The Truth In Print Vol. 17 Issue 6,
July 2011
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma,
AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The
Rapture That Never Comes! (Part One)
The recent Harold Camping disaster with
cover up — the literal prediction of the “rapture” as taught in the doctrine of
premillennialism — gained more than some attention in
May, 2011. The below article recently ran in our local newspaper depicts his
having joined others in making false predictions about a premillennial
rapture as well as the end of the world:
“The Rapture that Never Comes!
One of the stupid and serious blunders
causing confusion and involving a great deal of false teaching is the so called
Rapture. Harold Camping set the beginning of the rapture for May 21, 2011. He
set it once before for Sept. 7, 1994. His wrongful dates leave him making up
alternate explanations for what supposedly happened, but all the more exposed
for his false prophesies (cf. De. 18:22, Eph. 4:14). Camping’s alternate
explanation for May 21of an invisible coming of Christ for an invisible
Judgment upon the world lands him flat on his face for second time! His rapture
chart set the “probable end” of the world for A.D. 2011--- but now he’s “for
sure” the end of everything is Oct. 21, 2011 --- “probable” hasn’t meant “for
sure” in my lifetime. Matt. 24:36, 2 Pet. 3:10, I Th. 5:2 state clearly he
hasn’t the faintest! Jeremiah said the
prophets prophesy false visions – the deceit of their own heart (Jer. 14:14).
Camping’s “invisibility” stunt corresponds
to the past where others have failed literal predictions that must be turned
into something invisible. Such a blunder reminds us of “The Great
Disappointment” of Oct. 22, 1844; Joseph Rutherford’s infamous “Millions Now
Living Will Never Die”; Hal Lindsey’s 1970 book “The Late, Great Planet Earth”
--- the world would end in the 1980s. The stupid, ignorant and gullible just
keep on callin’ those Rapture Hotlines for updates!
Get it? Just keep on donating your money to them, giving them your property,
and by all means buying their cheap dime a dozen books for that’s exactly what
they know you are good for! (cf. 2 Cor. 2:17; Rom. 16:18; I Tim. 6:5).”
Admit it or not Harold Camping was
teaching and has taught the “rapture” which is part of basic premillennial doctrine. His alternate explanations for
literal predictions that failed to come to pass are not the rapture he was
teaching! He makes up his own dates and rules — claiming God’s guidance — but
none the less had (he’s ditched it now) the rapture theory. Those who teach premillennialism generally teach that their so called
“tribulation” is followed by 1,000 years (a millennium) of a peaceful reign of
Christ in Jerusalem here upon this earth. However, they don’t agree on the time
of the rapture and especially as regards whether their “faithful” experience
none, some, or all of it.
A Basic Premillennial
Chart Would Look Similar to This:
1. Pentecost (Acts 2) the
“church age” begins and has continued to the present.
a. For some in
Dispensational Premillennialism the “church” is sort
of an afterthought — they say Jesus offered the kingdom to the Jews and they rejected
Him, thus He cut the “church age” deal with the Gentiles.
2. The Rapture — the
resurrection rapture may occur and when it happens the “faithful” vanish at an
unseen coming of Christ in an unseen exit.
3. Seven Years Tribulation
Period — those left on earth experience this. During this period the so called
anti-christ makes himself known.
4. Jesus Returns — Christ returns to set up an
earthly kingdom and will reign from Jerusalem. He brings the faithful with Him.
This reign is a literal 1,000 years (a millennium). The idea of “pre” in premillennialism is Jesus returns before the 1,000 years of
peace on earth.
a. For some in Historical Premillennialism when Christ and His church return to earth
for the 1000 years reign the New Jerusalem (“heavenly” — Heb. 12:22, Rev. 21:2)
descends from Heaven and they live in it here on earth. Thus they have the
“faithful” coming with Him in their immortal, incorruptible heavenly bodies.
That leaves those who have continued to be here on earth and yet to be born in
their physical bodies still subject to physical death!
5. Satan & Armageddon —
After the peaceful 1,000 years reign of Christ then Satan is loosed for a
little season — then just prior to the “end” of the world and the Judgment Day
the battle of Armageddon is fought and Satan is conquered and cast into Hell.
6. The Resurrection of the
Wicked at the end and the Judgment Day.
7. The New Heaven and Earth
— the physical material things have vanished and the faithful spend eternity
with the Lord.
IMPORTANT APPLICATIONS:
I. The church of Christ is no afterthought
that came because most Jews rejected Christ:
A. Jesus was delivered up by
His own, the Jews, according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God
(Acts 2:22-24; Isa. 53). The head of the church, Christ, was a Jew in the
flesh. The apostles were all Jews. The church began with the Jews first in
Jerusalem (Acts 2; Rom. 1:16-17). Christ’s church was planned in eternity and
came by God’s eternal purpose and plan (Eph. 3:10-11; 2:10).
B. Notice Jesus’ parallel
statements about building His church and the keys of the Kingdom of heaven:
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and
whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth
shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:18-19). Christ’s building of His church
corresponds with entrance into the Kingdom!
1. In obeying the Gospel christians are translated out of
the power of darkness and into the Kingdom of the Son of God (Col. 1:13). This
takes place by obedience in
being baptized for the remission of one’s sins (Col. 2:9-12).
This was Peter’s command on Pentecost at the beginning of the church (Acts
2:37-28, 41). Paul’s point in Gal. 3:26-29 is “all” — both Jews and Gentiles —
were children of God by faith in Christ “...for as many of you as were baptized
into Christ have put on Christ ...there is neither Jew nor Greek….and if ye be
Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.”
2. God’s plan was for Him to
die on the Cross. His church was purchased with His blood according to God’s
predetermined plan from eternity (Isa. 53; Acts 2:22-24; Acts 20:28). Simply
put premillennialism slights God’s plan! The church
of Christ is the saved here on earth. He is the Savior of the body, the church
(Eph. 5:23; 1:22-23).
3. During His ministry Jesus
said He “finished” the work the Father gave Him here: “I have glorified thee on
the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest
me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine
own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John
17:4-5).
4. Jesus Christ is seated on
His throne at the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Heb. 1:1-3,8). Having finished the work the Father gave Him to do —
Jesus as our eternal High Priest belongs with the true tabernacle that the Lord
pitched and not man (Heb. 8:3).
II. Jesus’ Second Coming Is the End of His
Reign & of Death:
Jesus’ 2nd Coming does not mark the
beginning of His reign but the end (I Cor. 15:20-26). Speaking of His coming Paul says: “But every man
in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward
they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down
all rule and all authority and power” (I Cor. 15:23-24). He follows this by stating that Christ must
reign until the last enemy death is destroyed (vss. 25-26). At His coming the
dead are raised imperishable and the living changed (I Cor. 15:42-54) — that is
the end of death (26). There is but one resurrection that takes place for all
the dead both wicked and just (Jo. 5:28-29).
Premillennialism
has both glorified and earthly bodies in an earthly kingdom. They claim those
converted by the word during their 7 years tribulation go on into the millennium
and repopulate the earth. They don’t even agree as we’ll see later as to what
kind of temple Jesus is supposed to reign in — an earthly having been rebuilt
for His return or as some believe the Heavenly Jerusalem having come down to
this earth for Him and the faithful who come in their immortal bodies. Thus
they have physical death upon His return when the Bible teaches at His coming
death will be abolished! Besides, Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world
(Jo. 18:36). Understand their concurrently having glorified and earthly bodies
in an earthly kingdom — they’ve got to
get the bad guys from somewhere for the great battle that comes after Christ
rules for 1,000 years here on earth. Else they would have none for the final
battle.
Premillennialism
has too many “comings” — He came in the flesh (#1), then He is supposed to come
at the start of the Tribulation (#2), and then He comes again at the end of the
Tribulation (#3). Hebrews says Jesus will appear the second time: “And as it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once
offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he
appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:27-28). This is the second following the first time
when He offered Himself.
Note: For more
information with important applications on Christ, His purpose in coming to
earth, His Church, His Reign & Kingdom, His Second Coming, the
Resurrection, the Judgment & End of the World go to this link and scroll
down to Parts 2 thru 7:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/QuranonJesus.htm.
(To be Continued in the
Next Issue)
By Bob Lovelace
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To
learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The Truth In Print Vol. 17 Issue 7, Aug.
2011
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma,
AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The Rapture That Never Comes! (Part Two)
The doctrine of Premillennialism
with its so called Rapture —this diversified yet wide spread teaching— gives
advantage of using fear to its proponents while at the same time offering a
period that is suggestive of being able to “escape” God’s judgment. I’ll just
let things go and if things really happen like they’re predicting I’ll get
another chance during the Tribulation period they’re speaking of, some presume.
Therein lies one of great dangers of this evil
doctrine. The link for this series is:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/raptureone.html
.
The
So Described Invisible Rapture
Hal Lindsey is a walking monument along
with his books displaying just how wrong rapture addicts can be. His book “The
Late Great Planet Earth” written in 1970 left the impression that sometime in
the 1980s the world would come to an end. One of the amazing feats of this
particular magicians sleight of hand is “The Church disappeared” (Pg. 143,
Chapter 11, The Ultimate Trip). The reasoning? Well,
since John said “...hear what the Spirit saith unto
the churches” seven times in Rev. chapters 1-3 and that particular statement
stops — he says chapters 4 and 5 describe what raptured
believers will be experiencing in heaven. With chapter 4 he says “Then we have
the beginning of the description of the Tribulation, and there is not one
mention of the churches. The church is conspicuous by absence. Why? Because the church will be in heaven at that time. If you are
a believer, chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation describe what you will be
experiencing in heaven. Talk about mind expansion drugs!”
Oh, I’d much rather talk about his mind
expanding and imagining things that are not there. He’s just told readers that
although it doesn’t say so — the Rapture must have taken place though
unrecorded between chapter 3 and chapter 4. But the church hasn’t disappeared
from the Revelation and one would have to be trying to force the Rapture
theory, as he is, to say so. There was no Rapture for the church is still here
on earth as in Rev. 6:9-11 — the martyrs are told that they are to rest for a
little while longer until the rest of their brethren who would be killed as
they had been would be completed! This is typical of Rapture addicts — they
claim the Rapture is “invisible” except to those raptured
and make it “appear” where there is nothing between two chapters in the book of
Revelation!
There
Is Nothing Invisible Or Secret In the Lord’s Return ~
I Th.4:13-18; 5:1-6.
The Rapture of believers is supposedly
when Jesus secretly returns to only to make an unseen exist with the
resurrected and raptured faithful. Among the most
cited scriptures for Rapture proponents is I Th. 4:13-18. If they would read on
and continue with 5:1-6 they’d not be saying what they do.
The supporters of the
"pre-tribulation" Rapture position suggest that Jesus will have a
total of three comings: (1) the first when He came into the world via the
virgin birth and His ministry; (2) the second at the start of the so called
Tribulation (more on that later); (3) the third at the end of their
Tribulation. The problem is the Scriptures only speak of one resurrection
wherein all the dead appear (John 5:28-29) —- read “II. Jesus’ Second Coming Is
the End of His Reign & of Death” (Part One).
I Thess. 4:13-18 is not proof of two
resurrections. Just because a verse
discusses the resurrection of the righteous, it does not eliminate the
simultaneous resurrection of the wicked — read on into chapter 5 and you will
understand I Thess. 5:1-4 is simply a continuation of the same theme — His
coming is the resurrection day and Judgment for all (Jo. 5:28-29). Here the
verses are as they are connected in the Scriptures:
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even
as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word
of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord
shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend
from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with
these words.
1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons,
brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the
day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
1Th 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and
safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with
child; and they shall not escape.
1Th 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness,
that that day should overtake you as a thief.
1Th 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and
the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
1Th 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do
others; but let us watch and be sober.
Having read them here do you see anything
secret or invisible about His coming? There is certainly nothing here about a
millennial reign on earth. Consider these points: (1) There is nothing here
about a millennial reign upon the earth; (2) both dead and living Christians
meet the Lord in the air to be with Christ forever. We are told in other
scriptures what will happen to the earth when He comes (2 Pet. 3:10); (3)
Consider His descending from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God — that is so not secret.
Some
Assume the Rapture and 1,000 Year Reign on Earth in Revelation 20:2-9.
Revelation chapter 20 starts with Satan
being bound for a period designated by 1,000 years. That doesn’t have to be
literal — it has been 2,000 years since this was written. An important point
often overlooked is “where” the souls are that are mentioned here who lived and
reigned with Christ for the same duration of time the devil is bound. They are
said to be souls of those who have been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and
for the Word of God (20:4).
The book of Revelation puts these “souls”
in heaven. In Rev. 6:9-11 they are “under the altar” and have been slain for
the word of God, and for the testimony which they held — these martyrs are told
to rest for a little season until the rest of their brethren who will be killed
as they were is completed. Thus you have “souls” in
heaven and Christians still upon earth — there has been no Rapture!
They are further explained as being with a
great number in Rev. 7:13-17. This number is made up of those who came out of
the great tribulation that “must shortly take place” (Rev. 1:1, 22:6), “for the
time is near” (Rev. 1:3, 22:10). The scene here is in Heaven “before the throne of God
and before the Lamb” (Rev. 7:9) — they serve Him day and night in His temple
(Rev. 7: 15, 17). Where is the throne?
In Rev. 4:1-2 there is a throne set in Heaven and One who sets upon it.
Where is the altar in Rev. 6:9? It is said to be in Heaven before the throne
(Rev. 8:3, 9:13). Again in Rev. 14 where they are represented as 144,000 we are
told that they were “redeemed from the earth” — thus the scene here is in
Heaven.
So where is that 1,000 year reign in
Revelation chapter 20:4? The 1,000 years reign is in Heaven! The point is there
is no Rapture — they died! What happens to someone when their head is cut off?
They die! When men killed Christians who were faithful unto
death as John commanded them to be they did not kill the spirit (Cf. Rev.
2:10-11). Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are
not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).
These in Rev. 20:4 are said to be martyrs
who are saved and with Christ after death, and this is referred to in Rev. 20:5
as the first resurrection. Some assume that this is referring to a coming of
Jesus for the Rapture — Rev. 20:5 is not talking about the so called Rapture
but the salvation of the martyrs.
This goes with understanding “where” Jesus
is today. He is our High Priest at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty
in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which
the Lord erected, and not man (Heb. 8:1-2; 12:2). Heb. 9:27-29 says He’ll
remain there until He comes again —- see Part One, II. Jesus’ Second Coming is
the End of His Reign & of Death.
If premillennialists
do not know what they are talking about when it comes to where the 1,000 year
reign truly is —- in Heaven —- then is it any wonder what they’ll say about
their so called Tribulation doesn’t fit the scriptures either?
(To be Continued in the
Next Issue)
By Bob Lovelace
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To
learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The Truth In Print Vol. 17 Issue 8,
Sept. 2011
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma,
AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The Rapture That Never Comes! (Part Three)
Returning to a prior brief chart
from Part One, notice
point three below with reference to the Seven Years Tribulation Period. Before
reading Part Three you may desire to read Parts One and Two if you have not yet
done so. The link for this entire series is: http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/raptureone.html .
A Basic Premillennial Chart Would Look Similar to This:
1.
Pentecost (Acts 2) the “church age” begins and has continued to the present.
a. For
some in Dispensational Premillennialism the “church”
is sort of an afterthought — they say Jesus offered the kingdom to the Jews and
they rejected Him, thus He cut the “church age” deal with the Gentiles.
2. The
Rapture — the resurrection rapture may occur and when it happens the “faithful”
vanish at an unseen coming of Christ in an unseen exit.
3. Seven Years Tribulation Period —
those left on earth experience this. During this period the so called anti-christ makes himself known.
4. Jesus Returns —
Christ returns to set up an earthly kingdom and will reign from Jerusalem. He
brings the faithful with Him. This reign is a literal 1,000 years (a
millennium). The idea of “pre” in premillennialism is
Jesus returns before the 1,000 years of peace on earth.
a. For
some in Historical Premillennialism when Christ and
His church return to earth for the 1000 years reign the New Jerusalem
(“heavenly” — Heb. 12:22, Rev. 21:2) descends from Heaven and they live in it
here on earth. Thus they have the “faithful” coming with Him in their immortal,
incorruptible heavenly bodies. That leaves those who have continued to be here
on earth and yet to be born in their physical bodies still subject to physical
death!
5.
Satan & Armageddon — After the peaceful 1,000 years reign of Christ then
Satan is loosed for a little season — then just prior to the “end” of the world
and the Judgment Day the battle of Armageddon is fought and Satan is conquered
and cast into Hell.
6. The
Resurrection of the Wicked at the end and the Judgment Day.
7. The
New Heaven and Earth — the physical material things have vanished and the
faithful spend eternity with the Lord.
The So Called “Tribulation Period”
At the close of Part Two the
1,000 years reign in Revelation chapter 20:4 is explained in context as being
in Heaven not upon this earth. That is where the souls of the martyrs mentioned
there are — in Heaven. There is no invisible rapture of the saints from the
earth — they are said to be the martyrs who died and are with Christ after
death. If premillennialists do not know what they are
talking about when it comes to where the 1,000 years reign is — in Heaven —
then is it any wonder what they’ll say about their so called “Tribulation”
doesn’t fit the scriptures either?
Back to the chart — some say that things
get “kick started” so to speak with the so called Rapture and then the
Tribulation Period follows the Rapture. There seems to be some disagreement as
to whether the faithful upon earth are spared all of the distress and turmoil
of the Tribulation, or just some of it and thus are raptured during the Tribulation. At any rate according to
their speculation, their so called anti-christ (see
point 3) is supposedly awaiting his being made known once the “church” is
removed from the earth via the rapture. But we noted in Part Two
that the church is not removed from the earth in the book of Revelation. It is
mere fantasy to assume it will be removed before the end of time! Also, some premillennialists say believers don’t experience the
persecution of the anti-christ who rises during the
tribulation period and others say they do, or at least do for some period of
it.
To be able to see some errors and
understand that there is no Rapture i.e. a vanishing of the saints from the
earth, or that the 1,000 years reign of the martyrs is in heaven with Christ in
Rev. 20 and it does not teach a 1,000 year reign upon this earth, aids in being
able to see yet another error of premillennialism —-
the so called Seven Years Tribulation Period that supposedly comes between the
Rapture and the return of Christ to reign upon earth for a thousand years plus
reign. This is just another false doctrine conveniently place between two other
false beliefs!
Matthew 24:21 — A Favorite Passage
Mat 24:1 And Jesus went
out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him
for to shew him the buildings of the temple.
Mat 24:2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not
all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall
not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of
Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall
these things be? and what shall be
the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them,
Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name,
saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these
things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation,
and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and
earthquakes, in divers places.
Mat 24:8 All these are
the beginning of sorrows.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be
afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my
name's sake.
Mat 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and
shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise,
and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the
love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall
be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come.
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the
abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy
place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee
into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not
come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field
return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child,
and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in
the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation,
such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever
shall be.
I have included the first of this chapter
with verse 21 and for good reason — look at the first of the chapter, verses
1-3, and notice the specific mention by Jesus of the destruction of the temple
in Jerusalem. He is explaining events that portend the destruction by Titus in
A.D. 70 —-what good would it do to flee from Judea if Jesus was speaking of the
end of the world here (cf. Matt. 24:16). Notice that the flight would be
difficult if in the winter (cf. Matt. 24:20). Jesus is telling the disciples to
flee from Jerusalem to avoid its destruction! Thus much of the context of Matt.
24 presents Jesus’ warning of the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in A.D. 70.
Christians were warned by Jesus’ teaching to flee the city which they did
thereby escaping the terrible siege.
Some among premillennialists
think they see the so called anti-christ in Jesus’
statement in Matt. 24:15. But this warning is about the destruction of
Jerusalem just mentioned. It is wrong to strive to carry this to the 21st
century and make it apply today! Premillennialists
have also used Matt. 24:21 as a verse that supposedly supports their
Tribulation Period. Jesus, as stated, is plainly describing the portending
destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in A.D. 70 (cf. Matt. 24:2,15-18;
cp. Lk. 21;20-24).
The Beast of the Sea
& War with the Church
Speculators strive to make the
“beast of the sea” (Rev. 13:1) to be the so called anti-christ.
But Revelation chapters 13-19 are about the Roman Empire (the fourth kingdom of
Dan. 2:40-44) of old up until Rome is destroyed. Satan (the great red dragon,
Rev. 12:9) uses Rome (the beast of the sea, Rev. 13:1) in order to make war
with the church and try and destroy it. This war (Satan using Rome’s emperors
against the church) begins as stated in Rev. 12:17, 13:7. The ally to the
emperor is the “beast of the earth” or “false prophet” who promotes emperor
worship (Rev. 13:11-17; 19:20 “false prophet”). One of the emperors is given
the number 666 (Rev. 13:18).
The “great harlot” spoken of in
Rev. 17 is Rome who reigns over the kings of the earth (cf. Rev. 17:18). It is
said that Rome and its vassal kings make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb
will overcome them because He is Lord and King of kings! (Rev.
17:11-14). In Rev. 16:12-16 this enemy gathers their forces in the place
called Har-Magedon. Then the battle takes place in
Rev. 19:19-21 and Christ wins! Please note now that battle is over! It is not
the same battle as the one about to take place in Rev. 20:9. I believe that one
can see in Revelation chapters 12-19 that Satan worked through Roman Emperors
and kings who gave their support striving to destroy the church Christ built —
they were defeated by the Lord who is king of Kings and Lord of lords.
(To Be Continued)
By Bob Lovelace
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To
learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The Truth In Print Vol. 17 Issue 9,
Oct. 2011
A Publication of the
Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma,
AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The Rapture That Never Comes! (Part Four)
I stated in Part Three (Vol. 17 Issue 8, Sept. 2011) that should one be
shown some of the errors of Premillennialism and
realize that there is no Rapture i.e. a vanishing of the saints from the earth,
or that the 1,000 years reign of the martyrs is in heaven with Christ in Rev.
20 and it does not teach a 1,000 years reign upon this earth — this aids in
being able to see the error of the so called Tribulation Period discussed
there. The link for this entire series is:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/raptureone.html .
As presented in last month’s study a typical error is to say Jesus’ statement in Matt.
24:15 is about their so called “anti-Christ” —— but it is actually His warning
about the siege of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple by Titus in A.D. 70.
Remember that the Hebrew writer stated that the things of the Jewish Law and the
Temple worship were ready to vanish away in Heb. 8:13. And they did! The
covenant in effect today for all men is the New Covenant, the Gospel of Christ
(Rom. 1:16-17).
Before going on notice what John said about antichrists.
There were many in the first century and they are liars who deny that Jesus is
the Christ:
1Jo 2:18 Little children, it is the last time:
and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many
antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jo 2:19 They
went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that
they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. ...
1Jo 2:22 Who
is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the
Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth
the Father and the Son.
1Jo 2:23
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same
hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth
the Son hath the Father also.
The church wasn’t removed from the earth just because they had such
liars then —— we have plenty of such liars today!
Premillennialism Is all
About an Earthly Reign & Kingdom!
As I conclude this series on the Rapture I want to remind you again of what
Harold Camping did. I stated at the first of this study:
“Admit it or not Harold Camping was teaching and has taught the
“rapture” which is part of basic premillennial
doctrine. His alternate explanations for literal predictions that failed to come
to pass are not the rapture he was teaching! He makes up his own dates and
rules — claiming God’s guidance — but none the less had (he’s ditched it now)
the rapture theory. Those who teach premillennialism
generally teach that their so called “tribulation” is followed by 1,000 years
(a millennium) of a peaceful reign of Christ in Jerusalem here upon this earth.
However, they don’t agree on the time of the rapture and especially as regards
whether their “faithful” experience none, some, or all of it.”
Jesus’ Answer to the Idea of an Earthly Reign &
Kingdom
Joh 18:33
Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called
Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?
Joh 18:34
Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this
thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
Joh 18:35
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own
nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Joh 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were
of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to
the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Joh 18:37
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a
king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came
I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is
of the truth heareth my voice.
In spite of both His actions and teaching being a denial that He came to
establish an earthly kingdom premillennialism exists
to deceive with that very thought. John wrote: “When Jesus therefore perceived
that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed
again into a mountain himself alone” (Jo. 6:15).
In this deceptive doctrine a visible and physical second coming of
Christ to this earth supposedly occurs after their so called “Great
Tribulation.” Supposedly those converted by the Word during the “Tribulation” — including Jews who
turn to Christ — go on into the Millennium to repopulate the earth. Of course
not all on earth are faithful, they explain. They’ve got to get all the bad
guys at the end of world for the great battle from some place — it sure doesn’t
look like a world wide peaceful reign to me in Rev.
20:9 at the very end! They say believers who have come with Him in gloried
spiritual bodies rule on earth with Christ during this earthly reign (see “A
Basic Premillennial Chart” and point 4, Part One).
Thus they have the immortal incorruptible saints on earth along side of those
yet in the physical body still dying when their millennial earthly kingdom
reign comes — imagine that.
Paul said the correct order is the physical (earthly) first and the
spiritual (heavenly) last (cf. I Cor. 15:42-49). Moreover he said that “flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit
incorruption” (I Cor. 15:50). This earth is perishable and will never be the
new heaven and earth Christians hope for (cf. I Pet. 1:4; Heb. 12:27). I Cor.
15:50-54 states that when Christ comes the dead are raised incorruptible and we
who are alive are changed to put on incorruption and immortality. In the
confused theory of the premillennial reign on earth
people just keep right on dying — except the saints who have come to a physical
earth in glorified incorruptible bodies which is missing in the correct order
of things.
Adding to their confusion is the teaching of those who say the promises
to Abraham and then David under the Old Testament are
to be fulfilled in an earthly reign. They can’t even agree on what kind of
temple Jesus is supposed to reign in ---- an earthly or as some believe the
heavenly Jerusalem coming down to this earth for the saints who come in their
immortal bodies! Others claim that there will be a return to Old Testament
temple worship and sacrifice to “commemorate” the sacrifice of Christ — this
will never be! Christ Himself foretold the destruction of the temple in Matthew
24. By the time Hebrews was written the Old Covenant, its priesthood and
worship was decaying and ready to vanish (Heb. 8:13). It did as foretold! The
Jews do not have a priesthood today. The Law of Moses
was taken out of the way and nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14-16). Hebrews 7:12
says, “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of
the law.” The blood of Christ is the
blood of the new covenant and He is the eternal High Priest in the heavenly
tabernacle (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:11-12; 8:1-2). The law did change and the New
Testament is God’s law for all of mankind until the end of time! (Mk. 16:15-16;
Rom. 1:16-17).
The premillennial doctrine is a distorted
convoluted lie! The Heavenly Jerusalem contains the tabernacle God made not
man. Flesh and blood can’t inherit it! That is where Jesus Christ the Son of
God reigns from today (Heb. 8:1-2,6). He will remain
there until He comes a second time (Heb. 9:27-28).
The premillennial doctrine finally, after all
the distortion, gets to the end of the world with the resurrection of the wicked
and the judgment day (see “Basic Chart” points 5, 6 & 7, Part One). Thus
they have 1,000 years plus between the resurrection of the rapture and that of
the wicked. Jesus taught all the dead would be raised at the same moment (cf.
John 5:28-29; Matt. 25:31-46).
Things to Remember:
1. Jesus taught during His ministry that
the kingdom was near (Mk. 9:1).
2. Jesus rejected an earthly kingdom (Jo.
6:15; 18:36). He ascended to reign from heaven over a spiritual kingdom (Acts
2:31-36; Heb. 8:1-2).
3. When speaking of building His church
Jesus said the apostles were given the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt.
16:18-19; 18:18). The apostles preached the Gospel, the word of the kingdom,
and the church was established on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem as recorded
in Acts chapter 2. Upon obedience in baptism there were added that day about
3,000 souls (Acts 2:37-42).
4.
Paul said those in the church at Colossae had been translated from the
power of darkness into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).
5. John was in the kingdom, he said (Rev.
1:9).
Friend, for you to be saved and be in the church of Christ thus “in the
kingdom” you too must believe in the deity of Christ and be baptized for the
remission of your sins (cf. Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38,41).
By Bob Lovelace
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To
learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
The Truth In Print Vol. 17 Issue
10, Nov. 2011
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Why Is Harold Camping No Longer In The
Spotlight?
The below article ran in our local newspaper
on June 25, 2011. It is the first of a series of consecutive brief articles, with the
latest being “The So Called Secret Invisible Rapture” published Saturday, Oct.
29, 2011. You may read these as they are being completed at http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/rapturenewsp.html
.
These articles
are linked with the much fuller on line study, The Truth In Print series also
titled “The Rapture That Never Comes” at http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com/articles/raptureone.html) . Thus the reader may find information on this important
topic with expansion of the main points. Like the mentioned fuller expanded
study these article show the error in the premillennial
doctrine with its so called “rapture.”
Please note that
this particular article gives emphasis to Camping’s having
made false predictions about “both” a premillennial
rapture as well as the end of the world. These articles are intentionally being
continued past his date for the END of the world — such gives emphasis to the
never ending cycle of the deceiving religious celebrities who shine brightly
and then quickly recalculate, change tactics or simply fade away:
“The
Rapture that Never Comes!
One of the
stupid and serious blunders causing confusion and involving a great deal of false
teaching is the so called Rapture. Harold Camping set the beginning of the
rapture for May 21, 2011. He set it once before for Sept. 7, 1994. His wrongful
dates leave him making up alternate explanations for what supposedly happened,
but all the more exposed for his false prophesies (cf. De. 18:22, Eph. 4:14).
Camping’s alternate explanation for May 21of an invisible coming of Christ for
an invisible Judgment upon the world lands him flat on his face for second
time! His rapture chart set the “probable end” of the world for A.D. 2011---
but now he’s “for sure” the end of everything is Oct. 21, 2011 --- “probable”
hasn’t meant “for sure” in my lifetime. Matt. 24:36, 2 Pet. 3:10, I Th. 5:2
state clearly he hasn’t the faintest!
Jeremiah said the prophets prophesy false visions – the deceit of their
own heart (Jer. 14:14).
Camping’s
“invisibility” stunt corresponds to the past where others have failed literal
predictions that must be turned into something invisible. Such a blunder
reminds us of “The Great Disappointment” of Oct. 22, 1844; Joseph Rutherford’s
infamous “Millions Now Living Will Never Die”; Hal Lindsey’s 1970 book “The
Late, Great Planet Earth” --- the world would end in the 1980s. The stupid,
ignorant and gullible just keep on callin’ those
Rapture Hotlines for updates! Get it? Just keep on donating your money to them,
giving them your property, and by all means buying their cheap dime a dozen
books for that’s exactly what they know you are good for! (cf. 2 Cor. 2:17;
Rom. 16:18; I Tim. 6:5).”
The “End” Will Be Oct. 21, 2011!
Really! That’s
what the man said who was rebuked by one of his own followers on his own Family
Radio network for his having made them both false teachers. The rebuke came for
his teaching that May 21, 2011 would be the day of the so called premillennial rapture. You may read the enlarged study on
line to learn the many things that are false about the Rapture theory.
On that Friday
morning my wife, Wanda, said to friends at the coffee shop, “Well, didn’t anyone
remember that this was supposed to the end of the world?” Actually most who
heard the question had already forgotten, although Camping had been much talked
about back in May — imagine that. Yes, back in May as he quickly made
“adjustments” following “R” day he explained that May 21 had actually been a
“spiritual” Judgment Day and the globe will actually be completely destroyed in
five months on Oct. 21, 2011. The false teacher who lit up the month of May is
now a piece of ash!
Jesus Said Something Important Here!
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but
my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father
only.
How Important Is It To Be And Remain Ready?
Mat 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the
bridegroom.
Mat 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five
were foolish.
Mat 25:3 They that were foolish took their
lamps, and took no oil with them:
Mat 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels
with their lamps.
Mat 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all
slumbered and slept.
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made,
Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and
trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise,
Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so;
lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell,
and buy for yourselves.
Mat 25:10 And while they went to buy, the
bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and
the door was shut.
Mat 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins,
saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
Mat 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say
unto you, I know you not.
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither
the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
What Good Will It Do When He Comes To Admit
You Are Not Ready?
Mat 25:24 Then he
which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not
sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy
talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him,
Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I
reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest
therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I
should have received mine own with usury.
Mat 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him,
and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given,
and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away
even that which he hath.
Mat 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant
into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
There Is A Hell To Shun!
Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his
glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of
his glory:
Mat 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all
nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33 And he shall set the sheep on his
right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on
his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred,
and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and
ye took me in:
Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick,
and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed
thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took
thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in
prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40 And the
King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on
the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42 For I was an hungred,
and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not
in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44 Then shall they also answer him,
saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or
athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister
unto thee?
Mat 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying,
Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these,
ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46 And these shall go away into
everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Invitation:
If you desire
salvation then “Come!” (Rev. 22:17). The
church of Christ invites you to come and hear the Gospel preached as it should
be — you can hear the Gospel, believe in the deity of Christ, repent, confess
with the mouth that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and obey in baptism for
the remission of your sins (cf. Mk. 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:35-39; Gal.
3:26:27).
By Bob Lovelace
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To learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com,