I am writing this post because some people hang onto every word Jacob Prasch speaks as though he were infallible. I am in the process of writing a longer piece concerning JPs dogmatic assertion that the Restrainer of 2 Thessalonians is the Holy Spirit. In my view this assertion is not only wrong, it is presumptuous - the scriptures do not name the restrainer! IF JP's claim about the restrainer is incorrect, then not only does it misrepresent God (Psalm 139:7-8); it also puts a skewed emphasis on the 70th week of Daniel. Similarly, his claim for a seven year tribulation also puts a skewed emphasis on the 70th week. Prior to Darby, no one ever taught that the restrainer was the Holy Spirit. This teaching of JP is going to take some unravelling, but I am in the process of doing just that. JP's hostile reaction to my post I think reveals not only presumption; it also demonstrates ungodly arrogance and belligerence towards those who disagree with him or point out any error in his teaching.{1} This is a very bad sign in anyone who is an elder of a church and/or a teacher. (Titus 1:7-8; 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Corinthians 5:11). In my view Jacob Prasch has become quite popish.
The extraordinary claim of Jacob Prasch: He defines the first half three and a half years of the 70th week as “tribulation” based on thlipsis in John 16:21:
I am quoting Jacob Prasch verbatim in order to avoid any possible further false allegations of quoting him out of context:
JOHN 16
Jacob Prasch: "The Great Tribulation (indicates a shift from the tribulation of verse 9 to the intensification of Greater Tribulation that is 'Megalo Thelipsis' in verse 21). This commences with the 5th seal when the antichrist tries to wipe out as many believers as he can and marks the shift from tribulation to Great Tribulation when God stages a cosmic maelstrom and terrestrial seismic explosion and prepares to unleash His wrath with the 6th seal but first raptures the faithful believers during the interlude before the 7th seal."
As translated by The New Testament Greek, Jesus clearly and directly refers to the ':Beginning of Birth pangs" as "Thelipsis' / TRIBULATION in John 16:21. If she had only read John chapter 16 from where both of these issues of the Holy Spirit's current function and the nature of the birth pangs are addressed and explained by Jesus, she would know that for herself.
.....in verse 9 of Matthew 24 Jesus shifts from an already existing tribulation to the Great Tribulation (Theslipsis Macro) in verse 21 when Satan tries to kill us all via agency of anti christ etc.
In John 16: 33, Jesus refers to 'tribulation' in the general sense used many times in scripture for believers in all ages. We have "tribulation" in the world.
However in this same John chapter 16 in verses 20-22, Jesus speaks of His Second Coming as being proceeded by the Birth Pangs seen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and as is illustrated in the vision of the woman in travail in Revelation chapter 12
.....the Beginning of Birth Pangs (corresponding to the four horseman of the Apocalypse) followed by the shift to Great Tribulation when the believers are horribly persecuted (akin to what happened to the Jews in the holocaust) during the first half of the 7 years can be called 'Tribulation'.
In John 16: 20-22 speaking of these Birth Pangs preceding His return Jesus calls them (as translated in every Greek manuscript and codex we have) "THELIPSIS" (John 16: 22)
'But When She Gives Birth She No Longer Remembers The TRIBULATION (THELIPSIS).'
The term 'thelipsis' moreover is applied here as an obstetric term for very good reason. Its Greek etymology is not simply 'pressure' but 'Constriction' as in contractions of maternal labour." {1}
BIRTH PAINS
The fallacy that John 16 refers to tribulation:
John 16 DOES NOT refer to the 70th week and the supposed "seven year tribulation". The PRIMARY MEANING of John 16 is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of the church. The disciples would "weep and lament" - they would be "sorrowful", but their sorrow would turn to joy (verse 20). ....you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (John 16:22) Jesus refers to his post-resurrection appearances and the permanent presence of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, as a result of his departure (cf. 14:17). The disciples DID NOT experience persecution during the time that they were weeping/lamenting/sorrowful. If THE PRIMARY MEANING does not speak of tribulation, why should any SECONDARY MEANING? Most translators have "anguish" (thlipsis v21) and not tribulation or persecution. JP has twisted thlipsis to fit his own interpretation - this is a dishonest use of the context! (2 Peter 3:16-17).
Matthew 24/Revelation 6
John 16 DOES NOT refer to the 70th week and the supposed "seven year tribulation". The PRIMARY MEANING of John 16 is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the birth of the church. The disciples would "weep and lament" - they would be "sorrowful", but their sorrow would turn to joy (verse 20). ....you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (John 16:22) Jesus refers to his post-resurrection appearances and the permanent presence of the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, as a result of his departure (cf. 14:17). The disciples DID NOT experience persecution during the time that they were weeping/lamenting/sorrowful. If THE PRIMARY MEANING does not speak of tribulation, why should any SECONDARY MEANING? Most translators have "anguish" (thlipsis v21) and not tribulation or persecution. JP has twisted thlipsis to fit his own interpretation - this is a dishonest use of the context! (2 Peter 3:16-17).
Matthew 24/Revelation 6
There is of course "general tribulation" as we all know (John 16:33). However Matthew 24 speaks specifically about the end of the age.... "when will these things be..." (verse 3).
The first four seals broken in Revelation 6:1-8 correspond with the birth pains in Matthew 24. The great tribulation corresponds with the breaking of the fifth seal Revelation 6.
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 rumours 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 24:5-8) (the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen)
It is important to notice that the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen are WORLD WIDE PHENOMENA, they do not specifically apply to the tribulation of the church as JP teaches.
The first four seals broken in Revelation 6:1-8 correspond with the birth pains in Matthew 24. The great tribulation corresponds with the breaking of the fifth seal Revelation 6.
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 rumours 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 24:5-8) (the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen)
It is important to notice that the beginning of birth pains/the four horsemen are WORLD WIDE PHENOMENA, they do not specifically apply to the tribulation of the church as JP teaches.
The tribulation follows the birth pains in Matthew 24:5-8.... THEN verse 9..... In other words, JP's suggestion that tribulation is associated with the beginning of birth pains is incorrect. There is no disconnect between “the tribulation” of verse 9 and “the great tribulation” of verse 21. The first word in verse 15 is THEREFORE - oún (a conjunction: therefore, now then, accordingly so - typically translated "therefore" which means, "By extension, here's how the dots connect".
VERSE 9: “THEN they will deliver you up to TRIBULATION and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. verse 15: THEREFORE (οὖν) when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel...... verse 21: 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 24:9-21) Mark 13 confirms the sequence of events in Matthew 24.
JP: "However in this same John chapter 16 in verses 20-22, Jesus speaks of His Second Coming as being proceeded by the Birth Pangs seen in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and as is illustrated in the vision of the woman in travail in Revelation chapter 12."
Revelation 12: The event that triggers the tribulation is Satan's expulsion from heaven when he is thrown down to earth (Revelation 12:7-12). The woman (Israel) will be divinely protected after the midweek abomination of desolation and during the subsequent reign of the Antichrist. (Revelation 12:16) AFTER THAT HAPPENS the Antichrist turns his attention towards believers: THEN the dragon became furious with the woman 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. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (Revelation 12:17)
Once again, no specific "tribulation" is mentioned prior to the mid point of the 70th week.
The word thlipsis appears a total of 45 times in the NT.
A few examples of thlipsis:
There will be tribulation (thlipsis) and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, (Romans 2:5-9)
Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation (thlipsin), unless they repent of her works, (Revelation 2:22)
…..since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction (thlipsin) those who afflict (thlibousin) you, (2 Thessalonians 1:6)
(thlíbō is the root of thlipsin)
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)
Clearly the context defines the meaning of thlipsis and it does not always apply to the persecution of believers. Beware of those who twist the scriptures to suit their own interpretation - teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9 ). The context of John 16:21 is NOT indicative of persecution.
Interestingly, close
associate of JP, David Nathan of Bread of Life Ministries and Moriel
South Africa, teaches categorically that the
restrainer is not the Holy Spirit, but that he is the Archangel Michael. He explains the phrase: "At that time" Daniel 12:1 refers to Israel and the end times, and that Michael will "stand aside" (Hebrew amad): "That is who is restraining, it is Michael, the angel that God has set over his people Israel." {2} David Nathan not only confirms the pre-wrath position, he also confirms that a seven year
tribulation is definitely not found in the scriptures.{3}
It is very unfortunate that JP has to make his parting shot a personal attack and a rant on his latest false teaching on this subject:
JP: "I wish they (anyone who disagrees with him) would spend more time studying the word of God before attempting to elicidate about it without knowing what they are talking about.... blabbing nonsense when they don't even know what they are saying... patent nonsense...." {4}
This really is unconscionable behaviour from a so-called man of God. These kind of remarks do nothing for JP's argument or witness. Such displays of irreverent behaviour towards other members of the Body of Christ grieve the Holy Spirit (James 3:9-12). I suggest that my readers test JP's teaching for themselves and decide whether he rightly divides the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
There are some very interesting observations on m'kayla's korner: https://mkayla.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/an-encounter-with-a-madman-or-two/
{1} http://bewareofthewolves.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-rapture-holy-spirit-and-restrainer_25.html#comments
{2} Eschataology Part 7 (The seven seals): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmUbFG064X8
{3} Eschataology Part 5 (The False Prophet and the Mark of the Beast): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjrhyvlUbqY
{4} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3_QuhOnG9U