ANDY WOODS PREWRATH RAPTURE ONSLAUGHT (PART 5)

Rapture Sermon Series 46 - Explaining & Refuting Pre-Wrath, Pt. 5. 1 Thess. 4:18. Dr. Andy Woods. - YouTube

I was hoping that this would be the last onslaught against the prewrath rapture position by Andy Woods, but apparently not. This week he began with a brief repetition of his previous arguments against prewrath and continued with The Blessed Hope and The Restrainer. Apparently he has found four more arguments against prewrath, which is rather tiresome considering that every one of his arguments to date have been shown to be fallacious.  

The Blessed Hope

The pre-trib camp dislocate the rapture from the second coming (Parousia) of Jesus Christ and place it before the first seal in the book of Revelation. The problems with this view are insurmountable. The pre-trib camp are battling not only with the fact that there is not one single verse of scripture to validate their claim, but also that the scriptures directly contradict them! Biblically, the second coming of Jesus begins with the prewrath rapture at some unspecified point between the sixth and seventh seal in the book of Revelation. 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14).

Andy Woods asks the question: "How is the prewrath rapture a comfort to the believer (John 14:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Titus 2:13?" 

The above passages are not time specific i.e. they do not prove the imminency of the rapture. The assumption that the rapture is imminent is contradicted primarily by Matthew 24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 and Revelation 7:9.

The comfort (encouragement) of believers is based on the sure hope of all Christians based on the promise that they will ultimately be received to heaven and will dwell with the Lord forever. (Hebrews 6:18-20). 

Our motivation is the cross of Jesus Christ. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19). 

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10). Persecution on some level is promised to all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:12). No matter what trials or persecution we might face in this life, our ultimate destiny is to be with Him. In the meantime we persevere until He comes. The danger of the pre-trib theory is that believers will take offence, and apostasy/rebellion (apostasia) will result due to dashed hopes of an escape from the persecution of the Antichrist. (Matthew 24:10 cf. Proverbs 13:12). Tribulation or persecution are two reasons specifically given by Jesus Christ as the cause of falling away ..yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matthew 13:21; cf. John 15:20). 

The pre-trib mantra that Christians will not have to suffer the persecution of the Antichrist has all the lethal echoes of.. did God really say? (Genesis 3:1); This shall never happen to you. (Matthew 16:22-23); and false prophets like Hananiah who prophesied "peace". (Jeremiah 28:9-11). Jesus prefixed his warnings in the Olivet Discourse with See, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:25). He warned believers to be prepared to endure during this critical time in history. It is necessary for the pre-trib camp to silence Jesus Christ on this subject by invalidating the specific warnings given to Christians in the Olivet Discourse. 

Michael the Restrainer?

And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:6–7).

According to Andy Woods, the church is the restrainer, or to be more specific, the Holy Spirit in the church is the restrainer. This dubious presumption precludes the presence of the church on earth during the 70th week of Daniel.

The Antichrist is revealed at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel. (2 Thessalonians 2:4). In context, Paul links two events specifically in time: (a) the Antichrist will be revealed when he takes his seat in the temple of God and proclaims himself to be God; (b) the restrainer will cease restraining in order to facilitate the revealing of the Antichrist. Neither of these events occur at the beginning of the 70th week when Andy Woods claims that the restrainer will be taken out of the way.

Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion (apostasia) occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.. And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one who now restrains it will continue until he is taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:3,6,7).

A further argument against the pre-trib view is the great tribulation, i.e. the period when the church will be persecuted. The Antichrist will make war with the saints, who have the testimony and faith of Jesus. (Revelation 12:17, 13:7, 14:12). The body of Christ i.e. the church will be on the earth and resisting the Antichrist during the great tribulation. Jesus prefaced his warning to the disciples: ..when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination of desolation'.. (Matthew 24 15). Pre-trib teachers deny the significance of the eschatological implications for the church in the Olivet Discourse. However, there are several scriptures confirming that Jesus was addressing the church as his primary audience. For instance Jesus assured his disciples: And behold, I am with you always (πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας), to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Of all the various theories regarding the identity of the restrainer, the most feasible candidate is the archangel Michael. This view has been reinforced following groundbreaking research undertaken by Colin R Nicholl and taught by Alan Kurschner (Eschatos Ministries). 

I will briefly summarize this view, but I recommend that readers of this post listen to Alan Kurschner on this topic on the links below. 

In Jewish thought, Michael, whose name means "Who is like God" is the principal angel who is believed to act as the right hand of God and is represented as the tutelary prince of Israel. He is a military commander with a critical eschatological role in opposing, and ultimately defeating Satan/Belial and punishing the fallen angels. 

At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up (Hebrew amad). (Daniel 12:1). 

The prewrath view takes the definition of amad as stand still, stop, cease moving, of moon as in Joshua 10:13) {1} This view agrees with Rashi's early interpretation of Daniel 12:1 i.e. Michael will withdraw or stand aside immediately before the great tribulation. In addition, the Greek term parerchomai in the Septuagint (LXX) is translated to pass by. (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7; Daniel 11:45-12:1). {2}

Michael’s war against the dragon in Revelation 12:7-17 coincides with the unprecedented persecution of God’s people. These events are consistent with 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 and Daniel 11:45–12:1.

According to Andy Woods, Michael does not "like" to have conflict with Satan on the premise of Jude 1:9. These fallacious arguments from Andy Woods are an insult to any Christian with even the slightest biblical knowledge! Whether the archangel Michael likes it or not, there is absolutely no doubt that he does contend with Satan!

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. (Revelation 12:7-8). 

“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1). 

But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” (Jude 1:9).

This phrase is used by the Angel of the Lord in Zechariah 3:2. And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! According to Keil and Delitsch, the phrase "The Lord rebuke you" is believed to be a standing formula for the utterance of the threat of a divine judgment, from which no conclusion can be drawn as to the relation in which the person using it stood to God. {3} It may be that Jude was referring to some rabbinical tradition, or to the apocryphal Assumption of Moses. In any event, this phrase does not prove that Michael does not contend with/restrain Satan. In fact, quite the reverse is the case as the scriptures demonstrate. 

Three Parts?

The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21) identifies three separate phases of the 70th week of Daniel  ~ birth pains, great tribulation and the Day of the Lord. Andy Woods tacked his puzzling objections to Jesus' teaching on this subject onto the end of part 5: 

Update to Rapture 46 (the missing last 4 minutes) - YouTube

The great tribulation will begin at the mid point of the 70th week when the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God and causes the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Andy Woods fails to take into account that those days will be cut short. 

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short (koloboó), no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:21-22). koloboó means to curtail. {4} 

The Day of the Lord will be unleashed after the great tribulation is curtailed for the sake of the elect. God's wrath will continue throughout the remainder of the seven year period. In other words, the Day of the Lord is an inclusive part of the 70th week of Daniel. 

1. Strong's Hebrew: 5975. עָמַד (amad) -- to take one's stand, stand (biblehub.com)
2. Strong's Greek: 3928. παρέρχομαι (parerchomai) -- to pass by, to come to (biblehub.com)
3. Zechariah 3:2 Commentaries: The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?" (biblehub.com)
4. Strong's Greek: 2856. κολοβόω (koloboó) -- to curtail (biblehub.com)

Further Links

Archangel Michael, the Restrainer Removed, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 (Part 1 of 2) - Ep. 34 | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
Archangel Michael, the Restrainer Removed, 2 Thessalonians 2:6–7 (Part 2 of 2) – Ep. 35 (alankurschner.com)

ANDY WOODS PREWRATH RAPTURE ONSLAUGHT (PART 4)

(1) Rapture Sermon Series 45 - Explaining & Refuting Pre-Wrath, Pt. 4. Rev. 6:16-17. Dr. Andy Woods - YouTube

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!” (Revelation 6:1).

In part 4 of Andy Woods' onslaught against the prewrath rapture, he continues to insist that wrath, as against travail, defines the entirety of the 70th week of Daniel in clear contradiction to Matthew 24:8 and Revelation 6. Andy Woods' attempt to reinforce his theory that the opening of the first four seals is equivalent to wrath is to make a false association between Come! (erchomai) in Revelation 6:1,3, 5 and 7 and has come (ēlthen) in Revelation 6:17.

Some scholars interpret "Come!" in Revelation 6:1,3 5 and 7 as an invitation to John to "come and see". Benson notes the subsequent: And I looked, and behold, a xxxx horse! in verses 1, 5 and 7. {1} I am not convinced by this explanation. Rather, it seems to be more like a summoning of the four horsemen each in their turn. Whichever view we decide to take, Revelation 6:17 refers to a different scene entirely: for the great day of their wrath has come (ἦλθεν/ēlthen), and who can stand? 

Andy Woods has laboured over has come (ēlthen) in his previous videos in order to "prove" that it refers to the previous seals. However, pre-trib attempts to demonstrate that ēlthen refers to the past seals are disingenuous. Dissecting words without taking the context into consideration is bad exegesis. A close study of ēlthen demonstrates unequivocally that context is the key to Revelation 6:17, as per the following examples:

It is enough; the hour has come (ēlthen). The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark 14:41).

Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come (ēlthen) to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:15).

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come (ēlthen), and his Bride has made herself ready; (Revelation 19:7).

Andy Woods' previous interpretation of apostasy (apostasia) as the rapture in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 has also been demonstrated to be false. {2} Woods continues to double down and teach these falsehoods irrespective of their obvious flaws. The right thing for him to do would be to correct his theology, but tragically (both for him and his followers), this seems unlikely.  

Imminency

All the verses Andy Woods cites as proof of imminency completely ignore the Olivet Discourse i.e. the key passages in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, where specific signs of the end of the age are given to the church by Jesus Christ Himself. The Olivet Discourse must be disregarded as irrelevant to the church according to the pre-trib camp. In other words, Jesus Christ Himself must be silenced in order to make way for the pre-trib doctrine!  

Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? (Matthew 24:3).

..the one who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:13).

So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).. (Matthew 24:15; Daniel 12:11).

Immediately after the tribulation 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.  (Matthew24:29-31).

The relationship between Matthew 24:32-35 and James 5:7-9

When the New Testament says that the Lord's coming is near it does automatically follow that it is imminent. James 5:7-9 supplements the fig tree analogy in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:32-35). The context of both these passages is a call for patience and endurance. Both Jesus and James use analogies from nature in order to make the point that the Lord's coming (parousia) is near; it is certain, but it is not imminent. The rapture will occur in a specific generation only after certain signs have taken place. These particular signs could unravel rapidly in any given generation, hence the necessity for Christians to stay alert and watchful. (Matthew 24:43).

Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door (thurōn)! You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:7-9).

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 all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates (thurōn). 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. (Matthew 24:32-35).

Titus 2:13

..waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ..

Arguments from isolated verses that do not mention the signs preceding the blessed hope do not constitute a valid defence of the pretrib theory. Good exegesis takes the sum total of God's word into account. (Psalm 119:160). Paul says elsewhere: 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).  

Andy Woods claims that opposition to the pre-trib rapture is Satanic and that Satan is trying to destroy the pre-trib doctrine. (38:00 mark)  Andy Woods: "Satan hates the doctrine of imminency.. he has raised up forces trying to tear the doctrine down..  The ferocity and hatred towards pre-trib is spiritual warfare... it is part of the angelic conflict. He is right, but he has it backwards! The plan of the enemy is to sabotage the specific warnings given by Jesus Christ so that His church will be unprepared for His coming. The pre-trib theory does not stand up to the test of the scriptures, it is a false teaching that must be sharply refuted. (1 Timothy 4:1; Titus 1:13; 1 John 4:1). 

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20).

It is a difficult task to refute the pre-trib theory without alienating genuine believers who have been taken in by it. The intention of most prewrath proponents is to encourage pre-trib believers to test the scriptures to see if these things are so. (Acts 17:11). Pre-trib teachers like Andy Woods are putting the church at great risk. If the church is not prepared to face the persecution of the Antichrist, then the results are potentially catastrophic. (Matthew 24:10). The pre-trib theory essentially trashes approximately 1800 years of church history before imminency was ever heard of in this context. 

Andy Woods final comments about prewrath proponents: "They are the most disgruntled unhappy people lacking in joy that you will ever meet." He goes on to say that they are always focused on the news, the economy, the political situation, spiritual warfare and inflation.. and that is all they can talk about. These generalizations appear to form part of Andy Woods carte blanch attack on anyone who promotes the prewrath view by fair means or foul! All believers are exhorted to be sober minded and watchful. (1 Peter 5:8). Those who have a genuine concern for truth and express their doubts about the validity of pre-trib are not devoid of joy! 

In conclusion, I should mention that not everyone who promotes their own version of prewrath is reliable. We should mark and avoid revilers and false teachers like Jacob Prasch and Steven Anderson, and also modern Judaizers like Doug Hamp. (Romans 16:17). John Haller (Fellowship Bible Chapel) majors on politics and is close to both Prasch and Hamp. Although it is critically important, the timing of the rapture is not the only criteria that determines sound teaching; we should test teachers by their doctrines (Titus 1:9), and by their fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). If Andy Woods were to mention some names then it would be possible to respond to his various sweeping accusations. 

Andy Woods seems determined to misrepresent and undermine the warnings given to the church by Jesus Christ Himself in the Olivet Discourse. Likewise, he employs various subversive tactics against those who repeat Jesus' end time warnings. (Matthew 5:11; John 15:20).

1. A Reply to Andy Woods on ‘APOSTASIA Is the Rapture’ - Ep. 104 | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com) 

2. Revelation 6:1 - Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary - StudyLight.org 

Further Link

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: apostasia: rebellion or rapture? thomas ice pre-tribulation rapture trickery! (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

ANDY WOODS PREWRATH RAPTURE ONSLAUGHT (PART 3)

Rapture Sermon Series 44 - Explaining & Refuting Pre-Wrath, Pt. 3. Rev. 6:16-17. Dr. Andy Woods - YouTube

Part 3 of Andy Woods' onslaught against the prewrath rapture did not add anything new to the subject. This video consists of repeated accusations against the prewrath position. Much of this content has already been addressed in my previous two posts. {1}

Andy Woods brought up Alan Kurschner's prewrath chart below which correlates the birth pains in Matthew 24 with the seal judgements of Revelation 6-7:  

Andy Woods confirms the prewrath view that the "beginning of birth pains" will precede the Day of the Lord as either Satan's wrath or man's wrath. His objection to the above chart is that the third seal is described as "famine" rather than "famine and earthquakes". Matthew is the only gospel that links famines and earthquakes, and Revelation 6:5-6 omits earthquakes altogether. Mark and Luke apply earthquakes in a general sense to the beginning of birth pains. I am not sure if there is a strict necessity to apply famines and earthquakes exclusively to the third seal as there may be some overlap.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. (Matthew 24:7).

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Mark 13:8).

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.(Luke 21:10-11) .

I am confident that no-one within the prewrath camp have overlooked, or would attempt to deny, that Jesus Christ facilitates the release of the Antichrist. (Revelation 5:9). The scriptures indicate that a significant increase in earthquakes will occur subsequent to the arrival of the Antichrist. Paul uses the birth pains metaphor to describe the present subjection of all creation to travail (ὠδίνω) ~ For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. (Romans 8:22 cf. Romans 8:19-21; Genesis 3:17; Job 9:6). The breaking of the first seal i.e. the arrival of the Antichrist, is the catalyst that precipitates the breaking of the subsequent seals, beginning with wars and famine. As such, the Antichrist is the agent that God will use to fulfil His ultimate purposes. The metaphor "the beginning of birth pains" expresses travail and pain. To insist on anything more than that is to go beyond what is written. (1 Corinthians 4:6).

The period the scriptures designate as the Day of the Lord/the Day of His wrath begins specifically when the seventh seal is broken. After the seventh seal is broken, God's wrath is orchestrated directly from heaven itself against the wicked. (Revelation 8:6-13). The scriptures apply the designation the Day of the Lord to unprecedented wrath (orgé), not previously known on the earth, and never to be repeated.

..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. (Joel 2:2).

A major problem for those who do not follow the biblical distinctions, the beginning of birth pains, tribulation and wrath are the fifth seal martyrs.

And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld. And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You avenge our blood and judge those who dwell upon the earth?” Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed. (Revelation 6:9-11 cf. Revelation 12:17).

According to pre-trib reasoning, the fifth seal martyrs will experience God's wrath. The fifth seal specifically addresses the martyrdom of faithful believers killed under the persecution of the Antichrist. (Daniel 7:25; Matthew 24:9). This cannot possibly be God's wrath. Those under the altar ask how long it will be before God avenges their blood and judges the earth dwellers. This is a reference to the wrath which will begin after the great tribulation. Furthermore, Revelation 6:17 confirms "the great day of Their wrath has come (ηλθεν/ēlthen)."

Revelation 6:17 and the aorist indicative verb ēlthen

Andy Woods repeats the skewed translation of ἦλθεν (ēlthen) as a past action. This translation does not fit the context of the previous six seals, but rather the wicked realize that God's wrath has arrived, or rather, it is/has become imminent. As much as Andy Woods quotes pre-trib scholars Robert L Thomas and Gerald B Stanton, there are many more Greek scholars who disagree with them. {2} 

The examples below demonstrate that context is the key to ἦλθεν/ēlthen.

It is enough; the hour has come (ἦλθεν/ēlthen). The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. (Mark 14:41).

Swing Your sickle and reap, because the time has come (ἦλθεν/ēlthen) to harvest; for the crop of the earth is ripe. (Revelation 14:15).

A further problem is that there is no indication that believers will be exempted from seal four: sword, famine, plague, and the beasts of the earth. As Andy Woods indicates, a quarter of the worlds population will perish during this period. (Revelation 6:8). If this is wrath, then there is a contradiction with 1 Thessalonians 5:9. While there are similarities with Ezekiel 5:5-17, Ezekiel 7:14-15 and Ezekiel 14:21, the context of these passages is not eschatological, i.e. these OT passages refer to the desolation of Jerusalem/Israel, not to the 70th week of Daniel.

Andy Woods quoted a saying of Tim LaHaye regarding "specialists". Frankly I would not embarrass myself by quoting novelist Tim LaHaye (Left Behind). LaHaye's involvement with, and support of, messiah claimant Sun Myung Moon (Moonies) means that we can write him off as a person of integrity! {3}

Andy Woods' unwillingness to engage in any kind of debate or discussion, and also the fact that he has turned off the comments on his YouTube videos, is not conducive to openness. He makes all kinds of accusations against the prewrath camp without giving anyone the right of reply. By shutting down opposing views, Andy Woods isolates himself and constrains others from legitimate exegesis. Pre-trib leaders are playing a very dangerous game that has the potential to devastate the church. (Proverbs 13:12).

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: ANDY WOODS PREWRATH RAPTURE ONSLAUGHT (PART 1) (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: ANDY WOODS PREWRATH RAPTURE ONSLAUGHT (PART 2) (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. Revelation 11:18 Commentaries:

3. Exposed-Chuck-Missler-Tim-Lahaye-etc.pdf (contendingfortruth.com)

ANDY WOODS PREWRATH RAPTURE ONSLAUGHT (PART 2)

Rapture Sermon Series 43 - Explaining & Refuting Pre-Wrath, Part 2. Rev. 6:16-17. Dr. Andy Woods. - YouTube

When Andy Woods talks about the "tribulation" he refers to the entirety of the 70th week of Daniel. In contrast, the prewrath view employs the scriptural designations that relate to the 70th week in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Revelation 6:17, i.e. birth pains, tribulation, the day of the Lord.  Matthew 24:21 specifies that the tribulation begins at the half way point of the 70th week i.e. At that time there will be great tribulation.. Mark sets this particular period apart as a time of unmatched tribulation. (Mark 13:19 cf. Daniel 12:1). The tribulation therefore begins at the event known as the abomination of desolation at the mid point of the 70th week and lasts for 3.5 years (cut short). 

The special designation the day of the Lord applies to unprecedented wrath (orgé) not previously known on the earth, and never to ever be repeated. This is not to suggest that God's wrath has been absent on the earth prior to this point. (Genesis 6:13-17, 7:4; 19:13; Deuteronomy 29:28; 1 Chronicles 27:24 etc.)

..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. (Joel 2:2).

Andy Woods presents an either/or scenario as the reason that both Israel and the church cannot exist on the earth simultaneously during the 70th week of Daniel. Andy Woods: "You cannot have any scenario where the church is in faith simultaneously with Israel being in faith.. The church and Israel cannot exist together in faith on the earth. The point of the 'tribulation' is to bring Israel to faith. God never leaves the earth without a witness of Himself .. You can't have the church on the earth when Israel is in faith as well..  that is one of the main reasons that we don't think the church can be in this time period.. Israel and the church are separate, they are not just separate people, they are separate programs.." 

Is God limited to single-tasking?

Andy Woods either/or scenario does not stand up to close scrutiny.

According to the pre-trib view there will be so called "tribulation saints", who come to faith during the 70th week. These "tribulation saints" allegedly constitute a worldwide revival during the 70th week after the church is raptured. In effect Andy Woods debunks his own argument, since even by their own admission, the pre-trib camp recognizes two groups of believers on the earth during the 70th week; Israel and non-Israelite believers from the nations who allegedly are not "the church". The prewrath view teaches that the church will remain on the earth until the tribulation is "cut short". (Matthew 24:22). There is no evidence for a "worldwide revival" during the 70th week. The great multitude that no one could number in Revelation 7:9-14 are those who came out of great tribulation. The sudden appearance of the innumerable multitude before the throne does not correlate well with a worldwide revival. However, this scene does correlate with the rapture and the appearance in heaven of innumerable saints of all time. (2 Timothy 3:12).

During the great tribulation, Satan (the dragon) becomes enraged with the woman (Israel) after attempting and failing to destroy her. He then turns his attention to the church i.e. he goes off to make war with those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 12:12-17). 

The prophet Daniel was aware from the writings of Jeremiah that the 70 year desolation of Jerusalem was about to come to an end, and that the exiles from Jerusalem would be restored to their land. (Daniel 9:2 cf. Jeremiah 25:11-12, 29:10). In response to Daniel's prayers and repentance, the angel Gabriel came to give him insight and understanding, not only with regard to the immediate situation of the exiles, but also regarding the time of the end. (Daniel 9:20-27). When Daniel sought further clarification about the outcome of the visions he had received, he was refused. No further enlightenment was possible for him at that time: I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. (Daniel 12:89 cf. Daniel 8:26; 12:4; Acts 1:7). What was sealed until the time of the end in Daniel, John is told not to seal: And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. (Revelation 22:10). Andy Woods takes his either/or understanding of Israel and the church during the 70th week from Danie 9:24. However, we do not get a complete view of the time of the end exclusively from Daniel. A progressive/wider application is seen in the book of Revelation, and Revelation concerns both Israel and the nations. The book of Revelation unseals Daniel.  

It appears that God can and does multitask in that he does work with both Israel and the church simultaneously during the 70th week. It is very dangerous to presume how God will operate during this period using convoluted pre-trib arguments that do not align with the scriptures. (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 4:1).

Andy Woods points out that the word church (ekklēsia) is missing from Revelation from chapter 4 onwards until chapter 21. The letters of Revelation chapters 2-4 are addressed to specific individual first century churches in Asia Minor; to the church in Ephesus, Smyrna etc. What conditions will be like exactly for individual believers during the tribulation is very difficult to say. There will be unprecedented persecution during this period, and it seems likely that believers will not be able to meet openly without a backlash. It also seems likely that the hostile conditions during the tribulation will necessitate that individual believers live off grid in order to avoid taking the mark of the beast. (Revelation 13:7, 16-17). As such, the church will exist in such dire conditions that I doubt it will be recognized as a "transnational entity" as we understand the term. However the universal church will exist during that time as clearly demonstrated by "the saints".  In the NT "saints" are referred to fifty nine times to refer to groups of individual believers i.e. the church. The word ekklēsia is also missing from 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 and John 14:1–4. Andy Woods uses the unreliable word-concept fallacy aka the concordance method of interpretation, which works on the false assumption that studying a word (or phrase) equates to having studied the entire biblical concept. {1} We cannot draw the conclusion that the church is absent during the 70th week from Andy Woods' faulty argumentation in this respect. 

Smoke and Mirrors!

Andy Woods' attempt to show that Psalm 50:5 and Psalm 149:1 refers to "saints" is disingenuous. The Hebrew word is chasid which, according to Brown Driver Briggs, is kind, pious. {2} The King James Version translates chasid as "saints". The ESV has "faithful ones", and other versions have "holy ones" or godly ones". The Greek word ekklēsia (church) does not transliterate to, and is not synonymous with, chasid (kind, pious). On this basis, we can disregard Andy Woods' argument that "saints" does not refer to the church in the book of Revelation. 

Regarding  Zephaniah 1:14-15  

The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day a day of distress (tsarah) and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness.. (ESV)

The great day of the LORD is near, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. That day is a day of anger, A day of trouble (tsarah ) and distress, A day of destruction and desolation, A day of darkness and gloom, A day of clouds and thick darkness.. (NASV)

Septuagint: δυνατὴ ἡμέρα ὀργῆς ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη, ἡμέρα θλίψεως (thlipsis) ~ day of tribulation.

According to Andy Woods, the Septuagint translation of Zephaniah 1:15 debunks the prewrath concept of thlipsis/tribulation and orgé/wrath as separate periods, since it translates tsarah ~ thlipsis in the specific context of the day of the Lord. Firstly it should be noted that the Septuagint has its limitations. The Hebrew word tsarah = straits, distress.. tsarah is not strictly trouble since trouble can mean all sorts of things apart from distress. {3} Even if trouble were the correct translation, which is is not, this would not make any difference to the prewrath view ~ thlipsis in a general sense is persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation. The Greek word thlipsis can apply to any situation that involves distress or affliction e.g. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction (thlipsis), and our fathers could find no food. (Acts 7:11).

Revelation 6:17 and the aorist indicative verb ēlthen
..the great day of their wrath has come (ηλθεν/ēlthen).

Woods quotes Robert L Thomas' skewed interpretation of ηλθεν (ēlthen): "The verb ēlethen ("has come") is aorist indicative, referring to a previous arrival of wrath, not something that is about to take place." (4)

Virtually the same phrase occurs in Revelation 11:18 following the seventh trumpet preceding the bowl judgements in Revelation 16:21.

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come (ηλθεν), and the time of the dead, that they should be judged.. KJV (Revelation 11:18 cf. Revelation 16:21).

Various commentaries agree on the interpretation of ηλθεν (ēlthen) in this particular context. {5}

Matthew Poole: And thy wrath is come; now it is time for thee to show thyself angry, and thou hast begun to do it.

Pulpit Commentary: And thy wrath is come; thy wrath came. This verse points conclusively to the judgment day, the events of which, however, as before remarked (see on ver. 15), are merely indicated, not fully described. This is the last final infliction upon the wicked, the seventh of the trumpet plagues. And the time of the dead, that they should be judged; to be judged.

The proclamations of the three angels in Revelation 14:6-13 precedes the harvest of the earth, the great winepress of the wrath of God. (Revelation 14:14-20). This verse is yet another confirmation of the imminent aspect of ηλθεν/ēlthen.

And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come (ηλθεν), and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7).

After hearing the above bogus arguments from Andy Woods, I was so grieved that I found it very difficult to continue writing this post due to my growing conviction that he is a deliberate deceiver. Woods accuses the prewrath camp of being "intellectually dishonest with the data", and yet he provides us with glaring examples of "intellectual dishonesty" in his own sermon. I find it hard to imagine what it must feel like to waste ones not inconsiderable talents on teaching false doctrines. I often wonder how pre-trib teachers will face the Lord after leading many believers astray in this respect. (Romans 14:12).

The prewrath view focuses on the endurance of the saints during the tribulation in contrast to an unsubstantiated escapist pre-trib rapture mentality. (Revelation 14:12). Pre-trib is a highly irresponsible and dangerous catalogue of misinformation and eisegesis. It has the potential to leave many believers unprepared and unwilling to face the persecution of the Antichrist. (Matthew 24:9-10).

1. Does the Absence of the Word 'Church' (Ekklēsia) in Revelation 4–21 Support a Pretribulation Rapture? - Ep. 75 | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
2. Strong's Hebrew: 2623. חָסִיד (chasid) -- kind, pious (biblehub.com
3. Strong's Hebrew: 6869a. tsarah -- straits, distress (biblehub.com)
4. (62) Rapture Sermon Series 33. Mid-Trib View: Analyzed, Refuted, and Exposed, Pt 1 - YouTube
5. Revelation 11:18 Commentaries:

ANDY WOODS PREWRATH RAPTURE ONSLAUGHT (PART 1)

Rapture Sermon Series 42 - Explaining & Refuting Pre-Wrath, Part 1. Rev. 6:16-17. Dr. Andy Woods - YouTube

Andy Woods (Sugar Land Bible Church) is quite defensive when it comes to the prewrath rapture view. Of the various rapture theories he has critiqued over the last few months, the prewrath rapture is the most challenging. I think to use the derogatory term "three quarters rapture" is deliberately provocative as it obviously has upset some prewrath proponents in the past. Andy Woods claims claims to be "pre-wrath" himself, in that he believes that the wrath of God applies to the entirety of the 70th week of Daniel. It is critical that we allow the scriptures to define our theology rather than our presuppositions. The prewrath position applies the scriptural designation "the beginning of birth pains" to the first half of the 70th week. (Matthew 24:8). It is also important to distinguish the terms thlipsis (tribulation) and orge (wrath) during the 70th week, since the scriptures make these distinctions. The specific period designated as the wrath of God in this context is the day of the Lord, i.e. the day of his wrath. (Amos 5:18; Joel 3:14 Revelation 6:17, 14:10 etc.) This term refers to the final period of the seventh seal judgements leading up to the battle of Armageddon spoken of by the OT prophets and confirmed in the book of Revelation as the great day of His wrath. (Revelation 6:17). 

I find nothing confusing or deceptive about the term "prewrath". When I first began to consider this view after leaving the AOG some years ago, I had no problem understanding the term. It is true that there are some variations within prewrath camp regarding the exact position of the fourth seal, vis-à-vis  the the great tribulation. Nevertheless, in my view, the defining principle of the prewrath position is the timing of the rapture. 

Regarding the other two rapture views critiqued by Andy Woods: The mid-trib view is no longer popular or considered viable by most bible scholars these days. The post-trib view also has its problems, but unfortunately, no-one within that camp is willing to discuss or address the inconsistencies associated with this view. I have previously contacted two post-trib ministries. I did receive an initial response from Good Fight Ministries, but regrettably they have never followed up on the issues raised in that conversation. Sam Adams (Independence Baptist Church) has completely ignored me. (See further links). 

For the most part, Andy Woods seems to understand, and he has correctly described, the main points the prewrath position as a three part structure i.e. the beginning of birth pains, the great tribulation and the day of the Lord. (Matthew 24:8, 21-30). Andy Woods' comprehension of prewrath will ultimately make it much more difficult for him to give an account for his own teaching. (Hebrews 4:13). I should clarify that the prewrath rapture will occur immediately after the tribulation as per Matthew 24:29-31, following the cosmic disturbances of Revelation 6:12-17. Andy Woods teaches that the tribulation continues for the entirety of the 70th week, whereas the scriptures inform us otherwise. The great tribulation begins at the mid point (the abomination of desolation) and is "cut short" for the sake of the elect. (Matthew 24:22). 

The history of the prewrath rapture view is nothing to be ashamed of. Robert Van Kampen (1938–1999) was a pioneer in the business world and he was also involved in Christian missions and missionary organizations. Van Kampen developed the prewrath rapture position from the scriptures during the 1990's and he authored three books on the subject. As one of the wealthiest men in the US, Van Kampen had no particular agenda, and he had nothing to gain personally from the prewrath rapture position. He sought the help of Marvin Rosenthal who subsequently changed his own view from pre-trib to prewrath. It is very unfortunate that Van Kampen's private collections of rare antique bibles and manuscripts have fallen into the hands of TBN. In June 2007, eight years after Van Kampen's death, the Holy Land Experience Board of Directors sold the property to TBN for an estimated $37 million. {1}  

I own a copy of Van Kampen's book The Rapture Question Answered. It is a straightforward book that gives a clear and concise presentation of the prewrath position. This is more than I can say for Darby's abstruse writing style, his bewildering doctrines and his violation of the scriptures. Charles Spurgeon commented: "If the author would write in plain English his readers would probably discover that there is nothing very valuable in his remarks." {2} If Spurgeon and other learned men of that time had difficulty with Darby's obfuscations and cultish behaviour, then I think there is no shame in admitting that I have similar difficulties.

Andy Woods has referred to the teaching of Robert Van Kampen and Marvin Rosenthal some thirty years ago. He has not yet referred to modern scholars, such as Alan Kurschner in particular. He briefly referred to Charles Cooper whose prewrath articles are useful, although his hyper-charismatic tendencies are a cause for concern. {3} 

Andy Woods tells us that he has six arguments against the prewrath rapture view that he intends to address in the coming weeks. The first of these arguments is the assumption that the 70th week concerns Israel exclusively, and he cites Jeremiah 30:7 and Daniel 9:24 as proof texts. The pre-trib camp are adept at making unsubstantiated assumptions where the scriptures are silent. (Proverbs 30:6). As well as presuming that the 70th week applies exclusively to Israel, Andy Woods claims that a worldwide revival amongst the Gentiles will occur during the 70th week resulting from the preaching of the 144,000 Jewish "evangelists". The scriptures are silent about a worldwide revival during this period, and furthermore, there is nothing to indicate that the 144000 Jews are evangelists. In addition, the doctrine of imminence is pure fantasy, and there is nothing in the scriptures to indicate that the Holy Spirit is the restrainer. (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7). In fact the whole pre-trib view is based upon eisegesis! The inclusion of the church in God's ultimate plan is a progressive revelation. Even the disciples had difficulty in understanding that the Gentiles were also included in God's plan. (Acts 10:9-16, 44-48, 11:18). 

Alan Kurschner: "The New Testament through its progressive revelation reveals the overlay of the church during the final seven year period of Daniel’s prophecy, viewing God working with Israel and the church simultaneously to accomplished his purposes. God’s revelation of Daniel’s prophecy is augmented with more information from the New Testament, just as Old Testament prophecy is described more in detail in the New Testament (e.g. who the Messiah is and what he does). Robert H. Gundry (First the Antichrist, 135) rightly notes, 'So progress in the biblical history of salvation makes the situation in a future seventieth week different from what it was during the past sixty-nine weeks. You can’t legitimately argue from one to the other.'” {4}

For Andy Woods, the discussion is over and he has dismissed the possibility of a debate. I really don't know if his comments about debates and locations are germane. Certainly any man who is willing to travel to a pre-trib stronghold to debate the prewrath position is very brave. As for the accusation that prewrath teachers seek to proselytize pre-trib believers; surely the point of any discussion or debate is to establish truth from the scriptures in order to give believers the opportunity to test the spirits. (1 John 4:1). It is almost as though Andy Woods perceives views of the rapture at variance with pre-trib as another religion! 

1. Holy Land Experience - Wikipedia
2. Commenting & Commentaries—Catalogue (spurgeon.org)
3. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Charles Cooper (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
4. ANOTHER GLARING Inconsistent Pretrib Interpretation on Daniel's 70 Weeks Prophecy | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)

Further Links

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Sam Adams Independence Baptist Church (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Joe Schimmel Blessed Hope Chapel (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

ANDY WOODS PRE-TRIB RAPTURE DISTORTIONS: 144,000 SEALED

(51) Revelation Ep. 25 Gods Faithfulness. Revelation 7:1-8 - YouTube

Andy Woods (Sugar Land Bible Church) teaches the pre-trib version of the 144,000 Jews in Revelation 7:1-8. Woods gives a false view of the 144,000 in a number of key respects.

Revelation 7:1-8: 

1After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. 2And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3“Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 4And I heard the number of those who were sealed, 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel: 5From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000, 6from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000, 7from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000, 8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, and from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000. 

The book of Revelation is literal

A literal translation of 144,000 Jewish men is a reasonable interpretation considering that the scriptures go into explicit detail regarding both their number and their ethnicity. Even when the scriptures comprehensively spell things out, there are those who deviate into their own presuppositions and opinions. I will not devote space here to various allegorical interpretations and the Jehovah Witness views on the 144,000. Hopefully it is a given that these are false interpretations.

The book of Revelation has a chronological structure

A chronological interpretation of the seals, trumpets and bowls is the prevailing view of both the prewrath and the pre-trib camps. There are perplexing exegetical difficulties associated with what is known as the recapitulation theory i.e. the seals trumpets and bowls are different pictures of the same events. In order to successfully refute the pre-trib rapture theory, one must be able to articulate a coherent alternative! Those who teach recapitulation seem either unable or unwilling to recognize the difficulties associated with this view. A plain reading of the text indicates a clear chronological sequence of events i.e. the sixth seal follows the seventh seal, the seventh seal unleashes the trumpet judgements, and the seventh trumpet unleashes the bowl judgments.  

Woods defines the entire 70th week of Daniel as the tribulation in contradiction to the eschatological material supplied by Jesus Christ in the Olivet Discourse. (Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13 and Luke 21). Woods makes no distinction between the beginning of birth pains (Matthew 24:8; Revelation 6:1-8), and the undiluted cup of His wrath. (Revelation 14:10). He also fails to recognize the great tribulation as the specific wrath of the Antichrist against the church. Failure to acknowledge these distinctions throws the whole book of Revelation out of sync. (Revelation 22:18-19). The scriptures indicate successive seal judgements leading up to the day of the Lord. i.e. the day of his wrath. The catastrophic events that take place during first half of the 70th week i.e. the beginning of birth pains are devastating and we should not depreciate their severity or assume that wrath is absent. (Revelation 6:8 cf. Psalm 7:11). These events are instigated by the breaking of the first seal and the arrival of the Antichrist followed by three further seals/horsemen. When the sixth seal is broken an unprecedented escalation occurs immediately preceding the undiluted wrath of God. Specifically, the great day of their wrath becomes imminent following the sixth seal and comes into play during the seventh seal trumpet/bowl judgements from Revelation 8 onwards. (Revelation 6:17). Isaiah describes the cosmic events immediately preceding the undiluted wrath of God as the terror of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:10 cf. Revelation 6:15-17). 

Revelation 6:17 ~ The aorist indicative verb ēlthen
..the great day of their wrath has come (ηλθεν/ēlthen).

 

In a later video, Woods quotes Robert L Thomas' skewed interpretation of ηλθεν (ēlthen): "The verb ēlethen ("has come") is aorist indicative, referring to a previous arrival of wrath, not something that is about to take place." {1}  

The aorist indicative verb ηλθεν (ēlthen) should not be isolated from its context and translated as a simple past verb in English. Revelation 6:17 indicates that the great day of their wrath has arrived i.e. it is imminent. The King James Version more accurately captures the context of ηλθεν (ēlthen): 

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Virtually the same phrase occurs in Revelation 11:18 following the seventh trumpet preceding the bowl judgements in Revelation 16:21. 

 

And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come (ηλθεν), and the time of the dead, that they should be judged.. KJV (Revelation 11:18  cf. Revelation 16:21).  

Various commentaries agree on the interpretation of ηλθεν (ēlthen) in this particular context. {2} 

Matthew Poole:  And thy wrath is come; now it is time for thee to show thyself angry, and thou hast begun to do it. 

Pulpit Commentary: And thy wrath is come; thy wrath came. This verse points conclusively to the judgment day, the events of which, however, as before remarked (see on ver. 15), are merely indicated, not fully described. This is the last final infliction upon the wicked, the seventh of the trumpet plagues. And the time of the dead, that they should be judged; to be judged. 

The proclamations of the three angels in Revelation 14:6-13 precedes the harvest of the earth, the great winepress of the wrath of God. (Revelation 14:14-20). This verse is yet another confirmation of the imminent aspect of ηλθεν/ēlthen.

And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come (ηλθεν), and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7).

 

The 144,000 Jews

Although he follows a chronological framework vis-à-vis the seals, trumpets and bowls, Woods condenses the seals and trumpets into the first 3.5 years of the 70th week of Daniel. The presumed absence of the church during the entire 70th week due to the alleged pre-trib rapture necessitates the 144,000 to be evangelists. Woods therefore locates the 144,000 Jews either before, or at the beginning of the seventieth week. According to Woods, the 144,000 Jews are the instruments God uses to implement what he describes as "the greatest spiritual awakening the earth has ever seen" i.e. the "great multitude" described in Revelation 7:9-17.

Problems with the above view

# The 144,000 are never described as "evangelists" in the the book of Revelation. 

# The "great multitude" of Revelation 7:9-17 appear suddenly in heaven before the throne and before the Lamb.. "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; (Revelation 7:14). The "great multitude" of Revelation 7:9-17 are those who have been caught up in the rapture prior to the seventh seal trumpet judgements.. For God has not destined us for wrath.. (1 Thessalonians 5:9). 

# There is no indication of a "great awakening" in the book of Revelation. On the contrary:

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21).

People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds. (Revelation 16:10-11).

# The great tribulation does not begin until the mid point of the 70th week at the abomination of desolation event. (Matthew 24:21; Daniel 9:27). The tribulation is interrupted/cut short by the sixth seal cosmic disturbances. (Matthew 24:22; Revelation 6:12-17). 

# At the mid point of the week the the abomination of desolation event occurs when the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God. (Matthew 24:15). Jesus warns his disciples i.e. the church about being delivered up to tribulation, the coming apostasy, spiritual deception and increased lawlessness following this event: 

9“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. 10And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14).

Immediately after the tribulation 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. (Matthew 24:29).

# Woods explains that the chronological framework of the book of Revelation is temporarily halted in chapter 7. This first parenthetical break identifies the 144,000 and indicates a "verb of perception" i.e. "This is what John saw". Woods is accurate as far as he goes. However, his claim that the 144,000 are looking backwards to the seal judgements is problematic. 

If we look forward to Revelation 8:7-9, especially to the first two trumpets, we find precisely what is being described in Revelation 7 i.e. the four angels are given power to harm the land and the sea.. and the trees. The angels hold back the winds in order to facilitate the sealing of the 144,000. (Revelation 7:1). The sealing of the 144,000 is therefore anticipatory. The next stage of apocalyptic events will not proceed until the 144,000 are sealed. Consequently, they are safeguarded in advance from the divine wrath shortly to be administered by the angels. 

..the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have sealed the foreheads of the servants of our God.” (Revelation 7:2-3).

Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.
Then the second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned to blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. (Revelation 8 7-9)

The sealing of the 144,000 following the great tribulation suggests that divine wrath is about to fall upon the ungodly. The typological examples in Ezekiel 9:4 and the Passover (Exodus 12:12), indicate that the sealing of the 144,000 is very likely a protective measure against God's wrath, nothing more.

The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.(Joel 2:31 cf. Revelation 6:16-17 Acts 2:20). 

“Immediately after the tribulation 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. (Matthew 24:29). 

Woods: "God does not leave the earth without a witness."

This statement is true, but it does not apply to the 144,000 Jews. The true church will continue to exist during during the beginning of birth pains and through the great tribulation, although latterly, believers be decimated to a large extent and mass apostasy will occur. (Matthew 24:9-14). During the second half of the 70th week, the two witnesses will prophesy for 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth:  They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11:3-14).  

Revelation 14 

 

# The 144,000 Jewish men are located on heavenly Mount Zion with the Lamb. (Revelation 14:1-5).

# Three angels make separate proclamations following the rise of the Antichrist and the false prophet. 

        The first angel preaches the eternal gospel to those who dwell on the earth, to every nation.                  (Revelation 14:6-7).

        The second angel announces prophetically: Babylon is fallen, is fallen, (Revelation 14:8;                         Revelation 18:1-24). 

        The third angel issues what appears to be the final warning to mankind: 

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

#  His judgment has come (ηλθεν). i.e. Judgement is imminent. (Revelation 14:17-20).

The pre-trib rapture is a devious doctrine developed by cult leader John Nelson Darby in the 19th century. (1 Timothy 4:1). It is a doctrine that has to be extrapolated from the scriptures and finds no specific verse to support it. It is extraordinary that someone of Andy Wood's background is apparently unaware of the obvious flaws and the associated dangers attached to this view. I shudder to think how he and other pre-trib teachers will give an answer to God for what can only be described as reckless deviations from the Word of God. (Romans 14:12).

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 2:3-4).

1. (62) Rapture Sermon Series 33. Mid-Trib View: Analyzed, Refuted, and Exposed, Pt 1 - YouTube
2. Revelation 11:18 Commentaries:

ANDY WOODS: PRE-TRIB RAPTURE UNDER ATTACK

Rapture Under Attack! Pastors’ Point of View Episode 44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFfg24z6-

Pseudo Ephraim (c. 374-627)

In the above video, staunch pre-trib rapture teacher Andy Woods cites Pseudo Ephraim as a pre-Darby source for the pre-trib rapture. Author and researcher Dave MacPherson was a reliable critic of the pre-trib rapture view. Below is an excerpt from an article he wrote demonstrating how Pseudo Ephraim was dishonestly misinterpreted by pre-trib rapture teachers Grant Jeffrey and Thomas Ice. 

Pseudo Ephraim: "For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins." The phrase "taken to the Lord" was taken out of context by Jeffrey and Ice to mean the pre-trib rapture.

Dave MacPherson: "In Section 2, P-E (Pseudo Ephraim) says that the only event that's 'imminent' is 'the advent of the wicked one' (that is, Antichrist). Nevertheless, Grant Jeffrey in his 1995 book, FINAL WARNING, had the audacity to claim that P-E 'began with the Rapture using the word 'imminent' and added in the next sentence that 'Ephraem used the word 'imminent' to describe the Rapture.' (If he and other P-E promoters can look at a coming of Antichrist and see a coming of 'Christ,' is it any wonder that in his endtime view folks will look at Antichrist and see 'Christ'?

Dr. Paul Alexander, the leading authority whose book inspired the P-E claim, is portrayed in Jeffrey's book, FINAL WARNING, as 'perhaps the most authoritative scholar on the writings of the early Byzantine Church.' But this misleading statement, designed to make readers think that Professor Alexander supports the P-E claim, covers up the fact that this world famous scholar sees not even a smidgen of pretrib in the same Medieval writer!

In fact, Alexander writes that the phrase 'taken to the Lord' (which has become a bonanza for pretrib history revisionists) means "participate at least in some measure in beatitude.' While Jeffrey and Ice do include this 'beatitude' phrase, all P-E promoters carefully avoid revealing that the Catholic doctrine of 'beatitude,' according to the NEW CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, has to do with 'the highest acts of virtue that can be performed in this life' - works on earth and not being raptured off earth! (Elsewhere in his sermon P-E repeats the importance of doing 'penance,' because of 'our sins,' so that church members will be 'sustained' during the tribulation!)

In fact (again), Alexander has two summaries (textual and outline), in chronological order, of P-E's endtime events. And guess what. Alexander demonstrates both times that P-E saw only one future coming ('Second Coming of Christ"'for the 'punishment of the Antichrist') which follows (!) the great tribulation ('tribulatio magna lasting three and a half years') - claim-smashing summaries that self-serving promoters, with malice aforethought, have jointly swept under their 'secret rapture' rug! {1}

    

The Day of the Lord 

The phrase that Andy Woods repeats during this video is that the church is not appointed to wrath i.e. the church will escape wrath of God via the pre-trib rapture. (1 Thessalonians 5:9). He takes the position that the entire 70th week of Daniel is the tribulation period and defines this period as "wrath". The first time the term "great tribulation" is mentioned is Matthew 24: 21,29. This refers to the Abomination of Desolation, the event that takes place at the mid point of the 70th week. When the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God, he unleashes terrible persecution, upon both Jews and Christians. (2 Thessalonians 2:4). This is the persecution of the Antichrist, not the wrath of God. As explained many times, thlipsis (tribulation) and orge (wrath) are distinct terms used in the scriptures describing separate events. The scriptures refer to the events preceding the great tribulation during the first half of the 70th week as the beginning of birth pains i.e. ~ wars and rumours of wars  ~famines and earthquakes. (Matthew 24:8). To make up our own definitions when the scriptures make a clear distinction is eisegesis. The only time that wrath (orge) is specifically mentioned in relation to the 70th week is the period known in the scriptures as "the day of the Lord" when the sixth seal is broken.

For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” (Revelation 6:17).

Alford observes that this of itself should be sufficient to keep commentators right in confining their interpretation of this seal to the last judgment. (cf. Joel 1:15; Joel 2:1, 2; Acts 2:20; Jude 1:6). {2} 

In 1 Thessalonians 5 the phrase the Day of the Lord refers to an unknown period of time and not a literal 24 hour day for obvious reasons. (Revelation 9:5). This period refers to God's wrath as it is poured out during the seventh seal trumpet and bowl judgements described in the book of Revelation and referred to a number of times in the scriptures. (e.g. Acts 2:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Isaiah 2:12, 13:6-9, 34:8, Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1-31, 3:14; Amos 5:18-20; Zephaniah 1:1-18 etc.)

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 13:9-11 cf. Revelation 6:12-17).

After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests. And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. (Revelation 15:5-7).

Matthew 24 and 25

The speculation that the Olivet Discourse applies exclusively to Israel originated with cult leader John Nelson Darby in the 1830s in a ploy to facilitate his flawed pre-trib rapture framework. Unfortunately much of the Western Church has been subjected to this false teaching by those who have much to gain from it. Darby's domineering personality, his pseudo intellectualism and his abstruse style of writing obscured his eschatological perversions for a number of spiritually naïve believers. However Darby did not fool the most discerning of his contemporaries such as BW Newton, SP Tregelles, George Mueller and Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon: "If the author would write in plain English his readers would probably discover that there is nothing very valuable in his remarks." {3} 

The disciples asked Jesus a twofold question:

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).

Darby: "..what would be the sign of His coming and of the end of the age. They class together the destruction of the temple, the coming of Christ, and the end of the age. We must observe, that here the end of the age is the end of the period during which Israel was subject to the law under the old covenant: a period which was to cease, giving place to the Messiah and to the new covenant. Observe also that God's government of the earth is the subject, and the judgments that should take place at Christ's coming, which would put an end to the existing age..

Besides this, other circumstances prove, if further proof were needed, that it is the Jewish remnant who are in question, and not the assembly. We know that all believers are to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. They will afterwards return with Him. But here there will be false Christs on the earth, and people will say, 'He is here in the wilderness,' 'He is there in the secret chambers.' But the saints who shall be caught up and return with the Lord have nothing at all to do with false Christs on earth, since they will go up to heaven to be with Him there, before He returns to the earth; while it is easy to understand that the Jews, who are expecting earthly deliverance, should be liable to such temptations, and that they should be deceived by them unless kept by God Himself."  {4}

In the minds of the disciples, the destruction of the temple in 70AD and the end of the age (aeon) were concurrent events. Darby misrepresents the term the end of the age in Matthew 24:3 and applies it to the end of the old covenant under the law, thereby limiting it to the Jewish remnant. However the term is never used in this context in the scriptures. In context "the end of the age" in Matthew 24 has a widespread application for future generations of believers and "all nations". (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15). To limit the relevance of Matthew 24 and 25 to the Jews is unconscionable.

 

The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. (Matthew 13:30-40,49 cf. Matthew 24:3; 28:20; 1 Peter 1:5).  

“See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all 3nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:6-14)

BW Newton made a critical distinction regarding who is specifically addressed in Matthew 24 and 25. Below are some excerpts from a document written by Newton published by the Brethren Archive. {5} 

"This prophecy is not addressed to Jerusalem or its people. They had been left, as we have seen in the preceding chapter, to reap the consequences of their rejection of their King; and this, their season of tribulation is only referred to here because it is a sign to the church: otherwise it would have been passed in silence by.."      

..Jerusalem and the Jews are not the theme of this prophecy. They have been left in the preceding chapter, and they are only referred to here for the sake of others, that is, ourselves-Christians, to whom their history is a sign. Their history is only given in this chapter so far as it is a sign to the church.. 

..They (Israel) are spoken OF, but they are not spoken TO. The body thus addressed in the twenty-third chapter is as diverse from that addressed in the twenty-fourth, as blessing is different from woe. The first were rejectors of Jesus - refusing to call Him blessed. They were the representatives of hardened, blinded, unbelieving Israel. But the others, that is to say, those addressed in the twenty-fourth chapter, were the disciples of Jesus. They had already called Him blessed. They were going without the gate bearing His reproach. Whilst blindness was resting upon Israel, they were to be His ministers, and His witnesses. They were to walk in light whilst the others were groping in darkness. They were addressed, therefore, not as the representatives of hardened, unbelieving Israel, or of Israel partially enlightened. They were addressed as the representatives of the Church of the living God. To them it had been said, 'Blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear.' Having Christ they had all things. How important, therefore, to distinguish between the 'ye' of the twenty-third chapter, and the 'ye' of the twenty-fourth. In each case it is a corporate 'ye', and has already extended over nearly two thousand years..

If 'you' in this passage does not refer to persons belonging to the church of the living God (this some have said)  then Stephen, Peter and Paul and John could not have been members of that church."  (Matthew 24: 15, 33).

H A Ironside: “That the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are Christian Scripture, in the same sense in which the Gospel of John is Christian Scripture. {p. 33} “III. That the Pentecostal church was not in a semi-Jewish or semi-Christian condition, or in any sense ‘earthly,’ or ‘formed for citizenship in the earth;’ but in a true church position, as ‘partakers of the heavenly calling.." {6}

I have colour coded the relevant verses from 1 Thessalonians 4 and Matthew 24 in order to demonstrate that that Paul mirrors the Olivet Discourse. Both passages concern the rapture and are relevant to the church. These verses also confirm that rapture is not a "secret" event as many pre-trib teachers claim.

 
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).

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 24:30-31).

Matthew 24:30 "..all the tribes of the earth will mourn" also ties in with Revelation 6:

Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” Revelation 6:15-17).

Something To Consider

The pre-trib rapture doctrine dominates the teaching of Andy Woods and others, such as Jan Markell, Amir Tsafarti, JD Farag etc. They consistently produce videos defending the subject in spite of the fact that when tested, both the evidence for pre-trib and its history is questionable. (1 John 4:1). If the pre-trib camp are wrong, and they are, then there is real potential for terrible damage to believers. In particular there is a credible link to the apostasy in Matthew 24:10 cf. Matthew 13:21. We will all have to give an account of ourselves to God (Romans 14:12, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 4:5 ), teachers more so than the rest of us. (James 3:1). Pre-trib teachers should be mindful that the doctrines they so confidently assert are not a stumbling block to the body of Christ. (Psalm 40:4).

In another way, post-trib rapture teachers also have a responsibility to study the scriptures and to respond to questions about the weaknesses in their particular view. As far as I am aware, apart from one conversation I had with someone from Good Fight Ministries, the post-trib camp tend to ignore questions about these weaknesses. {7} Joe Schimmel's recent example of the early Church Father Victorinus, whom he cited in an attempt to prove a post-trib concurrent interpretation of the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl, was unreliable. {8} This kind of speculation causes confusion, not clarity. Many arguments used by pre-trib teachers are taken directly from weaknesses in the post-trib view and vice versa. Although I believe that they are sincere, the post trib camp, albeit inadvertently, are remiss in bringing clarity to this debate. In contrast, I believe that the prewrath position consistently solves the inherent weaknesses within both the pre-trib and post trib views. 

1. Even Pseudo-Ephraem Was Perhaps Not Pre-Trib (brotherpete.com)
2. Revelation 6 Greek Testament Critical Exegetical Commentary - Alford (biblehub.com)
3. Charles H. Spurgeon and Eschatology (romans45.org)
4. http://bible.christiansunite.com/darby.cgi?b=Mt&c=24
5. The Prophecy of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24 & 25 | Plymouth Brethren Archive
6. Chapter Three Gathering Clouds | Plymouth Brethren Writings
7. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: GOOD FIGHT MINISTRIES SKEWED POST-TRIB RAPTURE VIEW (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
8. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOE SCHIMMEL BLESSED HOPE CHAPEL: VICTORINUS IS UNRELIABLE (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

Further Links:

* What did the early church fathers say about a pre-trib rapture? (Gospel, churches) - Christianity - - City-Data Forum (city-data.com)
* 7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture
* Articles for Posttribulationism to Consider | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)* (25) Chuck Missler & Friends, Council for National Policy Exposed Part 1 - Dr Scott Johnson - YouTube
* WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: SAM ADAMS INDEPENDENCE BAPTIST CHURCH: MISREPRESENTATION OF THE PRE-WRATH RAPTURE (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)