DAVID HIND ONE CHURCH LEICESTER: TITHING DEBUNKED!

Jesus is passing by | David Hind (One Church Together, 21st July 2024) (youtube.com) 

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Here we have yet another false teaching from David Hind! One Church is shortly coming up to another "Vision Sunday" and I expect a further barrage of intense pressure to give to their so-called "church" on Frog Island. Once again I will debunk Hind's teaching and go through some of the biblical reasons that refute tithing in the New Testament. 

Abram/Melchizedek

Abram (later Abraham) gave a one-off free will offering to Melchizedek from the spoils of war, not from personal property. (Genesis 14:20). Abram did not give money, he gave 10% of the spoils. He returned the remaining 90% of the spoils to the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. (Genesis 14:21-24). Melchizedek is an obscure figure in the Old Testament and is described as a king/priest of Salem. (Hebrews 7:1). It is debatable whether Melchizedek was a type of Christ or a theophany/Christophany. (Hebrews 7:1-14). The phrase "resembling the Son of God" (ἀφωμοιωμένος) has sparked a debate amongst scholars since ἀφωμοιωμένος appears to distinguish Melchizidek from "the Son of God". (Hebrews 7:3).

Meyer: "ἀφωμοιωμένος δὲ τῷ υἱᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ] on the contrary (therein) made entirely like unto the Son of God, namely, as type of the same.. This whole method of interpretation has against it the fact that ἀγενεαλόγητος—for not ἀγένητος is placed—can be understood without violence only of the neglect to cite the genealogical table of Melchisedec in the narrative of the Book of Genesis [comp. Hebrews 7:6]; and ἀπάτωρ, ἀμήτωρ must be taken conformably with the elucidatory ἀγενεαλόγητος, thus are likewise to be explained merely of the father and mother being passed over unnamed in the historic account, not of their actual nonexistence.."1 

Jacob's Vow

Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.” (Genesis 28:20-22).

The Lord said to Jacob: The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. (Genesis 28:13). Note: The land was not given to Jacob personally and Jacob did not tithe during his lifetime. God fulfilled His vow to Jacob (Israel) by giving the land to his posterity.

Adam Clarke’s Commentary: “Jacob seems to make this vow rather for his posterity than for himself, as we may learn from Genesis 28:13-15; for he particularly refers to the promises which God had made to him, which concerned the multiplication of his offspring, and their establishment in that land. If, then, God shall fulfill these promises, he binds his posterity to build God a house, and to devote for the maintenance of his worship the tenth of all their earthly goods. This mode of interpretation removes that appearance of self-interest which almost any other view of the subject presents. Jacob had certainly, long ere this, taken Jehovah for his God; and so thoroughly had he been instructed in the knowledge of Jehovah, that we may rest satisfied no reverses of fortune could have induced him to apostatize: but as his taking refuge with Laban was probably typical of the sojourning of his descendants in Egypt, his persecution, so as to be obliged to depart from Laban, the bad treatment of his posterity by the Egyptians, his rescue from death, preservation on his journey, re-establishment in his own country, &c., were all typical of the exodus of his descendants, their travels in the desert, and establishment in the promised land, where they built a house to God, and where, for the support and maintenance of the pure worship of God, they gave to the priests and Levites the tenth of all their worldly produce. If all this be understood as referring to Jacob only, the Scripture gives us no information how he performed his vow.”2 

Tithing.com: "Leonard C. Bupanda in his book, 'The Tithing Dilemma and the Triumph of Love' 'also agrees that Jacob’s vow was trans-generational, 'Now, since Jacob failed to deliver on his promise, God made him pay the tithe through his children who had emerged as a nation after his God-given name-Israel. Thus God’s promise to Jacob was fulfilled.'”3 

Malachi 3   

Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:8-11).

It is critical to note the background and the context of this passage. The entire book of Malachi is a rebuke against the priests (the sons of Aaron) who were responsible for breaking the covenant and causing many to stumble by their example and instruction. (Malachi 2:1-17). Malachi 1:6-14,2:1 records the profanity of the priests who were offering polluted food upon the Lord's altar. (Malachi 1:6). You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! (Malachi 1:13).

Malachi was prophesying during the time of Nehemiah who had the task of overseeing the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem and restoring the spiritual and social order among the Jewish people after the Babylonian exile  Bible Hub: "Nehemiah 10 presents a transformative moment for the people of Israel as they pledge allegiance to God's law in a renewed covenant. The leaders, priests, Levites, and the entire community agree to uphold God's commands, embodying a collective commitment towards religious devotion and responsibility."4 Nehemiah 10:38 clarifies that the renewed covenant included bringing the tithes to the Levitical storehouses. Nehemiah 13:1-12 describes how Eliashib the High Priest had provided his relative, Tobiah the Ammonite, a wicked man who opposed Nehemiah, a room in the courts of the house of God in Nehemiah's absence. (Nehemiah 2:19; 4:3-7; 6:1-19 cf. Deuteronomy 23:3). On his return, Nehemiah threw all Tobiah's goods out of the room; he ordered that the rooms be purified; he had the articles of the house of God restored to them along with the grain offerings and frankincense. (Nehemiah 13:8-9). Furthermore, because the portions for the Levites had been withheld, they had gone to work in their own fields. (Malachi 2:8 cf. Joshua 14:4). In other words, the house of God was forsaken. (Nehemiah 13:11). 

The situation described in Malachi/Nehemiah was specific to the Jewish people and involved the restoration of the Law of Moses. Those who insist that tithing is an obligation in the New Testament pervert the scriptures and do not serve Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:16; Romans 16:17-20). If Christians are obliged to tithe, they must also obey all the commands written in the Law! The clear teaching in Galatians is that those who wanted to revert to circumcision were under a curse, and the same is true of those who wish to revert to the Old Testament principle of tithing. There is a lot of false teaching around about "generational curses" and "deliverance", but the wolves who teach tithing and other false doctrines are under a curse themselves and they put their followers under a curse. 

For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” (Galatians 3:10).

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).

Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:2-4).

The New Testament

But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (Luke 11:42). 

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees who were under the Law of Moses prior to the new covenant. No one in the Old Testament tithed from their money, they always tithed from the produce of the land. (Leviticus 27:30 cf. Deuteronomy 14:2). Traders were not required to tithe e.g. carpenters, fishermen, merchants etc.

The most detailed passage on giving in the New Testament is 2 Corinthians 8-9.

..whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-12).

The above passage absolutely refutes the idea of the tithe; rather Paul encourages the Corinthian Church to give generously to the needy Jerusalem church. The benefit to the Corinthians in giving generously is not the selfish "prosperity gospel" of false teachers. 

BibleRef: "Paul is urging the Corinthians to be generous in their giving to suffering Christians in Jerusalem. He has said they should give willingly and cheerfully a portion of what God has given to them. Scripture presents Christian giving as something done out of love, not legalism, obligation, or command. That theme continues here in Paul's comments to the church in Corinth.
This makes an additional point, though: God is ultimately the one who gives. He is the one who provides both the seed for the bread and the bread itself. In other words, God makes the giver capable of giving. Paul adds that God will multiply the seed of those who give in order to increase the harvest of the righteousness that comes as a result. It's important to note that the increase is to the benefit of the one who receives—this is not a promise to financially prosper the giver.."5  

All the exhortations to give money in the New Testament were for the benefit of the poor and needy. "The saints" in the above passage were the impoverished church at Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8-9; Romans 15:26; Acts 24:17 cf. Galatians 2:10). There is not a single reference either to tithing or church buildings in the New Testament! The early Christians met in homes, and many are doing so again because they are disgusted with the false teaching and disgraceful antics of those who have usurped authentic leadership roles within the so-called churches. (Acts 20:29).

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (Matthew 6:1-4). It is no one else's business how much you give!  

The concept of civil taxes replacing the tithe has historical roots. Civil taxes have largely replaced the role of funding public services and infrastructure, which were once supported by tithes in the theocratic society of ancient Israel. Civil law plays a significant role in supporting the needy by ensuring their rights and access to essential services. Modern social welfare systems are based on the Elizabethan Poor Law Acts of 1601 which established the government's responsibility to aid its poor citizens, categorizing them based on their needs and ensuring they received appropriate assistance. 

The tithe in ancient Israel supported the Levites and the needy. (Deuteronomy 26:12-13; Numbers 18:21-32; Nehemiah 10:37). False teachers often make the appeal: "Bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse". The storehouse within the Jerusalem Temple only received 1% of the tithe, the other 9% was stored in Levitical cities. (Nehemiah 10:37-38). The storehouses were simply that, they were not places of worship. The word "storehouse" is never mentioned in the New Testament as a model for the church. The Levitical system of worship performed at the Jerusalem Temple does not apply to the modern church. (1 Peter 2:5,9). Bible-believing Christians should definitely not be giving their money to false prophets connected with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), who appoint women pastors, who build their own kingdoms, and who spend other people's money on luxuries for themselves and on expensive and ostentatious "church" buildings. (1 Timothy 2:12). 

Hind's multi-site church model contradicts the biblical blueprint of church structure laid down in the New Testament. Paul instructed Titus to ..appoint elders in every town as I directed you. (Titus 1:5; cf. Acts 14:23). In the New Testament, individual churches were autonomous congregations with their own local overseers directing their specific affairs. When church leaders fail to heed biblical doctrine and substitute their own ideas for the scriptures, they bring dysfunction and pain to the body of Christ and ultimate judgement upon themselves. 

If you have followed my posts about Trinity Life Church/One Church you will know that David Hind has repeatedly flouted and twisted the scriptures in favour of worldly values and ambitions. A qualifying requirement for elders/pastors is that they must be able to teach and to rightly handle the word of truth. (1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:15). It is pure folly for any bible believing Christian to gamble with their eternal future and to follow false teachers who pervert the scriptures to their own destruction. (2 Peter 3:16).    

I recommend the following series on tithing from Caleb Corneloup. Corneloup provides shocking examples of the opulent lifestyles of greedy entitled false teachers, including Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Myer, Creflo Dollar, Jesse Duplantis, Benny Hinn, Robert Morris etc. 

Caleb Corneloup: "A lot of false teachers try to insist that Christians need to tithe because Abraham tithed. They say that tithing pre-dates the law and therefore we are commanded to tithe in the New Covenant. This is nothing more than false teachers twisting God's word to support their dodgy ministries and protect their income stream. Many pastors today are nothing more than hustlers and grifters. They have turned the church into a business and it's a disgrace and shame to the name of Christ."

Further Links

Tithing is Not a Christian Doctrine (youtube.com)
This two-hour video is based on a 19-point essay by Russell Earl Kelly, Ph. D. Further information can be found on Dr Kelly's website: Should the Church Teach Tithing? Taboo Answer - Dr. Russell Earl Kelly (tithing-russkelly.com)
04/10 - The Truth About Tithing (youtube.com)
APOSTASY, ERROR & DECEPTION IN WALES - the watchman4wales blog.: Tithing

1. Hebrews 7:3 Commentaries: Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. (biblehub.com)
2. Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 28 (godrules.net)
3. Jacob’s Tithing Vow (Part 2) – Tithing.com
4. Nehemiah 10 Chapter Summary (biblehub.com)
5. What does 2 Corinthians 9:10 mean? | BibleRef.com

CHRIS ROSEBROUGH VS ISAIAH SALVIDAR: GREAT WHITE THRONE OR BEMA SEAT?

Waiting in line on JUDGMENT day - What will you say? (youtube.com)

F4F | Isaiah Saldivar Is DEAD WRONG About Judgement Day (youtube.com)

Chris Rosebrough's omission of Isaiah Salvidar's obvious error in his short video about Judgement Day appears to be due to his skewed Lutheran eschatology. Salvidar is wrong from the get-go - believers will not be judged at the Great White Throne Judgement.  

Isaiah Saldivar:  "Imagine being on judgement day and wondering if you are getting in. Because we all will be standing at that Great White Throne judgement, and everybody will be judged, the living and the dead... 'Tell me some of your stories of the miracles, the fire, the power evangelism, signs and wonders, meeting home to home, breaking bread, making disciples.. water baptizing, baptizing in the holy ghost.. tell me some of the demons you drove out.. lameness blindness and deafness.'"  Obviously, I don't condemn all of those things, but Salvidar's emphasis on power, fire, casting out demons etc. is typical NAR rhetoric. Salvidar's appalling accusation is that if Christians do not perform extraordinary miracles then they do not know Jesus! Aren't many of those who perform what the ESV refers to as mighty works (dunamis) condemned by Jesus?  

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23).

What Salvidar is obviously ignorant of, and what Rosebrough fails to mention, is that the Great White Throne Judgement and the Bema Seat Judgement are two separate events. Believers will face the Bema Seat Judgment before the millennium and will reign with Christ for one thousand years. (Revelation 11:15-18). At the Bema Seat, believers will receive either reward or loss based on their work. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). The Great White Throne Judgement is reserved for unbelievers who will face the second death and be judged according to "what they had done" and sentenced to eternal torment in the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7-15). 

The Bema Seat Judgement

The Bema Seat Judgement occurs after the seventh trumpet is sounded.

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” (Revelation 11:15-18).

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15 cf. Romans 14:10-12).

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.(Revelation 20:4-6).

The parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 describes three distinct judgements.

The separation of sheep (believers) and goats (unbelievers)
The judgement of believers' works
The judgment of unbelievers' works 

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,f you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46).

The Great White Throne Judgement 

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth..
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7-8,11-15).

POPE FRANCIS: ALL RELIGIONS LEAD TO GOD?

Pope: All religions are paths to God (youtube.com)

Pope Francis' recent statement in Singapore: "Every religion is a way to arrive at God. Sort of a comparison, an example would be that they are sort of like different languages in order to arrive at God. But God is God for all. And if God is God for all then we are all sons and daughters of God. 'But my God is more important than your God.' Is that true? There is only one God and each of us is a language so to speak in order to arrive at God. Sheik Muslim Hindu Christian, they are different paths." 

Francis has attracted a lot of criticism with this blasphemous statement, even among Roman Catholics. Francis' religious pluralism denies salvation to people of other religions who desperately need the truth. It is the broad path that leads to destruction. (Matthew 7:13).

Is Francis greater than the scriptures?

  

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6).

The Vatican's failed attempt to change the statement's wording! (2 Corinthians 11:3).

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

The ultimate result of religious pluralism is the wrath of God.

..when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. (1 John 2:18-25).

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3-4).

The ecumenical initiative has long been a source of concern to discerning bible believing Christians due to the false teachings of the RCC and its incompatibility with the scriptures. This latest statement further reveals Francis' true agenda, which is to unite all religions. Perhaps the sycophantic NAR apostates who kowtow to the RCC and the Pope will now rethink their position, but I am not holding my breath!

Roman Catholicism is a False Religion | Mike Gendron (youtube.com)
NAR leaders meet with the Pope — Holly Pivec

JOHN HALLER'S FEARMONGERING PROPHECY UPDATES

John Haller - Big Moves in Globalist Takeover! (youtube.com)

On the above link, Tony K on A Minute to Midnite (New Zealand) is joined by John Haller (Fellowship Bible Chapel Sunbury OH) who is well known for his lengthy "prophecy updates" and insights into current events. 

My views on various "prophecy experts" are not positive due to their misapplication of the scriptures and speculations. Haller often partners with false pre-trib rapture teachers, although he is not a pre-trib teacher himself. This post concerns Haller's evaluation of the global power structure based on recent current events. 

Haller: "Things have changed in the UK the power structure has changed dramatically. I think they had elections in Australia." Actually, Australia's last election was in 2022. "There's talk they may be going to elections in Canada". Haller's speculation is based on a survey conducted by Nanos Research. The 45th Canadian federal election will take place on or before October 20, 2025.

CTV News: "Nearly one in two Canadians would prefer the next federal election take place before 2025, according to a recent survey conducted by Nanos Research.
When it comes to their preference for the timing of the next national vote, 46 percent of survey respondents indicated they either wanted the next election to happen as soon as possible, or in 2024.
Canadians aren't scheduled to go back to the polls until October 2025, and the Liberals and NDP continue to maintain a supply-and-confidence agreement that is poised to keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power amid the minority Parliament, until June 2025."2 

Haller: "..elections in Germany France and so the world is in a good bit of turmoil right now over these elections. There seems to be a template that some of the elites have put in place to cause this election chaos.."  Federal Elections were held in Germany on 26 September 2021. Wikipedia: "The next election must take place on a Sunday between 31 August 2025 and 26 October 2025, with 28 September being scheduled.."3 Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in France on 11 April 2027. 

These are the normal cycle of elections held in various countries every four years (five years in France). There is no global upheaval causing elections to be held out of sync. Changes inevitably occur in a democracy, and we should carefully evaluate whether these changes are definitive signs of the impending 70th week of Daniel. 

Haller: "..you probably are aware of the protest against Islamic immigrants in the UK. The government there (it's a leftwing government) has decided that it's racist to protest against immigrants.. In the UK, understand that these people are going to prison in a matter of days maybe a week or two from when the alleged offense occurred. Criminal trials never proceed that quickly unless there's a very huge agenda and it appears that this is part of a very huge censorship agenda yeah it's creating enough pressure in the UK that prisons are now overcrowded it so now what they're doing is they're putting in (prison) people who are protesting by posting on social media, not attacking anyone and they're letting loose hardened criminals doing crime who've been charged with crimes of assault battery and rape and even then the prisons are still too crowded so now the UK is entering into agreements one is particularly Estonia which has I guess open in its prison that they will take the prisoners from the UK so somebody posts on social media they're arrested press pressured into uh pleading guilty or they're tried and found guilty they're sentenced to years in prison now they're going to be serving time for a British crime in a prison in Estonia in the Baltic states and and and I guess the question is Tony is what
does that do to their family structure what does that do to their finances and the answer is it will destroy their family it will destroy their finances their life is effectively over as a functioning member of civil society the thing that's so troubling.."

Haller is right, people in the UK have been arrested for posting on social media during the riots this summer, but he has misrepresented the malevolent content of the posts. The offending posts were not simply protests against immigration, they incited acts of lawlessness. Examples include derogatory memes about migrants, stirring up racial hatred, and encouraging violent disorder. The BBC has published a list of those arrested and the prison terms they were given. It is certainly not the case that these offenders will be shipped off to Estonia for years and forgotten about, or that their lives as functioning members of civil society will be over as Haller suggests. The average prison sentence length was two years for the two hundred people charged to date.1 

BBC: "More than a dozen people were jailed on Friday for their part in the unrest sparked by the killing of three children in Southport last month. Among them were Tyler Kay, 26, and Jordan Parlour, 28, who were sentenced to 38 months and 20 months in prison respectively for stirring up racial hatred on social media.. In all, 118 people have now been jailed for their involvement in some of the worst unrest the UK has seen in over a decade.. (Tyler) Kay was convicted after he used social media to call for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set alight." 

LBC: Jordan Parlour, 28, of Seacroft, plead guilty to publishing written material 'intended to stir racial hatred' when he urged rioters to target the Britannia Hotel - a location used to house asylum seekers.. Appearing at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, the judge handed down a sentence of 20 months in prison for the social media comments."4  

BBC: "Suspended Labour councilor Ricky Jones has appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with encouraging violent disorder after comments he made at a counter protest in London.
Videos appeared online which seem to show Jones, 57, telling a crowd in Walthamstow that far-right demonstrators should have their throats cut.
Deputy Senior District Judge Tan Ikram said: 'It is alleged that using a microphone you addressed a crowd at an anti-fascist protest and, talking about others you described as 'disgusting Nazi fascists', you said 'we need to cut their throats and get rid of them'.'
No indication of plea was given. Jones was remanded in custody until a pre-trial preparation hearing on 6 September.5 

I am no fan of Keir Starmer, but really, what are the government expected to do in this situation? Perhaps Haller has a better suggestion?   

Haller: "..now they're going to be serving time for a British crime in a prison in Estonia in the Baltic states"  The transfer of British prisoners to a prison in Estonia is not a definite plan.. It is an idea! 

Sky News: "The Ministry of Justice says it is 'considering all viable options' to increase capacity on the prison estate, as the latest statistics show there are only about 1,000 places available.. Having offenders serve out their sentence in the Baltic state is one of many options on the table to address overcrowding on the prison estate - with the latest government figures showing there are only 1,098 free spaces in prisons across England and Wales.6 

There is criticism in the UK about hardened criminals being released, but as far as I can tell, that is the only correct thing Haller said during the entire program. This piece of fiction makes me wonder how much of Haller's Israel rhetoric is true?

We know biblically that things will get worse and worse and will culminate with the arrival of the Antichrist. While there are concerning events happening globally, those interested in bible prophecy should be careful not to engage in newspaper exegesis. Those who claim to be "prophecy experts" touting their distorted opinions online are not doing anyone any favours by fearmongering. The Bible distinctly says that Israel is God's timepiece. Discerning believers will be in no doubt when we have entered the 70th week! The "prophecy experts" would do better to read their bibles. 

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.
When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.
When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”
When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:1-8).

1. Who are the rioters and what jail sentences have they received? - BBC News
2. More Canadians want next federal election in 2024 than 2025: Nanos | CTV News
3. 2025 German federal election - Wikipedia
4. First armchair rioter jailed for 20 months over online posts 'inciting racial hatred' - LBC
5. Riots and disorder in the UK: First jail terms handed down for social media posts during unrest - BBC News
6. Prison population hits record high - as Estonia offers to take convicts | Politics News | Sky News

HOW DOES "THE CHOSEN" COMPARE TO THE BIBLE?

The Chosen is an American Christian drama TV multi-season series about the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and stars Roman Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie as Jesus. A total of seven seasons are planned. Four seasons of the series have been released to date with the fifth season currently in production and expected to be released in 2025.1 

Dallas Jenkins is the creator and director of The Chosen, the most successfully crowdfunded series of all time. Dallas Jenkins is the son of the son of Jerry B Jenkins, Tim LaHaye's co-writer behind the bestselling fictional "Left Behind" franchise of the 1990s. Unfortunately, the Left Behind series sparked renewed interest in the pre-tribulation rapture, a false doctrine that has blighted a number of dispensational churches in the West. Dallas Jenkins follows in his father's footsteps with his questionable depiction of Jesus Christ in this series.  

Filming of The Chosen began on rental sets in Texas. However, Jenkins later accepted the offer of using a Jerusalem film set in Utah created by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons). Although popular, the series has been widely criticized on a number of levels, due to its association with its Mormon distributors Angel Studios; hiring LGBT members to work on the film set; its use of artistic license; and concerns that Jenkins was injecting Mormon theology into the script. These criticisms have been countered by Jenkins and others, but LDS involvement is impossible to deny, and evidently, Jenkins regards Mormons as Christians "despite some theological differences". In fact, these "differences" are irreconcilable! Jenkins has a flawed understanding of the gospel and is biblically illiterate. 

Jenkins: "..beautiful things about this project have been my growing brother and sisterhood with people of the LDS community that I never would have known otherwise.  And learning so much about your faith tradition and realizing, gosh, for all the stuff maybe we don't see eye to eye on, that all happened.. after Jesus was here. The stories of Jesus we do agree on and we love the same Jesus.."2   

Jesse T Jackson: "Angel Studios was co-founded by brothers Neal and Jeffrey Harmon, both whom belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), which has caused confusion for some fans of the show. Angel Studios is strictly a distribution partner for the show and doesn’t fund the show, according to Jenkins. Rather, 'The Chosen' is 100 percent funded by viewers."3 

Jeffrey Harmon: "I am a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (we don’t use 'Mormon' anymore). And I have devoted the last three years of my life to helping an Evangelical, Dallas Jenkins, create his vision of the hit TV Series, THE CHOSEN. I have no control over the content of the show."4 

LDS Irreconcilable "theological differences"

A brief summary of LDS theology:

The Book of Mormon is the word of God (they actually have four sources of doctrine but the Book of Mormon takes precedence). 

Salvation is only found through the Mormon church. 

Jesus is a created being. 

All people ever born, including Jesus Christ, lived with God as His spirit children before this life. 

Jesus is the "spirit brother" of Lucifer. 

Jesus was a married man. 

"As man now is, God once was" God was once a man who existed on another planet, and through obedience he "progressed" into being the God of his own planet. You and I can also become gods of our own planet and progress through obedience.

God the Father and Jesus Christ are two distinct beings; each is a distinct personage with His own perfect glorified body. 

Mormons believe that we "progress" into our godhood in the same way that God progressed and became God of planet Earth. 

We are saved by grace after we have done all that we can.

 "All denominations are an abomination." Mormons believe they are the only ones that have the truth, all other denominations are apostate.

Joseph Smith wrote himself into Genesis 50 and added a prophecy about himself.5 

Jenkins' "theological differences" are far more critical than his allusion suggests. LDS theology fundamentally denies the scriptures and should be absolutely rejected by bible believing Christians. Similarly, those who promote LDS teachings should not be included in any project claiming to represent Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:11).  

A different Jesus 

Jenkins claims that his life goal is to portray the "authentic Jesus". However, the "Jesus" of The Chosen is inauthentic and is a lethal departure from the scriptures. The ecumenical appeal of The Chosen with its acceptance of multi-faith traditions including Mormons and Roman Catholics is extremely dangerous! Ecumenism always involves compromise! The Chosen has put many people at risk of accepting a different Jesus. (2 Corinthians 11:4).

Religion News Service:“The Chosen has a biblical advisory council, made up of representatives of various faith traditions.. YouTube videos show Jenkins hosting roundtables with a Protestant theologian, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi, addressing 'the red flags' that might be raised by the show."6

The Catholic World Report: "The show also retains a sort of advisory board of ministers—a priest, a rabbi, and a Protestant minister—to help the creators with theological issues and other questions."7 

Shane Cox, administrator of The Chosen: Do Not Be Deceived Facebook group and the Point2TheWord YouTube channel, has posted shockingly unbiblical clips from The Chosen, and interview clips with The Chosen’s director Dallas Jenkins and cast members.

Below are are some clips representing unbiblical examples in The Chosen.

Did Jesus really SIN in The Chosen??? (youtube.com)
The Chosen "jesus" messing up (youtube.com)
The reckless jesus of the Chosen (youtube.com)
The Chosen loves to have "jesus" refuse worship (youtube.com)
The chosen: Would jesus miss a word or 2? (youtube.com)
(352) Is this in scripture or just in the chosen? - YouTube
What would the "chosen jesus" do without his mother? (youtube.com)
Is the Chosen hinting at something? (youtube.com)
“Why haven’t you healed me?” (The Chosen scene) (youtube.com)

This information should raise major red flags amongst bible believing Christians. 

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

1. The Chosen Season 5 Release, Cast & Everything We Know | The Direct
2. (351) I will go down swinging defending Mormonism! Dallas Jenkins / The Chosen says they have same Jesus - YouTube
3. 'The Chosen' Uproar: 'We’re Not Produced by Mormons'; Seminary Professor Warns People Not to Watch (churchleaders.com)
4. Why I, a Latter-day Saint, am helping Evangelicals create the hit TV Series THE CHOSEN | by Jeffrey Harmon | Medium
5. A Brief Comparison of Mormonism and Christianity (with Allen Parr) (youtube.com)
6. Film series ‘The Chosen’ explores its Catholic side in the Eternal City (religionnews.com)
7. Dallas Jenkins discusses the focus and purpose of The Chosen – Catholic World Report

CHRIS ROSEBROUGH: UNQUALIFIED WOMEN (AND MEN) TEACHERS

F4F | Karena Carrasco In Unqualified Rebellion Against God (youtube.com)

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).

Karena Carrasco head of Kidz City Daycare at Chooselife Church (Hobbs NM) is not only unqualified to teach, she is also scripturally unsound. I agree with Rosebrough that Carrasco's "sermon" on "divine power and influence" is utter nonsense. Carrasco: "When Jesus spent time with the Father there was always something different about His countenance.. To have His divine life you have to abide in the vine, that's where power is going to come from.. when you spend time with Him not just your insides change but your outside changes.."  Her justification for teaching this nonsense is the transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9: 28-36.  

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16).

In the New Testament, the office of elder, overseer, and shepherd (pastor) refers to the same teaching office within the church. (Acts 20:28; Titus 1:5,9; 1 Peter 5:1–2; Ephesians 4:11). Although Carrasco has not set herself up as a "pastor" per se, teaching sermons to a mixed congregation is to assume the role specifically reserved for those holding the office of an overseer. The fact that the leaders of Chooselife Church have sanctioned Carrasco makes them culpable and puts them in direct rebellion against God.

Rosebrough's use of 1 Corinthians 14:34-38 is not the best passage to demonstrate his point. Most teachers explain these verses in terms of problems specific to the Corinthian Church which faced challenges relating to cultural norms, immorality, division, and the misuse of spiritual gifts. Since Paul acknowledged that women were "praying and prophesying" in 1 Corinthians 11:5, these verses cannot be taken outside their specific context without creating an internal contradiction within Paul's writings.

As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:34-38).

In his excellent series on Women in Ministry, Mike Winger refers to "the strict view" i.e. "the utter silence view" which does not allow a woman to speak in any public meeting whatsoever.1  The Greek word “σιγάω” (sigáo),  means “to be silent” or “to refrain from speaking”. An alternative view of sigáo has been suggested in contexts where refraining from certain types of speech is appropriate or required as against "silence" in the strictest sense. Winger quotes Professor Anthony Thiselton who was my professor at Nottingham University. 

Thiselton: "The speaking in question denotes the activity of sifting or weighing the words of prophets, especially by asking probing questions about the prophet's theology or even the prophet's lifestyle in public."

Meyer: "ἃ γράφω ὑμ.] (the things I write to you) refers to the whole section regarding the πνευματικοῖς. To refer it, as Billroth and Olshausen do, to the command that the women should keep silence, does not harmonize with the introduction εἴ τις … πνευματικός, and involves the awkwardness of only this intervening matter being thus confirmed with such solemnity, and the principal and far more important section not at al.."2  

The judging prophecy view   

Mike Winger points out that the context of 1 Corinthians 29ff concerns prophecy, and he makes the an interesting case for tying 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 back to verse 29 which is split into two parts - speaking and judging: Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. (1 Corinthians 14:29).  Winger reasons that when a question arises about whether a prophecy is true or false, the natural arbiters would be the overseers whose function is to uphold sound doctrine. This view therefore excludes women from judging prophecy.      

In contrast to 1 Corinthians 14:34-38, 1 Timothy 2:12-14 is transcultural and refers to the order of creation. These three verses present an irrefutable case against women elders/teachers. 

 

1 do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Timothy 2:12-14).

Some denominations seek to overcome the difficulty of people of any gender speaking inappropriately by conducting rigidly structured church services. However, this strategy is no fail-safe against Satan's determination to introduce false teaching into the church. Satan simply changes tactic and deceives leaders into promoting false teachings such as baptismal regeneration (Lutheran), limited atonement (Calvinism), skewed eschatology etc. 

 

The widespread apostasy we are witnessing in many churches today is off the scale, but I do not believe that we are living in the apostasy referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 which is directly linked to the man of lawlessness aka the Antichrist. When the Antichrist is revealed the rebellion/apostasy will be on an entirely different level. (Matthew 24:9-12; Revelation 13:7; 12:17).

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.. (2 Thessalonians 2:3).   

As Rosebrough points out, any church with a woman pastor/elder/teacher is in open rebellion against God. It seems reasonable to suppose that the rank apostasy occuring within many churches is a precursor to the rebellion of 2 Thessalonians 2:3. 

Many who hold the position of overseer are unfit by reason of their ungodly lives and their obvious incompetence as teachers. The scriptural qualifications are being openly flouted in favour of man centred teachings that accomodate itching ears. (2 Timothy 4:3).

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. (1 Timothy 3:1-7).

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16).

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

1. 5 Views on “Women Keep Silent" (1 Cor 14:35-36): Women in Ministry part 11 (youtube.com)
2. 1 Corinthians 14 Meyer's NT Commentary (biblehub.com)

THE SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY OF MORNINGSTAR MINISTRIES AND THE NAR

The Billion Soul Harvest ALREADY FAILED - 100% PROOF (youtube.com)

Sean Christie (Revealing Truth) recently posted this re-released interview between false prophet Bob Jones and Rick Joyner (MorningStar Ministries) regarding his trip to heaven in 1975 and the fictional "billion soul harvest". New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) churches took Jones' false prophecy on board wholesale and have been repeating the "revival mantra" ever since. 

Jones: "..in the next ten years is one of the most awesome times of your lives. I also see the harvest beginning, it will be over a billion youths coming to the Lord.. He (God) said I would live to see the glory of God again and it would never end.. in the next ten years your preparation is to bring in the glory of God.. the next ten years you are going to come into your main purpose which means the greatest worldwide bringing into Christ of all time.. one billion youths, they will come to the glory.. it is not long in coming, there is just three to four years of preparation for it.." 

Jones' rambling "prophecy" is quite difficult to follow, but he says that the "billion soul harvest" would happen after three or four years of preparation from the date of this video (1983?) and that he would live to see it. Jones died in 2014. 

Amazingly, many professing Christians would rather believe the word of an imbecile than the scriptures which talk about an end-time rebellion. Even more amazing, Rick Joyner reposted the prophecy on the 13th of August 2024 despite its obvious failure!1

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 3:1-9).

Sean Christie observed that Jones completely skews Jesus' teaching about the harvest. Jesus' parable of the harvest refers to the gathering of the weeds to be burned at the end of the age. (2 Corinthians 11:13-14; Matthew 7:21-23).

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” (Matthew 13:24-30)

Rick Joyner, who belongs to the Roman Catholic Knights of Malta*, has had significant involvement with false prophet Todd Bentley over the years. A notable instance is "the Charismania Day of Infamy" on June 23rd 2008 during the Lakeland Revival. C Peter Wagner and other NAR "super-apostles" Bill Johnson, Rick Joyner, Che Ahn, John and Carol Arnott commissioned Todd Bentley.2 Following Bentley's dramatic downfall, Joyner was involved in restoring Bentley back to leadership even though he was utterly disqualified. 

Revival Alliance: "A council of three has also been formed to give oversight to the restoration process. Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill Johnson will give oversight as needed."3

The latest scandal to hit MorningStar Ministries is the resignation of CEO and president Chris Reed amidst allegations of sexual misconduct.4 

The sick NAR pantomime is spiritually bankrupt and the false teachers/prophets associated with it should be marked and avoided! (Romans 16:17).

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1).

*(268) Fake Evangelist, Knight of Malta, Rick Joyner - YouTube

2 More Lawsuits Filed Against Morningstar for Alleged Mishandling of Abuse (julieroys.com)

1. Bob Jones' Prophetic Vision (youtube.com)
2. https://youtu.be/YEwsG4lsXq4
3. Northwest Prophetic: Public Statement on Todd Bentley from the Revival Alliance
4. President of MorningStar Resigns, Then Admits Sexual Misconduct (julieroys.com)

JOEL KORYTKO: ARE THE COSMIC DISTURBANCES METAPHORS?

Did Jesus' Prophecy Fail? It's Not Conditional or a Failure @InspiringPhilosophy @maklelan (youtube.com)

Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (Mark 13:30).

Question: Did Jesus' prophecy fail or was it conditional?  

I like Joel Korytko's answer to this conundrum i.e. "these things" refer to the destruction of the temple in 70AD and not the coming of Jesus Christ.

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” (Mark 13:1-4)

But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.. “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things (the destruction of the temple) taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Mark 13:23,28-31).

Another interpretation is "this generation" does not refer to the current generation, rather it applies to the future generation that will experience the things previously mentioned; "all these things" seem to indicate the imminent return of the Son of Man. ..no one knows the day or the hour etc. (Mark 13:32-37). 

According to Joel Korytko, Jesus' use of Old Testament language regarding cosmic disturbances does not refer to Jesus coming because of their limited geographical context. He sees Jesus' language as metaphoric descriptions of tumult and chaos in society. Korytko's understanding of these OT passages does not factor in their near/far fulfillment.

“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (Mark 13:24-27).

The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil,and the wicked for their iniquity; (Isaiah 13:1,9-11).

My understanding is that the OT passages regarding the cosmic disturbances represent "the day of the Lord" (the day of His wrath). The language expands beyond the local situation in Babylon into a global context. 

Keil and Delitsch: "The day of Jehovah's wrath is coming - a starless night - a nightlike, sunless day. "Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, a cruel one, and wrath and fierce anger, to turn the earth into a wilderness: and its sinners He destroys out of it. For the stars of heaven, and its Orions, will not let their light shine: the sun darkens itself at its rising, and the moon does not let its light shine." The day of Jehovah cometh as one cruelly severe ('aczâri, an adj. rel. from 'aczâr, chosh, kosh, to be dry, hard, unfelling), as purely an overflowing of inward excitement, and as burning anger; lâsūm is carried on by the finite verb, according to a well-known alteration of style ( equals ūlehashmı̄d). It is not indeed the general judgment which the prophet is depicting here, but a certain historical catastrophe falling upon the nations, which draws the whole world into sympathetic suffering. 'Eretz, therefore (inasmuch as the notions of land generally, and some particular land or portion of the earth, are blended together - a very elastic term, with vanishing boundaries), is not merely the land of Babylon here, as Knobel supposes, but the earth. Verse 10 shows in what way the day of Jehovah is a day of wrath. Even nature clothes itself in the colour of wrath, which is the very opposite to light. The heavenly lights above the earth go out; the moon does not shine; and the sun, which is about to rise, alters its mind. "The Orions" are Orion itself and other constellations like it, just as the morning stars in Job 38:7 are Hesperus and other similar stars. It is more probable that the term cesiil is used for Orion in the sense of "the fool" ( equals foolhardy).."1

Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations..  

The earth quakes before them; the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it? (Joel 2:1-2,10-11).

"And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. (Joel 2:30-31).

Gods judgement on the nations

Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it;
the world, and all that comes from it. For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host; he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter. Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall rise; the mountains shall flow with their blood. All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree. (Isaiah 34:1-4)

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slaved and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

Can the Lord's return happen at any time? 

This is the erroneous "imminence" doctrine of the pretrib rapture camp. The man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) will be revealed and the great tribulation must occur before the coming of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 24:21; Daniel 7:25). All three synoptic gospels affirm the Son of Man will return immediately after the cosmic disturbances. (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24-25; Luke 21:25-28). 

Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. 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 the heavens to the other. Matthew 24:29-31)

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, (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

1. Isaiah 13 Keil and Delitzsch OT Commentary (biblehub.com)

Further Links

Celestial Disturbances Archives | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture (Full Movie) (youtube.com)