We would have to be biblically illiterate to believe anything coming out of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thesalonians 2/3-4)
Franklin Graham in a recent interview with of all people apostate TBN Co-Founder Jan Crouch: “We feel that we’re on the edge, that the lord Jesus Christ could come back at any moment.”
Billy Graham: “ …..the rapture will not be secret, since it will be part of Christ’s visible and triumphant return to end this present evil age (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).” http://billygraham.org/answer/what-is-the-rapture/
“Graham showed the evangelical flame still burned brightly within him by claiming that the time was ripe for the second coming of God on Earth. In the Bible this is called the Rapture - but it spells Armageddon for human civilisation.” http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/billy-graham-hope-christ-rapture-prediction-516248
“America is suffering from a ‘sea of immorality,’ he (Billy Graham) said, adding that in his opinion, the second coming of Jesus Christ is imminent.” http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/7/rev-billy-graham-americas-drowning-sea-immorality/
Franklin Graham: “As I read the news, I can’t help but wonder if we are in the last hours before our Lord Jesus Christ returns to rescue His church and God pours out His wrath on the world for the rejection of His Son….. I don’t know if we have hours, days, months, or years…..”
http://www.refiningtruth.com/billy-graham-wonders-hours-christ/
It is important to differentiate between the rapture (the harpázō of the ekklésia - the snatching away of the true church) and the second coming of Jesus Christ. The rapture is described in 1 Thessalonians 4/13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15/50-54. The second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth is described in Revelation 19/11-16.
The timing of the rapture is not specified in the scriptures ….. no one knows the day or the hour (Matthew 25/13), whereas the second coming of Christ to the earth follows a definite sequence of events and will occur after the great tribulation. In both Daniel and Revelation we have a period of three and a half lunar years, described variously as 42 months, 1260 days, or a time, times and half a time (Daniel 7/25; 12/7; Revelation 11/2; 12/6; 12/14; 13/5). In Daniel 12/11-12 the period is extended to 1290 and 1335 days (Daniel 12/11-12).
And he (the Antichrist) shall make a strong covenant with many for one week (seven years – each day is one year), and for half of the week (three and a half years) he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator. (Daniel 9/27)
Concerning the rapture, some people take the pre-tribulation view, some the mid tribulation view and some the post tribulation view. It does concern me that those who teach a definitive pre-tribulation position are taking liberties with God’s word and I am not convinced by their arguments (Proverbs 30/6; Revelation 22/18). Good Fight Ministries and others are now beginning to warn about the dangers of pre-tribulation position.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9iRT91_pyo
My own thoughts are that if the rapture and the second coming are simultaneous, believers will have to go through the whole period of the great tribulation and suffer the wrath of God (1 Thessalonians 5/9; Revelation 3/10; 6/12-17). I therefore very tentatively take a pre-wrath rather than a pre-tribulation view at this point in time for the following reasons:
The rapture will be an instantaneous event (1 Corinthians 15/52), whereas the second coming will be visible to all people and Christ’s millennial reign on the earth will begin (Revelation 1/7).
At the rapture, Christ comes for His own - believers will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4/13-18; John 14/3). The elect will be rescued just as Lot was rescued from Sodom (Luke 17/28-29). This is what is referred to as the “secret” rapture.
In contrast, the second coming is Christ’s visible return to the earth ----every eye shall see him---- (Revelation 1/7; Matthew 24/29-30; Acts 1/11). His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14/2-4)). Jesus Christ will come to the earth with His own following the great tribulation period of three and a half years (1 Thessalonians 3/13; Jude 1/14; Revelation 19/4,14). At the end of the age, the angels will gather all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness (Matthew 13/40-42, 47-50) The wicked will be blotted out as in the days of Noah (Genesis 7/23; Matthew 24/39).
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, 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 out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24/31; Mark 13/27)
There seems to be a very short period of time between the rapture and the second coming in the above passage. Nevertheless it is not the same event.
To sum up, the Christians are taken from the earth at the rapture and the wicked are left, whereas the wicked are taken away at the second coming and the Christians remain on the earth with Christ.
What are we to think about Billy and Franklin Graham? Are they so arrogant that they think that they can say anything and be believed? Unfortunately there are people who have made the catastrophic mistake of gambling with their eternal destiny by putting Billy Graham on a pedestal above the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. We should seriously take note of the Berean Jews and test men’s words against the scriptures (Acts 17/11). No man’s reputation should come above Jesus Christ and His gospel!
These men are false prophets and false teachers. As I have written in previous posts, they have a proven track record of apostasy and compromise. The whole Graham family are ecumenical including Anne Graham Lotz. They have a form of godliness, but they deny the power of the true gospel (2 Timothy 3/5). The true gospel preached by the power of the Holy Spirit is the power of God for salvation – this is incompatible with ecumenism (Romans 1/16). These men empty the cross of Christ of its power (1 Corinthians 1/17).
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1/8)
Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12/17)
The love of the Lord is directly connected to making disciples NOT converts. Any person preaching the gospel has a responsibility to do everything possible to ensure that those who respond are given sound teaching and follow up.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs (Greek = little lambs).” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21/15-17)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….. (Matthew 28/19)
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20/28)
The BGEA quite literally throw the lambs to the wolves by sending them directly into the “care” of the Luciferian Roman Catholic Church!!!
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. (Acts20/29)
Billy Graham and Franklin Graham are actually aiding demons in snatching away the gospel from mens hearts:
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.” (Matthew 13/3-4, 19)
"Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? (Ezekiel 34/2)
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19/6-10)
Dear Reader – Do you have questions about Jesus Christ and how to be truly saved? If so, then please read my post: GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/gods-plan-of-salvation-through-jesus.html
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