david reagan lamb and lion ministries: pre-tribulation rapture deception

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.  (Matthew 24: 11-14)
 
David Reagan Lamb and Lion Ministries

In Defense of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

In Defense of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Can the Rapture be found in this passage?

In Defense of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture

http://christinprophecy.org/articles/2-thessalonians-2-3/

Before considering David Reagan's arguments that the pre-tribulation rapture can be found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, it should be noted with alarm that he is an annihilationist. This view, as far as I am concerned, puts a massive question mark over the validity of his ministry. The lie of annihilationism inevitably deconstructs the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we deny that hell is eternal, then we must also deny eternal salvation and the eternal nature of God's very being, since the very same Greek noun aión is used for all three! I have written about Regan's annihilationist views in some detail in my previous post.{1}

Reagan relies heavily upon Thomas Ice for his pre-tribulation rapture argument based on 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Whilst the Greek noun episunagógé  (v 1) clearly does refer to the rapture, the argument that the noun apostasia (v 3) means physical departure i.e. the rapture is indefensible.

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, (episunagōgēs) 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 (apostasia) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.... (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

Thomas Ice: "The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either " departure" or " departing." They are as follows: Wycliffe Bible (1384); Tyndale Bible (1526); Coverdale Bible (1535); Cranmer Bible (1539); Breeches Bible (1576); Beza Bible (1583); Geneva Bible (1608)." {2}  

Actually there is compelling evidence to show that physical departure is NOT what the above translators had in mind. The marginal notes from the Geneva Bible authored by John Calvin, John Knox, Miles Coverdale, and many other leaders of the Reformation, show that their translation of apostasia as "departure" was in fact "a departure from the faith."

Original Notes From The Geneva/Breeches Bible:

The Second Epistle Of Paul To The Thessalonians:

"Lest the Thessalonians should think that Paul neglected them, because he went to other places, rather than come to them, he writeth unto them and exhorteth them to patience and other fruits of faith, neither to be moved with that vain opinion of such as taught that the coming of Christ was at hand, for as much as before that day there should be a falling away from the true religion, even by a great part of the world, and that Antichrist should reign in the Temple of God;"

2 Thessalonians 2: " 2 He sheweth that the day of the Lord shall not come, till there be a departure from the faith, and that the Antichrist be revealed, 8 whose destruction he setteth out, 15 and thereupon exhorteth to constancy." {3}

Further Evidence:

The Bishops' Bible is an English translation of the Bible produced in 1568 under the authority the Church of England. It was substantially revised in 1572, and the 1602 edition was prescribed as the base text for the King James Bible that was completed in 1611.{4} 

Bishops Bible: "2Th 2:3 Let no man deceaue you by any meanes, for [the Lorde shall not come] excepte there come a fallyng away first, & that that man of sinne be reuealed, the sonne of perdition..... " {5} 
 

Wycliffe Bible: "2 Thessalonians 2:3 - No man disseyue you in ony manere. For but dissencioun come first, and the man of synne be schewid, the sonne of perdicioun.^"{6}

The Middle English word “dissencioun” comes from the Old French "dissension" which is not physical departure! {7} 

William Tyndale interpreted apostasia as a departure from the faith..

"sheweth that there shall be a departure from the faith....." 

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no ma deceave you by eny meanes for the lorde commeth not excepte ther come a departynge fyrst and that that synfnll man be opened ye sonne of perdicion. {8}

Tyndale NT Commentary: "The necessary prelude to the coming of Christ is 'the rebellion'.... falling away hardly gives the force of apostasia..... In classical Greek, the word apostasia denoted a political or military rebellion; but in the Greek Old Testament we find it used of rebellion against God (e.g. Joshua xxii. 22), and this becomes the accepted biblical usage." {9} 

Martin Luther: "In chapter 2, he (Paul) teaches that before the Last Day, the Roman Empire must pass away and Antichrist rise up before God in the Church, and seduce the unbelieving world with false doctrines and signs until Christ shall come and destroy him by His glorious advent, first slaying him with spiritual preaching." {10}

Erasmus: "signifies that great and before-predicted apostasy." {11}

The Greek noun "apostacia" was originally translated "abscessio" (separating or going away) in the Old Latin (Tertullian). The Vulgate has "discessio" (withdrawal, dispersal separation division). The word "discessio" is the Latin word from which we get the English word "dissension" (rebel). Apostasia is translated "revolt" in the the Douay-Rheims Bible which was translated from the Latin Vulgate of Jerome (1582):

Latin Vulgate: ne quis vos seducat ullo modo quoniam nisi venerit discessio primum et revelatus fuerit homo peccati filius perditionis 

Douay-Rheims: Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. {12}

Historically apostasia was well understood to mean "apostacy", even going back as far as the writings of Ireneaus (130-200) Against Heresies Book V Chapter 25: 

".....concerning whom the Apostle in the second letter to the Thessalonians (ii. 3) says : " Except there first come a falling away,^ and that man of ^ abscessio, rj anjcrTaaia, the apostasy." {13} 

There are fourteen occurrences of aphistémi in the New Testament, and since this verb can mean physical departure as well as a departure from the faith (below), some have used the connection between the word apostasia and aphistémi as a pretext to teach that apostasia means physical departure, i.e. the rapture. Ice's mentor, pre-tribulation rapture authority John Walvoord (1910-2002), once held this view, but he was honest enough to change his mind after considering the lexical arguments of Robert Gundry.{14} Actually Walvoord admitted that no single verse of scripture by itself clearly teaches the pre-tribulation rapture.{14}

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from (aphistémi) the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (1 Timothy 4:1) 

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away (aphistémi) from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), the crazed cult leader responsible for promoting the pre-tribulation rapture deception translated apostasia as apostasy:

 

Darby Bible Translation: "Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because [it will not be] unless the apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;"{15} 

Darby: "With nominal Christians this has necessarily the character of apostacy, or at least it is connected with this apostacy, and is consequent upon it; as Verse 3 (Th2 2:3) teaches us, the apostacy takes place, and then the man of sin is revealed."{16} 

The question remains: Why would Thomas Ice use the inappropriate "alternative definition" of apostasia as physical departure in light of compelling evidence to the contrary?

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Reagan cites further "passages" (actually isolated verses of scripture) in order to "prove" a pre-tribulation rapture:

But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)

Reagan: "Notice that He says that believers should live anticipating the Lord’s appearance at any time, and that they are to pray for their escape from all the horrors of the end times which He had been talking about. To me, this passage strongly infers a Pre-Tribulation Rapture."

Luke wrote about the destruction of Jerusalem which was fulfilled in 70AD (verses 5-24). From verse 25 he develops the theme to events associated with the end times i.e. distress of nations and the cosmic disturbances associated with the sixth seal (Revelation 6:12-17). At the point of the sixth seal, the tribulation has ended (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24). The extreme imminence of the wrath indicated in Revelation 6:17 follows the great tribulation - notice that imminency it is not indicated in Luke 21 until certain other things have happened which must first take place (Luke 21:9, 28, 31). Since these warnings were given by Jesus Christ to his disciples, it follows that the church will be present when these things take place. The context of Luke 21:25-36 concerns God's wrath i.e. the Day of the Lord and the parousia. The instructions to stay awake and to pray that you may have strength to escape all these things refers to the immediate context of verses 25-38 i.e. the wrath, not the tribulation. Matthew 24 refers to the same eschatalogical events and confirms that believers will suffer persecution and tribulation (24:9-14). The onus is on the believer to endure the persecutions of the tribulation in order to escape the wrath of God (Matthew 24:13). Matthew 24:42: THEREFORE be ready (therefore - consequently i.e. in light of what has been previously said).

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.....you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath (orgēs) to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10)

For God has not destined us for wrath (orgēn), but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ..... (1 Thessalonians 5:9) 

Reagan: "I consider this passage to be the most convincing one that points to a Pre-Trib Rapture. After all, the Bible clearly teaches in both the Old and New Testaments that the Tribulation will be a period of the pouring out of God’s wrath (Isaiah 24 and Revelation 6-19). This verse promises that Jesus will deliver believers 'from the wrath that is to come.' A similar promise can be found in 1 Thessalonians 5:9)"

• Isaiah 24 concerns God's judgement upon the earth, it does not speak of tribulation.

• The church is expressly exempted from God's wrath (1 Thessalonians 5:9; Revelation 3:10). However, "the hour of trial" (peirasmou) in Revelation 3:10 is NOT referred to as God's wrath. The day of God's wrath becomes imminent AFTER the sixth seal is opened and AFTER the cosmic disturbances: 

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 (orgēs) of the Lamb, for the great day of their WRATH (orgēs) has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12-17)

It is absolutely NOT the case that the source of the tribulation is the wrath of God!!! 

orgé (wrath) is a completely different word and has a completely different meaning to thlipsis (tribulation).

Further confirmation that Gods wrath does not fall at the beginning of the Great Tribulation is found in Revelation 6:9-10. The martyrs call out to be avenged AFTER the fifth seal is opened, but they are told to "rest" until the number of their fellow martyrs should be complete. These are the tribulation martyrs who will be killed by the beast (Antichrist). The wrath of the beast is indicated here, not the wrath of God.

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. (Revelation 6:9-10)

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Because you have KEPT my word about patient endurance, I will KEEP (tērēsō)YOU FROM  (ἐκ) the hour of trial (peirasmou) that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. (Revelation 3:10) 

téreó  = keep, guard, observe, watch over.  
ἐκ = out of 
peirasmos = trial, testing, temptation.

Reagan: "These are some of the words that Jesus addressed to the church at Philadelphia. They constitute a promise that true believers will be kept from the testing that will one day encompass the entire world."

The hour of trial in this verse appears to be the persecution of the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. Greek téreó is to keep/guard/watch over/observe. The Philadelphian Christians kept/guarded/observed (tetērēsas) Christs word. As a result of their faithfulness Christ will keep/guard (tērēsō) them from (ἐκ) the hour of trial/temptation.

The Greek preposition ἐκ (out of) means to exit something from within. In context it would not make sense to say that Christ will keep/guard them if they were to "exit" (be raptured) prior to the Great Tribulation. The only other place where téreó and ἐκ are found together is John 17:6:: I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you KEEP THEM FROM the evil one.

Joe Schimmel has an excellent in depth teaching on Revelation 3:10:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGi9PBUJwAg

Persecution/tribulation is directly linked to the falling away of believers: 

.....yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation (thlipseōs) or persecution (diōgmou) arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. (Matthew 13:21; Mark 4:17) 

And blessed is the one who is not offended by me. (Matthew 11:6 cf.Matthew 5:29; James 1:12) 

The scriptures repeatedly refer to a proliferation of spiritual deception and false teachers in the end times. Matthew 24 gives us an important link between false prophets, tribulation and falling away:

Then THEY (the wicked) will deliver you up to TRIBULATION (thlipsin) and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will FALL AWAY (skandalisthēsontai) and betray one another and hate one another. And many FALSE PROPHETS will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:9-14 cf. 1 Timothy 4:1)

skandalizó =  to set a snare, entice or cause to stumble, cause to sin, cause to become indignant, shock, offend. Are those teaching a pre-tribulation rapture setting a snare that will cause shock, indignation and even hatred when their false teaching fails to materialise? Proverbs tells us that hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). Instead of strengthening believers to face the Great Tribulation, many false teachers are feeding the Body of Christ false hopes of deliverance and escapism. In actuality believers are called upon to endure through this terrible time (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; Revelation 2:10). Some pretribulationists are already offended with those who point out their error, such as Paul Wilkinson of The Berean Call/PWMI, who has publicly condemned post-tribulationist/pre-wrath/intra-seal defenders as "heretics". Some say that the timing of the rapture is not a salvation issue, but it appears to be just that for those who will fall away, if in fact they are enticed do so by those giving them a false hope of escape from the Great Tribulation.

{1} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/edward-fudge-david-reagan-heresy-of.html
{2} http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/TheRapturein2Thessalonians2_3.html
{3} http://www.genevabible.org/Geneva.html
{4} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishops'_Bible
{5} http://thebiblecorner.com/englishbibles/thebishopsbible/2thessalonians/2.html
{6} http://oldebible.com/wycliffe-bible/2-thessalonians-2.asp
{7} https://www.wordnik.com/words/dissension
{8} http://oldebible.com/tyndale-bible/2-thessalonians-2.asp
{9} Leon Morris, 1956 "Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1&2 Thessalonians: An Introduction and Commentary" Inter-Varsity Press p.126
{10} https://www.stepbible.org/?q=version=Luther|reference=2Th.2
{11} http://www.godvine.com/bible/2-thessalonians/2-3
{12} http://vulgate.org/nt/epistle/2thessalonians_2.htm
{13} https://archive.org/stream/treatiseofiren02iren/treatiseofiren02iren_djvu.txt
{14} http://www.walvoord.com/article/137#G77B2
{14} http://www.walvoord.com/article/137#G77B2
{15} http://biblehub.com/dbt/2_thessalonians/2.htm
{16} http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/darby/th2002.htm

Further Links:

http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/may2015/jovial53-2.htm  
http://www.newadvent.org/bible/2th002.htm 
http://www.alankurschner.com/2016/01/25/why-pretribulation-teachers-refuse-to-obey-jesus-great-commission-teaching-them-to-obey-everything-i-have-commanded-you-and-remember-i-am-with-you-always-to-the-end-of-the-age/ 

edward fudge, david reagan: the heresy of annihilationism

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:8)

The traditional biblical view about hell is the eternal torment of the wicked in the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne judgement of Christ. Annihilationism (from the Latin annihilō) is the doctrine that apart from salvation the death of human beings results in their total destruction (annihilation) rather than their everlasting torment.

Pro annihilationist theologian Edward Fudge author of The Fire That Consumes has posed the troubling question: "Must we conclude that God who gave his Son for sinners, will keep billions of them alive – to torment them without end?" ¹ The heresy of annihilationism has been promoted in its various forms by John Stott, Phillip E. Hughes, John Wenham, Stephen Travis, Stephen Davis, Clark Pinnock, and more recently by David Reagan of Lamb and Lion Ministries. Reagan suggests that the concept of eternal torment converts God into a "cosmic sadist" and finds "difficulties" with the traditional view of hell,²  one of the pitfalls of relying on ones own understanding I think! (Proverbs 3:5) 

David Reagan: "I believe the Bible teaches the unrighteous will be resurrected, judged, punished in Hell for a period of time proportional tot heir sins, and then suffer destruction (the death of body and soul)." ³

The main controversy stems from the adjective αἰώνιος which is derived from aiṓn (an age). There is a distinction in the scriptures between "this age" which will come to an end, and "the coming age" which will be eternal/unending/perpetual. Context is everything. If we restrict αἰώνιος to a cycle of time when referring to eternity, this presents a problem, since eternity stands outside the constraints of time as we know it. Eternity (forever) can be defined as "endless time" in that there is no past, present or future, suggesting that it is a place where one experiences a perpetual state of being. Annihilationism is a line of thought that totally deconstructs the gospel, since it must logically follow that if we deny eternal damnation, then we must also deny eternal life! The very same word αἰώνιος is used to describe the state of those who will inherit eternal life as well as those who will inherit eternal punishment. 

Examples of αἰώνιος

.....but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age (αἰῶνι) or in the [age] to come (μέλλοντι) (Matthew 12:32)

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 close of the [αἰῶνος] age?” (Matthew 24:3)

Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the [αἰῶνος] age. (Matthew 13:40)

And these will go away into eternal [aiōnion] punishment, but the righteous into eternal [aiōnion] life.” (Matthew 25:46; cf. Matthew 19:16, 29; Mark 10:17,30 etc.)

But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever (αἰῶνα) and ever (αἰῶνος)….. (Hebrews 1:8). Is Christ’s throne forever or is it for a cycle of time? Once again, we have to change our theology completely to accommodate the meaning of αἰώνιος to mean a cycle of time.

The apostle Paul gives further insight: They will suffer the punishment of eternal [αἰώνιον] destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might…. ( 2 Thessalonians 1:9) The Greek preposition ἀπό means ‘away from’. In other words they are denied access to the presence of the Lord in addition to suffering the punishment of eternal destruction.

…..but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the [αἰωνίου] eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— (Romans 16:26) Would anyone doubt that God Himself has always existed and is eternal in the way we traditionally conceive eternal?

…..how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the [αἰωνίου] eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14)

In the Old Testament the equivalent word for αἰώνιος in Hebrew is עוֹלָם (olam) which means eternity, forever, perpetual, everlasting etc. but like the Greek αἰώνιος, עוֹלָם can also means of long duration, ages. Your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting (מֵֽעֹולָ֣ם) (Psalm 93:2; Isaiah 40:28).

The prophet Isaiah wrote: you will lie down in torment - literally you will תִּשְׁכָּבֽוּן die/sleep/rest in מַעֲצֵבָה torment/pain. (Isaiah 50:11)

Daniel: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2) Daniel uses עוֹלָם to describe the fate of all the dead.

Hades and Sheol are interchangeable words in the Bible. Hades or hell is an intermediate place of torment according to Jesus Christ’s parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:29). The Lake of Fire is the final destination of the wicked after the millennial reign of Christ and the Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11-15). Gehenna (the valley of Hinnom) was a constantly burning refuse dump southwest of Jerusalem which Jesus Christ used as a metaphor for hell eleven times in the gospels.

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20/13-15)

The unredeemed in Gehenna express their indescribable anguish and despair which is described as “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28).

The words of Jesus Christ himself indicate that eternal torment is a place where there is perpetual conscious pain and distress:

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:41-42)

Jesus Christ calls this place "eternal fire” (αἰώνιον eπῦρ) in Matthew 25:41, 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-45 (see also Jude 1:7). John the Baptist calls hell “unquenchable fire” (Mark 9:12; Luke 3:17). Jesus Christ confirms this:

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell to the unquenchable fire. (Mark 9:43). Other versions say: never goes out or cannot be put out - in Greek: ἄσβεστος = perpetual, inextinguishable.

…..where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9/48)

The above verses are unequivocal and cannot indicate annihilation.

DA Carson: "…..one is surely entitled to ask why the fires should burn forever and the worms not die [cf. Mark 9:47-48] if their purpose comes to an end.”  ⁴

FALSE TEACHERS

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. (Jude 1:13)

SODOM AND GOMORRAH

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgement; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly..... (2 Peter 2:4-6)

Reagan: "The concept of eternal torment seems to run contrary to biblical examples. God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire — suddenly and quickly. He destroyed Noah’s evil world with water — suddenly and quickly. He ordered the Canaanites to be killed swiftly."  This is an incomplete comparison. What happened to Sodom was their physical destruction. According to Jesus Christ the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah still exist and face further future consequences for their wickedness in eternity. 

Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgement for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. (Matthew 10:15)

 The Bible tells us that there will be a resurrection for every person:

…..there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. (Acts 24:15)

…..those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgement. (John 5:20)

When words or phrases are repeated in the Bible it is specifically for special emphasis to reiterate a point:

But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’ (Daniel 7:18)

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever….. (Revelation 14:11)

They will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

Annihilationism has always been a minority view historically amongst traditional Christians. The doctrine of annihilationism is held by cult groups like Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, Christadelphians etc. The Church of England’s slide into apostasy reached new depths in 1995 when their Doctrine Commission issued the popish pronouncement that: "[h]ell is not eternal torment", but "non-being." ⁵ Should accept what those wolves say?

Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet? (Ezekiel 34:18-19)

In the 1980s, prominent Anglican theologian John Stott (as well as being anti-Israel) was an advocate of annihilationism, but his position was problematic for many traditional Christians and in many people’s eyes he lost credibility. Stott was a very highly esteemed pastor and teacher in traditional Christian circles, but this is where we have to be "alert" as the Bible says…… Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). Whatever does not agree with the Bible, no matter who is saying it, whether highly esteemed, charismatic and having the appearance of spirituality, intellect, wisdom, academia, superiority and reputation– it all means nothing –it is vanity. To dare to contradict the Word of God is a very serious matter. Eternal hell is an inconceivable proposition, but we cannot contradict the horrific view that eternal torment is unequivocal in the Bible. We may have struggles, questions and fears because eternal torment goes against our own natural inclinations, but only a fool would dare to challenge the Word of God. The influence of people in authority like Stott is enormous; they are people whose worthless opinions influence the eternal destiny of others. People like this are a shame and a disgrace to the name of Christianity. He may have had some very good teaching, but to voice this opinion was to voice his very doubt of God Almighty and the plan of salvation. Would that people like him leave the Word of God alone rather than upset the faith of others. Let God be true and every man a liar. (Romans 3:4)

I have paraphrased some of Edward Fudge’s statements below from his presentation on YouTube. ⁶

Fudge: The traditional teaching about hell fails to meet the demands of higher learning in that it does not exemplify the open minded study of scripture. 

Response: On the contrary, the traditional teaching about hell cannot be disproved from scripture. Really this argument backfires on Fudge since so called “higher learning” does not prove him right. This is an appeal to intellectual pride and puts traditionalists in the category of being stupid and narrow minded – this is an old tactic of the enemy (2 Corinthians 11:5; 12:11).

Fudge: The Reformers did not finish the job regarding eschatology and hell – it is up to 'us' to carry forward with teaching of hell today. This doctrine is still open to adjustment. 

Response: The Reformers are not the ones we should be looking at, but the Bible itself and the apostles teaching which are not open to adjustment! A careful study of hell in context leaves the annihilationist position untenable.

Fudge: Why does it matter anyway ----it is not a salvation issue --- you are not going to hell or going to hell depending upon what you believe about hell; it is how you deal with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not a fellowship issue; there should not be a division amongst Christian people because of this. It matters because we speak in God’s name; It matters because it impacts evangelism; it matters because there are many atheists because they can’t believe in the traditional Christian doctrine of hell commonly understood. It is an impediment to evangelism. Gods character is at stake - a terrible slander on God to say he will keep people alive forever torment people without end. It makes atheists out of those who cannot believe it. 

Response: Fudge’s words have the enemy’s fingerprints all over them:

“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” “You will not surely die.” (Genesis 3:1,4)

Did God actually say, "Hell is an eternal reality?” (Satan through the annihilationists)

If it doesn't matter, then exactly why is Fudge promoting annihilationism? This foolishness shows contempt for God’s wrath and justice. The teaching about hell is inextricably bound up with the Gospel – it most certainly is a salvation issue. Jesus Christ warned a great deal about hell in order for people to escape it – who are we to argue against His methods? If people are put off by the warnings about hell then that is not our business. This is not just a theological debate; anything that misrepresents God is an extremely serious matter with untold consequences. Fudge’s doctrine is more likely to make atheists than the doctrine of eternal torment: If unbelievers are convinced that they are simply annihilated after death, then they may reason that they might as well enjoy this life to the full while they can rather than make the costly decision of following Christ. As the Apostle Paul quoted: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die," (1 Corinthians 15:32 cf. Isaiah 22:13).

The teaching about hell is clearly meant as a deterrent against the fear of man and a warning, even for believers:

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” (Luke 12:4-5)

The Bible clearly says we should warn unbelievers of the judgement to come as a fearful prospect. Fudge’s teaching is diametrically opposite to the Bible:

“No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:5)

…..it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement, (Hebrews 9:27)

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (Hebrews 2:3)

Jesus Christ said to the Pharisees: “Your sin remains” (John 9:41) This will be the case for those who have not accepted Christ in this world. God’s wrath is satisfied if we repent and accept that our sin has been paid for by Jesus Christ. For Christ also suffered once [for all] for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit…..(1 Peter 3:18) This phrase “once for all” is repeated several times by the apostles (Romans 6:10; 10:10 etc). If God’s wrath is not satisfied and remains on those who have not accepted Him – no remedy remains. The Bible does not give any assurance that there will be another opportunity to believe after death, in fact quite the reverse.

Does the punishment fit the crime? Many people, myself included, probably do not fully understand the full horror of what it means to reject Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the World, but the Bible is quite clear that outside Christ there is no life – only death.

Included in the company of today’s "wolves" are "nice" old men with plausible arguments who attempt to neutralise hell. Edward Fudge has gained some notoriety and rewards in this life from his annihilationist position. However it is doubtful that he will gain rewards eternally by putting obstacles in the way of the salvation of the wicked – in fact he and others might very well find themselves on the receiving end of what they so vehemently reject.

1 http://www.afterlife.co.nz/2012/new-to-conditional-immortality/edward-fudge-a-troubling-question/ 
2 http://christinprophecy.org/articles/the-nature-of-hell/ 
3 "The Nature of Hell: An Eternal Punishment or Eternal Torment?" 
4 DA Carson The Gagging of God (Zondervan, 1996, p 525) 
5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annihilationism  
6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHUPpmbTOV4

apostasia: rebellion or rapture? thomas ice pre-tribulation rapture trickery!

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. (Mark 9:42)

This post refutes Thomas Ice's noxious mistranslation of the Greek noun apostasia in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, which he contends indicates the pre-tribulation rapture:

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/ice/TheRapturein2Thessalonians2_3.html 

Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, (episunagōgēs) 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 (apostasia) comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.... (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3)

Ice specifically cites seven early bible translations prior to the King James Version of 1611 that he claims render the noun apostasia as either "departure" or "departing" which he chooses to interpret as the rapture, a meaning which was not intended by the early translators. 

Ice: "The first seven English translations of apostasia all rendered the noun as either " departure" or " departing." They are as follows: Wycliffe Bible (1384); Tyndale Bible (1526); Coverdale Bible (1535); Cranmer Bible (1539); Breeches Bible (1576); Beza Bible (1583); Geneva Bible (1608)."

The Bishops' Bible is an English translation of the Bible produced in 1568 under the authority the Church of England. It was substantially revised in 1572, and the 1602 edition was prescribed as the base text for the King James Bible that was completed in 1611.{1}

Bishops Bible: "2Th 2:3 Let no man deceaue you by any meanes, for [the Lorde shall not come] excepte there come a fallyng away first, & that that man of sinne be reuealed, the sonne of perdition..... " {2}

Wycliffe Bible: "2 Thessalonians 2:3 No man disseyue you in ony manere. For but dissencioun come first, and the man of synne be schewid, the sonne of perdicioun.^" {3}

The Middle English word “dissencioun” comes from the Old French "dissension" which is not physical departure!{4}

Apostasia is translated "revolt" in the the Douay-Rheims Bible which was translated from the Latin Vulgate of Jerome (1582).

William Tyndale interpreted apostasia as a departure from the faith.. 

"sheweth that there shall be a departure from the faith....."

2 Thessalonians 2:3 Let no ma deceave you by eny meanes for the lorde commeth not excepte ther come a departynge fyrst and that that synfnll man be opened ye sonne of perdicion.^" {5}

Tyndale NT Commentary: "The necessary prelude to the coming of Christ is 'the rebellion'.... falling away hardly gives the force of apostasia..... In classical Greek, the word apostasia denoted a political or military rebellion; but in the Greek Old Testament we find it used of rebellion against God (e.g. Joshua xxii. 22), and this becomes the accepted biblical usage." {6}

The Original Geneva Footnotes

The Geneva Bible (Breeches Bible) includes marginal notes authored by John Calvin, John Knox, Miles Coverdale, and many other leaders of the Reformation.

The Second Epistle Of Paul To The Thessalonians:

"Lest the Thessalonians should think that Paul neglected them, because he went to other places, rather than come to them, he writeth unto them and exhorteth them to patience and other fruits of faith, neither to be moved with that vain opinion of such as taught that the coming of Christ was at hand, for as much as before that day there should be a falling away from the true religion, even by a great part of the world, and that Antichrist should reign in the Temple of God;"

2 Thessalonians 2: " 2 He sheweth that the day of the Lord shall not come, till there be a departure from the faith, and that the Antichrist be revealed, 8 whose destruction he setteth out, 15 and thereupon exhorteth to constancy." {7}

It is interesting that Paul does not make a distinction between the rapture (episunagógé) and "the day of the Lord" in this passage. Paul had previously taught the Thessalonian church about the rapture, and this later letter appears to indicate that they were in need of further clarification. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17)

Ice: "What precisely does Paul mean when he says that 'the falling away' (2:3) must come before the tribulation? The definite article " the" denotes that this will be a definite event, an event distinct from the appearance of the Man of Sin. The Greek word for " falling away" , taken by itself, does not mean religious apostasy or defection. Neither does the word mean " to fall," as the Greeks have another word for that. [pipto, I fall; TDI] The best translation of the word is " to depart." The apostle Paul refers here to a definite event which he calls " the departure," and which will occur just before the start of the tribulation. This is the rapture of the church."

voilà - the pre-tribulation rapture!

The context of verses 1-3 themselves defy Ice's interpretation. Apostasia is historically interpreted as defection, desertion, rebellion, from the prefix apó, which is a departure from a previous standing.{8} Paul's use of the noun episunagógé in verse 1 defines the rapture. Paul also uses the verb harpazo (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4), but he never uses apostasia in this context! Ice switches "departure from the faith" with the rapture, he inserts the word "tribulation" which is not specifically mentioned in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, let alone verse 3, and then, as if by magic, the rapture precedes the tribulation! The false interpretation of "rapture" for "apostasia" is essential for the pre-tribulation rapture theory to hold water, whereas if we interpret "apostasia" as "rebellion", the meaning is plain! If we give Ice's interpretation credibility, we are left with the bizarre meaning that the rapture will not come unless the rapture comes first! His teaching is totally perverse! 

There are only two occurrences of apostasia in the New Testament, the other being in Acts 21:21: 

.....and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake (apostasian) Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.

I am not a "King James Only" adherent, but you would think that the forty seven scholars involved in interpreting the King James Bible between 1604 and 1616 would have arrived at the correct interpretation of this word, though clearly Ice thinks that he has carte blanche to redefine it!{9}

The root of apostasia is the verb aphistémi, meaning: I make to stand away, draw away, repel, take up a position away from, withdraw from, leave, abstain from.{10} There are fourteen occurrences of aphistémi in the New Testament, and since this verb can mean physical departure as well as a departure from the faith (below), some have used the connection as a pretext to teach that apostasia means physical departure, i.e. the rapture. Ice's mentor, pre-tribulation rapture authority John Walvoord (1910-2002), once held this view, but he was humble/honest enough to change his mind after considering the lexical arguments of Robert Gundry.{11} Actually Walvoord admitted that no single verse of scripture by itself clearly teaches the pre-tribulation rapture.{11}

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from (aphistémi) the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (1 Timothy 4:1) 

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away (aphistémi) from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), crazed cult leader, founder of the Exclusive Brethren and "god" of  the Pre-Trib Rapture Center (PTRC) and the PWMI, is falsely credited with "discovering" the pre-tribulation rapture by Ice and his associates. Yet even the "mighty" Darby translated 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as the apostasy..

 

Darby Bible Translation: "Let not any one deceive you in any manner, because [it will not be] unless the apostasy have first come, and the man of sin have been revealed, the son of perdition;^" {12}

 

Darby: "With nominal Christians this has necessarily the character of apostacy, or at least it is connected with this apostacy, and is consequent upon it; as Verse 3 (Th2 2:3) teaches us, the apostacy takes place, and then the man of sin is revealed.^" {13}

Erasmus: "signifies that great and before-predicted apostasy." {14}

John Wesley:  2:3 Unless the falling away - From the pure faith of the gospel, come first.{15}

More recently, Christian Apologist and pretribulationist Dave Hunt (1926-2013), interpreted apostasia as the apostasy: "Paul says that the apostasy precedes the revelation of the Antichrist (2 Thess 2:3).^" {16}

The scriptures do speak of the end time apostasy, and we should bear in mind that this is linked with false teachers who will mislead many believers and cause them to fall away. Critically, they often achieve this by redefining important passages of scripture by their own authority. Chillingly, the redefinition of scripture can be as subtle as reinventing just one word in one verse! (Genesis 3:1; 2 Corinthians 11:3)

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. (Matthew 24:4-5, 9-13, 24)

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. (Jude 17-19)

Needless to say, Ice has failed Joe Schimmel's challenge/offer to collect $10,000 to produce a single verse or passage of scripture which clearly teaches that the rapture happens before the tribulation.{17}

1   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishops'_Bible
2   http://thebiblecorner.com/englishbibles/thebishopsbible/2thessalonians/2.html
3   http://oldebible.com/wycliffe-bible/2-thessalonians-2.asp
4   https://www.wordnik.com/words/dissension
5   http://oldebible.com/tyndale-bible/2-thessalonians-2.asp
6   Leon Morris, 1956 "Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1&2 Thessalonians: An Introduction and Commentary" Inter-Varsity Press p.126

7   http://www.genevabible.org/Geneva.html
8   http://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_thessalonians/2-3.htm   ??
9   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_James_Version
10  http://biblehub.com/greek/868.htm
11  http://www.walvoord.com/article/137#G77B2
12 http://biblehub.com/dbt/2_thessalonians/2.htm
13 http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/darby/th2002.htm 
14 http://www.godvine.com/bible/2-thessalonians/2-3
15 http://www.godvine.com/bible/2-thessalonians/2-3
16 http://www.raptureready.com/resource/hunt/dh11.htm
17 http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/good-fight-answers-thomas-ices-pre-trib-challenge-for-10k/

Further links:

https://www.moriel.org/articles-new/2015-12-06-13-31-51/bill-walthall/item/2633-a-welcome-yes-to-thomas-ice.html 

www.moriel.org/articles-new/2015-12-06-13-31-51/bill-walthall/item/2631-a-response-to-david-reagan-s-in-defense-of-the-pre–tribulation-rapture-and-an-appeal-to-my-traditional-pre-tribulational-brethren.html 

http://son-of-encouragement.blogspot.co.uk/2009/12/pre-trib-expert-john-walvoord-melts-ice.html 
https://onecanhappen.wordpress.com/2009/03/08/12-reasons-not-to-expect-a-pre-trib-rapture/
http://www.britannica.com/topic/Geneva-Bible 

thomas ice ptrc: false rapture teaching 2 corinthians 5

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

Thomas Ice (PTRC) claims to find the rapture in 2 Corinthians 5, a claim which I will show to be completely inaccurate below:

http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/little-used-rapture-passage

First of all, Ice refers to the rapture as "the blessed hope" which is entirely false:

The key verse the PTRC use to promote the pre-tribulation rapture deception: Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13). The PTRC works on the presupposition that "the blessed hope" IS the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. There are some very serious problems with this presupposition. The relevant word in Titus 2:13 is "appearing" epipháneia, literally an epiphany, a fitting manifestation or a conspicuous appearing. This emphasises the impact that Christ's visible appearance will have on the entire world when every eye shall see him, both the saved and the unsaved (Revelation 1:7).  In the New Testament  epipháneia occurs six times and it is always used of Christ's coming (once of His first coming, 2 Timothy 1:10). The context is the appearing of the glory further confirms this understanding since the glory will not be manifest until Christ's second coming to the earth. The blessed hope is therefore synonymous with the parousia i.e. the second coming of Christ (Matthew 24:3, 27, 37; 1 Corinthians 15:23).¹

As His "coming" (Greek, "parousia") expresses the fact; so "brightness, appearing," or "manifestation" (epiphaneia) expresses His personal visibility when He shall come.²

Ice: "First, Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." This is significant in that the "judgment seat," or "bema" is the special judgment for church age believers only, not the end of the millennium great white throne judgment of unbelievers. Since verse 10 is part of Paul's passage where he has expressed his desire to be taken in the rapture, it supports the notion of pretribulationism since the bema will take place after the rapture of the church, while in heaven, in order to prepare the church for her return with Christ at the second coming (Rev. 19:1-10)."

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. (2 Corinthians 5:1-10)

In verse 1, Paul speaks about his earthly home which he describes as a "tent" being "destroyed" from the Greek word kataluó - the same word Jesus Christ used for the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24:2). It seems unmistakable that Paul is talking about physical death, since the rapture does not involve the destruction of the body: .....the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52-53).

Paul wrote to the Philippian Church in a similar vein about being torn between life and death:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:19-26 cf. Romans 14:8).

Furthermore, Paul knew that he must stand trial in Rome and that he would be martyred (Acts 23:11; 27:24; 2 Timothy 4:6).   

These passages certainly do not speak of the rapture, but of physical death!

The Judgement Seat of Christ (Bema) is the "Day" spoken of by Paul, when the works of believers will be revealed by fire (1 Corinthians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:10). The scriptures tell us that the Bema occurs on that day i.e. the day of universal judgement (note that Paul does not say it will happen after some fictitious pre-tribulation rapture) (2 Timothy 4:8; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Revelation 19:8).

Ice: "Second, Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 the following: "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed." Here Paul taught the doctrine of the resurrection, while in 2 Corinthians 5 he links it with the rapture. Although 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 stands on its own as a rapture passage, it is further strengthened by Paul's rapture teachings in 2 Corinthians 5. Paul is writing to the same church in both epistles, thus, he is speaking of the same subject-the rapture-both times when he addresses the subject of the resurrection."

Paul does speak about the rapture in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. However we cannot link the two passages in the way that Ice does, since 2 Corinthians 5 does not speak about the rapture as already demonstrated. Is it inconceivable that Paul would speak of different subjects in his letters to the Corinthians?

Ice's subsequent points are simply further ramblings in order to justify 2 Corinthians 5 as a pre-tribulation rapture passage.

1. http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/chuck-missler-false-teacher-pre_28.html 

2. http://biblehub.com/commentaries/titus/2-13.htm

Further Reading:
http://www.poweredbychrist.com/Pretrib_Rapture_Dishonesty.html
http://post-trib.net/macpherson/tribpages.html
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/the-seven-year-pre-tribulation-rapture.html
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/
http://www.solagroup.org/articles/endtimes/et_0006.html
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/an-open-letter-to-t-a-mcmahon-of-the-berean-call/
https://www.moriel.org/component/k2/item/2631-a-response-to-david-reagan-s-in-defense-of-the-pre 
https://www.moriel.org/articles-new/2015-12-06-13-31-51/bill-walthall/item/2633-a-welcome-yes-to-thomas-ice.html 

a question for adam simmonds pcc northamptonshire

Does Adam Simmonds believe that other religions are a valid means of salvation and access to God? 

For the benefit those who may not be aware, there is a vast difference between ecumenical Christianity and what is known as the remnant i.e. the true church; those faithful Christians who believe the Bible is the Word of God, and who accept the Son of God Jesus Christ to be the ONLY Messiah (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 John 4:15). The scriptural mandate for Christians who believe the Bible and the exclusivity of Jesus Christ is to maintain unity with one another (Ephesians 4:3-4; John 17:22). The Ecumenical Movement is completely at odds with this mandate, since it actively seeks syncretism between Protestants, Roman Catholics, and non-Christian religions. Modern ecumenical leaders promote "interfaith dialogue" with Mormons, Islamists, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans, Universalists, and a variety of New Age belief systems. This is what the Bible calls spiritual prostitution (Revelation 14:8). Scripturally, it is anathema for true Bible believing Christians to embrace the Ecumenical Movement, it is considered apostasy (James 4:4; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16). Religious pluralism promotes the validity of all religions and philosophies, and the Ecumenical Movement is rapidly moving in the direction which will eventually lead to the Antichrist, the One World Religion and the New World Order.

Adam Simmonds is Director and Trustee of Trinity Life Church in Leicester, which is an Assemblies of God (AOG) fundamental Pentecostal denomination.* If you refer to their web site, the AOG DO NOT accept non-Christian religions as valid means of salvation and access to God.

"The Assemblies of God aligns readily with evangelical Christianity in declaring that only in Christ is there salvation. No apology need be made for this exclusive claim for Christ. For this reason the Assemblies of God disavows universalism and the toleration of worldviews that do not require entering the kingdom of God through the narrow gate of the God-man, Jesus Christ."
http://ag.org/top/beliefs/topics/gendoct_16_religions.cfm
http://www.aog.org.uk/about-us/what-we-believe

Furthermore, the AOG IS NOT affiliated with ANY ecumenical organisations. 
"The Assemblies of God is not affiliated with either the World Council of Churches or the National Council of Churches."
http://ag.org/top/about/affiliations.cfm

Requirements for Assemblies of God Deacons and Trustees:
"The deacon/trustee is proper in doctrine, keeping “hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience” (1 Timothy 3:9), fully subscribing to the tenets of faith of the Assemblies of God."
http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_downloads/pp_4171_deacons.pdf

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. (1 Timothy 3:8-10)

Apart from his other questionable activities such as cronyism and overspending, there is grave dissonance between Simmonds political aspirations and his so called "faith".  If Simmonds really does hold onto the deep truths of the faith, then there is an inexplicable conflict between the biblical beliefs required as a Trustee of the AOG and his overt ecumenical activities. The so called Christian "faith groups" Simmonds dishes out money to such as Corby Street Pastors, Perspective Trust, Crime2Christ are all ecumenical. This is why I question whether Adam Simmonds faith is in fact the genuine article.

Simmonds creation of the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives (OFBCI), his involvement with Churches Together in Northampton, the Faith Covenant for Engagement Signing Event (APPG), Interfaith Festival of Color Basti Ram and the Woolf Institute which specialises in the study of relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims from a multidisciplinary perspective etc. are completely at odds with his so called beliefs as a "committed Christian". Furthermore they certainly are not consistent in any way with Assemblies of God principles or rules for Trustees. In my view, these activities disqualify Simmonds from holding the position of Trustee and Director at any AOG church. Individual AOG churches are run autonomously, and as I have previously written,Trinity Life Church in Leicester is sadly wanting in respect of its biblical principles, probably due to compromised leadership, bad theology and the influence of Simmonds and his ilk.

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. (Matthew 6:24) 

Equally no one can serve God and selfish ambition (James 3:14-16; Philippians 1:17).


http://www.aog.org.uk/about-us/what-we-believe
https://www.facebook.com/No-more-Simmonds-397104093748026/timeline/
http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/who-is-god-of-adam-simmonds-pcc.html
http://ofbci.com/event/faith-covenant/

Petition: Vote of no confidence in Adam Simmonds PCC for Northamptonshire:
https://www.change.org/p/police-crime-panel-northamptonshire-vote-of-no-confidence-in-adam-simmonds-pcc-for-northamptonshire?recruiter=13124123&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink

UPDATE 

* It appears that Simmonds is no longer a Director or Trustee of Trinity Life Church in Leicester:

"In answer to your question regarding whether or not Mr Simmonds is a Director or Trustee at the Trinity Life Church, I can confirm that the current published register of interest accurately reflects the fact the Mr Simmonds no longer holds any such role at this, or indeed any other organisation."

From John Neilson 
Active Chief Executive
Northamptonshire Police and Crime Commissioner
Dated 15th February 2016

bill johnson's leaven: beware global legacy 2016 all nations church leicester uk

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Peter 2:1-3)

Global Legacy came from a "prophetic word" from none other than arch deceiver, cult leader and self appointed "apostle" Bill Johnson of Bethel Church Redding who perpetuates the aberrant teachings of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). There is so much negative information reported about Bill Johnson that is is difficult to know where to begin. I reported some time ago about Bethel's practice of "gravesucking" which is a form of necromancy.¹ Bethel also claims various "signs and wonders" such as miraculous healings, glory clouds, gold dust, feathers, fire tunnels etc. The scriptures tell us us that an evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign (Matthew 6:4; 12:39). When the disciples asked Jesus Christ about the sign of his coming and of the end of the age, his first words were: "See that no one leads you astray." (Matthew 24:3-4). He continued to warn them about wars and rumours of wars, various earthly catastrophes, tribulation, false prophets, the increase in lawlessness and the prevalence of great (lying) signs and wonders (Matthew 24:3-13, 24).

Bill Johnson is an influential leader of the NAR, a heretical movement which encompasses Dominion Theology (aka Kingdom Now, Christian Reconstructionism and Theonomy). The NAR seeks to implement authoritarian theocratic world government based on "biblical law". Johnson teaches that the mandate of the end-times church is to achieve dominion on the earth prior to Christs return.

The basic tenets of Dominion Theology are as follows:

1. God gave Adam dominion over the earth based on Genesis 1:28.
2. Adam lost dominion over the earth to Satan when he sinned in the Garden of Eden.
3. Jesus Christ defeated Satan and reclaimed dominion in his victory on the cross.
4. After his death and resurrection Jesus Christ reversed the curse of sin and gave dominion back to believers.
5. The Church must gain control of the earth’s governmental and social institutions, and establish the Kingdom on earth, by force if necessary.
6. Jesus Christ cannot return until all His enemies have been put under the feet of the Church. 

The lies of the enemy are a clever mixture of truth and error, in order to deceive the very elect if possible (Matthew 24:24). While Christ did indeed reverse the curse of Adam's sin, the completion of his achievement on the cross is premillennial (Zechariah 14:4-9; Matthew 25:31-34). The kingdom will not be established until JESUS CHRIST (NOT THE CHURCH) sets up his millennial reign after the Great Tribulation (Revelation 19:11-20:4; 22:19). Jesus Christ did not commission the church to remodel society, the church was commissioned to preach the gospel to the whole world and to make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19-20). 

Johnson's theology is not in accord with the scriptures at all, it is rooted in the flesh. His elitist mentality splits the Body of Christ into the "Elijah generation" i.e. specially "anointed ones" and their dumbed down followers. The "apostolic unity" taught by the NAR is in fact personal submission to self-proclaimed apostles, it is not unity based on agreement with the Word of God and it is not based on obedience to Jesus Christ.  In fact the dominionist model is more analogous to the one world religion of the Antichrist and False Prophet! According to Johnson, these "anointed ones" can do greater miracles than Jesus and will bring about a great end time revival. The Bible tells us that only Jesus Christ is uniquely anointed and that all Christians are equally anointed through Him. Furthermore, the scriptures speak of a massive falling away, spiritual deception and the rise of the Antichrist who will initiate a false revival (Matthew 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; Revelation 13:5). Dominion theology facilitates a reversal from looking up for Christ's return (Luke 21:28), to looking to certain "anointed ones" to bring about the triumph of the church. In other words, it replaces Jesus Christ!

Global Legacy 2016:

"Global Legacy 8th and 9th of January...... Global Legacy is dedicated to helping fulfil the mission of Bethel Church, which is REVIVAL: The personal, regional, and global expansion of God's kingdom through His manifest presence! 

Global Legacy (GL) is an apostolic, relational network of revival leaders whose purpose is to bring Heaven to earth (Matt. 6:10). Following the New Testament model for apostleship, GL seeks to establish Kingdom government and to build empowering cultures.

Recognising that relationship is the foundation of God's government, GL helps to build relationships between revival leaders through relational gatherings, ministry events and mission trips, as well as through monthly newsletters and video conferencing. GL also offers resources that equip leaders, and those they lead, to transform their spheres of influence and surrounding cultures into Kingdom cultures.

Global Legacy is dedicated to helping fulfill the mission of Bethel Church, which is REVIVAL: The personal, regional, and global expansion of God's kingdom through His manifest presence!" ²

Johnson is opposed to careful scholarship based on sound exegesis of scripture, and herein lies his strength. Johnsons "off the map" approach denies the Reformation principle of sola scriptura and leaves his followers vulnerable to "every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14), with no means to test what is said (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Timothy 2:15; Isaiah 9:16). As a result we see the church being infiltrated with unbiblical manifestations and doctrines of demons.  

The verse quoted by Global Legacy is Matthew 6:10 from the Lord’s Prayer which is primarily a prayer for the return of Christ:

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Global Legacy: "Heaven’s government is family, and Global Legacy seeks to express the government of heaven here on earth. We are richer because of our relationship with you and your ministries and organizations. We look forward to running alongside you in pursuit of worldwide revival!" ³

My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world. (John 18:36)

“In the model prayer that Jesus gave His disciples, He taught them to pray, 'Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven' (Matthew 6:10, King James Version). Did He mean that we are to pray that Christians will take over the governments of the earth to establish a visible kingdom of God? Since He gave us no such command and described His kingdom as not of this world and not visible in the natural sense, we must conclude that the answer is no. 
 

Completely in keeping with what Jesus did commission, what Jesus meant in this prayer is that we are to pray for the spread of God's spiritual kingdom on earth through the preaching of the Gospel and the subsequent conversion of hearers who will then submit to God's will."  ⁴

Many church leaders in Leicester have strong links with All Nations Church and have no qualms about joining in with Bethel Church and their associated doctrines of demons.⁵ John McGinley of Holy Trinity Church embraces the aberent teachings of Bill Johnson and his Sozo deception.⁶ David Hind of Trinity Life Church (TLC) praises Bethel's Jesus Culture⁷ and Andrew Upton of Knighton Evangelical Free Church promotes false unity with both All Nations and TLC ⁸ These men are not true shepherds, they are hirelings at best and wolves in sheep's clothing at worst (1 Corinthians 10:20; Matthew 15:14; John 10:12-13). 

WORLDWIDE REVIVAL OR JUDGEMENT FOR UNGODLINESS?

While the churches in Leicester and elsewhere are enjoying their double standards, their false doctrines and their lying signs and wonders, judgement is coming! The false prophecies of "revival" these elite "apostles and prophets" have been promoting for years WILL NOT be a genuine revival of the Holy Spirit, their predictions are rooted in the spirit of antichrist! 

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)

1 http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/grave-sucker-bill-johnson-to-join.html

2 http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/global-legacy-2016-tickets-18838493441

3 http://globallegacy.com/about

4 http://www.wordofhisgrace.org/twokingdoms2.htm

5 http://www.leicester.anglican.org/blogs/details/prayer-for-leicestershire

6 http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/bill-johnsons-sozo-poison-occult.html

7 http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/david-hind-trinity-life-church.html

8 http://www.knighton.org.uk/blog/prayer-for-leicestershire-7th-june-2015/

john whitcomb twisting scripture the ptrc way. the two witnesses and the pre-tribulation rapture deception!

"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 23: 1-2)

The Pre-Trib Research Center (PTRC) describe themselves as a "think tank" committed to the study, proclamation, teaching and defending of the Pretribulational Rapture (pre-70th week of Daniel) and related end-time prophecy. They also believe that God's plan for history demands a consistent distinction between national Israel and the church which includes an ongoing plan for national, ethnic Israel that culminates in Christ's millennial kingdom.¹ This post continues to examine the function of the two witnesses during the Great Tribulation, and to expose the unsustainable arguments of John Whitcomb which are at odds with the scriptures.Whitcomb's examination of the role of the two witnesses below are an integral part of his preposterous assertion that the third temple will be "divinely ordained" and that the two witnesses will authoritatively set the pattern for halakhic blood sacrifices on earth following the rapture of the Church. ²  

The Chronological Relationship of the Three Septet Judgements of the Tribulation To Daniel’s Seventy Weeks Dr. Robert Dean

http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/chronological-relationship-of-three-septet-judgments-tribulation-to-daniels-seventy-weeks#_ftnref8

"In 2007, Dr. Whitcomb presented a cogent argument for the witnesses having their ministry in the first half of Daniel's seventieth week. This argument is based on several reasons, the most significant of which I will summarize here."

1) "First, our Lord commanded those who witness the abomination of desolation in the middle of Daniel's seventieth week should immediately flee to the mountains. Whitcomb raises the obvious question: Would the two Jewish witnesses remain in Jerusalem during the latter half of the Antichrist's reign of terror since the Lord commanded them to flee to the mountains?"

Satan' s wrath will be directed towards the Jewish people living in Israel at the mid point of the 70th week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27). A Jewish remnant will flee to the mountains (Petra?) where they will be divinely protected for 1,260 days during the latter half of the 70th week (Revelation 12:6 cf. Matthew 24:15-21). The ministry of the two witnesses will also be of 1,260 days duration (Revelation 11:3). Their ministry will end with their death and resurrection, which will occur towards the end of the 70th week, after the sixth trumpet is sounded, during second woe of the seventh seal (Revelation 9:12; 8:1-2 9:13;11:11-15 cf. 16:1-21). It is important to note that it is after the flight of the remnant that the two witnesses will begin their unique 1,260 day ministry. The remnant will be protected for the duration of the 1,260 day ministry of the two witnesses, not only from the wrath of Satan, but also from the devastation the two witnesses will inflict upon the earth (Revelation 11:4-6). The two witnesses are therefore not subject to the instruction to flee to the mountains, since their appearance coincides with the flight of the remnant.

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. (Revelation 11:4-6; cf. Zechariah 4:1-14 ) 

2) ".....if the 1,260 days occur in the last half of the week, then the world would engage in the three and a half day celebration of their death after the return of Christ and the consignment of the two beasts and the dragon to their respective punishments."

The two witnesses ministry ends with their death and resurrection which occurs after the sixth trumpet is sounded, during second woe of the seventh seal (Revelation 8:1; 9:13; 11:14). However, Christ's second advent will not take place until the seventh bowl of God's wrath has been poured out during the third woe, after the sounding of the seventh trumpet of the seventh seal (Revelation 10:7; 11:15; 16:17-20; 19:11 cf. Joshua 6:16). The "Day of the Lord" (God's wrath) begins with the opening of the seventh seal, "day" (hémera/yom) being an indefinite period of time (Revelation 6:17; Joel 1:15). The period of time between the sixth trumpet/second woe and the end of the seventh bowl/trumpet/third woe therefore allows for the three and a half day "celebration" of the death of the two witnesses. The consignment of the two beasts and the dragon to their respective punishments will take place after Christ returns at his second advent as above, following the seventh bowl/trumpet/seal (Revelation 19:11-20:3).

3) ".....how can he (the first beast) bring fire from heaven upon their enemies (Rev. 13:13) when the two witnesses are bringing fire from heaven upon theirs (Rev. 11:5)? The only other option would to make the terms 1,260 days describe a free-floating three and a half-year period which began at sometime in the middle of the first half and end sometime in the second half. Such a use has no precedent or support in the Scripture. In the absence of other usage, it should refer to either the first or second half. Those who support the second half option have no answer to these weighty observations."

Whitcomb's third point is scandalously inaccurate in several details. It is the second beast i.e. the false prophet, not the first beast, who brings fire down from heaven as an impressive (satanic) sign, not upon their enemies, but "in front of people", in order to deceive the earth and its inhabitants and cause them worship the first beast. (Revelation 13:11-14; cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9). The two witnesses do not "bring fire down from heaven", fire pours from their mouths as a defensive and judgemental act. The book of Revelation replays Exodus when Moses and Aaron inflicted the plagues upon Egypt. One might similarly ask Whitcomb: How could Pharaoh's magicians (Jannes and Jambres) copycat the signs of Moses and Aaron? (Exodus 7:11-12 cf. 2 Timothy 3:8) The distinctive differences between the two witnesses and the two beasts are vitally important. The two witnesses will be hated, despite their prophetic ministry and the accompanying judgements they produce (Revelation 11:1-14), whereas the false signs and wonders performed by the false prophet on behalf of the first beast will deceive those who dwell on the earth.

The False Prophet (Second Beast): It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, (Revelation 13:13) 

The Two Witnesses: And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. (Revelation 11:5)

Whitcomb cannot even produce an accurate summary of two straightforward verses of scripture, let alone analyse the complexities of the sequential of events in the book of Revelation! I am afraid I must pour contempt upon his "weighty observations" - they would be laughed out of any serious academic forum.

I have limited my exposure to Whitcomb's three "most significant arguments" for the two witnesses ministry during the first half of Daniel's 70th week. I will not dignify his further arguments with an answer. You can read the full extent of Whitcomb's drivel on this subject on the link below.³

The PTRC are desperate to find reasons for placing the ministry of the two witnesses in the first half of the 70th week, so much so that they are reduced to academic dishonesty and myth!

Whitcomb: "Immediately following the rapture of the church, there will be no believers left on this planet. Assuming that God never leaves Himself without a witness in the world, the two witnesses will suddenly appear in Jerusalem to begin their powerful work." ⁴

Whitcomb's claim that the two witnesses ministry occurs during the first half of the 70th week is a claim that props up (albeit falsely) the pre-tribulation rapture theory. Indeed this all falls into the category of the lucrative pre-tribulation rapture deception the PTRC so avidly promotes! 

1 http://pre-trib.org/about/what-we-believe
2 http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/false-teacher-john-whitcomb-rapture-and.html 

3 http://www.pre-trib.org/data/pdf/Whitcomb-TheTwoWitnessesFirst.pdf
4 http://www.pre-trib.org/articles/view/two-witnesses-first-or-second-half-of-tribulation 

Further Links: 

http://post-trib.net/macpherson/tribpages.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YStwTYdU4es 
https://player.fm/series/blessed-hope-chapel