ARE THERE TWO GOSPELS? THE ERROR OF GEOFFREY GRIDER: NOW THE END BEGINS

http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/gospel-of-the-kingdom-that-will-be-preached-in-the-time-of-jacobs-trouble-is-not-pauls-gospel/

Grider: ".. the gospel of the grace of God given exclusively to Paul in Damascus by Jesus for the Church Age was markedly different from the gospel preached by Peter in Acts 2. Today I want to show you yet another gospel that will be preached in the end times, and it’s called the gospel of the kingdom. This gospel, much like Peter’s, is a combination of faith plus works, and Jesus warns that failure to abide by it will result in the loss of your salvation. This gospel (of the kingdom), much like Peter’s, is a combination of faith plus works, and Jesus warns that failure to abide by it will result in the loss of your salvation."

On the day of Pentecost Peter preached a "gospel of grace" without works:
Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day--about 3,000 in all. (Acts 2:41).
Paul also undoubtedly preached the same "gospel of grace" without works:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8 cf. Titus 3:5).
Nevertheless, James reminds us that that faith without works is dead. (James 2:17, 20, 26). Faith cannot be acquired by works, although the scriptures make it very clear that subsequent to salvation, faith must necessarily be accompanied by works if it is genuine. (2 Corinthians 13:5). There is no contradiction in the scriptures, although some who have given themselves over to error and perversity would argue otherwise.

Does Jesus say that "the gospel of the kingdom is a different gospel", as Grider so forcefully puts it?

Grider: "But one thing that Matthew 24 does not address and does not discuss is any reference to Christians or to the Church Age that we currently find ourselves in. Why not? Because the focus is squarely on Israel and the trials and tribulations of the Jewish people in the time of Jacob’s trouble."

Grider: Matthew 24 does not mention Christians.. REALLY?

Jesus addresses His disciples i.e. the future church/Christians: He speaks to them about two separate events in history: {1} the signs of His coming and the end of the age, and {2} the destruction of the temple in 70AD. Jesus warned about the great tribulation and the falling away, events that most certainly involve the Christian remnant.  

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?

“Then they will deliver you (Christians) 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. 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 24:3,9-14, confirmed by Paul: 2 Thessalonians 2:3).

70AD The destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman Army:

“So when you (Christians) see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-16; Daniel 9:27). 

The rapture is not "conspicuously absent" from Matthew 24 as Grider claims:

Jesus speaks explicitly in consecutive terms: “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. v31-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). His elect are believers, i.e. the church. The rapture (verse 31) in fact follows the great tribulation. This exact sequence of events is confirmed in Revelation 6.

Israel will not be raptured. It is during the second half of Daniel's 70th week that Israel will flee to a place in the wilderness, probably Petra, in order to survive the great tribulation. (Micah 2:12; Isaiah 63:1-6). The Lord will protect and nourish them in the wilderness for 1260 days i.e. 3.5 years. 

No Other Gospel

The apostle Paul is not recorded as using the phrase "the gospel of the kingdom". He wrote about "the gospel", "the gospel of Christ", "the gospel of God", but the phrase "the gospel of the kingdom", cannot be found on Paul's lips.  However, Paul does refer to "the kingdom" a number of times: Romans 14:17; 1 Corinthians 4:20; 6:9, 10; 15:24, 50; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 1:13; 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; and 2 Timothy 4:1, 18. The terms "the gospel of God", "the kingdom of God", and "the gospel", are inextricably connected by Jesus Christ Himself. (Mark 1:14-15). The King James translation of Mark 1:14 is "the gospel of the kingdom of God", Greek εὐαγγέλιον θεοῦ = the gospel of God. In other words they are synonymous terms.

Jesus Christ used the phrase a number of times :

"..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 24:14). To restate the obvious: the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed to the whole world, literally, the inhabited earth, as in Luke 2:1 and Acts 11:28 . "[The kingdom (932 /basileía) is constantly used in connection with Mark 1:14-15). The rule of Christ in the hearts of believers – which also extends in various stages.]" {1}

“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.. (Luke 16:16; cf. Matthew 11:12 ). It is clear that the kingdom of God follows the Law and the Prophets... for everyone.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15). 

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9).

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

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. (Revelation 14:6).

When the scriptures are so explicit, how does anyone have the audacity to claim that there are two gospels?

Peter agrees with Paul and warns of ignorant and unstable people who twist the scriptures to their own destruction:

And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:15-18).

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

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. (James 3:1).

{1}  http://biblehub.com/greek/932.htm

the dishonesty of geoffrey grider 'now the end begins': the lie that the post-tribulation rapture is anti-semitic

Geoffrey Grider, Author and Editor-in-Chief of "Now The End Begins".
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/teaching-church-will-go-tribulation-antisemitic-replacement-theology/ 

Grider's Shocking False Statements: 

"Christians who find the church within Daniel's 70th week have embraced replacement theology and a pernicious form of antisemitism."

"People who, in error, attempt to place the Church in the time of Jacob's trouble can only do it by putting the Church where Israel should be, and as such are guilty of teaching Replacement Theology. They are guilty of stealing promises made to the Jews and Israel alone, and God will have none of that."

"Christians are never 'God’s people' in the Bible, we are His redeemed through the work that Jesus did on the cross at Calvary."

Perhaps Mr Grider should read his Bible again! Christians are indisputably referred to as "God's people" in the New Testament: 

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10 cf. Romans 9:25-26)

Grider: "We are 'elect of God' but we are not 'the elect' as that is always a reference to the Jews."

Grider makes a false distinction, making the definite article preceding "elect" exclusively applicable to Israel. The word “elect” simply means “chosen”. There are many references to both Israel and the church as God's elect/his elect/the elect.  "The elect" are those Gentiles and literal Jews/Israelites who have known, now know, or will know Jesus as Lord, Saviour, and Messiah.{1}

Further verses about the elect: Matthew 24:22-31; Mark 13:20-27; Luke 18:7; 2 John 1:1; Romans 8:33, Romans 11:7; 1 Peter 1:1; 1 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1). 

Jacob's Trouble

Despite being at odds with the multifarious errors of pretribulational doctrine, the post-tribulation view is in complete harmony with the pretribulationism concerning Israel and could never be described as being antisemitic! Post-tribulationists, in agreement with the Apostle Paul, believe that God has not rejected his people (Israel), and that there is a remnant chosen by grace (Romans 11:1-7). Post-tribulationists believe that all the Old Testament prophecies will yet be literally fulfilled in their minutiae; such as in Isaiah 11 and 65 for example. This new angle being pushed by some militant pre-tribulationists is totally dishonest and entirely misrepresents the post-tribulation view! Mr Grider's allegations are totally inappropriate and are very damaging to the Body of Christ. According to Grider, Spurgeon, Ryle, Muller, Newton, Tregelles, and a whole host of other historic pre-millenial believers are now anti-semitic! It was only the post-millennial believers that the charge of "antisemitism" could be directed, but apparently not any more!

Does Jeremiah 30:7 automatically preclude the church from the great tribulation? The faulty dispensational position that the church cannot be present for any of the 70th week of Daniel is a non sequitur fallacy. It is based on the false presupposition that God deals with Israel exclusively after the church (believing Jews and Gentiles) is raptured. However, the evidence that the 70th week is not limited to Israel alone is overwhelming, just as the destruction of the temple and the diaspora was not limited to the Jews (Israel) alone, but most certainly affected believers (Acts 8:1-4, 11:19; James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1). Where there is a distinction, is that one third of unbelieving Israel will flee from the Antichrist into the wilderness (Petra?) and will be divinely protected for 1260 days/42 prophetic months (Revelation 12:1-6; Daniel 12:1,7,11,12; cf  Matthew 24:15-22). 

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10; )

Who are the remnant of Israel's seed?

Revelation 12:17 clearly shows that in his frustration at being thwarted in his pursuit of Israel, the dragon (Satan) will make war with "the remnant of her seed".  Who else keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ except Christians?

And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman (Israel) which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:13-17) 

Grider: "The Bible never calls this time the ‘Great Tribulation’, that is a misquote from Matthew 24 where Jesus says there will be ‘great tribulation’ as an adjective, but not as a definitive noun."  

Nevertheless Jesus Christ does define this time as a period of ..great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21 cf. Daniel 12:1). The term "great tribulation" is repeated in Revelation 7:14 as a noun phrase. This period is clearly defined twice as "great tribulation" affecting the whole world in the scriptures, so why does Grider split hairs about adjectives and nouns? 

The Pre-tribulation Rapture Deception

Pretribulationism has no scriptural support and actually throws up more problems than answers. Passages which contradict pretribulationism, such as 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8 and the book of Matthew, are either ignored altogether or ascribed to unsaved Israel. The absurdity of relegating the entire book of Matthew as having no application to the church, as some do, is dangerous nonsense, leaving believers unprepared for the last days and extremely vulnerable to deception.. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 cf. Matthew 28:20). As such, and given its history, we can accurately say that pretribulationism is human tradition which nullifies the word of God (Matthew 15:3). J.N. Darby appears to have appropriated the pre-tribulation rapture from the Irvingites and began teaching it circa 1830. It was subsequently popularised by C.I. Scofield via his "reference Bible".  Darbyism, so-called, spread like wild fire throughout the USA, giving rise to the Dallas Theological Seminary and all its off-shoots that we see today in the form of the "Left Behind" series and "Rapture Ready" website and many other such populist outlets. 

The Post-Tribulation Rapture

People can mean different things by the post-tribulation rapture. In my view, the most coherent position is the pre-wrath rapture i.e. the rapture occurs after the sixth seal is opened (Revelation 6:12). In contrast to pretribulationism, the pre-wrath position can be argued consistently from several passages of scripture, including the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and the Book of Revelation. Paul Dorgan gives a good comprehensive teaching on the pre-wrath view on the link below. Unfortunately, pseudo theologian and chancer Jacob Prasch (Moriel Ministries) has corrupted the pre-wrath position and has muddied the waters in recent times with his intra-seal rapture nonsense (Ezekiel 34:18). Intra-seal is extremely problematic and brings nothing but confusion to the debate.{2}




Post-tribulationist Joe Schimmel of Good Fight Ministries (Left Behind or Led Astray){3}, has a different view to pre-wrath. As the link below shows, Schimmel is demonstrably not anti-semitic!



{1} http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/Revelation/elect.html 
{2} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/jacob-prasch-rapture-holy-spirit-and.html
{3} http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/featured/left-behind-or-led-astray/

Recommended Reading:
http://www.banash.org/blog/2014/02/13/Replacement-Theology-does-God-Mean-what-He-Says.aspx