PRE-TRIB RAPTURE CONCERNS: JAN MARKELL AND FRIENDS

A survey conducted by LifeWay Research in 2016, revealed that 36% of Protestant pastors in the US believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. {1} The pre-tribulation rapture theory is also popular in the UK and is a dominant belief amongst Pentecostal and Charismatic groups. Some teachers insist that differences about the timing of the rapture are not a reason for Christians to separate. In one respect I agree. Those Christians who believe that the post trib/pre wrath rapture is the biblical model should do everything possible not to alienate those who have been indoctrinated by the pre-trib error. My problem is not with the rank and file, but rather with those teachers who aggressively promote the pre-trib rapture knowing its inherent weaknesses. While these teachers keep banging on about the pre-trib rapture and abusing those of us who believe differently, I feel that the subject will necessarily be a cause of division.

The pre-tribulation rapture theory is so deeply flawed and dangerous that it absolutely necessitates a strong challenge. (Jeremiah 23:16; Proverbs 13:12). The history of pre-trib stands on very shaky ground. (Matthew 7:26-27). The theory was popularised by false teacher and cult leader John Nelson Darby in the 19th century. Prior to Darby, the pre-trib rapture view was completely unknown, although I have heard its proponents falsely claim otherwise. The men who further popularised the pre-trib rapture in the late 1990's, were to put it mildly, of very dubious character. Tim LaHaye (Left Behind), Chuck Missler, Jerry Falwell, Paul Crouch, etc. were staunch supporters of cult leader Sun Myung Moon (Moonies) and were financially/politically compromised.{2}

Broadcaster Jan Markell (Olive Tree Ministries) aggressively promotes the pre-tribulation rapture. Jan refers to those of us who reject this view in favour of the pre-wrath or the post-tribulation rapture "naysayers". {3} I fear for people like Jan. (Matthew 12:36). Many who reject the pre-wrath/post tribulation rapture have not studied the scriptures objectively to see if these things are so. (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). I do appeal to Jan and friends to revisit this subject and to reconsider their position.

The Old Testament "prophets of doom" were also categorised in equivalent terms as "naysayers". They spoke the truth, although they met a great deal of derision and persecution. Those who tickle itching ears give the people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3; Isaiah 30:10).

Hananiah the false prophet is a striking case in point:

In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.” (Jeremiah 28:1-4).

Hananiah's prophecy was appealing, even to Jeremiah in some sense. However, in reality it was nothing more than a pipe dream:

Jeremiah: "Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true. Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.” (Jeremiah 28:6-9)

Problematically, the test of whether a prophecy comes to pass (or not) will come too late for those who have been deceived by the pre-trib error. The consequences of false pre-trib rapture expectations will be enormous! The great tribulation will begin suddenly at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel, when the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4). At this late stage, it appears that many will have put all their hope in escaping persecution and will fall away. Many Christians will not be sufficiently "rooted in Him" to understand or endure the unparalleled persecution of the Antichrist. (Matthew 24:21; Colossians 2:6-7; Revelation 14:12).

Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. (Matthew 13:5-6). 

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matthew 13:20-21).

And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. (Matthew 24:10).



The Generation That Will Not Pass Away – JD Farag, Amir Tsarfati, Jack Hibbs, Billy Crone and Eric Barger - 5th July 2019.

In the above video below, Jan has compiled excerpts from longer interviews during her Understanding the Times Conference 2018. I have picked up on a couple of points as follows:

JD Farag's Poor Theology. (11:00) - The pre-tribulation rapture permeates the entire teaching of Jan and her friends, and in the process it distorts the teaching of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 5:9). Both Jan and JD equate the pre-trib rapture with the "blessed hope". The context of Titus 2:13 describes the blessed hope as "the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." The blessed hope is intimately bound up with the glorious appearing i.e. the second coming of the Lord, when he will slay the lawless one with the breath of his mouth. (2 Thessalonians 2:8). To add further confusion, Jan and JD dismiss the biblical distinction between tribulation (thlipsis) and wrath (orge) and treat them as synonyms. In doing so, they continue to advance the seven year tribulation fallacy and the pre-trib rapture. These persistent errors have been corrected many times by competent bible scholars over the years. Wilful ignorance and poor theology are inexcusable in those who presume to hold positions of authority within the church. 

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. (Titus 2:1).

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1).

Jack Hibbs' Dishonesty. (29:00) - Both Jan Markell and Jack Hibbs claim that those who are premillennial and post-trib have a "problem" with Israel. Hibbs: "I can tell you right now without meeting them, they have an issue with Israel.." This piece of misinformation is easily debunked. There are a number of significant premillennialists who teach that God will work simultaneously with Israel and the church during the 70th week of Daniel. Two examples are cited below:

Alan Kurschner (Eschatos Ministries) teaches biblical prophecy from a futurist, premillennial, pre-wrath perspective and is pro-Israel.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/god-will-work-israel-church-simultaneously-in-future/id521019400?i=1000441901546

Joe Schimmel (Good Fight Ministries) teaches from a futurist, premillennial, post-trib, pro-Israel perspective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCgDt9Ox3Ww

As a pastor, Jack Hibbs should know the importance of telling the truth. (Ephesians 4:25; Proverbs 12:17). The integrity of a teacher comes into serious question when he is blatantly dishonest with the facts.

Going back to JD Farag. In a previous video with Jan Markell in 2017 "What on Earth is Happening? - he made the insane accusation that anyone who attacks the pre-trib rapture is "satanic". (7:00).

Whether deliberately or not I cannot say, but JD uses the Nazi technique adopted by Adolph Hitler: "..people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it." {4}

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. (Isaiah 5:20).

..while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13).

That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (Isaiah 30:9-11,15).

Recommended Links:

https://www.alankurschner.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqdtreJjbic&list=PLDS6L4dOrrh2b31rfWbTduK8Dv7LlQNlk

1. https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2016/april/large-number-of-pastors-dont-believe-in-the-rapture.
2. http://www.cuttingedge.org/news/n1818.cfm
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaJSlT8Ihas
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_lie