JOEL RICHARDSON: SIX REASONS THAT GOG IS THE ANTICHRIST DEBUNKED

 End Time Talks 14: Six Reasons Gog is the Antichrist - YouTube

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him. (Proverbs 18:17).

Joel Richardson's view that Gog is the Antichrist appears plausible at first glance. However, on closer examination it is evident that his assertion is based on incomplete and superficial exegesis which can be debunked without too much difficulty. 

The only verse in the NT that specifically mentions Gog and Magog is Revelation 20:8: ..and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle. A plain reading of the text suggests that the Gog/Magog conflict occurs at the end of the millennium. There are similarities between the Gog/Magog event in Ezekiel 38 and 39 and Armageddon, but the differences are too significant to gloss over.  

Joel Richardson's six reasons why Gog is the Antichrist debunked. (1 John 4:1).

1. The Lord's name will no longer be profaned or blasphemed following God/Magog's alleged defeat at "Armageddon".

And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7).

Richardson repeatedly fails to make a distinction between Israel and the nations in his eisegesis of Ezekiel 39:7. When the Gog/Magog event is applied to Armageddon there is a huge problem. Ezekiel 39:7 consists of two clauses: During the millennium Israel will no longer profane the Lord's holy name as they formerly did. (Ezekiel 36:23 cf. Leviticus 22:32; Ezekiel 20:9; 38:23). The second part of this verse  ..and the nations shall know that I am the Lord is a separate clause. The KJV makes this even clearer:

So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7 KJV).

Ezekiel 39:21-22 confirms and personalizes Israel's unique relationship with the Lord following the defeat of Gog/Magog. Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God.. However, the nations relationship with God is markedly different: they will know that I am the Lord (notice the absence of "their God"). During the millennium, all forms of defilement and sin are excluded from Jerusalem. God's unique relationship with Israel is one of intimacy and is infinitely superior to the relationship He has with the nations. Sin will continue to exist on the earth amongst unregenerate people outside Jerusalem. This situation comes to a climax at the end of the millennium when Satan gains numerous supporters. (Revelation 20:8). As such it it undeniable that two distinct people groups exist during the millennium ~ God's people Israel and the nations. 

And I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid on them. The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day forward. (Ezekiel 39:21-22 cf. Ezekiel 36:36).  

Problematically Richardson trivializes the events of Revelation 20:8 in favour of his Armageddon theory. There are indications that Armageddon and the Gog/Magog battle are related in some way, but similarities between two events do not indicate an identical situation. Revelation gives a clear indication that the fulfilment of Ezekiel 39:7 occurs at the end of the millennium. I believe that Richardson makes a similar error to the preterists in that he confuses short term and long term fulfilment of prophecy. In the case of the preterists, they confuse the end of the age and the destruction of Jerusalem in the Olivet Discourse, whereas Richardson does the same thing with Armageddon and the Gog/Magog battle. 

Further evidence

It is by no means a "given" that all the heathen nations will willingly follow the Lord during the millennium. The unconverted nations inclination towards passive resistance to Jesus' rule is anticipated in the scriptures: And if any of the families of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them. (Zechariah 14:17). There will be peace on the earth at that time due to Jesus' "iron rule". The ' "rod of iron" primarily applies to the day of the Lord i.e. God's wrath. This period extends into the millennium during Jesus' theocratic rule. (Revelation 19:15; Psalm 2:9; Revelation 12:5). Many nations willingly acknowledge the Lord during the millennium, but there do appear to be exceptions. (Micah 4:2; Isaiah 2:3). The definition of profanity is irreverence or disrespect. The warning in Zechariah 4:17 anticipates irreverence and passive opposition to Jesus' rule by at least some of the heathen nations during the millennium. At the end of the millennium Satan will be released from the Abys to deceive the nations (Gog/Magog). At that time God's name will be openly profaned. (Revelation 20:3,7-9). The sheer numbers who are deceived by Satan at the end of the millennium is staggering.. their number is like the sand of the sea. (Revelation 20:8 cf. Isaiah 11:6-9). This demonstrates that the relationship between some of the nations and Jesus during the millennium is tenuous at best, and that their propensity to be deceived and to openly rebel is activated by Satan with apparent ease within a short time. (Revelation 20:3,7-8). If the above observations are correct, then Richardson has misinterpreted Ezekiel 39:7 by inserting the nations into a statement specifically applicable to Israel.

2. The Gentile nations will be judged after Armageddon

This point is easily refuted. The Gentiles nations ..will know that I am God.. Ezekiel 39:6-7 does not equate to repentance and a personal relationship with God (as above). The Gentile nations will be judged before the great white throne judgement after the God/Magog battle and after Satan's final defeat. The destruction of the Antichrist's armies at Armageddon leaves the nations forces decimated and unable to muster any further resistance to the Lord's return. (Revelation 20:21). This event is significant, but the judgement of the nations does not occur until the end of the millennium:  

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:7-15).

3. The Lord is physically present in Israel (Ezekiel 39:19-20)

For in my jealousy and in my blazing wrath I declare, On that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence (pe-nei). And the mountains shall be thrown down, and the cliffs shall fall, and every wall shall tumble to the ground. (Ezekiel 38:20). 

No one with premillennial beliefs would dispute that Jesus will be physically present in Israel following Armageddon, during the millennium and throughout the eternal state. 

A number of pre-trib rapture premillennials hold the view that the Gog/Magog battle will occur prior to Armageddon. For instance, Bill Salus proposes that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are about to be fulfilled. Andy Woods (Sugar Land Bible Church) teaches that Ezekiel 38 happens at at the beginning of Daniel's 70th week when the second seal is broken. While I disagree with these views, Richardson's argument that Hebrew pe·nei = face in Ezekiel 38:20 proves God's physical presence is disingenuous. In fact pe-nei occurs a number of times in the Old Testament in contexts that do not in fact denote the Lord's physical presence. For instance: The face (pe-nei) of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. (Psalm 34:16). David sought the face (pe·nei) of the Lord in 2 Samuel 21:1 etc. I only add this detail to demonstrate Richardson's weak exegesis. There are valid reasons that the Gog/Magog event will not happen either prior to or during the 70th week of Daniel, but this is not one of them.

Every living creature in the sea?

If Ezekiel 38:20 does refer to Armageddon then there is a difficulty. The first six bowls of God's wrath, specifically the second bowl, involves the death of every living creature in the sea:    

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. (Revelation 16:3).

The fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep on the ground, and all the people who are on the face of the earth, shall quake at my presence. (Ezekiel 38:20).

Richardson fails to resolve the fish of the sea quaking at God's presence and the death i.e. the non existence of all the fish of the sea in Revelation 16:3 prior to Armageddon. Once again, this is a tangible problem that Richardson fails to address.

4. The text specifically says that Gog is judged and destroyed at the Day of the Lord

Behold, it is coming and it will be brought about, declares the Lord GOD. That is the day of which I have spoken. (Ezekiel 39:8).

The period known as the Day of the Lord begins after the prewrath rapture of the church during the seventh seal trumpet and bowl judgements. (Revelation 8-11). This period also applies to the thousand year period of Jesus' rule. As such there is no contradiction with the view that Gog is judged at the Day of the Lord at the end of the millennium. There is no preliminary event described in the scriptures that would allow for Gog's judgement at an earlier point, including the problematic Armageddon theory. (Revelation 8:1-13).  

5. All Israel is saved following the defeat of Gog/Magog

The house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God, from that day forward. (Ezekiel 39:22).

Israel shall know that the Lord is, and will always continue to be, their God. Ezekiel 39:25-29 summarizes the entire six night messages contained within the book of Ezekiel. 

6. The Lord tells Gog that he is the Antichrist

Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel, who in those days prophesied for years that I would bring you against them? (Ezekiel 38:17).

The problem with this argument is that no existing prophecy prior to Ezekiel's time actually mentions Gog by name. Various commentators have surmised that either Ezekiel refers to prophecies known in his day, but are no longer extant, or that Gog is prefigured in earlier prophecies.

Ewald cites Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 17:4; Smend adding Micah 5:11; Zephaniah 3:8; Keil, Isaiah 25:5, 10; Jeremiah 30:23, 25; Joel 4:2, 11, etc.; Hengstenberg, Deuteronomy 32; Isaiah 24-27; Isaiah 34; and Fairbairn, Numbers 24:17-24; Isaiah 14:28-32; Isaiah 18; Joel 3; Daniel 2:44, 45; {1} 

The Antichrist has a number of titles and names in the scriptures, but he is never referred to as Gog. e.g. the beast (Revelation 11:7); the lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:89; Daniel 7:25); the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:3); the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2:3); the little horn (Daniel 7:8,24; Daniel 8:9) the worthless shepherd (Zechariah 11:16-17).

Further points

 
The additional points below are not exhaustive by any means. There are many additional problems with Richardson's view that I have not included here. 

In the latter years

After a long time you will be summoned. In the latter years you will enter a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. (Ezekiel 38:8).

The phrase "in the latter years" is a frequent prophetic phrase denoting the Messianic era. (Genesis 49:1; Numbers 24:14; Isaiah 2:2; Daniel 10:14; Micah 4:1).

The prophecy against Gog

On that day, thoughts will come into your mind, and you will devise an evil scheme and say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will fall upon the quiet people who dwell securely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having no bars or gates,’ to seize spoil and carry off plunder, to turn your hand against the waste places that are now inhabited, and the people who were gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell at the center of the earth. Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all its leaders will say to you, ‘Have you come to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to carry off plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to seize great spoil?’ (Ezekiel 38:10-13).

Unwalled Villages

The Antichrist's covenant of false peace with Israel at the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel cannot be identified with Armageddon. (Daniel 9:27). At the mid point of the week, the so called false peace will be shattered at the abomination of desolation event. (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15). Subsequently the Antichrist will launch the greatest persecution of all time against the Jewish people. In other words, there is no peace in Israel prior to the battle of Armageddon i.e. during the second half of the 70th week of Daniel. (Matthew 24:21).

The only possibly explanation for Gog's attack against "unwalled villages" in Ezekiel 38:11 is when God's enemies have been destroyed and Satan is incarcerated in the abyss during the millennium when true peace will be established by Jesus. At the end of the millennium when Satan is released he will deceive the nations for the final battle. (Revelation 20:7-10).

For the Spoil

The Antichrist is victorious at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel when he demands worship and declares himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:9,15-22). By the time Armageddon occurs, the Antichrist has already taken control of Jerusalem, he has put an end to sacrifice and offering; he has demanded worship and he has implemented the mark of the beast globally. (Daniel 9:27; Revelation 13:4,12-17). Apart from pockets of protection (i.e. the 144,000 and those who flee to the wilderness (Revelation 7:1-8,12:6)), Israel will be under the complete control of the Antichrist. Presumably, any "spoil" will have been seized at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel or shortly thereafter. Are Israel "a quiet people who dwell securely" prior to Armageddon? At this point, the Jews have suffered the worst persecution imaginable and two thirds of them will have been slaughtered. (Zechariah 13:8). Jacobs trouble: And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. (Daniel 12:1 cf. Matthew 24:21). In other words, the argument that the Antichrist will come against Israel for plunder is a non-starter since he already has Israel (and the whole world) under his control. 

The inconsistency of the Armageddon/Gog argument cannot be more obvious than it is in Ezekiel 38:10-13.

The problem of location

And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. (Revelation 16:16).

And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. (Revelation 20:9).

Tel Megiddo is frequently identified as the site where the kings of the earth prepare to wage war on the forces of God under the satanic leadership of the Antichrist at the end of the present age. Armageddon Har-Magedon (probably Hebrew Hill of Megiddo), is located some 56 miles north of Jerusalem. The precise location of Armageddon is debated because, according to some, the first syllable ar stands for either ir (city) or har (mountain). Michael Heiser and others argue that there is no mountain called Megiddo, and therefore the plain of Megiddo is not the location of the final battle. Heiser's convoluted proposal is that Armageddon is a corruption of the Hebrew Har Mo'ed (mount of assembly; cf. Isaiah 14:13), or of Har Migdo (God's fruitful mountain) which he speculates is Mount Zion. I view Heiser with a certain amount of suspicion as he appears to be part of the NAR and he does not believe in a literal millennium. {2} Commentators generally agree that Armageddon alludes to the hill country surrounding the plain of Megiddo where many previous battles were fought by Israel. (Judges 5:19; 2 Kings 23:29; 2 Chronicles 35:22, cf. Zechariah 12:11). The object of the Antichrist's stand at Armageddon is to come against Jesus Christ and His visible armies (Revelation 19:19), it is not to take Jerusalem. If the location of Armageddon (above) is accurate, the Antichrist will fall on the plains of Megiddo. In Revelation 20:9 the enemies of God surround the beloved city (Jerusalem). Gog and his armies will fall "on the mountains of Israel" (Ezekiel 39:4 cf. Ezekiel 39:17). This information exposes another inconsistency in the Antichrist/Gog theory.

Primitive weapons (Ezekiel 39:9)

It seems doubtful that the Antichrist will utilize primitive weapons at Armageddon. The Antichrist will have access to all the worlds sophisticated weaponry, and arguably he will also have access to fallen angel technology. If this is the case, the weaponry of the Antichrist will be incredibly advanced. The spectacular success of the Antichrist and his unstoppable conquest of many nations indicates that he is an evil genius. (Daniel 8:3). After his apparent or real resurrection, he will literally become the incarnation of Satan. As such, nothing, including the earths weaponry, will be unavailable to him. (Revelation 13:13 cf. Matthew 4:9). 

In contrast, it is conceivable that primitive weapons will be used at the end of the millennium by Gog and his hordes. During the millennium there will be no wars. As such weapons of war will be non existent and the technology for the production of modern weaponry will be inaccessible.

He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; (Micah 4:3).

Thrown alive into the lake of fire or buried?

The Antichrist and the false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire without undergoing bodily death. (Revelation 19:20). This seems to correspond to the earth swallowing up Korah and his company alive. (Numbers 16:33 cf. Daniel 7:11). 

The unequivocal statement that the Antichrist and false prophet are thrown alive into the lake of fire conflicts with the prophecy against Gog in Ezekiel 39. Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, will fall in the open field. Subsequently Gog and his multitude will be buried in the Valley of Travelers east of the sea. These details are very specific:

You shall fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your hordes and the peoples who are with you. I will give you to birds of prey of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall in the open field, for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD. I will send fire on Magog and on those who dwell securely in the coastlands, and they shall know that I am the LORD. (Ezekiel 39:4-6).

On that day I will give to Gog a place for burial in Israel, the Valley of the Travelers, east of the sea. It will block the travelers, for there Gog and all his multitude will be buried. It will be called the Valley of Hamon-gog. (Ezekiel 39:12).

My response to Richardson's feeble attempt to resolve this contradiction can be found below. 

If Richardson were to submit his thesis for evaluation by an unbiased academic body, it would be rejected outright due to its contradictions and lack of convincing evidence. (1 John 4:1). A strong case can be made that the Gog Magog event happens at the end of the millennium. At least that is what my bible says!

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:7-10).

1. Ezekiel 38:17 Commentaries: Thus says the Lord GOD, "Are you the one of whom I spoke in former days through My servants the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days for many years that I would bring you against them? (biblehub.com)
2. Michael Heiser: Warning Signals (narwatchisrael.info)

2. (11) Premillennial and Amilllennial: Ruling and Reigning - Michael Heiser - YouTube

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOEL RICHARDSON: FALSE TEACHING THAT THE ANTICHRIST WILL BE KILLED (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com). 

DALTON THOMAS # JOEL RICHARDSON: SEVENTH TRUMPET DISTORTION AND MORAL CORRUPTION

The Greatest Moment in Human History: Maranatha Global Bible Study 31 - YouTube

There has been a fairly long break since Dalton Thomas' and Joel Richardson's last bible study. I was hoping that this was due to the fact that they saw the need to make some radical adjustments to their skewed views. I also wondered whether they had been honest enough to question their legitimacy as bible teachers ~ but apparently not. I will go into this in more detail at the end of this post.

In my previous post I questioned Dalton Thomas' distortion of the book of Revelation and his warped teaching regarding the fifth and sixth trumpets (the first two woes) in Revelation chapter 9. I observed that he had invented his own bizarre scenario for the first six trumpet judgements. {1} The above episode reveals a number of further problems relating to Dalton Thomas' eschatology, in particular his distorted "seventh trumpet" rapture view. 

The belief that the "last trumpet" in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 is the seventh trumpet in the book of Revelation is highly problematic. 

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

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. (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Revelation 11:15).

Dalton Thomas' theory does not match the context or the chronology of the book of Revelation. 

Dalton Thomas: "There is a 'great trumpet' described.. Isaiah 26 says that right before a great wedding feast in Zion there is going to be a great trumpet blast." There is no "great trumpet" in Isaiah 26. The verse he refers to is Isaiah 27:13 which applies to the return of the Israelites from Egypt and Assyria. Isaiah 26:19-21 confirms that God's wrath follows the resurrection of the dead i.e. the prewrath position. 

Dalton Thomas begins with the presumption that Paul's "last trumpet" coincides with the seventh trumpet of Revelation. He resorts to eisegesis in order to justify his presupposition. One problem with this view is that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians in about 53–54AD and John wrote the book of Revelation in about 96AD, leaving a gap of about forty years between the books. As such Paul was probably unaware of the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15 (cf. Revelation 8:2-6,12; 9:1,13; 10:7). Dalton Thomas claims that this is a "goofy argument". The forty year gap between Paul and John would not be a convincing argument in isolation, but this is only one aspect of the problematic seventh trumpet/post-trib rapture view. Dalton Thomas fails to grasp the concept that Paul was alluding to the imagery of the shofar in the Old Testament rather than the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15. This explanation fits the context and is more compelling since the shofar was sounded in order to summon the assembly. (Exodus 20:18; Psalm 81:3; Isaiah 18:3; Isaiah 27:13). 

Dalton Thomas appears to be teaching a distorted version the classical post-trib rapture view. This view generally promotes the idea that the trumpets and bowls correspond with one another, and that the sixth seal, the seventh trumpet and the seventh bowl are the same events. However, there is convincing evidence that the seals, the trumpets and bowls in the book of Revelation are sequential. In a general sense, the rise in the intensity of judgements suggests a sequential rather than a simultaneous view. More specifically, when the fourth seal is broken, Death and Hades are given power over one fourth of the earth (Revelation 6:8). However one third of the earth is the specific figure relating to the first four trumpets. (Revelation 8:7, 9,10-12, 9:15). The intensity of the judgements culminate with the seven bowls ~ for with them the wrath of God is finished. (Revelation 15:1). The trumpet and bowl judgements are not a close enough match to draw the conclusion that exactly the same events are being described. For instance, at the fourth trumpet the sun and moon are struck causing a reduction of the light by one third (Revelation 8:12), whereas when the fourth angel pours out his bowl on the sun, it is allowed to scorch people with fire. (Revelation 16:8). The river Euphrates is mentioned in the sixth trumpet and the sixth bowl, but their purpose is totally different. (Revelation 9:13-14; 6:12). Furthermore there are contextual considerations that Dalton Thomas ignores. For instance, Revelation 7:1-8 describes the sealing of the 144000 Jews which necessarily precedes the fifth trumpet judgement of Revelation 9:4. The sealing of the 144,00 Jews in Revelation 7:1-8 takes place during an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals, but its relationship to the seals and the chronology of the events is indisputable. Similarly Revelation 16:2 (the mark of the beast) presupposes Revelation 13:16-18. This event occurs between the conclusion of the trumpets and the beginning of the bowls. 

The context of the trumpets in Revelation is specific in that they implement the day of the Lord i.e. the wrath of God following the breaking of the seventh seal. (Revelation 8 ff.). 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16 refer exclusively to the rapture, there is no reference whatsoever to judgement/wrath in these passages.

Dalton Thomas explains the forty year gap between Paul and John as "progressive prophecy continuity". Dalton Thomas: "There are not multiple 'last trumpets', the seventh trumpet is the last trumpet."  This naïve viewpoint fails to take account of the complexities of the subject and the unresolvable problems related to the seventh trumpet argument. If we take the trouble to examine the scriptures, we discover that the rapture precedes the seven trumpets and occurs immediately after the tribulation:

Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31 cf. Revelation 6:12-17).

The above event describes the sixth seal cosmic disturbances. Chronologically the trumpet judgements follow the opening of the seventh seal. (Revelation 6:12-17).

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them... Now the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to blow them.. (Revelation 8:,1,2,6).

In Revelation 7:9 there is a great multitude that no one could number before God's throne clothed in white robes. This indicates that the number of the resurrected saints is now complete and that the rapture has occurred.

These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. (Revelation 7:14). In Revelation 6:11 the martyrs are given white robes and are told to wait a little longer. In Revelation 7:9 the great multitude are clothed in white robes:

Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:11).

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.. (Revelation 7:9).

One has to throw out all pretense of sound hermeneutic in order to justify the Revelation 11:15 seventh trumpet rapture view. Despite this, a number of post-trib rapture teachers are determined to hold fast to their "seventh trumpet". Dalton Thomas refutes the pre-trib rapture view, but problematically his own view is appallingly deficient. This effectively generates further confusion concerning the timing of the rapture and defeats his alleged object of providing clarification. 

Alan Kurschner: "..the 'seventh trumpet is when the rapture occurs' interpretation is a skewing domino affect where posttribulation interpreters get almost everything wrong on their interpretation of the book of Revelation." {2}

Dalton Thomas' parting shot - Do not study

"This is how revelation is given, it is not by studying -- you can study all day long and be a demon. Studying doesn't do anything. Studying is not the same as hunger and humility.. Lots of people study for other motivations.. to get certain things and to be something else.. Hunger and humility is the only way.."

 

I would not argue that hunger and humility are not essential ingredients in order to grow in the Lord. However by denouncing study, Dalton Thomas appears to actively discourage anyone who would test his skewed teaching against the scriptures. 

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5-8).

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; (Hosea 4:6).

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).  The KJV has ~ "Study to show yourself approved.."

Strong's: "From spoude; to use speed, i.e. To make effort, be prompt or earnest -- do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study." {3} 

In isolation "knowledge puffs up". (1 Corinthians 8:1). However, the notion that we do not need to study the scriptures is to resort to reductio ad absurdum. We do need to study in order to be properly equipped both to understand the scriptures and to test the spirits. (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11). I suggest that Dalton Thomas' examines his own motivations for saying such a foolish thing. 

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).

Both lifestyle and doctrine are essential requirements for anyone purporting to be an elder or a teacher. (1 Timothy 4:16). 

Dalton Thomas does not fulfil the scriptural requirements of a teacher/elder due to his extra marital affair with a single woman on the team of FAI under his leadership. I will not go into details here, but I advise anyone who follows FAI to read the following article by Mike Reynolds: mikereynolds.org The scriptures state that elders should be above reproach. (Titus 1:5-9). Dalton Thomas markets himself as something of an expert, but much of his teaching is based on his own opinions and forced eisegesis, this is what the bible calls "empty talk". (Titus 1:10; Proverbs 18:2; 2 Timothy 1:13). In addition, he has known associations with IHOP, a questionable ministry associated with the New Apostolic Reformation. The above factors constitute more than enough evidence for believers to mark and avoid this man. (Romans 6:17).

I know nothing about Joel Richardson's personal morality, but I do know that a "prophetic endorsement" by "Latter Rain" false prophet Paul Cain was the catalyst that kick started his "ministry". Paul Cain's lifestyle was tarnished by spiritual deception, homosexuality and alcoholism. (Galatians 5:19-21). A "prophetic endorsement" from Paul Cain is a contraindication, not a recommendation ~ and yet Joel Richardson actually boasts about it! {4} Joel Richardson also has associations with TBN and other questionable neo-charismatic "ministries". Richardson is the only person in "ministry" I know of that goes under a pseudonym. Apparently this is because he believes that his family are at risk from harm from Islamic activists due to his questionable Islamic Antichrist theory. If his "ministry" really is legitimate, what would prevent him trusting the Lord regarding possible outcomes? (Psalm 118:6).

The eschatology of both Joel Richardson and Dalton Thomas is very twisted. I would advise believers to test the spirits and avoid these two empty talkers. (Titus 1:10; 1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11 cf. Romans 16:17-18).

UPDATE

Founder of Missions Group FAI Resigns Over Sexual Infidelity (julieroys.com)

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: DALTON THOMAS: MISREPRESENTATION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION(bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. Misidentifying the 'Last Trump' as the 'Seventh Trumpet' | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
3. Strong's Greek: 4704. σπουδάζω (spoudazó) -- to make haste, hence to give diligence (biblehub.com)

4. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOEL RICHARDSON ENDORSES PAUL CAIN # CHARISMANIA!

 (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

Further Links

A MAJOR Contradiction in the Posttribulation View of the 'Last Trump' | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES (alankurschner.com)
Prophet Paul Cain (letusreason.org)

https://www.mikereynolds.me/

JOEL RICHARDSON ENDORSES PAUL CAIN # CHARISMANIA!

(33) AFGHANISTAN IN PROPHECY: The Taliban, Biblical Prophecy, and the Great Harvest - YouTub

The recent concerning events in Afghanistan have prompted Joel Richardson to give a heads up to charismania, and in particular false prophet Paul Cain. This shouldn't surprise anyone since he regularly appears with various false teachers on CNN and TBN, many of whom are ecumenical and apostate.

In common with many believers, Richardson admits that he has been "burnt" over the years by charismania. As such you would think that he would have learned his lesson. Richardson is very good at doublespeak. Whilst avoiding any discussion about the false teachings and immoral lifestyle of Paul Cain (1929-2019), Richardson openly endorses this arch deceivers so called "prophetic ministry". Joel Richardson on the subject of Paul Cain's history as a drunkard, a homosexual, a false teacher and a liar: "I don't know, I don't track with it and I don't care.. it is none of my business."  As a Christian teacher and broadcaster, it is Richardson's responsibility to make it his business!  Teachers have a tremendous responsibility to protect the body of Christ from false teachers. (1 Peter 5:2-12).  

Like Richardson. I also believe that the Lord speaks today. However I absolutely reject the claims of neo-charismatic/Pentecostal NAR "apostles and prophets". I have no hesitation in marking them out as dangerous deceivers who are a blight on the Body of Christ. (2 Peter 2:13).

The false teachings and predictions of neo-charismatic "prophets" such as Rick Joyner, Benny Hinn, Bob Jones, John Paul Jackson, Paul Cain, Todd Bentley etc. have been thoroughly documented and exposed. I will not repeat the shameful antics of these wolves here. (See further links). After all the evidence of their lies and deception we should not consider or weigh anything they have to say! The scriptures teach unequivocally that we must mark and avoid such people: I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (Romans 16:17).

Paul Cain was not a genuine prophet of God. 

Despite the real and present danger of leading believers into the devastating errors of charismania, in true hireling style, Richardson proceeds to relate a "prophecy" made by Paul Cain in June 1988. (John 10:13).

Richardson: "Paul did move in a profound anointing for words of knowledge and prophecy during his lifetime. In fact he actually shared a few prophetic words with me personally. They were things that no man in the world could know.. in a gathering of tens of thousands of people, he calls me out by name, calls out my wife's name, speaks specifically to the prayers that I was praying on the way there and the week before etc. etc. There were seasons during his ministry where he moved in a very legitimate word of knowledge and also prophecy. I believe he had a genuine gift."

Please forgive my skepticism if you are a follower of Joel Richardson, but we have seen this kind of thing before. Richardson's story reminded me of the Peter Popoff scams. Popoff revealed personal information about individuals during revival meetings, supposedly conveyed to him by God. Actually the information relayed to him by his wife by way of a hidden radio transmitter. {1} Another example is cold-reading false prophet Shawn "Smart Phone" Bolz. {2} Who knows where these "prophets" obtain their information and what they get up to! They think nothing of employing Popoff style scams or making things up out of their own imagination. (Ezekiel 13:17). In some instances false prophets have a connection with unclean spirits, and it is my view that Paul Cain fell into this category. Like any diviner or spiritualist, information gained from this source can be unnervingly accurate. (Acts 16:16). In Paul Cain's case, there appears to have been a definite demonic connection. According to David Pytches: “Paul's mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother had all been born with the gift of 'seeing.' His great-grandmother would sometimes see things in broad daylight and ask her friends or family if they could see them too. If they said they could not, she would occasionally lay her hand upon them and they would immediately see the identical vision. …Cain inherited this gift passed on from generations believing it is from the Lord where 'He could see when a person was going to be healed and live and also knew when someone was going to die.' (David Pytches in Some Said it Thundered Some Said it Thundered p.24-25)." {3}

Richardson goes on to endorse Paul Cain's 1988 "three part prophecy" beginning with the 1988 Bush/Quayle presidential election.  

1. “George Bush is not fishing, he is hunting for quail right now. But quail will be behind the bush..”

On the 16th of August 1988 George HW Bush selected little-known 41-year-old Senator Dan Quayle as his running mate.

2. "Within one year after George H Bush is in office I am going to deal a death blow.. I am going to knock the wind out of communism.' 

3. 'I am going to raise up the residue or the remnants of communism and it is going to marry/join/mix with the spirit of Islam.. Together this will form an empire that will be led by the Antichrist. It will have tremendous power in Europe, but the church in Europe, particularly in London and Berlin will rise up and stand against this thing and do great exploits."

The full narrative can be found on: Mike Bickle in Nürnberg Sept 6th 1992 (kingdomimpact.org)

Richardson freely admits that scripture does not seem to point to a coalition between Communism and Islam, and he affirms that they have no ideological connection. Nevertheless, having set the scene, in typical Richardson double speak, he essentially props up his own theories with Cain's prophecy and a further "prophecy" from a unspecified Pentecostal minister: "The events in Afghanistan probably is the beginning of this marriage in the spirit between communism and radical Islam."    

It is true that both both China and Russia are seeking to befriend the Taliban at the present time, and they may well form a coalition. However, we need to be very cautious about how end time prophecy will play out. Anyone giving credit to someone of Paul Cain's dubious reputation is very foolish. Where the scriptures are silent, we should be silent. Even if Paul Cain's information is correct, we know that Satan is a liar and cannot ultimately be trusted. (John 8:44).

Richardson continues and quotes an unnamed Pentecostal minister who had a dream that seemingly confirms the third part of Paul Cain's prophecy. (25:00 mark)

"He shared a dream where he saw a wheat field.. at night.. Above the wheat field was a crescent red moon with a star above it, and it was red. It was a bright crescent red moon with a star, and then it went down, and then he saw the harvest taking place, and then as it rose back up, this bright red crescent with the star, the harvest continued. ..it looked like the former soviet red flag with the hammer and sickle.. and also resembles the Chinese flag and then of course the Turkish flag which is red with the white crescent moon and star with five points. In his dream the star actually had six points. His impression, what the crescent represented was a merger between Islam and communism. It dovetailed with the word that was shared by Paul Cain in the 80's.."

I will not comment on an anonymous "prophecy" or a "prophet" that Richardson refuses to name. Why hasn't this "prophet" gone public if his dream is truly from the Lord? 

Scripture always trumps prophecy!

If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 13:1-3).

Paul Cain endorsed false teacher Joseph Prince in 1992. {4} He also endorsed and transferred his "anointing" to Todd Bentley. {5} Paul Cain also claimed to have had a dream in which he saw God put His Spirit upon President Clinton and change him into another man in an identical manner to King Saul in 1 Samuel 10. {6} 

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

Paul Cain and his protégé Todd Bentley are both doctrinally and morally bankrupt ~ they have neither sound morals or sound teaching! These charlatans have absolutely nothing to offer that any true Christian would benefit from, on the contrary. 

Joel Richardson's concerns for the Christians in Afghanistan might be more convincing if sound doctrine and the spiritual wellbeing of the Body of Christ was on his agenda! 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1).

1. Preacher sells debt removal through prayer | ABC7 Los Angeles | abc7.com - ABC7 Los Angeles

2. Facebook
3. (6) Shawn "Smart Phone" Bolz: Cold-Reading False Prophet! - YouTube

4. (33) Paul Cain Prophecy on Pastor Joseph Prince (1992) - YouTube
5. (33) Paul Cain transfers His "Anointing" to Todd Bentely - YouTube
6. thebereancall.org

Further Links:

Prophet Paul Cain (letusreason.org)
Apologetics research resources on religious cults and sects - About Paul Cain (apologeticsindex.org)

JOEL RICHARDSON ANTICHRIST CONFUSION: LEGS OF IRON - ROME OR ISLAM?

(5) DANIEL'S FOUR BEASTS: The Four Beasts in Daniel 7 Revealed! (ENDTIME PROPHECY) Underground show #129 - YouTube

Legs of iron.. Rome or Islam?  

The traditional interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2 identifies the four empires as the Babylonian, Persian, Greek and Roman Empires. The thinking behind this is that these empires followed one another chronologically. In particular, the Roman Empire followed the Greek empire. Since Egypt and Assyria preceded Babylon, we arrive at the seven heads/mountains/kings/kingdoms referred to by John in Revelation 17:9 (including the feet of iron and clay). We have an anchor in that Revelation 17:10 refers to one is i.e. Rome (existent when John wrote the book of Revelation), as the sixth of seven kings/kingdoms. The eighth king (the beast/Antichrist) is of the seven, or morphs out of the seven. (Revelation 17:11). This all seems to tie together logically and few futurists have challenged this interpretation until recent times. Richardson omits the Roman Empire completely and inserts the Islamic Caliphate in its place as per his illustration below.

 ..they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. (Revelation 17:10).

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream interpreted by the prophet Daniel:

You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 

“This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” (Daniel 2:31-45).

Richardson's First Problem - Daniel 7:17

Chris White and David Pawson (amongst others) have presented convincing reasons to reject the traditional interpretation that correlate the four beasts in Daniel 7 with the four kingdoms (Nebuchadnezzar's statue) in Daniel 2. Pawson gives four reasons for this deduction: [1] history contradicts the traditional interpretation [2] Persia is represented by a ram, and Greece is represented by a goat in Daniel 8:20, whereas Daniel 7:5-6 describes the likeness of a bear and a leopard as the second and third beasts. [3] Daniel 7 describes four future beasts, whereas Babylon already exists in Daniel 2; 4; [4] Three beasts will survive after the fourth beast is destroyed (Daniel 7:11-12). {1} 

These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth. (Daniel 7:17).

Richardson gets pseudo-technical at around the 43:40 mark of the above video regarding Daniel 7:17 ~ shall arise (Qal). He claims that our bibles are incorrect and that Qal imperfect is not linked to tense. According to Richardson, the Aramaic Qal does not necessarily mean future tense. Richardson: "This 'will arise'.. it could just as easily be translated 'have arisen', 'are arising'.. right at this moment they 'are arising', they 'have arisen' past tense or will arise ."   Richardson makes an invalid comparison with "shall arise" (Qal Imperfect) in Daniel 7:17 with “came”, the perfect past form of Qal in Deutoronomy 33:2. Qal Imperfect is used to denote an incomplete action and is NEVER used for a completed action. Qal is basically a future tense verb in the active voice. {2} Even if we take Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 as analogous passages as Richardson does, the chronology in Daniel 2 also confirms the future interpretation of Daniel 7:17: But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron.. (Daniel 2:39-40). It is safe to say that our bibles are correct, and that the usual interpretation "shall arise" in Daniel 7:17 is in fact future. The problem is that when teachers like Richardson attempt to blind us with pseudo-science, most people will accept what they are saying without question. (1 John 4:1). Richardson effectively spends several minutes in this video wasting everyone's time and misleading his hearers!  This misrepresentation in itself does not disprove Richardson's Islamic Antichrist speculation, but it should make us wary about accepting his exegesis. 

Richardson's Second Problem: The Rest of the Beasts.

Richardson chooses to completely disregard Daniel 7:12 and calls its implications "a fundamental contradiction" in light of Daniel 2:31-25. 

Then I kept watching because of the arrogant words the horn was speaking. As I continued to watch, the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was removed, but they were granted an extension of life for a season and a time. (Daniel 7:11-12).

As you, O king, were watching, a great statue appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome. The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay. As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (Daniel 2:31-35).

In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future. (Daniel 2:44-45).

Daniel 7:12 is a difficult verse, but I don't think that Richardson can disregard it's specific implications just because it conflicts with his presuppositions! My understanding is that the dominion of the rest of the beasts, (as represented by the nations), is decisively and instantaneously removed at the return of Jesus Christ. The nations will be rendered impotent following the destruction of the Antichrist and the false prophet, and the incarceration of Satan in the Abyss. (Revelation 19:20, 20:2-3). Certain things do happen quickly and decisively, but it also appears that Jesus Christ will proceed to set up, establish His kingdom over a longer period of time: ..the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain. 

HA Ironside: "But in Daniel 12:11 we learn that from the beginning of this tribulation, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. The extra thirty days will, doubtless, be devoted to the purging out of the kingdom of all things that offend and do iniquity, though the Lord will appear, on behalf of the remnant and for the destruction of the Beast and Antichrist, at the expiration of the twelve hundred and sixty days. A longer period yet is given [in Daniel 12:12]: Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days. Some have suggested that this would carry on the time to the celebration of the first millennial feast of the tabernacles, as in Zechariah, chapter 14. At any rate it clearly points us to the full establishment of the kingdom in power and glory (pp. 235-235).” {3} 

I have spent a significant amount of time reading Chris White's book The Islamic Antichrist Debunked. {4} White 's critique of Richardson's book The Islamic Antichrist {5} is exhaustive and he goes into considerable detail beyond the scope of this post. One particular area that caught my attention was White's research on Islamic eschatology. The unreliability of the Islamic hadiths and their inconsistency with Richardson's thesis of an Islamic Antichrist is striking. 

White's conclusion (page193).

"In this section we have looked at Islamic eschatology in detail. We saw that the writers of the hadiths based their end times doctrine partly on the Bible and partly on the extra-biblical beliefs of Christians at the time. We have seen that the Islamic Isa is based on Jesus, the Dajjal is based on the Antichrist, and the Mahdi is based on the so-called Last Roman Emperor. We have looked at the theories of Islamic Antichrist proponents like Joel Richardson who believe the Islamic version of the end times will actually come to pass more or less like the hadiths say, but that Isa is really the False Prophet, the Mahdi is the Antichrist, and the Dajjal is the real Jesus. I hope I have presented enough to show the flawed reasoning behind this theory and that the simplest explanation, which is that the hadith writers were simply plagiarizing Christian sources, is the correct one. There is absolutely no reason to expect the Islamic version of the end times to come to pass or to be true in any way."

Unless I am missing something, White's thesis that the Antichrist will claim to be the Jewish Messiah is problematic. Although this was the earliest view of the church, there is nothing in the scriptures that supports this view. The Antichrist will utter blasphemies against God. (Revelation 13:6). It appears to me that the arrival in Jerusalem of the Antichrist armies and the abomination of desolation event (Luke 21:20; Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:4) are hostile acts, and that Jacob's Trouble i.e. the intense persecution of the Jewish people will immediately follow that event. That aside, White is very matter of fact and his arguments against Richardson's thesis are devastating.

I have voiced concerns regarding Richardson's associate and co-author Walid Shoebat in previous posts. White addresses Shoebat's problematic exegeses in Chapter 7 of his book. I will not repeat these views here, except to reiterate that Shoebat's hermeneutics are entirely unreliable. There is a definite problem with Richardson's affiliation with various false teachers on CNN and TBN, many of whom are ecumenical and apostate. Richardson's praise of Michael Heiser in this video is yet another red flag! Heiser has definite NAR leanings! {6}

A Mind With Wisdom

   

This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. Revelation 17:9-11 cf. Revelation 13:18).

The above verses appear to us as a riddle that require wisdom to solve. (cf. Revelation 13:18). The subject of the seven mountains/kings and the Antichrist is complex and confounds many. Richardson's Islamic Antichrist speculation is not only problematic on many levels, it is extremely reckless. The point at which the Antichrist makes or confirms a covenant with many at the beginning of the 70th week may give some clue to his identity. (Daniel 9:27). However, the definite point that Christians will recognize the Antichrist is at the event known as the abomination of desolation at the mid point of the week. (Mark 13:14).

1. David Pawson - Daniel Chapter 7
2. Hebrew Qal Imperfect with Strong Verbs (hebrew4christians.com)
3. Daniel 12 - Ironside's Notes on Selected Books - Bible Commentaries - StudyLight.org
4. Islamic_Antichrist_Debunked_Chris_White.pdf (bibleprophecytalk.com)
5. Islamic-Antichrist.pdf (joelstrumpet.com)
6. Michael Heiser: Warning Signals (narwatchisrael.info)

DALTON THOMAS: MISREPRESENTATION OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

 Demonic Torment, Divine Judgment and the Beginning of the End of All Things - YouTube

It was very concerning that Joel Richardson misrepresented the prewrath position regarding the salvation of Israel last week. {1} Since he has not bothered to correct this error, it is necessary to refute him again here and to reiterate the prewrath position: All Israel are saved at the end of the 70th week of Daniel, not at the rapture. 

This week, Dalton Thomas continues to distort the book of Revelation with his warped teaching regarding the fifth and sixth trumpets (the first two woes) in Revelation chapter 9. Dalton Thomas rejects the prewrath position entirely and has come up with his own bizarre scenario for the first six trumpet judgements. He teaches that the church will be present on earth following the sixth seal terror aka the cosmic disturbances of Revelation 6:12-14, and that the persecution of Israel (Jacob's trouble) will continue into the trumpet judgements. 

Dalton Thomas begins his eisegesis of Revelation 9:1 by claiming that the star fallen from heaven to earth does not fall but rather just comes down to earth. The Greek verb piptó is unquestionably "fall". {2} 

And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen (peptōkota) from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. (Revelation 9:1).

According to Dalton Thomas, the context of "the releasing of the trumpet events" is that the church will release judgements on the military coalition of the Antichrist. Specifically, he claims that the prayers of the saints will release the first four trumpets. (Revelation 8:3).

It should be noted that Revelation 8:3 refers back to the prayers of the fifth seal martyrs who are in heaven: When he 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 witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.(Revelation 6:9-11).

The prewrath position maintains that the rapture of the church becomes imminent after the sixth seal cosmic disturbances, and that the "great multitude from every nation" described in Revelation 7 are the complete number of resurrected believers from all time. The church therefore is not present on the earth during the trumpet judgements. (Revelation 7:9-13)

Dalton Thomas: The people of God like Moses and Aaron are quietly releasing the judgements of God on the Antichrists empire and the rebellious of the nations who refuse to submit to the leadership of God in the midst of his judgements as He releases judgements on those who are targeting the Jewish people and the people of the covenant, believers in Jesus.. We are releasing judgements on the empire, the coalition, the military ..that is targeting the Jewish people for annihilation. that is the context of the releasing of these trumpet events. 

The above speculations are extremely problematic for a number of reasons.

The scriptures provide compelling evidence that the Day of the Lord i.e. the eschatological wrath of God, begins immediately after the tribulation..   Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ (Matthew 24:29).  We know that the Day of the Lord becomes imminent after the cosmic disturbances due to the terrified cries of the kings of the earth. (Revelation 6:17). The Antichrist's persecution against Israel and the church therefore comes to an end before God's wrath is implemented via the trumpet and the later bowl judgements. Revelation 8 and 9 describe the angels as the agents who sound the trumpets and release the judgements. We see no process of negotiation/proclamation involving human agencies associated with these events, as was the case with Moses and Aaron in Exodus 7 and following. Rather, the previous prayers of the fifth seal martyrs in heaven are being addressed here. (Revelation 6:9-11). NOTE: The two witnesses will be prophesying and performing signs during this time, and one of these witnesses may in fact be Moses. (Revelation 11:4-14).

Apart from the specific scriptures that inform us that the tribulation precedes the Day of the Lord, there are also further considerations. According to Dalton Thomas, the Antichrist coalition will be carrying out a campaign against Jews and Christians during the devastating trumpet judgements. We should bear in mind that the trumpets follow the cosmic disturbances and the rapture, and that the wicked will have seen the sign of the son of man in heaven.. (Matthew 24:30-31). Their reaction at this point is pure panic: “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:16-17). During the five month demon locust torment, everyone without the seal of God on their forehead will be in such extreme distress and sickness that they will seek death and will not find it. (Revelation 9:6). Any suggestion that the Antichrist coalition will be capable of undertaking a supposed campaign against Jews and Christians during this period is untenable. Similarly the second woe entails the mass slaughter of one third of mankind. Once again it is insupportable that a campaign against Jews and Christians will be ongoing during this time.

So the four angels who had been prepared for this hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. And the number of mounted troops was two hundred million; I heard their number. (Revelation 9:15-16). 

The problem with inaccurate teaching about the rapture is that it skews the rest of the book of Revelation and it confuses believers. It is not recommended that we tamper with the book of Revelation. (Revelation 22:18-19).

The eschatology of both Joel Richardson and Dalton Thomas is very twisted. I would advise believers to test the spirits and avoid these men. (1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11 cf. Romans 16:17-18). Frontier Alliance International is a slick operation, {3} but we should be aware that outward appearance is not indicative of sound teaching or of God's approval. (1 Samuel 16:7). Whatever is going on with Richardson and Thomas at the Golan Heights is unsound and makes me very uneasy. {4} 

1. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOEL RICHARDSON'S PREWRATH RAPTURE CONUNDRUM (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
2. Strong's Greek: 4098. πίπτω, (piptó) -- to fall (biblehub.com)
3. Visit FAI’s Global Offices // FAI MISSION
4. mikereynolds.org

JOEL RICHARDSON'S PREWRATH RAPTURE CONUNDRUM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsatQIfGjCA
The Second Exodus in the Book of Revelation: Maranatha Global Bible Study 24

In the above video, Joel Richardson explores the differences between the prewrath and the post-trib models and the imagery of the Exodus in the Book of Revelation.

Joel Richardson's Prewrath Conundrum: When is Israel saved?

Richardson: "This is a big problem for the prewrath camp..  if they are to be consistent they have to say that all Israel gets saved at the Parousia, at the time of the rapture, which would be some time in the middle of the final three and a half years." (22:00 mark)

Joel Richardson is in error when he states that the prewrath position teaches that all Israel is saved at the Parousia/rapture. The prewrath position states that the 144,000 remnant of Israel are sealed before the seventh trumpet is sounded. (Revelation 7:1-8), and that "all Israel" are saved at the end of the 70th week of Daniel in order to fulfil the 490 period:

Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place. Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. (Daniel 9:24-25).

Richardson continues his distortion of the prewrath position and asks some very confusing questions. (24:21 mark). 

Richardson: "The prewrath camp is now faced with a conundrum.. Is Israel saved after the trumpets and the bowls, or are they saved back at the Parousia/rapture when they look at the one that appears over them? That's a significant difficulty... So if the goal is to wait until the end of the final three and a half years, why do they have to wait, they all get saved before this, or they get raptured before this.. If Jesus appears, where does He go? Does He go back up to heaven, or does he come down to earth? Paul the apostle says that when Christ is revealed, we will be revealed with him.." Richardson misquotes this verse. Paul actually states that we will appear with him in glory: When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4). Richardson continues: "The inference is, it sounds like he is coming back, not that he comes in the clouds, we are raptured, and then we go back up with Him. Well does he go back up there, does He come down, is he executing judgement on the ground or is He in heaven for a while.. and then He comes back?"

If Joel Richardson had paid any attention at all to prewrath teaching, he would know that there is no conflict between Matthew 24:29-31 and Zechariah 12:10-14. Richardson inappropriately aligns Matthew 24:29-31 and Zechariah 12:10-14. He fails to mention that Jesus quotes directly from Joel 2:10 in this passage. (Matthew 24:29). (21:00 mark). Both Matthew 24:29-31 and Joel 2:10 refer to the cosmic disturbances. Matthew continues to describe the rapture preceded by the sign of the Son of man when every eye will see him, even those who pierced him (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). 

The prewrath view is explicitly delineated as follows:

* "All Israel" are saved at the end of the 70th week of Daniel.
* When Jesus appears every eye will see Him. (Revelation 1:7).
* The rapture occurs at some point between the sixth and seventh seal of Revelation, after the great tribulation before the wrath of God is implemented, (Revelation 6:17).  

* After the rapture Jesus will usher God's people before the Father's throne in heaven. (John 14:1-3, Revelation 7:9, and 2 Corinthians 5:10).

* The saints return with Jesus at the battle of Armageddon. (1 Thessalonians 3:13). 

Richardson concludes this video with a pep talk which verges on indolence. He glosses over the differences between the prewrath and post-trib rapture positions and he muddies the waters by making statements like: "It is ok to not settle on a clear position..  there is tension no matter which position we take..  there are no rewards for whoever has the perfect timeline." I would not argue against him that the way we live as Christians is critically important. However, the way we live should not be at the expense of applying ourselves to studying the scriptures. Although it is possible to be saved and hold differing opinions about the rapture, I think it is irresponsible to downplay these differences. I actually think that it is possible to come to a clear understanding on the rapture question, and that there will be rewards for those who diligently search the scriptures and sincerely hold on to sound doctrine. 

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Timothy 4:16 cf. 2 Timothy 2:15).

Richardson's perversion of the prewrath position is either based on ignorance, or else it is a deliberate attempt to sabotage prewrath teaching. Whichever is the case, he has completely misrepresented the prewrath position, and in the process he has created a "conundrum" of his own making. This is very unfortunate and adds to the confusion surrounding the rapture question. 

Richardson obviously does not value the principle of biblical separation. His appearances on TBN and CBN with various questionable characters is alarming to say the least. (Romans 16:17; Ephesians 5:11). One way or another, Joel Richardson and his latest questionable associate, Dalton Thomas (Frontier Alliance International), do more harm than good with their eschatological distortions. Beware of Frontier Alliance International {1}

1. mikereynolds.org

Further Information: 

7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture (Full Movie) - YouTube

DALTON THOMAS (FAI) FALSE TEACHING: THE DAY OF THE LORD

 (1) Daniel 11: The Despicable King - YouTube

Dalton Thomas is the founder of Frontier Alliance International Studios (FAI) and is a close associate of Joel Richardson.  

This follow up post is aimed at exposing Dalton Thomas' distorted teaching concerning the rapture and the Day of the Lord based on 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5. 

Dalton Thomas: "He comes and gathers his people, that's the Day of the Lord.. Paul says it is a day, it is an actual day.. Jesus comes and gathers his people, that's the Day of the Lord.. it's a singular day..  

They (the Thessalonians) are confused because there is disagreement over the issue of the Day of the Lord. Some people said the day of the Lord has already come." 

Dalton Thomas continues to reiterate this teaching and puts words into the apostle Paul's mouth: "Let me define the day of the Lord for you.. there is no way you missed it, I promise. Jesus comes and gathers His people, that's the Day of the Lord. That didn't happen.." (14:00 mark).

The Day of the Lord is not one literal day..

The Day of the Lord as Defined by the Scriptures:

The Old Testament scriptures say nothing about the rapture and they define the Day of the Lord as God's ultimate wrath upon the wicked. (e.g. Isaiah 2:12; 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3; Joel 1:15, 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18,20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7,14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi 4:5). 

The New Testament gives specific information about the Day of the Lord: (Acts 2:20; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 6:17; 16:14).

What does 2 Thessalonians 2 actually say?

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5).

Revelation 6:17 informs us that the wrath of God becomes imminent following the cosmic disturbances: ..for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand? However, since Christians are not appointed to wrath, the Day of the Lord cannot commence until Jesus effectuates the rapture. (1 Thessalonians 5:9). It seems accurate to affirm, along with Chris White and others, that the Day of the Lord is initiated by the rapture. I believe that we can correctly determine that God gathers his people on the Day of the Lord. However, that particular day involves both the rapture and the onset of God's wrath which lasts more than a single day, as demonstrated in Revelation 9:5. 

The Thessalonians were under the false impression that the Day of the Lord had come i.e. the Day of the Lord is at hand, or literally, is present. In other words, the Thessalonians believed that the Day of the Lord was either present, or that it was imminent. 

Meyer: "ὡς ὅτι ἐνέστηκεν ἡ ἡμέρα τοῦ κυρίου] as if, or, like as if the day of the Lord is already present, or, is even on the point of commencing[44] (comp. Romans 8:38; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 7:26; Galatians 1:4).." {1} 

The phrase "the Day of the Lord" does not refer to a single day as Dalton Thomas teaches. The Day of the Lord is an unspecified period of time, lasting for at least five months, in which the wrath of God progressively unfolds. (Revelation 9:5). The Hebrew word yôm (day) has a number of definitions in the Old Testament and is not necessarily limited to a literal twenty-four hour day i.e. yôm includes the possibility of referring to an undefined, indeterminate period of time. {2} The Old Testament prophets used the phrase "the Day of the Lord" to refer to the specific eschatological period in which God's wrath is a progressive event. Furthermore, 2 Thessalonians 2:2-3 demonstrates that the Thessalonians believed that they were experiencing the Day of the Lord as a period of time rather than a literal twenty-four hour day. 

Dalton Thomas continues by identifying the "restrainer" in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 as Satan. I have dealt with this subject in my previous post. {3}

Apparently FAI is a veritable can of worms beset with moral failures and connections with IHOP. {4} Dalton Thomas also has connections with the man known as "the apostle of obfuscation", NAR defender, Dr Michael Brown. {5}

1. Thessalonians 2:2 Commentaries: that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. (biblehub.com)
2. H3117 - yôm - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (KJV) (blueletterbible.org)
3. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: JOEL RICHARDSON & DALTON THOMAS: MARANATHA BIBLE STUDY - SOME DIFFICULT QUESTIONS (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
4. mikereynolds.org

5. Covenant and Controversy // FAI STUDIOS