INCLUDES THOSE SAINTS MARTYRED DURING ANTICHRIST'S PERSECUTION. The rest of the dead do not live again until after the thousand years.
The Bible says nothing of three resurrections of the dead. There are merely the two: the first resurrection of the dead in Christ, which will include those martyred during the antichrist's persecution BECAUSE it takes place at some time after antichrist comes to power, and the resurrection of the rest of the dead after Jesus Christ's millennial reign.
If one can get past the basic arguments for a "pre-trib" rapture perhaps we in the Body of Christ can piece together a more Biblical end time chronology. We here at watcher have heard the pre-trib arguments many times, and the scripture used to support these arguments remain unconvincing. Really, we would love to optimistically believe that we will be raptured prior to antichrist...but all the arguments for this just don't make sense.
Here are some typical comments we get, and our response.
The word Rapture is only used once in the Bible describing what happened to Phillip. Rapture means caught away, taken away (suddenly) and FALLING AWAY. Many have said that there will be a great falling away and equated that with men/women turning away from the Faith. Men and women are constantly "falling in and out" of faith and this is too ambiguous a sign to signify the end.
Let's just take it for granted that we in the Body of Christ who use the term "rapture" refer to the mysterious event in which the dead in Christ will be resurrected, and then the living in Christ will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and we will all receive glorified, incorruptible bodies. We can all agree that the word "rapture" and the word "apostasy" are quite different in meaning, and should not be used in place of one another. If the Bible says apostasy, it means apostasy.
The Bible is precise, and does not use the word apostasy in II Thessalonians to refer to the simple "falling in and out" of faith of the common wishy-washy religious folk. The apostasy of the end times is on a grand scale. It is when a huge number of those who thought themselves Christians, who claimed to believe in Jesus Christ, will SUDDENLY NOT BE ABLE TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST AND THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE ANY LONGER. Somehow the end time deception of the antichrist will convince formerly religious folks to fall away from the Truth. This falling away will be dramatic and final, not wishy-washy, and sudden, not a gradual growing cold in faith.
This sudden mass denial of the truth of Jesus Christ will PRECEDE the rapture, we are told. II Thessalonians provides more specific details of what comes BEFORE THE RAPTURE.
II Thess 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him (the rapture)... Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
This passage tells us the "gathering together unto" Jesus, the rapture, will not occur until two other things come first. There will be the falling away-- the apostasy, the dramatic mass denial of the truth of the Word.
And most importantly, the rapture will not occur until THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED. The antichrist will come to power before the rapture. The antichrist comes to power when the treaty of Daniel is signed--the treaty specifically dealing with the rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple and the daily sacrifice. The tribulation begins when this treaty is signed, so the tribulation will begin before the rapture. There can be no pre-tribulation rapture.
II Thess 2:6
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy witht he brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with deceivableness of unrighteiousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie;
Many will argue that the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ is what restrains the antichrist from coming to power, and that the Body of Christ must first be removed before the tribulation can begin. Some even argue that the "saints" during the tribulation who are persecuted are Jews, not Christians, because the Holy Spirit would prevent antichrist's continued rule. Revelation clearly tells us that there are Christians, those washed in the Blood of Christ, during the Tribulation...so there must still be the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Body of Christ during the Tribulation. The Holy Spirit must not be what restrains antichrist.
an angel addresses Daniel
Daniel 10:12
...
I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days...
There are angels associated with nations. This angel was not powerful enough to get past the opposing angels who have authority over the kingdom of Persia. It was necessary to have the angel Michael intervene to get this particular messenger past the powerful rebel angels of Persia. Michael is the angel who is associated with Israel...he has authority over what goes on with respect to Israel.
The antichrist will set up his kingdom in Israel, and even defile the temple in Jerusalem. If a man who is empowered by satan himself is going to do such things in Jerusalem, don't you think that the angel of Israel, Michael, would know about it? For this to occur the angelic authority over Israel must allow it...Michael must step aside and let it happen. Michael is the being in charge of "allowing and preventing", of "letting and restraining" things of a spiritual nature from occuring with respect to Israel. Michael, not the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ, is the "restrainer" preventing the antichrist from coming to power before God's appointed time. When it is time for the tribulation, the time of Jacob's Trouble, a time of trouble for Israel, God will give the cue to Michael to step aside.
Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time:
Another argument is:
The Rapture is the Falling Away. We are not appointed unto Wrath. The Christian saints can't go through any parts of the Tribulation because Jesus Christ covered us from all of the Wrath that will be determined on this Earth. The Tribulation, The Great Tribulation is 7 years of actual Hell on Earth. The Church (which means the Lord's ) is the body of Christ. The body of Christ has already suffered once and to try and say that we must go through even one day of the 7-year tribulation would be saying that what he did was not good enough to save us, wouldn't it? If not then how can our suffering or persecution add anything to our salvation? Well it can't because nothing more is needed.
Joseph Stalin murdered over 50 million christians in the lifetime of my father...
they died for their faith...who was stephen....?
was he chopped liver...?
TRUTH IS MANY HAVE DIED FOR THEIR FAITH...ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL TILL CHRIST RETURNS...
The Rapture and the Falling Away are two separate things. We are not appointed to God's wrath, but notice that the wrath of God is not poured out onto the earth until Revelation 16. Many awful things happen during the Tribulation prior to the actual pouring out of God's wrath...much harm and persecution can befall Christians which can not be considered "the wrath of God". It in no way negates Christ's sacrifice to say that the Church will endure persecution and suffering -- look at the early Christian martyrdoms! Of course no one says that the Body of Christ needs to suffer for our salvation, but no one said being Christian would be a picnic, either. Why shouldn't we suffer as much as the Early Church? We are no better than they. I pray for their kind of courage.
By that point in the tribulation in which God's own wrath is poured out, yes, we will be raptured. Even if we were not raptured by that point, it would be obvious who took the mark of the beast and who didn't -- God would surely be able to delineate whom to pour out His wrath upon. Is it clear that the "not appointed to wrath" argument for a "pre-trib" rapture is not compelling?
DOES THE KJV AV-1611 REFUTE DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY...SCOFIELD CHANGES VERSES THAT SAY...YES.
Does the KJV 1611 Refute Dispensationalism?
Recognizes that 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 in the KJV actually refutes the pretribulation rapture doctrine, and thus explains that there is therefore is a mistranslation in the KJV that obscures the real meaning. (1917 Scofield Reference Bible, p. 1270)
ALSO...
The Passage
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
"Prince" or "prince" - that is the question!
This very short article is geared towards anyone who is of any variety of KJV-only belief. At this site, we use the KJV primarily, but we recognize that it is the underlying Greek text that is critical. We soundly reject the Alexandrian Text favored by men such as Westcott, Hort, and Scofield.
If you look up the passages above in the 1611 edition of the KJV, you will probably not notice much of a difference. If you look very carefully though, you will discover that the word "prince" in verse 26 is "Prince" in the original KJV. Apparently, the translators recognized that the Prince of verse 26 was the same Prince of verse 25, just as the Messiah of verse 26 was the same Messiah of verse 25. Did they err?
If indeed, as we believe, the Prince of Daniel 9:26 was not a future antichrist, but the Messiah, then the belief in a future 70th week of Daniel is thrown out the window.
It is apparent that the translators of the 1611 edition of the KJV believed they accurately translated Daniel 9:26.
A simple question remains then. If you believe that the "Prince" of Daniel 9:26 is the antichrist, then you obviously disagree with the 1611 KJV.
But if you say you use the 1611 KJV, don't you then realize that the 70th week is not future? Don't you now realize that the "Prince" of Daniel 9:26 must be Jesus Christ? Or was this just one of those "typographical" errors?
We ask the 1611 KJV folks that if they indeed believe the 1611 is without significant error (or as some say, totally without error) then they would renounce the belief that the "Prince" of Daniel 9:26 is the antichrist. Premillennial dispensationalism is wounded terribly by... the 1611 KJV. And along with it, the belief in a "pretrib rapture" is almost totally undermined. It is sustained in our opinion only by its popularity.
P.S. While you are at it, look at the translator's notes (1611) to 2 Thess. 2 where they call this the "day of the Lord". The text has "day of Christ". Obviously, the translators considered these two days to be synonymous! This flies in the face of Scofield dispensationalism.
WAS SCOFIELD A TROJAN HORSE TO PLANT FALSE DOCTRINES IN THE SO CALLED FUNDAMENTAL CHURCH...?
I THINK HE WAS...HE SAYS THE BIBLE HAS ERRORS AND HE CORRECTS THOSE THAT REFUTE HIS DOCTRINES....
SHOW THIS TO YOUR FUNDAMENDAL KJV BIBLE BELIEVING BAPTIST PASTOR AND SEE HOW QUICK YOU ARE SHOW THE DOOR AND THROWN OUT....TRUTH HURTS.
I KNOW AS I AM A BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE GRADUATE AND THE BAPTIST CHURCHES HATE THIS TRUTH...
Look at the FRUITS OF DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY...
Queer sodomites are allowed to be boy scoutmasters and elementary school teachers by color of law and abortions are legal, prayer and Bible is removed from school. Witches and Satanists are becoming Chaplains in the military and jails...and you think
that allowing this is RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE (DISPENSATIONAL) TRUTH...IF YOU DO THEN YOU ARE A DECEIVED FOOL!
YOUR PASTOR IS MORE CONCERNED WITH COLLECTING TITHES AND COMPROMISING WITH THE DEVIL THAN FIGHTING FOR THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN!
GOD IS NOT MOCKED, YOU HAVE SOWN, NOW PREPARE TO REAP THE BITTER HARVEST OF SIN AND COMPROMISE!
PASSAGES PROVING PREMILLENNIALISM IS PERNICIOUS
By: Gary McDade
http://www.members.aol.com/getwellcc/article0224.html
Many years ago Wayne Jackson observed in a series of tapes he prepared on premillennialism that approximately 95% of so-called Christendom believes in premillennialism. Over the years observation has demonstrated the validity of that appraisal. What is premillennialism? Premillennialism holds that Jesus Christ will one day rule on Davids throne in the literal city of Jerusalem for 1,000 years. People living today are in the last days or end times. Three basic tenets make up premillennialism:
1) the Rapture,
2) the Tribulation, and
3) the 1,000 Year Reign.
The Rapture, a term nowhere found in the Bible, is believed to be the silent return of Christ at which time he raises only the sainted dead and takes them to heaven with the Christians who are living at the time. The Tribulation is a seven-year period of fierce wrath upon the earth. Annihilation of the planet narrowly is averted by the Revelation of Christ in which evil is destroyed and a 1,000 year reign on earth ensues. Premillennialism is an intricate twisting of the scriptures in general and the books of Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Revelation in particular to make this preconceived story seem plausible (cf. II Pet. 3:16).
W. E. Blackstone was its originator; C.I. Scofield was its popularizer through the footnotes in his reference Bible. Marshall Keeble gave the best assessment of it when he defined it this way: Pre means before, millennial means a thousand years, and ism means it aint so!
The fanciful fabrication of premillennialism should prove it to be false. For example, fundamental to the position is the belief of not two but three comings of Jesus:
1) his birth,
2) the Rapture, and
3) the so-called Revelation prior to his reign. In addition, it advances not one resurrection of the dead but three:
1) at the Rapture,
2) prior to the 1,000 year reign, and
3) at the end of the 1,000 year reign. Further, premillennialism teaches not one but three judgments:
1) The Lord judges who the sainted dead are that will be raised in the Rapture,
2) the Lord judges who took advantage of the second chance they were given to obey God during the Tribulation and, if killed, they are raised from the dead, and
3) the final judgment following the whole shebang. The word of God teaches only the Second Coming of Christ (Heb. 9:28), only one resurrection of the dead (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15), and only one judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; II Cor. 5:10-11; Rev. 20:12-15). How can anyone who believes his Bible believe pre tribulational rapture premillennialism?
Premillennialism is more than a contrivance designed to frighten people into supposed submission to God; it is pernicious or highly injurious or destructive in character. Consider it so under the following discussion with four divisions.
Premillennialism Dethrones Christ
Jesus Christ was raised from the dead for the purpose of reigning on Davids throne. Paul wrote, And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust (Rom. 15:12). Really, Jesus Christ was raised to reign in regal splendor in heavenly regions (cf. John 18:36). Put the point to the test by reading the first recorded gospel sermon from AD 33. Listen to Peter say, Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:30-36). Premillennialism denies that Jesus Christ is presently reigning as king over his kingdom, which is the church (Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9). Premillennialism tries to dethrone Christ.
Premillennialism Downplays the Church
In the pernicious system of premillennialism there is the perception that Jesus Christ fully intended to establish his kingdom when he began his personal ministry on earth, but when he was rejected by the Jews and crucified, necessity dictated that God devise an emergency measure, a plan B, or as an afterthought the church was introduced. Premillennialists speak of the church age being a kind of parenthesis in the Lords timetable of final things. Yet, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 show positively that Jesus knew he would be rejected and crucified by the Jews; therefore, there exists no need nor place for a parenthesis of any sort. Additionally, the church conforms to the eternal purpose of Gods scheme of things. Paul said, To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 3:10-11). The blood Jesus shed on the cross purchased the church, and he adds all the ones being saved to it (Acts 20:28; 2:47). The environment of denominationalism is ripe for criticism of what the Bible says about the church since denominationalism castigates those who teach what the Bible says about the terms of membership, organization, work, and worship of the church. Christ saves only those in his church like a ship in the midst of the North Atlantic Ocean in the winter saves its passengers from perishing or a ship in the South China Sea during the storms of summer saves its sailors from sinking into its perilous depths. People trying to convince others that the church doesnot save you might just as well try to convince passengers on the high seas that the ship doesnot save you (cf. Eph. 1:22-23; 4:5; 5:23).
Premillennialism Disrespects the Cross
Disrespect for the cross of Christ is demonstrated by premillennialism because it holds that the cross was merely a capricious act of contriving culprits that was unforeseen by God and forced him to regroup, as already discussed, and devise plan B, the church. In sharp contrast Peter said, Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain (Acts 2:23). When the Psalmist said, For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture, he was writing about crucifixion in general, which was unknown as a form of capital punishment until two hundred years later, and about the crucifixion of Christ in particular (Psa. 22:16-18; Matt. 27:35).
Premillennialism disallows the foreknowledge of God.
Premillennialism also disallows the foreknowledge of the prophets of God because it holds that the intention of God was for Christ to be coronated king by the Jews but instead, to the surprise of high heaven, he was crucified by the Jews. The prophets foretold the crucifixion of Christ and of the coming of the church as was presented in the sermon on the first Pentecost after the resurrection as the following chart shows:
Acts 2:16-21 Joel 2:28-32
Acts 2:25-27 Psalm 16:8-11
Acts 2:30 Psalm 132:11
Acts 2:34 Psalm 110:1
Acts 2:39 Genesis 12:1-3
Therefore, premillennialism disrespects the cross of Christ.
Premillennialism uses this text to teach seven things essential to it which are not found in the passage: 1) the site being Jerusalem, 2) the restoration of the Law of Moses, 3) the return of the Jews to Palestine, 4) the restoration of Jewish worship under the law, 5) the bodily resurrection of the sainted dead, 6) the throne of David, 7) us. The ones reigning with Christ for the thousand years are the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God (v. 4). Since the premillennialist adamantly asserts that this text is literal, when he makes anyone except someone who has been beheaded partake in the 1,000 year reign he violates the context and is branded with inconsistency.
MY NOTE: DISPENSATIONALISTS FORCE AND MAKE THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS MISS THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB....think about it...
Revelation is about the victory of the cause of Christ over every enemy. The key passage is Revelation 11:15, And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Christians who were loosing their lives mentioned early on in the book as crying out, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? are seen in this latter chapter of the book as serving as priests and reigning with Christ for an extended period of time represented by the symbolic reference to the number 1,000 (Rev. 6:10; 20:4-6).
The mention of the first resurrection in verse five is not a bodily resurrection but the resurrection of the cause of Christ, which is suffering due to the fierce persecution inflicted on the church. Christians who would remain faithful and overcome evil would not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:11). Those who have part in the first resurrection, a resurrection of devotion to the cause of Christ, would likewise not be hurt by the second death (Rev. 20:5-6). John wrote, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15). Therefore, by remaining faithful amid serious challenges to stray from Christ, Christians could avoid the lake of fire and enjoy the rich rewards of redemption in Christ (Rev. 21:7).
Visitor #
Recognizes that 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 in the KJV actually refutes the pretribulation rapture doctrine, and thus explains that there is therefore is a mistranslation in the KJV that obscures the real meaning. (1917 Scofield Reference Bible, p. 1270)
ALSO...
The Passage
Daniel 9:25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
"Prince" or "prince" - that is the question!
This very short article is geared towards anyone who is of any variety of KJV-only belief. At this site, we use the KJV primarily, but we recognize that it is the underlying Greek text that is critical. We soundly reject the Alexandrian Text favored by men such as Westcott, Hort, and Scofield.
If you look up the passages above in the 1611 edition of the KJV, you will probably not notice much of a difference. If you look very carefully though, you will discover that the word "prince" in verse 26 is "Prince" in the original KJV. Apparently, the translators recognized that the Prince of verse 26 was the same Prince of verse 25, just as the Messiah of verse 26 was the same Messiah of verse 25. Did they err?
If indeed, as we believe, the Prince of Daniel 9:26 was not a future antichrist, but the Messiah, then the belief in a future 70th week of Daniel is thrown out the window.
It is apparent that the translators of the 1611 edition of the KJV believed they accurately translated Daniel 9:26.
A simple question remains then. If you believe that the "Prince" of Daniel 9:26 is the antichrist, then you obviously disagree with the 1611 KJV.
But if you say you use the 1611 KJV, don't you then realize that the 70th week is not future? Don't you now realize that the "Prince" of Daniel 9:26 must be Jesus Christ? Or was this just one of those "typographical" errors?
We ask the 1611 KJV folks that if they indeed believe the 1611 is without significant error (or as some say, totally without error) then they would renounce the belief that the "Prince" of Daniel 9:26 is the antichrist. Premillennial dispensationalism is wounded terribly by... the 1611 KJV. And along with it, the belief in a "pretrib rapture" is almost totally undermined. It is sustained in our opinion only by its popularity.
P.S. While you are at it, look at the translator's notes (1611) to 2 Thess. 2 where they call this the "day of the Lord". The text has "day of Christ". Obviously, the translators considered these two days to be synonymous! This flies in the face of Scofield dispensationalism.
WAS SCOFIELD A TROJAN HORSE TO PLANT FALSE DOCTRINES IN THE SO CALLED FUNDAMENTAL CHURCH...?
I THINK HE WAS...HE SAYS THE BIBLE HAS ERRORS AND HE CORRECTS THOSE THAT REFUTE HIS DOCTRINES....
SHOW THIS TO YOUR FUNDAMENDAL KJV BIBLE BELIEVING BAPTIST PASTOR AND SEE HOW QUICK YOU ARE SHOW THE DOOR AND THROWN OUT....TRUTH HURTS.
I KNOW AS I AM A BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE GRADUATE AND THE BAPTIST CHURCHES HATE THIS TRUTH...
Look at the FRUITS OF DISPENSATIONAL THEOLOGY...
Queer sodomites are allowed to be boy scoutmasters and elementary school teachers by color of law and abortions are legal, prayer and Bible is removed from school. Witches and Satanists are becoming Chaplains in the military and jails...and you think
that allowing this is RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE (DISPENSATIONAL) TRUTH...IF YOU DO THEN YOU ARE A DECEIVED FOOL!
YOUR PASTOR IS MORE CONCERNED WITH COLLECTING TITHES AND COMPROMISING WITH THE DEVIL THAN FIGHTING FOR THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN!
GOD IS NOT MOCKED, YOU HAVE SOWN, NOW PREPARE TO REAP THE BITTER HARVEST OF SIN AND COMPROMISE!
PASSAGES PROVING PREMILLENNIALISM IS PERNICIOUS
By: Gary McDade
http://www.members.aol.com/getwellcc/article0224.html
Many years ago Wayne Jackson observed in a series of tapes he prepared on premillennialism that approximately 95% of so-called Christendom believes in premillennialism. Over the years observation has demonstrated the validity of that appraisal. What is premillennialism? Premillennialism holds that Jesus Christ will one day rule on Davids throne in the literal city of Jerusalem for 1,000 years. People living today are in the last days or end times. Three basic tenets make up premillennialism:
1) the Rapture,
2) the Tribulation, and
3) the 1,000 Year Reign.
The Rapture, a term nowhere found in the Bible, is believed to be the silent return of Christ at which time he raises only the sainted dead and takes them to heaven with the Christians who are living at the time. The Tribulation is a seven-year period of fierce wrath upon the earth. Annihilation of the planet narrowly is averted by the Revelation of Christ in which evil is destroyed and a 1,000 year reign on earth ensues. Premillennialism is an intricate twisting of the scriptures in general and the books of Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Revelation in particular to make this preconceived story seem plausible (cf. II Pet. 3:16).
W. E. Blackstone was its originator; C.I. Scofield was its popularizer through the footnotes in his reference Bible. Marshall Keeble gave the best assessment of it when he defined it this way: Pre means before, millennial means a thousand years, and ism means it aint so!
The fanciful fabrication of premillennialism should prove it to be false. For example, fundamental to the position is the belief of not two but three comings of Jesus:
1) his birth,
2) the Rapture, and
3) the so-called Revelation prior to his reign. In addition, it advances not one resurrection of the dead but three:
1) at the Rapture,
2) prior to the 1,000 year reign, and
3) at the end of the 1,000 year reign. Further, premillennialism teaches not one but three judgments:
1) The Lord judges who the sainted dead are that will be raised in the Rapture,
2) the Lord judges who took advantage of the second chance they were given to obey God during the Tribulation and, if killed, they are raised from the dead, and
3) the final judgment following the whole shebang. The word of God teaches only the Second Coming of Christ (Heb. 9:28), only one resurrection of the dead (John 5:28-29; Acts 24:15), and only one judgment (Matt. 25:31-46; II Cor. 5:10-11; Rev. 20:12-15). How can anyone who believes his Bible believe pre tribulational rapture premillennialism?
Premillennialism is more than a contrivance designed to frighten people into supposed submission to God; it is pernicious or highly injurious or destructive in character. Consider it so under the following discussion with four divisions.
Premillennialism Dethrones Christ
Jesus Christ was raised from the dead for the purpose of reigning on Davids throne. Paul wrote, And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust (Rom. 15:12). Really, Jesus Christ was raised to reign in regal splendor in heavenly regions (cf. John 18:36). Put the point to the test by reading the first recorded gospel sermon from AD 33. Listen to Peter say, Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:30-36). Premillennialism denies that Jesus Christ is presently reigning as king over his kingdom, which is the church (Matt. 16:18-19; Col. 1:13; Rev. 1:9). Premillennialism tries to dethrone Christ.
Premillennialism Downplays the Church
In the pernicious system of premillennialism there is the perception that Jesus Christ fully intended to establish his kingdom when he began his personal ministry on earth, but when he was rejected by the Jews and crucified, necessity dictated that God devise an emergency measure, a plan B, or as an afterthought the church was introduced. Premillennialists speak of the church age being a kind of parenthesis in the Lords timetable of final things. Yet, Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53 show positively that Jesus knew he would be rejected and crucified by the Jews; therefore, there exists no need nor place for a parenthesis of any sort. Additionally, the church conforms to the eternal purpose of Gods scheme of things. Paul said, To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph. 3:10-11). The blood Jesus shed on the cross purchased the church, and he adds all the ones being saved to it (Acts 20:28; 2:47). The environment of denominationalism is ripe for criticism of what the Bible says about the church since denominationalism castigates those who teach what the Bible says about the terms of membership, organization, work, and worship of the church. Christ saves only those in his church like a ship in the midst of the North Atlantic Ocean in the winter saves its passengers from perishing or a ship in the South China Sea during the storms of summer saves its sailors from sinking into its perilous depths. People trying to convince others that the church doesnot save you might just as well try to convince passengers on the high seas that the ship doesnot save you (cf. Eph. 1:22-23; 4:5; 5:23).
Premillennialism Disrespects the Cross
Disrespect for the cross of Christ is demonstrated by premillennialism because it holds that the cross was merely a capricious act of contriving culprits that was unforeseen by God and forced him to regroup, as already discussed, and devise plan B, the church. In sharp contrast Peter said, Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain (Acts 2:23). When the Psalmist said, For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture, he was writing about crucifixion in general, which was unknown as a form of capital punishment until two hundred years later, and about the crucifixion of Christ in particular (Psa. 22:16-18; Matt. 27:35).
Premillennialism disallows the foreknowledge of God.
Premillennialism also disallows the foreknowledge of the prophets of God because it holds that the intention of God was for Christ to be coronated king by the Jews but instead, to the surprise of high heaven, he was crucified by the Jews. The prophets foretold the crucifixion of Christ and of the coming of the church as was presented in the sermon on the first Pentecost after the resurrection as the following chart shows:
Acts 2:16-21 Joel 2:28-32
Acts 2:25-27 Psalm 16:8-11
Acts 2:30 Psalm 132:11
Acts 2:34 Psalm 110:1
Acts 2:39 Genesis 12:1-3
Therefore, premillennialism disrespects the cross of Christ.
Premillennialism uses this text to teach seven things essential to it which are not found in the passage: 1) the site being Jerusalem, 2) the restoration of the Law of Moses, 3) the return of the Jews to Palestine, 4) the restoration of Jewish worship under the law, 5) the bodily resurrection of the sainted dead, 6) the throne of David, 7) us. The ones reigning with Christ for the thousand years are the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God (v. 4). Since the premillennialist adamantly asserts that this text is literal, when he makes anyone except someone who has been beheaded partake in the 1,000 year reign he violates the context and is branded with inconsistency.
MY NOTE: DISPENSATIONALISTS FORCE AND MAKE THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS MISS THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB....think about it...
Revelation is about the victory of the cause of Christ over every enemy. The key passage is Revelation 11:15, And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Christians who were loosing their lives mentioned early on in the book as crying out, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? are seen in this latter chapter of the book as serving as priests and reigning with Christ for an extended period of time represented by the symbolic reference to the number 1,000 (Rev. 6:10; 20:4-6).
The mention of the first resurrection in verse five is not a bodily resurrection but the resurrection of the cause of Christ, which is suffering due to the fierce persecution inflicted on the church. Christians who would remain faithful and overcome evil would not be hurt of the second death (Rev. 2:11). Those who have part in the first resurrection, a resurrection of devotion to the cause of Christ, would likewise not be hurt by the second death (Rev. 20:5-6). John wrote, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:14-15). Therefore, by remaining faithful amid serious challenges to stray from Christ, Christians could avoid the lake of fire and enjoy the rich rewards of redemption in Christ (Rev. 21:7).
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