Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble!
Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! (Matthew 18:7)
Chuck Misslers Ten Reasons For A Pre-tribulation Rapture PART 1: http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/chuck-missler-false-teacher-pre.html
The Rapture.. Chuck Missler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1xoON5GLSw
Reason 4: "Look up" for the rapture. Redemption, not tribulation based on Luke 21:28.
This is a shameful attempt to take one isolated verse completely out of context in order to justify the false pre-tribulation rapture. Luke
21:28 follows the the signs in the sun, moon and stars, also related in
Revelation 6 and elsewhere. The extreme imminence of the Lords return
indicated here follows the great tribulation! The cosmic disturbances in Luke 21 depict the sixth seal events (Revelation 6:12), at which point the Day of God's Wrath is at hand. These verses actually confirm the pre-wrath view of the rapture, certainly not pre-trib! You simply cannot get a pre-tribulation rapture from these verses!
And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and
on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring
of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up (look up) and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:25-28)
See also Mark 13:24-26; Matthew 24:29-31; Amos 8:9; Joel 2:30-31; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Revelation 6:12-14.
Reason 5: Ambassadors are recalled prior to a war. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through
us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Missler pushes the Apostle Paul's "ambassador" analogy too far when he says that ambassadors are recalled prior to a war. This is a ludicrous and worldly argument for the rapture of the church to occur prior to Daniel's 70th week. It should be obvious to the reader that an ambassador for Christ is already involved in a war. Paul describes himself elsewhere as an an ambassador in chains..... (Ephesians 6:20) which is completely opposite to the privileged position of a worldly ambassador (John 16:33 also Acts 14:22). The scriptures actually give us the very opposite view to that of Missler:
Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. (Matthew 24:9).
Also it (the beast) was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. (Revelation 13:7; Daniel 7:21-25)
Reason 6: "The restrainer" is removed before the Antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)
And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill
with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of
his coming. (2 Thessalonians 2: 6-8)
The Thessalonians had the advantage over us in that they were explicitly informed who the restrainer was by the Apostle Paul. Throughout history there have been various theories as to the identity of "the restrainer", who is referred to in both the neuter (what) and masculine (he) gender. John Nelson Darby, promoter of the pre-tribulation rapture theory, taught that the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2 was ".....the presence of the church and of the Holy Spirit on the earth." This connection with Darby makes me very uncomfortable considering that he was a cult leader and a heretic. Darby's view about pretribulationism and the restrainer was later popularised in the heretical Scofield Reference Bible. It was Darby who promoted the pre-tribulation rapture theory which was unknown prior to the nineteenth century. Darby hoped that pretribulationism would spread through the churches like "leaven" and indeed it has.
Even if we accept Darby's speculation that the restrainer is the Holy Spirit within the church on earth, we still cannot place the rapture at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. Making the connection between Daniel and Paul, we find that the man of lawlessness will be revealed at the mid point of of Daniel's 70th week, at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. The restrainer is first taken out of the way and then or at that time (Greek tote), the
lawless one will be revealed, implying that the two events happen almost simultaneously. At this mid point of the 70th week, the man of lawlessness will drop his facade and will no longer work covertly, he will betray
Israel and set up the abomination that causes desolation (Daniel 9:27; 11:31;
12:11; Matthew 24:15).
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 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. (5) Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-6)
Reason 7: "In the twinkling of an eye": The rapture is not an extended activity (1 Corinthians 15:52).
I fail to understand Missler's argument that "the twinkling of an eye" necessitates a pre-tribulation rapture. The post tribulation/pre-wrath view does not negate an instantaneous rapture. Missler "forgets" to explain when "the last trumpet" is sounded!!! Matthew and Paul clearly portray the rapture being heralded by the silver trumpet (sálpigks). Matthew 24 describes the sixth seal cosmic disturbances also depicted in Luke 21, with additional information regarding the gathering of the elect (episynágō = rapture). Once again, a pre-wrath view of the rapture is confirmed as against a pre-tribulation rapture!
.....in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the
trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be
changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command,
with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of
God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then
we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in
the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with
the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
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 24:29-31)
Missler falsely claims that the early Church Fathers taught the pre-tribulation
rapture, and he even gives the names of several of the Fathers in the above video! Actually none of the church fathers taught a
pre-tribulation rapture:
WHY IS THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE THEORY SO DOMINANT?
Our
adversary the devil works in ways that are confusing and intentionally
deceptive. One thing I very strongly recommend to Missler's
hearers is that on this one occasion they take his advice and check out
everything he
teaches against the scriptures with a fine toothcomb. The serious Bible
scholar will find many disturbing "errors" in Missler's
theology! The continuing dilemma for me is the dishonesty of these
pre-tribulation teachers. They not only distort the scriptures, they
also distort the historical facts to suit their agenda.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see
whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into
the world. (1 John 4:1)
TO BE CONTINUED
Further links:
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-seven-year-pre-tribulation-rapture.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtKUBcfjtHE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVZkayVX-Xo
http://www.preteristarchive.com/dEmEnTiA/2001_macpherson_deceiving.html
If pre-trib teachers can successfully coerce their followers to believe that the BIBLE teaches a rapture (or Second Coming of Christ-for that is what it amounts to-though they will assert it to be 'phase one of His Second Advent'!) then convincing them that the church fathers taught and believed in a pre-trib rapture should be nothing more than child's play?
ReplyDeleteMissler and his like are very, very dangerous men, they know that the majority of their flock won't bother to research and study the lengthy works of these ancient writers? They can harp on all day and say "read and study the Bible" and "to see if these things were so". But, again, many prefer to believe and trust in charlatans like Missler, because he is so intelligent, well read, and 'knows' his Bible.
Of course the Lord can come back at any moment for an individual through the portal of death. But we are here talking about THE Event of the Ages!?
It will not do for those who know and believe the Bible doesn't teach an any moment pre-trib rapture to promote their other unbiblical doctrines, just because they are premillennial, well so are the SDA, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons and other cults beside! Granted the latter two deny the deity of our Lord, but nevertheless we should have no truck with those who teach this monumental error (certainly we should warn them and tell them the truth), as we don't know how far their doctrines will lead us into greater error. The RCC doesn't deny the deity of Christ, or for that matter neither does Satan and his demons-James 2.19. Do we disagree with everything that Rome teaches?
"As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things, before, beware lest ye also being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness." 2 Peter 3.16-17.
God bless.
Treena,
ReplyDeleteYour leading Scripture in the above article seems to come from Matthew 18.7 (I am not sure what version) and not 1 Timothy 4.1? I only use the ancient and trusted AV/RV.
Is it not strange (or is it?) that one of the great Biblical truths that are held so dearly by many of the cults have a solid biblical foundation? Does there not have to be doctrine heavily based in Scripture in order for the cultic leaders to lead their followers astray? Though pre-millennialism is a doctrine taught by many of the cults, along with it comes very much error, even within professing Christianity.
Missler's many sophistries are very akin to his name sake-Miss led?
I believe (if you want to throw pre-destination/election out of the equation) that the reason many believe the Lord Jesus to be a false prophet is because of their misunderstanding of Scripture. I will quote Benjamin Wills Newton.
"But IN THOSE DAYS, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened," etc. Now if, as has been commonly said, the unequalled season of tribulation is past, if it occurred 1800 years ago, (remember this was written about 1850) when Jerusalem was captured by the Romans, then we must say that "IMMEDIATELY AFTER" it, and "IN THOSE DAYS," the sun and moon were darkened, and that the Lord returned in glory, and that He sent His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and gathered His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another. But was it so? Infidels have seen the impossibility of our truthfully saying this; and assuming that the predicted tribulation is past, have argued that the Lord Jesus must have been a false prophet; for that He said He would come IMMEDIATELY after the capture of Jerusalem, and He did not come. They say (and they say rightly) that the word IMMEDIATELY (euthus) is emphatic. Indeed, it is the emphatic word of the chapter (Matt 24). The disciples had asked "what shall be the sign of Thy coming?" The Lord answers, that the unequalled tribulation is the sign: for that immediately after it He will appear. And so it shall be. His words shall be strictly and in all minuteness be fulfilled."
Many confound Matthew 24 with Luke 21.
God bless.
hank you Colin for your insights. I use the ESV, though the versions you mention are equally valid. My opening quote is a warning shot against Missler, who does, in my opinion, make believers stumble! Correction made - thank you. The Preterists have it confused of course, and Benjamin Wills Newton is quite correct in his observations. The deceivers use a two edged sword, but to rightly divide the Word of God is SHARPER than a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12)!!! God bless tx
ReplyDeleteTreena,
ReplyDeleteOf course, the "Preterists" as you so correctly label them have caused no little confusion in the doctrine of the Second Advent. And though Mr Newton was staunchly post tribulational, his statement I quoted verbatim, no doubt would find full agreement with PWMI/Wilkinson/Missler & co. But, I believe the reason so few today fully understand (with their associated false prophets leading them against the truth) why these false movements have prospered so well is BECAUSE of Mr Newton's statement above? The wrong (preterist) interpretation of Matthew 24/Luke 21 gave much fertile breeding ground to false prophets and their followers.
But, I think this is where our agreement with pre-trib leaders/teachers ends? Yes, we heartily concur with their pre-millennialism, but that is where it ends in regards to the Second Coming, and much else? I am not sure if you have wasted your time reading Paul Wilkinson's "19 page rebuttal". This is absolutely no rebuttal at all. Wilkinson, Missler and their like because of their 'scholarship' and 'intelligence' will find it no difficult thing to ride roughshod over their followers as they know such will not do the donkey work to find out the truth? I am sure that Missler, Wilkinson and company have read the many 'attacks' against their theology? This brings to my mind the hardening of the heart episode in the Exodus?
Newton and his notable contemporary S.P.Tregelles died well before the appearance of what some may call Darby's master plan, that is the Scofield reference bible. This was the tool that ignited, and gave much fuel to the unbiblical teaching of pre-tribulationism.
God bless.
I fully agree with your application of Hebrews 4.12!
I did indeed waste my time reading Paul Wilkinsons 19 page rebuttal Colin!!! I am sure you are right in that Missler Wilkinson et al have read many attacks against their theology. The "donkey work" is time consuming, but the benefits are really amazing and bring much blessing. I think to focus on certain individuals is the way to go at the moment, as people tend to follow a "person". I also believe the right way to come against this deception is with "the sword of the spirit... the Word of God". Thank you for your thoughts they are very insightful. God bless tx
ReplyDeleteEphesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
ReplyDelete"I think to focus on certain individuals is the way to go at the moment, as people tend to follow a "person".?????? sorry, but in the light of the above scripture I think you are incorrect, have you voiced your concerns with Mr Missler?
Missler's public profile and false teaching does I think allow a public response! If he had taught such things privately, in a closed assembly, then of course I would go through the proper channels. I believe in these times, public "ministries" need to be called out publicly in order to expose the powers and principalities operating through them. God bless tx
ReplyDeleteThe origins of pre-tribulationism and the system of dispensational theology from which it sprang (or vice versa-you work it out!) has caused much strife within professing Christianity this last near 200 years. In Wilkinson's 'rebuttal' there may be many elements of truth in certain points regarding on exactly who said what, when, how and where. And the involvement of the Jesuits etc. But I confess that I lost much interest (not totally) in the history of the origins of the pre-trib/Irvingite saga when I fully resolved in my own mind that the Bible knows ABSOLUTELY NOTHING of it, that it IS a man-made (satanic?) theory. Having said this there is no doubt something major happened around the years 1825-30, and that cannot be denied. Wilkinson for example, states (correctly) that Tregelles was related to Newton, but this in the vein of "Hey guys, can you smell a dead rat here?". They were both independent scholars in their own right.
ReplyDeleteWell, the question remains that if it isn't a doctrine taught in Scripture, then clearly the inference is it must be satanic? And as regards calling Darby a cult leader, no doubt this is upsetting for pre-trib leaders/teachers, clearly in my mind at least, Darby, his followers and Scofield were instrumental into propagating Dispensational/pre-trib into practically every single church denomination that exists! Can any "cult leader" if you want to call Darby such, claim such universal success?
Anyway, if we are 100% clear from Scripture that pre-trib/Dispensationalism and the rest of the false teaching that comes along with it is not biblical, then what are we to call Missler and his like?
Previously, I for one have spent money on Missler's 'teaching' material and as you rightly say his ministry is very public-as if he would listen to "your concerns"!!!??? Yeah! I'm sure!
God bless.
AMEN COLIN - THE BIBLE KNOWS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING OF IT!!!
ReplyDeleteOn page 38 of Tregelles's "The Hope of Christ's Second Coming" he says,
ReplyDeleteThose who have mystified the minds of the uninstructed by incorrect teaching as to the use of the words of Scripture, (he is here speaking about the Greek word parousia) incur a solemn responsibility; they obtain an advantage as teachers, based wholly on rash assertions; the best that can be supposed of such is that they 'understand neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.' But they are responsible for misleading others by their assertions, for the sin of ignorance is still sin. On an appendix to this, he says;
This responsibility is a very heavy one. It is no light thing to undertake the instruction of others in the truth of God. The words of James are very solemn: 'My brethren, be not many (of you) teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.'
He penned this over 150 years ago. Is it any different today? The 'experts' that abound today?
When I 'believed' in the pre-trib rapture doctrine, I could never understand it (that is because it CANNOT be understood!) But, yes thank God, I can understand the Second Coming.
To your question "Why is the pre-tribulation rapture theory so dominant?" There are, I am sure many answers. But is it not true that men love the mysterious and occult? The truth as it is in Christ is perhaps just too simple?
God bless.
What Tregelles wrote is so very true Colin. It is an awesome responsibility to teach the Word of God, and as he points out, those who do so will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). It amazes me that these false pre-trib teachers are not trembling with fear at the prospect of their condemnation - I would be!!! God bless you x
ReplyDeleteSCRIPTURES THAT DESTROYS THE PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE DOCTRINE:
ReplyDeleteRev. 21:9 is about The New Jerusalem, the Bride, the Wife (Married already) of the Lamb (this is after the end of the Millennium, and start of the New Heaven and New Earth)
9 ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGEL who had the SEVEN BOWLS full of the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the BRIDE, the WIFE of the LAMB.”
(I hope we don’t have another bride in mind, like what pretribbers did to Matthew 24:29,30, making it the second rapture/resurrection, which they say is still an integral part of the first resurrection of Rev. 20. Jesus will get His Bride one time only, not several times)
Question:
Why does it have to be ONE OF THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO HAD THE SEVEN BOWLS, after he had done his tasked a thousand years ago, be the one appointed by Jesus to show to John the Bride? Why not one of the seven angels who had the trumpets, or Michael, or Gabriel, or any other Angels? Have you wondered why is this angel worth mentioning in introducing the Bride to John?
Answer:
Checkout Rev. 16:12-15
12 THE SIXTH ANGEL POUR OUT HIS BOWL on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold I come like a THIEF (to snatch or steal away)! BLESSED is the ONE who stays awake (WISE VIRGINS?) and remains clothed (OIL/HOLY SPIRIT/ROBE), so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Matthew 22
Question:
Why this sudden insertion in the execution of the Sixth Bowl Judgement and just prior to the punishment of the Great Whore (opposite of the Bride) and prior to Armageddon? What is the relevance of this passage in the coming chaotic and troublesome scenario?
Answer: So Obvious. Unless Jesus just wanted to mention it for no reason at all.
To make the above more logically valid, here is another scripture to back it up:
Rev. 16:17-19
17 The SEVENTH ANGEL poured out his BOWL into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered BABYLON THE GREAT and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath.
Rev. 17:1
17 ONE of the SEVEN ANGELS who had the SEVEN BOWLS came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the GREAT PROSTITUTE, who sits by many waters.
Here is the Logic:
The Sixth Angel who holds the Sixth Bowl Judgement introduced the Bride because he is the one who witnessed the resurrection of the dead in Christ and rapture of the alive in Christ.
The Seventh Angel who holds the Seventh Bowl Judgement introduced the Great Whore because he is the one who witnessed the punishment of the Great Whore/Babylon the Great/Mystery Babylon/Mother of Harlots.
After Jesus snatched his Bride, he then turned and deal with the Great Whore. Just rightly so isn’t it?
Boooom!!! There you have it, no amount of twisting or allegory can refute this scriptures.
God help us in this trying and deceptive end times.
eaglet
Missler used O.T.wedding as a typology of the Rapture. Stating Bride and Groom remain in Bridal chamber for 7 days=7 years. Chuck bases pretrib on Doctrine of Imminence stating ‘it doesn’t need anything preceding for it to occur’ and it is the cornerstone of the pretribulational view’, conceding “the fundamental Doctrine of Imminence must be forfeited with any view that requires the G. Trib, or any other precedent event to occur prior to the rapture”. His D.O.I fails as there are preceding occurrences.
ReplyDelete1. The Bridegroom will warn with a ‘SHOUT’ to alert the Bride.
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 The dead in Christ will rise FIRST.
3. 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “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”. (Preceding events) What day? Vs 1 “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him….”
4.Scriptures failed to support his stance. D.O.I.
5. Missler claims God's wrath all of G.Trib but it starts Rev 11:15-18. Typology of scripture is prophetic, stronger than a parable which is used for teaching; pointing to a lesson; or symbolic of a truth. However, everything in the parable may not necessarily be applied. Jesus drew from culture to identify with His audience so they could embrace the deeper spiritual lessons from their understanding of what was familiar. We cannot expect every dot to be significant, and placing too much emphasis on a parable can cause error.
Therefore the typology of the O.T. must be weighed against scripture.
Rev 19:7-9 "...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.”
1. This implies the Bride is only NOW ready for the Bridegroom.
2. If the Bride is to be raptured pretribulation she would have NOT been in the bridal chamber for 7 years – possibly only between 1-6 years.
3. Even if Bride and Groom were ready at Rev 19 to go into the wedding banquet that would mean they hadn’t stayed in the bridal chamber on their own for the full designated time of 7 days/years.
Chuck used emotive speech such as “violates”, “criticize” and the phrase “anyone who doesn’t believe in pretribulation is accepting God will beat the living daylights out of you, then we will get married.” When anyone let alone popular preachers resort to emotive speech; fail to examine and present in a logical dialogue both sides of an argument, they do a grave disservice to themselves, undermining their own argument by demonstrating a lack of confidence in their own stance.
This is an excerpt of my review for full review please email: georgie-en@hotmail.com
I listened to CM being interveiwed posted on You Tube. I speak as I find and was alarmed at his continuing reference to the erroneous interpretation of lampstands and lamps. He usually does this to justify the Jesuit sourced FUTURISM [450 years ago counter reformation tactic] which was escalated to include Pre Tribulation Rapture.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_lmqjMDMZo
Reference 1: 04 :50 ERROR: In Rev 4 : 5 [and Rev 1: 4 which is omitted in his remarks] the seven Spirits of God are the Seven Lamps before The Throne of God. In Rev 1: 13 and Rev 1 : 20 the seven lampstands are the seven churches in Asia. However Lampstands do not turn into Lamps. This teacher uses this lampstand and lamp error elsewhere in his other teachings to justify the pre tribulation rapture that is by saying that the seven churches on the earth [in Asia] are now before the Throne in Rev 4 : 5. WARNING: Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.