Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Explaining the Theology of Futurism

By Pastor Paul Coulombe

Bibles became accessible to the common man in the 15th century. The prophecies of the books of Daniel with the all of its symbols and Revelation with all of its apocalyptic writings became the foundation of study which revealed an entity known as the Antichrist.
In the book of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 we read, “Let no man deceive you be any means…” This is referring to the fact of not listening to incorrect Scripture. It continues with; “for that day shall not come, except there be a falling away first…” This is translated; “for that day shall not come, except there come a departure first” It concludes with; “,and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition defines “perdition” as follows:
1 a archaic : utter destruction b obs : LOSS 2 a : eternal damnation b : HELL
What does all this have to do with the common belief in the rapture? In reviewing this theology we deal only with the presumption of the truth. These truths are founded on the interpretation of the Books of Daniel 7, 2 Thessalonians 2, Revelation 13, 17, 18.
In our search for the truth of the Second coming of our Lord and our review of scriptures the following characteristics of the main entity which highlights this study, is apparent:
It will rise to be a great power after the fall of the pagan Roman empire (after 476 A.D.)
It will be a geographically small nation ( a little horn).
It will rule over many people, nations, and tongues (it will be universal).
It will be headquartered in the city of seven hills, Rome.
It will be a religio-political entity – a political city-state reuled by a priest-king.
Its priest-king will make great and blasphemous claims
It will claim authority over all kings.
It will claim its power to change the times and laws of God as its mark of authority.
It will be an apostate church, that makes the nations drink her cup of apostate doctrine.
It will be a “mother’ church, with apostate daughters coming from her/
It will be a persecuting power, killing the faithful saints of Jesus Christ as heretics.
It will hold power and authority for 1260 years following the fall of pagan Rome.
It will suffer a deadly wound that will end 1260 years of dominance and persecution.
It will be revived after the deadly wound, and all the world will wonder at it’s revival.
This appears to be revealing not an individual but a system of apostasy and destruction. But there are those of us who do see the prophesy as a revealing of a true individual. The element of the 15th century was trying to put forth a belief that the antichrist was in fact the Roman Catholic Church. This was substantiated by the understanding of the Protestants of the Reformation as to why the Roman church was against the scriptures (the Bible) being available for everyone to read and interpret for themselves.
The “Fifth Lateran Council (1512-17 A.D.) went into the business of censorship on books and preaching on the antichrist.
Session 10 dated May 10, 1515 dictated censorship of books. In the review the crux of it’s writing that the readers were uninformed and ignorant. This led to the ban on any writings or printing in Rome or any of the cities unless reviewed by the bishops and the “powers on high” within the church. People found in the act of printing, writing or distributing, would suffer the sentence of excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church.
Session 11 dated December 19, 1516 dictated on how and what to preach. The catholic church demanded that no one preach or determine any fixed time for future events including the coming of the antichrist or the day of judgment. The church held to scripture, which in fact is the teaching of our Lord that it is not for us to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by His own authority.
The Catholic Church realized they couldn’t ban bibles because this action would be
perceived as admitting to the insinuation that the Church “was in fact” the harlot
persecuting church of prophecy.
But the realization is that since the fall of pagan Rome only one (singular) entity on
earth has ruled for the length of time indicative to the 1260 years of the rule of the
antichrist and that entity is the Catholic Church.
Prophecy that was relating to Dan 7:25 was truly pointing to the Church as the
antichrist.
A Jesuit doctor of theology by the name of Francisco Ribera (1537-1591) wrote a
lengthy commentary on the book of Revelation. In his writings Ribera was
attempting to remove the Catholic Church as the antichrist. He put forth that the 1st
chapters of Revelation was referring to pagan Rome not the church, and related
that a future period of 3 ½ years prior to Christ’s second coming was evident. In
this the antichrist was a single individual that would commit to and achieve the
things we as tribulation believers hold as fact:
> The rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem
> The denial of Jesus Christ
> Total acceptance by the Jews
> The pretense that he is God
> The murder of God’s two witnesses
> He will conquer the world (after the rapture of the believers)
His writings reveal that the 1260 years of church domination of the middle ages was
not the message put forth in the book of Revelation, but it was referring to the literal
3 ½ years of the “future” prior to the second coming which now we can identify by
name; Futurism.
One of the best known Jesuit apologists of the 16th century, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine published a work, Polemi Lectures Concerning the Dispute Points of the Christian Belief Against the Heretics of This Time. In this he denied the “day equals year” principal and talked about and agreed with Ribera of the 3 ½ future year period.
The Jesuits continued advocacy of Futurism into the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries when a Jesuit from Chili, Manuel De Lacunza (1731-1801), wrote “The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty” under a Jewish name to hide he was a Catholic. He was hoping for acceptance by Protestants and wished to take pressure of the Catholic Church by proposing that antichrist was to come in the future.
Edward Irving (1792-1834) leader in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements in Scotland translated Lacunza’s writings from Spanish to English.
So the world would understand better, Lacunza followed the teaching of previous Jesuits that the Antichrist would appear in the end times:
“That there shall be an Antichrist (singular[my insertion]); that he shall be revealed, and publicly declared, toward the last times; and that he shall commit in the world the greatest evils, making formal war against Christ and all that pertains to him--these are three certain things, of which no Christian can doubt.
According to all the signs given in the Holy Scriptures, and others, not equivocal, offered to us by time, which is wont to be the best interpreter of the prophecies, the antichrist, or the contrachrist, with whom we stand threatened in the times immediate upon the coming of the Lord, is nothing but a moral body, composed of innumerable individuals, diverse in themselves, but all morally united and animated with one common spirit, against the Lord and against his Christ.”
When speaking of “innumerable individuals” we understand that these would be the contemporaries who follow the individual antichrist and do his bidding.
Lacunza in the translation by Irving refers to the harlot woman in Revelation 17 taking away the implication that this is the church of mid times but is in fact revealing future Rome or the centre of unity where power will establish itself and be guilty of fornication with the kings of the earth.
So is Rome of the future the place of residence of the antichrist? It appears a general concensus that it could very well be.
Edward Irving continued even further with his position of Futurism by promoting a Secret Rapture at a prophecy conference in Dublin. This was brought about through a letter he received from a 15 year old Scottish girl, a member of his congregation who has visions of a Secret Rapture of believers before the Antichrist.

In chronological order we look next at Samuel Roffey Maitland (1792-1866) scholar of the archbishop of Canterbury. He continued the promotion of Futurism as a resul of Lucunza’s work.
A Church of Ireland clergyman upon learning of the visions of Margaret McDonald also promoted Futurism and a Secret Rapture. He visited America, 1859/1874 where the theology of Futurism was instantly accepted.
An influential writer, actually the author of the Scofield Reference Bible, Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921) firmly established the Jesuit inspired interpretation of Futurism in the Protestant Bible schools of the United States in the 20th century.
The following are Seminaries have abandoned the teaching that the Roman Catholic Church is the apostate church and the harlot of revelation.
> Dallas Theological Seminary - Most likely the most influential seminary in the US on Futurism and the secret rapture.
> Moody Bible Institute - Supplied Sunday School lessons to the Assembly of God churches about 1914, introducing Pentecostals to Futurism and the secret rapture theology.
> Western Theological Seminary - Alma Mater of Tim LaHaye, founder of the Pre-trib Research Center and co-author of the Left behind series
> Tim LaHaye School of Prophecy - opened January 2002 on the campus of Liberty University.


Well known ministries teaching Futurism and the Secret Rapture
> Trinity Broadcasting
> Jack Van Impe Ministries
> Jerry Falwell Ministries
> John Hagee Ministries
> The King is Coming, World Prophetic Ministries
> Grant R. Jeffrey (Prophecy Online)
> Hilton Sutton World Ministries
> Zola Levitt - “holds to a strictly literal and inerrant Bible interpretaion, salvation through Christ alone, a soon pre-tribulation Rapture of all believers and the establishment of a thousand-year kingdom of Earth.
> John Ankerberg
> Perry Stone - Voice of Evangelism Ministries, Inc.

Conclusion
It is to be understood that the writing here is foundational in nature. I have purposely kept any opinion to a minimum. The information and quotations gathered for this writing are from the writers and supporters of Futurism & the Secret Rapture who have spent their lives in the revelation of God’s word.
Since the accessibility of the Bible to the public, the theology of the end times and second coming has been a point of contention between believers and non-believers of the word. The “Catholic Church” has borne the brunt of some interpretation probably due to the writings of Revelation 17.
For the most part, scholars of theology have put the argument against the Church to rest. Protestantism has embraced the belief of “future” theology of an individual antichrist holding true to our “individual” enemy and the enemy of Christ: 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”
In the next article, the facts of Preterism, a counter interpretation to Historism will be discussed and the dangers it proposes.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Obama's first week, a precursor to the next 4 years?

By Dan Hamblin

Well it's only been a week since Obama became the 44th president of the United States and he has certainly hit the ground running. He has addressed the issue of openly gay people joining the military, looks like that will be allowed very soon. Many people see that as a major mistake, the military is already suffering from a low enlistment rate, if gays are allowed in that will drastically affect the amount of new recruits.
Obama has also decided to abolish a previously enacted law that banned the United States from funding and abortions whether it is here at home or anywhere else in the world. Within the first 5 minutes of him taking office the White house website went from pro-life to pro-choice. I for one am outraged at this, if you lay down and do the deed, you need to be responsible and deal with the end result. Call me old fashioned, but that is how it should be. What ever happened to accountability?
The president also seems to have an arrogance about him that what ever he says WILL happen no matter what anyone thinks about it, not very flattering from our new commander and chief. He was seen yesterday in a meeting with some members from the senate in which he stated "I won, I am the president". Now if that doesn't sound like an elitist I don't know what does. It seems like these people are intimidated by him or something, they back down and he gets what ever his devious little heart desires.
Today Barack made a statement to the Muslim world in which he stated "we are not your enemy". He is wrong; they are our enemy because of their terroristic regimes and terroristic actions. Is he forgetting about 9/11? These are the same idiots that train kids it's OK to kill another man because of their religion at the age of 8 and 9 years old! Come on! Yet Obama wants to reach out to them, why not, he was Muslim by birth and always will be. After he won the election he said he had a certain duty to the Muslim community as well as to the United States. Anyone can see that. He also wants to have a one on one talk with the president of Iran; Barack thinks he can draw Iran closer to us, yeah right.
Today Obama somehow got his 825 billion dollar stimulus plan through the senate, the details of his plan do very little for our economy. We already have a 10 trillion dollar deficit, sure what's another 836 billion dollars. It allows for things like endowment of the arts and other frivolous causes. Earlier this week, the financial system and the government in Iceland crashed because of idiot leaders like Obama; this could be us before too long.
I don't trust Obama and think electing this man was a huge mistake for America. Many are saying Obama could fit the bill of the false prophet and I am beginning to see that in him. By the way he is also working on a bill that would prohibit certain things that he doesn't want us knowing from being printed or broadcasted for whatever reason he sees fit. Hello socialism! Goodbye red white & blue.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A look back at 2008

By Dan Hamblin

2008 was another banner year for prophecy, below are a few examples.

WEATHER: We experienced another year with more hurricanes, typhoons, winter storms and floods. We saw everything from Snow in Las Vegas to record breaking heat across the mid west causing schools to cancel classes because of heat. Here in Columbus, Ohio on March 7th & 8th of 2008 we experienced a record breaking snowfall of 20.8 inches in just over 24 hours. Many cities experienced record amounts of rainfall during 2008 as well. There were over 20,000 earthquakes in 2008.
FINANCIAL: 2008 will go down in the history books as a financial Armageddon for sure. This financial failure isn't just here in the USA but it is global. The US dollar hit all time lows in 2008 and the DOW fell from its 14,000 high down to the 7600 range in just one year. We all witnessed gas prices from 4.00 a gallon and over 5.00 a gallon on the west coast. The housing market pretty much totally collapsed, record foreclosures and a credit freeze. We watched as major financial institutions failed and were bought by others. We watched AIG insurance get billions in bail out money. We watched the big 3 automakers plead for money. 2008 was a total catastrophe for the financial community and continues to be a major issue. This is global remember, we watched Russia close their markets after only being open a couple of hours for a while because they were tanking so badly. 2009 will be just as bad, no improvement in sight as of now.
IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS: Well Iran hasn't given up on nuclear power. They have defied all sanctions set forth by the UN and still are on their way to a nuclear power. Many fear that Iran will make nuclear weapons and I for one agree with that completely. Iran has stated several times they want Israel "wiped off the map" and I see them trying to make good on that. Russia has provided a lot of the equipment needed to build their centrifuges in Iran and has backed them all the way. Israel has threatened to attack their nuclear facilities but as of this writing they have not, I feel it is too late for that now. They have passed the point of no return, in my opinion.
NATIONWIDE ID INCENTIVE: The nationwide ID incentive has gained ground as of the middle of 2008. Seems like everyone likes the idea and many Christians see this as the "mark". This is not the mark because it does not meet all of the characteristics of the mark but is surely a precursor for what is to come during the great tribulation.
FOOD SHORTAGES: It became official in mid-2008 that Ethiopia had a famine and there were vast food shortages, this has been felt to a lesser extend all over the globe. Many predict that in the next few years we will be asking for food for Christmas instead of play stations and I-pods. Some have already began stock piling food for future use, the not so distant future that is.
ISRAELI STRIKE IN GAZA: This is a very recent event started just after Christmas 2008. After many years of Hamas lobbing rockets into Israel, Israel has decided to strike back. This has been seen with a great amount of opposition. Nobody said a thing when Hamas was shelling Israel but now that they fight back everyone is pointing at Israel. Hezbollah has come forth saying they are ready to aid Hamas and Iran has been sending aid into Gaza through Egypt. Just more fuel to the Hamas terrorists. Iran has signed up nearly 4,000 volunteers that are willing to fight with Hamas against Israel. I think this is going to turn into something much bigger in 2009. The United States has not offered any aid in this ordeal, seems like Israel may be left standing alone and fighting for its survival. We all know that Israel will remain by God's grace; we all need to pray for Israel.
2008 US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION It was an historic election this past November, we elected the nations first black president. Barack Hussein Obama will take office on January 20th. He has a lot of plans and brings "change" to us all; just hope he lives up to his word. Not a lot of confidence, but we will see.

Well as you can see 2008 was another big year for prophecy. We have seen everything from floods to recessions to famines to another war with Israel. Many wonder if this is the war that will lead to the Gog – Magog war. The timing is right especially with Obama about to take office. Let's sit back and see what happens in 2009. Thank you for visiting Rapturecall and have a blessed new year.

Teri, Sue and Dan.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Time is running out.

By Pastor Bill Mazzilli

I would like to look at some scripture. 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17. 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: 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.The rapture of the church.. This is when Jesus comes to call His people home. The true Christians. But when will this happen? How much time do we have? In Matthew 24:36-42 tells us we do not know when this is gonna happen. We are to be ready and to watch. Watch for what? The signs of the end. The Bible teaches us there are things to watch for such as Matt 24: 4-14. Rumours of war. Look around there are wars and romours all around us. False Prophets. Those who do not teach the true Word of God but change it to fit the needs of the people with itching ears. Faith healer who claim they have power to heal.. God heals not man. This country was found on God's principles. The Pilgrims wanted to worship God the way God said to worship Him. God is taken out of the schools, no prayer you can't bring in your bibles because it offends people. Many shall be offended. It is ok to teach the children about evelution as the way we came about being. That is a theory not facts. We were created by God but they cannot teach that because it offends people. We tell the children they come from animals and woner why they act the part. They are trying to put warning lables on the bible. People in other countries are being killed for their belief in God. Look also at the weather. Massive earthquakes vilolent storms. All are predicted as signs of the end. You may say there has always been these storms and earthquakes.. True but not as severe as they have been and so close together. Love for God has indeed waxed cold. Man wants to do thing his way not Gods way. In the days of Noah as told in Genesis were days where man married man woman with woman. Hate and mockery of God and His words. Look around. The time is here. The signs are coming faster everyday. The stocks are crashing. You may say history shows this will come back but the bible teaches one day during the Tribulation period the stocks will come to an end. Stocks are not only going down here in America it is happing worldwide. There is a push for a one world bank and religion. A one world goverment.These are all in the process of coming to be.. Time is running out. Are you gonna be ready?Time is the one thing you can spend and never buy back. Once it passes it is gone it can not be relived. We need to prepare. James 4:13-17.Verse 14 says " Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.my friend we don't have much time. The hours, days, weeks they all seem to go buy faster and faster. Look at your watch. Your time is running out. What must we do. We must prepare others for the Lord we Christians need to get out there and do the work of the Lord. So many people are wise in the ways of the world but ignorant of the ways of God. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 3: 23 say For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. No one will escape Gods judgments. In Rev. chapter 20 tells us of the White Throne Judgment. Woe to those who stand in front of Him. Also found in Revelation chapters 16-19 teach of of the judgments to come upon the world after the Rapture of the church. This is gonna be a time as never before on this earth. God is gonna judge those who do not believe, those who are left behind. Yes some will make it through this time but most will die. This will be the time of the beast. A time when Satan will be in power here. The number of the beast will be here if you are to eat have medical attention all things are gonna be purchased only buy those who have the number of the beast. Yes 666 is that number. On the hand or foreheads. Look at technology today. They put chips in animals that can be scanned and have the history of that animal known to the vet. They want to put gps chips in new borns the number will be coming next people. Do not take that number. The red calf the Jews will sacrifice in the temple was an extinct species. Thanks to cloning they have sucessfully brought this animal back and are breeding it. All things are coming around. We need to prepare. Will you accept Jesus today? He died on the cross for the sins of mankind of every generation. He rose again from the grave and give us the same victory if we will believe. It is not about religion or works. For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast. Romans 10:9-13 says " That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raise him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 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. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Russia, how far will they go??

Dan Hamblin

It seems like Russia is testing the waters so to say. They started a few months back doing air patrol missions like they did back during the cold war and they have escalated from there. More recently Russia has been increasing the number of active troops and has even gone as far as breaking a treaty which stated they could not have combat artillery in certain areas. They called this "withdrawing" from the treaty because they felt it no longer pertained to them. The recent invasion of Georgia was a wake up call to the world that these lunatics are at it again.
We all know that Russia will play a major role in last days' events up to and including the war of Gog and Magog. The way things are looking lately that war is not far off. In that war Iran will align itself with Russia and others to create one of the largest if not THE largest war ever witnessed. Russia has been a strong supporter of Iran's nuclear power plants for some time now. When everyone knows for sure Iran is in it for weapons purposes, Russia will come forward and say it's for a peaceful purpose. Russia even went so far as to supply Iran with uranium late last winter to aid them in their "power plants".
The United States made a deal to put a missile defense system in Poland a week or so ago and Russia warned against such things, warning that this could be a reason for a military response from them, they said they feel threatened. Truth is that Russia knows we are doing it to protect ourselves from them and by having that defense system in place it could thwart any plans they may have for a future strike against the US on our own soil.
Make no mistake, Russia is drawing closer to Iran and it's going to blow up big before too long. Now that Putin is Prime Minister and he has his puppet Medvedev as the "president" Russia is going to become even more deadly. It's prophecy unfolding before our very eyes. Sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!!

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Ditching Labor Day for a whacked out religion??

I could hardly believe it when I heard that Tyson foods one of the largest chicken producers in the United States announced that employees opted to forgo their Labor Day pay and honor the Muslim holiday of Eid instead. Tyson has been known for decades as an American company, I know first hand, I used to drive semi truck for them. Now we have top American companies bowing down to the Muslims???
This deal was worked out in negotiations with the workers union at the Shelbyville, Tennessee plant. I have personally been to this facility numerous times and had noticed the amount of Muslim workers was increasing but I had no idea it was ever going to go this far. This deal also gives Muslim workers their own prayer room so they can waste more company time. The Shelbyville plant employs 1200 employees, 250 of which are believed to be Muslim.
Eid is the Muslim equivalent to Christmas for the Muslim people. I bet you these people get paid for their "Eid" holiday and Christmas this year, sounds like double dipping to me. The Muslim religion despite its perverse and bogus background is becoming more and more popular in these last days we are living in. Just goes to show you where the nation is headed.
This is just the beginnings of the changes that are to come for Christians, we always have to give up our ideas and standards to make way for these other religions. I for one am sick of it!!

Dan Hamblin

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Sarkozy takes charge as the EU President

By Dan

Well Nicholas Sarkozy took office as the president of the European Union last week. Many people are following this closely as he can be quite an unpredictable man and he always gets his way no matter what. Sarkozy's mother was born to a very prominent Jewish family at which time resided in Salonika, Greece.
Many are not surprised that Sarkozy has took the initiative to help Israel with its current crisis which is the Palestinian quest for a state in Israel. The Jewish population of Israel too sees Sarkozy as one who may be able to aid in the current situation and help them to come to some sort of peace agreement as the one President Bush initiated seems to have horribly failed. (What else would you expect from the Bush Administration?) Israel unveiled a postage stamp recently which depicts Sarkozy with a gift box opening up and the words 'congratulations' and 'good luck' arising from the gift box. Many find it very ironic that Israel released this tribute to Sarkozy before his own country. Seems like, Israel is counting on Sarkozy to save the day.
Many expect Sarkozy's presidency to bring a lot of change not just for France's domestic affairs, but for the Middle-East as well. My opinion is he would have a greater influence in the land than Bush because he resides in the region, he sees the issues first hand and can keep a watchful eye over it better than the United States can.
I think France will stay consistent with establishing a Palestinian state along side Israel and have a capital in Jerusalem. I am not saying I am for this, but it looks like that will be the eventual outcome.