Despite the popular belief that Christians will be raptured before the start of the Tribulation, Scripture paints a very different picture. Nowhere does the Bible promise that believers will escape the revelation of the Antichrist and his war on the saints. In fact, God tells His people to expect tribulation–and to persevere through it.
In this eye-opening text, acclaimed scholars and authors Michael Brown and Craig Keener offer encouragement and hope for the approaching dark times. Together they walk you through an intensive study of Bible passages, helping you gain a better understanding of what the future holds. Through it all, there is no need to fear; God has a plan. He will not abandon His people in the terrible days ahead.
Take comfort in the words of Jesus: He has overcome the world. Even in the midst of great sorrows on the earth, we live in Jesus’ victory until He returns at the end of the age.
“Filled with hard-hitting, thought-provoking information on what the Bible says about the end times, this book will challenge and encourage you to understand what the future holds for believers.”–MIKE BICKLE, founder, International House of Prayer
Michael L. Brown (Ph.D., New York University) is the founder and president of FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina, and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at seven seminaries. He is host of the nationally syndicated daily talk radio and TV show The Line of Fire and has written more than 30 books.
Craig S. Keener (Ph.D., Duke University) is F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the bestselling author of 24 books. Craig and his wife, Médine, live near Wilmore, Kentucky.
I was asked by a pastor friend what my thoughts were on Michael Brown and Craig Keener’s Not Afraid of the Antichrist: Why We Don’t Believe in a Pre-Tribulation Rapture (Chosen Books, 2019). For the record, I understand that the Fellowship with which I am ordained holds to “The Blessed Hope” as one of our doctrine and that this has traditionally been read as indicating only Pre-Tribulation Rapture (despite that it is also widely known that the original author of our Statement, D.W. Kerr, held to another view, but wanted some allowance for diversity on this*). This doctrinal statement seems more accurate biblically to point to a broader reference to Jesus’ soon bodily return for His Church to be gathered to Him and the world to be made His (and our) inheritance as His kingdom reigns in all things at the resurrection.
Here was my short response to him:
“I read it just before it came out for the general market. Overall it offers a decent basic discussion of the biblical texts involved in the debates about the rapture. While there are times it is ironic, at others it comes across in a way that some will find demeaning.”
“I think their basic premise is correct: that one simply would not come up with a doctrine of Pre-Tribulation Rapture directly from reading the texts of Scripture, but must presume it theologically to read select Scriptures through such a filter. They do not, however, reject the idea of Premillennialism, nor of the idea of being “caught up” as Jesus returns. They are simply contending that the Dispensational system necessary for a Pre-Trib Rapture reading should not be forced onto Scripture, but Scripture itself best offers how we might interpret it.”
“As to several potential weaknesses…(1) I did not find the discussion of the debated texts from Daniel to be sufficiently engaged. While many of the NT texts were engaged, Daniel was very nearly avoided in the discussion and simply presumed to be self-understood. However, Daniel 7 (in particular, and the chapters that follow) are particularly difficult for interpreters. I’m not sure why it was not more discussed, but wish it had been.”
“(2) It is written at a more popular level. This is both a strength and weakness. For general consumption this volume may prove convincing and/or helpful. For those who seem to really care about such discussions, I’m guessing this more popular level writing will simply not address the issues they believe must be addressed.”
“It is a book I would personally endorse for taking a small group through as a pastor. It would spur on discussions about the texts involved (even if people do not agree with the book’s proposals). If I did that I would use the book to guide the conversations as a starter, but would put the emphasis on looking carefully through the pertinent texts of Scripture as a group.”
Have you had a chance to read it yet? What are your thoughts?
My previously pretrib family has recently changed our position on the timing of the rapture (because of studies my dad [a pastor] has done on Matthew 24). We had been quite staunchly pretribulationalists before, but had always had some doubts and questions about certain implications and assumptions of the position. In our study through the book of Mathew at our church, we were forced to change our position, as it was not biblical.
I was curious at what Brown and Craig had to say about the topic in their book “Not Afraid of Antichrist”. Both authors believed in a pretribulation rapture, and then changed their mind after a closer look at the Scriptures. They do a pretty good job of showing the unbiblicalness of the position, and demonstrate from various passages of Scripture that ‘pretribbers’ are connecting dots that should not be connected.
They explain that there is no significant difference between the various mentions of the coming of the Lord. They all contain similar details (even if all do not say every single detail every time they are mentioned).
They also attack the notion that saved Israel is not a part of the Church/body of Christ. I really appreciated that, as that was one of the things that really held me in the Pre-trib position. As Brown and Craig point out, ethnic Israelites can be a part of the church and still be used uniquely as an ethnic group, by God, and distinguished from Christians of other ethnicities, within the body of Christ.
While there were several points that I agreed with that are brought up in the book, there several things that I didn’t really like about it.
Let me go into some detail: First, one, or both of the author’s take’s issue with Clarence Larkin’s assertion that, Christianity, overall, has failed to keep pace with heathenism, had failed to convert the world and that Larkin assumed that converting the whole world was therefore not God’s purpose. The author writing that chapter seemed to think that that was absurd. But I don’t see how, biblically, that is absurd, because we are told that the way to salvation is narrow, and that few find it, or follow it. And even Christ asked if He would find faith on the earth when He comes (Luke 18:8).
But here’s a weird thought that just occurred to me: Maybe there will be the greatest amount of saved people, more than any previous era, DURING the Great Tribulation age. We remember that Revelation 7 talks about a multitude that no one can number, from every tribe, tongue and nation. That multitude came out of, and apparently passed through, the Great Tribulation. Sounds like a huge (and I mean, HUGE) number of Gentiles saved during the tribulation. A multitude of saved Gentiles will be on the earth during the tribulation….Which really is another point against the “There’s no church mentioned during the tribulation” argument. Anyway, so perhaps, while there may not be great Evangelistic success before the tribulation…perhaps there will during it? And during the Millennium (It sounds as though whole nations come to Christ then). But I still have a problem with how one’s thinking that the majority of people will not come to Christ could be thought an unbiblical idea.
Another problem I had was that one, or both of the authors, think that the seventieth week of Daniel is not future. I don’t quite understand how they could think that. “The idea that a whole church age must be inserted between the 69th and 70th week of years is a perfect illustration of how the Pre-Trib reading of Scripture must be imposed on the text rather than read out from the text.” Though I agree that there is no evidence of the Scripture dividing the 2nd coming of Christ into two parts (Thus making 3 comings of Christ altogether), I would argue that the passage of Daniel itself divides the 69th and 70th week, and that it doesn’t take a lot of juggling to think there might be a gap in there.. The ” to the end desolations (or wars?) are decreed” part sort of hints to me at an indeterminate period of time. Besides, it sounds like the same King who will end the sacrifices and offerings, “exalt himself above every other god” (the abomination – see (See Daniel 8, 11-12,), and this King, Christ (Matt 24:15-on), and His Apostle Paul (2 Thess 2), both directed us to view as a man yet to come, an abomination yet to happen. And Christ specifically referred back to the books of Daniel. I don’t see why we would divide the Lawless One, the Abomination of desolation into many parts/people even thought their details seem to make them the same person/abomination. That seems mighty close to what we ex-pretribbers did when we divided the 2nd Coming of Christ even though it appeared to be the same event.
This book also expresses uncertainty as to whether the Man of Lawlessness, whom Paul speaks of in 2nd Thessalonians, is a historical figure or a future one. They lean toward him being the future Antichrist. But I don’t know why they have any doubts at all. Neither Antiochus Epiphanes nor Titus (Or Vespasian, or the Romans standards..etc.) fit the description of the the Man of Lawlessness/ Abomination of Desolation. I don’t remember recorded history saying that they exalted themselves ABOVE EVERY OTHER GOD, nor did they claim to be God(the God of the Old and New Testaments) Himself as the lawless one does (perhaps by declaring himself to be Jesus Christ). Perhaps they declared themselves as gods over some of the other ‘gods’, but, if I remember correctly, they still worshiped other gods. But, regardless of what or who they did or didn’t worship, I know for certain that NONE of them were the Abomination/Man of Lawlessness because Paul tells us that that man will be killed by “breath of His (Jesus’)mouth” when He comes again (2 Thes 2:8). The Lawless One has not come and gone because our Lord Jesus Christ has not yet returned to kill him, nor has He gathered us to Himself to meet Him in the air along with our resurrected bretheren (1 Thess 4). The Lawless One is not yet history, he is still yet to come.
I’m probably rambling on too much. I’ll end with one last point: One of their main arguments is that tribulation is supposed to be a norm for Christian, something they ought not fear. Tribulation is something that the church is, pretty much, promised. So why would we think that “GREAT” tribulation would be something we could not face?
While I agreed with those arguments, as someone who recently came out of the pretrib rapture position myself, I didn’t feel that those arguments would have moved me at all. I would have said something like, “We don’t fear the great tribulation, but we do fear the wrath of God! We don’t want to be on earth while it is being poured out”. Now, the authors do address this later on, but most of their argument seemed to assume that Pre-trib rapture folks fear the AntiChrist (and the tribulation), which is probably why the book was given the name that it has. That premise/title would probably have made me turn away from the book because I would have thought they were missing my whole point. But, as Brown and Craig were Pretribbers themselves, they probably know other Pretribbers who are afraid of the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation, and that may have been how they themselves thought.
Perhaps I would have found the book more compelling if it were more along the lines of “Not Afraid of the Wrath of God”…but that could give the wrong impression, how about, “Not Destined for Wrath: Why the Church will be on earth during the Great Tribulation”. That would certainly make me look twice!
It was okay, and has several points that would probably give pretribbers pause, but not necessarily a book that I would recommend. This was an interesting read as I had very different expectations for what the book would cover. The book is aimed at dispelling beliefs about a rapture (i.e. escapist doctrine), and does so by considering the scriptures that have been used to suggest one. In this regard it functions like a systematic eschatology/theology.
Unfortunately there were points where I couldn’t tell the difference between one of the author’s views and the dispensationalist views that he was critiquing.
In the book Not Afraid of the Antichrist, authors Michael L. Brown and Craig S. Keener try to convince people that the rapture of the church won’t happen until the end of the tribulation. I find it interesting that their change of doctrinal theology was not spurred by Biblical discovery but by their interaction and first-handed experience with the persecuted church. This is their starting point. So I wonder what is next. They prayed for people that have not been healed The writers are Bible scholars and very competent. The topic is a good one. It answered many questions for me. I read it with an open mind as I know it can be a controversial subject but I have to agree with many of their points. It is well worth a good read and one should not pass judgment until the end.
I expected so much more from these two. I have a number of books by both, and their scholarship is usually close to impeccable. I’ve been around the block a few times, and i realize that every author has an agenda. Everyone does. We wake each day with an agenda. I also realize that no one can possibly be totally objective. What i didn’t expect was the straw man caricatures that were recycled here. I mean, if you make up your opponents position out of whole cloth, then of course they are easy to knock down. Brown and Keener are better than this. If you want a good rapture book, then get one where three authors with pre-trib, mid-trib (or pre-wrath), and post-trib debate back and forth, make their arguments, and respond to each other. They seem somewhat obsessed with LaHaye and Jenkins, and their left behind books and viewpoints, or maybe grab a Walvoord viewpoint here and there. There is much better scholarship out their, and viewpoints continuously change or are refined. And what’s with the title??!! Are they suggesting that those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture and “afraid” of the anti-christ? The title should have been a warning. When your title becomes an ad-hominem attack on an opposing view, then what follows will surely disappoint. I myself used to be post-tribulation, but changed over the years. Their attacks on verses used in a pre-trib argument are casually and carelessly dealt with, and often involved stretched redefining of greek words or grabbing ahold of the least used meaning of a word to make their point. Their handling of Rev. 3:10 is an example. It’s a quite vacuous argument and doesn’t even deal with the key word “out of” effectively and simple interprets “hour” as a vague, let it mean what you want it to, redefinition. This is only an example. Argue against caricatures, and redefine strong points and words. Like i said, I’ve read a number of their books so I was really expecting some heavy lifting. And truthfully ( a confession here from my previous belief), I’ve come to wonder whether those who prefer the PT viewpoint aren’t in some way a little bit spiritually masochistic, as in, “hey, I’m willing to suffer” or even “I want to suffer and prove myself” tribulationists. A great deal of their argument is that christians suffer all the time all over the world so why should tribulation saints be spared. I don’t disagree with the first part of their argument, but the second part doesn’t seem to acknowledge the specific purpose of the tribulation period itself. It isn’t just a “same old program” compared to the time of the gentiles. This is especially puzzling seeing as how Brown is a messianic Jew! So give it a shot if you want to, but if you are thoroughly grounded in whatever viewpoint you prefer, you won’t find anything here to change your mind. Only those with surface beliefs may be tempted to be swayed by their arguments, or find support for theirs.
If you currently believe in the pre-Tribulation teaching, but have an open mind – you need to read this book. Much of the Christian Church seems to have fallen for the deception that is the pre-Tribulation rapture teaching. Jesus warned us to watch out that no one deceived us (Matthew 24:4). Yet we see that many Christians may be left unprepared to face the coming tribulation, because they are caught up in the belief that Christians will be caught up in a secret rapture, prior to the Tribulation and the appearance of the Antichrist.
Brown and Keener begin by describing their personal journeys from this belief to their understanding of what the Bible actually teaches about the return of Jesus. They explain that proponents of the pre-tribulation theory have to add to the scriptures to make it say what they claim – that no Bible verses explicitly state their claims. Whereas, plain reading of the scriptures states that the rapture only occurs when Jesus returns in the Second Coming and that we are caught up in the clouds to meet Him, as He approaches the earth, with all the tribes of Earth able to see His approach. Brown and Keener also explain that Christians in many countries have already been seeing persecution and even martyrdom and they contrast that with the Western Church expecting to be rescued before serious persecution comes to the Western Church.
Varnel Watson
The “lesser of two evils” is evil none the less.
When we accept an evil as a better choice
We make that “lesser evil” a standard for righteousness
And we destine our children to call that evil “good.”
Varnel Watson
Is there a final moment in history when instead of fighting the Antichrist, instead of taking up arms against the penultimate Hitler or the final ISIS or whatever form death’s last great tyranny takes, the church visibly rejects the means and powers of this world, the privilege of self-defense, our idolatry of weapons, and decides instead to beat all our swords and spears into farming tools, chooses to trust the humility and weakness of God in Jesus Christ to vindicate us—not our armaments, our anger, our right to stand up for ourselves—in order to make manifest an already-accomplished defeat of darkness on Golgotha?
What if the end comes only after an unprecedented and great slaughter of Christians, after a worldwide crucifixion of the body of Christ, in which after great sacrifice in imitation of her Lord she dies and rises from the ashes of her demise by the Spirit, and God is finally all in all because the cruciform pattern of love that governs the universe and holds all things together and gives all living things breath has been confirmed in a peculiar crucified and resurrected people with Christ as her head?
In the end Jesus tells us we will win not by defending our life, nor by trying to hold on to our privilege, but by giving up our life so that the world might live.
Varnel Watson
William DeArteaga Isara Mo Jim Price I have been wanting to get into this one for a while now Keener is NO SMALL hitter in pentecostal theology – charismatic methodist Wesleyan more or less Now M Brown I do understand and I ‘ve been poking Peter Vandever since 2016 on this one MANY and I mean many charismatic NON-Pentecostals like m Brown and the pastor of iHOP Kansas jumped into post mil pretty fast embracing NAR kingdom-now in this political era
Peter Vandever
Dr. Brown would say he is a classic Pentecostal.
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever I wouldnt say that if he resorts to Catholic theology and says there is NO NAR
Peter Vandever
Troy Day it doesn’t. The “na r was a book
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever tell me another one 🙂 The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is a movement which seeks to establish a fifth branch within Christendom, distinct from Catholicism, Protestantism, Oriental Orthodoxy, and Eastern Orthodoxy. The movement is largely associated with the Pentecostal and the Charismatic movements and advocates the restoration of the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of prophet and apostle.[1] Inspired by the G12 movement, it grows by recruiting pastors of independent congregations and nondenominational churches, by assimilating members from other churches through cell group meetings, and by frequent Church planting and rapid expansion, including foreign missions around the globe. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Apostolic_Reformation
Peter Vandever
https://www.ihopkc.org/press-center/faq/ihopkc-part-new-apostolic-reformation/
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever SURE 🙂 no nar kingdom now http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/mike-bickle-of-ihop-just-endorsed-ted-cruz/
Varnel Watson
Does IHOPKC believe that the end-time church will operate in miraculous powers?
Yes. IHOPKC believes in the continuation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit beyond the first century. We believe that believers in the Body of Christ today can operate in gifts such as healing and prophecy. Eschatologically, IHOPKC holds a theological view known as historical premillenialism. This is a mainstream orthodox belief amongst Christians throughout church history. We believe that Jesus will return to earth and believe that, prior to His return, the earth will go through a great tribulation. In the midst of this trouble we believe that many believers will be what the book of Revelation terms “overcomers.” Part of this overcoming we believe is the church operating in unity with the Holy Spirit and operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as outlined in the New Testament.
Isara Mo
Anyone sure they will. be in the bus.
By what creteria?
In a world where self glorification precedes God’s glorification especially in churches it seems likely that the firsts will be the last..
Left behind?..
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever Neil Steven Lawrence I think what’s more interesting is that in that passage, the defense the people God never knew give when God says he doesn’t know them shows their hearts. Instead of giving faith in Christ as their defense and justification, they rely on a gospel of miracles, signs and wonders for their justification. Which is part of what Bethel teaches. We can see their defense shows that they are relying on their own righteousness and what they did, rather than what Christ did for them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cposA5UBzps
Neil Steven Lawrence
Troy Day I am not fully familiar with the : international House of pancakes ? IHOP theology but I have seen things in the past that show they are mixing heresy with their truth. On the surface it seems they so desire to see the immediacy of God’s working that they end up forcing his hand by doing the miracle themselves.
That seems to be what the “teacher“ is justifying in his YouTube video excerpt, and that the YouTube commentator shared.
This passage is the one God used to call me into ministry.
The sad thing about this passage is that Jesus says “many“ (not some) will try to claim a personal relationship with him and even show (or claim) that they have performed miracles as a proof of that personal relationship.
But in the judgment Jesus says: “I never knew you“. In Johannine theology the phrase “to know“ has a Hebrew origin in the word: “yada“ which implies an intimate knowledge just as in Genesis when it says Adam “new“ Eve.
In the same way I believe this passage shows Jesus using the phrase “know“ in salvific terms.
Intimate knowledge qualifies for salvation.
It’s sad that in “works theology” which can even exist in Pentecostal ranks, the idea that we could perform miracles as a proof we are really saved is dangerous.
We should instead “work out out our salvation with fear and trembling” realizing it is only we who can cut ourselves off from God by neglecting a personal relationship. Intimacy with him is not optional nor secondary.
Varnel Watson
Neil Steven Lawrence guess you didnt read the book?
Neil Steven Lawrence
Troy Day which book, I thought we were commenting on this video post?
Varnel Watson
Neil Steven Lawrence the book of OP – just look
Varnel Watson
so Peter Vandever if you think Brown is right and Pentecostal do you like him believe church stays here during Tribulation? brown flipped on this one too Joe Absher
Peter Vandever
Troy Day I do not agree on that with him
Varnel Watson
In 1998 David Wilkerson solemnly warned the compromised American church and instructed those with a heart for God to get out of their dead churches. He also instructed them to seek God’s comfort and protection from what was about to come upon America.
“The majority of churchgoers today soundly reject all prophetic warnings of a coming storm. Indeed, the American church today is the most blatant “feel good” church in all of history. But, like Israel, we’re only experiencing the calm before the storm!
“Likewise today, Christians by the multiple thousands are casting off the yoke of Christ, tossing aside all limits and restrictions. This attitude is prevalent in many of the books and magazines you find in Christian bookstores. It’s almost as if our leaders are saying, “Relax! God isn’t hard. He’s our Daddy, we’re all his kids, and we’re meant to have a good time. Don’t let anyone disturb your fun!””
However, David also said that God gives advance warning and provides protection:
“Moreover, God is faithful to speak in times of prosperity, just before the fury of His judgment strikes. While the storm clouds are still gathering, He raises up prophetic voices all over the land. And, according to Scripture, whenever a sinful nation was prosperous and at peace, God told His prophets to warn that the good times soon would end: “…the Lord hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity…” (Zechariah 7:7).
“Beloved, if we’re going to face the coming storm, then we need to be prepared so that nothing disturbs our spirit. And the only way to do that is to spend time in the Father’s presence, beholding His face. We have to be shut in with Him, on our knees, until we’re thoroughly persuaded He’s at our right hand!
“God is clearly telling us, “Don’t be moved or agitated by anything you see. Keep your eyes focused on Me, and you’ll retain your joy!” and “…Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance” (Acts 2:28).
“We always have to keep in mind that God’s only purpose in lovingly calling us back to Himself is to protect us in such times of storm. Yet often in Biblical history, when He gave these warnings, the people refused to listen: “He sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not give ear.” (2 Chronicles 24:19)
“Almost always, God’s people grew weary of these warnings. This was especially true if a prophet cried out about a coming storm over a period of years: the society ignored the warning and just continued to be prosperous and at peace. Over time, the people simply switched off the prophet’s voice. They simply didn’t want to hear it anymore.”
Joe Absher
I don’t follow these people . not even your supposed prophecy leader perry stone .
Varnel Watson
Steve Hill saw a vision of a coming storm that had the potential to destroy millions of Christians because of false teachings that are rampant throughout the church.
“The Lord began to speak. I trembled. The fresh, new snow represented the false teaching that is steadily falling on the ears of the body of Christ. It has been, and is, a heavy snowfall. The skiers represented believers and non-believers, trusting the resort for a safe and memorable experience. As Christians, we have been warned to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). However, the present ‘awe-inspiring’ teachings have lulled many into a deeper sleep.
“The layers upon layers of snow have been steadily covering the solid traditional Truth of Christ. The truth is that foolish teaching in these last days will become so fashionable even the most dedicated believer could become deceived (Matt. 24:24). It’s happening before our eyes. One spiritual leader said the other day: “You guys are old-fashioned ‘holiness,’ we are modern day ‘grace.’ You live in bondage, while we can do anything we want.”
“Pastors and teachers worldwide have succumbed to heretical teachings including universal reconciliation, the deification of man, challenging the validity of the Word of God− including His judgments, and even lifting any boundaries, claiming His amazing grace is actually “amazing freedom.” The message seems to be, “You are free to live according to your own desires.” Sound familiar? “They had no king and did what was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) These popular self-proclaimed ministers of the gospel are covering the “slopes” and will be held accountable for the spiritual death of millions.”
Joe Absher
And yet you commend scoffers as wise . you can’t have it both ways .
Varnel Watson
America’s Last Call
Kenneth Hagin:
“I looked at the scroll again, and again I looked to see what I had read about. I saw the skyline of a large city. Looking closer, I saw the skyscrapers were burned-out hulls. Portions of the city lay in ruins. It was not written that just one city would be destroyed, burned, and in ruins, but that there would be many such cities.
“The scroll was written in the first person, and seemed as if Jesus Himself were speaking. I read, “America is receiving her last call. Some nations already have received their last call, and never will receive another.”
“Then, in larger print it said, “THE TIME OF THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND.” This statement was repeated four or five times. Jesus also said this was the last great revival. He went on to say, “All the gifts of the Spirit will be in operation in the Church in these last days, and the Church will do greater things than even the Early Church did. It will have greater power, signs, and wonders than were recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.””
Joe Absher
What happened to your rosy prophecy from last week . the one you thought was “great”
Varnel Watson
Joe Absher many are prophesying if you hear http://www.pentecostaltheology.com/many-non-pentecostal-voices-are-present-in-pentecost/
Varnel Watson
with the pandemiX not sure how Craig would get out of this one that Brown got him into Peter Vandever Gary Micheal Epping
Tom Williams
Just read thru this commentary on why the church won’t go thru the tribulation? I find many scriptural errors ? Troy Day , what scriptures did you find in the New Testament that convinced you that the church would go tru the tribulation? Could you share ?
Varnel Watson
Tom Williams I dont believe the church goes thru the tribulation Whose commentary and which commentary did you read?
Tom Williams
Troy Day oh I must have misunderstood you ! I thought you said you changed your pretrib stance to ???
Varnel Watson
Tom Williams oh dear God NO and never! I said Craig may need to because of covid-19 right now I read the INTRO – it makes no sense A normal persecution of the church is NO Neil Steven Lawrence Francisco Arriola should know that well The intro makes no sense period WHAT other verses are in the book interpreted wrong ?
RichardAnna Boyce
if you are not saved by believing in Jesus ONLY to be guaranteed Eternal Life, and are not raptured with the church, then don’t worry as the 144,000 Jewish evangelists will be after you in the Tribulation. But you will miss out on 7 years of The Marriage Supper of the Lamb 🙁
Varnel Watson
actually just 2 witnesses – 144 000 are 12 000 from each tribe Elect – possibly a very literal fullness number
Chris Baudean
Every one will be left behind because the rapture happens on the last day.
Varnel Watson
you cannot be more wrong by saying the church will NOT go to heaven
Neil Steven Lawrence
So your saying the Rapture will be a dud or a blank….
Varnel Watson
Neil Steven Lawrence he is saying we are not going to heaven without actually saying it May have not been thinking that far ahead after all
Chris Baudean
Troy Day wow so you know what I am saying with out me saying it! you must be Jesus Christ! What I am saying is what Christ said he will resurrect the dead and the living on the last day of mans earthly reign and come and get us to reign with him. BTW the New Jerusalem will be hovering above the earth ware everyone can see.
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean I still think Brown is wrong on this
Chris Baudean
Troy Day Browns Ville was full of adulteries of the preachers who started it. However, the Knowledge of the rapture taking place AFTER the great tribulations is a FACT of the bible.
Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean Hovering huh…..thats hilarious! The language of the Bible says, “The New Jerusalem was coming down out of heaven.” This only occurs after the Millennial Reign of Christ on the earth, and after the current earth is destroyed by fire (Rev.21:1). The description of the New Jerusalem shows it will be a 1400 mile cube. That is a building as big as from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River, and from Florida to the Great Lakes. The only way to describe that with human words is to say: “it was coming down out of heaven.” This does not mean it was floating down from heaven to rest on the earth.
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence I never said it would rest upon the earth that is your assumption of what I said in fact what I said was it would hover above the earth. I never said what the size of it was and in fact. Your little Spong showing a comparison of the size of it to the earth is no way near a true comparison. The earth is a little more than 25 thousand miles round and the New Jerusalem is 14 hundred miles square which is half of the circumference of the earth. The next time you want to impress some one with your knowledge maybe you ought to argue the facts and not the wisdom of your own mind with some one who knows more than you do to try and make them look stupid so that every one can be impressed by your knowledge.
Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean Hovering…….?
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence Yes I said HOVERING like God was in the BEGINNING as his Spirit hovered above the waters in the book of Genesis! The Spirit of God shaked or vibrated above the waters. When the New Jerusalem comes down it is only visible to the eyes this is my opinion on what I have studied for 40 years in the bible. It would be IMPOSSIBLE for the New Jerusalem which is almost 15 hundred miles square to inhabit the place of the old one because it would take up half of the earths dimensions. However, this is me using logic something I think you may not be accustomed to. Since it is obvious that you have no refuting scripture just your distain for my opinion of the facts of the bible that I use.
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean are yu post trib or what?
Chris Baudean
Troy Day I think it obvious that I am post tribulations.
Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean Where will the New Jerusalem be hoverin’? Over the current Jerusalem or in the New Earth?
Varnel Watson
over hoover in NV near Vegas
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence Over the current in the New Earth
Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean It de hover over Old earth or new earth?
Varnel Watson
Neil Steven Lawrence over flat earth will be better
Neil Steven Lawrence
Troy Day Do de flat eart spin?
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence AGAIN it will be in the NEW EARTH
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence A flat earth does not spin
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean told you who? does too – just look
Chris Baudean
Troy Day You have to explain what you are saying I don’t understand your statement or if it is a question I don’t understand it. Clarify it with a complete thought in one or two sentences.
Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean OK I’m glad you’re clarifying because you did say in your above comment :
“What I am saying is what on the last day of mans earthly reign and come and get us to reign with him. BTW the New Jerusalem will be hovering above the earth ware everyone can see.”
If I get your meaning you were saying even the sinners will see the New Jerusalem hoverin’…
Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean You believe in a flat earth? If it doesn’t spin how do the sun and the stars move?
Chris Baudean
Yes, everyone will see Jesus Christ coming on the clouds and the SAINTS of God will be gathered along with the wicked and we will go to the Judgement Seat of Christ to be judged by what we did. Which is in The New Jerusalem I am assuming is coming down from God as we are going up to meet him to go to it to be judged this is what I read in the Word of God.
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever I still think Brown is wrong on this just as he was wrong in many things in FL revivals
Peter Vandever
Brown has always been Pre-wrath. It was part of the issue related to Brownsville and him.
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever but the start of the book denies any other theory except pre or post trip – no mid no wrath no 6th seal no 50 cent no pair of dimes or my c2
Peter Vandever
Troy Day as I understand it, it is prewrath. We will go mostly through the trib but be caught up right before the weath at the end.
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever who is pre wrath ?
Peter Vandever
Troy Day most post trib are really pretty wrath.
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever actually none are except Ricky Grimsley who is wrong of course But where are you getting this It is not in the book and it is nowhere found by Brown ? BROWN is straight A-mil NAR as most NARs are sucking up to the president with his cheepish like booklets
Peter Vandever
Troy Day he was my pes at BRSM
Varnel Watson
Peter Vandever I know and he is also straight a-mil NAR but dances around when you ask of NAR ; wonder why so many Pentecostals follow him so blindly
Varnel Watson
Neil Steven Lawrence so its like a flying saucier like pyramid And it comes down over the deep of the flat earth Ppl in it love to walk around because it is like a cruise ship on the high seas A river flows from it There is a stair way from Heaven used by Peter Vandever as a high priest and Francisco Arriola is the main book scroll papyri keeper If you are not found in his scroll they send you to Isara Mo and you spend Tribulation with Keener and Brown
Neil Steven Lawrence
Troy Day When I’m not flyin’ ‘round I’m a gonna be helping de angels throw them bad people into de fiery lake!
Varnel Watson
Neil Steven Lawrence naah me be just chillin – not my job anymore to deal with them sinners
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean are you staying here with the antiChrist ?
Chris Baudean
Yes, just like you my friend!
Neil Steven Lawrence
Troy Day I guess post-tribbers think the antichrist ain’t so bad: he’ll be handsome, speak with smooth words, give free food bought with bitcoins, and free Trib-Cable and PC YouTube with advertisements hoverin’ over de screen sayin’: “Don’t be evil.”
De head-choppin’ might be a problem though…
Varnel Watson
Well be gone with Neil Steven Lawrence Chris boy – better get your shack going with Brown and em
Chris Baudean
Troy Day My brother you are going no where you will be here with the rest of the believers. Pre-trib is a lie of Satan so that when you go through tribulations you believe that God has forsaken you and lose hope in Christ! While we are not appointed to Gods WRATH we are APPOINTED to PERSUCUTIONS! Which is EXACTLY what tribulations is about. It is about God pouring out his wrath on the unbelievers who are persecuting his bride! However, you believe that God does not what you to suffer persecutions which if you are not willing to SUFFER for Christ you will not also REIGN with him!
Varnel Watson
Pre-trib is NOT a lie of Satan #goingHome
Varnel Watson
Neil Steven Lawrence flat earth moves them with magic
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence Most people believe that the earth is a globe, however, I believe obviously like you do that it is in fact FLAT. I was taught over 40 years ago in my bible college which I only went one year that this was the cosmology of the bible and what the Jews believed. However, they no longer believe that yet claim the word of God is inerrant even though it is a FLAT earth book. I never thought about it until about 5 years ago and after studying it out as best as I could I have grasped the concept that according to the word of God and even empirical evidence that it is as the bible states, FLAT. I do this mostly by FAITH and not by science.
Chris Baudean
Troy Day No according to God he uses angels but you would know this if you knew the Word of God.
Neil Steven Lawrence
Troy Day magic is science in reverse
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence My brother science although wrong at times and truthfully many times; is not magic! Magic actually is slight of hand which at times science can be slight of thought! Magic is also witch craft at times meaning they use drugs to help them created illusions. Which science does not usually do to my knowledge. However, science is sometimes abstract thoughts of creational knowledge of what they THINK happened in the beginning of time. It is also the discovery of what actually is. Meaning with the knowledge and the wisdom God has given man. He can look beyond what the human eye can see with its physical eyes and see through microscopes or telescopes what the human eye can not. Because of this he has uncovered the natural order of man which God created in the beginning of time. With this knowledge he then helps man in sickness or in the evolution (mans physical development of his body and mind). At times this is in direct disagreement with mans development spiritually according to the word of God and thus should be discarded if not proven out biblically.
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean I asked you yesterday and you never answered but is now clear You dont believe the Church is going to Heaven
Chris Baudean
Again you lie and you put words in my mouth which I did not say which is what the devil does! He is the accuser of the righteous. I have plainly told you we will go; just AFTER tribulations but in order to make your lying point you keep insisting that I have not answered you when it is plainly obvious that I have.
Chris Baudean
As proof of your continual lies here is a copy of our conversation above!
Troy Day Neil Steven Lawrence he is saying we are not going to heaven without actually saying it May have not been thinking that far ahead after all
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Chris Baudean
Chris Baudean Troy Day wow so you know what I am saying with out me saying it! you must be Jesus Christ! What I am saying is what Christ said he will resurrect the dead and the living on the last day of mans earthly reign and come and get us to reign with him. BTW the New Jerusalem will be hovering above the earth ware everyone can see.
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Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean The second coming when Jesus comes out of the clouds could never be like a thief in the night. It will be very visible by the whole earth and predictable since he will only come when the antichrist armies are surrounding Jerusalem precipitating the battle of Armageddon. If we were here on the earth when that happens I could point to within a few weeks of the exact time. That is not unexpected like a thief. The rapture on the other hand is secret like a thief in the night.
Therefore they are two distinct events.
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence There is no secret rapture! It is unbiblical! Jesus Christ comes when no one is watching for him as a thief does because they become complacent. He does not come as a thief to those who are watching for so says the Scriptures. The problem is not with scriptures only your understanding of them. 3While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief. 5For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.… There is ONLY ONE SECOND coming of Christ not two unless you can show me a scripture that says Christ is coming then leaving and then coming again? Which I already know the answer is NONE!
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean I think you are out of wack on this one Theologically speaking you aint Bible
Chris Baudean
Troy Day Well that is the greatest thing that we have been endowed with by our creator the right to have a brain and use it to process thought. However he also gave us at the same time the ability to be wrong in our thoughts like you are.
Neil Steven Lawrence
Chris Baudean
Revelation 14:14 – 16
this is the rapture shown in Revelation:
“I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like a son of man with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, “Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is harvest of the earth is ripe.” So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.”
Chris Baudean
Neil Steven Lawrence and this scripture proves what? That your thoughts about scripture and mine are incorrect somehow?
Varnel Watson
ye of little faith be left behind
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean so how are you planing to survive the Tribulation? The church cant even stay open for coronavirus
Chris Baudean
Troy Day Yet, I am eating and have started 3 business that are growing since I have been locked down in Uganda on my missions trip! Figure that one out! Bedsides that I am helping to support a number of Churches here in Uganda one in Kenya and one in Burma. There is he who holds back from giving and is poor and he who gives and is rich. This is how I did it! Follow the link!
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2410792775884976&id=100008628316434
Varnel Watson
Chris Baudean would you discuss with us how the church simply CANNOT survive the Tribulation ?
Chris Baudean
Troy Day I would suggest that all power is in Jesus Christ and that even in the apostles times he kept them safe from the wrath of God but not persecution of man.
Varnel Watson
but JESUS said to have faith for the RAPTURE and NOT be left behind for reason of having not enough faith
Laurie Lombard
SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST
John is the only apostle who wrote about an antichrist. Therefore, we need to read and take note of what he said. The following conclusions are made by studying the writings of John:
1. Antichrist is not an individual somewhere in the future.
“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now *many* antichrist have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. *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 *they* might be made manifest, that none of *them* were of us” (1 Jn 2:18-19, emphasis added).
John called the immature in the Church “little children.” He explained to them that it was the last hour and that many antichrists were already present. In this context, antichrists were those who had gone out from amongst them and turned against Christ. They were described as “anti” (against) Christ.
2. He who denies the Father and the Son is antichrist.
“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son also has the Father
(1 Jn 2:22-23).
Believing only in the Father, without recognising the Son, is described as antichrist. In essence, this lying spirit does not only deny the Son but also by implication the *sonship of all believers.*(Gal 3:26, 28). Jesus said that there is no other way unto the Father except through Him.
3. Antichrist is a spirit that does not confess that Christ came in the flesh.
“And every *spirit* that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world (1 Jn 4:3, emphasis added).
Only believing in Jesus as a historical leader or His fleshly attributes, without recognising Him as the Christ (Anointed One), also qualifies one as antichrist.
4. Antichrist is a deceiver.
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. *This is a deceiver and an antichrist*(2 Jn 1:7, emphasis added).
It is very clear from all these New Testament scriptures that the antichrist is a lying and deceiving spirit that finds its expression in a plurality of persons, already manifested in the time of John the apostle.
There is no evidence in the Bible of a single human being ruling the world as a future antichrist. Neither is there a record of one single man in history – neither Caesar, Nero, nor the Pope, as some have suggested. It is possible, however, that some individuals in history may have operated by this spirit. We know that the number 6-6-6 is the number of Caesar Nero, for we can calculate it by the numeric values of His name. We also know how he persecuted the Church and gave power to the fourth beast of Daniel – the Roman Empire.
The reality of antichrist is closer and more dangerous than what we have been made to believe. This spirit manifests within the religious mind and in the midst of the gathering of households of faith. It parades itself as a follower of Jesus, yet works actively against the truth and presence of the Christ. This spirit hates and fears the fact that Christ came in the flesh, is still coming in the flesh through His Body, the Church and will ultimately come in His glorious appearing (as the Corporate Christ).
When Jesus came to the earth, He was declared as the Christ, the Son of the living God. When Jesus, the Christ, left the earth at His ascension, He, as the Head, left, but the Body of Christ remained in the earth. On the night He was betrayed He took bread and declared, “This is My Body given for you….” (Luke 22:19b).
This antichrist spirit operates in many ways. It does not dispute the fact that Jesus came, because it is not ant-Jesus, but anti-Christ. What scares and threatens this spirit is the fact that Jesus is the Christ who came in the flesh and is bodily present in the earth through His Church, the Body of Christ (Corporate Christ).
The spirit of antichrist is a present reality more dangerous than the fictitious, singular, futuristic antichrist that religion has created.
Varnel Watson
ACTUALLY Antichrist = the beast is an individual somewhere in the future Hence in the GREEK John uses the name with a definite article to specify one single living person who will prophetically fulfill its destiny in the soon-near future PLS see my article and comment here https://www.facebook.com/groups/eschatology.end.times/permalink/1602603929917032/
Chris Debisschop
Nero Caesar was the Beast of Revelation whose name add up to 666, he had a vast multitude of Christians killed including Paul and Peter. Past fulfilled event not yet future.
Varnel Watson
whatever there is NO BIBLE to prove that zero nadda zip PLS see my article and comment here https://www.facebook.com/groups/eschatology.end.times/permalink/1602603929917032/
Samuel Garcia
There are many antichrists, Nero is just one, he’s not the beast.
Kent Anderson
Then you can star in the next sequel
Varnel Watson
true I hear Nero is selecting the new cast NOW see my article and comment here https://www.facebook.com/groups/eschatology.end.times/permalink/1602603929917032/
Kent Anderson
Troy Day No toga parties or belly dancers please
Brown Nnama
The saints will go through great tribulation before they will taking away to heaven, that is the Bible. There will be no secret rapture before tribulation.
Ann Smit
Says you
Stacy Turbeville
I’m definitely not afraid. He’s been gone since the first century. He sat in the Temple before it was destroyed (2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Peter Cooper
Good point well made.
Cam Lee
Stacy Turbeville the Antichrist was not in AD70
Stacy Turbeville
Yes He was. The Great Tribulation was from 66-70AD. It was about judgement on Old Covenant Israel. The resurrection of the dead was the corporate resurrection of the dead from the Old Covenant Age. This resurrection happened on the last day of the Old Covenant Age. Daniel 12:1-7 explains this. Daniels own resurrection was then on the last day of the end of the Old Covenant Age (Daniel 12:13).
David Allen Stryker
The pope of Rome is the antichrist.
Darbyism is false.
Kent Anderson
It is Mohammid and Hitler and they will make a comeback, watch it all on the big screen
David Allen Stryker
Preterism is false too.
Peter Cooper
but partial preterism is completely correct
Douglas Roberts
Revelation chs. 1-6;11, IS ALMOST over., 6:12-7:14 IS THE cOMING RAPTURE.
Alan Yusko
if one is left behind.. then he is not saved .. we are saved by grace alone, by faith alone, in the Lord Jesus alone and totally apart from any works. So, admit you are a lost sinner and trust the Lord Jesus alone for eternal salvaiton.
Varnel Watson
there you go
Varnel Watson
I honestly cant believe that Keener teamed up with Brown on this one
Neil Steven Lawrence
Then we would have to remove the phrase “ left behind“ from Jesus and Paul’s teachings and then we could all become spiritual tough guys!