(I sometimes get correspondence from readers who cannot understand why I make such ado over the pre-trib rapture teaching and all it’s associated notions. They accuse me of everything from being divisive and damaging to the Body of Christ to being unloving and hurtful toward people. I recently received one of those ‘What’s the harm in believing and teaching a pre-trib position?’ comments; and since this article pretty thoroughly addresses that question I thought I would repost it. P.B.)
by Paul Benson
As a teacher in the Body of Christ, and called to be a watchman, I spend considerable time researching and writing on false teachings. One of the primary issues I am led to address is the error called ‘the Pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church’. I have written two books and numerous articles rebuking that falsehood with a major focus on examining each element of that teaching for biblical support. The answer is always the same. There really is none. The Bible does NOT teach two comings of Christ NOR a ‘pre-trib’ rapture. It is a provable falsehood; an invention of man.
While my efforts normally center on exposing the pre-trib theory as error, and then encouraging folks to believe and accept only what is plainly stated in their Bible, in this article I would like to focus on the damage done by embracing and teaching that myth. It is not a benign misunderstanding; nor merely an opinion as to the timing of an event. It is a cancerous seduction presenting grave dangers; many of which are not readily apparent. In my effort to bring these dangers to light I have enlisted the help of some like minded folks. I polled them as to their thoughts on what these dangers are; and I found their insights very thought provoking; as I am sure you will too.
I sent an e-mail to numerous brethren which I will post in a section below along with their responses in full for those interested. For this writing I have pulled out key points from each to list and comment on which show the danger and damage of the pre-trib theory. Here they are:
John Little from Omegashock.com (author of Ezekiel’s Fire) had quite a number of points. A couple of which I found to be not only quite important but also rarely touched upon.
HIS POINT: It denies the completed work of Christ.
JOHN: 1.) It attacks the finality and supremacy of Christ. 2.) It claims that God was satisfied with the blood of bulls and goats.
The idea that the Jews will go back to the Mosaic Law (after the rapture) is to trample upon the idea that Jesus was the completion of the Law – the final sacrifice.
PAUL: A large number of pre-trib believers have very little understanding of the theology they are promoting. The Scriptures clearly teach the Old Covenant was abolished; it was done away with! It was nailed to the Cross (put to death) with Christ. Pre-trib / dispensational theory takes the Old Covenant down off the Cross, un-abolishes it, and puts it back in service so the ‘tribulation Saints’ can be saved in like manner as the O.T. Saints were (or so they think).This sets aside the Cross of Christ and declares there is another way of salvation; which is absolute heresy! There is NO salvation outside of Christ. NONE!
HIS POINT: Antisemitism.
JOHN: To claim that the Jews will come to Christ AFTER the rapture is to claim that God loves the Jews less than anyone else.
PAUL: I have long felt there were clearly elements of antisemitism in dispensational / pre-trib theology, but it is seldom pointed out. Like the Jews have a second class salvation or something. Like the Bride doesn’t deserve the trials and hardships of the tribulation (God’s wrath they say) but the Jews do?
I have heard many people use the ‘proof’ Jesus would be a wife beater if he put his Bride thru the tribulation; BUT what they miss is dispensational theory (erroneously) teaches God has TWO Brides! One for Christ (the Church), and one for Jehovah (the Jews). So Jehovah God beats his wife; but Jesus does not; is that it? GET REAL!
This comes from their perversion of the concept of ‘election’; but there is really only ONE elect Bride; and God allows her to earn great reward for enduring the persecution of Antichrist’s war on the Saints. (Also, quite strangely, they place the Jews on earth with Christ for the 1000 years, but place the home of the Bride of Christ in Heaven with the Father. How does that fit?) THANKS JOHN!
Richard H Perry www.lastdaysmystery.info
HIS POINT: It cultivates an atmosphere of ignorance.
RICHARD: One of the most dangerous effects of the extremely popular Pre-Trib theory is that it makes Christians think that they do not have to study prophecy about the Time of the End and Christ’s return – because they won’t be here. Today, we find that Christians are ignorant and uninformed about the End Time, because they do not read and study Scripture.
PAUL: Excellent point! Sadly, at least 75% of the Christians I know fit that profile! This is a clear-cut example of the damage the pre-trib theory does to those who embrace it. I see this like a self fueling fire. Their ignorance of the Scriptures allows the error to take root; and the very nature of that teaching (don’t worry about those days, you’ll never see them) fosters the continuance of that ignorance; so the door remains open for further deception. The cure? Study the Scriptures; and question all teaching in light of those Scriptures. Demand scriptural support for EVERY major element of doctrine. When put to that standard the pre-trib theory falls apart like a sand castle hit by a big wave: Bye-Bye! THANKS RICHARD!
Patrick Brixen author of ‘Pre-tribulation Rapture: Truth or Fable?’
HIS POINT: Faltering faith.
PATRICK: When the great persecution (tribulation) does happen some will wake up and see that they have believed a lie, others will fall away. Cory Ten-Boom’s testimony of what happened to the Church in China is a template of what will repeat itself in the future.
PAUL: Patrick makes two significant points here. First, a point I have been harping on for years that there will be a large amount of people who will falter in their faith when confronted with extremely grievous times and hard decisions they were told they would never face. Those who are promising people they will never see the mark of the beast, and Antichrist’s war on the Saints, will stand before God on Judgment Day and give account of those lost souls who were stumbled by their false teachings.
Second, as sister Ten-Boom stated we have already seen the damage this falsehood does in the adverse way it affected the Body of Christ during the horrible purge and persecution under Mao Zedong. History teaches many Chinese Christians, taught by western missionaries they would be raptured out before anything like this would happen, stumbled and fell away from their faith as multiple millions were slaughtered around the nation. And the surviving Pastors who taught this error lived out their lives shunned by the Church as false teachers. What a stigma to have to bear! THANKS PATRICK!
James Bailey is a businessman, author, and web host of the popular Z3NEWS website.
HIS POINT: The damage of date setting.
JAMES: Not all of the pre-tribbers, but some of them, fall for the false claims the rapture is coming next month. Then when it doesn’t happen they just push the date back, but the nonsense never ends.
PAUL: Very important point, James. Clearly an area of extensive damage done by the pre-trib myth. It is readily evident the discouragement that has been inflicted upon so many by the foolishness of date setting. Lord knows how many folks have lost faith when the one who ministered the Gospel message to them gave them a false bill of goods about an impending rapture. Many who foolishly had placed their foundation upon the teachings of a man, true as they might have been, have given up on the whole message when that preacher went astray into the falsehood of date setting and ruined his credibility.
And to those who would say you cannot blame the pre-trib rapture doctrine for the date setters. Not true! If people were obeying the true admonition of Jesus’ parable of the fig tree (explained here), and were wisely looking for the signs he gave to show the season of his Return, they would not be engaged in such foolishness in the first place. THANKS JAMES!
Daniel Cox http://posttribrapture.org/ Daniel is a long time believer from the U.K., and author of ‘Commentary on the Book of Revelation’ (available for free download at his site.)
HIS POINT: Dereliction of duty.
DANIEL: The third tragic outcome, if there was any truth in the pre-tribulation delusion, would be that a rapture that they wait and hope for, would surely mean that they would evacuate our poor, sad Earth just when it needed the Saints of God the most. A thoughtful, prayerful reading of REV. 14 V. 9 -11, makes plain the awful fate of those who take the 666 mark of the beast. If just one soul could be persuaded not to succumb to the wiles of the Antichrist, or the pseudo miracles of the False Prophet, and take the cursed mark, any cost or sacrifice would be worthwhile. “We’re outa here” is not for me.
PAUL: These words, from a man who has been serving God as long as I have been alive (I’m now 60), truly exemplify the heart of our Savior. And thus expose the carnal self-focused nature of the pre-trib teaching. How our Lord must cringe at the way his glorious Gospel has been turned into an ear-tickling rendition of ‘The Prosperity and Preservation of Self’.
Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this: that a man would lay down his life for a friend.” Why would we NOT want to be here in so great of a time of need? What is wrong with the western Church that we can not recognize the pre-trib teaching as a shameful illustration of our self-love; and our unwillingness to take up the Cross to follow Christ, even into great hardships and tribulation. God help us, please! THANK YOU BROTHER DANIEL.
The Greatest Danger: The Curse Of God In Revelation 22:18-19!
PAUL: The greatest danger faced by those who embrace and teach the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine comes, not from the ill-effects of that teaching, but from God himself! The Word of God in Revelation 22:18-19 unmistakably pronounces a curse upon all those who add to, and take away from the book of Revelation; and the pre-trib theory clearly does both!
Many would consider this an outlandish statement, and even most who believe it are too timid to declare it publicly, but there will be people in Hell over their association with, and promotion of, the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine! Most Christians incorrectly state this is not a salvation issue, but for many (and God knows which are which) it will be exactly that. God did not close the book of Revelation with the warning of a curse just to be dramatic. Those words are not ambiguous, nor are they hyperbole. People who fail to heed those words will suffer the consequences clearly given there. Do not doubt it.
In recent months after an extended time of prayer and study on this issue, seeking for a greater clarity, the LORD opened up to me a deeper understanding of the satanic nature of, and strategy behind, the pre-trib rapture hoax. And it is Satanic! Although the Devil desires to spread error and deception any way and every way possible, we need to understand there is a deeper agenda at work. And it has to do with his obsessive desire to dominate the Church of God, and defeat it through Antichrist’s war on the Saints.
FOOD 4 THOUGHT: When Balak, king of Moab desired to conquer the Israelite army, he knew the only way he could do so was to get the blessing of God removed from them (Numbers 22-24). Under God’s blessing they were unbeatable. Using Balaam’s advice he accomplished that goal; and the people of God came under the curse of disobedience, suffering greatly for it. Satan has enacted a similar strategy in this end-time generation to get God’s people out of sync with him; and now, because of embracing deception, multitudes are entering the final years of this age under a curse of disobedience, and most will be easily defeated.
I examine the pre-trib teaching in light of the words of Revelation 22, and the grave danger presented, in an article titled:
The Curse Of The Pre-Trib Rapture!
I hope that you would PLEASE read it, and give it serious consideration. It could very well save your soul if you have embraced and are teaching that doctrine.
I trust you have found this article thought provoking. Sometimes stepping back a bit, and examining the effects of a doctrine, can be quite useful in determining its correctness or lack thereof. There is just no denying the damage that has been done, and certainly will be done in the days ahead, by the pre-tribulation rapture hoax. Let’s wake up and discern the deception.
Let’s make sure this seductive and unbiblical pre-trib rapture myth gets LEFT BEHIND!
May God guide us all into his perfect truth.
Paul Benson
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Here is a list of the articles I have written examining this false teaching; and showing that its various elements have no foundation in the Word of God: THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE THEORY
I also encourage you to examine the writings of those who contributed to this article by following the links next to their names above.
I welcome your input. If you would like to share comment or criticism please feel free to do so in the section below. Overly long comments may be edited for length. Also I will not post the false teachings of others.
Thank you for visiting my site.
———————————————
HERE IS THE E-MAIL I SENT OUT SEEKING INPUT:
Hello Brother ________;
As those who know me are quite aware, I spend a good deal of time combating false doctrine in general and the pre-trib rapture theory specifically. I am working on an article titled: The Damage And The Danger: Why The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Myth Needs ‘Left Behind’!; and I thought I might reach out to other like-minded folks for their input.
Although most of my efforts concerning the pre-trib rapture hoax focus on showing the incorrectness of that teaching, I wanted to put together something which addresses the effects of that teaching on a persons belief system, current perspective, also future effects / damage done etc.; as well as maybe the attitude / viewpoint / repercussions etc. of the Father himself.
As someone who deals with this subject matter I was wondering if you had any points you see need addressed in this area of the danger and ill effects presented by embracing that myth.. Not so much a lengthy expounding of thought, but maybe more along the lines of bullet point concepts you see as vital.
As the Scripture says ‘in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established’ I thought some quotes / opinions of others might make this article somewhat more impacting. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on this aspect of the pre-trib error (damage) you would like to express.
Blessings in Jesus Christ;
Paul Benson
——————————-
HERE ARE THE RESPONSES I RECIEVED IN FULL:
John Little from Omegashock.com author of ‘Ezekiel’s Fire’.
Sign up for his weekly newsletter. You’ll get a lot out of it!
John’s Reply:
Hey Paul,
You honor me with this question! But, I’m betting that there isn’t much that I could offer that you don’t already have covered. But, I’ll give it a shot, anyway.
But, before I begin, a warning… A lot of false teaching gets started by examining the ‘dangers’ of a certain doctrine. I often hear things like… “If we let people believe THAT then [INSERT CALAMITY HERE] will happen!” Everything from alchohol to predestination to contraception to mowing the lawn on Sunday… there’s always someone who is horrified at what might happen if a certain interpretation or activity is allowed.
An example is in one of my many peeves – the use of grape juice during the Lord’s Supper. Jesus used wine, as did Paul. Paul even told Timothy to drink wine. And, the only way that you can actually HAVE grape juice is to boil it immediately after it has been squeezed. Yet, we persist in using grape juice, out of the horrifying thought that alcohol would be consumed.
(gasp!)
All of that doesn’t mean that we don’t talk about the dangers of a certain idea, but the ‘dangers’ are a distant second to our devotion to the truth.
Okay, having issued that ‘caveat’ let me think through those pre-trib dangers:
1. It attacks the finality and supremacy of Christ. The idea that the Jews will go back to the Mosaic Law is to trample upon the idea that Jesus was the completion of the Law – the final sacrifice.
2. It claims that God was satisfied with the blood of bulls and goats. This is an argument against Dispensationalism. Dispensationalism argues that there are discrete (ie., self contained) ‘dispensations’, that each dispensation was sufficient for God. I’ve always wondered why people are surprised by my claim that Jesus died for all who came before, not just for all who would come after. And yes, Jesus died for Abraham, Moses, David, Adam, etc.
3. It negates Luke 21:36.
– Luke 21:36 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.
4. It adds to Revelation and causes believers to suffer the wrath of God:
– Rev 22:18 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:
5. Sloppy interpretation – since there is no verse in the Bible that describes a pretrib rapture, you must use ‘sloppy interpretation’ to make it work. Well, sloppy interpretation leads to even MORE sloppy interpretation elsewhere in the Bible.
6. Prosperity Gospel – pretrib-ism promotes the idea that God does not want you to suffer. Accordingly, suffering is bad, and there must be something wrong with you, if you suffer. That flies in the face of what Christians have suffered for centuries:
– 2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shallsuffer persecution.
Ultimately, this pretrib folly is man-centric and not God-centric.
7. Antisemitism – this is a weak argument, but follow me a bit on this one. To claim that the Jews will come to Christ AFTER the rapture is to claim that God loves the Jews less than anyone else. I find that to be strange when the Jews, and the rest of Israel, feature so prominently in the Bible. Paul spoke of them as the ‘natural branches’ not the wild ones like you and me.
8. Distortion of the WHOLE Bible – the Bible is a complete entity. It fits together perfectly, so that when you distort one part, that distortion ripples throughout the Bible. I could delve deeper into the foolishness of Dispensationalism, and pick out each distortion that twists the Bible.
But, my gag reflex is too strong.
Ultimately, all of this is rebellion, and the thought of that always brings my mind to this verse:
– 1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
The thought of that makes me shiver, as I think that it does for you. May we always submit to the will of God. Always.
Keep up the good work, Paul. I look forward to seeing what you write.
Yours in Christ,
John Little
omegashock
—————————-
Richard H Perry www.lastdaysmystery.info
Richard’s Reply:
Paul;
One of the most dangerous effects of the extremely popular Pre-Trib theory is that it makes Christians think that they do not have to study prophecy about the Time of the End and Christ’s return – because they won’t be here. They’ll be hanging out with Christ in heaven during Daniel’s 70th ‘seven’ and the Great Tribulation.
Today, we find that Christians are ignorant and uninformed about the End Time, because they do not read and study Scripture. Also, because Pre-Trib is so popular pastors are afraid to teach or talk on the topic. They have become the End Time (1 talent) Pastors mentioned in the parable of the Talents, they are hiding God’s Word on the topic. PS: Notice that the 5 Talent servants put their talent to work immediately, which only the apostles could have done.
Blessings and God’s speed;
Richard H. Perry
http://www.lastdaysmystery.info
———————————–
Patrick Brixen Author of Pre-tribulation Rapture: Truth or Fable?
Patrick’s Reply:
Hi Paul, I have been pondering your question for a couple days now and I really cant come up with any thing that I would call a new perspective on the pre trib fallacy, that being said, I think the worst that will happen to the pe tribbers is that they will have a continuing expectation of being “raptured out of here” before any real bad stuff begins to happen to us believers. Even when the real persecution does happen here many will still believe it, and the risk to life and limb will not change their minds, because its” any day now”. Some will wake up and see that they have believed a lie, others will fall away.
Cory Ten-Booms testimony of what happened to the church in China is a template of what will repeat it self in the future. The important thing when it begins to happen is to encourage one another to endure to the end, of the last day or your life.
Have you been seeing all the junk on the web about marshal law, the USA getting nuked, how about getting invaded by China and or Russia after another great depression with massive earth quakes and tsunamis. Don’t forget the EMP. All just around the corner… So many false dreams and visions. The Lord will prove who are false and who are truly speaking from the Lord.
Well, I gave you my opinion – Pat the Painter
==============================
James Bailey is a businessman, author, and web host of the popular Z3NEWS website.
James’ Reply:
I am glad to hear you are helping people get free from the pre-trib nonsense. Not all of the pre-tribbers, but some of them fall for the false claims the rapture is coming next month. Then when it doesn’t happen they just push the date back, but the nonsense never ends. Even right now there are many posting comments on Z3 about the rapture coming in 2017. If they knew the scriptures and all that must happen before the rapture they could avoid getting duped.
James Bailey – Z3news.com
——————————–
Daniel Cox website posttribrapture.org/
Daniel’s Reply:
Hello again dear brother Paul,
Just a few comments reference your project which we trust will reach some of the many who are living in a “Fools Paradise”, which is no paradise at all, in fact completely the opposite.
1. The deluded pre-tribbers are living in a perilous condition of a false security. Their false belief is that they will be raptured out of any pressure or trouble, and certainly out of the time of Antichrist`s great persecution that we know as the Tribulation. There is not a single scripture to support their error. They depend totally on “one-liners” such as “The Lord would never pour out His wrath on His Church” conveniently forgetting that the Tribulation is Satan`s Wrath not God`s. Another such “Sound-bite” is that the Tribulation is “The time of Jacob`s trouble”, and will only impact the Jews, again conveniently forgetting that when Jeremiah penned those words more than 650 years would pass by before the Church was to come into being. 1 THESS. 5 V. 1 – 11. makes plain there are definitely two groups; the “watchful” and the poor deluded “sleepers” who are as unaware of what is unfolding before their befuddled eyes so as to make them like drunken men. Surely, a perfect description of the deluded pre-tribbers.
2. The second rotten fruit of the delusion is that the Saints of God who have bought into the deceit are totally unprepared both spiritually and mentally for the awesome, awful days to come. The “watchful”, will see the day coming and will prepare. Some small human precautions maybe, but not as the “Survivalists” who, as a couple who contacted me via the web-site quite recently, in spite of all my pleas and advices, they had moved to the wilds of Canada, holed up with stockpiled food for 3 1/2 years or was it seven, to be on the safe side. There they were sitting and waiting. The mans beard could be quite long before the balloon goes up!
3. The third tragic outcome, if there was any truth in the pre-tribulation delusion, would be that a rapture that they wait and hope for, would surely mean that they would evacuate our poor, sad Earth just when it needed the Saints of God the most. A thoughtful, prayerful reading of REV. 14 V. 9 -11, makes plain the awful fate of those who take the 666 mark of the beast.
If just one soul could be persuaded not to succumb to the wiles of the Antichrist, or the pseudo miracles of the False Prophet, and take the cursed mark, any cost or sacrifice would be worthwhile. “We’re outa here” is not for me.
4. Finally, just a couple of scriptures from the multitude in God`s precious Holy Word. In my reading this morning I read of what is surely the raptured Saints, “I beheld , and lo a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Lamb, clothed with white robes and palms in their hands”, (REV. 7 V. 9). we see them again in REV. 15 V. 2, “I saw…..them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his mark, and over the number of his name”. These are surely the victorious children of God who had borne the pressures and fires of the Tribulation and overcome. Further, MATT 24 V. 29 – 31, begins “Immediately after the Tribulation”, and then follows the account of the sun, moon, stars and the heavens being impacted, the sign of the Son of Man, the tribes of the Earth in mourning, that same Son of Man coming in the clouds, and the “last trump”, and the gathering of the elect from the four winds. This Matthew scripture alone, totally destroys and explodes any credence that the pre-tribulation rapture delusion could possibly have.
Almost sixty years of study and reflection has convinced me that there can only be one biblical conclusion. It is that the rapture will take place “IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION”.
Hope this is something of what you wanted.
Daniel & Lin.
SPREAD THE WORD!
Let's Get It Right! 
Something that may be more subtle…if you are looking for the Messiah to take you out of here then who will you think the false messaiah is when you see him? If you are looking for pretrib rapture and the false Messiah comes had an angel (messenger) of light then you may be deceived in thinking that the false Messiah is the one you have been waiting for…
LikeLike
Hi Colin;
Yes, that is a very valid point. And when you couple that idea with the strong delusion promised to come upon those who reject the truth we will see MANY fall away to heresies that can only be imagined now. Every wacky thing from ‘alien ancestors’ arriving on the scene to ‘divine A.I.’ will be embraced by former supposed followers of Christ!
Jesus sternly warned us “Take heed that no man deceive you.” We are firmly warned to ‘believe it not!’ when we are presented with ANY other scenario other than a literal visible coming of Christ up in the clouds:
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.
We will be gathered together unto Christ at his Second Coming in the air. ANY other teaching is false and from the Father of Lies!
Thanks for the comment; and blessings to you;
Paul Benson
LikeLike
One thing that is hardly ever discussed is if your going to teach a post trib rapture please explain why Israel and the sheep did not go in the rapture after the tribulation even though they are proclaimed to be saved –They enter the 1000 years in a flesh and blood body having Children and Israel becomes a great nation at that time
LikeLike
Hi Jerry;
You are asking me to reconcile post-trib resurrection/rapture to notions that are in themselves NOT in sync with the Scriptures. National Israel (except for a remnant of believing Jews) LOST their status as the ‘elect’ of God (Romans 11). They are called to regain that status as ‘elect’ through turning to faith in Jesus; but they are NOT currently in a ‘saved’ state!
According to the Scriptures Israel turns to Jesus AFTER his appearance to do battle and rescue them. The resurrection/rapture coincides with that Appearance; and thus any who turn their hearts to Jesus at that ‘rescue’ time have already missed the rapture. So they enter the Millennium as mortals as do the rest of those who have survived {per Zech 14:16} the out-pouring of wrath at the Return of Jesus. Get it?
You need to get your concept of election in line with the Word of God and to do so you must REJECT and lay aside the false concepts that have been instilled in you by those preaching the errors of Dispensational/Pre-trib theology.
https://pbenson.me/2016/10/31/the-elect-of-god-today/
The reason many cannot accept what the Bible really teaches about the end-times, and about moving into the coming Millennial Reign of Jesus, is because they harbor false understandings about the concept of election. If you think that there is a ‘saved’ Israel apart from those Jews who have embraced faith in Christ, and have thus joined the Body of Christ, you are believing there is another way to be saved apart from grace thru faith (which is exactly what Dispensational theology teaches; even though most Dispensationalist teachers shy away from that point). If it were possible for ‘Israel’ to be saved apart from grace thru faith then everyone else could also be saved by ‘covenant promise’ (through joining themselves to Israel) and there would have been NO NEED for Jesus to die for our sins.
I encourage you to search my site and consider prayerfully my articles on election and also the ones on the errors of Dispensational Theology. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Yours in Christ;
Paul Benson
LikeLike
Hello Paul:
First in my response I must tell you that I don’t believe in a Rapture only the calling away at the absolute end of human history. You mischaracterized me on that. Secondly there is no doubt that Turkey spent 7 years slaughtering Christians. The Islamic religion was certainly a vehicle used to help carry that out. I don’t condemn anyone outside of Turkey for that, regardless of their religious beliefs. Third, archeology has already proven that all of the ancient kingdoms that make up Magog are located within the current geographical borders of present day Turkey. Fourth, If you look at Revelations Chapter 2 verse 11, “for 10 days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life”. The context of this chapter is beside the point in this case as we know the name Smyrna was replaced by Izmer for the city name after the Christian population was slaughtered. This is clearly a eulogy. You must have understanding that here we are given a hint but about the future of his followers in that city. He did not mean Jews specifically as the actual persecutors, he used that as an example that the people of those days could understand. How could they understand a future kingdom like the Ottoman Empire or Caliphate which was 1500 years into the future. When you understand that the 7 Churches of Asia literally means the inhabitants of Asia Minor and not all of us in the global community than the truth of Christs words will finally resonate. Fifth, the simple meanings of words are too important to overlook, this is very important point, Rosh is often used to somehow say maybe it means Russia? That is an absolute mistake, Rosh means head or new as in Rosh Hashana, and Gog means prince as in a son or nephew of the head of the kingdom of Magog. Finally you gave me not one verse in the bible to prove me or try to prove me wrong. For everyone’s sake and information please see if you can challenge biblically what I said. We need this debate so all of us can grow.
James
LikeLike
Hi James;
In this weeks post you will find the verses you asked for on why I don’t follow the notion Antichrist’s reign and the mark of the Beast will be limited to the Middle East.
https://pbenson.me/2020/01/23/will-antichrists-dominion-and-the-mark-of-the-beast-be-confined-to-the-middle-east-or-be-a-global-phenomenon/
LikeLike
Pre-trib is one of the most fabricated and contradictory end-time lies. One big problem is that when the world goes bad and into Tribulation – and everyone is still here, what will they do? Will they come clean and admit they’re wrong or will they continue to do what they do best – fabricate even more stuff to cover up their colossal blunders? Another thing is the saints do NOT return with Christ – only angels return with Christ. Other end-time beliefs that will never come to pass – but not as misleading as pre-trib are…
Raptured saints return with Christ. BOGUS
A one world government. BOGUS
A one world religion. BOGUS
A global dictator. BOGUS
A global ‘mark of the beast’. BOGUS
A global financial system. BOGUS
The rebuilding of a Jewish Temple. BOGUS
The Whore of Babylon is Apostate Christianity. BOGUS
Rome, the Pope, the EU, America, the UN = the beast. BOGUS
I’ve had some tough discussions with John Little. He removed several of my replies – not because I was mean – but because he couldn’t overcome them. I’m non Trinitarian and he, like so many others, CONDEMN those of us who reject the man made doctrine of Trinity.
LikeLike
Hi James;
I only agree with your comment in part. There WILL be a global religion, government, and dictator. The notion you promote that the mark of the beast and the oppression/persecution against the Church by Antichrist will be confined to the Middle East is NOT in line with the full counsel of the Scriptures.
Instead of concentrating on verses and theories that agree with your notion I suggest you use a tool of discernment I use. And that is to examine the validity of opposing theories to mine by prayerfully considering the Scripture given to validate those opposing theories. If the insight given is sound I adjust my understanding; or if not I reject that opposing theory.
There is MUCH written (and video) material available today that clearly shows from the Bible that Antichrist controls the armies and economies of the entire planet and, thru the power and authority of the False Prophet, dominates the religions of the entire world to the point that (in the eyes of the world) he has decimated and defeated the Christian Church. But we know that at the Return of Christ we ultimately will prevail and be given the privilege of ruling and reigning with our Lord.
Keep on studying these things out in the Scripture and I think you will see much contradiction to God’s Word in these various off-shoots of eschatology you are promoting.
Blessings;
Paul Benson
P.S. I also do not buy into the ‘Islamic Antichrist’ or ‘partial rapture’ theories you presented in your e-mail correspondence to me. If you do a search on my blog I have written many articles that examine what things the Bible clearly and plainly states about the end-times and the Return of Christ. Let’s stick with what the Bible really DOES say, and base our beliefs upon that solid ground; and NOT what folks speculate MIGHT transpire. P.B.
LikeLike
Thank God I came across this article. I am new to studying the end time prophecies and I was believing in pre-tribulation. It seems to be the more prominent belief among Christians. Pre-tribulation is defiantly the preferred belief, its so much more pleasant, isn’t it? I wish it were true , I certainly dont want to go through any tribulation especially since Ive had to go through so much in life. But it’s truly a selfish doctrine isn’t it? How awful when I really think about it. That God loves, “good” christians more than others. Isn’t ALL sin the same in Jesus’ eyes? Doesn’t make sense that he would ALLOW children to suffer more than others so they can come to him.
You’re article really made sense to me. Who knows why WE the last generations would be subject to the tribulation only God knows. The dead didn’t have such tangible proofs that we have today, even though our suffering could be greater. Lord Jesus, give us the strength to make it to the end.
Thank you again.
LikeLike
Hi meohsohappy;
I am glad you found the article helpful. I think if you would read the others I have written on this subject you will find much useful insight into the ‘pre-trib’ rapture deception. Thank you for your kind words.
Blessings to you;
Paul Benson
LikeLike
Jesus told us we would have tribulation and trials. Are we not to be thinking and looking at the signs from Nebuchadnezzars dream? Everything for the future Rapture is based on the events to take place (or already taken place) from this 4th kingdom, 8th kingdom in Daniels prophecy, that has arisen, EVERYTHING. But the church has missed it.
Im confident like you that the Rapture will take place and God will take his church and the people that have been looking for it and waiting. But the Bible does talk about two readings on the earth after the Rapture. Revelation 14: 14-16 and then a special judgment for the Kingdom of this world that worshiped the beast. I’m very worried for the church in our country.
God Bless you and give you knowledge and understanding.
LikeLike
[Just discovered your great site. Here’s another peek at Doug Stauffer I saw on the net. Enjoy. Cordially in Him, Jay Edwards]………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Re Margaret MacDonald, here’s what Dr. F. Nigel Lee stated: “Dave MacPherson, in his various books, has made a major contribution toward vindicating Historic Christian Eschatology. The 1830 innovations of the disturbed Margaret Macdonald documented by MacPherson—-in part or in whole—-immediately spread to Edward Irving and his followers, then to J. N. Darby and Plymouth Brethrenism, and were later popularized by the dispensationalistic Scofield Reference Bible, by Classic Pentecostalism, and by latter-day pretribulationists like J. F. Walvoord and Hal Lindsey.” (Dr. Lee stated this as the holder of nine EARNED doctorates [!] and as Australia’s most eminent evangelical scholar!) Google “X-Raying Margaret,” “Margaret Macdonald’s Main Point” and “Margaret Macdonald’s Rapture Chart” to find out what Dr. Stauffer censored. Stauffer’s “research” failed to notice that even Hal Lindsey calls Margaret a partial rapturist in his book “The Rapture.” And Walvoord’s “The Rapture Question” refers to partial rapturists as “pretribulationists” (p. 105) – pretribs who, in their “rapture charts” see “church” BEFORE the rapture as well as seeing “church” AFTER the rapture; they are “church splitters”! It’s amazing how many pretrib defenders have seized on Margaret’s statement “The trial of the Church is from Antichrist” and then gotten into a tizzy in public while ranting and screaming that “Margaret was a posttrib” or, even worse, that she was demon-possessed or in a trance or that “MacPherson has covered up many before 1830 who clearly taught pretrib”!!! Google “Scholars Weigh My Research” to find out other evangelical leaders who have endorsed MacPherson’s research since 1970. Also Google “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty,” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “Pretrib Rapture Stealth,” “C. I. Scofield’s Hidden Side,” “Famous Rapture Watchers” and “Dr. Watson’s Pretrib Non-Discovery” – just some of the hot articles on the British blog “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing” hosted by noted teacher Treena Gisborn. BTW, this past July 5th, pretribber Dr. Erwin Lutzer told a packed Moody Church that there are now posttribs as well as pretribs among the MBI personnel, adding “Here at the Moody Church we have decided to not draw a line in the sand about these two views.” (!) But MBI is only reflecting the many worldwide who are now abandoning pretrib for other rapture views – and scary world events are helping to bring about the collapse of the 188-year-old pretrib fantasy!
LikeLike
PRE-TRIB PEOPLE BECOMING POST-TRIB AFTER A GREAT RAPTURE DEBATE
Hi,
I don’t know if i am posting this on the correct place, but somebody just uploaded on YouTube 7 videos of “The Great Rapture Debate” between Dr. Doug Stauffer and Pastor Joe Schimmel in Colorado Springs, CO on June 19, 2016”.
It was miraculous! As soon as the debate began, pre-trib people began to be aware of the pre-trib deception. Some leave the conference on the first day, other openly said that stopped believing in the pre-trib rapture and became post-trib.
The videos, titled: “The Great Rapture Debate: Session 1…” to “…Session 7…” are on this page:
https://nopretrib.com/the-great-rapture-debate/
For those who don’t have the time to watch the 7 videos, there is an excellent report about this debate. Here is a quote of a part of it:
QUOTE:
“…The debate was an absolute blessing and I pray that this opens up a dialogue for believers to have further discussion. Our position as a ministry is that when people are able to see both sides and are not weighed down by heavy presuppositions, the clear reading of the Scriptures will bring you to a post-trib position. Doug Hamp said after the debate, “I can’t see anybody becoming pre-trib after that debate, but I can see people becoming post-trib.” We praise God that this is exactly what happened! I do believe that this is why we witnessed many people change their position at the debate. From the people that myself and others at the conference talked to, to the internet discussions we read, there are at least 15 different individuals who told us that the debate had changed their belief on the timing of the rapture. Not only was this amazing, but just some of the dialogue that was occurring made the entire trip well worth it. Aside from those who told Joe, Tony and myself personally that they had changed their views, in an elevator of the Marriott Hotel where the debate was held, one of the people in our group heard a group of friends leaving the first session discussing the fact that there simply isn’t a verse that teaches the pre-trib rapture and were now leaning post-trib. While in the bathroom, another person from our group (my wife), heard a couple of ladies saying they just don’t think they believe in the pre-trib rapture anymore…”
END OF QUOTE
The complete report is on this web page:
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/articles/answering_our_critics/the-great-rapture-debate-my-completely-biased-review/
God Bless
LikeLike
Marc;
I did watch the vids. Good stuff. The shenanigans used to promote the pre-trib theory were in full play. And I think anyone from whatever camp would have seen that to be obvious. The obvious misuse and mistreatment of Scripture by the pre-trib crowd was one of the things that got me questioning that hoax in the first place. I think the pre-trib guy shot himself in the foot with his presentation. IMHO
Thanks for the comment.
Paul Benson
LikeLike
Hello Paul , In spite of all the trouble that the PreTrib hoax has and will cause we have the assurance that “None have I lost” and “I will raise them up on the LAST day”. Keep on Preaching the TRUTH Brother, Love in Christ , Paul J. Ford
LikeLike
Deception indeed. Here’s what the Lord showed me in a dream: https://thetrumpetsound.wordpress.com/2017/07/26/deception-a-false-rapture/
LikeLike
Couldn’t the virtual extermination of the Christians in Turkey before 1923 be the great tribulation? The pre-tribulation rapture nonsense would permanently distract people from seeing that as the truth. The death of the beast, the 7th kingdom and even the 8th kingdom the modern state of Turkey, the 1st world war and all that happened at that time. The perfect fulfillment of the destruction of Smyrna in 10 days by fire. The specific geographical area pointed out by Christ at the beginning of the book of revelation. Christ wasn’t talking to us in Revelations 1 thru 3 he was talking to the Christians in Asia minor.
LikeLike
Hi James;
Thanks for the comment.
I agree the LORD wasn’t talking directly to us in Rev. 1-3, but I feel there is good reason to believe those Scriptures contain many duel references that do apply to us, plus wisdom in general that would apply to the entire Church down through the ages.
The great tribulation is yet ahead. There are too many things unfulfilled by any theory that says otherwise. The tribulation will come upon the whole world not just one country. There must yet arise a global government and a world religion with the Antichrist and False Prophet imposing the mark of the beast upon the whole world. Also Matthew wrote the return of Christ would be ‘immediately’ after the tribulation. If Jesus has not arrived the tribulation is not past tense.
Blessings;
Paul Benson
LikeLike
Hello,
I will share something I have noticed,
In 2 Thessalonians 2:2,3, Paul warns us to not let anyone deceive us in this matter. Thus pre-trib rapture teachers are deceivers, and their followers are allowing themselves to be deceived. That is pretty blunt and scary.
Because pre-trib rapture doctrine involves twisting scripture, it makes people dependent on teachers to defend it. Plain scripture “cannot be understood”, and so people throw their hands up in frustration, simply trusting “the expert”. Followers are thus weakened spiritually. They think they can’t understand the Bible on their own. They then become open to deception in other areas! I have had people say to me, “I just trust the Preacher, he knows the Bible better than I do”, or “this is how Dr. So-n-so explains that verse in his book”, and not even consider the plain scripture!
We must love the Truth! Search for it as for treasure!
Ginny
LikeLike
Hi Ginny;
Thanks for the visit.
You are quite correct. If the blind lead the blind….
The truths we are to base our beliefs upon are not complex. They are plainly stated in the Bible. It is the high-minded theories of the ‘Learned Ones’ that complicate things, and confuse issues. If it is clearly and simply stated in the Word, then believe it! If it is not, the question it carefully. Error can not stand against such a safeguard.
Blessings;
Paul Benson
LikeLike
Ginny – Your comment immediately resonated with me for multiple reasons. First, I was raised Catholic & the priest at our church had us believing that if you were NOT Catholic, you could NOT go to heaven! So ridiculous & not Scriptural. This was most likely being used to “grow the congregation” & increase the tithes collected. 😟 Second, there is a HUGE danger when a person relies solely on a man or woman to interpret God’s Word for them because man/woman get things wrong. Humans make mistakes! This also is why I believe the Pope, whom I believe is the False Prophet, will contribute GREATLY to the Great Falling Away as he makes statements/proclamations that are the EXACT opposite of Scripture. 😢
LikeLike
Hi Paul,
I was a youth pastor for 8 yrs…during that time, I taught this pre-trib lie constantly. Since leaving my duties as a youth pastor and starting a home church with my family, the Lord has cleared my head and helped me see that pre-trib makes no sense biblically.
Although I no longer teach pre-trib and warn people about being prepared, I always wake up at nights thinking about all those kids I led astray with my false teachings while I was their youth pastor.
Pls help me pray for all those kids.
I always wonder if I will be held accountable for all those years of false teaching (as per revelation 22:18-19 states). Pls pray for me as well.
Love your blogs and passion, may the Lord continue to bless your work.
Regards
John
LikeLike
Hey John;
I also live with a great deal of regret over issues of my past, but we need to glorify Jesus by a confidence that his Blood cleanses us from ALL sin that is confessed, repented of and turned away from. Continue to pray for those kids, possible reach out to any you might have access to, and then leave it in God’s hands.
Only the prideful and unrepentant who continue in their error will suffer the consequences of Revelation 22:18-19. In turning from that error you have been taken out of that category. Praise God forevermore!
Glad to hear you are being blessed by the site;
Paul Benson
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the foregoing article and printing the comments of your respondents in full. The pre-trib theory has such a grip on most that only the actual experiencing of great tribulation will wake them up. When that happens millions of ex-pr-tribbers will become passionate evangelists to wake up the remainder. Sadly there will be those who have a vested interest in the theory, books, tapes etc. so that they will go to their graves insisting great tribulation just “seems that way,” they’re right, the Scriptures are wrong.
LikeLike
Hi Dick;
Yes there are those who will stubbornly hang on to error til the end of their days; but there are many who have just never heard the myth countered in a firm Biblical rebuttal. That’s one of my goals here; to show the elements that make up the pre-trib theory have no true foundation in the Word. And when an honest and sincere heart comes across the truth, they will hear the witness of the Holy Spirit and accept it.
Blessings;
Paul Benson
LikeLike
I know I am going to get some flack over my statement (which I firmly stand behind) that there will be people in Hell over the pre-trib theory. Allow me to quote from my book ‘The Rapture Theory’ on this issue.
QUOTE: Let me state here that I do NOT teach that people will miss out on salvation just for believing in the pre-trib rapture theory. There are different levels of deception and different levels of accountability. For those who believe an error because someone they trusted taught it to them the consequences may be restricted to whatever hindrance or hardship that belief brings their way.
For those now teaching this error unwittingly to others there will be a greater condemnation, but not to the level of those who after years of Bible study have repeatedly pushed aside the voice of the Spirit to stubbornly hold on to their pet doctrines. Then there is the horror awaiting those who know better but still teach error. Whether out of pride, greed, or misplaced loyalty those who deceive others knowingly about the things of God will receive consequences which shall grossly out-weigh any earthly benefit received.
…and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone… Revelation 21:8 END QUOTE
The condemnation comes not from an erroneous opinion of timing of the rapture, or a lack of understanding of end-time truth. The danger lies in the lack of regard for the words of our LORD in Revelation 22:18-19. A prideful disregard for those words CAN send a person to Hell. We need approach that passage with a serious dose of GODLY FEAR!
Paul Benson
LikeLike