WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.You will recognize them by their fruits (Matthew 7/15-16)
..if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psalm 11:3).
GFM: "The Good Fight Ministries team had boots on the ground at the Turning Point USA event, where Ray Comfort and the guys from Living Waters used the opportunity to share the gospel with the student body at Cal State Fullerton. While there in person we even had the chance to do some interviews with those who attended. Today will be telling you what we saw, heard and thought of the event after taking it all in firsthand. Also, Candace Owens recently claimed to have been visited by Charlie Kirk in a dream. A dream she says confirmed her own beliefs about what happened and that it would all be revealed very soon. Finally, we'll look at the broader reaction from Christians across the country, many of whom are calling what's happening a revival following Charlie's death, while others are urging caution."
I am assuming Chad Davidson's attendance at TPUSA at Cal State Fullerton was with the blessing of his mentor Joe Schimmel. Both these men should know better, having warned about false teachers for years via their numerous exposés.
Do we really have to ask the question: Is this a revival?
What are the foundations of TPUSA?
Charlie Kirk was a right-wing political activist, entrepreneur, and media personality. He co-founded the conservative student organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA) in 2012. Over time, he became aligned with the Christian right and began advocating for Christian nationalism. His more controversial views included criticism of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Martin Luther King Jr., COVID-19, claims of electoral fraud in 2020, and the white genocide conspiracy theory.
One of Kirk's favorite topics was skepticism about the value of college degrees. Wikipedia: "He had the advantage of having refined his debate performance against hundreds of people and used arguments likely to result in agitated and defensive responses by his less experienced opponents."1
Kirk's rhetoric has been described as divisive, racist, xenophobic, and extremist by groups that study hate speech, including the Southern Poverty Law Centre. Kirk's positions have been described as far-right by a variety of outlets and academics, and others state that these positions are now in the mainstream of American conservatism.
Tragically, the ecumenical agenda has been radically advanced by Kirk. In this respect, he actually damaged the true gospel and he was an enemy of Jesus Christ. Kirk's unwavering commitment to the seven mountain mandate, his association with the NAR, Roman Catholics, Mormons, false teachers like Mark Driscoll, and his derogatory remarks about the black community are anti-Christian indicators. It is patently obvious that TPUSA has never been about the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
Davidson discussed the problems encountered by Ray Comfort at TPUSA Cal State Fullerton. Comfort apparently received an invitation to speak at the event, and he accepted, claiming that he intended to preach the gospel. However, it all went badly wrong. Comfort had prepared two Charlie Kirk video clips and questions he would like to be asked. He told the associate producer how important it was that those two clips were played. After waiting all day for his slot and preparing what he was going to say, he discovered that "the powers that be" hadn't used those clips. After the event, Comfort admitted that he had messed up and he apologised to upset believers for being "rude, impatient, and unloving". This is what comes of validating false teachers and putting oneself under the authority of a pseudo-Christian organisation.2
Others who attended were Calvinist Jeff Durbin, who is continuing to speak at TPUSA events. Mike Winger, whose latest exposé of "cover up culture" was achieved with the corroboration of false teacher and demon slayer Torben Sonderbgaard.3
Gabe Hughes: "Now this movement may eventually be overrun by conspiracy theorists, by people trying to radicalize you to their agenda, and by liars and false teachers. But for now, we have this opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and speak the truth in love, and we should take it. It's dangerous, but eternal souls are at stake. The danger didn't stop Charlie Kirk, and it shouldn't stop us." 14:00 mark. > The real danger is that TPUSA is leading thousands of vulnerable young people to accept a false gospel! (2 Corinthians 11:4 cf. 1 John 4:1).
Davidson: "I was astounded by how many false things were being shared.."
Chad Davidson has chosen to ignore the elephant in the room. However, many of his viewers have not. The selection of comments below say it all.
But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Mike Winger is the featured teacher of BibleThinker online ministry. He graduated from the School of Ministry at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and was ordained in 2006.1 Winger abandoned his post as an associate pastor in Southern California, and he is now described as an "influencer".
I recently became very alarmed by Winger's attendance at the Charlie Kirk memorial and his subsequent announcement that he was "changing" and was considering involvement in the gospel combined with political activism. This is, of course, fraternization with the world and has nothing to do with pure devotion to Christ. Winger was seen happily chatting with Calvinist Jeff Durbin at the Kirk memorial. What I find troubling about this is that Winger seems to have difficulty drawing the line between calling out false teachers and fraternizing with them. Winger appeared to be the best of friends with Durbin at this event, which is surprising considering his in-depth series calling out Calvinism as unbiblical and the fact that many believers regard Calvinism as a "different gospel". (2 Corinthians 11:4; Romans 16:17-18)2
Winger has recently attended a TPUSA meeting together with Ray Comfort to "see what he thinks".3 This is a no-brainer. Christ explicitly repeated the phrase, "My kingdom is not of this world".
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36).
Winger: "I am going to take down an artificial barrier that was stopping some of my activity of thinking biblically about everything.."4Winger said this was an off-the-cuff "random weird livestream". It is never a good idea to do something like this on the spur of the moment without prayer and due consideration, especially considering the huge implications of Winger's newideas. There was hardly any scripture in the entire 1:15-hour livestream; what scripture there was was twisted by worldly reasoning! (30:55 mark) As a so-called "influencer", Winger is on the cusp of deceiving his entire audience of approximately 100,0000 into worldly thinking and deflecting them from the true purposes of God! (Matthew 16:23). This is a massive issue! Charlie Kirk-style debating about moral issues is to go beyond the remit of Christian ministry. Conviction of sin is the work of the Holy Spirit! (John 16:8 cf. John 15:26-27). The primary sin of the world is unbelief. (John 16:9). Believers are called to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations, nothing more. (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47). The New Testament teaches that it is those within the church we should judge; God will judge those outside. (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).
The considerable efforts of some to sanitize Charlie Kirk's legacy should fool no one. Kirk was a fast talker and a skilled debater whose opponents consisted largely of inexperienced college students who were no match for his considerable rhetorical expertise. In many instances, he "won the argument" due to what in my view were bullying tactics. On close examination, Kirk has been proven to be contradictory and factually wrong in a number of instances.TPUSA is a worldly organization that seeks to attain political dominion, hence their allegiance to many NAR false teachers who promote Dominion Theology. Charlie Kirk was heavily invested in the unbiblical NAR Seven Mountain Mandate.
The "Third Way" theology within TPUSA represents a complex interplay between political activism and theological fidelity, challenging believers to navigate the complexities of contemporary culture while adhering to their faith. The critical question is whether political activism and adherence to faith can be combined or whether they are mutually exclusive. Jesus Himself did not involve Himself in the politics of His time, and neither did His apostles. The political realm is part of the worldly system of corruption and will ultimately be used by the Antichrist as his vehicle to gain ascendancy. TPUSA has been described as a threat to democracy and has been linked to white nationalism and Christofascism.
It should be noted that Satan is presently in authority over worldly powers. Jesus rejected worldly power and dominion when he rejected Satan's offer of "all the kingdoms of the world". The required compromise is "if you will fall down and worship me.."
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (Matthew 4:8-11).
You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4 cf. 1 John 2:15-17; Romans 12:2).
Dominion theology and true faith in Christ are at variance with one another. Any Christian supporting TPUSA must abandon biblical eschatology and realign their faith to political dominionist eschatology rooted in this world.
Will TPUSA and Dominionism make a positive difference in the world? Not according to Jesus. Jesus described a multiplication of wickedness and a deterioration of the world in the last days.
Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.....For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.. (Matthew 24:4-8,37 cf.Genesis 6:5).
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:1-9).
And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. (Revelation 19:19-21 cf.Revelation 16:14).
Further Concerns
As recently as November 2022, Winger claimed that he would "absolutely" fellowship with false churches like Bethel.. I will not throw out the baby with the bathwater. I think that Bethel is not a church full of demons. Bethel is a church full of people that are sincere, that have some things off.. I would still fellowship with them. I would still call them my brothers and sisters in the Lord. Absolutely."5I was concerned about this statement at that time, but I gave Winger the benefit of the doubt. Winger only changed his mind about Bethel when he received severe pushback and was shamed into issuing a retraction. I now regard Winger's statement at that time as a red flag and a harbinger of things to come. Having given this matter further consideration in light of recent events, it seems incomprehensible that a discerning Christian teacher could have missed Bethel's blasphemy and failed to call them out adequately. Bethel Redding is a hotbed of aberrant NAR New Age unbiblical teachings, including spiritual fakery, grave suckng, and the prosperity gospel.6
Winger's anonymous witnesses during his exposure of Todd White was unbiblical. Winger claimed that multiple eye-witnesses came forward alleging years of disqualifying behavior from White, including theft, pathological lies, spiritual abuse and manipulation, and allegations of domestic abuse. However, Winger's multiple eyewitnesses failed to materialize. Winger claimed, “I’ve met with them, confirmed their identities, seen the evidence that corroborates their testimonies, and believe that it’s Christ-honoring to come forward and shout a warning to believers everywhere that Todd White is disqualified and dangerous.” It may well be that Winger's accusations against White were true and I do not dismiss them. However, biblically, we should not accept an allegation against an "elder" (I use the term loosely in Todd Whites case) without evidence. Biblically, the word of a single witness is unacceptable, and corroborating evidence is always required. (Matthew 18:16; 1 Timothy 5:19; 2 Corinthians 13:1; Deuteronomy 19:15, etc.) Winger promised that the evidence would be forthcoming, but it has never materialized. Winger's exposé would have endorsed White's already tainted reputation as a conman who engages in parlour tricks and false teaching, but without corroboration, it cannot be accepted.
Winger "About those objections to hell..." 28 September 2023: "I am open to the idea of annihilationism or conditional immortality.."7 (10:42 mark). At the same time, Winger affirms the existence of hell. This kind of double-talk is very unhelpful and waters down the gospel.
Recently, I reported on Winger's interview with Elijah Stephens, where it was assumed that false teachers could be reinstated. Winger: "This video is made to help stir up positive change in the movement." Stephens repeatedly made protracted appeals to Shawn Bolz and Bethel leaders to take accountability and to reform their ministries.8 Once again, Winger apparently failed to comprehend that Shawn Bolz and Bethel leaders are utterly disqualified and should never assume the role of teachers within the body of Christ, even if they do repent.
Mike Winger's recent exposure of cult leader Steven Koko, the so-called "predator of Panama",9 involves close collaboration with hypercharismatic false teacher Torben Sondergaard, founder of The Last Reformation.10 Sondergaard is a "thus saith the Lord" leg puller and demon slayer who hijacks people into false repentance. (See further links) Again, I am not dismissing Winger's claims against Koko, and it appears that in this instance, there are viable witnesses to the abuse. However, no bona fide Christian apologist should collaborate with false teachers like Sondergaard > the means do not justify the ends.
What Winger describes as his epic fight against "cover-up culture" may seem very worthy, but it is problematic. Winger's response to Koko's "goons" is "over my dead body". This sounds very courageous, but Christ is not looking for lone ranger heroes who ignore his precepts, just faithful servants.11
Winger: "Over my dead body. Steve Koko's goons are already threatening people with legal action, trying to get my video removed. Can I reply to them right here? My reply: If we got anything wrong reach out to me and tell me. But, if you are trying to intimidate and control, doing Cover-Up Culture (as I suspect) then I want you to know that every action you take will only make things WORSE for you. I will shine the light on your acts and the things you do to try to continue intimidating and controlling people. If my video has anything wrong in it, I will happily deal with it. But, when it comes to lies, threats, and bullying, my only response to you is 'over my dead body.'"
Having now done a much deeper dive into Mike Winger's ministry, he puts me in mind of compromiser Michael Brown, who speaks out of both sides of his mouth and makes excuses for false teachers. I now regard Winger as unsafe, and critically, he is potentially part of the false light of the political right.
South African "pastor" Joseph Mhlakela's false prophecy that the rapture would occur on September 23-24, 2025, on Rosh Hashanah, went viral on social media platforms, gaining 560,000 views. This nonsense was echoed by many other false prophets. Mhlakela now proclaims that the rapture will occur on October 6-7. Mark and avoid this false prophet. (Romans 16:17-18).
And the LORD said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. (Jeremiah 14:14).
But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Matthew 24:36-44).
The aim of this post is to examine Charlie Kirk's faith and to compare some of his attitudes and beliefs to those found in the Bible. This post does not concern the conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk's murder.
Kirk was a "professing Christian", i.e., he claimed to be a Christian, he proclaimed the gospel accurately on a number of occasions, and he was generally considered to be a champion of biblical values. Many naive people assumed that Kirk was an authentic Christian. However, there were significant issues contained within Kirk's theology that were incompatible with his profession.
Ecumenism
The essential criterion that marks out a true believer is that he/she keep God's word. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15 cf. John 14:23-24; 1 John 5:3,2:3-5,3:22-24; 2 John 1:6; John 15:10,14. Matthew 7:21 etc.)
Kirk attended Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, where he worshiped and hosted political rallies. Dream City Church (formerly Phoenix First Assembly of God) is a multi-site Pentecostal megachurch affiliated with the Assemblies of God USA.
Kirk also occasionally attended Mass at St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, and openly acknowledged that he was ecumenical. He spoke about his respect for Roman Catholicism and the possibility of his conversion. In an interview reported by Crisis Magazine, he said: “Some of my greatest friends in the world are Catholic…I go to Catholic Mass every once in a while. I don’t take the Eucharist…but I’m open-minded, but I’m not there yet.”1
In an interview with Church Militant, Kirk said, "The world is a better place because of the Catholic Church, and that needs to be said more. He went on to express that he has 'so much respect for the Catholic Tradition and Church.'" 1
Kirk was, in fact, steeped in Roman Catholicism. Kirk's wife, Erica, was raised a Roman Catholic and attended Notre Dame Preparatory, a private Catholic high school in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is a practicing Roman Catholic, and it is reported that she attends Mass daily.2
Online pictures show the Kirks visiting the National Basilica in Washington, D.C., along with photos of Charlie Kirk attending Mass. Erika raised a rosary to onlookers as her husband's body was transported home.3 On a recent episode of his podcast, Kirk spoke about the "Blessed Mother" and mentioned how he was close to Father Don Kline, pastor of St. Bernadette Catholic Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, and how his wife was baptized Catholic.
EWTN: "During a July 16 episode of 'The Charlie Kirk Show' on “Real America’s Voice,” Kirk explained that he believes Protestants do not venerate or talk about Mary enough. He said she “is the solution” to “toxic feminism in America.”
“Mary was clearly important to early Christians,” Kirk said. “Have more young ladies be pious, be reverent, be full of faith, slow to anger, slow to words at times. Mary is a phenomenal example, and I think a counter to so much of the toxicity of feminism in the modern era.”4
Many evangelicals voiced concerns that these remarks were tantamount to a slide toward Roman Catholic tradition.While bible believing Christians respect Mary, she is not the answer to toxic feminism or anything else. To cross the line into the kind of "veneration" that verges on Mariolatry is sinful. In my view, Kirk blurred the lines, or was in the process of blurring the lines, between true biblical Christianity and its antithesis, Roman Catholic tradition. (2 Corinthians 11:4). In essence, ecumenism is a violation of the first commandment to prioritize God above all else. You shall have no other Gods before me. (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Matthew 22:36-38 cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14).
In a recent statement, Kirk's pastor at Turning Point USA, Rob McCoy, said, "Many Protestants, mainly Baptists and evangelicals, do not believe Catholics are Christians. If we are to learn anything from Charlie, it's to know Charlie did not believe this. Even though we have no evidence to show Charlie was on his way to the CC, Charlie very well believed practicing Catholics were Christians. And my encouragement to Baptists and evangelicals alike is to take this position as well."5
Mormons
Kirk: 'I love how Mormons send missionaries around the world, I love how polite they are.. Half my team is Mormon.. Mormons are great people.. I'm an evangelical Christian, but I'm not one of those guys that hates on Mormons.. We need a strong Mormon church back in this country.."6
Kirk claimed that he did not endorse Mormonism. However, he actively sought to get Mormons on board with his political agenda. The fact that Mormons send missionaries around the world indicates that they are spreading a false gospel. Why would the US "need a strong Mormon church" spreading a different gospel? (2 Corinthians 11:4).
New Apostolic Reformation > Dominion Theology
Kirk was involved with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), an aberrant movement that seeks to influence society through Dominionist Theology. Kirk made public statements promoting the NAR agenda, particularly the "seven mountain mandate," at events such as the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Kirk collaborated with prominent leaders within the NAR, such as Lance Wallnau, and he participated in the strategy to turn religious congregations into active participants in political campaigns, especially for candidates aligned with the "America First" agenda.7
"Right Wing Watch reported last week that Kirk had endorsed California congressional candidate Sean Feucht, a worship leader at Bethel megachurch and a favorite of dominionist 'apostles' and 'prophets.' It turns out that endorsement was the tip of the iceberg of Kirk’s partnership with a group of California-based pastors connected to Christian nationalist political operative David Lane."
The implications of Kirk's association with NAR leaders raises the critical issue of ecclesiastic separation of church and state. When dominionists conflate the kingdom of God and earthly power, they compromise the gospel. Jesus made a critical distinction between the kingdom of God and earthly dominion. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” (John 18:36).
For Kirk, MAGA (Make America Great Again), and the goal of winning/maintaining political power over the Democrats took precedence over the command of biblical separation. The biblical mandate for believers to separate themselves from sin and worldly influences and to maintain holiness was entirely absent from Kirk's theology. (2 Corinthians 6:17; Romans 12:2; 1 John 1:6-7; Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:11).
Shabbat
Kirk strictly observed the Jewish Sabbath, Shabbat. In an interview, he recommended that Christians follow Shabbat, and he was due to publish a book on the subject, 'Stop, in the Name of God: Why Honoring the Sabbath Will Change Your Life', which is now scheduled to be published posthumously in December.
Kirk's teaching and book on this subject will undoubtedly influence Bible believers to observe Shabbat. However, the New Testament does not require believers to observe Shabbat or any Jewish Festival. Shabbat observance was a specific commandment to the Israelites, not to Gentiles.
The Israelites must keep the Sabbath, celebrating it as a permanent covenant for the generations to come. It is a sign between Me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, but on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.(Exodus 31:16-17).
Within Orthodox Judaism, any Gentile who observes Shabbat must be circumcised or be put to death. Circumcision was a practice that Paul vehemently opposed in New Testament churches. (Galatians 5:2).
"Rabbi Yose bar Hanina said: A gentile who keeps Shabbat before [i.e. without] accepting circumcision is liable for death. Why? Because they [gentiles] were not commanded in it. And why did you see fit to say that a gentile who keeps Shabbat is liable for death? R. Hiyya bar Abba said R. Yohanan said: in the normal way of the world, if a king and matron sit and converse with one another, one who comes and inserts himself between them – is he not liable for death? Similarly this Shabbat between Israel and the Holy One blessed be He, as it is said “between me and the Israelites [it is an eternal sign]” (Exod. 31:17). Therefore, any gentile who comes and inserts himself between them before accepting upon himself to be circumcised is liable for death."8
Kirk did not claim that it is obligatory to observe Shabbat. However, he extolled the benefits of doing so, and he presented persuasive arguments in favour of the practice. Paul is clear; if we want to observe days and years, then we are free to do so. However, we should not seek to influence others, and we should keep such matters between ourselves and God. Christians are not obliged to submit to Old Testament practices to gain particular blessings. Gentile believers alreadyhave every blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3).
Interestingly, nine of the original ten commandments given in Exodus 20 are referenced in the New Testament. However, the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath is not mentioned as a statute that Christians are obliged to keep. This is becauseJesus embodies the true rest and fulfillment of the Sabbath. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10).
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? You observe days and months and seasons and years! I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain. (Galatians 4:8-10).
Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17).
One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (Romans 14:5-9).
The black community > divisive rhetoric
Although it is vociferously denied that Kirk was a racist by his supporters, there are clear examples that corroborate this allegation and confirm his damaging, racist remarks against black people.
Kirk frequently cast doubt on the qualifications of black professionals.. In 2024, he said, “If I see a black pilot, I’m gonna be like, boy, I hope he’s qualified.”
On one occasion, he referred to “a moronic black woman” in customer service and questioned whether she was hired “because of her excellence, or … because of affirmative action.” Kirk attacked civil rights leader Martin Luther King: “Clarence Thomas was a far better black role model to celebrate than Martin Luther King. Period. End of story. This guy is not worthy of a national holiday.” At Turning Point USA’s America Fest in 2023, Kirk said, "MLK was awful. We made a huge mistake when we passed the Civil Rights Act in the 1960s."
Kirk referred to journalist Joy Reid, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as “affirmative action picks", and he claimed they did not “have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously.”9 Kirk blamed a Black fire chief in Austin, Texas, for flooding deaths that occurred a three-hour drive away from the city.10
Kirk denounced Juneteenth as a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. Kirk: “Juneteenth should not be a federal holiday.. This holiday is not about celebrating emancipation, regardless of the veneer they put on it.”10
These remarks make sense when the roots and history of the NAR and its ties to Brahnamism, British Israelism, and the Ku Klux Klan are understood.
Collins: "William Branham's mentor was Roy E Davis.. the second in command of the 1915 KKK. Branham was working with not only Roy E Davis.. Davis was working with Caleb Ridley, who was the Klan's Supreme Religious Chaplain, and they were trying to establish, it was a short lived organization called the Supreme Kingdom, but they were trying to establish what today, you could almost say it was the prototype for today's Dominionism.They were trying to invade the government, the education system, the media, the entertainment industry.. Davis rose up to be the next Imperial Wizard of the Klan.. he is promoting Branham.." (40 minute mark)11
Appeasement to the Christian Right
This is not the time to capitulate under pressure from the powerful Christian right. Some surprising people have voiced their approval for Kirk.
If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? (Jeremiah 12:5).
Below is a selection of viewer comments demonstrating that Good Fight's viewers have more courage and discernment than they do!
* I find this surprising to warn against his heresies that are so destructive. Can yall not see the eucumenical push to come from his death? I am very surprised yall hid the truth during such an important time. Its wild that this is a positive review of charlie and unlisting the video that pointed out the heresies he teaches that will lead many astray... Do yall not understand that many people are googling him and watching his stuff now and will fall into the seven mountain mandate?? Why not allow people to see the truth?
* Good fight: how devastating that you have deleted your vid confronting Charlie on his FALSE TEACHING about Co- redeemer Mary!!!!
How can we possibly TRUST YOU if you crumble under the pressure of Kirk suddenly becoming godhood in his martyrdom!!!
This new vid on Kirk is a GLOWING REPORT OF HOW GREAT HE IS!!!! it's DISAPPOINTING Seriously I'm so SURPRISED!!!
* Unsubscribed. I was very suspicious of you guys to begin with but now it’s confirmed. You do all of these videos on Freemasons yet you can’t see that Charlie Kirk is a Freemason and this was a club event to push propaganda and divide us further? Candace Owens said she’s a mason and one of her recent videos. She comes out and says it. They are all in the club. Maybe you are too.
Michael Grant is currently vacillating on the issue of Kirk's alleged faith. As a result, I have unsubscribed from his YouTube channel. The Faith of Charlie Kirk (1993-2025)
Many evangelicals promote the idea of eternal security, also known as "once saved, always saved" (OSAS). However, it is critical to note that OSAS is unbiblical. In fact, the concept of unconditional eternal security was not introduced until the Reformation in the sixteenth century, approximately 1,500 years after the formation of the church. The Calvinist doctrine of "the perseverance of the saints", the P in TULIP, is a key teaching connected to what Calvin described as "the horrible decree", i.e., the doctrine of double predestination. John Calvin (1509-1564) argued that salvation is unconditional and that believers are assured of their eternal salvation.1Woods' version of OSAS, "the preservation of the saints", is a modification of Calvinism. However, OSAS was never taught in any form until the Reformation.
The teaching that faith plus works done in faith is the biblical model for believers following initial salvation. The false doctrine of "works salvation" is not contradicted by this teaching. Believers are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. However, the scriptures indicate a process of continuing in faith following conversion.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The following scriptures collectively emphasize the importance of remaining steadfast in faith and obedience to God. They confirm that salvation is not simply a one-off event, but that it is a continual process involving the active commitment of believers to walk by faith: Matthew 7:21-23; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Ezekiel 18:24; Hebrews 6:4-6; Revelation 3:5. Verses like Jude 1:24, John 3:16,10:27. Ephesians 4:30 and Romans 8:38-39 do not negate personal responsibility of believers to walk by faith. The command to "make disciples" is often neglected due to this dangerous teaching. (Matthew 28:19). The result is that many believers' salvation is put at risk. They either are not sufficiently motivated to follow their high calling and fail to meet their potential. Even worse, they may apostasize and yet still believe themselves to be saved.
Woods' "proof text" below includes the phrase "guarded through faith".
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5).
Ellicott: "Through faith.--The Apostle is fearful lest the last words should give a false assurance. God can guard none of us, in spite of His 'power,' unless there be a corresponding exertion upon our part--which is here called 'faith'--combining the notions of staunch fidelity and of trustfulness in spite of appearances. It is through such trustful fidelity that we are guarded."2
Benson: "through faith — Through the continued exercise of that faith, by which alone salvation is both received and retained..2
Woods cites various examples from the "Hall of Faith" in Romans 11. Woods: "Abraham was justified right when he believed. Justification is something that already happened. So there is no big question mark if you have trusted in Christ for your salvation as to your justification, and there is no question mark as to your glorification.."
Nevertheless, Abraham was put to the test. It was by his act of faith that he was justified.
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son.. (Hebrews 11:17 cf Genesis 22:1-18).
Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? / You see that his faith was working with his actions, and his faith was perfected by what he did. / And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:21-23).
Woods' examples are interesting, but they do not constitute final evidence of eternal security. We are certainly not looking at sinless perfection in Paul's examples, and inevitably, all of them sinned to some degree, some worse than others. Only God knows the particular circumstances of each individual's life and their heart condition before Him.
I do take issue with some of Woods' conclusions; specifically, the question of whether Samson committed suicide. Scholars have debated this question, and most take the view that although Samson's actions resulted in his death, it was not strictly suicide. That is because Samson’s mission was to kill the Philistines and to take the lead in saving the Israelites from oppression. (Judges 13:5). Samson achieved his ultimate goal that day by killing over 3,000 Philistines. Commentators have reasoned that Samson sacrificed himself to finish the work God had called him to do, and that his death was a result, not the aim of his actions. It should be noted that he sought the Lord about his actions and asked for the strength to avenge the Philistines, and he asked God to let him die with the Philistines.
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. (Judges 16:28-30).
In contrast, the narrative concerning Saul is completely different. Samuel informed Saul that the Lord had turned against him and had become his enemy. (1 Samuel 28:16). Samuel prophesied that the Lord would deliver Israel into the hands of the Philistines and that the next day, Saul and his sons would die in battle. (1 Samuel 28). The end result was that Saul took his own life to avoid capture after being severely wounded by the Philistines.
Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them. (1 Samuel 31:1-7).
Regarding the phrase spoken by Samuel: "..tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me." (1 Samuel 28:19). There is much discussion in the commentaries about this verse, and I do not regard this phrase as proof positive that Saul was saved. Samuel's statement may be referring to Sheol. (1 Samuel 25:1). At that time, Sheol or Hades was the abode of departed spirits of righteous and wicked alike. (Job 3:17; 2 Samuel 12:23).3 It is interesting that the Septuagint or the LXX translation of I Samuel 28:19 reads: “and to-morrow thou and thy sons with thee shall fall". If this 2nd-century translation is more accurate, then Samuel may have simply been referring to their death.4
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. (Jude 1:3-5).
Woods teaches that the Israelites destroyed in the wilderness lost their physical lives but that ultimately they were saved. However, God's response to Moses was, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book. (Exodus 32:33). Furthermore, the context of Jude discredits Woods' assertion. Jude continues his epistle with the example of the angels who rebelled and were punished with eternal destruction, i.e., the same punishment as those who sinned in Sodom and Gomorrah > eternal fire:
And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgement of the great day— just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. (Jude 1:6-7).
Paul also refers to the Israelites who were overthrown in the wilderness: Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:1-12 cf. 2 Peter 3:17 ).
Paul warned the Galatians that to fall away from grace is to be severed from Christ:You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4).
To be severed from Christ necessitates that one must have been attached to Christ previously. Similarly to fall away from grace also necessitates prior attachment.
Meyer: "But all the admonitions, from 1 Corinthians 10:6 onwards (see, too, 1 Corinthians 10:14), have a direct reference to falling into sins, the consequence of which is a falling from grace so as to come under the divine ὀργή {wrath}(comp Galatians 5:4)."5
The Ante-Nicene
Fathers
The scriptures are always our first priority. However, it is very interesting that the early church fathers did not recognize OSAS. “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. But often shall ye come together, seeking the things which are befitting to your souls: for the whole time of your faith will not profit you, if ye be not made perfect in the last time.” (Didache, A.D.140)
“That eternal fire has been prepared for him as he apostatized from God of his own free-will, and likewise for all who unrepentant continue in the apostasy, he now blasphemes, by means of such men, the Lord who brings judgment [upon him] as being already condemned, and imputes the guilt of his apostasy to his Maker, not to his own voluntary disposition.” (Justin Martyr, fragment in Irenaeus’ Against Heresies, 5:26:1, A.D.156)
“Christ shall not die again in behalf of those who now commit sin, for death shall no more have dominion over Him; but the Son shall come in the glory of the Father, requiring from His stewards and dispensers the money which He had entrusted to them, with usury; and from those to whom He had given most shall He demand most. We ought not, therefore, as that presbyter remarks, to be puffed up, nor be severe upon those of old time, but ought ourselves to fear, lest perchance, after [we have come to] the knowledge of Christ, if we do things displeasing to God, we obtain no further forgiveness of sins, but be shut out from His kingdom. And therefore it was that Paul said, ‘For if [God] spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest He also spare not thee, who, when thou wert a wild olive tree, wert grafted into the fatness of the olive tree, and wert made a partaker of its fatness.’” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 4:27:2 A.D. 180)
“But some think as if God were under a necessity of bestowing even on the unworthy, what He has engaged (to give); and they turn His liberality into slavery. But if it is of necessity that God grants us the symbol of death, then He does so unwillingly. But who permits a gift to be permanently retained which he has granted unwillingly? For do not many afterward fall out of (grace)? Is not this gift taken away from many?” (Tertullian, On Repentance, 6 A.D. 204)
“Therefore, the ones who are pardoned are those who slip into sin unintentionally and incautiously. He who sins willfully has no pardon.” (Lactantius, A.D. 304)
“By believing in Him you will live. But by disbelieving you will be punished.” (Apostolic Constitutions, A.D. 390)
“Grace with the Lord, when once learned and undertaken by us, should never afterward be cancelled by repetition of sin.” (Tertullian, A.D. 203)
“He who keeps them will be glorified in the kingdom of God. However, he who chooses other things will be destroyed with his works.” (Barnabas, A.D. 70)
“Only those who fear the Lord and keep His commandments have life with God; but as for those who do not keep His commandments, there is no life in them.” (Barnabas, A.D. 70)
“We ought therefore, brethren, carefully to inquire concerning our salvation. Otherwise, the wicked one, having made his entrance by deceit, may hurl us forth from our life.” (Barnabas, A.D. 70)
“Let us therefore repent with the whole heart, so that none of us perish by the way.” (Second Clement, A.D. 150)
“I hold further, that those of you who have confessed and known this man to be Christ, yet who have gone back for some reason to the legal dispensation [i.e. the Mosaic Law] and have denied that this man is Christ, and have not repented before death—you will by no means be saved.” (Justin Martyr, A.D. 160)
“Rather, we should fear ourselves, lest perchance, after we have come to the knowledge of Christ, if we do those things displeasing to God, we obtain not further forgiveness for sin, but are shut out of His kingdom.” (Irenaeus, A.D. 180)
“He who hopes for everlasting rest knows also that the entrance to it is toilsome and narrow. So let him who has once received the gospel not turn back.” (Clement of Alexandria, A.D. 195)
“God gives forgiveness of past sins. However, as to future sins, each one procures this for himself. He does this by repenting, by condemning past deeds, and by begging the Father to blot them out.” (Clement of Alexandria, A.D. 195)
“The world returned to sin…and so it is destined to fire. So is the man who after baptism renews his sins.” (Tertullian, A.D. 198)
“Rather they must be preserved. It is not the actual attainment, but the perfecting, that keeps a man for God.” (Cyprian, A.D. 250)
“A son who deserts his father in order not to pay him obedience is considered deserving of being disinherited and having his name removed forever from his family.” (Lactaintius, A.D. 304)
“He who sins after baptism, unless he forsakes his sins, will be condemned to Gehenna.” (Apostolic Constitutions, A.D. 390)
“These things, beloved, we write unto you, not merely to admonish you of your duty, but also to remind ourselves. For we are struggling on the same arena, and the same conflict is assigned to both of us. Wherefore let us give up vain and fruitless cares, and approach to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us attend to what is good, pleasing, and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us. Let us look stedfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious that blood is to God, which, having been shed for our salvation, has set the grace of repentance before the whole world. Let us turn to every age that has passed, and learn that, from generation to generation, the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all such as would be converted unto Him. Noah preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved. Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites but they, repenting of their sins, propitiated God by prayer, and obtained salvation, although they were aliens [to the covenant] of God.” (Clement to the Corinthians, 7:33-36)
“Day and night ye were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.” (Clement to the Corinthians, 2:7, 8)
“On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp. Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades.”(Clement to the Corinthians, 4:20, 21)
“Having obtained good proof that thy mind is fixed in God as upon an immovable rock, I loudly glorify [His name] that I have been thought worthy [to behold] thy blameless face which may I ever enjoy in God! I entreat thee, by the grace with which thou art clothed, to press forward in thy course, and to exhort all that they may be saved. Maintain thy position with all care, both in the flesh and spirit.” (The Epistle of Ignatius to Polycarp, 1:1)
“What we gather from all these quotes is that the early Church believed one was saved by faith in Christ and His blood, apart from works. That we’re redeemed and washed from our sins, there must be repentance, if one sinned and did not repent they would be lost. They believed God’s foreknowledge and predestination, and they believed by blaspheming the Holy Spirit and/or forsaking God that one would lose salvation.” unknown
“God is a God of mercy and compassion, He is long suffering, patient, and willing to call you back, but if one persists in willful abandonment and blasphemy against His Spirit, how can He put up with that?” unknown
Justin Martyr- c. 100/114AD – c. 162/168 AD. He was another early Christian apologist (defender) of the faith and was martyred by beheading. His works represent the earliest surviving Christian apologies of notable size:
• Man acts by his own free will and not by fate. (20)
• We have learned from the prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, chastisements, and rewards are rendered according to the merit of each man’s actions. Otherwise, if all things happen by fate, then nothing is in our own power. For if it be predestined that one man be good and another man evil, then the first is not deserving of praise or the other to be blamed. Unless humans have the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice, they are not accountable for their actions-whatever they may be…. For neither would a man be worthy of reward or praise if he did not of himself choose the good, but was merely created for that end. Likewise, if a man were evil, he would not deserve punishment, since he was not evil of himself, being unable to do anything else than what he was made for.(21)
• But that you may not have a pretext for saying that Christ must have been crucified, and that those who transgressed must have been among your nation, and that the matter could not have been otherwise, I said briefly by anticipation, that God, wishing men and angels to follow His will, resolved to create them free to do righteousness; possessing reason, that they may know by whom they are created, and through whom they, not existing formerly, do now exist; and with a law that they should be judged by Him, if they do anything contrary to right reason: and of ourselves we, men and angels, shall be convicted of having acted sinfully, unless we repent beforehand. But if the word of God foretells that some angels and men shall be certainly punished, it did so because it foreknew that they would be unchangeably [wadicked], but not because God had created them so.
Andy Woods' rebuttal against Neo Calvinism is correct in many respects. However, his failure to recognize the false doctrine of OSAS is a lethal error. Problematically, Woods is a hyper-dispensationalist who teaches that the Church began after the events of the Book of Acts, as against Pentecost. He promotes the false hope of the pretribulation rapture, and in doing so, he denies the obvious fact that the Olivet Discourse references the rapture! When teachers put their own spin on the scriptures, incalculable damage is done to the body of Christ.
Truly, I say to you, this generation (ἡ γενεά αὔτη) will not pass away until all these things take place. (Matthew 24:34 cf. Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32).
Partial preterist Jeff Durbin speaks very confidently about bible prophecy, but he should be worried. Those who misinterpret the scriptures will face God's judgement. (Revelation 22:18-19 cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:5-6).
Durbin's preterist claims are perplexing on a number of levels, especially the claim that 70AD fulfilled the events of Matthew 24. It is self-evident that the key events from Matthew 24:15 onwards are yet to be fulfilled and did not occur during the lifespan of Jesus' audience. Ecumenist CS Lewis' claimed that Mathew 24:34 is "the most embarrassing verse in the Bible".1 Unless we choose to follow Lewis' poor example and accuse Jesus of error, then we should give Matthew 24:34 proper consideration in light of other passages of scripture. (Luke 1:37). The general consensus is that the book of Revelation was written in 95AD, following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. This information indicates a future fulfillment of events following the abomination of desolation event. (Matthew 24:15-30). The book of Revelation describes "what must soon come to pass" (Revelation 1:1,3,19;4:1; 22:6,16).The Greek context of "come soon" suggests that eschatological events will happen quickly and suddenly rather than within a short period of time. Jesus' failure to identify the time of His return (Matthew 24:36 cf. Matthew 25:19 cf. James 5:7-8) should deter dispensational date setters and preterist deniers from making false assumptions.
One interpretation of Matthew 24:34 is that it refers to a future generation, i.e., those alive when the predicted events occur. I was relatively happy to accept this interpretation until recently. However, Ryan Meyer's thesis and subsequent book "This Generation in Matthew 24:34 and The New Exodus: (SJCTMS 2)"2 based on the lexical background of the noun "generation" is compelling.
Meyer argues that commentators have misunderstood the word "generation" and have applied it to the English understanding of the term. He cites the Brill Dictionary of Ancient Greek. Meyer: "They have all kinds of translation options or glosses depending on the category. It could mean something like race, family stock, breed descendants, place of birth origin."3 Other lexicons confirm this information.4
Further evidence for Meyer's thesis is found in the Old Testament use of the equivalent Hebrew term (dowr) in what is referred to as "the Song of Moses" in Deuteronomy 32. The phrases: they are a crooked and twisted generation.. for they are a perverse generation.. (Deuteronomy 32:5,20) refer to the Hebrew people group rather than a specific generation. Meyer argues convincingly that Jesus' use of "generation" in Matthew 12:39 and again in Matthew 24:34allude to the Song of Moses. It is widely acknowledged that Matthew has rich connections to the Old Testament. The exact number of Old Testament citations in Matthew varies among scholars, primarily because they are often indirect references and quotations.
This comprehensive interpretation of "generation" is groundbreaking in that, rather than interpreting this termsolely as a temporal generation contemporaneous with Jesus’s earthly ministry, a qualitative sense of the phrase becomes a viable alternative. In other words, according to Meyer, "this generation" is a transtemporal term that refers specifically to a people group, namely the Jewish people collectively.
Throughout the Old Testament, the theme of Israel's unfaithfulness and God's subsequent rebuke is a recurring narrative that underscores the covenant relationship between God and His chosen people. This relationship, established through the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants, is marked by God's faithfulness and Israel's repeated lapses into idolatry and disobedience.5 Despite the frequent rebukes and warnings given to Israel, the prophets also spoke of a future hope and the restoration of Israel. The concept of a "New Exodus" refers to the prophetic and eschatological expectation of a future deliverance and restoration of Israel and Judah, analogous to the original Exodus from Egypt. Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them. But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
Calvinist Jeff Durbin is an elder of Apologia Church and the founder of Apologia Studios.1
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8).
Durbin: "'Jesus is coming with the clouds' ..that throws people because they expect to see something that scripture speaks differently about." Durbin's argument that Jesus' return "with the clouds" should be interpreted symbolically is extremely problematic and has significant implications for the rest of Scripture, particularly in the context of eschatology. Usually, it is not difficult to discern which parts of the scriptures are symbolic and which parts are literal. Over symbolism destroys historical Christianity and leads believers into error and liberalism. As a result, we might begin to misinterpret the literal ascension of Jesus into heaven, the existence of the star of Bethlehem, the virgin birth, Jesus' miracles, or any number of literal events.
Jesus' ascension affirms His literal return from heaven.
After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11).
Various passages refer to Jesus' literal return "with the clouds" or "from heaven". (Matthew 24:30,26:64; Luke 21:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Cosmic Disturbances
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His [elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31).
The above passage refers to events preceding the gathering together (ἐπισυνάξουσιν) of the elect. In other passages, this event is referred to as harpazo > caught up. (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Incidentally, Matthew 24:29-31 utterly debunks the pretrib rapture theory since these events happen "after the tribulation". Further passages clarify that the cosmic disturbances and rapture occur between the sixth and seventh seal of Revelation.
Durbin: "When God uses dramatic prophetic hyperbole throughout the Bible to talk about his coming judgment, when he uses cosmic deconstruction language like the stars are going to fall from the heavens, the sun's not going to give its the sun's going to be dark and the moon's not going to give its light, we look up with western eyes and we say, 'Where's the stars and meteors? When's it coming When's that going to happen?' But if you read this with biblical eyes, with a different kind of lens in terms of the lens of scripture, you can see that when God used that language of cosmic deconstruction, it was judgment language about Babylon or Egypt. In Isaiah 13, for example, he used that exact language. Jesus was quoting from it, by the way. He used that exact language about the historic judgment of a pagan nation. And was it literal? Did the stars literally fall from the earth to the earth? No. No. It was cosmic deconstruction language.."
The phrase "the Day of the Lord" is an identifier for eschatological passages in both the Old and New Testaments. This phrase is found in Zephaniah 1:14-2:3; Isaiah 2:10-21; Isaiah 13:6-13; Amos 5:18-20; Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1-2, 10-11; Joel 3:14-16; Zechariah 14:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Peter 3:1-14.
And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. (Joel 2:30-31).
Interestingly, the cosmic disturbances are accompanied by "a great earthquake". Does Durbin interpret the great earthquake as hyperbole as well?
When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).
Durbin's eschatology is compromised by entrenched preconceived ideas from his tradition. The consequence of this baggage is that he misinterprets the scriptures grievously. Durbin and others have made themselves the final arbiters of which parts of the bible are to be taken literally, and in doing so, they elevate themselves above God. The scriptures compel us to correctly interpret the word of truth! (1 Timothy 2:15).
