Ancient Evidence for a Pre-Trib Rapture | Marking the End Times
Mark Hitchcock: "Today, I unveil compelling historical evidence that challenges one of the most common objections to the pre-Tribulation Rapture—that it was never taught before 1830. Through examining newly discovered writings from Irenaeus, a second-century church father who learned from those who knew the apostles, we find clear support for a pre-Tribulation Rapture view. Along with subscriber-exclusive answers to crucial questions about salvation, judgment, and end-times prophecy, this teaching provides both historical and biblical evidence for Christ's imminent return. In this episode's Q&A session, I answer questions about core theological issues such as clarifying salvation by grace versus the Judgment Seat of Christ, exploring Isaiah 17's prophecy regarding Damascus and Syria, understanding where raptured Christians will dwell, and whether any unbelievers will survive the Great Tribulation."According to Hitchcock the first pretrib source before Darby was discovered in the 1990s. He is referring to Pseudo-Ephraem which has been debunked as a pretib document many times by researchers. Pseudo-Ephraem teaches that Christians will escape the tribulation through death not rapture. I have added a link below in which researcher and writer Dave MacPherson debunks this false claim.
Irenaeus (c.120–c.202)
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. (Against Heresies, V, 26, 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.” For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption. (Against Heresies, V, 29, 1) It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfillment of the prophecy [Antichrist], 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 indicates the number of the name now, that when this man [Antichrist] comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is. (Against Heresies, V, 30, 3, 4) 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 . . . . [A]nd [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. (Against Heresies, V, 35, 1)1
This passage is a proof text for the prewrath rapture. Hitchcock reads a small section of Irenaeus out of context. He then goes on to admit: "..in another place Irenaeus goes on to indicate that the church will be on earth during the tribulation so there seems to be a contradiction." Evidence that the pretib doctrine began in the 18th century with cult leader John Nelson Darby remains despite ongoing fruitless efforts of the pretrib camp to deny it.
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered (episunagōgēs) 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).
Mark Hitchcock's endorsement of Jimmy Evans as an "expert" is beyond comprehension! I thought that endorsing Jimmy Evans was below even the pretrib camp but apparently not!
Having been publicly exposed and disgraced as an abuser and a false marriage counselor, Jimmy Evans is "transitioning" out of XO Marriage and intends to devote himself to endtimes.com. full time. God help his viewers!
The Roys Report: "Daystar cancels prophecy program as Evans launches his..
The Roys Report (TRR) has also learned that Daystar abruptly canceled a long-running prophecy program on its network in July 2022. Days after the cancelation, Evans ran five, on-demand specials on Daystar titled almost identically to the canceled ministry.
On a recording of a May 2023 meeting between Evans, Joni, Doug, Jonathan, and Suzy, Joni states that she began talking to Evans about her relationship with Doug Weiss when these scheduling changes were taking place—July 2022.
The ministry whose show Daystar canceled was called Endtime Ministries, and the ministry website is endtime.com. Endtime Ministries was founded in 1986 by Irvin Baxter and had run a program on Daystar since 2009, called “End of the Age.”
The specials Evans ran on Daystar’s app and YouTube channel were entitled 'End Times' and the website for Evans’ new prophecy ministry is endtimes.com.
Endtime Ministries CEO Vince Stegall told TRR that the abrupt cancelation of his show and launching of Evans’ show was deeply disappointing and puzzling to his ministry. He said it also was confusing to viewers.
'We were getting calls, shortly after we were off, from the television audience,' Stegall said. 'And they wanted to know what happened to our host and why there’s this new guy named Jimmy on there . . .
'We still get emails and calls trying to figure out why our website is so different. It’s pretty confusing when you just add an ‘s.’
According to Endtime CEO Vince Stegall, Daystar claimed it cancelled 'End of the Age' because of a drop in viewership, following the death of founder Irvin Baxter. But Stegall said his buyer, who negotiated Endtime’s contract with Daystar, said that wasn’t true.Vince Stegall (Photo: Facebook)
'Our buyer has access to the software for TV ratings and he provided a lengthy explanation including (r)ating showing End of the Age is in the top 15 shows on Daystar every week,' Stegall wrote in a 2022 newsletter to supporters. '(A)nd our DVR numbers are generally 20-23% whereas the average for the rest of Daystar is 10%.
'In short, our buyer said, ‘This is clearly not a viewership issue and I can provide anything you need to make that argument.’ So there is obviously more to this than they are sharing.'
Jonathan Lamb told TRR that Daystar canceling a show mid-year is 'unheard of,' unless there’s a scandal or the ministry can’t pay the network fees.
However, Stegall said Endtime Ministries had no scandal and was current on its payments.."2
It appears that Joni Lamb and Jimmy Evans hoped that their unethical move against Endtime Ministries would fly under the radar. (Numbers 32:23). However, some viewers questioned the puzzling change of presenter, not realizing that Endtime Ministries and Endtimes Ministries are two different ministries entirely! This devious name change and the usurpation of Endtime Ministries' time slot on Daystar is unworthy of a reputable man of God. As contemptible as this is, it gets even worse! Evans has introduced a critical shift in doctrine during this timeslot. Endtime Ministries taught what is referred to as the posttrib rapture view.1 Although the posttrib rapture view has some problems, it does not hold out false hope to believers of escaping the great tribulation. Evans' switcheroo from the posttrib view taught by Endtime Ministries to pretrib no doubt appeals to "itching ears". (2 Timothy 4:3). As many have observed, the false NAR Word-Faith prosperity teachers incessantly aired on Daystar are adept at giving false hope to believers. Within the biblical context, false hope refers to misplaced trust or confidence in things, people, or circumstances that ultimately cannot deliver what they promise. The Bible warns against placing hope in anything other than God, as such hope is deceptive and leads to disappointment and spiritual peril. (Jeremiah 23:16). The danger of pretrib teaching is the possibility that many will fall away during the great tribulation due to what they will regard as the "failed" prophecy of Jesus' return before the 70th week of Daniel. (Matthew 24:10-15 cf. Daniel 9:27).
2. Jimmy Evans Announces He’s Leaving XO Marriage, After Daystar Backlash
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