PRETRIB RAPTURE: MARK HITCHCOCK'S FAKE DISCOVERY AND ENDORSEMENT OF JIMMY EVANS!

Ancient Evidence for a Pre-Trib Rapture | Marking the End Times

Mark Hitchcock: "Today, I unveil compelling historical evidence that challenges one of the most common objections to the pre-Tribulation Rapture—that it was never taught before 1830. Through examining newly discovered writings from Irenaeus, a second-century church father who learned from those who knew the apostles, we find clear support for a pre-Tribulation Rapture view. Along with subscriber-exclusive answers to crucial questions about salvation, judgment, and end-times prophecy, this teaching provides both historical and biblical evidence for Christ's imminent return. In this episode's Q&A session, I answer questions about core theological issues such as clarifying salvation by grace versus the Judgment Seat of Christ, exploring Isaiah 17's prophecy regarding Damascus and Syria, understanding where raptured Christians will dwell, and whether any unbelievers will survive the Great Tribulation."

According to Hitchcock the first pretrib source before Darby was discovered in the 1990s. He is referring to Pseudo-Ephraem which has been debunked as a pretib document many times by researchers. Pseudo-Ephraem teaches that Christians will escape the tribulation through death not rapture. I have added a link below in which researcher and writer Dave MacPherson debunks this false claim.

 

Mark Hitchcock's muddled quotation from Irenaeus 

Irenaeus (c.120–c.202)

And they [the ten kings who shall arise] shall lay Babylon waste, and burn her with fire, and shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the Church to flight. (Against Heresies, V, 26, 1) And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, “There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.” For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption. (Against Heresies, V, 29, 1) It is therefore more certain, and less hazardous, to await the fulfillment of the prophecy [Antichrist], than to be making surmises, and casting about for any names that may present themselves, inasmuch as many names can be found possessing the number mentioned; and the same question will, after all, remain unsolved. . . . But he indicates the number of the name now, that when this man [Antichrist] comes we may avoid him, being aware who he is. (Against Heresies, V, 30, 3, 4) For all these and other words were unquestionably spoken in reference to the resurrection of the just, which takes place after the coming of Antichrist . . . . [A]nd [with respect to] those whom the Lord shall find in the flesh, awaiting Him from heaven, and who have suffered tribulation, as well as escaped the hands of the Wicked one. (Against Heresies, V, 35, 1)1 

This passage is a proof text for the prewrath rapture. Hitchcock reads a small section of Irenaeus out of context. He then goes on to admit: "..in another place Irenaeus goes on to indicate that the church will be on earth during the tribulation so there seems to be a contradiction."  Evidence that the pretib doctrine began in the 18th century with cult leader John Nelson Darby remains despite ongoing fruitless efforts of the pretrib camp to deny it.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered (episunagōgēs) together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

* episunagōgēs = gathering together: in context, the rapture at the Lord's coming.

Jimmy Evans is disqualified!

Mark Hitchcock's endorsement of Jimmy Evans as an "expert" is beyond comprehension! I thought that endorsing Jimmy Evans was below even the pretrib camp but apparently not!

Having been publicly exposed and disgraced as an abuser and a false marriage counselor, Jimmy Evans is "transitioning" out of XO Marriage and intends to devote himself to endtimes.com. full time. God help his viewers!

The Roys Report: "Daystar cancels prophecy program as Evans launches his..
The Roys Report (TRR) has also learned that Daystar abruptly canceled a long-running prophecy program on its network in July 2022. Days after the cancelation, Evans ran five, on-demand specials on Daystar titled almost identically to the canceled ministry.
On a recording of a May 2023 meeting between Evans, Joni, Doug, Jonathan, and Suzy, Joni states that she began talking to Evans about her relationship with Doug Weiss when these scheduling changes were taking place—July 2022.
The ministry whose show Daystar canceled was called Endtime Ministries, and the ministry website is endtime.com. Endtime Ministries was founded in 1986 by Irvin Baxter and had run a program on Daystar since 2009, called “End of the Age.”
The specials Evans ran on Daystar’s app and YouTube channel were entitled 'End Times' and the website for Evans’ new prophecy ministry is endtimes.com.
Endtime Ministries CEO Vince Stegall told TRR that the abrupt cancelation of his show and launching of Evans’ show was deeply disappointing and puzzling to his ministry. He said it also was confusing to viewers.
'We were getting calls, shortly after we were off, from the television audience,' Stegall said. 'And they wanted to know what happened to our host and why there’s this new guy named Jimmy on there . . .
'We still get emails and calls trying to figure out why our website is so different. It’s pretty confusing when you just add an ‘s.’
According to Endtime CEO Vince Stegall, Daystar claimed it cancelled 'End of the Age' because of a drop in viewership, following the death of founder Irvin Baxter. But Stegall said his buyer, who negotiated Endtime’s contract with Daystar, said that wasn’t true.Vince Stegall (Photo: Facebook)
'Our buyer has access to the software for TV ratings and he provided a lengthy explanation including (r)ating showing End of the Age is in the top 15 shows on Daystar every week,' Stegall wrote in a 2022 newsletter to supporters. '(A)nd our DVR numbers are generally 20-23% whereas the average for the rest of Daystar is 10%.
'In short, our buyer said, ‘This is clearly not a viewership issue and I can provide anything you need to make that argument.’ So there is obviously more to this than they are sharing.'
Jonathan Lamb told TRR that Daystar canceling a show mid-year is 'unheard of,' unless there’s a scandal or the ministry can’t pay the network fees.
However, Stegall said Endtime Ministries had no scandal and was current on its payments.."2

It appears that Joni Lamb and Jimmy Evans hoped that their unethical move against Endtime Ministries would fly under the radar. (Numbers 32:23). However, some viewers questioned the puzzling change of presenter, not realizing that Endtime Ministries and Endtimes Ministries are two different ministries entirely! This devious name change and the usurpation of Endtime Ministries' time slot on Daystar is unworthy of a reputable man of God. As contemptible as this is, it gets even worse! Evans has introduced a critical shift in doctrine during this timeslot. Endtime Ministries taught what is referred to as the posttrib rapture view.1 Although the posttrib rapture view has some problems, it does not hold out false hope to believers of escaping the great tribulation. Evans' switcheroo from the posttrib view taught by Endtime Ministries to pretrib no doubt appeals to "itching ears". (2 Timothy 4:3). As many have observed, the false NAR Word-Faith prosperity teachers incessantly aired on Daystar are adept at giving false hope to believers. Within the biblical context, false hope refers to misplaced trust or confidence in things, people, or circumstances that ultimately cannot deliver what they promise. The Bible warns against placing hope in anything other than God, as such hope is deceptive and leads to disappointment and spiritual peril. (Jeremiah 23:16). The danger of pretrib teaching is the possibility that many will fall away during the great tribulation due to what they will regard as the "failed" prophecy of Jesus' return before the 70th week of Daniel. (Matthew 24:10-15 cf. Daniel 9:27).

Jimmy Evans is much more than a spiritual abuser to Jonathan and Suzy Lamb with his claim that "Joni is the voice of God"; he is much more than a dishonorable man who has no qualms about cutting in on another ministry and pulling a fast one for his own advantage; he is much more than a dangerous false teacher who has led believers into adulterous marriages; Jimmy Evans is a full-blown wolf who is so corrupt that he has no qualms about endangering the faith of his hearers! Evans fruit testifies against him! Mark and avoid this man. (Romans 16:17-18).

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15-20).

These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. (1Jude:12-13).

1. Microsoft Word - Prewrath - Early Church Fathers.docx
2. Jimmy Evans Announces He’s Leaving XO Marriage, After Daystar Backlash

WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: PSEUDO-EPHRAEM TAUGHT PRETRIB - NOT! BY DAVE MACPHERSON

MICHAEL GRANT'S QUESTION: WHY ARE "GOOD" TEACHERS STAYING AT DAYSTAR?

Joyce Meyer Is Leaving Daystar / Why Is Jack Hibbs & Others Like Ray Comfort, D. Jeremiah Staying?

Michael Grant: "According to Protestia Joyce Meyer and other false teachers like Jesse Duplantis have already left Daystar yet men like Hibbs, Ray Comfort, David Jeremiah, Michael Youseff and others are staying? Why? Watch as I explain why Joyce is leaving and what it might take for others to leave so that Daystar Television Network implodes once and for all."

Birds of a feather flock together! 

Michael Grant is the pastor of Moore's Corner Church which is an independent Non-Denominational Church in Leverett MA.1 Michael Grant asks a very pertinent question, but it comes with the assumption that teachers like Jack Hibbs, Ray Comfort, David Jeremiah, and Michael Youseff are "good" teachers. I will attempt to answer his question in this post. It is my contention that no self-respecting bible teacher should air their programmes on TBN and Daystar. If you dig below the surface, many apparently credible ministries have red flags. The rare exceptions on Daystar with sound doctrine show no wisdom by associating with apostates. (1 Corinthians 15:33). I know very little about Michael Youseff and I will not discuss him in this post. However, there are tangible red flags concerning David Jeremiah, Jack Hibbs, and Prophecy Watchers.

Jack Hibbs shocking endorsement of NAR "apostolic leader" Che Ahn: "Pastor Che Ahn-Invited by Pastor Jack Hibbs and Spoke at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills—"2  Hibbs has no problem appearing on Table Talk with Joni Lamb! At best Hibbs is very short-sighted and unwise. At worst, and this is my suspicion, Hibbs is closet NAR. 

David Jeremiah: On March 12th, 2015 David Jeremiah interviewed Roman Catholic New Age heretics Roman Downey and Mark Burnett on stage at Shadow Mountain Community Church.3 

David Jeremiah helped to draft and was a signatory of the ecumenical document: Evangelicals and Catholics Together in 1994.4

For more information about David Jeremiah's various compromises see the following links:  

DAVID JEREMIAH EXPOSED- MYSTICISM FREEMASON CATHOLIC

Birds of a feather? David Jeremiah plans to team up with Osteen and Meyer - Berean Research

David Jeremiah Helps False Prophet / Criminal Jim Bakker (Compromise Exposed)
When Your “Favorite” Christian Leader Is In Serious Error, How Do You Respond? | Former Nazarene

Prophecy Watchers: There are probably financial reasons and contractual obligations that preclude an easy exit from Daystar for some ministries. It appears that Prophecy Watchers hosts Mondo Gonzalez and Gary Stearman have a more complex relationship with TBN and Daystar than other ministries, although they are not giving much away. Prophecy Watchers are tainted in their own right and give a platform to false teachers such as Jonathan Cahn who claims to be "prophetic", "Reverend" Donna Howell, Nephilim "expert" LA Marzulli, "prophecy expert" and speculator Bill Salus, and recently disgraced spiritual abuser Jimmy Evans who has given up marriage counseling in order to teach eschatology. Like many false ministries, Prophecy Watchers constantly peddle their merchandise. (2 Corinthians 2:17). Berean Research observed in 2016: "Prophecy Watchers are morphing into a mixed apocalyptic bag".5 

In 2019 Gary Stearman and Bob Ulrich announced, "A New Day is Dawning at Prophecy Watchers..  A grand opening of the former TBN Broadcasting Studios and headquarters in Oklahoma. Prophecy Watchers certainly seem to enjoy the favour of Daystar. Whether they have the favour of God is another question! (Proverbs 3:3-4). The Roys Report: Curiously, Prophecy Watchers stated on a video entitled, “Laying Out a Fleece and a Daystar Miracle!” that it had canceled its previous contract with Daystar due to lack of finances sometime before July 25, 2022. But shortly after doing that, Daystar called Prophecy Watchers and offered it a better time slot than it had previously at a reduced rate, said Prophecy Watchers COO Bob Ulrich.

TRR reached out to Daystar and asked why the network would cancel a full-paying customer, like Endtime Ministries, and replace it with Prophecy Watchers at a reduced rate. Daystar did not respond to our question."6 

Ray Comfort  ~ In 2008 Ray Comfort was challenged about speaking at a conference with Word-Faith prosperity teachers. Ray Comfort's reply (below) is very troubling. (Proverbs 3:5). In the Old Testament, individual disobedience threatened the entire community; the commandment of God was that the individual was subject to the penalty of death in order to preserve the purity of the entire nation. (Deuteronomy 13:1-18). The consequences of not heeding the commandments outlined in the Torah was that Israel would suffer the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:1-68. In the New Testament, the scriptural imperative is to mark and avoid false teachers. (Romans 16:17-18 cf. 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6). The consequence of disobeying this imperative is to put the body of Christ at risk of defilement. (Matthew 24:11; 1 Corinthians 5:13; 2 Corinthians 11:4). Furthermore to enter into contractual obligations with false teachers is to be yoked together with them and keeps greedy money preachers and false prophets afloat. (2 Corinthians 6:14).  

Ray Comfort: "I have never turned down any request to speak because I thought that the church’s doctrine was unbiblical. In fact, they are the invitations I have gladly accepted because I know that false conversions are the fruit of their heretical doctrines. Unsaved people sit in pews in the millions in this country because they have never heard the biblical gospel–and I have to say with Paul, 'How will they hear without a preacher?'
What I have been doing for all these years has been below the radar screen of public scrutiny, until recently. Suddenly the spotlights are on and I am targeted (and fired at) as one that is endorsing false doctrine.
I am not and have never been a prosperity preacher. I think it is a great error to say that Jesus was rich, etc., or to come to Him for wealth. I preach the simple gospel of Jesus Christ crucified for the sin of the world. That is the heart and soul of my preaching and teaching."
May I implore you, dear friend–what would you do? Imagine you were invited to speak at an event or church where false teaching has created false converts. You know that a thousand people will hear a true Gospel presentation from your lips. Would you turn down the invitation?7 

The majority of teachers associated with Daystar promote the pretribulation rapture. Just as the prosperity gospel holds out false hope to believers, the pretrib rapture also holds out false hope to believers. (Mathew 24:21). The reality is that this doctrine is likely to devastate many believers in the final generation. The critical concern of those who reject the pretrib rapture is the prospect that many believers will "fall away" during the great tribulation due to lack of preparation and the shock that the promised "pretrib rapture" has failed their expectations. (Matthew 24:10). It is not a good idea to base eschatology on the teachings of cult leader John Nelson Darby and fictional "Left Behind" theology. Some argue that eschatology is an in-house secondary issue that we should not be overly concerned about. While it is possible to be saved without a clear understanding of eschatology, in my view this is a critical subject. Jesus' explicit warning about the end of the age is: See that no one leads you astray. (Matthew 24:4 cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:3). Since one-third of the bible concerns prophecy, believers are responsible for studying the scriptures and testing the spirits. (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 4:1). 

1. Moore's Corner Church, Leverett, MA
2. (2) AN ONLINE PASTOR WARNS... - The Gathering of the Ragged but Redeemed | Facebook
Jack Hibbs Endorses NAR Che Ahn l HR1154 "Conspir@cy The0rists" bill l Temple on earth @ FOT timing
3. RATHEREXPOSETHEM: COMPLETE ECUMENICAL APOSTASY: DAVID JEREMIAH INVITES ROMA DOWNEY & MARK BURNETT, CATHOLIC NEW AGE HERETICS~PASSES "TURNING POINT" INTO HERESY & APOSTASY
4. Evangelicals and Catholics Together - Wikipedia
5. Prophecy watchers morphing into a mixed Apocalyptic bag - Berean Research

6. Jimmy Evans Announces He’s Leaving XO Marriage, After Daystar Backlash

7. Ray Comfort Controversy - Catholic Reformation

Further Links

Alan Kurschner: (9 Reasons Why the Rapture and Resurrection Occur AFTER the Great Tribulation (Rapture Talks) | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES)

Baruch Korman: (Rapture - Part 1 - Dr. Baruch Korman of HOME | LoveIsrael.com)  

Chris White: The Prewrath Rapture Chris White 

Author and researcher Dave MacPherson spent years exposing the errors and the dishonesty of the pretrib camp. It is well worth reading his material: WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Search results for dave mac 

JIMMY EVANS DEVIOUS SWITCHEROO TO THE PRETRIB RAPTURE ON DAYSTAR

Jimmy Evans Announces He’s Leaving XO Marriage, After Daystar Backlash

Having been publicly exposed and disgraced as a false marriage counselor, Jimmy Evans is "transitioning" out of XO Marriage and intends to devote himself to endtimes.com. full time. God help his viewers!

"Daystar cancels prophecy program as Evans launches his..
The Roys Report (TRR) has also learned that Daystar abruptly canceled a long-running prophecy program on its network in July 2022. Days after the cancelation, Evans ran five, on-demand specials on Daystar titled almost identically to the canceled ministry.
On a recording of a May 2023 meeting between Evans, Joni, Doug, Jonathan, and Suzy, Joni states that she began talking to Evans about her relationship with Doug Weiss when these scheduling changes were taking place—July 2022.
The ministry whose show Daystar canceled was called Endtime Ministries, and the ministry website is endtime.com. Endtime Ministries was founded in 1986 by Irvin Baxter and had run a program on Daystar since 2009, called “End of the Age.”
The specials Evans ran on Daystar’s app and YouTube channel were entitled 'End Times' and the website for Evans’ new prophecy ministry is endtimes.com.
Endtime Ministries CEO Vince Stegall told TRR that the abrupt cancelation of his show and launching of Evans’ show was deeply disappointing and puzzling to his ministry. He said it also was confusing to viewers.
'We were getting calls, shortly after we were off, from the television audience,' Stegall said. 'And they wanted to know what happened to our host and why there’s this new guy named Jimmy on there . . .
'We still get emails and calls trying to figure out why our website is so different. It’s pretty confusing when you just add an ‘s.’
According to Endtime CEO Vince Stegall, Daystar claimed it cancelled 'End of the Age' because of a drop in viewership, following the death of founder Irvin Baxter. But Stegall said his buyer, who negotiated Endtime’s contract with Daystar, said that wasn’t true.Vince Stegall (Photo: Facebook)
'Our buyer has access to the software for TV ratings and he provided a lengthy explanation including (r)ating showing End of the Age is in the top 15 shows on Daystar every week,' Stegall wrote in a 2022 newsletter to supporters. '(A)nd our DVR numbers are generally 20-23% whereas the average for the rest of Daystar is 10%.
'In short, our buyer said, ‘This is clearly not a viewership issue and I can provide anything you need to make that argument.’ So there is obviously more to this than they are sharing.'
Jonathan Lamb told TRR that Daystar canceling a show mid-year is 'unheard of,' unless there’s a scandal or the ministry can’t pay the network fees.
However, Stegall said Endtime Ministries had no scandal and was current on its payments.."

It appears that Joni Lamb and Jimmy Evans hoped that their unethical move against Endtime Ministries would fly under the radar. (Numbers 32:23). However, some viewers questioned the puzzling change of presenter, not realizing that Endtime Ministries and Endtimes Ministries are two different ministries entirely! This devious name change and the usurpation of Endtime Ministries' time slot on Daystar is unworthy of a reputable man of God. As contemptible as this is, it gets even worse! Evans has introduced a critical shift in doctrine during this timeslot. Endtime Ministries taught what is referred to as the posttrib rapture view.1 Although the posttrib rapture view has some problems, it does not hold out false hope to believers of escaping the great tribulation. Evans' switcheroo from the posttrib view taught by Endtime Ministries to pretrib no doubt appeals to "itching ears". (2 Timothy 4:3). As many have observed, the false NAR Word-Faith prosperity teachers incessantly aired on Daystar are adept at giving false hope to believers. Within the biblical context, false hope refers to misplaced trust or confidence in things, people, or circumstances that ultimately cannot deliver what they promise. The Bible warns against placing hope in anything other than God, as such hope is deceptive and leads to disappointment and spiritual peril. (Jeremiah 23:16).2 The danger of pretrib teaching is the possibility that many will fall away during the great tribulation due to what they will regard as the "failed" prophecy of Jesus' return before the 70th week of Daniel. (Matthew 24:10-15 cf. Daniel 9:27).

The pre-trib rapture is based on the teaching of cult leader John Nelson Darby and fictional "Left Behind" eschatology. This view has been effectively debunked by a number of trustworthy bible teachers.

Jesus cautioned his disciples: Remember, I have told you ahead of time" (Mattew 24:25).

Paul cautioned believers: Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered (episunagōgēs) together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).

* episunagōgēs = gathering together: in context, the rapture at the Lord's coming.

Jimmy Evans is much more than a despicable bully to Jonathan and Suzy Lamb with his claim that "Joni is the voice of God"; he is much more than a dishonorable man who has no qualms about cutting in on another ministry and pulling a fast one for his own advantage; he is much more than a dangerous false teacher who has led believers into adulterous marriages; Jimmy Evans is a full-blown wolf who is so corrupt that he has no qualms about endangering the faith of his hearers! Evans fruit testifies against him! Mark and avoid this man. (Romans 16:17-18).

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15-20).

These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever. (1Jude:12-13).

  

1. Why We Believe in a Post-Tribulation Rapture – Endtime Ministries | The Endtime Show
2. Topical Bible: False Hope

Further Links

Six PROOFS of a Pre-Wrath Rapture | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES
Prewrath - Early Church Fathers

JIMMY EVANS DISQUALIFIED: FALSE TEACHING ON MANY LEVELS

Signs of the Very End Times | Tipping Point with Jimmy Evans

Following his disgraceful behaviour towards Jonathan and Suzie Lamb and his false claim that Joni Lamb is "the voice of God", one would think that Jimmy Evans would publicly apologize for his disgusting behaviour and quietly withdraw. Like other false teachers, Evans doesn't care about the damage he does to the body of Christ. How many adulterous marriages has Jimmy Evans caused with his false teaching that divorce and remarriage are permitted for any of his contrived and unbiblical "four A's" -~ abuse, addiction, adultery, or abandonment? This is a very serious charge. Even after being publicly disgraced and exposed, Evans continues to churn out false teachings regardless of the consequences. Evans seems confident that he is going to heaven, but I fear he will be one of the many false teachers to whom Jesus says "I never knew you" unless he repents. (Matthew 7:16-23).

Not only is Evans in grave error about divorce and remarriage and Joni Lamb being the "voice of God", it should not surprise anyone that he is also wrong about the rapture. No verse in the bible teaches a pretrib rapture. Evans' pretrib teaching is inaccurate in several key specifics. (1 John 4:1). 

I will mention two of the various issues in the above video from the Tipping Point Prophecy Conference 2024.

Mark Biltz's blood moon astrology nonsense has nothing to do with Joel 2:31-32. Biltz is a Hebrew Roots teacher which is a major red flag. The expression "blood moon" gained popularity in 2013 when false teachers Mark Biltz and John Hagee announced the upcoming lunar tetrad (April 14 and October 8, 2014; April 8 and September 28, 2015) in apocalyptic terms. Needless to say, nothing apocalyptic happened in 2015.

The blood moon will not be an isolated phenomenon, rather it will be one of a "cluster" of cosmic disturbances that will occur after the great tribulation of the Antichrist.1

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 24:19).

But in those days, after that tribulation: ‘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.’ (Mark 13:24-25).

And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. (Joel 2:31-32 cf. Acts 2:20).

See also Luke 21:25; Isaiah 13:10,34:4; Ezekiel 32:7-8; Amos 5:20; Zephaniah 1:15; Malachi 4:5.

Furthermore, there is no evidence that Ezekiel 37-38 is the Gog Magog prophecy. This prophecy occurs in Revelation 20:28 which is set in a millennial timeframe.

Pretrib "prophecy experts" often speculate about Russia and the "end times". However, claims of a Russian connection with Gog/Magog in Ezekiel 37 and 38 are hotly debated by expositors. The majority of Hebrew scholars reject the translation of rosh as a proper noun. Gog and Magog are mentioned jointly in the scriptures. The Table of Nations in Genesis 10 identifies Magog as a people group who are among the descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. (Genesis 10:2). In Ezekiel 39 Gog is identified as an individual: the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.. from the uttermost parts of the north. (Ezekiel 39:1-2). Critics are divided as to the people and country intended under these names. The Scythians, the Goths, the Persians and several other nations have been identified as Magog by various scholars. A number of modern bible versions interpret Ezekiel 39:1 as prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. (e.g. NSAB, NKJV, ASV). Apart from similarities in the names, evidence to support the view that Rosh refers to Russia, or that Meshech and Tubal refer to the Russian cities Moscow and Tobolsk is problematic. 

We seem to be in a teachable moment at the present time and I hope it will not be wasted. There is a unique opportunity for believers to test and reject false teachers on many levels. (1 John 4:1).

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (Ephesians 5:11).

  

1. Celestial Disturbances Archives | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES

Blood Moons: Prophets Who Persist in Prophesying Falsely | Christian Research Network
WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: DOES GOG MAGOG REFER TO RUSSIA?
The Roys Report: Full Audio of Daystar Meeting

CHRIS ROSEBROUGH: 70 WEEKS OF DANIEL PROPHECY

(338) F4F | Ask a Pirate Episode 1 - YouTube

Chris Rosebrough's Q and A session included a question about the 70 weeks of Daniel, which he answered according to Lutheran eschatology. When I returned to the video a few days later, this section was edited out, possibly because he expected some pushback regarding what he refers to as the "traditional understanding" of Daniel's 70 weeks which is virtually unheard of in the majority of commentaries. 

The question: "Would like to hear about the 70 weeks of Daniel. Jesus Christ fulfilled it is my understanding."  

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. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”(Daniel 9:24-27).

Rosebrough: "Many charismatic and Pentecostal folk have a problem, and that is that they think there's still one week or part of a week left in Daniel's 70 weeks."  He refers to Daniel 12:4,9 which states that the prophecy was closed up and sealed until "the time of the end'. My understanding is that the Book of Revelation unseals Daniel's prophecy. (Revelation 22:10).

Rosebrough referred to the Concordia Commentary on Daniel in Logos which is apparently the "traditional understanding". Based on the claim that Daniel's prophecy is sealed at the end of the 70th week, Rosebrough asks the question: "When does that occur?" According to Concordia, Daniel's 70-week prophecy was fulfilled in 135AD when Emperor Hadrian conquered Jerusalem during the Second Jewish Revolt against the Roman Empire. 

Problems with this view

Hadrian did not fulfill this prophecy. During Hadrian's rule, a temple to Jupiter (Zeus) was set up on the Temple Mount, the previous site of the Jewish Temple. Preterists usually refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian in 70AD as the fulfillment of this prophecy. However, neither Titus nor Hadrian made a strong covenant with the many (the Jews) for one week (seven years) or broke the covenant halfway through that period. (Daniel 9:27). As others have argued, the 70-week prophecy is too far-reaching to apply to the preterist interpretation. By the first century, the first 483 of Daniel's 490-year prophecy were fulfilled, leaving the last seven years or "week" (shabua) to be fulfilled. (Daniel 9:27; Daniel 12:11). At the end of this final seven-year period, Israel's salvation will be accomplished. The key event in this timeframe is the midpoint of the week when the Antichrist signs a "strong covenant" with the Jews marking the onset of the great tribulation. The Olivet Discourse is a crucial passage that confirms these events. The disciples ask Jesus: "..when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming (parousia) and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3).

So when you 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. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. (Matthew 24:15-28 cf.2 Thessalonians 2:3-4; Daniel 7:25,11:36; Revelation 13:3-6).

Amillennialism (Greek: a- "not" + Latin: mille "thousand" + annum "year") was the accepted view of the Roman Catholic Church and the 16th-century Protestant Reformers. No literal interpretation of the scriptures supports amillennialism. Amillennialism was systemized by Augustine of Hippo (354-430), and it was subsequently accepted as the dominant eschatology of the Medieval and Reformation periods. This view is still held by various Protestant denominations including Lutheran, Reformed, and Anglican. The Lutheran Church formally rejected the predominant view of the early Church Fathers i.e. premillennialism aka "chiliasm" in the Augsburg Confession—Art. XVII. My view is that amillennialism is based on tradition rather than the scriptures. Amillennialism has given rise to replacement theology which is a denial of the unfulfilled prophecies given regarding a literal Jewish remnant. (Romans 11:1-32). Premillennialism generally maintains a literal physical 1000-year reign of Christ based on Revelation 20 and other prophetic eschatological passages of scripture.

  

Theopedia: "Premillennialism was the most widely held view of the earliest centuries of the church. Philip Schaff has said, 'The most striking point in the eschatology of the ante-Nicene Age (A.D. 100-325) is the prominent chiliasm, or millenarianism, . . . a widely current opinion of distinguished teachers, such as Barnabas, Papia, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Methodius, and Lactantius.' (History of the Christian Church, Scribner, 1884; Vol. 2, p. 614)."1

Luther: "Our churches.. condemn the Anabaptists, who think that there will be an end to the punishments of condemned men and devils. They condemn also others who are now spreading certain Jewish opinions, that before the resurrection of the dead the godly shall take possession of the kingdom of the world, the ungodly being everywhere suppressed.."2 

Wikipedia: "Likewise, the Swiss Reformer Heinrich Bullinger wrote up the Second Helvetic Confession, which asserts, 'We also reject the Jewish dream of a millennium, or golden age on earth, before the last judgment' John Calvin wrote in Institutes of the Christian Religion that chiliasm is a 'fiction' that is 'too childish either to need or to be worth a refutation.'"3  

Some denominations such as Methodists and Baptists do not take an official position on Daniel's 70 weeks and their ministers have latitude to teach this subject according to their convictions. The official position of the Assemblies of God (Pentecostal) is that "the weight of Scripture supports a pre-Tribulation Rapture."4 However, individual AG churches are autonomous and it is not always possible to ascertain exactly what they believe about the 70 weeks if they teach on the subject at all. Many AG churches have fallen to the NAR deception which denies premillennialism and aligns with dominion theology. 

The two primary premillennial views are historic premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism. Historic premillennialism is the classic form of premillennialism found in the writings of the early Church Fathers. Dispensational premillennialism was developed by cult leader John Nelson Darby (1800-1882). Unfortunately, Darby and Schofield succeeded in infecting the church with the pretrib dispensational teachings that permeate many churches today. The result is that the pretrib rapture is aggressively promoted by many teachers with a "Left Behind" mindset who should know better. Non-charismatic pro-Israel teachers like Andy Woods (Sugar Land Bible Church), Prophecy Watchers, Tom Hughes (Hope for our Times), Jan Markell, Jack Hibbs, etc. relentlessly promote the pretrib rapture view even though it is extremely tenuous and fails to stand up to rigorous methodology. Following much research, I rejected the pretrib rapture view and concluded that the prewrath view solves the false eschatology of the pretrib camp.*  

Like Rosebrough, I have come out of a Charismatic/Pentecostal background, and like him, I have reacted strongly against their false teachings, their incessant false prophecies, and what can only be described as their rank foolishness. I have been careful not to exchange one false teaching for another, even though this has resulted in isolation at times. I find it difficult to understand why someone of Rosebrough's caliber and problematic background in charismatic circles would launch into Lutherism with its semi-Roman Catholic theology, including baptismal regeneration, consubstantiation, amillennial eschatology, and over-emphasized liturgy etc.

1. Premillennialism | Theopedia
2. J:\Users\Marius\Documents\The Augsburg Confession (1530).wpd
3. Amillennialism - Wikipedia
4. Assemblies of God (USA) Official Web Site | The Rapture of the Church

Further Links

* 7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture (Full Movie)
70th Week of Daniel Archives | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES

ANDY WOODS: REVELATION 3:10 DOES NOT SUPPORT THE PRETRIB RAPTURE

 One Verse That Proves the Pretrib Rapture | Andy Woods

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10).

Mondo Gonzales (Prophecy Watchers) and Andy Woods discuss Revelation 3:10 and its alleged affirmation of the pretrib rapture of the church. 

Woods homes in on the Greeek τηρήσω ἐκ "I will keep {you} out of". There are two issues to consider 1 the context and the definition of "the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world"; 2 the application of τηρήσω ἐκ to Revelation 3:10 and John 17:15.

Gonzales and Woods make the assumption that "the hour of trial" is the tribulation, but this interpretation is problematic. The great tribulation applies to believers, whereas "the hour of trial" will come upon the whole world i.e. the earth dwellers. During the tribulation, believers are called to perseverance during a period of unprecedented persecution and martyrdom. (Matthew 24:13; Revelation 3:8). The hour of trial is the direct wrath of God (the day of the Lord's wrath) that comes upon the whole world after the great tribulation. (Revelation 6:17; Matthew 24:29). The churches in Philadelphia and Smyrna are faithful and do not receive a rebuke from the Lord. Philadelphia is promised:  I will keep you from the hour of trial.. whereas Smyrna is given the conditional promise: The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:9-11). The severe warnings pronounced against the compromising churches are prefixed by "I have this against you". One can only assume that unfaithful churches i.e. those who compromise will suffer the wrath of God along with the world unless they repent. (Revelation 2:5,16,21-22,3:3,16). Revelation 3:10 is addressed more fully by Alan Kurschner: Revelation 3:10 Archives | ESCHATOS MINISTRIES          

Woods addresses the well-known objection to the theory that Revelation 3:10 refers to a pretrib rapture. He cites John 17:15 where the same construction τηρήσω ἐκ is used. Since John was the author of the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation and both are direct quotes from Jesus, it is reasonable to interpret τηρήσω ἐκ similarly to affirm the idea that Revelation 3:10 means literally to“keep from” rather than "preserve through".

John 17:15 consists of two phrases:

I do not ask that you take them out of the world (ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου)

but (ἀλλ’) that you keep (τηρήσῃς) them from the evil {one}. (John 17:15).

Woods: "What people do is they look at the wrong object. The ἐκ and τηρήσω go with the evil one, not with the world."  ?? Gonzales and Woods profess to be skilled in the original languages, but I am hesitant about accepting Woods' interpretation of John 17:15. I do not claim to be an expert in biblical Greek, but I would read this verse differently. The object of the first phrase is the world and ἀλλ’ is the conjunction. In my view, the reading of John 17:15 is that Jesus rejects taking His followers out of the world (ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου), in favour of the contrasting course i.e. to keep (τηρήσῃς) them from evil (or the evil one). I do not think this verse refers to the rapture; rather it seems to have the sense of the Lord's prayer "deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13 cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 1 John 5:18). 

Ellicott: "We have to bear in mind also that the present passage occurs in the second 'Lord's Prayer,' and that His prayer for them may with probability be interpreted in the same sense as the words in which He taught them to pray. On the whole, therefore, it seems likely, but yet is by no means certain, that we ought to read here, 'that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one.'" 1 

Strong's: The Greek conjunction 'ἀλλά' (alla) is used to denote contrast or exception. It is often translated as 'but,' 'rather,' or 'on the contrary' in English. This word serves to introduce a statement that contrasts with or opposes what has been previously mentioned. It is a critical conjunction in Greek for clarifying distinctions and emphasizing differences in thought or action.2  

Two examples of ἀλλά

Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but (ἀλλὰ) a sword. (Matthew 10:34). 

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but (ἀλλὰ) seventy-seven times. (Matthew 18:22).

Woods' faulty definition of the tribulation is a huge problem. There is a clear distinction in the scriptures between tribulation (thlipsis) and wrath (orgé). Woods' denial of the critical information that God's direct wrath begins after the tribulation is a disturbing contradiction of the scriptures.

Immediately after the tribulation (thlipsin) of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31).

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath (orgēs) has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:12-17).

The following verses quoted by Woods allegedly teach a pretrib rapture. 

Do not let your hearts be troubled. (John 14:1-4). 

Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 413-18).  

For Woods, if these verses do not indicate a pretrib rapture "..it is not much of a comfort." Citing individual verses as evidence of a pretrib rapture is irresponsible and dangerous. These verses/passages do not specify the timing of the rapture and critically not one verse in the bible teaches a pretrib rapture. The call to faith is a tough call! Believers are repeatedly warned about the extreme cost of discipleship. (Luke 14:27-28; Matthew 24:9; John 16:2-3; Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 1 John 13:13 etc.) 

The pretrib rapture fallacy is likely to have severe repercussions for the body of Christ and I am aghast that Woods and others shamelessly persist in promoting it. Woods et al are so entrenched that they have created an almost impenetrable stronghold. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:12). I pray and hope they will humble themselves before the Lord and repent before it is too late. (1 John 4:1).  

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19).

A further word of caution 

Prophecy Watchers give a platform to false teachers such as Jonathan Cahn who claims to be "prophetic", "Reverend" Donna Howell, and recently disgraced spiritual abuser Jimmy Evans.4 Prophecy Watchers are closely involved with and are tainted by the heretical TV network Daystar.3  Prophecy Watchers: "A NEW DAY is dawning at our ministry. After the TBN building and studio acquisition … after Daystar Television accepted our program.."5 This is a severe compromise and smacks of the NAR! Like many false ministries, Prophecy Watchers constantly peddle their merchandise. (2 Corinthians 2:17). Several pretrib teachers appear on Daystar including LA Marzuli, Bill Salus, Billy Crone, Tom Hughes, David Jeremiah, and Jack Hibbs who endorses Che Ahn!6 Jack Hibbs' unbiblical response to Michael Grant when challenged about his compromise and the doctrine of separation is very telling: They Actually Responded & It Wasn't Good IMHO (My Take on the Situation) Unfortunately Andy Woods seems willing to sacrifice almost anything on the altar of the pretrib rapture! (1 Thessalonians 5:22; Romans 16:17-18).

  

1. John 17:15 Commentaries: "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.
2. Strong's Greek: 235. ἀλλά (alla) -- but, rather, on the contrary
3. Shows | Daystar Television
4 .Jimmy Evans: A Line in the Sand - The Prophecy Watchers
5. Meet the New Co-Host of Prophecy Watchers!
6. Jack Hibbs Endorses NAR Che Ahn l HR1154 "Conspir@cy The0rists" bill l Temple on earth @ FOT timing

NELSON WATERS BRASH STATEMENT: THE "TRIBULATION" HAS BEGUN (DANIEL 9:27)

(54) ANSWERED! 8 Tough Questions on Whether the TRIBULATION Really Started - YouTube

In his own words, Nelson Walters describes his claim that the 70th week of Daniel began on October 2nd as "a brash statement". Walters: "There is a 95-99% chance the 'tribulation' began on October 2nd.2024." Walters consistently makes the error of referring to the 70th week of Daniel as the "tribulation". The tribulation begins at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week following the “abomination of desolation” event. (Matthew 24:15,21 cf. Daniel 9:27).*

Strike 1: Misinterpreting Jesus' parable of the ten virgins 

According to Walters, the reason people are unconvinced that the 70th week of Daniel has started is a sign based on the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. He claims that everyone will be asleep before the 70th week begins.     

As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ (Matthew 25:5-7).

If "all became drowsy and slept" then how is it that Walters is awake? Apparently, Walters believes he is the exception because he is an Ezekiel-style "watchman" based on Ezekiel 33:6. The problem with this logic is that Ezekiel was a true prophet who brought forth the very word of God, Nelson Walters is not!

In context, the parable of the ten virgins is a continuation of Matthew 24 regarding the coming of the Lord. (Matthew 24:31,50). In other words, it refers to the prewrath rapture which occurs between the sixth and seventh seal of Revelation. Walters has detached this parable from its original context and has shifted the specific timeframe from the Parousia to the onset of Daniel's 70th week. From a prewrath rapture perspective, the time difference between the first and sixth seals of Revelation is significant. (Revelation 6:12). 

Jesus' parables are fictional stories with a spiritual lesson. They convey literal truth, but they should not be pressed in every detail to force a connection of our own making. (2 Timothy 2:15). The message of the parable of the ten virgins is to watch. They all fell asleep (?) The parable is not intended to affirm as fact that no one will be ready for Jesus' return, rather it emphasizes the length of the delay. Jesus summarises this parable with a warning: "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:13 cf. Matthew 24:50; Luke 21:34; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 3:3). This parable ties in with Luke 17:22 ff. One will be taken and the other left. (Luke 17:34-35). 

Walters claims that the jigsaw pieces all fall into place, but even on a cursory examination, they do not!

Strike 2: Walters: "The main impetus of this covenant was to force Israel to divide their land under the guise of a false peace." The United Nations Pact for the Future is not an imposed covenant upon Israel! The Pact is a broad non-binding agreement i.e. it does not impose legal obligations on UN Member States. Various global conflicts were mentioned in non-specific terms, but the proposed two-state solution and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were not directly mentioned at the summit.   

Strike 3: Walters: "God's immediate reaction was to permit Hurricane Helene to devastate the USA." This is speculation. The pact was signed by more than 140 countries at the UN's headquarters in New York. Hurricane Helene did not significantly affect New York, and it did not touch most of the other countries that signed the pact. Beware of newspaper eisegesis!

Strike 4: Walters: "The world's immediate reaction to the covenant was an international alliance headed by Saudi Arabia designed to divide Israel in a two-state solution."  Walters disproves his own claim by admitting that various nations continue to push for a two-state solution. This is evidence that the "strong covenant with many" did not come into existence on October 2nd. (Daniel 9:27). 

DUBAI, Sept 27 (Reuters) : "Saudi Arabia has formed a global alliance to push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the country's foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said on Thursday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York."2 

Strike 5: Walters: "The exact day the 'tribulation' (70th week) must begin is on the feast of Trumpets." Rosh Hashanah is the first of three Fall festivals: the Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur (aka the Day of Atonement), and the Feast of Tabernacles. Rosh Hashanah is not mentioned specifically in the bible; rather it is referred to as the day of the blowing of the shofar or the Feast of Trumpets. (Leviticus 23:23-25). Walters' view is very odd since the onset of the 70th week and a covenant with the Antichrist hardly represents a "holy convocation" or a celebration. It is more likely that Rosh Hashanah will begin when the trumpet sounds at the rapture when Jesus returns. (Matthew 24:31; 1 Thessalonians 4:15).

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:23-25).

Strike 6: Walters: "God marked this day with signs in the heavens; a bright visible comet; a supernova; and a solar eclipse." This foolishness is comparable to the false speculations concerning the zodiac constellation Virgo in 2017 hailed by false teachers as the sign of "the woman in labour" based on Revelation 12:1. Walters regurgitates this so-called "sign" of "the woman in labour" to refer to October 2nd and the 70th week. We should not be relying on astrology for biblical evidence of end-time events. It is possible for anyone to employ Stellarium to justify this or that momentous "sign" as evidence for whatever they want it to signify.

Strike 7:  Where is the Antichrist? According to Walters, the covenant doesn't have to have occurred on exactly October 2nd based on the Hebrew verb gābar (hiphil stem) which is causative.3 Walters theorizes that the Antichrist can cause the action to happen secretly behind the scenes without being revealed. This seems unlikely since the Antichrist will be the prime mover of the covenant. Walters confuses the issue by claiming that the 70th week has begun without any reasonable evidence that it actually has! No doubt this is why no reliable teachers are making the same claim.

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he (Antichrist) shall confirm (gābar) the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abomination ns he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27 cf. Daniel 12:11).

Blue Letter Bible: "גָּבַר gâbar, gaw-bar'; a primitive root; to be strong; by implication, to prevail, act insolently:—exceed, confirm, be great, be mighty, prevail, put to more (strength), strengthen, be stronger, be valiant."1 

Strike 8: According to Walters, the daily sacrifice and the temple are not tied to the beginning of the 70th week of Daniel. The daily sacrifice and the temple must be in place before the mid-point of the week since the Antichrist will stop the sacrifices and will sit in the temple and proclaim himself to be God at this point (the abomination of desolation event). (Daniel 9:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). It seems likely that the Antichrist will at least agree to the restoration of the daily sacrifice and the rebuilding of the temple as part of his "strong covenant" with Israel. In my view, these things cannot come into existence without the specific endorsement of the Antichrist. 

Strike 9. Based on Daniel 11:22, Walters submits that "the prince who is to come" is not likely to be the Antichrist. He argues that the man who makes/renews the covenant will be destroyed by the Antichrist. Walters: "This prince seems to appear later, again in Daniel 11:22. I personally have never heard anyone else talk about this.." Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant. (Daniel 11:22). The reason no one else talks about Daniel 11:22 as a direct reference to the Antichrist is that Daniel 11:1-36 refers to the rise and fall of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who persecuted the Jews who is a type of the Antichrist. According to many expositors, a shift occurs in the narrative from Daniel 11:36 onwards from Antiochus IV Epiphanes to the future fulfillment i.e. the Antichrist "the wilful king". (Daniel 11:36). Walters' reference to Daniel 11:22 is therefore invalid because the destruction of the prince referred to is a past event.

Crying wolf!

 

According to Walters, even if he is wrong about October 2nd it doesn't matter because people will be prepared. What! Walters gives himself a convenient get-out with his 95-99% accuracy claim, but God is not mocked! (Galatians 6:7). Making end-time predictions is an extremely reckless, counterproductive and reputationally risky business. We have all witnessed the fallout from various false date-setters like the NAR "prophets" and the false Trump "prophets". These people are the scourge of Christianity! When the 70th week does actually begin and we bring the evidence, many people are likely to reject it on the basis that "prophecy experts" like Walters have been wrong in the past. 

Wannabe prophets and their "brash" statements 

Walters' admission to making a "brash" statement is a red flag. (Matthew 12:36-37).

WordHippo describes "brash" as: "Excessively or recklessly confident or bold." Synonyms for "brash" are: foolhardy, audacious, daredevil, madcap, overbod, reckless, temerarious, overconfident, rash, heedless, incautious, imprudent, irresponsible etc..4 

There is one whose rash (reckless) words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18).

The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. (Proverbs 15:7).

* WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: THE SEVEN YEAR TRIBULATION FALLACY (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)

1. H1396 - gāḇar - Strong's Hebrew Lexicon (kjv) (blueletterbible.org)

2. Saudi Arabia forms global alliance to push for Israeli-Palestinian two-state solution | Reuters
3. Stem Hiphil — unfoldingWord® Hebrew Grammar 1 documentation (uhg.readthedocs.io)

4, What is another word for brash? | Brash Synonyms - WordHippo Thesaurus

NELSON WALTERS CLICKBAIT ESCHATOLOGY: THE PRINCE WHO IS TO COME (DANIEL 9:26)

Who is the Prince of the Covenant that Just Launched the Tribulation? We NAME NAMES! (youtube.com)

In the above video, Nelson Walters speculates that the covenant that initiates the 70th week of Daniel (Daniel 9:26) is the Pact for the Future adopted by the United Nations on the 22nd of September 2024. According to Walters the 70th week of Daniel was launched on October 2nd when globalism and new powers were given to the International Court of Justice to become the ultimate source of judicial power in the world.  

United Nations: "New York, 22 September 2024 – World leaders today adopted a Pact for the Future that includes a Global Digital Compact and a Declaration on Future Generations. This Pact is the culmination of an inclusive, years-long process to adapt international cooperation to the realities of today and the challenges of tomorrow.1 

The Pact contains a number of pledges related to international peace and security, including calls for all countries to comply with the decisions of the International Court of Justice;" 2 

Walters discusses the identity of "the prince who is to come" in Daniel 9:26, i.e. the man who renews the covenant that launches what Walters refers to as the seven year "tribulation". Although many teachers refer to 70th week of Daniel as the "tribulation", technically this is not the case. The tribulation begins at the midpoint of Daniel's 70th week following the “abomination of desolation” event. (Matthew 24:15,21 cf. Daniel 9:27). Prior to the midpoint of the 70th week, the first four seals will likely be broken by the Lamb (Jesus Christ). (Revelation 6:1-8).

The overwhelming consensus among prewrath teachers is that "the prince who is to come" is the Antichrist aka "the man of lawlessness". (2 Thessalonians 2:3). 

..who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4; cf. Daniel 7:25,11:36; Revelation 13:5–6).

Based on Daniel 11:22, Walters submits that "the prince who is to come" is not likely to be the Antichrist. He argues that the man who makes/renews the covenant will be destroyed by the Antichrist. Walters: "This prince seems to appear later, again in Daniel 11:22. I personally have never heard anyone else talk about this.." Then a flood of forces will be swept away before him and destroyed, along with a prince of the covenant. (Daniel 11:22). The reason no one else talks about Daniel 11:22 as a direct reference to the Antichrist is that Daniel 11:1-36 refers to the rise and fall of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who persecuted the Jews who is a type of the Antichrist. According to many expositors, a shift occurs in the narrative from Daniel 11:36 onwards from Antiochus IV Epiphanes to the future fulfillment i.e. the Antichrist "the wilful king". (Daniel 11:36). Walters' reference to Daniel 11:22 is therefore invalid because the destruction of the prince referred to is a past event.

Walters: "It is possible that there are actually two princes; the Antichrist, who makes or causes the covenant with the many on the one side, and the prince who actually signs that covenant on the other side. So could one prince be an Israeli and the other the Antichrist who forces or causes the covenant upon the Israeli? It's entirely possible.. Maybe the prince who is to come is a secular person who just enforces the covenant on Israel or maybe it's the Antichrist who does this.."  The Antichrist is the prince who enforces the covenant upon Israel. (Daniel 9:27). The scriptures do not mention "two princes" in relation to the covenant. 

And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed. And he (Antichrist) shall confirm (gābar) the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abomination ns he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27 cf. Daniel 12:11).

Based on the Hebrew verb gābar (hiphil stem) which is causative, Walters proposes the novel suggestion that the Antichrist causes or orchestrates the renewed covenant behind the scenes and that he is not directly involved.3 He doesn't seem to have considered the possibility that the Antichrist could be both the cause and the enforcer of the covenant.     

For the 70th week to begin, the confirmation of the covenant specified in Daniel 9:27 is generally expected to be an enforced covenant of peace with "many" (Israel). It is also anticipated that daily sacrifices will be reinstituted on the Temple Mount since "he (the Antichrist) will put an end to sacrifice and offering" at exactly the midpoint point of the 70th week. (Daniel 9:27). The Temple Institute, Yaraeh, and other groups consider building the Third Temple on the Temple Mount imperative, although all that is strictly required is an altar. 

Walters regurgitates an old argument cooked-up by Walid Shoebat and Joel Richardson in 2008. In their reckless attempt to authenticate an Islamic Antichrist, Shoebat and Richardson attempted to show that "the people of the prince who is to come" (Daniel 9:26), will be Islamic based on the idea that Syrians and other Middle Eastern peoples made up the majority of the Roman army that destroyed the Jerusalem Temple in 70AD. There is good evidence that Titus authorized the destruction of the Temple; Roman generals oversaw the operation; and Roman forces carried it out. Note: Historian Sulpicius Severus (apparently based on Tacitus' lost history) contradicts Josephus' account of this event.4 The plain sense of this passage is that Rome was the rod of God's judgement, not the soldiers fighting for Rome. I recommend Chris White's excellent series debunking the Islamic Antichrist theory.* 

I have written a number of posts exposing Joel Richardson's false teaching.5

On the strength of his speculation that the 70th week began on the 2nd of October, Walters digs a deeper hole in a follow-up video in which he claims that the "pretrib rapture" has failed to take place.6  Pretrib teachers JD Farag and Amir Tsarfati are heavily featured in this second video. Walters' fallacious information is likely to provoke contempt from the pretrib camp since they will not find it difficult to demolish his argument. Walters' ill-advised speculations will no doubt cause further confusion to the deluded followers of Farag and Tsarfati if they dignify his video with a response.

Walters: "..But you might ask 'Why doesn't anyone else seem to see this, my favorite Bible teacher has nothing to say about this'. Jesus prophesied exactly that in the parable of the ten virgins, that all ten virgins, the entire Kingdom of Heaven, or what we'd call the church today, that they would be asleep prior to his return. Folks aren't going to wake up and realize this until the midnight cry that wakes them up, so Christians being oblivious is exactly what we should expect.. It's a blessing if you have seen that this has happened.. A much larger group are saying 'This can't be the tribulation' and you are going to find reasons to deny what just happened and you will argue it with fervour.."

These are very arrogant assertions considering Walters' claim does not pass the test of scripture. (1 John 4:1). Walter's perplexing assertions appear to be based on clickbait and are precisely what the body of Christ does not need to hear right now! Although globalism is increasing exponentially and the 70th week does not seem far off, it is not reasonable to claim that the 70th week began on the 2nd of October. At this present time, it is essential to trust in Jesus Christ while we keep watch for the Lord's return. (Matthew 24:42,25:13). 

I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. (1 Corinthians 4:6).

* Islamic Antichrist Debunked Chris White | Bible Prophecy Daily

   7 Pretrib Problems and the Prewrath Rapture (Full Movie) (youtube.com)

1. Press Release | United Nations adopts ground-breaking Pact for the Future to transform global governance - United Nations Sustainable Development
2. Summit of the Future Explainer: A new global peace plan for ‘uniquely dangerous’ times | UN News
3. Stem Hiphil — unfoldingWord® Hebrew Grammar 1 documentation (uhg.readthedocs.io)
4. Chronology of the War According to Josephus: Part 7, The Fall of Jerusalem
5. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: Joel Richardson (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
6. If TRIBULATION Began on OCT 2 - DId We Just Miss the Pre-trib Rapture?????? (youtube.com)

CHARLES COOPER: WHAT IS OUTER DARKNESS?

Crown Me (Part 4) – The Price of Victory | Bible Prophecy Daily 

Bible Prophecy Daily is a weekday podcast that is usually very good. I believe the prewrath rapture position is the correct view, and I normally have no hesitation in recommending this podcast to anyone interested in eschatology. It therefore pains me to write this critique of Charles Cooper's teaching regarding the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. Some of Cooper's foolish remarks have caused me concern in the past, and this particular episode is misleading and inaccurate.

"In this episode, he (Charles Cooper) picks up at Matthew 25:24-30, where he now discusses the sad peril of the third man in the Parable of the Talents and the implications for the Christian who is faithLESS: “Derision”, “Demotion”, and “Divarication”."  

Evidently Cooper has discovered a new word, although it might have been more straightforward to have used the word "separation". According to Merriam-Webster: "The word 'divarication' derives from the Medieval Latin divaricatio, which in turn descends from the verb divaricare, meaning 'to spread apart.' Divaricare itself is derived from the Latin varicare, which means 'to straddle' and is also an ancestor of prevaricate ('to deviate from the truth'). The oldest sense of divarication, which first appeared in print in English in 1578, refers to a literal branching apart (as in 'divarication of the roads'). The word eventually developed a more metaphorical second sense that is used when opinions 'stretch apart' from one another."1   

Cooper refers to the Bema Seat of Jesus Christ and the rewards given to believers prior to the millennium. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10). In particular, he discusses the fate of the third servant who made no increase on the talent he was entrusted with. This parable follows the previous parable about the ten virgins, five of whom are denied access to the marriage feast. (Matthew 25:1-12).  

For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. Likewise, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the servant who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned to settle accounts with them. The servant who had received the five talents came and presented five more. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you30 in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’The servant who had received the two talents also came and said, ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents. See, I have gained two more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’ (Matthew 25:14-23).

Finally, the servant who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Master, I knew that you are a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what belongs to you.’You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed. Then you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. Therefore take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (Matthew 25:23-30)

Cooper: Why would Jesus Christ give an unbeliever, who has no capacity to please God, the responsibility of watching over God's property? It makes no sense."

Cooper's reasoning.. because the third man is referred to as a "servant" he must be a believer in order to merit the Lord's trust with the talent. Cooper: "Is this man a believer or not? Many people think he is an unbeliever..  'wicked' is misleading..  the word that is translated 'wicked'.. one of the nuances is 'worthless'". This parable is related to the earlier parable of the ten virgins. It appears that the "foolish virgins" had a superficial belief in Christ and an outward profession of faith. The chilling words "I do not know you" excluded them from the wedding feast. (Matthew 25:11-12 cf. Matthew 7:23). In other words, they were not part of the bride of Christ and therefore not qualified to enter the wedding feast. The parable of the man at the wedding banquet with no wedding garment is another example: Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:11-14). There is something essentially lacking in both instances; the foolish virgins had no oil, and the man with no wedding garment was not clothed with the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10 cf. Revelation 6:11,7:9,13). Gaebelein: “'For many are called, but few chosen.' The many which are called are all those who heard the call and made an outward profession, without having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ."2 

The NASB is the only version that translates πονηρός as "worthless". All the other versions translate πονηρός as either "wicked" or "evil".  Strong's Definition: "toilsome, bad; Usage: evil, bad, wicked, malicious, slothful."3  In the other occurrences of πονηρός in the New Testament there is no evidence for Cooper's translation of "worthless" e.g. Matthew 5:11,37,39,45,6:13,23,7:11,17,18,9:4 etc.4  I therefore concur with the majority of translations that in all but one instance translate πονηρός as "wicked".     

Pulpit Commentary: "Verse 26. - Thou wicked and slothful servant. In marked contrast with the commendation, 'good and faithful,' its vers, 21, 23. He was 'wicked,' in that he calumniated his master, who really seems to have been ready to acknowledge the least service done to him, and never looked for results beyond a man's ability and opportunities; and he was 'slothful,' in that he made no effort to improve the one talent entrusted to him."5  

Outer Darkness?

Cooper: "Many conclude that the phrase 'outer darkness' is the judgment of unbelievers, but I do not believe that any other places where 'outer darkness' is used refers to unbelievers. Hell certainly is not outer darkness. The lake of fire in Revelation 20 certainly is not characterized by darkness. In fact, the destiny of the damned, those who do not know God, is never, is nowhere, described as darkness. Darkness is not a characteristic of the place of assignment for unbelievers, nowhere in scripture. Hell is not dark, the lake of fire of course is not dark. This is a description of the state of believers who prove unfaithful.. The darkness outside is the place where those unfaithful believers will be assigned to spend, how long I don't know.. He is not describing hell here or the destiny of unbelievers. He is actually describing the destiny of the unfaithful believers who have no rewards. Because you have nothing to give, you receive nothing.  This is not talking about salvation, it is talking about sanctification and the reward for your faithfulness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth; profound regret, wailing and weeping, they are going to be divaricated. It means to separate. There is going to be derision, demotion and divarication; criticism, condemnation and separation.."  

Cooper has been teaching this strange doctrine since 2020.6  

 

Cooper's eisegesis of the unfaithful servant in this parable is unacceptable. He seems to be describing something analogous to purgatory! His assertion that the destiny of unbelievers is never described as "darkness" is inexplicable. For example, the judgement of false teachers is described as "blackest darkness". Blackest darkness is reserved for them. (2 Peter 2:17; Jude 1:12-13).

The day of the Lord is described as "darkness".

Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? (Amos 5:20 cf. Zephaniah 1:15; Isaiah 13:9-10; Matthew 24:29).

The contrasting metaphors of "light" and "darkness" are ubiquitous within the scriptures. Darkness is a metaphor to refer to evil and sin, whereas light is a metaphor representing God’s presence and goodness. Darkness is often associated with death and wickedness.

I am the light of the world.. (John 8;12,9:5). 

God is light and in him is no darkness..  (1 John 1:5 cf . John 1:4-5,4:18-19, 8:12,3:19; Acts 26:17-18 etc.

GotQuestions: "Darkness is used as a symbol of moral depravity (Psalm 82:5; Proverbs 2:13; Romans 3:12). Darkness can also refer to trouble and affliction (Job 5:12; Proverbs 20:20; Isaiah 9:2) and to death and nothingness (1 Samuel 2:9; Ecclesiastes 11:8; Job 3:4-6)."7  

..while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:12). "The sons of the kingdom" are the unbelieving Jews who reject Jesus as their Messiah.

The overwhelming view of bible expositors is that "outer darkness" refers to the place assigned to unbelievers. I have only come across one other instance of similar deviant ideas from false teacher Zane Hodges.*

Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. (Revelation 22:14-15).

* The “Outer Darkness”: Heaven’s Suburb or Hell? | Bible.org

1. Divarication Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
2. Matthew 22 Gaebelein's Annotated Bible (biblehub.com)
3. Strong's Greek: 4190. πονηρός (ponéros) -- toilsome, bad (biblehub.com)
4. Strong's Greek: 4190. πονηρός (ponéros) -- 79 Occurrences (biblehub.com)
5. Matthew 25:26 Commentaries: "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed. (biblehub.com)
6. The Outer Darkness - the Punishment for Unfaithfulness! (youtube.com)
7. What is the outer darkness in Matthew 22:13? | GotQuestions.org