I’m not the only Christian listening to these men, and other
pastors of their persuasion. I have a very intelligent friend that listens to
Greg Laurie on her I-pod every day. Generally, she’s hearing a good gospel
message spiced with a heavy dose of Calvinism each day. Her first choice is
Greg Laurie. If I had the inclination, none of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture
pastors would be my first choice. Their message is close enough to the truth. However,
when these pastors preach about eschatology, how accurate are they?
In my opinion, pastors like these two preach 95% fact and 5%
fiction in theology. With James MacDonald, his increased volume usually signals
when he’s wrong. Often times, pastors are confused on eschatology, believing an
errant theological message merits you a one-way trip to Sheol (Hell). Most of these
pastors should be commended because they preach a wonderful salvation message.
However, if you believe their errant eschatological message, what happens? I
submit their errant eschatological messages may cause a “Great Falling Away”
someday. It’s that serious. It’s our job to discern when pastors are preaching God’s word, and when they’re preaching in their own spirit. Most of us can’t tell the difference, and that’s the danger.
The past few mornings, Greg Laurie has been teaching on
Revelation. In his “Fly-over” speech, he told us, “The next event is the
Rapture…then the Gog/Magog war…and then the Great Tribulation.” I doubt if many
of his listeners know enough to present another timeline. Most listeners are
“Sheeple,” hanging on his every word. That means I need to present an
alternative theory.
A biblical end time’s timeline should be biblical. Let’s
address the overview first and errant theories second.
2.1 Preterism, 2.2 Historicism, 2.3 Futurism, 2.4 Idealism
* I’m a Futurist believer.
(2.3-In Futurism, parallels may be drawn with historical events, but
most eschatological prophecies are chiefly referring to events which have not
been fulfilled, but will take place at the end of the age and the end of the
world. Most prophecies will be fulfilled during a global time of chaos known as
the Great Tribulation and afterwards.)
11 Major theological positions
11.1 Premillennialism, 11.1.1 Pretribulation Rapture, 11.1.2 Midtribulation Rapture, 11.1.3
Posttribulation Rapture
11.2
Postmillennialism
11.3 Amillennialism
* I’m a Premillennial, Posttribulation Rapture believer. (11.1-Standard
premillennialism posits that Christ's second coming will inaugurate a literal
thousand-year earthly kingdom. Christ’s return will coincide with a time of
great tribulation. At this time, there will be a resurrection of the people of
God who have died, and a rapture of the people of God who are still living, and
they will meet Christ at his coming. A thousand years of peace will follow,
during which Christ will reign and Satan will be imprisoned in the Abyss. Those
who hold to this view usually fall into one of the following three categories:11.1.3-Posttribulationists
hold that Christ will not return until the end of the tribulation. Christians,
rather than being raptured at the beginning of the tribulation, or halfway
through, will live through it and suffer for their faith during the ascendancy
of the Antichrist. Proponents of this position believe that the presence of
believers during the tribulation is necessary for a final evangelistic effort
during a time when external conditions will combine with the Gospel message to
bring great numbers of converts into the Church in time for the beginning of
the Millennium.
Errant theory #1:The Doctrine of Imminence (before the
Rapture)-This means nothing needs to occur before the Rapture. It’s false. Look
around you every day; you’ll see that many things need to occur before Yahushua
returns. We need the Seven Seals to open. We need something called “Melo
HaGoyim” to occur. This means the time of the Gentiles and their church will
dissipate, and the predominance of the Judeans (the Jews) will increase. We’re
not there yet.
By labeling something vague with a church doctrine, all
those with an opposing viewpoint are suddenly unorthodox, or worse, they may be
labeled as a heretic. It’s like one group bullies the other group because
there’s a litmus test to join their group. The problem is the Doctrine of
Imminence group is the most obsessed with news that doesn’t need to happen
before the Rapture occurs. Do you see the errant circular logic of their
theory?
Errant theory #2: The Pre-Tribulation Rapture-There are no
verses in the Bible that directly prove a Pre-Tribulation Rapture; however
that’s not needed with these people. In every other case scripture interprets
scripture, but not in this case. In Matthew 24:29 Yahushua states that “after”
the tribulation of these times, he will return in the clouds. It doesn’t matter
when the Pre-Tribulation Rapture has been elevated to doctrine status. Now the
theory is untouchable, and very wrong.
I give Pre-Tribulation Rapture pastors a pass on this
theory. God has shown me that to preach anything else would appear harsh.
However, they’re loving their “sheeple” into paranoia when they run out of
answers in a few years. It’s like Sally was heart-broken when Linus was wrong
with the “Great Pumpkin Theory.” Don’t be like Sally. Open your Bible now, and
learn about eschatology.
Errant theory #3: A-millennialism-Most Roman Catholics and
Lutherans spiritualize that we’re already living in the end time’s 1,000 year
millennial reign of Yahushua. Wrong! The Bible clearly states he will return
and then reign for 1,000 years.
Errant Theory #4: God told me-I always give prophets the
benefit of the doubt when they say, “Thus saith the Lord.” Recently, one of my
favorite prophets stated this on his website:
Oct. 28, 2012 - Prophecy Relevant the
Election: The Lord
told me two months ago that Romney would be elected with much trepidation. I APOLOGIZE. I missed it!”
God doesn’t make mistakes. Maybe that was another god
whispering in his ear.
Errant Theory #5: Partial Preterism-Does God fulfill
prophecies once, and that’s it? No. A
Partial Preterist will permit God to fulfill prophecies multiple times, however
not the eschatological prophecies. My advice is to never put God in a box.
Revelation 12 may be fulfilled 3 times or more, why fight it? Two of my
favorite pastors are Partial Preterists. We’ll agree to disagree. 
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