Critique of Disp Pre-Mil False Doctrine
One Disp Pre-Mill said, "I believe this is exactly what He meant. I think Christ was talking about His ascension, which most (but not all, Judas Iscariot had already hanged himself) of His disciples would observe. This event is recorded for us in Luke and Acts. Luke’s version, found in 24:51, states that “while He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.” The parallel account from Acts 1:9-11 describes the Lord as having been received out of the men’s sight on a cloud. Immediately afterward, two angels appeared and clarified exactly where He had gone: this Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Traveling into heaven was a clear indicator of going to the Kingdom of God in the minds of the Jews."
Using Judas as the one who died just will not do. Let's look at this literally and compare it to Holy Scripture,. The Disp Pre-Mil Individual said, "I believe this is exactly what he meant, (argument from the previous paragraph) Christ was talking about HIS ASCENSION." The ascension of Christ as you know is in the first chapter of acts where it says, "Acts 1:9 - And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight." Yes Judas was dead but this is not what Matthew is talking about. Let's compare it with Acts 1:9. Matthew 16:28 - 28 “Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” It has been admitted some will not taste death by picking Judas and saying Matthew 16:28 is talking about Christ's ascension. That is reading into the text to escape the obvious (respectfully remember this is blogging) Maybe you just don't understand but you have to make this verse fit into your paradigm of belief somehow. But notice it plainly says in Matthew 16:28 that is speaks of Christ coming in His kingdom not of His ascension to glory to sit at the right hand of the Father, the very Ancient of Days on the Throne of David Acts 2. When Christ comes in His Kingdom Vs 27-28 there will be some who have not died and there will be some who have. That is the normal easy way to read these two verses. Look at Matthew 10:23 and compare with Matthew 16:27-27, it says Matt.10:23 - "When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes." It only strengthens the position I take when it says that "YOU (THE DISCIPLES) WILL NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE TOWNS OF ISRAEL BEFORE THE SON OF MAN COMES. Once again Christ predicts his coming before his second coming. I believe John 21:20-23 gives us the answer as to whom will still be alive when Jesus returned in a symbolic judgement through the Roman Empire and many other ways on the Ethnic Jews in 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” John was the only disciple still alive when the Holy of City of Jerusalem and the Temple was destroyed. John did not taste death. Jesus was talking directly to the disciples in the first century when he said "some of you" (the disciples) will not taste death till they see the Son of man coming in His Kingdom. Not ascending, not Judas, this just does not do the text of scripture justice.
The Throne of David in Connection with the Resurrection of Christ is Jesus sitting at the right hand of the Father.
Acts 2:29 - “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Acts 29:30 - Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,
. Acts 29:31 - he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.
Acts 29:32 - This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
. Acts 29:33 - Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Acts 29:34 - For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
Acts 29:35 - until I make your enemies your footstool.”’
Psalms 110:1 - The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Psalms 110:2 - The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God now until His enemies are made His footstool. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. The right hand of God is the THRONE OF DAVID. This prophecy has now and is being fulfilled.
It was said in using this verse saying we had to be literal where the Bible makes it clear we should be. I agree with that, here is the verse you used. You can re-read your work above to verify this.
13. Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
is the "Government LITERALLY upon the shoulders of Christ or is this symbolic. I assert it is symbolic.
Futurists, Disp. Pre-Mil are always saying the coming of Christ is imminent. Especially for the last 100 years,(or 2000 years plus) but we read in the Bible the First century ethnic Jews believed something was imminent, near, close, about to happen, at hand. Let's see what the first century Apostolic writers said about the last days and things being imminent in the first century the time when they and their contemporaries were still living. Now there is a lot of texts here. It has been said what matters to is the text of scripture, so I beseech everyone to read them all respectfully and see if the first century Jews were not expecting something soon or imminent.
The proof that the last days had come was that God “has spoken in His Son.” (Hebrews 1:1-2
. Hebrews 1:1-2 – 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
The last days are not way off in the distant future. The end came to an obsolete covenant in the first century,
In A.D. 70 the “last days” ended with the dissolution of the temple and the sacrificial system.
1 Peter 1:20 - He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.
Gordon Clark comments on what Peter means by “these last times”: “The last days,' which so many people think refers to what is still future at the end of this age, clearly means people think refers to what is still future at the end of this age, clearly means the time of Peter himself.
1 John 2:18 - Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that Antichrist is coming, so now many Antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. Or hour
Acts 2:17 quote Joel as predicting the last days as the life time of Peter,
Acts 2:17 - “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
Certain destructive events confronted the early Church, events that were “near” for those who first read the New Testament prophecies.
Matthew 24:32-33 - 32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.
Revelation 1:3 - Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
Revelation 22:10 -
And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
The Apostle Paul mentions “the present distress”
1 Corinthians 7:26 - I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
There is no getting around this language, that most of the verses that many believe are yet to be fulfilled already have been fulfilled.
Forcing the following verses to describe a time nearly two thousand years in the future in the epitome of Scripture twisting.
Matthew 10:23 - When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Matthew 16:27-28 - 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Matthew 26:24 - Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
John 21:21-22 - 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
Romans 13:11 - Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
Romans 13:12 - The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.
. Romans 16:20 - The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
1 Corinthians 7:29 - This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,
1 Corinthians 10:11 - Now these things happened to them (Israel) as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
2 Thess. 2:6 – And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he may be revealed
2 Thess, 2:7 – For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work.
Philippians 4:5 - Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; (or near)
Hebrews 9:26 - for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 10:25 - not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:37 - For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;
James 5:7 - Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
James 5:8 - You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
James 5:9 - Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
1 Peter 1:20 - He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.
1 Peter 4:7 - The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.
1 Peter 5:4 - And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Revelation 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Revelation 3:10 - Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:11 - I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Revelation 11:14 - The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. Or coming quickly.
. Revelation 22:6 - And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
Revelation 22:7 - “And behold, I am coming soon (or quickly). Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Revelation 22:10 - And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.
Revelation 22:12 - “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.
Matthew 16:27 - For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
Revelation 22:20 - He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
These passages and others like them tell us that a significant eschatological event was to happen in the lifetime of those who heard and read the prophecies. Dispensationalists reject this time texts by fabricating a doctrine called immanency. The following definition is typical:
90. “The primary thought expressed by the “immanency” is that something important is likely to happen and could happen soon. While the event may not be immediate or necessarily very soon, it is next on the program and may take place at any time.
There is nothing in the above text that would support this definition words such as “likely, could happen, and may take place”, are nowhere indicated. The biblical writers are straight forward in their claim that the events described were to happen “soon” for those who first read the prophecies. No other interpretation is possible if the words are taken in their “plain, primary, literal, ordinary, usual, or normal sense. If the biblical authors had wanted to be tentative in the way they described future events, they have would used words expressing probability.
The time texts are the most important element in Bible prophecy if they are ignored or made to mean 2000 years plus in the future, meaning manipulated or ignored in any way, then God's Word can be made to mean anything. A BIBLE THAT CAN MEAN ANYTHING IS A BIBLE WITHOUT MEANING.
This is so true, almost any interpretation can be put on a verse or series of verses if the grammatical and historical contexts are not first determined.
To miss the identification of the time when an even is said to occur will mean that the discourse can be made to fit any generation.
There is no doubt that this error is the chief problem for those who maintain that the events of Matthew 24-25 and other prophetic passages are yet to be fulfilled, either in our generation or in some future generation,
Mount of Transfiguration, Pentecost, Finding a fulfillment in these two proximate events does not solve the problem for futurists who maintain that “the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” is language that refers exclusively to the second-coming.
History tells us that Peter died before Jerusalem was destroyed, and John lived beyond Jerusalem's destruction, a perfect and expected fulfillment of Matthew 16:27-28.
If we are still waiting for the fulfillment of Jesus' prediction His prediction of His coming “in the glory of His Father and with His angels,”
We must look for an event that was far enough in the future where most of Jesus' hearers would be dead, but not so far in the future where all would be dead.
Is there such an event? Yes!! The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. By the Romans and other things that happened even internally to the Ethnic Jews themselves.
Then this coming of God's dominion cannot refer to our Lord's resurrection, nor to the gift of the Holy Spirit which were to be realized within the year.... Nor can it refer to our Lord's coming in judgment which is yet even now in abeyance........Nor can the powerful spread of the gospel be meant, for this already came about within comparatively few years......... We shall have to think of the destruction of Jerusalem.......In it God revealed his kingly dominion in his judgment, a precursor of his judgment on the last day.
Now Christ speaks symbolically of His coming in the clouds in power and glory in 70 AD to bring judgement upon the Jews and end the Jewish age of sacrificing of animals etc. Christ is speaking in Apostolic language which is used several times in the old Testament. I have two and a have pages upon the Biblical Mandate on when to use the symbolic or the figurative, from well know scholars and I am not even finished. But let's see what the old Testament said about the coming of God upon the clouds in judgement in the old Testament.
Matthew 26:63-64New King James Version (NKJV)
63 But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, “I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
64 Jesus said to him, “It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Here Jesus is talking to the High Priest and he tells him that hereafter he will see the Son of Man sitting of the right hand of the Father, and coming in the clouds of heaven,
Now we cannot make that be speaking to us when LITERALLY he was speaking to the High Priest. Another prediction of the soon imminent near at hand coming of Jesus symbolically and figuratively in the first century. Cloud judgement comings of God in the OT
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
(2Sa 22:7)
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind. And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled. The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
(2Sa 22:8-14)
Was it a literal coming of God. God forbid, away with such a thought.
God came in judgment against his enemies! David said God came with darkness beneath His feet and thick clouds of the skies were like pavilions or tabernacles around Him. And He rode upon a cherub.
Did David physically see these things? Of course not! But david was inspired of God to describe God's judgment on his persecutors as a coming in clouds. This was a well-known picture of God in the minds of Old Testament adherents. In fact, the high priest knew very well that Jesus was saying he was God when He informed the priest that the man would see Christ come in clouds! He knew Jesus was telling him that Christ was correct and was Son of God, and would come in judgment to destroy Jerusalem in his day!
Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled. O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness , that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
(Jer 4:13-14)
The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
(Nah 1:3)
That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
(Zep 1:15-17)
That is just a few of the cloud judgement comings of God that Christ knew intimately and I really believe he was using that Apostolic language concerning the destruction of 70 AD
The Antichrist
Now for the Anti-Christ who were nothing more than false teachers who denied the fact that Christ came in the flesh.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of Antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
He denies the Father and the Son and that Jesus is the Christ.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son
22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the ANTICHRIST, he who denies the Father and the Son.
The fulfilling of the Antichrist took place in the first century. Do we have Antichrist today, of course, we have individuals who deny that Christ came in the Flesh mainly the Ethnic Jews of this current time in history. But John was talking about the first century it is plain by verses
18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
I know John did not LITERALLY mean that it has been the LAST HOUR FOR TWO THOUSAND YEARS PLUS!!
And why do we force the teaching of the Antichrist on the Beast of Revelation and the Man of Lawlessness in 2 Thessalonians. There is no Biblical mandate for this or any evidence in scripture that we should do so other than it makes for a good and exciting end times show. I don't want fanaticism, I want the truth and the text of Scripture on this issue. Not a jig saw puzzle pieced together by man but but Holy Spirit inspired Study of the Word of God.
The Abomination of Desolation
The Abomination of Desolation, why do the Disp, Pre-mill forcefully pull it out of its context and make it something still future that being some 2000 years plus. They do so breaking all grounds of Biblical Hermeneutics. Not considering historical relevance, audience relevance, location and time relevance etc.
The Abomination of Desolation is between verses of Matthew 24:1-34 with verse 34 saying this:
Matthew 24:34 - Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.
So we see everything between verses 1-34 will take place in the first century (historical relevance) as it says literally and the Disp Pre-Mill does not have an answer for this, "Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place."
So the first century ethnic Jews will not literally pass away until the Abomination of Desolation takes place. Why can the Disp Pre-Mil Just read it like it normally reads and flows and see that it affects when the Abomination of Desolation will take place. In the first Century!!! Not some two thousand years plus in the future that is forcing one's interpretation on the passage to make it mean and say what they want it to say.
Who is Jesus talking to and applying this verse to. Let's read it and see.
15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’[c] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Notice Jesus says when "YOU" see the abomination of desolation, he is still speaking to His "DISCIPLES) AND EVENTUALLY THE FIRST CENTURY CHRISTIANS IN JERUSALEM WILL HEAR OF THIS BY THE MOUTHS OF THE APOSTLES. We know he is speaking of the Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, but also mentions Judea, Does this mean I need to hop a plane and fly to Jerusalem and flee into the mountains to escape for my life. To be LITERAL I would have to if the Disp Pre-Mill are consistent with their literalism. I pray that God will wake the church up to this false doctrine that is so prevalent in the church today and was given birth in the early 1830's. It is so pessimistic. The church has a bright future here on the earth and will become like Christ as it was predestined to and the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge and glory of the Lord,
