LEE BRAINARD'S FALSIFICATION OF THE CHURCH FATHERS: IRENAEUS WAS NOT PRE-TRIB!

(160) The Pre-trib Rapture Before Darby, Part 2 | TWIBP - YouTube

Lee Brainard: "In modern dispensationalism, when we use the word 'church' we are referring, not to all the saints of all the ages. We are referring only to the saints basically from the time of Christ forward..[Gonzalez: 'Pentecost forward'] to the saints of this age. And we would put the Old Testament saints and the tribulation saints under the heading of Israel and maybe Gentile proselytes to Israel. It is a very different idea.."

My objection to Brainard's dispensational mindset is that the pre-trib camp has moved the goalposts. The scriptures should dictate our definitions, not dispensationalism or any other tradition. We do not impose our terminology upon the scriptures, rather the scriptures should dictate our terminology. Just because dispensationalists argue that the church is a particular group of believers during a particular time frame does not make it so. For instance, the apostle Paul sometimes refers to "the saints" and at other times he refers to "the church" at specific locations. In other words, when "the saints" are referred to in the book of Revelation, we cannot make the assumption that they are a separate or secondary group of believers distinct from the church. 

To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae" (Colossians 1:1).

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2).

Also it [the beast] 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.. (Revelation 13:7).

Another instance of pre-trib revisionism is the redefinition of the tribulation period. The early fathers referred to the final 3.5 years of the seventieth week of Daniel as "the great tribulation" in agreement with the scriptures. The pre-trib camp has lengthened the tribulation period to encompass the entire 70th week of Daniel i.e. seven years, in order to suit their own agenda.  (Matthew 24:21) (See Further Links) 

Irenaeus - Against Heresies

Brainard gives three examples from Irenaeus Against Heresies that supposedly prove that he taught a pre-trib rapture. Although Irenaeus does make a distinction between the rapture and the second coming in Against Heresies 5.5.1, he indicates a prewrath rapture. In various other passages, Ireaneaus clearly states that the church will face the Antichrist prior to the rapture (see below). 

Against Heresies 5.25.4 And then he points out the time that his tyranny shall last, during which the saints shall be put to flight, they who offer a pure sacrifice unto God: “And in the midst of the week,” he says, “the sacrifice and the libation shall be taken away, and the abomination of desolation [shall be brought] into the temple: even unto the consummation of the time shall the desolation be complete.” Now three years and six months constitute the half-week. {1} 

Brainard's first example:

Against Heresies 5.5.1 For Enoch, when he pleased God, was translated in the same body in which he did please Him, thus pointing out by anticipation the translation of the just. Elijah, too, was caught up [when he was yet] in the substance of the [natural] form; thus exhibiting in prophecy the assumption of those who are spiritual, and that nothing stood in the way of their body being translated and caught up..  Wherefore also the elders who were disciples of the apostles tell us that those who were translated were transferred to that place (for paradise has been prepared for righteous men, such as have the Spirit; in which place also Paul the apostle, when he was caught up, heard words which are unspeakable as regards us in our present condition, and that there shall they who have been translated remain until the consummation [of all things], as a prelude to immortality. {2}

Above: Irenaeus makes a distinction between those who have been "translated" (the rapture) and "the consummation [of all things]", but a pre-trib rapture is not a concept that he is aware of. 

Brainard's Second Example:

Against Heresies 5:29:1 And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be. Matthew 24:21 For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption. {3}

Above: Brainard is recycling an old pre-trib argument by John Hart that was debunked by Alan Kurschner in 2019. Kurschner's response: "Irenaeus states that the church will be caught up 'from this,' which he identifies as the great tribulation (cf. Matt 24:21, 31). So the question then is does 'from this' mean from before it happens or from as it is happening? Pretribs assume without any evidence that it means before it happens. But the statement that Hart carelessly omits constrains the meaning, which identifies “from this” with the period of great tribulation that the righteous will experience: 'For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption [resurrection].' Irenaeus is therefore linking 'the last contest of the righteous' with the period of great tribulation." {4}

In the same chapter Irenaeus continues to compare the time of the Antichrist with the wickedness of Nebuchadnezzar and the resistance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Hebrew names ~Ananias, Azarias, and Misael) in Daniel 3; and also the six hundred years of Noah and the number of the beast. (Genesis 7:6). Irenaeus confirms that this pattern of events will be recapitulated during the time of the Antichrist, culminating in “a cataclysm of fire.. [upon the earth].”

Against Heresies, 5.29.2 And there is therefore in this beast, when he comes, a recapitulation made of all sorts of iniquity and of every deceit, in order that all apostate power, flowing into and being shut up in him, may be sent into the furnace of fire. Fittingly, therefore, shall his name possess the number six hundred and sixty-six, since he sums up in his own person all the commixture of wickedness which took place previous to the deluge, due to the apostasy of the angels. For Noah was six hundred years old when the deluge came upon the earth, sweeping away the rebellious world, for the sake of that most infamous generation which lived in the times of Noah. And [Antichrist] also sums up every error of devised idols since the flood, together with the slaying of the prophets and the cutting off of the just. For that image which was set up by Nebuchadnezzar had indeed a height of sixty cubits, while the breadth was six cubits; on account of which Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, when they did not worship it, were cast into a furnace of fire, pointing out prophetically, by what happened to them, the wrath against the righteous which shall arise towards the [time of the] end. For that image, taken as a whole, was a prefiguring of this man’s coming, decreeing that he should undoubtedly himself alone be worshipped by all men. Thus, then, the six hundred years of Noah, in whose time the deluge occurred because of the apostasy, and the number of the cubits of the image for which these just men were sent into the fiery furnace, do indicate the number of the name of that man in whom is concentrated the whole apostasy of six thousand years, and unrighteousness, and wickedness, and false prophecy, and deception; for which things’ sake a cataclysm of fire shall also come [upon the earth]. {5} 

Brainard's third example:

Against Heresies 5.31.1 For as the Lord went away in the midst of the shadow of death, where the souls of the dead were, yet afterwards arose in the body, and after the resurrection was taken up [into heaven], it is manifest that the souls of His disciples also, upon whose account the Lord underwent these things, shall go away into the invisible place allotted to them by God, and there remain until the resurrection, awaiting that event; then receiving their bodies, and rising in their entirety, that is bodily, just as the Lord arose, they shall come thus into the presence of God. {6}

Above: Irenaeus mentions the rapture (resurrection), but once again he does not specify a pre-trib rapture.

Below are three significant passages from Against Heresies that refute the pre-trib rapture.

 

Against Heresies 5.26.1 And they [the ten kings who shall arise] shall lay Babylon waste, and burn her with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the Church to flight. {7}

Against Heresies 5.30.3-4 It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfillment of the prophecy [2 Thessalonians 4:1-12], than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved..   But he (Pau1) indicates the number of the name now, that when this man [the Antichrist] comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is: the name, however, is suppressed, because it is not worthy of being proclaimed by the Holy Spirit. {8}

Against Heresies 5.35.1 For all these and other words were unquestionably spoken in reference to the resurrection of the just, which takes place after the coming of Antichrist, and the destruction of all nations under his rule; in [the times of] which [resurrection] the righteous shall reign in the earth, waxing stronger by the sight of the Lord: and through Him they shall become accustomed to partake in the glory of God the Father, and shall enjoy in the kingdom intercourse and communion with the holy angels, and union with spiritual beings; and [with respect to] those whom the Lord shall find in the flesh, awaiting Him from heaven, and who have suffered tribulation, as well as escaped the hands of the Wicked one. {9} 

Every single Church Father who wrote on this subject taught that the church would face the Antichrist. 

I repeat that pre-trib rapture teachers are nothing less than false prophets who are setting up the church for a terrible fall! (Matthew 24:10-11). Brainard says nothing new - he is simply regurgitating old pre-trib arguments that have been previously debunked. Given the abundant evidence from various church fathers (e.g. The Epistle of Barnabas, the Shepherd of Hermes, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian), I wonder how Brainard can, in all conscience, dredge up these old arguments and pretend that he is doing "original research". 

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. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

I recently heard Andy Woods (another rabid pre-trib rapture teacher) glibly remark that if things do not pan out how they expect them to, they will have to redraw their prophecy charts. Frankly, the repercussions for pre-trib rapture teachers will be very serious indeed ~ their charts will be the last thing on their minds. (Luke 17:1). Are Lee Brainard, Mondo Gonzalez (Prophecy Watchers) and others, prepared to repent and take responsibility for propagating the lethal pre-trib deception initiated by the insane cult leader John Nelson Darby? 

1. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.25 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)
2. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.5 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)
3. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.29 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)
4. Irenaeus Taught that the Church Would Face the Antichrist | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com
5. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.29 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)
6. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.31 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)
7. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.26 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)
8. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.30 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)
9. CHURCH FATHERS: Against Heresies, V.35 (St. Irenaeus) (newadvent.org)

Further Links

https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-seven-year-tribulation-fallacy.html
On Antichrist's Persecution of the Church: Epistle of Barnabas, Shepherd of Hermas, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Cyprian | Early Church Fathers - Ep. 71 | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Lee Brainard (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: PSEUDO-EPHRAEM TAUGHT PRETRIB - NOT! BY DAVE MACPHERSON (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture