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Prophecy Articles Introduction
Brian Culliton
How prophetic study fits One Fold's objectives
How we interpret the word of God is often dependent on what we already believe. If, for example, we enter into an eschatology study with preconceived notions about how the end times will play out, our conclusions can only agree with that notion. But if we can come to a point where we are able to set aside such ideas and bring only pure Gospel truth to our study, I believe we will learn more about our history, our future, ourselves, and most importantly our Lord Jesus Christ.
Eschatology is a particularly difficult area of prophetic study because we don't have the advantage of hindsight. For example, it's obvious to us what is meant by "Messiah will be cut off" in Daniel, chapter 9. Yet in Jesus' time, those who believed Jesus was the Messiah were certain He would lead a revolt against the Romans and establish the everlasting kingdom. Even those who were close to Him thought this and were disappointed when He was crucified.
The Jews so believed that their Messiah was going to free them from Roman rule, they could not understand the numerous prophecies to the contrary. When we look back on those prophecies, it all seems so clear. Hindsight of fulfilled prophecy allows us believe and boldly proclaim that Jesus is Messiah. But when it comes to eschatology, how certain are we that what we believe is true? What are the odds that the future won't play out like we think it will? If we are anything like the Jews of Jesus' time, those odds are pretty good.
Many Bible teachers are so convinced their end times scenarios are true, they make bold assertions with little or no Biblical support. For example, Pastor Jon Courson, formerly of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, once said, "We believe dogmatically and with certainty that the rapture will happen before the tribulation period.1" Statements like this draw thousands into believing something they really don't understand, especially when they hear it from those they trust and respect.
Pastor Jon Courson is not alone when it comes to making bold futuristic proclamations; thousands of pastors preach pre-trib rapture as a mater of fact. If people hear this preaching enough, they too will believe it as fact without ever giving it a second thought. And many of them will make the same assertions armed with no more than the logical arguments they here from their teachers. Once a scenario is conceived, prophecy is forced to fit its mold.
Interpreting Scripture with the preconceived notion that pre-trib rapture is true will inevitably result in interpreting challenging verses in ways that are only consistent with that theology. And if something in the theology appears to conflict with the Gospel, it will inevitably be explained away by well indoctrinated, but well intentioned, apologists.
If we are going to be what we claim to be, Bible-believing Christians, it is imperative that we drop our preconceived beliefs about eschatology and hold fast to what we know is true: the gospel of Christ. Doing this will allow us to approach eschatology from a truly biblical perspective.
Criteria for the articles and the perceptible Calvary Chapel dilemma
I have limited my prophetic studies to two primary sources, the Bible, and the theology of Dispensationalism. Why Dispensationalism? Because the church I attend, Calvary Chapel, holds to a dispensationalist theology. One might speculate then why I go to Calvary Chapel if I don't agree with the theology. The answer is really quite simple; my theology did not develop from Calvary Chapel's theology. I did not become a Christian through Calvary Chapel; I became a Christian through the Word of God. Calvary Chapel is a church I felt (and still do feel) teaches, not just preaches the Word of God. In fact, dispensationalism is the only area of Calvary Chapel where I feel the pastors have it wrong. Granted, it's a major problem, but one I am willing to address.
I am hopeful that many in Calvary Chapel will consider the challenges brought forth on this website and judge my accusations against dispensationalism according to Scripture. It is good, my brothers and sisters, to test all things and hold only to those that agree with sound Gospel principles. We ask Catholics to challenge their church's doctrine; shouldn't we be willing to do the same?
Dispensationalism
Dispensationalist theology is less than 200 years old and came to be by a man named John Nelson Darby. Darby was the leader of a small sect of Christians known as "The Plymouth Brethren." The Brethren movement began in England, Darby's homeland, in the late 1820s. The group's goal was to reclaim the basic truths of Christianity that mainstream Christians were apparently abandoning.
When I first learned of this historical movement, I was struck by the timing of its origins. One thing I couldn't help but notice is that the time period this movement began was the same as Joseph Smith's Mormon movement. And shortly after came the Watchtower Society (Jehovah Witness) and the Seventh Day Adventists movement - not exactly stellar company.
The history of dispensationalist theology and the pre, mid, and post-tribulation rapture beliefs it holds is often referred to as a movement or revival. But the simple fact remains - the theology is new. The original view of dispensationalist theology is that the church will be raptured before a seven-year tribulation period, something Darby claimed to have discovered in the writings of the prophet Daniel.
Pre-tribulation dispensationalists view the tribulation period as a future seven-year event in which the church will be raptured and antichrist will rein as a world leader. According to the theology, millions of people will come to faith in Christ and be saved during this period. But because they didn't choose to come to Christ before the rapture of the church, they will have to pay for their conversion with their lives.
According to the doctrine, the book of Revelation really has nothing to do with the church beyond chapter four. Chapter four, it is proclaimed, is where the Scripture alludes to the church being raptured. Once raptured, the church isn't seen again until after the tribulation period when she returns with Christ as His bride in chapter 19.
From a Biblical perspective, Dipensationalism has problems. There are several questions that need to be addressed. The prophecy articles will address the important questions and attempt to answer them Biblically.
Many Serious Questions - One Example (The Tribulation Saints)
Question:
If there is a seven-year tribulation period that occurs after the rapture of the church, how are people saved if the church isn't present?
Answer:
Perhaps the most characteristic element of dispensationalist theology is its distinction between the church, Israel, and "tribulation saints." At a recent prophecy conference, apologist Dr. Thomas Ice remarked, "The church going through the tribulation period would be like Christ beating up His bride then inviting her up to heaven to be with Him." However, Dr. Ice claims that millions will be saved during the tribulation period; they are called "tribulation saints."
How does salvation in the "tribulation" differ from salvation in the "church age"? Thomas Ice says, "One's salvation in the Tribulation will come about just as it does during our present Church Age." (Thomas Ice; Salvation in the Tribulation) So how are people saved in the present age?
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Eph. 2:8)
Salvation is the work of God (Jhn. 6:29).
One must be born again to inherit the kingdom of God. (Jhn. 3:3)
And Paul said, "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (Rom. 8:9)
Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit is essential to one's salvation; this is fundamental Christian doctrine. So if people are saved this way today, and Dr. Ice claims that salvation is obtained no differently in the tribulation, where is the distinction between the church and tribulation saints? Why doesn't Dr. Ice's comment about "Christ beating up His bride" apply to them?
Once a person truly believes and commits their life to Christ, he or she is justified by the shedding of Christ's blood upon the cross and saved from the wrath to come. "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Rom. 5:9)
The Bible says that both Jew and Gentile in Christ Jesus are one body with access by one Spirit to the Father. The Apostle Paul said, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph.2:19-22)
Do these Scriptures not apply in the tribulation? According to pre-trib theology they do.
If the tribulation saints are redeemed, they must receive the gift of the Holy Spirit; there is no other way. And if they posses the Holy Spirit, they are also the bride of Christ. And if they are the bride of Christ, wouldn't their suffering under God's wrath be like "Christ beating up His bride" as Dr. Ice said?
All the redeemed are the bride of Christ, according to Scripture. The church is built upon the solid foundation laid by the apostles, which is Jesus Christ. We are built upon that foundation by the works of God in us. Those materials that we bring onto the foundation will pass away with all temporal things, but the materials God builds with are precious and everlasting - all who believe are built upon this foundation. This is the beauty of Christ's bride.
John sees the bride of Christ as the city, New Jerusalem in Revelation 21. When John saw the holy city he described it "as a bride adorned for her husband." Then an angel came to show John the bride, the Lamb's wife, in a state of glorious perfection. He took John to a high mountain and showed him the holy city.
When we read the description of the holy city we are reading the description of the bride of Christ, perfected and beautifully adorned for her Groom.
The foundation she is built upon is the twelve apostles. (Eph. 2:19-20)
Her materials are gold and all kinds of precious stones. (1 Cor. 3:12-14)
The gates bear the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. (Eph. 2:12-13)
The living water flows from the throne of God. (Jhn. 4:14, 7:37-39)
The tree of life bears its fruit for the healing of the nations. (Rev. 2:7)
And who is able to enter the holy city? All those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 21:27)
Since the angel identified New Jerusalem as the bride of Christ and informed John that only they whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life can enter, how could tribulation saints possibly be anything but the bride of Christ? Are they not written in the Lamb's book of life? Thomas Ice said:
"Other groups of redeemed individuals will go through the tribulation, but not Christ's bride, the church." (Thomas Ice; "God's Purpose For The Tribulation")
Contrary to Dr. Ice's belief, the Scriptures say all the redeemed are the bride of Christ! And if the bride of Christ is "saved from the wrath to come," it brings into question the theory of a future post-rapture tribulation period.
In conclusion
"The Tribulation Saints" is one example of the types of article one can expect in the prophecy section of One Fold. The articles are an application of 1 Thessalonians 5:21, "Test all things; hold fast what is good."
I pray that those who read these article are challenged and encouraged.
God Bless!
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