ANDY WOODS SUGAR LAND BIBLE CHURCH: THE PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE

Andy Woods Sugar Land Bible Church
7 Reasons To Trust The Pre-trib Rapture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZBoSaG4-KY

In this video, Andy Woods, summarises various rapture views before moving on to his alleged seven reasons to trust the pre-trib rapture.

Andy Woods' argument: "..because the pre-trib rapture is constantly attacked is proof that it is true", is a logical fallacy. In that case, we might as well dismiss all strong opposition to false teaching. (Acts 20:28-30, Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:13-14; 3:10).

Andy Woods' disparaging remarks about the prewrath rapture view are astonishing considering the murky history of the pre-trib theory. Pre-trib believers should acquaint themselves with certain embarrassing pre-trib facts before dismissing other views out of hand. Apart from lacking one single verse of scripture to verify it, the pre-trib rapture was provably unknown prior to the mid 1800s when cult leader and heretic John Nelson Darby brought it into focus. During the 20th century, the pre-trib theory was widely promoted by Cyrus Scofield via the Scofield Reference Bible. Scofield was a particularly unwholesome character, leaving in his trail a catalogue of misdemeanours and deceptions after his "conversion" to Christianity.

Below is an excerpt from the Topeka newspaper The Daily Capital dated 27th August 1881:

"Cyrus I. Schofield, formerly of Kansas, late lawyer, politician and shyster generally, has come to the surface again, and promises once more to gather around himself that halo of notoriety that has made him so prominent in the past.

The last personal knowledge that Kansans have had of this peer among scalawags, was when about four years ago, after a series of forgeries and confidence games he left the state and a destitute family and took refuge in Canada.

For a time he kept undercover, nothing being heard of him until within the past two years when he turned up in St. Louis, where he had a wealthy widowed sister living who has generally come to the front and squared up Cyrus’ little follies and foibles by paying good round sums of money.

Within the past year, however, Cyrus committed a series of St. Louis forgeries that could not be settled so easily, and the erratic young gentleman was compelled to linger in the St. Louis jail for a period of six months.

Among the many malicious acts that characterized his career, was one peculiarly atrocious, that has come under our personal notice. Shortly after he left Kansas, leaving his wife and two children dependent upon the bounty of his wife’s mother, he wrote his wife that he could invest some $1,300 of her mother’s money, all she had, in a manner that would return big interest.

After some correspondence he forwarded them a mortgage, signed and executed by one Chas. Best, purporting to convey valuable property in St. Louis. Upon this, the money was sent to him. Afterwards the mortgages were found to be base forgeries, no such person as Charles Best being in existence, and the property conveyed in the mortgage fictitious..” {1}

In more recent times, the pre-trib rapture has been promoted by Tim LaHaye and other cronies of false messiah Sun Myung Moon (Moonies). (See Further Links).

Thomas Ice gave prewrath the derisory label "three quarters rapture" in his flawed analysis of 2009. {2} In 2004, Ice scandalously distorted the Greek noun apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as a "spacial departure" in a desperate attempt to make it fit the pre-trib rapture. However Ice was unable to provide evidence to back up his interpretation during a debate with Alan Kurschner in 2015. {3}
Also exposed by Alan Kurschner ~ Andy Woods' substandard research into apostasia. {4}

Andy Woods is one of many teachers that make the false assertion that God's wrath occurs during the entire 70th week of Daniel. The scriptures make a distinction between "birth pains" and "the day of wrath", i.e. the undiluted cup of His wrath. (Matthew 24:8 -9; Revelation 14:10). Technically, "the day of wrath" is a particular series of events that become imminent following the cosmic disturbances of Revelation 6:12-17. ..for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand? (Revelation 6:17 cf. Acts 2:20; Matthew 24:29. The phrase “the day of the Lord” also refers to this period of time and is often referred to by the OT prophets, e.g. Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5).

Ellicott: "Against the day of wrath.—Strictly, in the day of wrath—i.e., wrath to be outpoured upon the day of wrath. “The great and terrible day of the Lord” is a conception running through all the prophetic writings. (Comp. also, in the New Testament, Luke 17:30; Acts 2:20; 1Corinthians 1:8; 1Corinthians 5:5; 2Corinthians 1:14; 1Thessalonians 5:2; 1Thessalonians 5:4; 2Thessalonians 2:2; 2Peter 3:10; 2Peter 3:12; Revelation 6:17; Revelation 16:14.)" {5}

Another fallacy is the argument that because "the church" is absent from Revelation 4–21, the rapture must occur prior to the 70th week of Daniel. Andy Woods calls this "the concept of the missing church". This is an astonishing assumption considering the various references to believers in these chapters. God's focus does come upon Israel during the 70th week. (Daniel 9:24). However, there is no evidence to suggest that the church is absent during that time.

In the New Testament, the word church (ekklēsia) applies to local congregations in many instances. (e.g. Matthew 18:17; Acts 8:1). The apostle Paul's letters are addressed to individual named churches. Acts 9:31 refers to "churches" (plural) in named geographic areas. Similarly, specific named churches (plural) are addressed at the beginning of the book of Revelation. (Revelation 1:11). Where the church is referred to in general terms, it often signifies the entire body of Christ, past, present and future. (Ephesians 3:21; 5:23,32; Revelation 22:16).

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Revelation 22:16).

It is not common to find ekklēsia applied to the whole body of Christian believers in the New Testament. The absence of ekklēsia in Revelation chapters 4-21 is therefore consistent with the New Testament use of the term.

Revelation chapters 4-22 refers to believers in generic terms i.e. the churches are not broken down into their constituent parts as in Revelation chapters 1-3. The suggestion that "saints" or "bond servants" does not refer to "the church" in the book of Revelation is shamelessly dishonest. Numerous passages in the New Testament use both these expressions to define faithful members of the true church. Note: "bond servant", as found in the introductions to Romans, Philippians, Titus, James, and 2 Peter, applies to faithful believers cf. Philippians 2:7. Similarly in the book of Revelation, faithful believers are identified as "saints" i.e. they are ..those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. (Revelation 14:12 cf. Colossians 1:2; Ephesians 1:1). The cost of their loyalty to Christ will be martyrdom in many cases. (Revelation 17:6 cf. Revelation 13:10).

In a worldly sense "the church" describes the whole of Christendom, whereas the whole of Christendom does not consist of faithful believers. During the great tribulation, the apostate church will doubtless be falsely known as "the church", since the religion of the Antichrist will be a form of counterfeit/perverted Christianity. Furthermore, it is likely that the true churches will be in disarray during the great tribulation due to the persecution of the Antichrist and the betrayal of apostate believers. (Matthew 24:10). In our own time we see this scenario developing with the decline of previously sound biblical churches and the rise of ecumenism.

Israel and the Church

According to Andy Woods the entire purpose of the "seven year tribulation" is to shatter the holy people i.e. Israel. (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 9:24). He partially quotes Daniel 9:24:

“Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city.. 

Incredibly, he fails to quote the remainder of Daniel 9:24: ..to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness.

Furthermore, the "birth pains" described by Jesus occur globally (all nations/various places). (Matthew 24:5-8). Specific tribulation, in the shape of the Antichrist's persecution, comes upon Israel at the mid point of the "week". This three and a half year period is in fact the great tribulation referred to by Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:21). Andy Woods quotes Daniel 12:7, a pivotal verse that confirms the 3.5 year time frame i.e. time, times, and half a time.

And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. (Daniel 12:7).

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 is a critical passage confirming that two events must occur before the Parousia i.e .the second coming of Jesus Christ and the rapture:

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together (episunagōgēs) 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. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

The coming of our Lord Jesus and the rapture (episunagōgēs) are closely related in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, clearly indicating a late rapture. ..that day, the day of the Lord i.e. the wrath of God, will not occur until after the mid point of the "week" when the Antichrist is "revealed". Also note Paul's warning "Let no one deceive you in any way" concerning "that day".

Andy Woods poses the question: "Why would the church be here, we have no need of that? We are already in faith. We have already acknowledged Jesus, Israel is yet to do that.." (7:00 mark) This is to limit the church to "us".

My Question: Does Jesus retrieve an incomplete bride at the rapture?

In his Jewish marriage analogy below, Andy Woods teaches that Jesus returns at the beginning of the seventieth week of Daniel to retrieve his bride, the church. However, his analogy fails because the bride is incomplete at that point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYaIKKQUpOg  

The scriptures demonstrate that the cosmic disturbances of Revelation 6:12-14 mark the end of the great tribulation, and that the church appears complete and in heaven before the onset of the day of the Lord.

After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...
Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
“Sir,” I answered, “you know.”
So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9-14). 

During the day of the Lord, people do not repent. (Revelation 9:20-21; 16:9-11). It is reasonable to conclude from these events that the rapture occurs at some point between the sixth and seventh seal of Revelation.

Jesus addresses His disciples i.e. the church, and warns them that they will enter the great tribulation:

“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. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24: 9-14,21).

Revelation 12:17 identifies "the rest of her offspring" as Christians:

And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 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 12:13-17).

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: (Revelation 13:7-9).

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!” (Revelation 14:12-13).

There is no evidence to suggest a massive revival during the great tribulation as some teach. Nevertheless there are opportunities to repent and potential conversions:

And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. (Revelation 11:13).

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:6-7).

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” (Revelation 14:9-11). 

Once Again, Andy Woods quotes half a verse in a miserable attempt to prove that that church are in heaven during the great tribulation! He teaches that the seven lampstands i.e. the seven churches in Revelation 1:20, are the seven lamps burning before God in Revelation 4:5. (12:00 mark). He fails to quote the second half of Revelation 4:5, which states unequivocally that the seven lamps in Revelation 4:5 are in fact the seven spirits of God:

From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, (Revelation 4:5).

Some view the various rapture differences as an in-house debate lacking real importance. I differ with that analysis due to the severe warnings given in the scriptures, and in particular, the book of Revelation. Why is it that so many scriptural evidences for the church's presence on earth during the great tribulation are blatantly mistaught and disregarded? Those teaching the pre-trib rapture put many believers at serious risk of falling away during the great tribulation. (Matthew 24:10-11). They compound their error when they teach pre-trib in tandem with "eternal security". (2 Timothy 4:3). He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ (Revelation 2:11).

I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19).

1. http://poweredbychrist.homestead.com/files/cyrus/scofield.htm
2. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1042&context=pretrib_arch
3. https://www.alankurschner.com/2018/04/12/the-transcript-of-my-2015-debate-with-taomas-ice-is-now-available/
4. https://www.alankurschner.com/2017/12/02/a-reply-to-andy-woods-on-apostasia-is-the-rapture-ep-104/
5. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/romans/2.htm

Further Links:

Darby's Deadly Doctrine
http://freestockphotos.com/COMING1/DarbysInvention.htm
CI Scofield's Hidden Side by Dave MacPherson
https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2017/07/ci-scofields-hidden-side-by-dave.html
The Seven Year Pre-tribulation Rapture Deception: Chuck Missler And The Berean Call
https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-seven-year-pre-tribulation-rapture.html
Chuck Missler and Friends - Council For National Policy
https://youtu.be/IQ1WQQv1e3o
A Reply to Andy Woods on ‘APOSTASIA Is the Rapture’
https://www.alankurschner.com/2017/12/02/a-reply-to-andy-woods-on-apostasia-is-the-rapture-ep-104
God has worked with Israel and the church at the same time in the past..
https://www.alankurschner.com/2017/06/26/god-has-worked-with-israel-and-the-church-at-the-same-time-in-the-past/
Does the Absence of the Word ‘Church’ (Ekklēsia) in Revelation 4–21 Support a Pretribulation Rapture?
https://www.alankurschner.com/2017/01/20/does-the-absence-of-the-word-church-ekklesia-in-revelation-4-21-support-a-pretribulation-rapture-ep-75/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
The Biblical Defense for the Prewrath Rapture of the Church v=QL5hQLCYPXk&list=PLaVrnyfOkO2GaQr1amD55vigrWuRivHuP&index=2&t=0s

ANDY WOODS SUGAR LAND BIBLE CHURCH - SECURE IN CHRIST

Andy Woods
Sugar Land Bible Church
Secure In Christ ~ Revelation 3:5-6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbOrhJD6qnM

Andy Woods is a staunch pre-tribulation rapture "eternal security" teacher. His repeated claim, based primarily on Revelation 3:5-6, that overcomer (νικῶν) is by definition a synonym for a Christian regardless of conduct is extremely problematic for a number of reasons. For the sake of consistency, the bible quotations in this post are taken from the New American Standard Version as per Andy Woods' Sermon.

'He who overcomes (νικῶν) will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Revelation 3:5-6).

Andy Woods': "'He who overcomes' is a positional fact already made about the believer based on what Jesus Christ has already done for the believer, rather than what the believer does for himself." (17:15 mark). 

This statement is true only in so far as it applies to the believer in the present tense. The assertion that the believer is a guaranteed overcomer, both now and in the future, violates the grammar. The Greek verb νικῶν (overcomes) is a present active participle, i.e. it describes an action which is taking place now. The present active participle refers to an action that is currently taking place or which takes place repeatedly, but not indefinitely. For Andy Woods to be correct, νικῶν would have to be written in the perfect tense (a past action with an ongoing effect) e.g. but take courage; I (emphatic) have overcome (νενίκηκα / perfect active indicative) the world." (John 16:33).

There is a distinction between the believer who overcomes in a present ongoing sense, and Jesus Christ who has overcome (aorist). The scriptures put the onus on the believer to progressively "overcome", not in his/her own strength in the flesh, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

'He who overcomes (νικῶν), I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame (ἐνίκησα) and sat down with My Father on His throne. (Revelation 3:21).

νικῶν = present active participle. 
ἐνίκησα = verb aorist active indicative - first person singular.

and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome (ἐνίκησεν) so as to open the book and its seven seals." (Revelation 5:5).

ἐνίκησεν = verb - aorist active indicative - third person singular.

Works Salvation?

Andy Woods: "He who overcomes (νικῶν ) - that means I have got to do something." 

For Andy Woods, conditional salvation is an abhorrent doctrine, because, in his terms, it is dependent upon works. In fact the opposite is true. What many fail to appreciate (apparently), is that the believer who abides in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit obliterates the charge of "works salvation". Those who abide in Christ will necessarily produce evidence of their faith. (James 2:20).

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. (John 15:4-6 cf. John 6:56).

Abide in Me, and I in you.. The imperative is followed by the promise i.e. the latter depends upon the former. In other words, without abiding in Christ the promise cannot be gained.

Jesus' past victory does have continuous ongoing effect, with the proviso that it applies to those believers who endure in the faith and stand firm to the end. (Matthew 10:22; Colossians 1:22-23).

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:39) The KJV has draw back unto perdition (εἰς ἀπώλειαν). In other words, those who shrink back experience eternal destruction!

Andy Woods' examples from 1 John 4 and 5:

You are from God, little children, and have overcome (νενικήκατε) them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (1 John 4:4).

In this instance νενικήκατε is in the perfect tense. However, in context, the remainder of 1 John 4 expresses the necessity of believers fulfilling certain conditions. (Psalm 119:160).

God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment;

..If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. (1 John 4:16b-21).

For whatever is born of God overcomes (νικῶν) the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes (νικῶν) the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5).

Andy Woods' example from Romans 8:37: (24:00 mark)

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer (υπερνικωμεν) through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37).

υπερνικωμεν verb - present active indicative.

In a very serious sense, Andy Woods' repeated misapplication of the simple present tense has the devastating result of altering the scriptures. (Revelation 22:18-19; Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6).

Andy Woods: "The believer compared to the unbeliever is called an overcomer.. It doesn't matter what is going on in your personal life.. you are already an overcomer." (26:00 mark) "No amount of backsliding, no amount of disobedience can cancel who you are in Christ Jesus." (33:00 mark) I regard Andy Wood's false optimism as highly irresponsible considering that the scriptures prophesy the terrible reality of coming apostasy:

At that time many will fall away.. (Matthew 24:10).

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.. (1 Timothy 4:1 cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:16; Romans 2: 6-8). 

Andy Woods' example from Revelation 21:6-8:

Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. “He who overcomes (νικῶν) will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Revelation 21:6-7).

Revelation 21:6-7 applies to specific individuals i.e. the one who thirsts.. He who overcomes.

'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. (Revelation 3:5).

Revelation 3:5 is not an imperative (a command), it is a conditional promise. It describes Christians. but not necessarily all Christians, since it is not inevitable that all Christians will overcome. (Matthew 24:10 cf. Matthew 11:6; Matthew 13:21, 57).

If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; (2 Timothy 2:12).

Vincent's Word Studies: "The meaning of the last clause is, will not acknowledge us as his own. Comp. Luke 9:26; Matthew 10:33." {1}

God is not some ogre willing Christians to fail, quite the opposite.. hence the repeated exhortations to stand firm and to overcome. (2 Peter 3:9; Romans 2:4; Psalm 46:1). Sin is inevitable. (1 John 1:8-10). However, it is God's will that we confess our sins and work through our various issues, as in the case of Euodia and Syntyche:

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:2-3 cf. 1 John 1:9). 

It is worth noting that the early Church Fathers clearly taught that Christians must continue in the faith in order to be saved. {2}

..and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." (Revelation 5:5).

The overcomer is Jesus Christ. All the reference to Jesus Christ as the overcomer are in the perfect tense, but in the case of believers it is a conditional promise in the present tense:

John 16:33... I have overcome the world. (perfect tense)
1 John 4:4 and have overcome them.. (perfect tense)

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome (ἡττῶνται), the last state has become worse for them than the first. (2 Peter 2:20).

For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6).

It was very remiss of Andy Woods not to teach Revelation 3:5 in context with the preceding verse. He completely omits the link "thus" (in this way, in like manner) between the few who are worthy in Sardis (Revelation 3:4) and He who overcomes. (Revelation 3:5).

‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Revelation 3:4-6 cf. Matthew 10:38).

Meyer on Revelation 3:5: "An express pointing backward to what precedes is made by the οὕτως, which makes the promise here bestowed upon the victor (οὕτ. περιβ. ἐν. ἱμ. λευκ.)[1382] appear to coincide with that which (Revelation 3:4) was given to the one whose garments were not defiled.[1383]" {3}

Logically it is not possible to defile garments that are not pure at first. The question is: What is the fate of those who have defiled their garments and have brought shame upon Jesus and His church? Only those who have pure garments will be present at the marriage supper and will subsequently return with Jesus at his second coming. (Revelation 19:7-8,14; cf. Matthew 22:11-12).

Two Books of Life?

Andy Woods admits that the OT references to being blotted out of the book of life contradict his teaching. (Exodus 32:31-33 and Psalm 69:27-28). His "solution" is that there are two books i.e. the book of life (the book of the living = physical life), and the Lamb's Book of life (eternal life). However his arguments for this are unconvincing.

Exodus 32:32

Moses plea regarding the sin of the Israelites: "But now, if You will, forgive their sin-- and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!" For the second time, Andy Woods skews the context by quoting Exodus 32:32 in isolation. Verse 33: The LORD replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot out of My book.. (Exodus 32:31-33).

Note: Moses refers to the book that God has written. The book of life in both the OT and the NT is a heavenly book in which the names of the righteous are inscribed. Those blotted out of the book have sinned grievously and are excluded from the company of the righteous. In other words, the upshot is that those blotted out are rendered unrighteous and have forfeited their place in heaven:

- the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9 cf. 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 21:27).

Pulpit Commentary: "And if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book. Some interpret this as merely equivalent to, 'Blot me out of the book of the living,' and explain that phrase as meaning simply - 'Take my life - kill me instead of them' - but something more seems to be meant. 'The book of the living' - 'the book of life' - the book of God's writing - is not merely a register of those who happen to be alive at any given time. It 'contains the list of the righteous, and ensures to those whose names are written therein, life before God, first in the earthly kingdom of God, and then eternal life also' (Keil). Thus Moses declared his willingness - nay, his wish - that God would visit on him the guilt of his people, both in this world and the next, so that he would thereupon forgive them." {4}

Psalm 69:28

This is the third time that Andy Woods fails to mention the critical preceding verse:

Add iniquity to their iniquity, And may they not come into Your righteousness. (Psalm 69:27).

Benson on Psalm 69:27: "The words may be rendered, Add punishment to their punishment, (for the word עוןis often put for the punishment of iniquity.) Send one judgment upon them after another, without ceasing. And let them not come into thy righteousness.." {5}

May they be blotted out of the book of life And may they not be recorded with the righteous. (Psalm 69:28).

The question of "righteousness" puts severe doubt upon Andy Woods' argument that these OT examples are limited to those physically alive and to temporal consequences.

Below - Andy Woods' chart alleging that there are two books of life:

The phrase "the Lamb's book of life" occurs only twice in the New Testament (Revelation 13:8 and 21:27). The phrase "the book of life" (as against "the Lamb's book of life") is also found in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 3:5; 17:8 20: 12,15; 22:19). Paul also refers to "the book of life". (Philippians 4:3). Luke makes reference to those whose names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). This expression is also found in Hebrews 12:23.

The white throne judgement in Revelation refers to only one book of life, whereas books (plural) applies to unbelievers: 

And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. (Revelation 20:12-13, cf. Revelation 20:15).

Andy Woods teaching that "the book of life" referred to throughout the scriptures is not the same book as "the Lamb's book of life" is unsubstantiated. I submit that there is no compelling evidence to suggest that the book of life and the Lamb's book of life are two separate books. Andy Wood's theory matches his false doctrine, and his attempt to muddy the waters is extremely questionable. (Ezekiel 34:18).

The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine is also promoted by Andy Woods. These two lethal false doctrines (the pre-trib rapture and eternal security) are often taught in tandem. The result is that they diminish the gospel and the criticality of remaining/continuing in the faith to the end. Careful exegesis shows that the rapture cannot occur until after the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God half way through the 70th week of Daniel. (2 Thessalonians 1-4). I recommend Alan Kurschner on this subject and also Paul Dorgan's comprehensive pre-wrath video on YouTube. (see Further Links).

The challenge for all Christians is to be Bereans. (Acts 17:11). I warn those attending Sugar Land Bible Church to test Andy Woods' teachings very carefully and to be very wary of his self assessment regarding doctrinal soundness. (1 John 4:1).

1. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_timothy/2-12.htm

2. https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/did-the-primitive-church-preach-the-doctrine-of-once-saved-always-saved/

3. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/meyer/revelation/3.htm

4. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/32.htm

5. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/benson/psalms/69.htm

Further Links:

Quotes From The Early Church Fathers ~ https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/did-the-primitive-church-preach-the-doctrine-of-once-saved-always-saved/

The Great Deception ~ Joe Schimmel ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAQBTybv2mk&t=1432s
Alan Kurschner Eschatos Ministries ~ https://www.alankurschner.com/
Paul Dorgan End Times Seminar Session 4 - The Day of the Lord ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Ynrb2qugA&list=PLDS6L4dOrrh2b31rfWbTduK8Dv7LlQNlk&index=4
Once Saved Always Saved? ~

https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2019/12/once-saved-always-saved.html
Rapture archives ~ https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/search/label/Rapture