REVELATION TV: HOWARD CONDER'S UNACCOUNTABILITY AND RAPTURE CONFUSION

Spain - the elephant in the room    

Over the years, many people who should have known better have indulged Howard Conder in his alleged "vision". Various "prophecies" from wolves Jean Darnell, Jonathan David, Sharon Stone, and Noel Woodroffe have failed spectacularly,* and RTV's Spanish studios are apparently up for sale. Anyone who declares a false prophecy takes the Lord's name in vain. (Exodus 20:7). In the Old Testament, false prophecy carried the death penalty. (Deuteronomy 13:5,18:20). In the New Testament, we are not instructed to execute false teachers/prophets, but rather to mark and avoid them. (Romans 16:17). In other words, God has zero tolerance of false prophets. Those who have sounded the alarm about Conder over the years have been accused of spreading "malicious gossip, false accusations, and outright lies".1  At this point, I can confirm that those who expressed serious concerns about Conder have been vindicated. The obvious question is: Where is Conder's integrity, and why is no one at RTV holding him to account? As a "Christian", Conder should be providing answers to the many people who gave to RTV's Spanish studios in response to their interminable requests for money for his grandiose "vision", complete with "words from the Lord". I wonder, will Conder reimburse those who sacrificially gave to his white elephant if and when the Spanish studios are sold? 

Given his zero credibility, it is extraordinary that Conder and his associates at RTV continue to release videos criticizing the government, offering prophetic insights into current events, and generally dispensing their dubious "wisdom" to all and sundry. It should go without saying that no reputable bible teacher should associate with Conder and RTV. “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11).  

The Rapture Debate - Revelation TV    

Below are some brief comments on the rapture debate held on May 30, 2025, between Derek Walker of Oxford Bible Church (pretrib) and former Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell (posttrib), moderated by Tim Vince. These men are old associates of Conder and have apparently buried their heads in the sand regarding Spain, while continuing to indulge Conder's dubious "ministry".

Like other pretrib teachers, Derek Walker makes the assumption that the 70th week of Daniel is the period of the tribulation. However, in the Olivet discourse, Jesus indicated that the tribulation follows the abomination of desolation event at the midpoint of the 70th week. (Matthew 24:15-21). The tribulation is variously described in the scriptures as: a time, times, and half a time (3.5 years), Daniel 7:25; forty-two months, Revelation 11:12, 13:5; 1,260 days, Revelation 12:5-6 cf. Daniel 12:1; Jeremiah 30:7;half a week Daniel 9:27.2  

Furthermore, the description of the 70th week of Daniel as "the day of the Lord" is problematic. Both Walker and Campbell make this mistake. The day of the Lord begins after the tribulation and is the specific period of God's direct wrath upon the earth. This period begins following the cosmic disturbances and the rapture, between the sixth and seventh seal of Revelation, and involves the trumpet and bowl judgements. (Revelation 8-9,11; Revelation 15-16). Those who do not distinguish between the tribulation and the day of the Lord's wrath do not take account of the difference between orgē (wrath) and thlipsis (tribulation) in the Greek text. 

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

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 (orgē) has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

The fallacy of imminence)

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:3).

The fallacy of imminence is the common assumption of pretrib teachers. Walker points out that the phrase 'I will come again', literally ἔρχομαι, I am coming again in John 14:3 is in the present tense, and he suggests that this indicates imminence. Walker: "The futuristic of the present tense expresses imminence". The problem with dissecting the Greek text is that we sometimes lose the context. The sentence continues: I will take you (παραληψομαι) to myself in the future tense. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 are obvious future statements:

For the Lord Himself will descend (καταβήσεται) from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise (ἀναστήσονται). (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed (αλλαγησομεθα), in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound (σαλπίσει), and the dead will be raised (ἐγερθήσονται) imperishable, and we shall be changed (ἀλλαγησόμεθα). (1 Corinthians 15:51-52). 

In John 14:3, the phrases if I go (πορευθῶ), and I will prepare (ετοιμασω) are aorist passive deponent subjunctive verbs. In other words, Jesus is speaking in the subjunctive mood, which is abstract. Some teachers get very bogged down in Greek grammar in order to prove a point when the meaning of the text is clear in other passages. Certainly, John 14:3 does not express imminence. 

Who are the 24 elders?

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. (Revelation 4:4).

The argument that the twenty-four elders represent the church is based on a single verse of scripture. However, the "great multitude" (the redeemed) in Revelation 7 contradicts this view.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.. Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9,13-14). 

Revelation 5:8-11 and different interpretations

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:8-11).

The KJV differs from the majority of bible versions: ..And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Alan Kurschner argues for the third person as the correct interpretation of the ransomed, as against the first person in Revelation 5:8-11. Instead of "made us a kingdom" and "we shall reign on the earth", according to Kurschner, the best and oldest manuscripts use the third person "them" and "they".3 If this interpretation is correct, the twenty-four elders are not included in the ransomed people of God.

Kurschner's argument is confirmed by various commentaries:

Pulpit Commentary: "And didst redeem unto God by thy blood out of every kindred, etc. Though the reading 'us' is supported by various manuscripts, and similarly the first person is used in ver. 10. yet, on the whole, it seems better to omit it, the phrase being taken in a partitve sense - 'Thou didst redeem unto God by thy blood some out of every kindred, etc., and hast made them, etc., and they shall reign.'"4

Cambridge Bible: "us] Should be omitted. The elders probably represent the whole multitude of the redeemed, but they are not here said to belong to their number, and the living creatures certainly do not. The true reading is, 'Thou wast slain, and hast purchased to God by Thy Blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nations, and hast made them unto our God a kingdom and priests, and they [shall] reign upon the earth.'”4

 
Walker's argument that the twenty-four elders represent the church fails on a number of levels. As demonstrated above, the majority of bible versions differentiate between the twenty-four elders and the church. Additionally, the KJV describes the four living creatures as "redeemed". However, the four living creatures are angelic beings who are not part of the redeemed church.

Satan is a master of deception and specialises in raising false hopes. I believe the pretrib rapture is a very dangerous doctrine that will leave believers bewildered, shaken, and unprepared when the tribulation occurs and they face the Antichrist. This is the very outcome that pretrib believers have been promised deliverance from, and their faith is likely to be shaken, perhaps irreparably. (Matthew 24:10).

John Campbell presents a very emotional view of the posttrib rapture view. He speaks about "receiving a revelation" and being "overwhelmed by the Spirit", among other things. I do not necessarily dismiss Campbell's spiritual experience, but relying on personal experience is a very unreliable way of determining truth. (1 John 4:1). I also question Campbell's view that there will be the "largest harvest ever" during the seven years he erroneously describes as the "tribulation". I do not see this in the scriptures. Rather, it appears that the masses will be sent a great delusion by God and will follow the beast. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-11; Revelation 13:3-4,7). A significant reason that many will follow the Antichrist is that no one will be able to buy or sell without taking the mark of the beast. (Revelation 13:7). The statement that believers will be supernaturally protected during the tribulation is, in my view, also false. The scriptures speak of persecution, apostasy, and spiritual deception:“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. (Matthew 24:9-11). My understanding is that the tribulation i.e., the final 3.5 years of the 70th week of Daniel, will be an exceptionally difficult and testing time, and believers will need to endure this period. (Matthew 24:13; Revelation 14:12). 

It is beyond the scope of this post to go into the weaknesses of the posttrib rapture view. I recommend Alan Kurshner's compelling arguments on this subject: Articles for Posttribulationism to Consider | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES

The warning in the book of Revelation is taken very lightly by both Walker and Campbell, who apparently think it is acceptable to speculate. (Revelation 22:18-19). Those with questions about the timing of the rapture should give serious consideration to the prewrath writings of the early church fathers.5 The problems associated with other views simply disappear when one understands the prewrath position.

1. About - HowardConder.com

2. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION FALLACY
3.Twenty Four Elders Archives | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
4. Revelation 5:9 Commentaries: And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. (biblehub.com)

5. https://www.alankurschner.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Prewrath-Early-Church-Fathers-Kurschner.pdf

* WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: REVELATION TV: SPAIN ~ HOWARD CONDER'S WHITE ELEPHANT