Gary DeMar is at it again.

Gary DeMar, a prominent leader in the culture wars has done it again.  His fight to restore America to its roots is based on the belief that Christians need to rise up and take over government.  In his quest to do so, he has alienated pretribs with yet another book.  10 Popular Prophecy Myths Exposed.  While I haven't received a copy of it, I found the outline quite interesting.

    1.  The Myth of the ‘Israel-Church’ Distinction
    2.  The Myth that the Modern State of Israel is a Sign that the Rapture is Near
    3.  The Myth that only Dispensationalists Have a Future for Israel
    4.  The Myth of the Postponed Abrahamic Covenant
    5.  The Myth of  ‘Replacement Theology’
    6.  The Myth that Animal Sacrifices and Circumcision are Everlasting Rites
    7.  The Myth that the Temple Needs to be Rebuilt
    8.  The Myth that the Gospel has Yet to be Preached in the ‘Whole World’
    9.  The Myth that Earthquakes are Signs of the End Times
    10.  The Myth that Oil in Israel is a Prophetic Sign 
 

He could have saved a lot of time with 1 -5 by making them one point.  After all it is all about the Covenant/Dispensation debate.  That I won't go into since I have covered it.  Point five and six has to do with the rebuilding of the Temple and the reinstatement of animal sacrifices.   This of course must happen to fulfill Matthew 24 and Daniel 9.  Ezekiel 40-44 describes a rebuilt temple but ironically it is only open on Sabbaths and New Moons.

Point 8 is interesting to try to argue.  I think the Gospel has made it to the end of the world.  With Radio and internet we have been able to preach it everywhere.  Good Job HCJB, Wycliff, New Tribes, Trans World Radio and many thousands of missionaries on the ground.

Point 9 is about the earthquakes that have been happening.  It almost seems like a I can't read this chapter, the ground keeps moving.  How diverse do the earthquakes have to be to qualify?  Of course he is going to talk about the earthquakes of AD60-70. 

Then finally Oil in Israel.  I can give him that one.  Ezekiel mentions Gold and Cattle and goods.  Did you know that the number of millionaires in Israel rose 47% last year.  Incredible wealth is growing even without the oil.  So let's see how much Gold Israel has before we can determine that Russia is ready to march on Israel.  

It is just one further book he has written trying to get dispensationist to quit buying books by LaHaye and Rosenburg and buy his and quit getting excited over the return of the Lord.  I believe I read that there is a reward for those who are awaiting his return.  So don't let guy's like this get you down.  Keep looking up.  For your redemption draweth neigh.

Touchdown Jesus Burned.

If you have not heard, the Solid Rock Church in Monroe Ohio, had a fire last week.  Apparently a $250,000 statue of Jesus with a hands extended to the air was burned to the ground with a lightning strike. While I am sad that this happened, you have to ask what is God telling us with this happening.  Well, I went to their web site to see what they believe and you will love this.

What We Believe


The Holy Trinity
There is one God, Creator of all things, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in three manifestations: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Son of God
Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He died on the cross, the complete and final sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, at the right hand of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate.

The Authority of the Scripture
The Bible is the mind of Christ and is the inspired, the only infallible and authoritative Word of God. It’s the guide and final authority in matters of faith and day-to-day life.

The Victory over Satan
The believer unlike the unregenerate man has victory over Satan through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.

Our Life in Christ
The fall of man and his sinful condition makes necessary a rebirth through confession and belief in Jesus Christ.

The reconciliation of man to God is made possible by the substitutionary death and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All who repent from their sins and receive Christ, as Savior should be water baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, according to the command of the Lord Jesus. It is a testimony of death to sin and resurrection to a new life.

The Lord’s Supper, also known as communion, is a memorial service setting forth in sacred and symbolic manner the death of the Lord Jesus Christ; all true believers and only believers should share in it.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is subsequent to the new birth and the baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit. It is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues, as the Spirit gives them utterance (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4-8).

Divine healing and deliverance from sickness is provided for all in the atonement and is a privilege to all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17).There will be a resurrection of believers to everlasting life and blessing in heaven, and there will be a resurrection of unbelievers unto everlasting punishment in the torments of hell.

What is wrong here?  Have you noticed it is all on what Jesus has done for you and not what he will do.  It says nothing about his return whether they are amillennial or premillennial, there is just no statement on this issue.  Every church statement I have ever seen has something to say about end times.There is a talk about a resurrection but nothing about a judgment of earth or about a second return.  Just one day there will be a resurrection. 

The Bible talks about the Church of Laodiceans as being a luke warm church.  They don't deny Christ but at the same time they don't take a stand for anything.  They are rich but they don't have anything for the kingdom.   

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Some of you say you get all that from looking at their statement.  I don't really want to condemn them just from their web site.  But there is a precedence out there.  We are more interested in a large attendance, a grand building, large offerings, and high praise from certain people, than we are pleasing God.  Let's just say that there are churches out there that need to hear this.


The answer is of course is Rev 3:20  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


There are seven churches in Revelation.  Each one  represents an age of the church but all seven are alive and well today just like back then.  It is a great study but you need to know that the predominate church of the end time is the Laodicean.  So you need to know what you are in and you need to know what you are in.  Become an over-comer and we will see you at the rapture.

A correct way to live in light of Prophecy.

One of the biggest criticisms by those who do not hold our view of prophecy is that we are likely to do nothing and wait to get raptured.  I am sad to report that is what most do.  The sad part about both sides on this is that no one studies their Bible to know what is going on and how to react to it.  Dr. David Jeremiah has been doing a series on his radio show on the book of the Revelation and he starts his series by giving what the correct response should be.  There are ten places in the Bible that tell us what to do so if you will bear with me I will go over these.

I Cor 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 

I am seeing many people passing judgment especially on our President.  We don't know exactly what is going on there and we don't like what we are seeing.  But God will judge it at the right time.

1Cor 11:26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

We need to be participating in the Lord's supper.  I won't go into that in detail because each Church does it differently but it needs to be done.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

I see a lot of Christians so upset with all the money they are losing in the markets.  God doesn't want you worried about earthly things but heavenly.


1Th 3:12  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
 
Our love should increase as we see the day approaching. Both for the saint and the sinner.

2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.



We need to be preaching the word.  I will go as far as to say that it is not just those called to preach.  Teachers of all stripes need to be teaching the word more and more.




Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.


Notice the admonition about seeing the day approaching.  The day here is the Day of the Lord.  We need to be in church more often as we see the day of the Lord coming.  This is not the time to skip church.  We need to be more diligent in our gathering together.


Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
We need to develop patience.  Jesus showed patience when he we was here.  We need not rush the day of the Lord but we need to wait for the early and later rain as the passage continues to say.


1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

We need to purify ourselves.  If we knew that Jesus was going to take us home this afternoon, what we be doing this morning?  Who do you still have to make things right with?


Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 


Why don't we do a lot of things the world wants us to do?  Because we are looking for the blessed hope of his return.

1Jn 2:28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 


Are you spending time in prayer and in the word?  Someone asked what I would do if I know the Lord was coming tomorrow and my only response was from an old Joke I heard.  An Old man was sitting on his front porch rocking and every time a young man walked by the house he saw him in his Bible.  Finally the young man asked him what he was doing.   The old man's response was, "Cramming for my finals".  We should have to cram for the finals, we should be abiding in him so that when he appears we are already best friends.

Jud 1:21  Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22  And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
How is your witness?   This is probably the critical one.  If you know the Lord is coming and coming soon and Judgment is to follow, you would be pulling people out of flame.   This is the awesome purpose of missions.  We have to go tell the world and find that one soul before the Lord returns.  It has driven more missionaries and evangelist then any other passage.

Finally
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.

The classic passage used for the rapture.  Notice verse 18.  Comfort one another.  In midst of what you are going through.  Comfort one another with the words of this prophecy.  1 Thes 5:9 says God hath not appointed us unto wrath.  There is a lot of comfort in knowing the end.  With all the tribulation coming,  "for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." 2 Tim 1:12

We have an Awesome God who has an Awesome plan for your life.  If you don't know him please write me and find out more about him.  If you know him, then read over these verses again and again and understand where you need to live today.  Everything I am seeing says that Jesus' return is very soon.  We are in the birth pangs.  Earthquakes, wars, pestilences, economic and political upheavals are all coming together like never before.  It is time to get your life right.  You might not have tomorrow.

Israel and Gaza

Much has been written about the Gaza incident this week where IDF commandos boarded a Turkish aid vessel and were attacked by "Activist".  Three of the activist were killed and I do not have a number on the Israelis killed.  That is not the point.  The point is that some have had there say about prophecy from this incident.  Will this lead to Gog and Magog?  Good question.  An article was posted by famous preterist Gary DeMar about the Rabbi's praying for the Gog and Magog incident.  Of course his view is that Ezekiel 38 & 39 were fulfilled in Esther.  So if he thinks it is fulfilled why is he writing on a modern event fulfilling a prophecy except to promote his book on the subject. 

What is this incident saying?  It is showing how Turkey is now onboard with the Anti Jewish community.  In Ezekiel 38 it depending on who you read, Gomer or Meshech is Turkey.  I personally think Gomar is Germany. So that part has to come on board.  But it is getting closer.  Iran is close to having a nuclear weapon and Turkey has an alliance with them.

Whatever the prophetic significance of this is.  Israel still must be defended. The fact that the world is turning on Israel is an indication of last days.  Psalms 121:4 says "Behold, he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."  So you can depend on Israel to stand when all else falls.  Besides, God doesn't like a fair fight.  If He can't defeat your millions with hundreds, then it is not his style.  Just ask Gideon.

How close are we?

A lot has been made recently about how close we are to the end. The question is the end of what? The Bible refers to something known as the end of the age. The question is what age? Did it already happen? If not is it close? What is going on in the world of politics? In Israel? In Europe? In Asia? In the Americas? What about the natural catastrophes?

Matthew 24 mentions several things that need to happen before the "Great Tribulation."

There shall be many that come in my name saying I am the christ.
You shall hear of wars and rumors of war.
Nations shall rise against Nations
Kingdom against Kingdom
Famines, Pestilence and earthquakes in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.

One of the things I looked at when I was a child was that the whole world was against Israel. Now with the current Britain and U.S. had always been pro Israel but in recent years, Especially Obama trying to dictate to Israel what to do I beleive that Israel has no friends. Britain I am not sure. I believe that the current government would be pro Israel but because they are part of the Anti Israel E.U. then we can't depend on them.

We have seen wars with Iraq and Afghanistan. We have heard of warfare in Africa as Islam is on the rise there.

Famines have come and gone all over the world. There is a threat of further famine with the advent of Engineered food. If it fails then we are looking at a strong famine.

Earthquakes I have nothing to say. Haiti, Chile, Japan, China, California and Alaska have all had strong earthquakes recently. Keeping up with the USGS is very much a challenge in this area. At any given time you can see 50 earthquakes of 2.0 or greater over the last week.

The scary part is a fallen away that I have already seen. Between Jonas Brothers performing an Easter services for a prominent pastor in Southern California. The attempts to bring the various churches together. To use marketing instead of preaching to build churches. The number of Bible believing churches without a full time pastor.

The drive for a one world government has gone above ground. It is no longer a stealth issue. We have smart people bundling with the finances when they know how to correct it but they do what is apparently stupid. I don't think they are stupid but they are manipulating things.

There is a growing rise of Islam. Now that we are beginning to get a picture from the Bible of what Islam is and it's role in end times we know that it is on the rise. With the threats from Islam, we know they will be the catalyst for last days persecution.

I am not going to argue the case for a pretrib rapture but I will tell you the signs that I am seeing, we are either ready to begin the seventh week of Daniel or have a rapture. As I promised earlier I am working on a fiction novel for Gog and Megog. I won't give much away but It has given me a chance to think about how close we are to all this. Iran, turkey and Rhodesia is in line. Russia is in line. All it has to do is get Israel at peace in order for the attack.

My challenge to the church is that our time is close. Now is the time to be full bore witnessing. Getting the gospel to the masses. It is time to snatch as many as we can from the flame. My church's memory work for the summer will be the Romans road. Rom 3:10, 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9 10:13. I will challenge all my readers to do the same and then share it with someone today.

How close are we?

A lot has been made recently about how close we are to the end. The question is the end of what? The Bible refers to something known as the end of the age. The question is what age? Did it already happen? If not is it close? What is going on in the world of politics? In Israel? In Europe? In Asia? In the Americas? What about the natural catastrphies?

Matthew 24 mentions several things that need to happen before the "Great Tribulation."

There shall be many that come in my name saying I am the christ.
You shall hear of wars and rumers of war.
Nations shall rise against Nations
Kingdom against Kingdom
Famines, Pestilance and earthquakes in divers places.
All these are the beginning of sorrows.

One of the things I looked at when I was a child was that the whole world was against Israel. Now with the current Britain and U.S. had always been pro Israel but in recent years, Especially Obama trying to dictate to Israel what to do I beleive that Israel has no friends. Britain I am not sure. I believe that the current government would be pro Israel but because they are part of the Anti Israel E.U. then we can't depend on them.

We have seen wars with Iraq and Afganastan. We have heard of warfar in Africa as Islam is on the rise there.

Famines have come and gone all over the world. There is a threat of further famine with the advent of Engineered food. If it fails then we are looking at a strong famine.

Earthquakes I have nothing to say. Haiti, Chile, Japan, China, California and Alaska have all had strong earthquakes recently. Keeping up with the USGS is very much a challenge in this area. At any given time you can see 50 earthquakes of 2.0 or greater over the last week.

The scary part is a fallen away that I have already seen. Between Jonas Brothers performing an Easter services for a prominate pastor in Southern California. The attempts to bring the various churches together. To use maketing instead of preaching to build churches. The number of Bible beleaving churches without a full time pastor.

The drive for a one world government has gone above ground. It is no longer a stealth issue. We have smart people bundling with the finances when they know how to correct it but they do what is apprently stupid. I don't think they are stupid but they are manipulating things.

There is a growing rise of Islam. Now that we are beginning to get a picture from the Bible of what Islam is and it's role in end times we know that it is on the rise. With the threats from Islam, we know they will be the catalyst for last days persecution.

I am not going to argue the case for a pretrib rapture but I will tell you the signs that I am seeing, we are either ready to begin the seventh week of Daniel or have a rapture. As I promised earlier I am working on a fiction novel for Gog and Megog. I won't give much away but It has given me a chance to think about how close we are to all this. Iran, turkey and Rodesia is in line. Russia is in line. All it has to do is get Israel at peace in order for the attack.

My challenge to the church is that our time is close. Now is the time to be full bore witnessing. Getting the gospel to the masses. It is time to snach as many as we can from the flame. My church's memory work for the summer will be the Romans road. Rom 3:10, 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9 10:13. I will challenge all my readers to do the same and then share it with someone today.

Gog and Magog invasion.

It is interesting looking at the various theories on Bible interpretation, that everyone has their opinion.  An opinion is great to have but I am looking at world events and looking at what various authors have written and asking, who is right?

In the case of Ezekiel 38 and 39 we have the Magog invasion.  Depending on who you talk to will depend on whose opinion you get as to the timing of the event.  Of the preterits bend you have two opinions.  First one is that some event happened in the past and that event was this invasion.   The prominent one put out by Gary Demar is that it occurred in the Book of Easter.  He has some interesting research and I am looking for a copy of his book to investigate further.  I do have several concerns about it though.  First is that the cleanup of the battle doesn't match.  Second the size of the army doesn't match.  In Esther, the Jews were allowed to have swords and in Shushan, the capital of Pursian 500 were killed.  First of all, the battle takes place in the Hills of Israel, so shushan can't be the battle field.  Second where are the bodies and where is the seven months of barials?  Also in looking at the Hebrew text, the word for Hamon is different.  Not much but in the Strong's concordance it is words 1995 in Ezekiel and 2001 in Esther.  Different last characters.  So I am not putting much stock on it.  Gary has asked me to come on his show and debate these points.  It is a temptation.

The Second view that would be from a preterits point of view lines up a bit more Biblically.  That is Gog and Magog is the next event on God's calendar.  Revelation chapter 20 says that Satan is bound for a thousand years and then is loosed for a season to deceive the nations bringing them against the city of the saints,  Gog and Magog.  Since most preterits also allegorize most of the Bible, they also allegorize this.  So there are questions as to what and where this is going to be based on someones interpretation.

Since I am futurist in my interpretation of the events, we have to look at the various views.  First is pre Rapture.  This is the view promoted in the books by Tim LaHaye(Left Behind) and Joel Rosenberg(The Ezekiel Option).  It will happen sometime before the tribulaiton.  The next view is the one promoted by Hal Lindsey, and many prominent prophecy speakers of the first part of the twentieth century.  That is it is part of the battle of Armageddon.  The third one has two divisions.  That is it is right after the rapture.  Many have tried to make this the second horsemen of the seal judgments.  The biggest problem with that is that the seven years to the return of Jesus has already begun.  The second option is that is after the rapture but before the tribulation.  J.R. Church has a new series called the pre, pre trib rapture which puts a gap between the rapture and the beginning of the tribulation.  This makes sense and this would be the time for this historic battle.

My personal belief is that the event is pre-rapture.  Based on events currently going on in the U.S., Iran, Turkey, Russia and Israel right now.  I believe we are prime for the event.  My wife thinks I ought to write a fictional book based on the current situation that would show how the event could go down.  I thought Joel Rosenberg did an excellent job but it left a few things out that could take place. 

Two of the biggest challenges to what is going on is the fact that the armies line up with horses and the weapons are of wood, Yet the cleanup is of Army regulations for how to clean up a nuclear battle field.    I may have a solution to why that is in which I would explore.  Also why are there not a lot of aircraft in the picture?  I think I know the answer.  If you think of how evil Iran's president is, you can think of the answer too if you understand nuclear weapons. 

Stay tuned.  If I can get the writing keyboard going, I'll write the book and let you judge for yourself if I am right.  Otherwise stay tuned and I'll post it here.