WHICH PRETRIB RAPTURE VIEW? BY DAVE MACPHERSON

     Which pretrib rapture view is correct? C. I. Scofield's? John Walvoord's? Hal Lindsey's? Someone else's?
     Walvoord (and Dwight Pentecost) say that the ones "taken" in Matt. 24:40-41 are the wicked taken in judgment at the end of the tribulation while those "left" are left alive.
     Lindsey disagrees with Walvoord and Pentecost and states that the ones "taken" are church members raptured before the tribulation while those "left" are the wicked who are left on earth to go through the tribulation.
     Producers of the "Left Behind" movies also agree with Lindsey (and disagree with Walvoord and Pentecost) that a pretrib rapture takes away the church and that the ones left behind are the wicked.
     Lindsey declares that John actually left the earth and went to heaven in Rev. 4:1. Walvoord and Scofield disagree with Lindsey and maintain that John's body stayed on Patmos and was never raptured away.
     Lindsey sees the tribulation in chapters 4-19 in Revelation while Scofield sees it in chapters 11-18 and Henry Thiessen sees it in chapters 6-19.
     Lindsey holds that Revelation's 24 elders represent the church while Harry Ironside says they represent Old Testament as well as New Testament saints.
     Lindsey believes that Rev. 13's second beast will be a Jew. But Walvoord declares there's no evidence that either one of those beasts is Jewish.
     Lindsey writes that Rev. 3:10 is proof of a pretrib rapture. Walvoord, however, writes that using Rev. 3:10 for this purpose is up for debate.
     While pretribs have long seen prophetic significance in the Jewish feasts in Leviticus 23, there has been disagreement on which feast is symbolic of a pretrib rapture.
     Scofield based his pretrib rapture on the feast of the firstfruits, No. 3.
     Although Walvoord can't find anything in the Old Testament suggestive of a pretrib rapture, his 1966 book based a pretrib aspect of the first resurrection on feast No. 3.
     Although Lindsey doesn't reveal which feast is the significant one, his pretrib rapture lies between feast No. 3 and feast No. 7.
     Another pretrib date-setter, Edgar Whisenant, said in 1988 that the rapture would happen in 1988. His rapture was based on feast No. 5.
     A number of years ago David Webber proclaimed on his "Southwest Radio Church of the Air" broadcast that the Antichrist will be revealed to believers before they go up in the rapture. On the same day, however, broadcaster Oliver B. Greene stated on "The Gospel Hour" that the Antichrist will never be revealed to the church before the rapture!
     Nowadays "Dr." Tommy Ice is promoting the discredited opinion that II Thess. 2:3's "falling away" (from the faith) really means "falling up to heaven" (in a pretrib rapture!). Even his own late mentor, Dr. John Walvoord, writes in "The Blessed Hope and the Tribulation" (p. 125) that this recent "view has not met with general acceptance by either pretribulationists or posttribulationists" and says that this verse "refers to doctrinal defection"! (Google "Walvoord Melts Ice" for more details on this.)
     My book "The Incredible Cover-up" has an entire chapter titled "A House Divided" which shows that pretribs have long disagreed with each other on practically every point and subpoint in their 19th century end time theory!
     Finally, I should add that before 1830 there was never any disagreement among Bible scholars over pretrib rapture doctrine for one paramount reason:
     There was no pretrib rapture!

THE FACADE OF STEPHEN GREEN CHRISTIAN VOICE

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).

Stephen Green is supposedly a "Christian" conservative activist and national director of Christian Voice, a far right UK based lobby group. Green is former Chairman of the Conservative Family Campaign who converted from Anglicanism to Pentecostalism. According to Wikpedia, Green attends an Assemblies of God Pentecostal Church. {1}

The Assemblies of God (AG) is the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. The AG has spawned many false prophets and questionable TV evangelists, including Benny Hinn, Morris Cerullo, Jim Bakker, Paul Crouch and Jimmy Swaggart to name but a few. Not least of their problems is that the AG are a member of Churches Together in England, which puts them firmly on the ecumenical bandwagon of false unity both with apostate Christian denominations and with non-Christian religions via the closely connected inter-faith agenda. {2} Considering the central tenet of Christianity is Jesus' claim to be the only way to the Father, the AG is completely out of step with the scriptures. (John 14:6).

Green is infamous for voicing strong judgements about moral decline and ungodly government which he describes as his "prophetic duty". Christians are called to preach the gospel to all creation (Mark 16:15), as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luke 10:3). We should warn those involved in all kinds of sexual immorality and other sins, but nothing positive can be achieved by engaging in ad hominem attacks upon gay celebrities, or by verbally abusing individuals publicly as Green has done repeatedly in the past. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5-6). Is Green's behaviour likely to cause conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit, or alienation and hostility? If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? (Psalm 130:3). God's kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). Christians have no business judging those outside the church: For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? (1 Corinthians 5:12). Even Jesus Christ did not come to judge the world. (John 12:47-48 cf. 2 Timothy 4:1).

Green holds a position somewhat analogous to dominion theology:

"Christian Voice is a ministry for those Christians who have had enough of secularist politicians imposing wickedness on the rest of us. We are not even satisfied with trying to get ‘Christian influence in a secular world’. That’s because we know ‘The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein’ (Psalm 24:1). So by God’s grace we are praying for national repentance and working for godly government. If you have had enough of the way things are and want instead to lift high the Crown Rights of the King of kings, you have found the right place!" {3}

God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4). However, in reality only a few will be saved. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:14). The call for "national repentance" is entirely unbiblical. God calls individuals from all nations, He does not call nations!

The Assemblies of God issued a statement officially condemning the deviant teachings of the New Apostolic Reformation in 2000. However, an appalling situation exists where the practice of many autonomous AG churches contradicts these guidelines, effectively rendering the whole denomination completely impotent in upholding truth!

This statement was adopted by the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God on August 11, 2000:

"Kingdom Now or Dominion theology. The thought that God’s kingdom can come on earth with a little help from humankind is intriguing to those who advocate this approach to impacting society. Rather than scoffing at the promise of Christ’s imminent return (2 Peter 3:3,4), this errant theology says that Jesus will not return until the Church takes dominion of the earth back from Satan and his followers. By taking control, through whatever means possible, of political, ecclesiastical, educational, economic, and other structures, Christians supposedly can make the world a worthy place for Christ to return and rule over.6 This unscriptural triumphalism generates other related variant teachings." {4}

The scriptures are emphatic that the world will continue to decline and that the end times will correspond to the days of Noah.. just as it was in the days of Noah (Luke 17:26). The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5). Matthew 24 indicates that there will be increase in lawlessness, culminating in the man of lawlessness, aka the Antichrist who will take his seat in the temple of God. (Matthew 24:3-15). Dominion theology denies futurism and the return of Jesus Christ to a godless world that will gather to make war against Him, and yet this is the plain teaching of the scriptures.( Revelation 19:19). The scriptures tell us that Jesus' kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36).

Christian Voice has called for British law to be based on the Bible: "Her Majesty the Queen promised in her Coronation oath on 2nd June 1953 to 'Maintain the Laws of God and the True Profession Reformed Religion established by Law.'” {5} I find it bizarre that Stephen Green should put any confidence in the Queen's oath (James 5:12), or to expect the government to maintain biblical standards. In a previous post I wrote that the Queen was initiated as a Welsh Druid in 1946 when she was Princess Elizabeth, and that her religion is probably more akin to Freemasonry than Christianity! {6} "Every Prime Minister since Edward Heath has been a Bilderberger, and they (Freemasons) have controlled the leadership of the Conservative party since the late 1960's." {7}

God Hates Hypocrisy!

In 2005 Green condemned the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles:

"Colonel and Mrs Parker Bowles should have been divorced for adultery, but they weren't because that would have been too embarrassing," he says. "So in the eyes of God they are still married." He likens Christian Voice to John the Baptist who preached against the incestuous marriage of King Herod. "We're saying to the Prince of Wales: 'You cannot have your brother's wife.' This woman is still married to someone else." {8}

Ironically this situation also applies to Green who has himself broken the seventh Commandment: You shall not commit adultery. (Exodus 20:14 cf. Matthew 5:27). Green's adulterous remarriage to a Kenyan Pentecostal woman some 25 years his junior in 2010 puts him in exactly the same position as Prince Charles and Camilla! (Romans 2:1). Green has made homosexuality his particular hobby horse, and yet adulterers are mentioned in the same sentence as homosexuals in 1 Corinthians 6:9.

"In January 2011, Green's former wife, Caroline Green, accused him of repeatedly physically assaulting her and their children, including one incident where he allegedly beat her with a weapon until she bled, and another in which their son allegedly required hospital treatment after having been beaten with a piece of wood. The couple subsequently divorced." {9}

The scriptures are explicit - remarriage is prohibited on all grounds except adultery!

And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” (Matthew 19:9).

Green's facade is almost convincing at times, he often rightly identifies sin.. BUT in practice if you have do not have love you are just a resounding gong. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 cf. 1 Peter 3:7).

{1} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Voice_(UK)
{2} https://www.cte.org.uk/Groups/234772/Home/Contacts/Member_Churches_list/Member_Churches_list.aspx

{3} https://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/about-us/

{4} https://ag.org/Beliefs/Topics-Index/Revival-Endtime-Revival--Spirit-Led-and-Spirit-Controlled

{5} https://www.christianvoice.org.uk/index.php/britain-in-sin/

{6} https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/trinity-life-church-leicester-and-open.html

{7} https://eutruth.org.uk/freemasoncontrol.html

{8} http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4303965.stm

{9} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Voice_(UK)

Further Reading:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/meet-stephen-green-the-right-wing-christian-voice-leader-who-went-on-a-homophobic-tirade-against-10039270.html
https://www.christianvoice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Britain_in_Sin.pdf

THE PRETERIST TWIST ! BY DAVE MACPHERSON

        There are those who believe, with some variation, that the rapture, resurrection, second coming of Christ and other events in the Bible were fulfilled in Jerusalem during the 70 AD period.

     This theological system is called preterism and it comes from the Latin word "praeter" which means "past" or "beyond."

     Incredibly, preterists have difficulty explaining how GLOBAL end-time disasters in the book of Revelation etc. can be compressed and affect only the Jerusalem area. Did "all the tribes of the earth...see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven" (Matt. 24:30) in 70 AD? Was Jerusalem the only recipient of Revelation's vials? Was Satan bound then?  If so, who has been behind all the evil during the present age?

     Preterist thinking is hardly new and is condemned in II Tim. 2:17-18 which states: "...of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."

     Scholars generally agree that Luis del Alcazar, a Spanish Jesuit theologian, produced the first major work on preterism in 1614.

     There are mainly two kinds of preterists: (1) Full (extreme or hyper); and (2) Partial (moderate).

     Full preterists hold that ALL of Bible prophecy has been fulfilled including the great tribulation, the second coming and anything related to the "rapture," the resurrection of all true believers, and also the great white throne judgment! And they also believe that we are now in a "millennium" or in the "new heaven" (Rev. 21:1). But they can quietly cover up the fact that the "new heaven" is sunless and moonless (Isa. 60:19, 20; Rev. 21:23) - a foolish decision on their part since even they can see the sun and moon shining at the present time!

     Partial preterists agree with Full preterists that Christ has already come back, and that He came back as Judge during 70 AD in a "spiritual" sense and that the destruction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was the evidence of His return then. Partial preterists do have some disagreements with Full preterists, however; unlike the Full group, the Partial group does believe that Christ will return some time in the future in a physical, literal manner.

     I should add that those who wish to dig deeply into all aspects of preterism can find abundant material on the internet.

     Amazingly, NONE of the early Church Fathers who lived during and shortly after 70 AD believed that key end-time events in Matthew, Revelation etc. (such as the Antichrist and second coming) were fulfilled literally or even "spiritually" at that time, and the following quotes are evidence that they were STILL expecting and looking for Antichrist and the great tribulation:

     The first century writing titled Didache (also known as "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles"):  "Watch for your life's sake....for the whole time of your faith will not profit you, if ye be not made perfect in the last time....then shall appear the world-deceiver [Antichrist] as Son of God....but they that endure in their faith shall be saved from under the curse itself" (chap. 16).

     Hermas (40-140): Hermas, who lived 70 years after 70 AD, spoke of "the great tribulation that is coming"....and also referred to "the great tribulation that is yet to come" (Pastor of Hermas, Fourth Vision).

     Justin Martyr (100-168): "The man of apostasy [Antichrist] .... shall venture to do unlawful deeds on the earth against us the Christians..." (Dialogue with Trypho, 110).

     Irenaeus (140-202): "And they [the ten kings who shall arise] ...shall give their kingdom to the beast, and put the church to flight" (Against Heresies, V, 26).

     Hippolytus (160-240): "...the one thousand two hundred and three score days (the half of the week) during which the tyrant is to reign and persecute the Church..." (Treatise on Christ  and Antichrist, 61).

     (The above quotes from Church Fathers are part of my lengthy article "Famous Rapture Watchers" which was aired on Treena's "Wolves in Sheep's Clothing" blog in March of 2017.  My object then was to show that no pre-1830 scholar including the Fathers ever found a pretrib rapture in the Bible; my object here is to show that none of the Fathers expressed any sort of preterist view.)

     Preterists often employ Matt. 24:34 ("This generation will not pass....") in an attempt to prove a 70 AD fulfillment of "Antichrist." Since many of them can see "these" (Matt. 25:46) fulfilled in the future in Rev. 20, why can't they apply futurism as easily to Matt. 24:34? After all, the word "this" is the singular form of "these"!

     One final word: As I see it, being prepared for any future event is the safe "spare tire" approach.

     Preterists can drive cars with spare tires - spare tires good for flats that happen only in the PAST and never good for any flats that can happen in the FUTURE!

THEWEEFLEA: DAVID ROBERTSON'S SPIRITUAL UNITY WITH ROME - BY JACK THOMSON

Contending for the Faith..

Recent conversation had aroused past memories and, thereafter, curiosity had taken me  back to the Solas website to see, perchance, if David Robertson had ever removed his controversial fleabyte No 6, but alas, it was still there, and David was still warming to Joseph Ratzinger (the then Pope) as a Christian brother while holding the pontiff’s new book ‘Jesus of Nazereth’ to camera.

 ‘Nothing too controversial in that’, some might respond.

‘Especially in this ecumenical day and age’, others might readily agree.

While a few - like me, will shake their heads in utter disbelief and thereafter seek reasonable explanation as to how and why an apparently reformed, protestant minister can relate to the Pope as his Christian brother????

But where do I, as one of the few, start to seek such explanation?

I can only look to God and continue to write - in faith that an answer will come……

I’m an intelligent person - who, by the initiative of God’s grace -and  only  by   that  divine  initiative, is a disciple of Christ, but who cannot, and never will recognise the Pope as a spiritual brother.

David Robertson on the other hand, while likewise viewing himself to be an intelligent person and a Christian, does acknowledge the Pope as his spiritual brother.

One of us is wrong - not partly wrong but completely wrong – for our attitudes towards the Pope are diametric.

If I am right then David is wrong, and if I am wrong then David is right - there is no middle ground which either of us can occupy - None.

None - but, nevertheless, we do share some commonality - because, both of us recognise that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and we both desire to proclaim a ‘gospel’.

But there the concord must end because, while David thinks that he can coax, cajole, persuade and convert the lost to Christ by his intellectual prowess, cultural sensitivity and skilful apologetics, the Spirit of Truth informs me otherwise:

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2/2-5.

“Ah but”, David might counter and continue, “What about Peter’s words as recounted in 1 Peter 3/15: ‘But sanctify the Lord God  in  your  hearts,  and   always  be  ready   to  give  a   defence   to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;’  Do these words of the apostle Peter not compel us to persuade?”

To which I would respond, “And what  could that  defence be other than to give testimony to the redeeming effect of the gospel of Christ crucified in our their own lives?”

Christ crucified - Christ, who  knows that the spiritual  re-birth and subsequent sanctification of every true believer is a matter of the Father’s initiative, working through His self sacrifice at Calvary and, there from  and   thereafter, by the Holy Spirit’s work in empowering

every true believer to persevere as He works providentially in each believers life to bring about the defeat of sin by dying to the perverse will of their own natural flesh….…. Natural flesh, which according to Jesus, can only give birth to flesh:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3/6-7.

And, if David does not trust the words of Christ - then let him trust the memory of His own experience - at least to confirm the first half of Christ’s statement: ‘that which is born of flesh is flesh’.

David will recall that his persuasive, intellectual ways (of the flesh) were eventually responsible for the once vaunted conversion of Richard Morgan, a retired music teacher, from Atheism (a religion of the flesh) - to his (David’s) ecumenical Christianity (a religion of the flesh) - from which, and   thereafter Richard Morgan converted to Roman Catholicism (another religion of the flesh).

Which extended conversion process proves Christ’s assertion that flesh can only give life to flesh - can only give life to flesh – can only give life flesh - in mortal perpetuity.

And here - right here, without contrivance, it would appear that I have been given a ‘rational’ explanation as to why David Robertson can view the Pope as his spiritual brother. The reason, quite simply, is that he is the Pope’s spiritual brother - he and and the Pope are both carnal Christians, that is, they are both Christians fathered by  the same self-preserving and self-promoting ‘flesh’- the   same unregenerate spirit of fallen human intellects.

Unregenerate human intellects who, in having been persuaded to ‘convert’ through the work of their own intellect working in response to someone else’s intellectual persuasion, will confidently think that they can pass that ‘conversion’ experience on to others in the same way……

And they are right - for they have succeeded in their intellectual pursuits, they have created new Christians but, There are Christians…… and then there are Christians or, There are Christians born of the flesh… and then there are Christians born of the Spirit. Which are you?

Are you, like David Robertson, the Pope’s spiritual brother or, Do you see the Pope, as I see him, as carnal and anti-Christ ? In 1 John 1/22-23 John presents an anti-Christ as one who denies that Jesus is the Christ and, furthermore, as one who also denies the Father…..

Before continuing it would be worthwhile exploring a fuller meaning of the prefix ‘anti’. ‘Anti’, as well as meaning opposed to, can also mean to compete with, and to run alongside in an attempt to supplant… And the Pope’s ‘office’ fulfils all of these definitions….

Jesus is the Rock on which any true Christians faith is built – but the Pope claims to be this ‘rock’.

Jesus is truly Emmanuel (God with us) but the Pope’s office competes with Him by claiming that   the Pope holds on earth the place of God Almighty (Pope Leo X111). Jesus is the mediator between God and men - but by being called ‘Pontiff’ which means ‘bridge builder’ - the Pope is attempting to usurp Christ’s position.

The Pope is called ‘Holy Father’ - but only God is our Holy Father……

Anyway, I could go on, and on, and on but, at the end of the day

I can only conclude that, despite all   outward appearance, David Robertson, like the Pope, is a (spiritually) dead man leading……… spiritually dead men through the cemetery of this transient life…  And the real tragedy is that very few, if any, from his church, from Solas - or indeed followers of his ‘Fleabyte’ blog seem to have had their eyes opened to this sad, salutary situation.

Are you, perchance, one of the few?

For - strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7/14.

Do you hear Christ’s voice?

.….and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. John 10/4.

And if you know His voice - are you listening?

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 6/14 – 7/1

It has given me no pleasure to write as I have done - I do not seek contention - but  before, throughout and subsequent to David Robertson’s term as Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland, I have been waiting for a Spirit led church, group - or even an individual to speak out against the vile mixture which is David Robertson’s carnal gospel, but I have heard nothing - which is a very sad indictment on the spiritual state of the Free Church of Scotland - and all of those who would call David Robertson a brother in Christ.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 1 Timothy 4/1

But, I can hear people ask, how can such a sincere, well educated man,  who has dedicated his life to Christ, and who  has been Moderator of the Free Church of Scotland - and who is Director of  Solas, the Centre for Public Christianity - and who is, judging by the title of one of his books, obsessed with Christ - how can such a person be accused of being a false disciple?

How indeed?

Well, consider Judas - one of Christ’s disciples.

He knew Jesus. He must have walked with Him and talked with Him, in short he must have known Jesus exceptionally well but, close as   his   relationship   must   have   been,   it could only have been conducted at a natural level. In other words, he was very familiar with Jesus at a human level - but not, as the other disciples had been predestined to be, at a spiritual level.

LEICESTER@THECROSS MAKES A MOCKERY OF JESUS CHRIST!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6).

Leicester at the Cross 2018: "The significant events of Good Friday", is being promoted by Churches Together in Leicestershire, the organisation that is "Furthering Ecumenical Cooperation within Leicester and Leicestershire." {1}

Ecumenism is defined as "The movement or tendency toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation. The term, of recent origin, emphasizes what is viewed as the universality of the Christian churches." {2} In broader terms, the ecumenical movement goes beyond uniting various so called "Christian" denominations. The Roman Catholic Church has vigorously promoted the modern ecumenical movement since the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), and it continues to gain ground at an alarming rate. Many evangelicals are embracing Rome as if it were a valid expression of Christianity, and yet even a cursory examination of Rome's doctrine and practice reveals that it is at deviance with the teaching of the New Testament. Pope Francis' statement that "Christians and Muslims are brothers and sisters", utterly contradicts the scriptures. Islam denies the divinity of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross. The Pope has even stated publicly that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences. (Ephesians 2:8). {3} The ultimate aim of ecumenism is to unite all religions, including Mormons, Islamists, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans, Universalists, and a variety of New Age belief systems as equally valid via interreligious dialogue. Ecumenism/Interfaith is insupportable from a scriptural perspective, since it ignores the central tenet of Christianity i.e. the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, the only way to God. (John 14:6 cf. Galatians 1:6-9; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 1:3-4). 

The growth in religious pluralism and the interfaith dialogue is a denial of the cross of Christ. (Colossians 1:19-20). As such, any commemoration of the crucifixion by ecumenists makes a mockery of Jesus Christ by default! (Galatians 1:8-9). I know of no church in Leicester that has not compromised in some way with the ecumenical movement, whether openly or by association. The ultimate fate of ecumenical churches is extremely bleak unless they repent. The inevitable drift into the one Ecumenical World Church aka the One World Religion under the Roman Catholic umbrella is taking place before our very eyes, and yet so many professing Christians do not seem to have grasped the gravity of the situation. Ecumenism foreshadows what the scriptures predict will be the one world religion under the power of the Antichrist. The book of Revelation gives us a frightening picture of the end time Harlot Church aka Babylon the Great:

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

When I saw her, I marvelled greatly. But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 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. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”

And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:1-18).




Churches Together in Leicestershire Constitution (Constitution Adopted 16.11.2010)

"This is The Basis of Churches Together in England (CTE), to which the following churches already subscribe: Baptist Union of Great Britain, Cherubim and Seraphim Council of Churches, Church of England, Church of Scotland, Congregational Federation, Council of African & Afro-Caribbean Churches, Council of Oriental Orthodox Christian Churches, Free Church Federal Council, Greek Orthodox Church, Independent Methodist Churches, International Ministerial Council of Great Britain, Joint Council for Anglo-Caribbean Churches, Lutheran Council of Great Britain, Methodist Church, Moravian Church, New Testament Assembly, Religious Society of Friends*, Roman Catholic Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Salvation Army, United Reformed Church, Wesleyan Holiness Church. * Any church which in principle has no credal statement in its tradition, and therefore cannot formally subscribe to The Basis, may be accepted as a member provided that 75% of the full member churches are agreed that it manifests faith in Jesus Christ as witnessed to in the Scriptures, is committed to the aims and purposes of CTE and will work within the spirit of The Basis. The Religious Society of Friends has been welcomed into CTE under this clause." 
file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Packages/Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe/TempState/Downloads/constitution-pdf.pdf

{1} http://www.churchestogetherinleicestershire.org/
{2} https://www.britannica.com/topic/ecumenism
{3} http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/pope-francis-assures-atheists-you-don-t-have-to-believe-in-god-to-go-to-heaven-8810062.html

FALSE TEACHER JACOB PRASCH DIGS A DEEPER INTRA-SEAL HOLE!

Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 John 1:9).

Jacob Prasch (Moriel Ministries) persists in digging an even deeper hole by continuing to peddle his Intra-Seal deception. (2 Corinthians 2:17). Intra-seal absolutely misrepresents the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ during the 70th week of Daniel. Prasch has mixed elements of pre-trib and pre-wrath in a clumsy attempt to jump onto the rapture bandwagon. This is the teaching of a desperate man and a deceiver who refuses to repent!

"The Great Restrainer and 7 Year Tribulation-James Jacob Prasch."
26th February 2018:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB13W4cvbd8&feature=youtu.be

Firstly it is important to define the Greek word thlipsis which is often translated "tribulation".

Original Word: θλῖψις, εως, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: thlipsis
Phonetic Spelling: (thlip'-sis)
Short Definition: persecution, affliction, distress
Definition: persecution, affliction, distress, tribulation. {1}

Thlipsis does not invariably refer to persecution for the faith as Prasch attempts to demonstrate. For instance, the Apostle Paul refers to worldly troubles when he says: ..those who marry will face troubles (thlipsin) in this life.. (1 Corinthians 7:28). It is important to consider the context of a passage before we identify thlipsis specifically as persecution against believers.

Jesus stated that there would be persecution against believers throughout the Church Age. Persecution is a necessary consequence of true faith in Jesus Christ. In the world you will have tribulation (thlipsin). But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 cf. John 15:18-19; John 16:33; Matthew 10:22; 13:21). It is essential to make a distinction between tribulation as a general consequence of faith in Jesus Christ, and THE TRIBULATION at the end of the age. Critically, Jesus gave no indication that persecution against Christians will escalate during the first half of the 70th week of Daniel:

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24:3-8).

The above verses indicate various initial "birth pains" in terms of false christs, spiritual deception, various wars and worldwide catastrophes. Where precisely in the above passage is the elusive "tribulation" that Jacob Prasch keeps insisting upon? Persecution against believers is not even mentioned by Jesus during this initial 3.5 year period when the first four seals are opened! For this very reason we cannot speak about a "seven year tribulation".

A significant shift occurs at the halfway point of the 70th week of Daniel:

Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death. (Matthew 24:9). Notice that "great tribulation" is not mentioned here, simply "tribulation". This is why it is important to refer to "the tribulation" i.e. the escalation of persecution against Christians as a 3.5 year period (cut short). The word "great" is added for emphasis in verse 21. Martyrdom will be involved on a massive scale during this final 3.5 year period following the abomination of desolation. 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. (Matthew 24:21). The mid point of the 70th week of Daniel when the Antichrist is revealed is the specific marker that refers to tribulation/great tribulation, not the previous "birth pains".

The 3.5 year tribulation period is emphasised in the scriptures unequivocally a number of times:

Daniel 7:25 - He (the Antichrist) shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. (3.5 years).

Revelation 11:2 ..but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

Revelation 13:5 - And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.

Revelation 12:5-6 ..and the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. This period coincides with what is also known as "Jacob's Trouble". (Daniel 12:1, Jeremiah 30:7).

Matthew 24:15-21 ..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.

Daniel 9:27 - 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.” The abomination of desolation will occur halfway through the final seven year period, often referred to as Daniel’s 70th week. {2} 

Prasch's constant insistence upon a "seven year tribulation" is a fallacy. Where is his scriptural evidence?

BIRTH PAINS

As with thlipsis, Prasch's treatment of "birth pains" is also frequently inaccurate and taken out of context. Birth pains do not necessarily or exclusively refer to persecution against Christians: The whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time due to its bondage to corruption. (Romans 8:21-22). As already demonstrated "the beginning of birth pains" are worldwide phenomena unrelated to the tribulation. (Matthew 24:3-8).

REVELATION 12

Prasch "Once Satan fails to prevent the rapture by killing all the believers.. he turns against the Jews." (18:00) This is a blatant reversal of events as they are recorded in the scriptures! (Revelation 22:18). Satan turns against the Jews before the tribulation! (Revelation 12:13-17). Prasch has moved the goal posts significantly here! If the rapture occurs before the flight of Israel, then this would put the timing of the rapture before the mid point of the week, but Prasch has already stated that the rapture will occur between the sixth and seventh seals.  Prasch: "The fifth seal begins the persecution of the church...   After the rapture God pours out his wrath on the kingdom of Antichrist and refocuses on the redemption of Israel." God's focus goes back to Israel at the mid point of the 70th week when He protects them from the Antichrist. (Revelation 12:13-16; cf. Zechariah 12:10). The Jews flee to the wilderness, and shortly afterwards, in his frustration, the Antichrist turns his attention towards Christians. (Revelation 12:17). God continues to  protect Israel for the period of the tribulation (3.5 years cut short). Israel remains on the earth after the rapture during the Day of the Lord i.e. the wrath of God, though obviously they do not experience the wrath with the rest of the world. This blatant scripture twisting just about sums up the ministry of Jacob Prasch! 

Revelation 12: 5 - She (Israel) gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, (Jesus Christ) but her child was caught up (raptured) to God and to his throne. The general consensus is that this verse refers to the ascension of Christ and his subsequent abiding in heaven.{3} This verse cannot possibly refer to the rapture as Prasch states, because believers are still here in verse 17:

Then the dragon became furious with the woman (Israel) and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. (This is the church, not yet raptured, but still on earth whilst Israel is being protected by God for 3.5 years) ..And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12:17).

Once the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple of God, persecution against Israel appears to be instantaneous. (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15-21). This happens half way through the 70th week. When the fifth seal is opened, the martyrs under the altar cry out to the Lord for judgement. 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). God is therefore at work both amongst the persecuted church and amongst the Jews, albeit separately, during the 3.5 year tribulation. If we need proof of Prasch's conniving we certainly find it in this exposition. 

Prasch continues with his "birth pains" gibberish and alleges that John 16 refers to a last days format. The reason that there is no Olivet discourse in the Gospel of John is because he wrote the book of Revelation! Prasch teaches incorrectly that thlipsis in John 16:21 refers to the persecution of believers. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish (thlipseōs), for joy that a human being has been born into the world. (John 16:21). Adam Clarke's Commentary sums up the general consensus that John 16 refers to Jesus' death and resurrection: "Jesus Foretells his death, and promises them the Comforter, John 16:5-7. Points out his operations among the Jews, and in the world, John 16:8-11. His peculiar influences on the souls of the disciples, John 16:12-15. Speaks figuratively of his death and resurrection, at which his disciples are puzzled, John 16:16-18." {4} 

Prasch points out that the Antichrist is on the scene long before the mid point of the 70th week, at the opening of the first seal (Revelation 6:1-2). The scriptures say that the Antichrist is not "revealed" until he takes his seat in the temple of God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3). During the "beginning of birth pains", there will be political turmoil and a struggle for power. In addition one quarter of the world's population will perish during this time. (Revelation 6:7-8). At some point, the ten kings will give their power over to the beast (the Antichrist), and he will subdue three of them. (Revelation 17:12-13, Daniel 7:24). It appears to me that this may not be fully accomplished until the Antichrist takes his seat in the temple, when he becomes completely autocratic and his power becomes absolute. (Revelation 13:4). My view is that it will not be clear exactly who the Antichrist is until the mid point of the 70th week when he is revealed. Prasch's theory that the Antichrist will be revealed to believers prior to this point is based on eisegesis. We should not assume that events will follow the same format as when Jesus privately revealed Judas Iscariot as the traitor. (Mark 14:20). The world will worship the dragon and the beast (Revelation 13:4,13); the Jews will be taken by surprise; the only people remaining to appreciate the significance of these events will be the Christians. Nothing in the scriptures indicates that the Antichrist will be revealed prior to the mid point of the week. There are some similarities between Judas Iscariot and the Antichrist, but there are also significant differences. Unlike Judas Iscariot, the Antichrist will be a warlike political figure: And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2). The second beast will be a "religious" figure. (Revelation 13:11).

Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Prasch's blasphemous "reversal of Pentecost", is a denial of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the ministry Holy Spirit. There is no indication anywhere in the scriptures that the eternal gospel will not be preached during the 70th week of Daniel. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14 cf. Revelation 14:6). Additionally, there is no evidence whatsoever that the Holy Spirit is the "Restrainer" of 2 Thessalonians 2:6. Sadly, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that Prasch's real agenda with Intra-Seal is to undermine the pre-wrath/post trib positions, which are, for the most part, based on sound exegesis. Unless Prasch's followers are prepared to test Intra-Seal against the scriptures, they are likely to find themselves confused and vulnerable to spiritual deception in the last days. The Bereans were praised for examining the scriptures and questioning Paul to see "if these things are so". (Acts 17:11). When examining the Intra-Seal rapture theory we certainly do not find it to be so! We have a responsibility to test the spirits. (1 John 4:1). Prasch's defence is always to confuse, and if that doesn't work, to revile anyone who questions his false doctrines too closely. This pattern of behaviour in itself is evidence that something is very wrong. (1 Corinthians 6:10). It is not good enough to simply shrug our shoulders, as if it is beyond us to understand end time prophecy. Jesus has gone into a great deal of detail in the scriptures to ensure that we do understand these end time events. (Matthew 24:4).

Prasch is very good at squealing repeatedly that he has been taken out of context. I do ask readers of this post to listen/watch the thirty four minute YouTube link very carefully in order to verify that I have not taken him out of context. {5}

What do Prasch's "friends" make of his integrity and his supposed credibility as a bible teacher? There are those who stick with Prasch no matter what blatant falsehood he teaches. Prasch's friends, especially those in leadership, have a responsibility to the Body of Christ! A true friend would warn Prasch of his error. (Proverbs 27:6). The following message I received from Scott Pruitt (NO PRE-TRIB) sums up a dangerous mentality of denial and a head in the sand attitude:

NO PRE-TRIB: "In my opinion posttrib, midtrib, prewrath, and intra-seal have more in common than they have different.. The way I view future predictive prophecy is the way it was described by Paul in 1 Cor 13:12 "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." What is the practical implication if one is wrong about the timing of the rapture? Pretrib is the only position that leaves believers unprepared to face what is to come and it has the least exegetical Biblical support and therefore it must be opposed. The other 3 views are debatable but I certainly would not castigate a brother like Jacob Prasch over his intra-seal view even though I don't agree with it. I consider him an ally and one with a heart for truth."

Those who find it convenient to trivialise Prasch's scripture twisting should remember that the Lord takes it very seriously!

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.. (Revelation 22:18 cf. Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6).

..let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:28).

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:7-9).

..preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2).

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke).

{1} http://biblehub.com/greek/2347.htm
{2} https://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/the-seven-year-tribulation-fallacy.html
{3} http://biblehub.com/revelation/12-5.htm
{4} http://biblehub.com/commentaries/clarke/john/16.htm.
{5} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB13W4cvbd8&feature=youtu.be

Further Reading:

There are a number of posts critiquing various aspects of Intra-Seal in detail on this blog. Alternatively: https://www.amazon.co.uk/INTRA-SEAL-RAPTURE-DECEPTION-EXPOSED-devised-ebook/dp/B06X6N2JJT