(This is PART II of a two part article. You can find PART I HERE.)
Last article I addressed some comments posted by a brother named Bobby which illustrated much of the erroneous thinking caused by pre-trib teaching. This week I received a couple of comments from a sister (also named Bobbi) which were also chock-full of the error of Dispensational/pre-trib doctrine. Her comments clearly show the way in which that theology adversely affects a person’s approach to the Scriptures and therefor horribly corrupts their understanding of God’s ways.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1Peter 3:15
As believers we should always be willing to make good effort at reasoning out (explaining) the foundation for our various beliefs. And it never ceases to amaze me the unreasonable things I hear promoted as ‘proof’ for wayward teachings such as the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine. Actually it was the shoddy proofs, and the deceptive way with which they were promoted, that caused me to question (and consequently reject) that teaching in the early years of my faith.
And, though I have spent countless hours examining the issue diligently, I have heard very little over the years that has caused me to question that decision!
Recently I received a comment to an article on my blog page that raised numerous objections to the notion of a ‘post-trib’ catching away of the Church. As it would have taken a response of such length to fully address the issues he raised that it would have been inappropriate for the comment section I have chosen to give a reply to his objections here. Continue reading “Answering Objections To A Post-Tribulation (Second Coming) Catching Away! PART I”
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. Jonah 2:8
The Bible is such an immense and majestic book! And in its pages we find such enormous promise from our Creator; an all powerful God who is absolutely true to his words. But not all of those promises are of a positive nature. Many are warnings of consequence! Like these words above from the book of Jonah.
As I have shared before, some of the most frightening words (and yes we should be frightened by God’s warnings!) that I have ever read in the Bible are the words of our Lord in Matthew 15:9: ‘But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.’! How much consideration have you ever given to those words? That you can worship God in vain? Continue reading “The Pre-Trib Rapture: A House Without A Foundation! PART 5: Forsaking Fables”
As I have stated many times my mission statement as one called to be a teacher to the Body of Christ is centered around getting believers to adopt a policy of founding their beliefs only upon what is plainly and clearly stated in the Bible, and to exercise great caution over embracing ‘truths’ which have little or no foundation in Scripture. But although I see this practice as a prerequisite to abiding in the truth of God’s Word, and most would attest to the good sense of such advice, I actually meet very few who hold true to such a practice.
Although most everyone would claim their beliefs come right from the Scriptures very few can actually show where the various elements of their doctrinal beliefs are firmly stated in the Bible. The average Christian just believes what they are told to believe. And thus the Body of Christ is awash with false doctrines and fantastical extra-biblical tales that are being promoted (and merchandised) as truth revealed from Heaven.
In PART 1 of this series we looked at the mistaken belief of many that the Coming of Christ for the Church will supposedly be an extremely brief and invisible visitation. But we saw that the Bible actually teaches no such thing. It clearly teaches every eye shall see him!
In PART 2 we examined the mistaken claim that the Church departs Earth at the resurrection/catching away and goes to dwell in Heaven. But we saw that the Scriptures teach no such thing. They clearly teach the Church will join Jesus at his Return to Earth and dwell with him right here on this planet ruling and reigning with him!
In PART 3 we posed the question: Does the Bible teach multiple comings of Christ in the last-days? And we saw the Scriptures always depict the Coming of Christ as a singular event. And since the only coming portrayed in the Word of God is the Second Coming after the time of tribulation, this has to be the coming in which the dead are resurrected and we are gathered together unto the Lord.
As I have stated many times my mission statement as one called to be a teacher to the Body of Christ is centered around getting believers to adopt a policy of founding their beliefs only upon what is plainly and clearly stated in the Bible, and to exercise great caution over embracing ‘truths’ which have little or no foundation in Scripture. But although I see this practice as a prerequisite to abiding in the truth of God’s Word, and most would attest to the good sense of such advice, I actually meet very few who hold true to such a practice.
Although most everyone would claim their beliefs come right from the Scriptures very few can actually show where the various elements of their doctrinal beliefs are firmly stated in the Bible. The average Christian just believes what they are told to believe. And thus the Body of Christ is awash with false doctrines and fantastical extra-biblical tales that are being promoted (and merchandised) as truth revealed from Heaven.
In PART 1 of this series we looked at the mistaken belief of many that the Coming of Christ for the Church will supposedly be an extremely brief and invisible visitation. But we saw that the Bible actually teaches no such thing. It clearly teaches every eye shall see him!
In PART 2 we examined the mistaken claim that the Church departs Earth at the resurrection/catching away and goes to dwell in Heaven. But we saw that the Scriptures teach no such thing. They clearly teach the Church will join Jesus at his Return to Earth and dwell with him right here on this planet ruling and reigning with him!
Is there a flight to Heaven scheduled for the Body of Christ? Verification please!
by Paul Benson
(This is PART 2 of an ongoing series. You can find PART 1 HERE.)
As I have stated many times my mission statement as one called to be a teacher to the Body of Christ is centered around getting believers to adopt a policy of founding their beliefs only upon what is plainly and clearly stated in the Bible, and to exercise great caution over embracing ‘truths’ which have little or no foundation in Scripture. But although I see this practice as a prerequisite to abiding in the truth of God’s Word, and most would attest to the good sense of such advice, I actually meet very few who hold true to such a practice.
Although most everyone would claim their beliefs come right from the Scriptures very few can actually show where the various elements of their doctrinal beliefs are firmly stated in the Bible. The average Christian just believes what they are told to believe. And thus the Body of Christ is awash with false doctrines and fantastical extra-biblical tales that are being promoted (and merchandised) as truth revealed from Heaven.
In PART 1 of this series we looked at the mistaken belief of many that the Coming of Christ for the Church will supposedly be an extremely brief and invisible visitation. But we saw that the Bible actually teaches no such thing. It clearly teaches every eye shall see him!
Is there a true foundation in Scripture for the concepts you are being taught to believe? Are you sure about that?
by Paul Benson
As I have stated many times my mission statement as one called to be a teacher to the Body of Christ is centered around getting believers to adopt a policy of founding their beliefs only upon what is plainly and clearly stated in the Bible, and to exercise great caution over embracing ‘truths’ which have little or no foundation in Scripture. But although I see this practice as a prerequisite to abiding in the truth of God’s Word, and most would attest to the good sense of such advice, I actually meet very few who hold true to such a practice.
Although most everyone would claim their beliefs come right from the Scriptures very few can actually show where the various elements of their doctrinal beliefs are firmly stated in the Bible. The average Christian just believes what they are told to believe. And thus the Body of Christ is awash with false doctrines and fantastical extra-biblical tales that are being promoted (and merchandised) as truth revealed from Heaven.
Have you been told a pre-tribulation ‘rapture’ is the ‘mystery of God’ which was revealed to the Apostle Paul? That is NOT how the Bible portrays the mystery Paul preached!
Have YOU unlocked ‘the Mystery’?
by Paul Benson
(NOTE: I felt led of the Lord of rework this article a bit and republish it at this time. Why not share it with your pre-trib believing friends or family? It may be the eye-opener they need to start questioning the correctness of their beliefs! -P.B.)
And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Ephesians 3:9
The Apostle said that as followers of Christ we are joined together in the fellowship (partnership) of a great mystery. Many folks seem to be confused as to just what that mystery is; and the devil is most assuredly at work to obfuscate the beautiful reality of it. He is constantly at work to lead us away from it with deceptions and distractions.
But it is the will of the Father that this mystery be revealed to those that love him. And through the enlightenment of his Word and his Spirit that wonderful treasure chest of mystery is opened; and the precious contents can now become our possession! Let’s look at what the Bible really teaches about that mystery hidden in God since the creation of the world.
It is getting more and more common to hear preachers and teachers refer to the concept of a pre-tribulation rapture as ‘the mystery of God revealed to Paul’. We are led to believe that this concept has somehow been hidden away from the world (and apparently from the Church for 1800 years) but is right there in the Word of God as plain as day for all to see. And that we need only a little guiding (and a proper understanding of God’s plan) to see it for ourselves. But should we take the bait and swallow that hook, or swim right around that notion? Could a catching away of the Church before the time of great tribulation possibly be the great mystery of God revealed to Paul? Continue reading “The Rapture Is NOT ‘The Mystery God Revealed To Paul’!”
Examining the three pillars of the pre-trib theory. Do they really have the witness of the Word of God? You decide!
THE HOUSE OF P.T. RAPTURE!
by Paul Benson
A while back a brother contacted me with an accusation I was misleading the Church with *my teachings on the Return of Christ; and he put forth an invitation to debate the matter. He asked me to submit my best arguments against the pre-trib doctrine. So I did.
*(My teachings on the Return of Christ center around an exhortation to search out and embrace what is clearly and plainly stated in the Scriptures on the subject; and to be very wary of presupposed and unsupported claims that have no foundation in the Word. Gee Whiz folks, sorry for misleading you with such rotten advice!)
Sadly, it turned out this brother was not open to pray over and consider what was presented him; and flatly refused to acknowledge any discrepancies between what he was saying and what the Scriptures plainly state. Like so many others, who derive a fleshly stimulation from heated debate, he was all talk and no listen.
Surprisingly this brother who wanted to debate (and who pridefully claimed he had never lost a debate on this issue) soon withdrew from the discussion stating there was no sense debating with someone so mixed up as I who was having so much problem accepting the ‘proofs’ he was giving.
But the problem I was having was that the proof he gave was all speculation and presupposed notions that had to be read into various Scriptures, and not things explicitly stated in the Bible. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel if we are going to claim ‘the Bible says’ this or that we ought to be able to show just where the Bible actually does say this or that. If it’s correct doctrine the Bible normally has much to say on it; particularly on matters crucial to our understanding.
But you cannot show solid scriptural validation for something the Bible does not actually teach!
Are you confused about the timing of the rapture in relation to the sequence of end-time events? You need not be! I can show you how to dispel that confusion and perfectly understand at what point the catching away actually does take place. You can know for sure!
by Paul Benson
He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. 5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. Psalms 50:4-5
God did not intend for the end-time prophesies to be confusing or impossible to grasp. But he did present these things to us like a puzzle that must be properly pieced together. And although it takes much study (which is greatly to our benefit and edification), this puzzle is solvable!
Please allow me to share with you a vital key the Lord gave me that greatly reduces the frustration of trying to piece this puzzle together.
As I have discussed in depth in recent articles confusion comes from conflicting and misleading information. The solution to confusion is always to remove the conflict of information and find solid reliable facts upon which to base your beliefs.
