My pastor asked me to share with my church how I spend a typical day on the streets (or Home Depot) with the goal of stirring the church folks to support my ministry and to consider boldness. Below is my very brief talk on that subject four days ago:
More articles by this author:
Calvinism : is Unconditional Election biblical?
Pride and Reproof: the Life Changing Power of a Proverb
There are three passages of scripture that had an immediate and permanent impact on my young, newly saved soul, at age 18.(I will link my blog posts regarding the other two passages at the end of this article). All three forever altered the way I viewed my purpose in life, the way I related to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and they revealed to me the heart-transforming power of God. That is exactly what scripture is supposed to do. It was specifically designed by God to pierce through the lies we have been fed by this godless world all of our lives…to, slay them, and open our hearts to the glorious and eternal truths of the living God, gently conforming us to His likeness, as we slowly and purposefully walk the long and difficult road home.
Nothing communicates the purpose and power of scripture quite like the verse below:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Hebrews 4:12-13 KJV
Six months after I got saved (1986), not only from an eternity in hell, but from alcoholism, serious suicidal thoughts, and what appeared to be a dead end life. I moved into a house near Washington DC with a group of 15-20 young men, most of who were from political families, both domestic and international.
The leaders consisted of a handful of mature men of God who’s goal was to turn a bunch of young, rebellious and often affluent punks, into responsible, honorable men who were willing to serve both God and man with our lives. They were sharp, athletic and full of life. In my ignorance and snobbery, I had no idea Christians could actually be fun.
These men taught us to study the Bible and memorize scripture regularly. They also supervised us as we worked on a large manor house at the end of the street. We were given daily chores, and occasionally helped out at political gatherings. It was an exciting place to be in the late 1980’s, with the Cold War quietly raging behind the scenes. However, I was rebellious and immature. I didn’t respect authority or want anyone merely a decade older than me to tell me what to do. I waved off, and even mocked constructive criticism, and led others to cynical, uncooperative attitudes. It was ugly, and so was I.
At the time, I had not taken a moment to consider that, by the mercy of God, I had been delivered from severe childhood abuse, and I had been pulled from the gnawing flames of alcoholism. I had found a wonderful discipleship house, with young guys who had had the same life experiences as me, and leaders who were worthy of great respect. Yet, my rebellious heart persisted….
The day that I got saved was the first day I ever picked up a Bible willingly. I prayed that, if God were real, he would help me to understand scripture and make it more then stories about a bunch of former fisherman running around the desert. I opened it randomly to Psalm 1, and my life was changed forever. (See, Favorite Scripture #2, following this article).
I studied the psalms hungrily because David’s honesty and earnestness with God was a wonderful and unexpected revelation. I had no idea we could talk to God as if He’s actually listening, like a man talks to his father or to a trusted friend. I also began to study Proverbs slowly and methodically, and one day, I stumbled across this sharp two-edged sword, and it slew me on the spot:
“Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee…”Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee….”
Proverbs 9:8 KJV
I was immediately and deeply convicted by this pithy, two-line bolt of spiritual lightning. I knew that, not only was I not a wise man, but even worse, I was both a scorner…and a fool. The Lord had placed wonderful men in my life, men whose only desire was to teach me how to be an authentic and honorable man of God, not only for my sake but also for my future family’s sake. My attitude changed on the spot. All the foolishness and pride of an obnoxious young man who thought he knew everything was washed away.
Through the profundity and power of the word of God, I was finally ready to grow into the man God wanted me to be, and that growth won’t end until I make it home.
EPILOGUE
It’s rarely easy to accept constructive criticism, especially if it involves a behavior pattern we practice regularly without giving it a second thought. My hope is that the Lord will always place men in my life who are more concerned about my character before God then they are about maintaining my approval. There is nothing I respect more then a friend who loves me enough to gently but directly, confront me when I’m not hitting the mark. It may hurt, and I may even reject it initially, but the Holy Spirit will have His way in me. Eventually, I will recognize the truth, seek forgiveness and thank the one who has proven to be the truest and closest of brothers. Let us be authentic, Christ-focused friends to each other, so that we may assist our brothers and sisters as we grow together in the knowledge and grace of God.
“…speaking the truth in love, (that we) may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Ephesians 4:15 KJV
As many of you know, I, by the grace of God, have been doing self-funded street evangelism every week day, in central and south Florida, for almost 9 years (May 2, 2015, was day 1). It has been one of the great joys of my life. However, I’m now at the point where I am willing to request that my friends, blog readers and church family prayerfully consider supporting my little ministry. I trust the Lord fully, but my pastor and other trusted friends think it’s time to put my needs out there.
Modern Day Missions have given me the opportunity to raise money through their platform, in order that donors can receive a tax deduction. Please check out my link below. Thank you and never hesitate to ask questions via the contact page if you have any.
Donation link and brief biography:
https://www.modernday.org/profile/eelane3/
Additional blog posts on my evangelism journey:
“As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”
Romans 9:13
“What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:”
Romans 9:22
I’ve read Romans 9:13 (above) countless times, and have never once thought that it meant that God capriciously decided that he was going to love Jacob from the womb and despise his brother Esau. The reason for my certainty was that, I am and always will be convinced, that the Calvinist view of this scripture as a reflection of God’s sovereignty over the souls of men, and as a pillar of support for their doctrine of unconditional election, is false, based on the enduring character of God exhibited from Genesis to Revelation. The God of the Bible is a God of mercy, love, and long-suffering, and the Old Testament in particular, is a tour de force on His faithfulness despite man’s relentless disobedience and idolatry. God has always longed, yearned even, for the hearts of men, without distinction. There are numerous examples in the Old Testament where His beloved Jews rejected Him, but pagan Gentiles received Him with a surrendered heart (Nineveh, Rahab, Namaan, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Ruth, Ittai, etc). His love is infinitely deeper and wider then we could possibly comprehend.
While I never understood what exactly God meant with this statement about Esau and Jacob, I knew that God loved them both and that some day it would all make sense. While studying the minor prophets a few weeks ago, it finally became clear. Paul exhorted us to study the whole counsel of God for a reason. We need every single word that proceeds from the mouth of God in order for us to grasp the big-picture of God’s love of and labor for the souls of sinful men.
It’s important to note that God’s statement about hating Esau was never made during Esau’s lifetime. In fact, God’s anger with “Esau” doesn’t appear in scripture until the book of Obadiah, well over one thousand years after his death. In Genesis, Scripture actually records the tender moment when a cowardly Jacob, afraid that Esau might kill him (despite his covenant with God), divides his family into three groups as he prepares to be greeted by the brother he so wickedly deceived (Esau). Shockingly, Esau welcomes Jacob home with heartfelt-tears, and a warm, sincere embrace. (Genesis 33:1-16) That…is an example of the character of God. Esau had removed anger and bitterness far from him, and received his deceiver with mercy, kindness and joy.
While God was obviously disappointed with Esau’s carnal decision to trade his birthright for a single meal decades earlier, it’s unlikely that his emotional reunion with Jacob would have been recorded with the details Moses provided if God truly despised him as a person. It’s also likely, based on how Issac’s death and blessings went down, that Esau did not even take his bargain with Jacob seriously, since it was such a ridiculously unfair trade. Evidence to this effect is that when Isaac was dying, Esau clearly believed that he was the one who was rightfully entitled to his family’s birthright. (Genesis 27)
In order to fully understand the meaning of the statement in Romans 9:13, we must first return to Genesis and the time of their gestation:
“And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, And two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; And the one people shall be stronger than the other people; And the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.”
Genesis 25:21-24
Here we see that God, when speaking of Jacob and Esau’s future, states with great clarity, that two nations will arise from the seed of these brothers. We later learn that God anoints Jacob as the father of Israel, the small and insignificant tribe that God used to reveal himself to the world, for better and for worse, while:
“…Esau is Edom.”
Genesis 36:8
As we come to find out, Edom, as it grows over the generations, becomes a proud, wicked and murderous nation, one that constantly wars with Israel and even pillages their land after the northern kingdom is carried off to Assyria. In Obadiah, we see God’s fury at this wicked nation (Esau, which is Edom), which gloats at the harsh but necessary judgement of God on his chosen people. Not only is Edom brimming with pride, but it rejoices at Israel’s calamity and plunders them when they are weak and scattered. Just a as God refered to Israel as “Jacob” throughout the Old Testament (including 16 times from Isaiah chapters 40-49), so he referred to Edom as “Esau” in multiple books of the Old Testament. I encourage you to read the entire one-chapter book of Obadiah. Below is the most relevant portion:
“1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.2 Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes?6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread have laid a wound under thee: there is none understanding in him.8 Shall I not in that day, saith the Lord, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.10 For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.11 In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.12 But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.13 Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid hands on their substance in the day of their calamity;14 Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.15…18 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; for the Lord hath spoken it.” Obadiah 1:1-14, 18
It’s clear from the passage above, and the passage I will quote below in Malachi, that God isn’t talking about two individual men, but two nations in conflict, Edom and Israel. God’s fury with “Esau” aka Edom, is clearly justified. The prophet Obadiah notes God’s hot displeasure at their pride and violence,”against thy brother Jacob(aka Israel).” There are few things God despises more than pride. Also, He abhors when the strong take advantage of the weak, even if their weakness is a consequence of their own sin. Edom has done both of these things, and he has done it against God’s chosen and beloved nation, Israel. Vengeance and judgment belong to God, not men, and especially not to wicked, murderous, and godless men.
In Malachi, the final book of the Old Testament, we finally see the source of the quotation used by Paul in Romans 9:13:
“I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, ***The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.***And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.”
Malachi 1:2-5
As in Obadiah, God is clearly speaking of a people…a nation, the nation that sprung from the loins of Esau…the Edomites. God despised them, not because they came from Esau, but because they were proud and delighted in evil. We have all seen in Jonah where one of the most abominable cities on earth, Nineveh, is given an opportunity to repent and escape judgement. While even Jonah, God’s hand-selected prophet, loathes them and does not want them to be saved, our God, who is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, does. (2 Peter 3:9) The God of the Bible loves sinners, is rich in mercy and wants everyone, everywhere to repent.(Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4; Acts 17:30) Given these examples, and many, many more, it is truly abominable to teach that God doesn’t love all of humanity. For we were once just as wicked as the Ninevites, yet God offered His strong and loving hand of mercy to each one of us. May we never forget what we once were, until the word of God, and his transcendent love, saved us from the hell we deserved:
“9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
VESSELS OF WRATH
After reading of God’s great mercy towards Nineveh, and His dealings with vain, pagan, power-hungry Nebuchadnezzar, how could we ever assume that God randomly decides to make one person for salvation and another to burn for eternity with no hope of redemption? God was rich in mercy, even towards that wicked nation and that outrageously arrogant king – and He is merciful today towards ALL men. Sadly, few care. While God made Nebuchadnezzar suffer mightily and eat the rancid fruit of his vanity for seven long, cold, humiliating years, God did not cast him out entirely, but gave him an opportunity to repent…and that he did, and with great humility and eloquence. (see, Daniel 4:34-37)
While Romans 9 says this:
‘What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:” Romans 9:22
…2 Timothy 2:20-21 teaches us, without equivocation, that even vessels of wrath or dishonor, can be saved when they TURN their hearts to God for mercy:
“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
2 Timothy 2:20-21
2 Corinthians 3:13-16 is a comparable passage, stating that, even the spiritually blind will have the veil lifted from their eyes when their heart turns to Him:
“but their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.”
2 Corinthians 3:14-16
The 2 Timothy 2:20-21 passage could not be more self-explanatory. Even if a vessel was created for dishonor, that vessel could still choose repentance, humility and salvation. I could quote many verses on God’s death for all and love for all, but that would take up too much space here.(I do have a list of such verses at the very end of this article) I suggest that we simply study our New Testament WITHOUT using a commentary** and you will see His all-surpassing love for the souls of men…all men everywhere.(Acts 17:30) Sadly, you will also see men angrily, and even violently, rejecting it.
** I am not against commentaries. However, I think they should be reserved only for the most difficult or confusing passages, lest your entire theology be destroyed by the particular view of one man. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us. (1 John 2:27b; John 14:26; John 16:13) I did not consult any outside resources when writing this article.
ISRAEL, GOD’S CHOSEN VESSEL
Calvinists often use God’s selection of Israel as his chosen nation, as evidence of the Augustinian doctrine (which he purloined from pagan Manicheaism) of unconditional election, but this could not be further from the truth when the Old Testament text is carefully examined.
God did not randomly chose Israel so that every single Jewish soul would be saved, to the exclusion of the rest of the earth’s population. No. God chose this small, weak and insignificant people group in order to show the world His incomparable glory and power. (Deuteronomy 7:6-9; 9:1-6) Of course, many Israelites were saved, but sadly many more were not, choosing the pagan gods and goddesses of the Canaanites or Babylon over the ONE who delivered them from slavery, parted the Red Sea and destroyed the most powerful army on earth. (Romans 11:3-4) We see in Luke 13:34 how much this hurt the heart of God:
“34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! ” Luke 13:34
His chosen people, beloved and protected by God himself, chose their own will, their precious sin, and the wicked and idolatrous practices of the vilest nations on earth over the God who dwelt among them and did mighty works year after year after year. Other nations saw His mighty works and feared, sometimes even more than the Israelites did.
We saw this when Caleb and Joshua snuck into Jericho. Rahab informed them that the people of Jericho were terrified when they discovered that the Israelites were approaching. They had heard that the God of Israel had, not only parted the Red Sea, but had unilaterally and thoroughly defeated the greatest, most powerful army on earth – the army of Egypt. God’s hope and purpose, of course, was that the pagan nations who learned of these incomparable deeds, might turn from their manmade idols, to the God who parted the sea and annihilated an entire army, without the assistance of man. Rahab, for one, did and God rewarded her faith by placing Jesus in her lineage.
Unfortunately, there are countless example’s throughout the Old Testament, where the Jews rejected God and were swallowed up by the earth, killed by fiery serpents, executed by the sword at God’s order, or were carried off to be slaves in strange and distant lands. Meanwhile, the pagan and murderous city of Nineveh repented and turned to the God of Israel after hearing the reluctant words of a single prophet! Other examples of non-Jews turning to the Lord include Ruth, Nebuchadnezzar, King Darius, Ittai, Naaman, the centurion who’s son Jesus healed(Luke 7:1-10), the centurion who found God at the cross(Luke 23:45-47), and many, many more.
Conclusion
The purpose of this article is to refute the claim that God irrevocably chooses certain individual people or groups for salvation, while others are blindly and irrevocably sentenced to hell with no chance of salvation. Not only does Calvinist soteriology (doctrine of salvation) slander the character of God, but it nullifies the unmitigated power of His eternal word, which was designed to pierce and turn a soul from a life of willful sin, to a life of simple, humble faith. (Hebrews 12:9-10; Ephesians 1:13; Romans 10:13-14,17) Our God truly is rich in mercy. As scripture says so clearly, God: loves the world, died for all, tasted death for every man, and gave himself as a ransom for all, and WHOSOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. I will post verses establishing this, below. This list is not even close to exhaustive but should be sufficient to prick the heart of even the most steadfast Calvinist, and confirm the unalterable truth, that the one and only God has a generous, merciful and loving heart towards a lost and sinful world, and for that, this forgiven sinner is eternally grateful.
“15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:15-18
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
John 3:36
“35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst…40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:35,40
“37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:37-38
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51
“24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24
“9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” John 10:9
“25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25-26
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.” John 12:32-33
“46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:46-48
“29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” John 20:29
“31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.”
Acts 7:51 (God wants everyone, but everyone doesn’t want him. His grace IS resistible.)
“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10:34-35
“43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43
“24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” Acts 17:24-28
“30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent“. Acts 17:30
“16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16
“18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:18
“33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 9:33
“4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:4
“9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:9-13 (The condition for salvation is laid out here. It has nothing to do with being chosen. It has to do with faith…a deep faith from the heart. The next two verses below explain how we may obtain a saving faith)
“14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?…17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:14,17
“14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
“…God our Saviour;4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:3-6
“10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” 1 Timothy 4:10
“9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” Hebrews 2:9
“2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2
“9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
“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.”
Revelation 3:20
“17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15
Other Articles by the author of this blog:
I was recently approached by someone on Twitter who wanted to interview me about my seven plus years as a street evangelist. He had seen some of my posts asking for prayer for homeless people or those who requested Bibles, and knew that I had been an attorney for many years before I became a street evangelist. I agreed and, thankfully, even though I talk fast, I believe that I was able to communicate why I do what I do in as clear a manner as is possible. I hope you will consider listening and will be encouraged. The photos below are a small sample of the precious souls to whom I have been able to minister and give Bibles, tracts and when necessary, food, socks and water(provided by my church).
Click on the link below for the interview:
Podcast interview on street evangelism
My Evangelism Journey to Key West, Florida
No physical activity, outside of surfing, gives me more joy, then free diving in my home town of Jupiter, Florida. I try to do a long, hard swim in the inlet every afternoon, post-evangelization. Each day I see the beauty, glory, power and unparalleled creativity of God as I quietly slip under the warm, azure sea. So…I made a little YouTube channel to post my very poorly executed, but fun to make, underwater videos. I hope you enjoy them. 🌴☀️🌊🐠🐟🐠🏊🏿♀️ 🦈🌴
(It’s much better watching it on an iPad or computer(more fish), then on a phone.)
Uno mas. My favorite short video:
I’m not trying to reinvent the eternal security wheel here. I’m simply articulating my new perspective on once saved always saved(OSAS) after decades of rejecting it and the pre tribulation rapture. I didn’t reject them because I had studied them but because I am a natural born pessimist. Scripture, however, has the power to destroy the most deeply held biases, and can change hearts and minds with the sharp double-edged sword of truth. My hope is, that the scriptures I use and conclusions I draw will strengthen the certainty we have in our future – eternity, in paradise with the lover and savior of our souls…Jesus Christ.
I was against eternal security before I was for it. I rejected it for 27 years of serious Christianity. It was far too optimistic for my negative and even cynical worldview. However, the Lord worked diligently on my icy heart, chipping away at the layers of thick scar tissue, and as I continued to do my regular scripture study, I ran into verse after verse confirming this unassailable fact: once we have been adopted as His children, He won’t let us go. We can run and even try and hide, but the word of God, through a vast multitude of scriptures, teaches us this:
“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; Even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
Psalm 139:7-12 KJV
God is the one Father who will never EVER forsake us – or even let us forsake Him. I could go on and on about His loving discipline (I’ve experienced plenty of that) and how He, in His faithfulness, afflicts us, in order to turn our hearts back to Him from the clever and powerful lies of this dying world. That, however, is not the purpose of this article.
In my view, one of the most foundational passages in all of scripture, one that is a fulcrum to my understanding of salvation, is Romans 3:20-28(quoted below). I strongly believe that all Christians should memorize it.
As I was laying in bed a few nights ago, reciting that glorious passage, something caught my attention – something that’s basic and fairly obvious, but I hadn’t thought about it in the context of eternal security. It resounded in my head over and over and over again…HIS righteousness…HIS righteousness…HIS righteousness.
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Romans 3:20-28 KJV
If I ever had any creeping doubt about the permanence of my salvation, His word waxed mighty and prevailed. I got the message, and it couldn’t be any clearer. Our salvation has NOTHING to do with our righteousness, our obedience. It’s all about faith in HIS work on the cross. HIS righteousness. HIS obedience. Thus, no matter how far we stray, no matter how much we wrestle with sin or doubt, our faith in HIS righteousness alone, saves us. Thus, we cannot bounce in and out of salvation based on our failures and unrighteousness if our salvation has NOTHING to do with our behavior. It is based solely on HIS wonderful, blessed obedience; in other words, His righteousness. His righteousness. His righteousness.
I have written another article on the horrors of antinomianism, aka cheap grace, so no one can accuse me of teaching that salvation is a license to sin. If we truly love Him and have faith in what he suffered in order to redeem us from the hell we deserve, then we will seek to honor Him with our whole heart. If we don’t feel conviction over sin and don’t grow to hate it, then chances are very slim that we are actually saved by the blood, sweat and pain of the one and only God, Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Any time we are grieved by our sin and are worried that we have disqualified ourselves from His great love and mercy, remember: it is finished. He paid our debt, in full, on that one great and terrible day, and as long as our faith is in His righteousness, and not our own, we can be certain that we are forever saved…and that gives my soul great comfort.
“and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Revelation 1:5-6 KJV
Other Articles By This Author:
THE LOVING DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD
God Doesn’t Always Answer Our Prayers: What the Scriptures Say About Unanswered Prayer
Preach the Word Boldly, and do Not be Ashamed of Jesus Christ
“Greater works than these shall he (we) do….” What is the meaning of this scripture?
Money and the Ministry: Teachers, Preachers and Mammon
“Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up YET unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee. But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.”
John 7:8-10 KJV
“So Jesus said to them, “My time is not yet here, but your time is always opportune. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil. Go up to the feast yourselves; **I DO NOT GO UP TO THIS FEAST**because My time has not yet fully come.””
John 7:6-8 NASB1995
Almost every day, following street evangelism, if there aren’t any waves, I drive over to the Jupiter inlet in order to swim in the clear blue-green water, especially just before high tide as it fills in with the warm Gulf Stream current, which lies only 3 miles off shore. The inlet is full of sea turtles, manatees, spotted eagle rays, schools of Jack Crevalle and every manner of tropical fish – and of course, sharks. Swimming against the current one way….and then riding it back to my little beach the other way, is one of the great joys of my life. The swim out against the tide is a challenge, but the journey back, being gently pushed by the warm, clean Gulf Stream, is like quietly flying through a thick blue sky, but instead of birds, it’s full of brilliantly, and beautifully crafted marine life. I see the creativity, love and power of God every single swim.
A few weeks ago, as I was getting out of the water and stripping off my gear, (mask, snorkel, dive gloves, fins, and unnecessary but fun to carry dive knife) I noticed an older gentleman on my little beach. I greeted him with a warm smile and asked him if he knew that Jesus Christ loved him and paid the full price for his sin with His blood. He responded with an enthusiastic,”Yes!”
For some reason, it was on my heart to gently bring up the Bible version issue, so I mentioned to him that after decades of being an NIV lover and KJB hater, I decided to study the reason for all of the different Bible versions. (My article outlining that issue, in depth, can be found at the end of this post.)
I then made the point that one of the most egregious differences between the KJB and the new versions, is that Jesus actually lies to his brothers in John 7:8-10, in every single new version. Not only does scripture teach us that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2), but Revelation 22:15 states that liars go into the lake of fire. I would not want to be one of the men who assigned Jesus to hell by virtue of my translation decisions.
As soon as the words came out of my mouth, the man looked at me with disbelief and said,” Jesus really didn’t lie in the King James??” I said, “No. He only lies in bibles created by Rome. In the real Bible he tells the truth.” The man was absolutely shocked and told me that he had been tormented by that scripture for 25 years! Why did Jesus lie? How could he do that and be God – and truly be good? He found his answer, by the grace and mercy of Jesus on a small, remote beach on Jupiter island. He was reminded by the true word of God that God cannot and does not EVER lie.
Not coincidentally, Matthew 5:22, in the new versions, also condemns Jesus to hell since he gets angry with Peter for not respecting God’s plan of redemption. In the new versions, we are condemned to hell simply for being angry with our brother, while the KJB properly adds that we are only in danger of hell for being angry “without a cause.” The edits in the new versions by our friends in Rome, are of course, no accident. [The new versions also slander the character of Paul in Galatians 5:12. Check it in the KJB, and then in a new version of your choosing. Which version accurately captures the heart of Paul towards his enemies?]
What a blessing that the Lord led me to that precious soul at that exact moment in time. I asked him for his contact information, and sent him my full Bible version article so that he could understand what exactly happened to the word of God at the hands of Rome in 1881. Satan couldn’t destroy scripture, so he made clever, easy-read counterfeits…shrouded in pseudo scholarship and approved (and pushed) by the Laodicean church. If one puts a Phd or Thd behind their name, seemingly every Christian will trust them, whether they have a legitimate salvation testimony or not.
I will never EVER read (or recommend) a Bible where Jesus is condemned to hell not only for lying but also for being justifiably angry with his beloved brother Peter. Furthermore, there are hundreds of serious doctrinal edits and deletions in the new versions, all of which use the same corrupt family of manuscripts, while the editors simply grab a thesaurus to ensure that they change just enough words and phrases to get a copyright – and the cash that comes with it. That is patently outrageous and will not stand on the last day. I strongly urge all of my readers to review my articles linked at the end of this post, and place your new version Bible where it belongs – in the fire.
My full Bible version article:
The Bible Version Controversy: A Brief History of The War over God’s Eternal Written Word
Another article I wrote on a friend led astray by new version edits:
Repentance, Salvation and The New Bible Versions: Yes, it Really Does Matter
Tithing and the New Testament Church
The Supremacy and Certainty of Scripture: What Exactly we Have with the Written Word of God
Money and the Ministry: Teachers, Preachers and Mammon
It was difficult to recount some of my childhood abuse and teenage alcohol problems, but I felt like it was important to share them. My pastor also asked me to explain to the church how I do my street ministry. My talk at church from Wednesday, June 23 , 2021, is on the YouTube link below. It starts at around 29:00. I hope it is edifying:
**Below is the story of my evangelization trip to and through the Florida Keys:
Piercing the Darkness: My evangelism journey through the Florida Keys
Below is a video interview I did 3 years ago on the Bible version issue:https://youtu.be/yJY2Y1hCr_k
Unconditional Election and Limited Atonement: is Calvinism Biblical? A Scriptural Analysis
“Church shall be suddenly taken up from hence. There shall be, saith He, tribulation such as was not from the beginning, neither shall be.” -Irenaeus AD 180, Against Heresies Volume 5.
“… Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:16-17
INTRODUCTION
When I started this blog five years ago, I promised myself never to write about eschatology because it seemed to be one of the few biblical topics where “certainty” could not be found. My view on the certainty of this issue has changed dramatically in the past few years, to the point where I decided to address it with the written word of God. My mind was changed primarily by the fact that, during my usual, daily Bible reading, I continued to come across scripture that seemed to point to a “catching away” of the church prior to the seven year tribulation period. In fact, as I continued to stumble upon these scriptures and combine them with the vague ones I was aware of, what once was blurry suddenly became clear.
Although the timing of the rapture would not affect my career as a street evangelist or my perspective on how to approach my daily life for Christ, I decided to dig in to the issue about seven years ago. Although I have listened to several sermons on the topic and have reviewed outlines and charts, it was pure scripture that had the most significant impact on my change of position. I continued running into verses and passages that pointed to the removal of the church before the Lamb ripped open the first seal in Revelation 6:1. Make no mistake about it, every second of the hell unleashed on earth comes directly from the throne of God, although I will address mid-tribulation, (aka pre-wrath) in this article, and the Darby issue (some say he invented pre-tribulation rapture doctrine) at the end of this article. I am not pretending to reinvent the wheel. I am simply explaining its construction as I understand it.
WHY I AM A PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE BELIEVER
From the moment I heard about some sort of rapture for believers, and the debate about it (pre, post or mid tribulation), I took the side of the post tribbers. Why? Because I was an extreme pessimist, and I did not like or respect the televangelists who were loudly and obnoxiously yelling (or selling books) about the rapture and seemed to want an easy escape from the life of luxury they were leading. Little did I know that many respectable pastors and teachers were also pre trib, and could support that view with the word of God. While I read literature from a few of these men, I wasn’t truly convinced until my own, independent study of scripture continually pointed to the church being protected from the wrath of the Lamb, which begins in Revelation 6:1, when Jesus opens the first seal of the seven-sealed book…and unleashes death and hell.
Rather than structure this post as an essay, I thought it would make more sense to simply number the verses/passages that had the most impact on my now, unassailable view of the catching away, and explain them, if necessary. This is by no means exhaustive, or even scholarly. It is simply one man’s uncomplicated explanation of a complex subject.
1) “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth. ” Revelation 3:10 KJV
This verse, based on its context and wording, seems to be the most convincing pre-tribulation verse in all of scripture (especially when coupled with the three Old Testament scriptures, which I will quote below). At the beginning of Revelation chapter 3, Jesus is addressing the one true church (Philadelphia), meaning the church that was/is pursuing the God of the Bible with purity and integrity. Jesus is speaking to them regarding the future that will come upon “all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth.” There is only one such trial in the history of humanity, and it most certainly hasn’t happened yet. It is the great tribulation(Matt 24:21), and in Revelation 3:10 (and several other verses) we are clearly told that those who are in Christ will be safe during that hellish period. Based on what Paul teaches us about the “mystery” of being translated into heaven in the twinkling of an eye, it is clear that Revelation 3:10 and meeting the Lord in the air are the same event.
Three Old Testament passages express the same message of protection during the day of the Lord’s wrath.
“Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger.“Zephaniah 2:3 KJV
“Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” Isaiah 26:20-21 KJV**While several commentators say that this scripture applies to all those saved by faith at the end of the church age, whether Jew or gentile, at least one says that it only applies to the Jews in the second half of the tribulation. However, I don’t see any reference to His people(the church) going through 3.5 years of unmitigated hell on earth before he calls them into the safety of his chamber. Regardless, this passage clearly show the intent of God to shield those saved in the church age, from violence in the day of his wrath.
“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Psalms 27:5 KJV** This appears to be a prophecy of the tribulation since David speaks of “the” time of trouble rather than a personal, “my” time of trouble.
2) Noah and Lot were taken from places of violent, heavenly judgment, to safety, by the direct hand of God, moments before His vengeance was unleashed. Likewise, the Israelites in Goshen were divinely protected from the plagues that came upon Egypt in the days of Moses. Fortunately, Jesus made it clear that the church will have the same protection in the tribulation, although that doesn’t preclude violent persecutions from Satan and his minions prior to the tribulation period, as we see in many parts of the world today.
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.…” Luke 17:26-30 KJV
Since the circumstances at the time of the rapture will be as it was in the days of Noah (with people eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage), then the rapture couldn’t be at the end of the tribulation, when the world is effectively destroyed by war, famine, poisoned water, stinging locusts and the fiery judgements of God. This passage makes it clear that the rapture will happen in a time of peace and normalcy, and thus, it would rule out the time at the end of the tribulation. See also, 1 Thessalonians 5:3
Jesus makes the exact same point He made in Luke 17:26-30 (above), a few chapters later, when He was explaining what to expect during the tribulation period. He specifically notes that some will escape that awful, violent event:
“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:36 KJV
3) On multiple occasions Paul teaches us that we (the church) are not appointed to God’s wrath. Paul and his companions were severely beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and even murdered. Thus, Paul never taught us that we wouldn’t suffer severe persecution or even be martyred for the name of Jesus Christ. Paul simply stated a fact: God will not pour out His personal wrath on His bride. As previously noted, Lot, Noah and the Israelites in Goshen are perfect examples of this principle in action. Paul taught:
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Romans 5:9
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Ephesians 5:6 (See also, Colossians 5:6)
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.“ 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 KJV
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ….” 1 Thessalonians 5:9
“… Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:16-17
Clearly, everything that happens to the world in Revelation flows directly from God’s throne, making it His wrath, not Satan’s. It begins in Revelation 5, when all of heaven seeks one worthy to open the seven sealed book and unleash hell on earth. Only the Lamb, Jesus Christ, is found worthy, and in Revelation 6:1, it is Jesus, not Satan, who rips the first seal off of the book, and sends the horsemen of hell to earth. As a further confirmation of this analysis, at the end of chapter 6, it states with great clarity:
“16… Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:16-17
The two verses quoted above are indisputable. It is God who initiates and controls the tribulation period, not Satan, as pre-wrath/mid-tribbers claim. Every second of it is the wrath of the Lamb, and just like we see on a few occasions in the Old Testament, God uses demonic forces to execute His judgement on mankind. It is God alone who orders the opening of the bottomless pit and allows Apollyon and the locust-like creatures to torment the world. God has planned every minute of the tribulation and he warned John (and us) exactly how it will go down. The wrath of the Lamb will not touch believers – ever. He bore that wrath for us in his body on the cross. 1 Peter 2:21-24
4) If the “catching away” (aka the rapture), is truly a “mystery” per Paul (1 Cor. 15:51-52), and if it comes “as a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2), then we could never know exactly when it’s going to happen. Since Daniel 9:24-27, teaches us that the tribulation period is exactly 7 years (divided into two 3.5 year segments), then the timing of the rapture would be known to anyone with a Bible if it were post-tribulation. Thus, it would not come as a thief in the night, and it most certainly wouldn’t be a mystery. Furthermore, 1 Thessalonians 5:3 states that immediately after the rapture of verse 2, the world proclaims “peace and safety” not realizing that the unmitigated violence of Revelation 6…is about to be unleashed:
“2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
It is also important to note that, while the concept of protection for the faithful during the day of the Lord’s anger was hinted about in the Old Testament (Psalm 27:5; Isaiah 26:20-21; Zephaniah 2:3), the return of the Lord in flaming judgement at the end of days, was no mystery. David, Isaiah, and Zechariah (among others) spoke of it in clear terms. We were even told that the Messiah would set His feet on the ground at the end of days. (Job 19:25; Zechariah 14:4) Therefore, the “mystery” that Paul speaks of, could not be the return of Christ at the end of the seven year tribulation period, because it was never a secret.
5) At the time of the rapture, we meet the Lord in the air, and are with him forever (1Thess. 4:17). That is entirely different from the angels coming down from heaven and gathering the remaining believers from the corners of the earth (Mark 13:27). Furthermore, as noted in the previous section, at the end of the tribulation, Jesus comes down to earth to deal with the Jews at the Mount of Olives, per Zechariah 14:4.
6) The tribulation period is specifically referred to as the time of “Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), meaning that it is specifically designed to deal with the unsaved, rebellious Jews. It is not the time of the “church’s trouble.” Although many will be saved during that horrific period, the church will not face the wrath designed by God for Israel. Jesus bore that violence for us on the cross. 1 Peter 2:21-25
7) In Titus 2:11-13, we re told to look for the “blessed hope,” the “glorious appearing” of our Savior, Jesus. We are not told to watch for: war, famine, demonic locusts, the false prophet, the antichrist, the destruction of all plant life, a flesh-scorching sun, poisoned rivers, a darkened sky, the rule of the antichrist and the death of 1/4, then 1/3 of mankind, first, thankfully:
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ….” Titus 2:11-13 (See also, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, which mentions waiting for His return, with no warning regarding nearly a decade of unfettered supernatural violence first)
If all of the judgements of Revelation are supposed to come to earth while the church is present, then Paul was a terrible teacher and was at best, grossly negligent in failing to warn future generations of Bible readers what to expect. Paul was always careful to teach the church about the bitter persecutions we will face on earth, but never once did he indicate that we would have to go through the supernatural violence of the tribulation before the glorious appearing of our savior. Instead, Paul treated it as mystery, and something to be excited and hopeful about. No believer would be excited to sit through seven years of fire, blood, murder, stinging locusts, starvation via the mark of the beast, and the tyrannical rule of the antichrist. I trust Paul implicitly, therefore, I believe that we will be raptured before the seven year tribulation period.
John 14:1-6 further supports this position. Jesus, while comforting his disciples, says, without equivocation that, after he departs, he will come back to earth and receive his followers unto himself. He gives no warning that they have to make it through of 7 years of death and hell first. If we had to survive the tribulation, then Jesus was not being honest with his precious flock, and that isn’t who Jesus is:
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:1-6 KJV
8) The first three chapter of Revelation are all about the church, and are only about the church. At the beginning of chapter 4, John, more than likely the only apostle alive at the time, has his spirit taken up and into heaven by God in order for him to watch the tribulation unfold in safety. The church is never mentioned again after John goes up, and the church is not mentioned at all as heaven prepares for seven years of violent judgment on the earth. The fact that the church isn’t mentioned one time during the tribulation (like, as a possible exception to the 1/3 and then 1/4 of the world population that gets annihilated at different points), seems to be a clear indication that the church will not be there during that time frame. The fact that John is safely in heaven watching it all take place, seems to be an additional hint that the church will be safely in heaven during that dark time.
9) Matthew 16:18 is another verse that points to the church body being gone during the tribulation. In this verse, Jesus makes it crystal clear – as long as the church exists on earth, it will NOT won’t be overcome:
“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.” Matthew 16:18
This is an important point because we see In both Daniel 7:21, and Revelation 13:7, that during the tribulation period, the antichrist makes war with the saints and defeats them:
“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them“ Daniel 7:21
“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” Revelation 13:7
Jesus made it clear: His church will never be defeated. Therefore, the saints who are killed en masse, during the tribulation, are clearly post-church age believers, who came to salvation during the time of Jacob’s trouble. There can be no other explanation given the clear and direct words of Jesus In Matthew 16:18 regarding the impregnability of the church.
Jesuses comforting words to his disciples in John 14:1-6 (quoted in full, under point 7) confirms this as well. Jesus would never say to them “Let not your hearts be troubled…” as he promises them a time when he will gather us all unto himself to take us home forever, if all (or most of us) are brutally killed just prior to that event (during the tribulation). Jesus doesn’t even hint that we will be subjected to worldwide plagues and violent destruction in that beautiful, hopeful passage. I am fully convinced that Jesus and Paul had so much tender love for the church that they both would have clearly warned us of any specific dangers that we might face before we reach eternity in paradise.
EPILOGUE
One of the worst slanders against pre-tribbers, is that we, ignorantly and blindly, expect to avoid persecution for our faith despite the fact that the apostles, and believers today (all over the world), have been and are being brutally tortured and killed for Jesus Christ. I am well aware of that fact, and I expect that here in the United States, we will see an ever-increasing amount of violence and hatred towards Christianity in the very near future. I accept that, and in some ways, welcome it, seeing what our Lord suffered for us as his enemies gloated and viciously mocked Him on the cross. What I won’t believe, ever again, is that Christians will be the victims of God’s personal wrath. Those saved by faith in the God of the Bible weren’t subject to His wrath in the age of Abraham, Lot, or even in the days of Noah. That is not how He related to his beloved children then or now, and for that, I am most certainly grateful.
***Was Darby the first christian to teach the pre tribulation rapture of the church?(see link, below)***
What Did the Early Church Believe About the Rapture?
Other Articles by the Author of this blog:
Confronting Sin: Loving Our Brothers And Sisters In Truth
The Danger of Ecumenism: Part 1
Boldness For The Lord In These Final Days
Prayer: Approaching God On His Terms
Thy Word Alone is Truth: Examining All Things in the Refining Furnace of Scripture 