On September 11th 2001 America Changed, the land of the free became the home of the enslaved. Since that day we have exchanged our liberties and freedoms for security, the question is, was it all by mans design or was it by Divine Will? I suppose the answer is both, regardless, it was a day of infamy. As we look back, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor lead us into the 2nd world war, a war which set us on the path to a One World Government. In the aftermath of world war II the United Nations was created and the pursuit for a One World Government accelerated. A police state is beginning to tighten its grip on the people of the United States and for those who understand Biblical Prophecy, what comes next won’t be a surprise. At some point in the future, according to the Scripture, everyone will be forced to take a mark in order to buy or sell or they will be killed.
The emergence of the Antichrist is becoming increasingly imminent, behind the scenes, Satan is working feverishly to bring about a One World Government and a One World Religion in preparation for the Antichrist. For decades now we have heard those who have and are subverting the Constitution of the United States, promoting a One Word Government. Satan has also deceived many modern Evangelicals into believing we will be removed from the earth before the Great Tribulation takes places, making the Pretribulation Rapture teaching the biggest lie of the modern age.
What many don’t know is that the pretribulation rapture is new, there is no evidence of anyone teaching it before 1830 with the exception of “Rabbi Ben Ezra” alias to Emmanuel Lacunza who theorized that the Church would be raptured before Jesus’ return to earth. Escapism is the central theme of Pretribulation Rapturism, teaching the rapture to be secret and imminent with no signs preceding the event. The birth and development of Pretribulation Rapturism has been kept hidden by many of its contemporaries, however truth be known, its conception came from a vision by a women named Margaret Macdonald. Dave MacPherson in his book “The Rapture Plot” stated that “It would be hard to prove, as some have charged, that a dark, unseen force had a direct hand in the bringing about the creation of this end-time system” called Pretribulation Rapturism. He continued by stating, “But not so hard to imagine that, after the emergence of this school of interpretation, the same opportunistic force could easily find reasons for nurturing and exploiting it while hiding its origin.1
There are four individuals who can be credited for the origin, publication, and popularity of the 19th Century Pretribulation Rapture view, Margaret Macdonald, Edward Irving, John Darby, and C.I. Scofield. All four of these individuals play an intricate role which has snowballed this school of interpretation into the greatest hoax and deception of the modern and post-modern age. It is these who are the foundation for every 20th and 21st Century supporter of the Pretrib Rapture View. Many popular Authors have since its conception proliferated this erroneous doctrine which has left the masses within Christendom lethargic to end-time prophecy, ignoring Jesus’ Command to watch and be ready.
Although Historicism was more prevalent in the early 1800’s the mainstream teaching of the rapture was primarily post-tribulational. Nevertheless, men such as John Tudor (Editor of ‘The Morning Watch’) and Edward Irving toyed with the idea of a partial rapture in the 1820’s. This idea was introduced via sermons, articles, etc by both men. They separated the “elect” in Matthew 24 by declaring the “first-fruits” were gathered before the harvest of Revelation 14 which immediately preceded the treading of the wine-press of wrath.2 They hinted of a pre-tribulational Rapture which was based on the priority of one Christian over the other, it was viewed as an entitlement rather than on the timing of the rapture. Just like today, many view themselves superior to others having a sense of privilege. Regardless, it’s no surprise Edward Irving latched on to Margaret Macdonald’s vision of a pre-trib rapture understanding he’s genre leaned to that thought already.
While dispensationalism was understood from the Historicism position of the early 1800’s, it was Edward Irving who under the name of “Fidus” in “The Morning Watch” article in September 1830 who presented the doctrine changing view of dispensationalism by interjecting Pretribulationism, blending the two thoughts together, thus, setting the stage for the later development of the doctrine. Irving believed it was the Philadelphian church who would come to meet the Lord in the air and that the Laodicean church would endure the period of great tribulation which would intervene between the coming of the Lord to the air and the establishment of his throne and rest in Zion.3 This of course was the first publication introducing this new doctrine and one can now see how the belief in a pretribulation rapture and “tribulation saints” exist today among Pretribers.
You’ve heard someone say; “They just can’t make this stuff up can they?” Well, yes they can and yes they do. The Bible warns five times in the New Testament concerning fables (1 Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 2 Tim. 4:4; Titus 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16). A fable can mean a great deal of things but Biblically it is speaking of an untruth. It is something fabricated by the mind in contrast to reality. What it is not is a vehicle of some lofty truth but generally is for the purpose of deceiving others. One lie always leads into another, then another and another. Most often, for a lie to flourish, truth must be denied and discredited. Pretrib Rapturism is fiction at best! In fact the left behind series seen in book form and in the movies only paint an imaginary tale of the Rapture. But that is one lie, another would be the treatment of Jesus’ teaching in the Olivet Discourse.
To understand the Rapture we must look at the characteristics of the Rapture from a Biblical perspective. To do so we must first view the most classic rapture passage in Scripture, then compare it to other passages describing the same event.
Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave]. for since we believed that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him through Jesus those who have fallen asleep [in death]. For this we declare to you by the Lord’s word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death]. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first. Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord! Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words. ~ 1 Thess. 4:13-18 AMP.
In Matthew 24:29-32 we see the same elements as our classic rapture passage. Jesus descends from heaven, He is seen on the clouds, Angels are present and active, there is the sound of the trumpet, and lastly, the gathering of God’s elect from one end of heaven to the other, that is to one focal point, where Jesus is.
Now here is where another Pretrib lie is found. Pretribbers, especially its Authors and theologians will tell you that Matthew 24 is strictly written to the Jews. It is here I will present evidence to the contrary. Mark chapter 13 is the parallel passage to Matthew 24. Basically, Mark is describing the same thing with some minor variations. However Mark makes a very clear distinction which I will put in bold print.
But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. The stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from, the four winds, from the furthest part of earth to the furthest part of heaven. ~ Mark 13:24-27 NKJV
Notice here that Mark makes a very clear distinction, the Angels will gather His elect from the earth to heaven (heaven meaning the sky, air, clouds, etc). Both passages line up perfectly with 1 Thessalonians 4. Now to expose the lie, if you reads on in Marks account, the very last verse of this chapter ends with; “And what I say to you, I say to all, Watch!” (Mark 13:37). What Jesus was teaching his disciples here in the Olivet Discourse, He says to ALL. Not just the Jews, but the Jews, the Gentiles, every Nation and people throughout the age. Jesus didn’t say, “what I say to you, I say only to the Jews,” He said I say this to all!
Now, it is important here to point out the most obvious lie of the Pretribulation Rapture. To do so we must compare both Matthew 24:29 and Mark 13:24 together.
Only after the tribulation will the sun be darkened, the moon will not give its light. Only after the tribulation will Jesus Christ appear in the heavens to gather together His elect (church). The Rapture, biblically speaking is Post-Tribulational (Not to be confused with the posttribulation rapture view). Not only does this expose the pretribulation view to be a hoax, a lie concerning the timing of the Rapture but it also exposes another lie sold to the masses and that is the Pretribulation Rapturist teach that the entirety of Daniel’s 70th week is the tribulation period.
Now here is where much of the argument occurs, those who claim Matthew 24 to be strictly given to the Jews do so by saying “the elect” is not applied to the Church. They say the elect is a reference to the Nation of Israel, the Jews. Ok, I guess Paul got it wrong when he wrote the Church in Rome. In Romans 11:7 Paul says; “What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks, but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.” “Israel” refers to the majority of those who are Jews by physical descent, including their recognized leadership. Having failed to obtain a right standing with God by rejecting the Christ they have been hardened in unbelief. So who then is the elect mentioned here?
A reason there is so much confusion over who Jesus was talking to and who He included when he mentioned “the elect” is to many people are looking to commentaries and books for their answers rather than the Scripture. To many people are looking for a well known, famous, high flying prominent teacher, preacher, theologian, etc to define words and spoon feed them the meaning of biblical texts rather than study God’s Word for themselves. Nearly every time the word “elect” is used in the New Testament it is referring to the saved, the born again, the Church. So as stated by Paul to the Romans, Israel has not obtained what it seeks, but the elect have…,” Israel has not, the Elect has! Two different people groups mentioned here folks! You can’t have it both ways.
Out of the sixteen times the word “Elect” is used in the Bible ten refer to all believers in general, two refer to believers who are specifically Gentiles, one refers to believers who are Jews, two refer to Jesus Christ Himself and one refers to Jacob the person. So to clarify, when Jesus taught His disciples that AFTER the tribulation He would “gather together His elect” He was referring to His Elect Church, believers.
As stated above, Pretribulation Rapturist see the Rapture as both imminent and secret with no prophetic signs signaling Christ’s decent to the clouds. This as we have seen is a lie, an untruth, therefore it falls under the category “fable.” As noted, Matthew 24:29-31 demonstrate the rapture as visible (Every eye will see Him vs.30; Rev. 1:7) and it only becomes imminent once the signs in the sun, moon and stars are seen. Most important, this passage clearly teaches the rapture to be “after” the tribulation.
It is here I would like to quote Robert Van Kampen who gives considerable thought to this important passage:
Thus there is total agreement in Scripture as to what the sign will be, but there also is complete consistency as to when this sign will occur; “immediately after the tribulation of those days” (Matt. 24:29a) but “before the great and awesome Day of the Lord” (Joel 2:31). Christ therefore explicitly links together the sign of the end of the age that occurs “immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29a) with the sign prophesied in the Old Testament announcing the Day of the Lord, which will only occur when the great tribulation by Antichrist is “cut short” by Christ’s return.
In the very next verse Christ goes on to explain that the second sign–when “the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky” (v.30a) will follow in immediate succession to the sign of the end of the age.4
It is here, after the great tribulation by Antichrist is cut short (Matt. 24:22) and the sign of the end of the age is given where the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky to rapture the dead and the living in Christ.
As I showed earlier, the characteristics between the classic rapture passage in 1 Thess. 4 corresponds perfectly with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 24. So to prove that Matthew 24:29-31 is a clear cut teaching on the rapture of the elect we will again compare this passage with yet another rapture passage just so there is clarity on the matter.
“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you” ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:1
“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” ~ Matthew 24:30
As noted earlier, Marks account makes it clear this gathering is from the earth to the sky (Mk. 13:27; heaven, sky, clouds, etc). Almost without exception, no matter what ones Eschatology is, all agree that 2 Thessalonians 2:1 is without a doubt a rapture passage. The original Greek text contains an important truth that Christ intended to convey to His disciples, the same truth Paul conveys to his readers at Thessalonica. Again, it is here I will quote Robert Van Kampen as no one in all my research shows this truth with the clarity he does:
The classic Rapture passage recorded in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that when the Rapture occurs, we will “be caught up together with them (the dead in Christ) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” The peculiar Greek word episunagō (“gather together”) used by Christ when He speaks to His disciples in the Olivet Discourse will prove that point.
Sunágō comes from two smaller Greek words that together mean “to bring together, come together, gather together, or assemble.” It is the root verb from which the noun sunagoge (“synagogue”) is derived. Basically, synagogue means a “gathering place,” where people assemble together.
In the Olivet Discourse, when we see the Son of Man coming on the clouds and sending His angels to gather together His elect, why is the Greek word episunagō used to describe this gathering, rather than just the root Greek verb sunágō? The answer to this question is very important. Adding the Greek preposition epí to the verb sunágō gives direction to the gathering. Epí basically means “on” or “upon” (just as epidermis refers to the top layer – epí – of one’s skin – dermis). So when this little preposition is added to the verb sunágō, it gives an upward direction to the gathering. Therefore, episunagō means a gathering together in an upward direction, or “a taking up and bringing together.”5
There is a clear parallel between Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12-17. Soon after the opening of the Sixth Seal, unbelievers will hide in the rocks and caves, having seen Jesus on the clouds in the air, knowing that God’s wrath is imminent. It will begin with the opening of the Seventh Seal (Rev. 8:1). It is when the world sees Jesus in the air that He will gather and catch up His Elect Church at the Rapture, thereby rescuing them from the wrath to come. Jesus here does not return to the earth after the opening of the Sixth Seal, rather, when the Seventh Trumpet is blown nullifying the possibility that Matthew 24:30-31 is a picture of Jesus’ bodily descent to the earth, but is seen in the air, in the clouds.
This entry was posted in Eschatology and tagged Daniel's 70th week, Persecution, Pretribulation Rapture, Prewrath Rapture, Tribulation, Tribulation Period by Mike Rogers. Bookmark the permalink.	
[This how someone reacted to the 2016 rapture debate (Stauffer vs. Schimmel). Ran into it on the net:]
Re Margaret MacDonald, here’s what Dr. F. Nigel Lee stated: “Dave MacPherson, in his various books, has made a major contribution toward vindicating Historic Christian Eschatology. The 1830 innovations of the disturbed Margaret Macdonald documented by MacPherson—-in part or in whole—-immediately spread to Edward Irving and his followers, then to J. N. Darby and Plymouth Brethrenism, and were later popularized by the dispensationalistic Scofield Reference Bible, by Classic Pentecostalism, and by latter-day pretribulationists like J. F. Walvoord and Hal Lindsey.” (Dr. Lee stated this as the holder of nine EARNED doctorates [!] and as Australia’s most eminent evangelical scholar!) Google “X-Raying Margaret,” “Margaret Macdonald’s Main Point” and “Margaret Macdonald’s Rapture Chart” to find out what Dr. Stauffer censored. Stauffer’s “research” failed to notice that even Hal Lindsey calls Margaret a partial rapturist in his book “The Rapture.” And Walvoord’s “The Rapture Question” refers to partial rapturists as “pretribulationists” (p. 105) – pretribs who, in their “rapture charts” see “church” BEFORE the rapture as well as seeing “church” AFTER the rapture; they are “church splitters”! It’s amazing how many pretrib defenders have seized on Margaret’s statement “The trial of the Church is from Antichrist” and then gotten into a tizzy in public while ranting and screaming that “Margaret was a posttrib” or, even worse, that she was demon-possessed or in a trance or that “MacPherson has covered up many before 1830 who clearly taught pretrib”!!! Google “Scholars Weigh My Research” to find out other evangelical leaders who have endorsed MacPherson’s research since 1970. Also Google “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty,” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “Pretrib Rapture Stealth,” “C. I. Scofield’s Hidden Side,” “Famous Rapture Watchers” and “Dr. Watson’s Pretrib Non-Discovery” – just some of the hot articles on the British blog “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing” hosted by noted teacher Treena Gisborn. BTW, this past July 5th, pretribber Dr. Erwin Lutzer told a packed Moody Church that there are now posttribs as well as pretribs among the MBI personnel, adding “Here at the Moody Church we have decided to not draw a line in the sand about these two views.” (!) But MBI is only reflecting the many worldwide who are now abandoning pretrib for other rapture views – and scary world events are helping to bring about the collapse of the 188-year-old pretrib fantasy!﻿
Terrific and accurate teaching from start to finish … especially the definition of “the elect” v.s. “replacement theology”! It’s a fine line to expose.
Two Google articles throwing light on Catholics like Lacunza (see main article above) include “The Real Manuel Lacunza” and “Catholics Did NOT Invent the Rapture.”
John Bray’s 1982 booklet “The Origin of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture Teaching” claimed that 18th century Jesuit priest Manuel Lacunza originated the pretrib rapture in his 1812 work “The Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty.” Bray stated Lacunza saw a 45-day period between a rapture and Christ’s touchdown on earth – a 45-day period Bray viewed as “tribulation” days.
But Lacunza was only saying that the “day of the Lord” would be at least 45 days long – the difference between the 1290 days and the 1335 days in Dan. 12. Somehow Bray failed to note that those 45 days could not begin until the tribulation days were “concluded” (Vol. II, p. 250) – and Bray may have been influenced by those who erroneously believe that the “day of the Lord” INCLUDES the tribulation!
Not only did Lacunza begin his 45 days AT the joint rapture/second coming, but he even had the raptured ones back on earth DURING those 45 days (Vol. II, pp. 262-3) to minister to “the relics [trib survivors] of all nations” [see Isa. 18:2] during the cleanup of Antichrist’s rubble (similar to the cleaning up of New York’s Twin Towers’ rubble before new buildings could be built)!
In Vol. I (p. 83) Lacunza writes that “the nineteenth chapter [of Revelation] speaks of the coming of the Lord in glory and majesty, which Christians with one consent do wait for.”
On pp. 99-100, after quoting I Thess. 4:13-18, Lacunza quotes Matt. 24:30 and then comments: “If you compare this text with that of St. Paul, you shall find no other difference than this, that those who are to arise on the coming of the Lord, the apostle nameth those who are dead in Christ, who sleep in Jesus; and the Lord nameth them his elect.”
And in Vol. I (p. 113) Lacunza again quotes I Thess. 4 and Matt. 24 like this: “…He shall descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; then we who are alive, &c. and it appears to me, that you will find St. Paul and the Gospel speaking one and the same thing: He shall send his angels and they shall gather his elect from the four winds; who can be no other than those very ones who are in Christ, who sleep in Jesus.”
Interestingly, even Tim LaHaye’s 1992 book “No Fear of the Storm” admits on p. 169 that “Lacunza never taught a pre-Trib Rapture!”
For more on Bray and his other groundless claims, Google “Is John Bray a PINO?,” “Morgan Edwards’ Rapture View,” “Catholics Did NOT Invent the Rapture,” “John Darby Did NOT Invent the Rapture,” “Margaret Macdonald’s Rapture Chart,” “Edward Irving Vs. John Darby,” and “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty.”
Finally, since the earliest pretrib rapture promoters were overwhelmingly anti-Catholic, it’s not likely they would have adopted anything from a Catholic!
John Darby, Paul Wilkinson, and Thomas Ice are among those who have flunked the Margaret Macdonald test by covering up and misinterpreting what she (as the pretrib rapture originator) actually stated in 1830!
My book “The Rapture Plot” discusses Margaret’s two-part main point (lines 58-63 in her 117-line account): seeing “one taken and the other left” before “THE WICKED” (Antichrist) is “revealed.”
Hal Lindsey’s “The Rapture” correctly says she taught “a partial Rapture” – that only PART of the church will be pretribbed up.
Walvoord’s “The Rapture Question” also describes partial rapturists as “pretribulationists,” and their charts show the “church” BEFORE AND AFTER their rapture in the same way Margaret was a “church splitter.” (Google “X-Raying Margaret,” “Margaret Macdonald’s Rapture Chart,” and “Pretrib Rapture’s Missing Lines.”)
Both John Cardale (in Edward Irving’s journal in Dec. 1830) and John Darby (in his 1853 book) described their visits to mid-1830 meetings Margaret conducted in her home. Darby’s “recollection” was such a mirror of the many details in Cardale’s published account 23 years earlier that I’m convinced that Darby was merely copying Cardale’s details, and Darby listed all of the details except one!
Although Darby mentioned Margaret’s “texts on overcoming” (the “tribulation” or second half of her main point), he deliberately omitted her emphasis on “the coming of the Lord” (rapture) as the church’s “deliverance” before the “judgments coming on the earth” which all visitors, except Darby, admitted was a pretrib event (the “rapture” or first half of her main point)!
Margaret’s visitors included writers for Irving’s journal “The Morning Watch.” Within weeks it reflected Margaret’s unique and original “church/church dichotomy” (“spiritual” church members raptured and “less spiritual” church members left behind) when it saw the “Philadelphia” church raptured BEFORE “the great tribulation” and the “Laodicea” church left on earth.
After Joe Schimmel’s Good Fight Ministries produced the “Left Behind or Led Astray?” video (the greatest video exposure ever of pretribism’s dishonesty-riddled history!), Britisher Paul Wilkinson savagely attacked it in an uber-unscholarly way in a video produced by the Berean Call Ministry titled “Left Behind or Led Astray? – Exposed.”
In order to please his think-alike idol, John Darby, Wilkinson deliberately stopped his quotation of Margaret at line 45 so that he could omit the first (pretrib) part of her main point in order to be able to falsely declare that she advocated “a post-tribulation Rapture”!
Thomas Ice has been even more nervy than Wilkinson, his British “twin.” When Ice quoted Margaret’s 117-line account in the Dallas Seminary journal he omitted ALL OF HER MAIN POINT but made up for it by quoting just BEFORE and AFTER it! (Ice’s “PhD” was “earned” at the unaccredited Tyndale Seminary in Texas which, according to World Net Daily, was heavily fined by the State of Texas for illegally issuing degrees – too many degrees for the Texas heat!
Finally, if Ice, Wilkinson and other pretrib escape artists love Jews and Israel as much as they say they do, why don’t they want to be on earth during “Jacob’s trouble” to aid and comfort Jews and others? (Some Google items related to this include “Greatest Hebrew-Christian Scholars NOT Pretrib,” “Roots of Warlike Christian Zionism,” and “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty.”
Thanks for taking the time to really think this over. I know it’s a deep subject, but we can get nowhere against heresy until we get to the root.
I think one of the most compelling examples of irresistible grace in the Bible is what happened to Saul, because Jesus even told him that it was hard for him to kick against the pricks to his heart (Acts 9:5). Jesus even said he was a chosen vessel so how could he resist? If he had continued to resist and ended up in hell, he would have been able to make God a liar. But that was impossible.
Well godlee, its an compelling article. Your right, its a deep subject and very controversial one at that. I don’t see myself as either Arminian or a Calvinist as I can’t see irresistible grace in the Scripture either. I’m going to take a closer look at your article and I’ll comment there. At first glace, I agree with what your wrote, you presented more than enough Scripture to back up your point. Very Good!
I’ve been studying on the history of American religion for a few years now and have come to some very startling conclusions. I even found out Charles Finney lied and covered up the real downfall of Americas spirituality—-Arminianism—because he was one of the main promoters of it and the fanatical excesses we see today.
Yea Roland, I’m reading a book by Jacob Prasch and he has mentioned replacement Theology a few times. Its a real problem. Don’t really see how anyone can come to such conclusions in light of Romans 11:25. But then, you have to take an exegetical approach to the Scripture to obtain truth, most have thrown exegesis out the window. It’s all relevant to the individual today, that is, one’s own personal feel good method of interpretation.
Thanks, I have recently started to write again and my blog is enargingterritories.com. I have been writing about the same issues with a twist. I have seen how the doctrines have started to break up groups. The biggest issue is replacement theology as well and that is curse people are inviting into thier lives.
Healing evangelist, revivalist, and author Todd Bentley is the founder of Fresh Fire USA. As a teenager, Todd, an alcoholic and drug addict, had a dramatic life-changing encounter with the saving, delivering power of God. Today, Todd and his Fresh Fire team travel the world to lead the lost into the miraculous, delivered and set free—launched into the reality of intimate relationship with Jesus. The passion of Todd’s life and ministry to the nations is souls and to see others experience the transferable, tangible anointing of the Holy Spirit.
God releases His presence and power through Todd’s life in a mighty way, confirming that Jesus still heals every sickness and disease. God has drawn Todd into deep and intimate places of prayer. These extended times in God’s presence have released a fresh prophetic and miracle-healing anointing. Todd believes the Body of Christ needs to be strengthened and encouraged. He ministers prophetically, corporately and personally as well as brings forth the Word of God with the power and demonstration of the Spirit-God confirming His word with signs and wonders following. God has released an increase of the healing anointing into Todd’s life—the blind see, the deaf hear and growths dissolve as Jesus heals every sickness and disease. More here.
The manifestation of the Spirit through the gifts are on an individual bases by the Spirit according to the Will of God for the purpose of edifying the body of Christ and to give glory to God in all things. I contend that though every believer is sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption Eph. 1:13, though every believer is baptized into the Body of Christ by the Spirit 1 Cor. 12:13, not all believers are given gifts as outlined in 1 Cor. 12 & 14 as a personal possession. “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually, as He wills.” 1 Cor. 12:11 is not necessarily saying that every believer has a gift but that the Spirit works through individuals according to His will so as any one individual can manifest any one of the gifts at any given time according to the Will of the Spirit. I don’t see the gifts blanketing the Body of Christ as we are seeing today. Nor can I say that the “gifts” portrayed today are an abuse of spiritual gifts as the phenomena occurring in this present hour are not the biblical gifting’s of the Spirit. If you study biblical history, God has always moved in the remnant, never the masses.
God gives to those who are responsible with what is given them. People act today as though the Gifts of the Spirit are a smorgasbord thrown on a table where people can just serve themselves. Peter taught “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” 1 Peter 4:10-11. The one gifted is to be a steward of such gifting entrusted to them by the Lord for the strengthening of fellow believers, and that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. The gifts are not a free for all to be used at the will and whim of people. Nor are they used to draw disciples after our selves, or to build your own ministry, nor to become popular as though you have the corner market on the gifts or a special anointing.
I believe a parallel can be seen with the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given to individuals for a specific purpose and then withdrawn. As I said above, every believer is sealed and possesses the Holy Spirit, He indwells every believer. However, the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit are given and then withdrawn according to the “Will of the Spirit” to accomplish a specific purpose. The problem is we claim them as if the gifts are ours, they are not, they are the “gifts of the Spirit” and Scripture is conclusive, He distributes to each one individually as He wills. This is where a lot of confusion exist today, the gifts of the Spirit have never operated on a large scale and the majority of what is seen today is an artificial replication of the biblical gifting’s. If they were not a imitation but truly do originate from the Holy Spirit there would be valid miracles performed drawing people to the Saving Grace of Christ. Instead we see wild claims from our charismatic counterparts that Jesus heals every sickness and disease through men like Todd Bentley. The blind see, the deaf hear and growths dissolve as Jesus heals every sickness and disease? Every sickness? Not even Jesus healed every sickness and disease! In John 5 Jesus went to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews, there he was seen at the pool of Bethesda. On the five porches there was a “great multitude” of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, all waiting for an angel to stir the water that one might enter the pool and be healed. Jesus saw one man there who had an infirmity for thirty-eight years. It was this one individual who received healing, Jesus then withdrew from the pool and went to the temple. Why didn’t Jesus heal all who were sick at the pool? Scripture doesn’t say, but the point is, Jesus didn’t heal every sickness and disease. Only one out of a great multitude of people was healed that day. But one thing is certain, when Jesus did heal, people where completely healed and it was visible and verifiable.
So how can we determine the real from the false today? The lines seem to be blurred, but the answers are easy. First; You compare the message with the manifestation! Second; You judge according to their fruit, you look at their track record. The emphasis has never been on the miracle in Scripture, but on the message. Before Jesus ever did one miracle, he preached “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near” Matt 4:17. He then went about all of Galilee teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, healing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people, not all sickness and disease vs. 23.
Todd Bentley is nothing more than a recycling of previous movements that stretch back decades. Whether it was meetings held by people like William Branham, Kathryn Kuhlman, Benny Hinn, Rodney Howard-Browne, Steve Hill, or any of the so-called Kansas City Prophets, the spirit and basic doctrine are the same. There’s a common thread of specific heresies that go back a long way.[1] We’ll get to that in a moment, first I think it best to address an issue which has troubled me for some time now.
I have endeavored to justify the cessationist view with Scripture and have come up empty. Most cessationist arguments are from a historical perspective rather than a Biblical exegesis. However, the few verses some do implement become a violation of the hermeneutics they claim to adhere to. Whether we like it or not, we must except and believe all that Scripture reveals of God, His activities and workings in the earth with mankind. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 fall within the love chapter of the Bible and we see the gifts in contrast to love. The Gifts are partial, temporal, and are not eternal. Everything in this age compared to the perfection of the new creation is at a child like stage including the gifts. But rather than suggesting the termination of the gifts during this age or at an early point in church history, this passage proves just the opposite. “That which is perfect” refers to the completion of God’s purposes after the Second coming of Jesus Christ. There is no other reason other than human opinion to presume to attribute these verses to the conclusion of the canon of the Scripture.
While the inspired Word of God was completed at the end of the first century, its completion did not signal an end to the continuing operation of the very powers it describes.[2] It is possible, though not from a biblical point of view, that the gifts were dormant for a period of ages, still there is evidence that God will pour out of His Spirit at the end of the age that His people will do great exploits. I am not saying that what we see today is that out pouring, on the contrary, what we are witnessing is a counterfeit to that which God does.
Prophecy carries a literal meaning, what some may not be aware of is that there is a significance in prophecy beyond a prophets present day, often their are hidden layers of meaning. Prophecy has a way of repeating itself, cycling through time according to the perfect order laid down by God. For instance, some prophecies have a near and far application. In the prophecy of the seventy weeks in Daniel chapter nine we are told that the physical attack on the Temple and City of Jerusalem happens in the middle of the week. This literally happened twice in Israel’s history since the giving of this prophecy. Once with Antiochus Epiphanes in 168 B.C., and again when the Romans attacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Yet Jesus speaks of a future fulfillment of that same prophecy in Matthew 24. Ok, so what is my point and how does is it related to the Gifts of the Spirit? Acts 2:14-21 is my point!
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, ‘Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:’ And it shall come to pass in the last days says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughter shall prophecy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on my menservants and on my maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood; Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
It is here we can see both the near and far application of Joel 2:28-32. As peter stated, what was happening on the day of Pentecost was a fulfillment of what Jesus predicted in Acts 1:8, and a direct fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy when God would pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh. Yet we also see a far application here, a dividing line can be seen between verse 18 and 19. The last days (vs. 17) refers to the era of the church from Pentecost to the return of Christ. Joel’s prophecy will end in the midst of monumental signs and in divine judgment during Daniels 70th week. The text itself argues that the outpouring of the Spirit continues from Pentecost until the consummation of the age.
Historically, no argument can be authoritatively conclusive. Recorded history can never provide irrefutable proof and supply an definite finality on an argument. Only Scripture is authoritatively final. And as I pointed out above there is more evidence in Scripture to the continuance of the Gifts of the Spirit than there is on the side of the cessation of the Gifts. However, the lack of proof in history in behalf of the operation of Spiritual Gifts does give a strong argument that the Gifts ceased only to reemerge during the Great Tribulation Period within Daniels 70th week. This is the moderate cessation view and I find myself leaning in that direction.
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia defines Moderate Cessationism by saying: “A moderate Cessationist would also deny the possibility of gifts on a priori grounds. He would deny the existence of manifestations of genuine charismatic gifts in the Church no matter what, even in the event of seeing apparent miracles or healing. However, a moderate Cessationist allows for the possibility of a new charismatic period in the future, when God would powerfully guide His people. This openness to the possibility of a new charismatic period is motivated by premillennialist eschatological expectations, where it is assumed that Christ’s Second Coming will occur before the establishment of Christ’s millennial kingdom on Earth. Within this premillennialist conceptual framework, the Great Tribulation is seen as a future period immediately preceding Christ’s Coming. A moderate Cessationist would insist that the new charismatic period is possible only during the Great Tribulation for otherwise the genuine gifts would be in operation before the Tribulation, and, thus, charismatic gifts could not be rejected on grounds of principle. Moderate Cessationism is compatible with all premillennialist positions (pre-trib, post-trib, mid-trib and pre-wrath).
The moderate Cessationist understanding of the principle of Sola Scriptura is almost identical to the strong one. A moderate Cessationist would agree with all three propositions of Strong Cessationism, but with an important qualification: all three propositions are valid only in the post-Apostolic Age of the Church before the Great Tribulation, i.e. in the period after the 1st century until the days of the Great Tribulation. Thus, in practical terms, both strong and moderate Cessationism are the same. They differ only in eschatological terms, whether the gifts will reemerge in the last days immediately preceding the time of Christ’s Second Coming. The strong Cessationist eschatological view is not a premillennialist, and, thus, does not share the premillennialist conceptual framework, such as the premillennialist view of the Great Tribulation as something belonging to the future.
Biblical grounds for moderate Cessationism is the reference to two powerful prophets of God, Rev 11:3-11. According to a moderate Cessationist, events described in Rev 11 are in the future, during the Great Tribulation. For this reason, a moderate Cessationist has a ready answer to the question why the Bible is so vague about the cessation of the charismatic gifts: the Bible is obscure on this point precisely because the gifts will reemerge during the Great Tribulation. A moderate Cessationist concludes that they will absolutely end at the Second Coming of our Lord, at the end of the Great Tribulation.”
As I said, I lean in that direction though I’m not a staunch moderate cessationist I do view myself as a light moderate cessationist. I do see a gap, sort of speak, between Acts 2:18 and 19. The event described in Acts 2:19-20 is Eschatological and must be viewed alongside of what Jesus taught His disciples in Matthew 24:29-30 and Revelation 6:12-17.
Although I view the Gifts as being latent what has emerged in the last century with the “latter rain,” “Word of Faith,” and “New Apostolic Reformation” and now the “Emergent Church” is an all out assault on the Body of Christ. Deception from these movements materialize quickly when compared to Scripture. Todd Bentley, Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton are all joined at the hip and if you’ve read one of their books you’ve read them all as they are simply swapping spit. Pedestal’s are being built by these men acclaiming the raise of the super apostles who have insights into the supernatural which transcends human understanding. Super-apostles look really hip and chic because they claim to be in touch with popular philosophical and cultural trends, and they bring these trends right into the church, doubtless in the name of “being relevant.” Some of the traits of these super apostles can be seen in that they change the parameters of Scripture, re-inventing it to suit the changing times. Their messages go beyond what is written in the Word of God and in the name of Christ they through subtle logic, twist Scripture to appeal to contemporary practices to petition people. What is important to them is not the message of the Gospel, repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, but their own standing and status in the Church. They have a new and improved version of the Gospel, and it is costly to their followers who have to pay for everything from special services to prayer and deliverance.
The term “super apostle” is not a newly invented title in the modern age. Paul contended with a group who in their own esteem were surpasser’s of the foundational apostles. These were self appointed apostles who compared themselves to Paul. “Yet I consider myself as in no way inferior to these [precious] extra-super [false] apostles” 2 Cor. 11:5 AMP. It is clear by the context that these super apostles had Satan’s agenda at heart. Because of them, Paul feared the Corinthians minds would be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted devotion to Christ 2 Cor. 11:3. These super serpent apostles brought another Jesus, a different Spirit, and a different gospel from the one they had received and welcomed by Paul. Paul chided them for their tolerance of such lies and deception 2 Cor. 11:4.
Rhetoric is the art or study of proper forms and methods of public speaking, highly emphasized in antiquity. Although only the well-to-do had much training in it, the rhetorical forms and ideas they used filtered down to the rest of urban society through public speeches, in a manner similar to that in which television permeates modern Western society.[3]
Rhetoric was important in Greco-Roman society, including Corinth. Paul’s statement that he is unskilled in speech (1 Cor. 11:6) did not mean he was a terrible speaker. It seems he had been accused of inadequate rhetorical skill by others, however; his writings attest a higher level of rhetorical sophistication than possessed by most people of his day. The text indicates that these super apostles were gaining a large audience because of their rhetorical abilities, with the intent of subverting the Church. Paul says: “For such men are false apostles [counterfeits], deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles (special messengers) of Christ. And it is no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light; so it is not surprising if his servants also masquerade as ministers of righteousness. But their end will correspond with their deeds” (2 Cor. 11:13-15).
Does any of this sound familiar to you? If you finish the chapter, Paul could not be a true apostle according to the super apostles otherwise he would accept money for his services. In verse 20 Paul polishes this chapter off showing that these super apostles lives and ministries manifested nothing of the Spirit of Christ. And again he chides the Corinthians for “enduring it if a man assumes control of your souls, and makes slaves of you, or devours your substance, spends your money and preys upon you, or deceives and takes advantage of you, or is arrogant and puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. To my discredit, I must say, we have shown ourselves too weak for you to show such tolerance of us and for us to do strong, courageous things like that to you! 2 Cor 11:20-21 AMP. Verse 20 is a description of just how carnal these super apostles ministry was: it brings people into bondage, not liberty, it devours them selfishly, it’s leaders exalt themselves and not Christ. Why is it that the flesh enjoys bondage and human schemes instead of the simple love and grace of Christ? And nothing has changed today! Men such as Todd Bentley, Rick Joyner, and Bill Johnson degrade God’s people, devour God’s people, defraud God’s people, deride God’s people, and defame God’s people and people seem content to endure and tolerate it. Not to mention their butchery of God’s Word, their false manifestations, and their undermining of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
A robot has been developed which can perform tasks, interact and even hold a conversation - and it's coming to Ireland's care homes to look after the elderly. Robotics engineers from Trinity College Dublin unveiled the prototype designed to work in assisted care facilities around Ireland.