Matthew 25:1-13 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. 1 John 2:27-28
God has given us the means of knowing whether or not men speak the truth concerning spiritual things. This is as much for our protection as it is for our sanctification. In our receiving the Revelation/Anointing of Him we now see and know Jesus as we never had known Him before (see 2 Corinthians 5:16). Knowing Him who was, and is, and is to come. On the foundations of this Revelation/Anointing rests all of our hope, faith and love. We, Christians (i.e. "Virgins") all believe that that He is coming again! However with 1/3 of the word being prophetic it is just as important to know WHEN He is coming as well as HOW, so we will not be deceived by imitations and be prepared to meet Him. (Read Matthew 24)
For the sake of argument let's say that you or someone you know banks on and believes in a pre tribulation rapture, and I believe in post tribulation. Ask yourself: "If this is true then how can we BOTH be loving the Lord as He commanded? How can we BOTH be keeping, abiding in His word?" (See what I mean? It is imperative that you do.)
Now the Pre tribber is LOOKING for Jesus to appear also, BUT he's looking for Him to appear to them at a time (BEFORE the tribulation) that; according to God's own word, will be a time when He's not going to come (2 Thes.2:1-3). The Pre tribber is NOT Looking for Him to appear when He says He will.... "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Hebrews 9:28
Take special note of where the anointing is the truth and is no lie. Therefore anything to do with a lie is NOT of God. Last days teachings as Pre, mid, post, pan, none, preterism, partial preterism, etc. cannot ALL be right! Only one of them can be right - and because God alone clearly and simply reveals which one it is in His word then the rest are wrong. Scenarios as the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24) and 2 Thessalonians 2 say it like it is, and woe to the person who takes and twists them to mean something else in order to suit their doctrine.
The bottom line of the whole parable of the ten virgins is to be wise and receive the anointing and let the anointing (not men) teach you. Study from scratch - just you and the Lord, comparing Scripture with Scripture. Abide in the anointing; obey the anointing; remain in the anointing and love the Person to whom the anointing points to by keeping "His" (not mens) words, therefore keeping "Him" burning in your heart, as you stand ready to go with Him at the sound of His (the Bridegrooms) voice at a moments notice, as you endure in the faith to the end (Matthew 24:13).
Please notice that the wise were deemed wise simply for the fact that they took with them OIL with their lamps (cf Luke 12:35-36). The unwise or foolish were deemed so because they had NO OIL to take with them when the call came to go forth and meet the bridegroom. Evidently they once had a trace (or taste - Hebrews 6:4-6) of it, but like those in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:20-22) they allowed the Light of Truth to die out in them and thus their OIL (i.e their anointing) ran dry BEFORE the wake-up call came!
The 5 foolish virgins can be associated with the shallow grounded person we see in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:5-6; 20-21). Neither could these foolish virgins accept tribulation and persecution that would occur because of their association with word and they became offended with Jesus' teaching, and sought to ESCAPE all these things (especially the Great Tribulation) by adhearing to the doctrines and teachings of men.
The OIL in this illustration represents our being anointed with the Spirit of Truth, which the Christian receives when they First Believe! This is the "Spiritual" anointing with which all of the wise virgins would need to have and remain in, in order to go through any and every kind of tribulation and experience with God if need be in order to stand victorious before the Lord!
The 5 foolish virgins didn't have any OIL (i.e. any lasting annointing) to bring with them, because they foolishly let their lamps burn out! That is the whole essance of this end-time teaching (of which it can begin at any time). The foolish virgins let their lamps burn out because they didn't remain in the Light, and because they didn't they had nowhere with which to place their feet (i.e. to place their trust in God's word), except on the false precepts of men. They thought that just because they were saved, then that's it, and that God required nothing further from them. Yet the word is repleat with warnings to Christians to REMAIN in the word (their first love) they received from the beginning.
What can cause a virgin not to take any OIL with them? Well, for one thing, a lack of over all seriousness with God's word, along with an adhearance to "False teaching" can! If we are to believe anything other than what God says and has said prophetically about Christ; our Blessed Hope, appearing a second time (Heb.9:28), then we are deceived! A perfect way to be deceived in the end times is to adhear to false teaching concerning the timing of His single coming and appearance, without hearing God. This is how one comes to lose the Oil (the Truth) of their anointing. Belief in and adherance to "The Pre Trib Doctrine" (for one example) is just such a teaching that is going to affect and deceive many virgins in the last days just before Jesus appears!
This doctrine teaches that the rapture will come before the great tribulation. It is a way of Escape. They have been taught to believe that they will escape the tribulation, therefore how ridiculous it would be to even say they see a need of having to carry extra OIL. By clinging to their false (flesh and blood) teaching they have been made ready for a rapture that will come at any second which promises them a great escape from trouble. They're already prepared to escape (in their own minds). The Truth is that they already lost the Oil they will need to see them through to the end.
If the Lord came this instant they claim they would be ready - HAVING NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE ABIDING IN THE ANNOINTING THEY ONCE RECEIVED, BUT SOLEY ON THEIR BELIEF IN A PRE-TRIB RAPTURE!
The pre tribber was not taught what they believe by the annointing, but by flesh and blood - by adhearing to the teachings of others! Remember the annointing of 1 John 2:27 and what it involves? Again, I am only refering to the second coming of Christ here! Therefore to believe what anybody says other than God concerning His appearing is to be among the unwise who built their house on the shifting sands of human reasoning and presumption (Matthew 7:26-27).
This is also what Paul was saying to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:17-18: "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."
Just as Hymenaeus and Philetus taught that the resurrection of the dead was over (and therefore those who believed their nonsense were left in hopeless despair), so too does the pre trib doctrine rob the hearers of their blessed hope as well: "The singular appearance of Christ after the tribulation". Their teaching is void of truth just as the pre-trib doctrine teaches that there will be a prior appearing and rapture given only to the Christians immediately prior to the 7 year tribulation period. Yet nowhere in the Scriptures can this false and oil-less doctrine be found!
In Matthew 25:6 it is written: And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
Yet we are told very clearly that He; in His own words, is not coming and appearing until after the tribulation (Matthew 24:29-30). This means that the OIL is necessary to finish the course. Remember what He said to the foolish virgins afterwards : Matthew 25:12 ..."Verily I say unto you, I know you not". This is the same rejection He gave to those in Matthew 7:23.
So the OIL represents our annointing with the Spirit of Truth and is what sustains and strengthens us through life; including the great tribulation, until Christ appears. The belief that we will be raptured out of here before the tribulation begins; according to the pre trib doctrine, splits Christ into two comings/appearances/parousias and into two periods seven years apart, by introducing a counterfeit Christ.
Again, with this false doctrine in hand the pre tribber has no need for carrying any extra OIL in their lamps, none whatsoever! That is why; when the time comes, their foolishness will become apparent as they will be without strength to withstand and overcome the great tribulation and the craftiness of Satan, and leave at just the wrong time to buy oil for their lamps.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Study = Comparing scripture with scripture! Rightly Dividing = Taking God's word at face value, not mans!***
The Bottom Line in the Parable of the 10 Virgins is this: "The Lord will delay His coming, so be prepared".
Think about it. If this is true, then there is a reason behind it. The reason the Lord is going to delay His coming is to separate those who are ready to go with Him from those who think they are but aren't. At the time of the wake-up call (also see Revelation 3:10 and 1 Thessalonians 5:5) it will be they themselves who'll come to know their own hearts and exactly where their true loyalties lie. Then we'll see just how important our love and commitment we first made to Him will be, and whether or not we were keeping His word with patience.
We need to make a commitment to Him so powerful that it involves our death to this life and all there is..."...the world is dead to me, and I am dead to the world" (Galatians 6:14). This must be done and can only be done from a love for Him that was made when we first believed, like yesterday. It cannot be done the moment we hear the cry (Matthew 25:6). If we aren't ready to go and meet Him by then, it will be too late.
As the Lord delays His coming only those who are intent on loving the Lord with all their heart, will not come up short, and will have that needed extra oil to go all the way with Him to the end. When He is getting ready to come, if He finds that we lack oil; meaning that our eyes, our desires, and our affections have once again become fixed on this world and the stuff that is passing away, then we will be found unworthy of Him and of His Kingdom at His coming, and His words to us will be, "I don't know you."
Our love for Him must be, from the very beginning of our walk: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength, spirit!" This is His first commandment! If you have this kind of love in you, then you'll have nothing left worth tempting you into dragging you back into the world again. This means that you already have that extra needed oil for Him, because even if He does delay His coming, you know He cannot lie, and you will stay ready to go out and meet Him, even at the darkest hour, no matter what! Having Extra Oil means that the fire of our love for Him and the fire of His Truth for you won't be depleted even though He delays His coming in order to test hearts.
For those of us who are foolish -- and in whom the desire to love Him does not run deep, nor who possess a belief that is profound, nor have the type of commitment needed and only one that is superficial at best and very fragile -- then our supply of oil will soon run out and be lost, somewhere while we were sleeping.
But for those of us who are wise, our desire runs deep, our belief is profound and unshakable, and our commitment is more than superficial -- then our supply of oil will be enough to outlast the bridegroom's delay.
Song of Solomon 8:6-7 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.
Someone asked a question in the July Berean Call Q & A ...
Question: How will the world (especially the Antichrist) explain the Rapture - particularly in light of so much publicity around the Left Behind series?
Response (by Dave Hunt):
The sudden mass disappearance worldwide of 100 million (or more) of earth's inhabitants will cause a panic beyond anything we can imagine. I believe that all of the babies and small children (of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, etc.) will also vanish, taken to heaven at the same time.
(Last part) - Of course, hundreds of millions (Almost all Muslims, most Roman Catholics, multitudes of followers of other false religions, and atheists who never knew and rejected the truth) will have the opportunity to believe and will be martyred for their faith under antichrist. Antichrist's explanation of the Rapture is not important. What is important is the fact that all will be deceived by it who oppose the truth.
Are you ready for my answer???
#1.... "If, as Mr. Hunt says, ALL are to be deceived by IT (whatever "IT" is?), then how will they be given an opportunity afterwards to believe and thus be martyred for their faith?" (And just what faith might that be???)
#2.... "Where in the word does it say that babies and children will be raptured to heaven???" Without any proof, this statement shows a clear lack of understanding as to what salvation means and what it does, and a complete disregard for the way, the truth and the life, seemingly disregarding the way all men must be saved in the first place!!
I am not cruel. I wish to harm no man! I too; like my Lord, wish that everyone can be saved!!! However, to me the pre trib doctrine has hit an all time low here, claiming that both the babies of unbelievers will be raptured to heaven as well as the babies of believers. And what about all of the billions of dead and aborted babies throughout the years? I plead with you to show me where in God's word it says that they will be in the rapture??? Instead this is what God says and what I hear...
Romans 8:20: "For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope"
Are all babies "creatures"? Are all babies born in and of "Adam"? Are all babies born "sinful"? Do all babies "die"? Is any baby "righteous"? What about the billions of dead babies who have already died or were aborted??? Just how do they fit through the Narrow Gate of God's word and the "Few there be" of Matthew 7:14.
God makes it all abundantly clear in 1 Thes. 4:14-18 that those who are dead (i.e. "sleeping") in Christ God is going to bring back with Him when He comes. These are the spirits of just men made perfect (Hebrews 12:23). And as He says here and elsewhere (1 Cor. 15:23; Matt. 24:30-31) that those who are alive won't be caught up until after the dead rise first... and according to the word of God this won't be until AFTER (Matt. 24:29) the tribulation of those days as He says, AT ( 1 Cor. 15:52) the last trump.***
1 Corinthians 15:22: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
Romans 5:12: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned"
Romans 3:10: "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one"
These and other scriptures only go to show me that we are ALL in the same boat! Age; to me, has nothing to do with salvation! You're born and die either IN or OUT OF the flesh or Christ!
Hello Les,
I want you know that I appreciated your reply. I see that you had written both pages by hand, and I appreciate the time that you took to do it. Thank you.
Consider these three things....
1. According to the scriptures, when does the wrath of God get poured out???
2. I wonder if you (being a pre-tribber) would read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 as is, and can do so without bringing your pre trib biases with you?
3. How can there be any "Imminent" (an any second) secret coming / appearing of Christ BEFORE Israel again became a nation (now going on 60 years) and BEFORE it has temple worship in place?
When pre trib says that Jesus can come at any moment, they mean that all prophecy up to the rapture itself has always been fulfilled. However, we know that Israel hadn't become a nation again until 1948. (60 years later and Israel is still in place.) They are ready and waiting to begin Temple Sacrifices and the Levitical Priesthood again (somewhere on the old temple mount area). Israel wasn't gathered again until 60 years ago, meaning that Jesus' "Imminent" coming is NOT what the pre trib believers have been taught to believe at all. It's all been a lie!
Les, NO ONE wants to or desires to go through the tribulation!!! However, our "HOPE" is based on what we KNOW for certain - on what "God alone", and not man, clearly tells us by His Spirit and confirms to us in the study of His word.!
Finally Les, what you had said in your newsletter about HOPE really affected me... because you believe that Hope, like Faith, can waver at times, growing and weakening, depending on our circumstances. Hope is the assurance of my faith! What's yours, Les? HOPE is the one sure sign to me that Jesus is resurrected from the dead, seated in glory and is coming again! I have no wavering on that at all. It remains solid, via revelation of Him! In me is the testimony of Jesus! If there's one thing that I know LOCKS me into Jesus, it is the HOPE of the Gospel that He gave and put in me, and I am prepared to endure to the end with what "He" gave me.
Why do I speak out so against pre trib??? Because I love the truth; and because of scriptures as Jude 3, and because so many are going to be deceived by this false teaching, that when the time for their pre trib rapture comes and they find they're still here, they will find themselves WITHOUT PATIENT ENDURANCE and WITHOUT HOPE, and that it's all been a lie.... and there will be no escape (Mt. 16:25).
May the Lord bless you in the knowledge of the truth.
Biff
Let God alone speak! Please don't presume anything, or that this MUST mean that! Show me word for word! I'm a Berean - I search the scriptures. So look at this question as if for the first time - with no influence or bias of any kind - and go from there! *If you say "at the pre trib rapture", then - please show me the exact scripture(s) in His word that says that Jesus will only appear "spiritually-or-invisibly" to the Christian and to no one else until after the 7 years are over!
Keep in mind what Paul is saying: *"by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him", in verse 1, and "THAT DAY", in verse 3. What DAY is he refering to, and WHEN does it occur??? (For specific information on When that Day occurs, see the word After in verse 3)
You are on record as saying that ALL Prophecy always concerns itself with only Israel, and yet why is it that pre tribbers refuse to see how the prophecy of the one affects the prophetic outcome (or eschatology) of the other??? *"Can you prove how His any second, pre trib coming doesn't depend on Israel's prophecy of having to become a nation and be in place first?
The time of the "Great Tribulation" is brought about by the antichrist persecuting Jews and Christians and not by God's wrath. It has nothing at all to do with "God's wrath" (which comes immediately after the tribulation that begins the "Day of the Lord") but with "Satan's wrath".
It is to the Christians and the Jews and ALL who are in any way connected with the Gospel that will find their "faith" (i.e. beliefs) being tested by fire. It will be through the Apostacy, the antichrist, the false prophet and all of their friends, that will be seeking us out and hunting us down like wild dogs and either "convert" us (making us take the mark) or gladly kill us.
This time of "Great" Tribulation (none like it before or since: Mt.24:21) will also be a time when many will hate us and even members of our own family (who think we're "nuts" anyway) will turn us in (Mt.24:9-10), much like a "communist" takeover.
On the other hand the world will have nothing to fear as they gaze upon the beast, believing this "god" to be invincible (Rev.13:3-4). They have no faith worth laying down their lives for, so they will gladly take the mark. A false "Peace and Safety" (1 Th.5:3) will rule their hearts. The "wrath of Satan against the saints" isn't aimed at them!
We see these "times" of Satan occuring in Daniel 7:21 and 12, and in when the abomination is set up in Matthew 24, and in Revelation 12 and 13, among other places.
As seen by His words of comfort to those who are being put to death in the fifth seal, the Wrath of God is nowhere to be seen nor is it forthcoming until later on, sometime within the opening of the sixth seal in Revelation, and elsewhere throughout the Bible (cf 2 Peter 3).
The opening of the sixth seal means that the "Great Tribulation" is over, cut short, by God Himself at His appearing (which also ushers in His wrath for the wicked) as is written many times over. It marks the "Day of the Lord"! A day when the Lord "Personally", with His angels will come and tread out the winepress of God's wrath.
Again, "The length and horrors of the Great Tribulation" are brought about by and because of "Satan's wrath", not God's. "God" is the One who promises to cut those days short, or else it will get so bad that no flesh would be saved.
Understand: "To in any way connect Satan's wrath as merely being a vessel for God pouring out His own wrath through; in using Satan to destroy the Lord's own born again children, is not only blasphemy but calling evil good and making God a partner of that evil, the very evil that He is coming into the world to destroy in the first place (1 John 3:8; 2 Th.2:8-9)."
"God's own wrath"; in the Appearance of His Son, Jesus which marks the start of the Day of the Lord, will be seen poised and ready to strike His enemies and all who do not obey the Gospel, almost immediately after He cuts the tribulation period short.
It will be at the END of that Great Tribulation Period, when our Lord will "suddenly appear" and will be seen as poised to strike them that know not God nor obey the Gospel, that "we" will be caught up (after the "dead" in Christ are raised first) to meet the Lord in the air and forever be with Him.
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, HAVING GREAT WRATH, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
Dan 12:1 ...and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time...
Matt 24:21-22 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Jer 30:7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble...
Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Dan 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
Dan 7:21-22 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High...
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Dan.12:7 ... it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Make no mistake, this will be a time of Great persecution, but those who know the Lord will be given the grace needed to either go through it all to the end or die the Christian they are, as God wills for each of us.
(Remember, in Matthew 24 and 2 Th.2 that the Apostacy AND the antichrist must come first BEFORE Jesus comes and gathers us to Himself.)
This "cutting those days short" will come about after His purpose for allowing Satan to blasphemy, to make war on the saints, and do the evil that he alone can do temporarily until all is fulfilled according to the Scriptures.
There are ONLY TWO Resurrections We are told in Rev.20:1-7; and the first of these described in: 1 Th.4:15-17.
Rev.20:5-6 clearly shows that these (who were of the "First" Resurrection) included those who had not worshipped the beast, neither took his mark, etc. These Scriptures are talking absolutely about a time AFTER Satan is bound, AFTER the times of antichrist are at an end = after the Great Trib., when this (first) resurrection unto life takes place. Therefore, by the Scriptures we are clearly made to see that the first resurrection of Rev.20:5-6 is the exact same one as is 1 Thes.4:15-17.
"There are no other resurrections (thus no "Raptures") before these or in between these two!"
The first one (of only "two") of these resurrections involve those who have died in Christ (and its ensuing rapture of those of us who are
still alive at His coming), and is NOT going to take place until AFTER the return/ appearance/ apocalypse/ epiphany/ revelation/ second coming/ parousia/ of Christ takes place first, just exactly as He says it's going to! Not one moment sooner, and not one moment later!
What is being said by those who stand in danger of having their faith overthrown; by swallowing false eschatology teaching, is that the
(still future) Resurrection is going to take place "Before" it's time for it to occur (according to pre and mid tribbers, as well as some
pre-wrathers), even before the great tribulation gets underway.
It ends up being the same exact erroneous teaching as Hymaneus and Philetus (2 Tim.2:17-18). They claimed the resurrection was past, in the same way some today claim that the Resurrection (and its ensuing rapture) will be over and past (7 years or so) before it will actually take place.
And when the resurrection of the dead in Christ doesn't take place when they said it would it will leave many of them devastated and those who listened to them will be in a state of great spiritual confusion and some will end up having their faith overthrown. And all of this will be caused by their not examining the truth unbiased for themselves, understanding it and thus abiding in it. They'll have no one to blame but themselves!
Or perhaps they'll be led to believe their teachers' words, as the Thessalonicans believed Hymaneus: "That the resurrection (with its attached rapture) was already past!" BUT they weren't one of the "chosen ones" and so they had missed it!
Many less noble "Thessalonican Christians" swallowed it easily enough; and that even AFTER Paul himself personally taught them the truth of how there can be no resurrection before Christ returns, which gives me no other recourse but to firmly believe that it will be so much easier for "today's" Thessalonican type Christian to FALL for the trap. Why? "BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAVE!"
If many of these Thessalonicans were so easily deceived by Hymaneus' false eschatology; it only leads one who knows the truth as did Paul, to believe how much easier it will be to deceive todays Christian who hold onto a false eschatology...
(Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.)
Now! Either we believe what God says in the word of God or we don't! Really! It's all that simple! That choice is ours, and it will be
made by us one way or the other (as are all decisions to obey/abide in His words) soley on the basis of our simple and childlike "Love" for the truth.
There will be no rapture until this resurrection, and the word of God and Rev.20:1-7 is "Absolutely Clear" that there will be no "secret raptures" prior to this until the "first" resurrrection takes place, "after the tribulation of those days".
To say we believe in "other" raptures or catchings up (except for Enoch and Elijah) prior to or adding to the revelation given us in the word of God is to express an unhealthy unbelief in the word of God! There is no "Love" for us to continue on in, neither is there any "Faith" to be assured of by in ones walk of Unbelief! If we LOVE the Lord (like "we" say), then we're going to have to LOVE His word as well, like "HE" says, and KEEP it!***
"The First one marks the beginning of the thousand year reign of Christ, and the last one marks the end of the thousand years. 1 Th.4: 15-17 "Ends" any and all speculations as to "When" the rapture takes place, stating there can be NO Rapture until the dead in Christ are raised up/resurrected first!
Did anyone ever think that when (against all odds) Israel became a nation again in 1948, and captured Jerusalem in 1967, it was all a miracle that was wholly wrought of God??? There are even "pre-tribbers" who believe that. (Dave Hunt is one of them.)
HOWEVER...(and this is my question)..."IF they believe that, then why don't they also believe that just such a belief "Destroys" their "Imminent, Any moment return of Christ for His bride??? Is there or isn't there - was there or wasn't there more prophecy left to be fulfilled???"
The whole pre-trib. doctrine (never taught in the Bible or by the Early Church Fathers) should have been *blown-away* for all time when Israel was gathered again to be a nation in 1948 and in 1967 gained Jerusalem. (It has been well over 50 years since that fulfilled prophecy that needed to come FIRST and did!)
It is obvious that God has brought back "Israel" in these last days as He said He would many times over in the Old Testament, as well as showing them re-gathered in the New. It is written, and it has happened. And they are presently dwelling in unbelief, as so stated, until..."The fulness of the Gentiles be come in (Romans 11:25)...and then every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him (Revelation 1:7)..."
My first conclusion is: "In order for a pre-tribber to believe in and maintain Christ's "Imminent" any moment coming for them intact over the past 2,000 years, means that they MUST believe that ALL prophecy keeping them from being "Raptured" has always been fulfilled. This is what they MUST believe if the are a pre tribber.
Any other "belief" would "Destroy" their pre-trib, any second coming of Christ doctrine! It would destroy it by admitting that His coming was NOT being "Imminent" (any second) at all, but depended on certain prophecies to be fulfilled first.
Now... IF they deny this, AND if it was really "GOD" (according to His prophetic word) who gathered the Jews up and and placed them back in their land in 1948 in answer to prophecy, then I can only draw one conclusion:
"The pre- (and mid) tribber MUST NOT believe that the re-gathering of the nation of Israel was an act of God that was done to fulfill one of His latter day prophecies before the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ could be established."
(Yet if it was the Lord Himself who gathered Israel in order to fulfill prophecy (as the Scriptures say) in preparation for His return, then they are calling His own prophetic word, a "Liar". It's either one or the other! They can't have it "Both" ways.)
If this is their stand: Believing that He always could return at any time (and you can bet that it is), then those who believe this "prophecy" stand deceived and unprepared for Christ's real return. According to God's word, those who "Teach others" what God did not say are to be considered as: FALSE PROPHETS!!! And, according to Rev.22 there is no safe haven for those who add to or subtract from the words of His prophecy....
Rev 22:18-19
"The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom!"
If anyone would like to comment on or explain to me how the pre tribber came about believing in the first place that there never was or had to be any prophecy to fulfill first "BEFORE" Jesus could come at any moment for the church, then I wish they would do so now ???"
Let us ever keep in mind the 50+ years since the modern day prophecy of the re-gathering of the Nation of Israel has occurred FIRST, before His coming, as well as keeping in mind; in the light of todays "Israel having to FIRST become a nation again, their being regathered by God to face the great tribulation and the abomination of desolation as it is wriiten - and THEN the end (of prophecy) will come."***
So instead they would have to recognize that this prophecy (for one) had to be fulfilled first: "The need to have a modern day Israel in existence and in place before the Lord would return".
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
It is clear in the following verses that we will still be here when the Lord - "Returns as a thief": returning "after" the sixth vial is poured out (Rev.16:15). It all points to a "single" coming....
Matt 24:41-43
1 Thes 5:1-4
Rev 3:2-3
2 "BE WATCHFUL", and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Rev 16:15
Note, all the above Scriptures are being spoken to "Christians" in order to "WATCH"!
His coming as a thief in the night (marking the start of the Day of the Lord) has nothing to do with snatching us away secretly to be with Him for several years, but with His coming wrath and judgement. His coming will be Sudden and Swift, at "an hour" (not an entire 2,000 years, "just an hour") that no sleeper or drunk is aware of as He catches men who live in darkness totally unaware and unprepared by the sudden brilliance and speed of His appearing and coming....
1Thes 5:3-7
This isn't (as pre tribbers would have us believe) Him coming down secretly in a quick robbery and then invisibly snatching US back to heaven with Him for 7 or so years, but a sudden and quick strike. It will be a total surprise appearance to both a hateful, unwary and unbelieving generation, while those who heed the word and love His appearing are preparing themselves ahead of time with the truth to meet Him.
We are commanded to "Keep our Garments and Keep a Watch"! "Blessed are they that do!" Belief in a False Eschatology (Pre Trib Doctrine for one) has taken away any need for Watching or for Carrying extra oil for their lamps because they do not believe what the Scriptures are telling them concerning Christ's second coming, or in "Keeping His words" while waiting patiently for Him to come (Rev.3:10).
The pre tribber foolishly believes that the Lord could return at any second and will save them from having to go through the midnight hour (Mt.25:6-8) of the great tribulation, and they will use all manner of "excuses" on why they don't have to prepare for it, not having rightly understood the Scriptures. And so they, like the 5 foolish virgins, are NOT preparing themselves with needed oil in advance by hearing the word of God concerning what Jesus Himself told us in advance was coming! (Matt.24:25)
ALL Prophetic Scriptures; including Rev.16:15 say He won't return until after the sixth bowl, and He won't even appear until heaven is rolled up as a scroll in the opening of the sixth seal. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, and other Scriptures points to exactly "When" He is coming, yet the pre tribber boldly chooses to ignore these and brush them aside as occuring at a "later time" than their rapture.
It is THIS: "Belief in a false prophetic doctrine", which is hardening them against hearing the truth, and is robbing and is going to rob some, if not many, out of their Garments, by making them incoherent to prophetic truth.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
42 "WATCH THEREFORE": for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what
watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have
suffered his house to be broken up.
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
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.
4 But "YOU", brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake "YOU" as a thief.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he "THAT WATCHES", and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
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.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us WATCH and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
Many argue, sleep and are drunk with the "wine" of a different spirit. (Note... The world doesn't Believe what Jesus says either! 2 Peter 3:4)***
Because a "pre trib rapture" can be found nowhere in the teachings of Jesus, most pre-tribbers believe it was not taught by Jesus, but was given to Paul instead as a "special revelation" just for the church. Jesus Himself only taught a single "post tribulational second coming" with His teaching and eschatology in Matt.24:29-31 and elsewhere being absolutely clear. So, in order to try and establish their pre trib rapture doctrine they go to the writings of Paul to try and decipher it into "two separate events".
Speaking of Paul, I wonder if they are looking into other writings of his as well?...
What must be established first is to find out if what Paul taught about the rapture is of the same or of a different "spirit" than Jesus' teaching on the second coming. If there are "clear distinctions" between what Jesus taught concerning His second coming, and what Paul taught concerning a pre trib rapture, then we would be led to believe they were speaking about "two different events" (one occuring before and the other after the tribulation period), as pre-tribbers would have us all believe.
At the same time, if Paul's teaching about the timing of the rapture is "fully compatible" with Jesus' teaching about his second coming, then that would mean that what Paul taught was NOT a "separate or hidden Gospel" (for that is exactly what it would be!) concerning Christ's second coming, but one and the same unique Gospel as Christ taught with nothing added to it (as a secret pre trib rapture) or taken away from it (as a visible post trib rapture).
All post-tribbers believe that Paul's teachings concerning the rapture stand completely compatible with the teachings of Jesus concerning His return, in the Olivet Discourse. Although Paul (as did John in Revelation) included some further insight of Jesus' return and the events surrounding it, the general sequence of events, or "eschatology", remain the same.
In 1 Cor. 15, Paul wrote primarily of the resurrection of believers, and the fact that we will be raised "incorruptible"....
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
There are "3" things to be noted here that solidly connect what Paul is teaching to Jesus' post-tribulation coming in Matt.24....
#1. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God"!
#2. All of this occurs at "the last trumpet"!
So, in order for it to be "last", it would need to be identical with the events centered around the trumpet of which Jesus spoke. We see that it is because both are dealing with our being raised up, and this can only occur at the "last day".
#3. The moment that this transformation occurs, the Old Testament prophecy will be fulfilled!
There can be absolutely no doubt that this prophecy of Isaiah's clearly speaks of the coming of Christ with His Millennial Kingdom. Paul is clearly teaching that this prophecy of Isaiah's will be fulfilled at the resurrection of the Church. Therefore,"the rapture" (which occurs immediately after the dead in Christ are raised first (according to "Paul" in "1 Thes. 4:16") can only occur at the start of Christ's Millennial Kingdom, which is post-tribulational.
We are told WELL IN ADVANCE by both the Word of God and by the Old Testament Prophets (the law and the prophets) that when Jesus returns it will most definitely be "after" the tribulation, just as He says.
These 3 things "solidly connect" Paul's "resurrection and rapture" passages with the single post-tribulational coming of Christ with His Milennial Kingdom. There is absolutely nothing in Paul's teachings to ever suggest a departure from what Jesus taught in His Olivet Discourse. We either "Believe Him... or not!" Pure and Simple.***
2 Pet 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
This refers to Christ's Millennial Kingdom! The whole purpose for our having to put on incorruption in the first place, is because our old flesh and blood bodies cannot enter the Millennial Kingdom to reign with Christ. This "change" can only occur at the beginning of His Milennium when He comes to reign, (as is also verified by John in Rev.20:1-6), and not one moment before it.
If we were to assume that the "last trumpet" were to occur "before" the tribulation even begins, then this "last" trumpet of Paul's could not be the last one, because Jesus said He will sound the trumpet to gather His elect "immediately after the tribulation" [Matt. 24:31].
Paul (in quoting, "Death is swallowed up in victory") was refering to this Old Testament prophecy....
Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
NT - Col 3:4 WHEN Christ, who is our life, shall appear, THEN shall ye also appear WITH him in glory.
I Jn 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, WHEN he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
OT - Ps 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face
(Take extra special notice of the word, "THEN" and it's solid connection with, "WHEN"! We don't appear WITH Him before or after His appearing, but "THEN" = At The Time of His Glorious Appearing:
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;.
When? Then: "At His glorious appearing." When? Then!
The Scriptures clearly say that: WHEN He appears to us THEN that is WHEN we also appear WITH Him...in glory).
and just WHEN will all this take place? Why at the resurrection of course...
Ps 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
1 Cor 15:
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
1 Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1 Cor 15:
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
It is clear that when He appears then that is when we too appear with Him and receive new glorified bodies...and not one moment sooner as "the pre-trib lie" would have us believe!!! For when He appears then the prophecy is fulfilled...
2 Cor 5:
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
Rom 8:
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Note again: "WE ARE SAVED BY HOPE"!
Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;.
2 Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that LOVE his appearing.
WHEN will we be fully saved - body, soul and spirit and glorified? At His glorious appearing! THEN!
REMEMBER... "When Christ who is our life appears, "THEN" YOU TOO WILL ALSO APPEAR [* NOT DISAPPEAR *] "WITH HIM" IN GLORY." (and not one moment sooner or later than His actual appearing/coming/parousia!)
1Thes 5:1-7
The purpose of this is to lay out the folly of our having so many different views being taught to the church concerning the Lord's coming, and why it is "absolutely imperative" that we ALL hold only one view - the right view!
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
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.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
"IF" we truly are children of light and of the day, then WHY IN THE WORLD did Paul write: "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you" (verse 1)???...
(UNLESS of course Paul knew perfectly well that we all knew PERFECTLY WELL for ourselves (verse 2) that the day of the Lord was going to come as a thief in the night!)
"WHY IN THE WORLD would Paul then go on to say: "let us watch and be sober" (verse 6) *OR ELSE* that day is going to overtake you as a thief" (verse 4) (also Rev.3:3)???...
(UNLESS of course Paul knew perfectly well the consequences of ones not keeping watch or remaining sober because of believing false teaching!)
"Seeing as how we all are supposed to be the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness (verse 5), then who in their right mind can tell me how todays "church"; being split into several different factions and views concerning Jesus' coming, can ALL be of the children of light, and the children of the day concerning the way Jesus is going to return as told by Paul"???...
(UNLESS of course Paul wasn't at all concerned with the church's understanding to even bother writing them that they had best be well prepared for His coming. After all we're ALL Christians, aren't we?! Prophecy really isn't important anyway, is it? It will all PAN out in the end, won't it?!)
Rev 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
2 Cor 5:2-3
Luke 21:34-36
Matt 24:43-44
2 Pet 3:10-14
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 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.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless
You know, after I'm done comparing what seems to be; to the unlearned and the unbelieving, some of the more complicated Scriptures, in the end I find them all to be Clear and Simple just the way they are written. I like it when I let "God Himself" interpret His own prophetic words for me, just like He says. How wonderfully refreshing it is to simply hear what God, and not what some man is saying, that I may believe and lay hold of it as is! Don't you agree?
So why is it that you need to be a bulldozer driver, an engineer and a rocket scientist whenever someone else takes and "spiritualizes" the Scriptures to refer to a different time or to mean something else other than what God has already said? They've made it the rule that every prophetic Scripture must be made to fit a certain event and visa versa.
Ever notice how everything is being constantly shifted around ("this Scripture doesn't mean that, or this one goes there, or these books don't apply to us but to the Jews, etc."). They call this, "rightly dividing"!? Note too how everything becomes so complicated and confusing as they take and manipulate God's own prophetic word to fit into their beliefs and doctrines.
What they are doing is taking the word of God and by spiritualizing it they push it with their dozer off of the holy ground of Truth, build many bridges (i.e. "meanings") to try and get around the real meaning, and come up with a system so complicated that no one can figure it out. Know what I mean?
Let me give you 2 examples of what I mean when I say... "Clear" and "Simple":
In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 Paul says ... "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, EXCEPT there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
and in Matthew 24:29-31 Jesus says..."Immediately AFTER the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
Now to me THOSE are Very CLEAR and SIMPLE! As a Christian I really don't need anyone to interpret or spiritualize those things to me to understand EXACTLY what is being said. Do you? This is something I can trust and rest MY FAITH upon! It seems that some people don't understand 2 Peter 3:13-17 and what he said there... nor do they care to understand that there is only ONE Spirit of prophecy, not two or more. Perhaps that's why they don't "Listen" to CLEAR prophetic truth when it is preached!?
For instance, in 2 Thes.2 Paul is CLEARLY speaking of the coming (parousia / return / appearance) of Christ, and he is SIMPLY saying that, "that Day that every Christian looks forward to; that same day when Christ comes and we are all gathered together unto Him, is NOT going to occur until sometime AFTER the man of sin is revealed. "Let no man tell you otherwise", he is saying. Now THAT is quite clear and simple!
In Matthew 24 we hear Jesus is simply saying that, "He will not return until immediately AFTER the great tribulation is over. He also clearly warns us, in Matthew 24:25, that He is telling us all these things ahead of time (before they occur) so that there will be no excuses for our not being ready for Him when He does come, none whatsoever!
Therefore my question is this, (and many in that camp have heard it before) "Can anyone show me, without spiritualizing them in order to fit this or that doctrine, any CLEAR Scriptures that pertain to His coming / parousia / appearance / return BEFORE the Clear and Simple words that Paul and Jesus used to warn us in Thessalonians and Matthew???"
Believing that Satan is still in heaven and still accusing men before God --- and believing this, after all that was written and Christ accomplished, is EXACTLY the kind of belief (i.e. "Unbelief") that falls short of giving the glory to God because He deserves it.
Now the word of God is VERY Clear that Satan has been cast out of heaven! Thanks to the Lord, His resurrection and ascention into heaven by the blood He shed, Satan can no longer accuse men of their crimes against God. How can he? The blood He shed for forgiveness drove the devil out of heaven!
He no longer has access to God's throne. He has been driven out! Christ has defeated him - NOW, TODAY, not tomorrow - He has stripped him of the power of death and hell which he held and used over men.
Matthew 12 -
To believe that Satan is still in heaven with the Lord Jesus Christ - (who defeated Satan - who bound him up - and who shut his mouth before God - and who cast him out of heaven when He ascended) - is giving Satan, not God the glory.
There is ALWAYS a "False Doctrine" connected with every false belief that touches the glory of Christ. And this is the kind of stuff that in turn takes away glory from going to God. In Revelation 12:7 is the war in heaven (not on earth at Armegeddon - Revelation 16:16) when Michael and the angels kick out Satan from heaven. Please note that this occured when the "man-child" was caught up to God's throne (Revelation 12:5).
The doctrine itself may or may not be 'Directly' connected to the other belief it is giving glory to, but it is always connected to it nevertheless. It can't live (subsist) without it!
It's not the Belief in Michael and whether or not "he" is the restrainer that's the only false doctrine here.
It is exactly this kind of a false belief that takes away glory from God by chosing to believe that Satan is still in heaven when he is not, thus effectively holding fast to false doctrine - and for who? "Satan?" All to keep Satan in power and accusing us in heaven (Isaiah 14:12)???
So by teaching others the word of God - that Christ has removed Satan from his place in heaven when He ascended into it and took His power and reigned there, is not only rightly dividing the word but giving Christ ALL the glory that's due Him as well.
Ephesians 1:21 -
Christ; now seated in power and glory on the right hand, has put an end to all that... "Seated FAR ABOVE all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he FIRST bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
For instance ask yourself: "How can 'Michael' be the restrainer if Satan is no longer in heaven?" Obviously he can't be! The entire foundation of Michael being the restrainer rests squarely upon Satan still being in heaven as we speak, still waiting to be cast out!"
Rather it is the Unbelief that Satan has been cast out that probably caused Michael to be made into the restrainer in the first place. In order for Michael to be the restrainer (Daniel 12:1), Satan still has to be in heaven, still accusing men before God. According to this belief it means that he is still in heaven and accusing men, regardless of what Christ has done!
By the word telling us that Satan has been thrown down from heaven removes this false doctrine out of the chuch as well!
