No One Left Behind!
Hope Beyond Armageddon
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©2001 Jackson Snyder
The End Times Made Simple: How Could Everybody Be So Wrong About Biblical Prophecy?
This is a Great Book. Get it!
Associated
Bible Students of Central Ohio
P.O. Box 813 • Westerville, Ohio •
43086-0813
The Left Behind series
of religious novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, and the movie based
upon these books promote an overly dramatic and sadistic view of end time
prophecy. The authors tell of the horrors of a vindictive Elohim destroying
three billion people by fire and earth-quakes. The LaHaye/Jenkin’s
series places the majority of the world’s inhabitants into a literal
lake of fire to suffer eternally. On national television, these authors
have admitted that they feel fear is an acceptable strategy to motivate
people into accepting Messiah. Elohim, however, would never endorse
conversions out of fear. “There is
no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath
torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
These fictional depictions of prophecy
ignore the “Good News” of
the Bible and paint a picture of a cruel and unsympathetic Elohim who battles
a superhuman AntiMessiah for the souls of men. If the LaHaye/Jenkin’s
interpretation were true it would seriously call into question the clear,
scriptural teachings that “Elohim is
love” and that “His
compassions fail not.” (1 John 4:16; Lam. 3:22) With their
interpretation, one is forced to conclude that if over three billion
people are lost, the adversary must have won the battle—proving Elohim
powerless against the superior skills of AntiMessiah at winning souls!
Left Behind
is sensationalized drama, disowning the historic Protestant teaching
expounded by Luther, Calvin and Wesley that AntiMessiah was not an
individual but a church/state system. It embellishes the Catholic Jesuit
Counter Reformation concept of the book of Revelation put forth between AD
1580 and 1595. No Protestant embraced the secret rapture, seven-year
tribulation literalism before 1829. This concept did not even become
popular among born-again believers until after World War II.
Another issue contrary to Scripture in Left
Behind theology is the harsh, literal interpretation of the highly
symbolic language found in Revelation and other Scriptures. Many Bible
scholars, including historic Evangelicals like the respected Baptist, John
Gill (1697-1771), believed that Revelation was indeed symbolic and not
literal. Mountains are symbolic of nations (Isaiah 2:2-4), stars symbolic
of teachers (Jude 13) and earthquakes symbolic of revolutions which shake
society. (Rev. 11:13 KJV margin) The beast is symbolic of AntiMessiah which
again, is a church and state system. Rev. 13:1-3
In their dramatic depictions of Elohim’s
anger, there is one issue of mercy which LaHaye and Jenkins merit to
Elohim’s character. Their scenario is that children under an undefined age of accountability are spared because of ignorance. Man’s own
compassion can not abide the thought that innocent children will be
sentenced to an eternity of torture for having not had the chance to
knowledgeably accept Messiah. But we point out that there is nothing in
Scripture which exempts children from the condemnation of Adamic sin.
Nothing gives a person of any age a free entrance into heaven if they have
not fully given their life to Messiah. According to the LeHaye/Jenkin’s
limited interpretation, children, upon reaching adulthood, have a 60
percent chance of not accepting Messiah and thus, will burn eternally. If,
in their concept, children are spared because of their innocence, then we
would all have to conclude that it would be better for our children to die
before they reach this supposed age of accountability. This conflict shows that there must be
something wrong with their interpretation. The Scriptures reveal that
Elohim
has a more merciful plan for not only the little children, but also, all
of this “poor groaning creation” in due time. Rom. 8:19-23
A “Due Time” for Selecting the Church Converting the World
Messiah himself stated that the Bible
was purposely written in parables and symbols so that the majority would not
be converted at this time. “Unto
you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of Elohim: but unto them
that are without all these things are done in parables. That seeing they
may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand;
lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be
forgiven them.” (Mark 4:11-12) If now is the time for all to be
converted, we would ask why Yahshua did not give a clear message so that all
could have an equal opportunity to understand his words of salvation? If
Yahshua tasted death “for every
man” (Heb. 2:9), but only a small proportion of the six billion
living today are saved, is not the redemption a comparative failure?
The key to understanding these seeming
contradictions is found in the words of 1 Timothy 2:6: “Messiah Yahshua ... gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time[s].” The Greek word here translated is plural—“times.” Now is not the time for all to hear and accept the
name of Yahshua. Elohim is not trying to convert the world between the first
and second advents of Messiah. If He was, then He has failed, for only
one-third of the world’s population living today even profess to be
believer.
Elohim has not attempted to convert the
world but is only calling and testing a “little
flock” at this time. (Luke 12:32) Acts 15:14-17 reveals that Elohim is
now visiting “the Gentiles to take
out of them a people for His name [not to convert all]… After this
I will return and build again the tabernacle of David [set up the
kingdom of Elohim]...that the remainder of men
might seek after the Lord and all
the Gentiles...”
The due time for the “little flock” to hear and believe on the name of Yahshua is
between the first and second advents of Messiah. The due time for “the remainder of men” to hear and believe is in the thousand
year Kingdom of Messiah. The “little
flock” or “Church of
Messiah” will “reign along
with him during the thousand years [to bless and judge the world in
righteousness].” Rev. 20:6 Moffatt translation; 1 Cor. 6:2; Psa. 96:13
The Bible uses two definitive words to
clarify the scope of salvation—all
and every. In Luke 2:10 the
angel who announced the birth of Yahshua said, “Behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all
people.” Verses 30 and 31 speak of salvation for “all people.” I Timothy 4:10 states that Elohim “is
the savior of all men, specially of those that believe.” The Apostle Paul
states in 1 Cor. 15:22, “As in
Adam all die so in Messiah shall
all be made alive.”
Similarly, Romans 5:18 shows that “by
the offense of one [Adam] judgment
came upon all men to
condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one [Messiah] the
free gift came upon all men.”
Since all were lost in Adam, it was necessary that Yahshua “by
the grace of Elohim should taste death for every
man.” Hebrews 2:9
The Rapture: A Scriptural Examination
The popular doctrine of the secret rapture is that Messiah will return to earth, unknown to the
world, and will take those who have accepted salvation through him up to
heaven before the “great
tribulation.” The Left Behind
series dramatically depicts the common view that all are taken up to
heaven in one instant, leaving cars driverless or airplanes pilotless to
crash.
The term rapture
does not appear in Scripture but has been used by some to denote the “first
resurrection” spoken of in Revelation 20:5 and described in 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18. In verse 15 Paul speaks of Messiah’s return and
the resurrection of his saints: “...we
which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent
them which are asleep.” In this verse, the word “coming”
is translated from the Greek word parousia
meaning presence and is so
rendered in several respected translations.
The word “prevent” is the
16th century word for precede—to
come before in time. Thus, the
Scripture should read: “...we
which are alive and remain unto the presence of the Lord shall not precede
them which are asleep.”
The resurrection of the Church, then,
takes place at the Lord’s return starting with those who have been
sleeping in Messiah—faithful believers who have died (slept) before the
Lord returns. These will be taken to heaven first. After the Lord’s
return, the remaining Church members are resurrected one by one as they
die. Because it is the spiritual body that is resurrected, this event is
not visible to the human eye. 1 Cor. 15:35-44; 1Thess. 4:15-18
And what of those who are not taken
with Yahshua at his return? After the completed Church is resurrected, then
Yahshua and the Church will begin the resurrection of the world at large who
have yet to learn righteousness.
Hope Beyond Armageddon
The Left
Behind series concentrates on the tribulation
upon the people, and yes, the Scriptures do speak of a momentous time of
trouble coinciding with the return of Messiah and culminating in
Armageddon. However, the true purpose of Armageddon is to cleanse the
earth of the systems of corruption which have been under the control of
Satan and his servants. It is important to understand that the corrupt
ecclesiastical and civil systems need to be destroyed—not the ignorant
people misled by these systems. “Every
valley [the poor, suffering world of mankind] shall
be exalted, and every mountain and hill [kingdoms of this world] shall be made low…” (Isa. 40:4) This is not a time to burn in
eternal flames billions of good-hearted people because they have not known
and accepted Yahshua. The conversion of these people—“the remainder of men”—will be after the cleansing work of
Armageddon. This leveling destruction will prepare the way for the
righteous kingdom of Messiah and his Church. Then, under their benevolent
reign, “the inhabitants of the
world will learn righteousness” without the fetters of selfish and
oppressive powers. Isa. 26:9
Of this time, 1 Timothy 2:3-4 states, Elohim “will have all men to be saved and to come unto the [Greek—full
discernment or accurate] knowledge
of the Truth.” Messiah’s “ransom
for all” guarantees that all
who died in Adam will be saved from Adamic death. That is, all will be awakened from
the sleep of death and given a full opportunity to learn the Truth of
Elohim
and His loving character.
In
the thousand-year kingdom of Messiah “the
earth shall [gradually] be full
of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa.
11:9) Also Jeremiah 31:34 says of that time, “for
they shall all know me from the
least of them unto the greatest.” Verse 29 shows that, for the
majority of mankind, the kingdom will provide the first
full, fair opportunity for salvation through the knowledge of Messiah.
They will no longer die for the inherited sins of their fathers but for
their own iniquity (Jeremiah 31:29, 30). Yahshua’ ransom sacrifice for “all” guarantees this
full and fair opportunity for “all”—
praise the Lord!
NO ONE will be left behind!
Valuable Bible Study Resources
What is this World Coming To?
This
encouraging free booklet reveals the outcome of present world troubles. It
examines Daniel 12 as it relates to the current stresses upon government,
society, religion and the earth. Learn why Elohim has been permitting His
creation to experience the effects of selfishness, greed and pride.
Discover the beautiful day which will follow this nighttime of sorrow. (39
pages)
Up to 2 FREE copies •
Additional copies $1.00 each
I Will Come Again
Yahshua’
comforting words to his disciples were that he would one day come again
and receive his followers unto himself. This study guide presents a
scholarly approach to the subject of our Lord’s return. It answers the
questions from Matthew 24: “What
shall be the sign of thy presence and of the end of the age?” It
covers current evidence of Messiah’s return, including the
reestablishment of the Nation of Israel. (79 pages). . . . . . . . . $1.00
each
Revelation: How to Study it
and Have it Make Sense
This
exciting book gives an informative overview of the entire book of
Revelation.
•
Unravel difficult concepts by breaking Revelation down into simple
study topics.
•
Learn Elohim’s progressive plan as woven throughout Revelation.
•
Marvel at Revelation’s prophecies being fulfilled throughout
history.
•
Unlock Revelation’s mysteries by understanding its symbolisms and
time features.
(80
pages) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Paperback: $2.00 each
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SUBSCRIPTION!
The End Times Bible Report Quarterly
We invite you
to order this outstanding Bible study tool which illuminates many timely
prophetic issues.
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