HEAVEN CAN WAIT, OR CAN IT? part 2

By Peter Garcia

Is the Doctrine of Imminence still relevant?

If you take anything away from this and last week's article, let me sum it up by saying this; the greater the convergence, the lesser the imminence. The same is true in reverse, the greater the imminence, the lesser the convergence. It is impossible for both concepts to take up equal space on the same prophetic timeline. The only caveat to this then applies only to those who choose to remain ignorant of the signs of the times.

Because the world pushed the 20th century into the modern age with advancements in just about every field of knowledge.  One would think that in an era of instant gratification and information, life on earth would become sublimely utopic. Rather quite the opposite has occurred with this world's out of control addiction to technology causing many to self-alienate and disconnect from reality. It is at this juncture that we come to a unique paradox matched only in one other time in human history, the pre-flood world.

On one hand, life for a majority of the world (the extreme third-world being the exception) has improved technologically, medically, economically, and socially. On the other hand, the Bible states that things will deteriorate morally, socially, and religiously as time goes on. Thus we have the convergence of increased knowledge and travel (Daniel 12:4) which has resulted in the overall increase wickedness and violence on a global scale. And the unintended consequences of man's increased free time and liberty due to said technological advancements (Gen. 6:5; Luke 17:26).

One of the consequences of the curse God put on Adam after the Fall, was that man was to toil and work the land to survive (Gen. 3:17-19). For most of human history, life on earth was brutal and tough. When a civilization reached its apex, what inevitability ensued was a rapid deterioration in that society's morals and values ultimately making societal collapse all but inevitable. We are again at this summit of where mankind need not struggle to eat, shop, buy, marry, etc.

Although there are still some undeveloped places on the planet, for a majority of the world, electricity, the internet, instant communication (cell phones, computers, landlines, etc.), and advanced travel are still accessible. Also consider that today, most of the world does not farm. Only a small fraction of the population actually labors to produce any food. The rest of us buy from stores the things we need and want. As to violence, more people have died in the past century than the previous twenty centuries combined. In Earth's Earliest Ages, G.H. Pember noted (this in 1884)...

...the fitness of man for a condition of extreme liberty, and the worth of a trust in the innate justice supposed to lie at the bottom of the human heart, have been already tested by the great Creator. Modern philosophers are urging a repetition of the experiment; but the history of the times of old proves the fallacy of their views. For the wickedness of man became great; all flesh corrupted its way upon the earth, and the earth was filled with violence. And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man.

The Bible is quite clear when speaking about certain future events which have to happen. Scriptural logic leads one to understand that events rarely just happen instantaneously. There is an unfolding of connected or interrelated events that makes something that seemed either impossible or unlikely, all but inevitable. For example, the Bible speaks about Israel becoming a nation again for the second time (Amos 9:14-15, Isaiah 11:11-12, Ezekiel 37). But were it not for World War I and II, the rebirth of the nation of Israel could not have happened. Could God have brought Israel back into the table of nations without major global wars? Sure, but that is not how things have transpired. So it stands to reason that our recent history has unfolded precisely as God intended it, along with its intended results.

Transitional Imminence: 1917-1948

Israel, as John Nelson Darby taught it, was God's timepiece. If that is true, then Israel's entire history going back to Abraham should be the most chronicled and detailed of any people who ever existed. It is.

As many today note, Israel is the super-sign of the end times. Israel's rebirth as a nation after almost two millennia in Diaspora is absolutely a miracle. No other nation can make that claim. But before Israel became a nation again, there was the stirring of the Jewish people to return to their homeland. The Zionist Movement, which began in 1897 by Theodor Herzl, along with strong Dispensational and other Christian evangelical support, became momentum that would continue from 1897 through 1948. From a Christian perspective, that support didn't occur in a vacuum.

Darby's support in the early 19th century for the return of the Jews back to what was then just a backwater province of the Ottoman Empire became influential amongst other Dispensationalists. Many of the early Dispensationalists had come out of the Anglican and Presbyterian denominations to make up the Plymouth Brethren. Their influence in part helped later shape decision makers like Lord Balfour to instruct England's political position on the rightful return of the Jews back to what was then called Palestine. As World War I began drawing to a close, it was clear that the Ottoman Turks were in no position to continue ruling over the Middle East, thus European powers began to drawing boundaries to set different nations again.

With England's support for the now growing European Zionist movement, teachers and preachers of Dispensationalism were cautiously optimistic that they were witnessing God's word being fulfilled. Men like C.I. Scofield, Clarence Larkin, and others wrote decades before 1948, that the Jews would become a nation again just as the Bible predicted it (Jeremiah 31:35-36, Ezekiel 37, Amos 9:15, Isaiah 2, 11)...and so it was. This Balfour Declaration encouraged and renewed the strength of the literal view of scriptural interpretation and they began to understand that as Israel goes, so goes God's clock for the world. Watching the progress of Israel becoming a nation again, meant for these early watchers that the fullness of the Gentiles and the time of the Gentiles would soon be drawing to a close. I call this period of time Transitional Imminence simply because although the Church could see God moving and shaping events, Israel had yet to become a nation again.

Limited Imminence: 1948-Present

On November 29th, 1947, the United Nations approved a Partition Plan that agreed to divide up what was then Palestine into a separate Arab and Jewish state. The Jews declared their independence some six months later on May 14th, 1948, and were immediately attacked by their Arab neighbors. And from then until now, Israel has tenuously and cautiously lived in a neighborhood hell-bent on her destruction. The significance of her rebirth has worn off since many are not old enough to remember a time when there wasn't a nation of Israel. There are many today who don't even remember a time when Israel wasn't in complete control of Jerusalem. Much time dulls the eyes of many in the church.

The idea of imminence being limited might sound odd to the reader, but what is implied is that our window for Christ's return is rapidly shrinking, thus limiting the timeframe in which imminence can be completely unknowable. Again, we can't know the day or hour, but we will recognize the season. We know this as a certainty, because when Jesus gave His Olivet Discourse...He added a comment about convergence that matches up with the later revelations that were given to Peter, Paul, James, Jude, and John.

"Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near-at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Matthew 24:32-34

We know from the rapid advancements in the past century with technology, communications, warfare, digital currencies, medicine, natural and manmade disasters, that it is quickly placing us in a time that matches the capabilities present in the seven-year window known as Daniel's 70th Week. Along with the geopolitical arrangements with nations aligning themselves as they are (The United Nations, the European Union, Russia, Iran, Turkey, etc.) also point toward the world in which final day events play out.

On top of that, we see what was once the stronghold of the Christian faith in the West is crumbling. Just as political and military power have primarily moved westward over time, we now see the Christian faith moving eastward as God the Holy Spirit once again moves mightily in the Old World. Adding to this is the world's continued attempts to divide and destroy tiny Israel. All of these (the ultimate convergence) points to the conditions in which both Jesus and Paul called birth pangs.

Conclusion

In the final book of the Bible, Jesus addresses seven churches with seven letters. We understand that these were real, literal, historical churches in what was then Asia-Minor in whom John was familiar with. They were also relatively unknown. Why not a letter to the church in Rome? Or the church in Christianity's birthplace, Jerusalem? Antioch? We also know there are other applications in these letters because of how they are constructed and arranged. They contained seven parts: the Lord's title, a commendation, a criticism, an admonition, a call, a challenge, and a promise. Two of the churches received no criticism (Smyrna and Philadelphia), and one received no commendation (Laodicea). Also, the challenge and the promise are reversed for the last four church. For review:

They were real, historical churches in the 1st century

They had a corporate application (admonitory to all churches of all times)...i.e....he who hath an ear, let him hear...

They had singular and personal applications...i.e....admonitions and challenges to the believers

They had prophetic applications by the order of their selection and arrangement

Skeptics might debate that last bullet, but let's say hypothetically that the letter to the church at Laodicea was placed anywhere other than at the end of the seven letters. If that were the case then this prophetic application wouldn't make sense and skeptics would be correct in their rebuke of such a claim.

But because the letter to Laodicea is at the end of the letters, we can see a clear progression that also matches what we know from church history. In other words, the church ages (or epochs) can clearly be seen when we review how Christendom has unfolded around the world over these last two thousand years. Remember, Laodicea was just as real a church at the same time as Ephesus or Smyrna was. While it is not necessary to hold to seven-letter seven-epochs as the gospel truth, it is noted that throughout church history, one type of church tends to be the dominant face of Christendom.

Each of the churches unfolded in an age in which their brand (or their type) tended to dominate any other form of Christendom. There was an Ephesus era that had the Apostles who were still walking the earth. But that time came to an end when John passed on into glory. There was a Smyrna era in which the Church then (100-313AD) came under intense persecution from the Roman Empire. There was an era when the Roman Empire legalized Christianity, and thus we see the mixing of paganism into Christianity that is exemplified in Pergamum. So on and so forth. Put an another way, they unfolded individually as eras, but they continued on and overlapped, thus waning in power and influence and giving heed to the next type (or form) of church era.

At the very least, the last four letters to Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea are all still in play. Since the 1960's, the West has rapidly digressed into antichristian territory with the onset of the Sexual Revolution, the reemergence of Eastern mysticism, embracement of socialism, and rapid increases in violence and the occult in entertainment. All of these have morally weakened societies around the Western world, and have enforced a compromise-or-die type of mentality upon western churches in particular. Thus in trying to remain relevant, we have the compromised Laodicean era who is hell-bent on making being lukewarm the hottest trend around.

All that to say this, that if these churches are in fact chronicles heralding the stages the church would go through, then it is equally reasonable to assume that they had to play out first, in order for Christ to return for His church. So while it was reasonable to assume that no sign preceded the Rapture of the Church for most of its history, we now have the luxury of hindsight and can see we are at the last stage of development in the age of the Church. It is not until the conclusion of this last Laodicean church, that John see's the door in heaven open, and hears a voice as a trumpet call from there "Come up here!"

As one with many children and having witnessed pregnancy many times, birth pangs do not go on forever...as all births come to a moment of truth when the child arrives. This writer's belief is that while blind imminence may have been a valid assumption for the first portion of the last two millennia, it is quickly becoming something we can no longer hide behind. Too many events are pointing to too many signs for Christians to simply shrug their shoulders' and say who knows or who cares? It should be a call for us to wake up and wake up our brothers and sisters in Christ and to put on a sense of urgency that our blessed hope is about to be realized. Christ promised a special warning to His believers who did not bother to watch and chose to remain ignorant about His return. To the dead church at Sardis He said...

Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. Revelation 3:3

Even so, Maranatha!

APOSTASY IN THE LAST DAYS

by Grant Phillips

2 Timothy 3:2-5

Verse 2
Lovers of their own selves: lovers of themselves – self-love
Covetous: lovers of money – greedy for money
Boasters: boastful – braggers, swaggering, puffed-up
Proud: proud – arrogant, haughty, conceited
Blasphemers: abusive – revilers, rude, savage, offensive
Disobedient to parents: disobedient to their parents – hellions
Unthankful: ungrateful – thankless, unappreciative
Unholy: unholy – unnatural, ungodly, blasphemous, nothing sacred

Verse 3
Without natural affection: without love – unloving
Trucebreakers: unforgiving – irreconcilable, implacable, truce breakers
False accusers: slanderous – malicious gossips, false & malicious statements
Incontinent: without self-control – no self-control
Fierce: brutal – savage, cruel, vicious, barbaric
Despisers of those that are good: not lovers of the good – loving evil, no interest in good

Verse 4
Traitors: treacherous – dangerous, hazardous, betrayer
Heady: rash – reckless, impulsive, hasty
High-minded: conceited – vain, narcissistic, self-centered, puffed up with pride
Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God: lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – loves pleasure over God

Verse 5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it: having a form of godliness but denying its power – acts religious, but rejects God

Mark 7:21-22

Verse 21
Evil thoughts – questioning truth
Adulteries – any sexual act with someone other than one’s own spouse
Fornications – any sexual act outside Biblical marriage between a man and woman
Murders – slaughter

Verse 22
Thefts – taking from others that which is not yours
Covetousness – greediness, desire for more
Wickedness – depravity, malice, evil purposes & desires
Deceit – craft, guile
Lasciviousness – lecherous, lewd, lustful, dirty, smutty, naughty, indecent, unbridled lust
An evil eye – envious, covetous, pride
Blasphemy – slander, evil speaking, railing
Pride – haughtiness, arrogance
Foolishness – folly, senselessness, thoughtlessness, recklessness

In 2 Timothy (see above) the Apostle Paul is giving a warning of the last days. He says in verse one that these days will be terrible times. Then he proceeds to give us a vivid description of evil hearts in the last days.

In the book of Mark (see above) Jesus tells us that it isn’t what goes into a man that defiles him, but what comes from the heart. He then gives a vivid description of the results of evil hearts.

Notice that these two passages are very similar. Jesus showed the results of an evil heart. Paul points out basically the same, and says that the last days will be terrible due to the evil actions of evil hearts.

While thinking about this, I was thinking that we have always had these types of evil people among us. You’re probably thinking the same. We could pick any of the traits above from Mark and 2 Timothy and probably think of someone or some event that is apropos to the above.

In our Mark passage, Jesus was being questioned by (you guessed it) the Pharisees and some of the teachers of the Law. They weren’t happy that Jesus’ disciples were eating without washing their hands. Now granted, we all wash our hands before we eat (I hope), but this isn’t solely about germs. It’s about observing the Law. In our language, it’s about observing all the rules our congregation or denomination dictates. In other words, this is the self-righteous crowd, the hypocrites, pointing out the sins of others. (See Mark 7:5)

Jesus brings to their attention a little practice called “Corban.” Listen to what Jesus says,

“…You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)—then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” (Mark 7:9-15 NIV)

Now why do you suppose these Pharisees and teachers of the Law would use this little scheme of “Corban” to divert money to the temple treasury that the people should have been using to support their elderly parents? The answer is obvious if you think about it. They were diverting money to the temple treasury in order to line their own pockets. They may have been fooling everyone else with their self-righteous decrees, but Jesus could see their hearts … and they weren’t pretty. Also notice that Jesus said, “And you do many things like that.”

And this takes us back to Mark 7:21-22. Now go back to these verses and see what Jesus saw in their hearts that the populace could not see. Look at the descriptions again. I’m sure they fit quite well, and boy were these guys squirming.

Now let’s return to what Paul told Timothy about people in the last days. Again, this list (see the list above) is strikingly close to Jesus’ list in Mark. Yes, there have always been these types of people in the world. However, in my opinion, I believe these types of people are more pronounced today worldwide than ever before in the church age. Maybe they were more obvious in certain areas or groups in years past, but today, these types encompass the world.

Another thing to consider is that Jesus and Paul were referring more so to those who claim to be religious. They weren’t speaking necessarily of the world as a whole, but specifically to those with apostate hearts; i.e. those who appeared to be religious, or even “Christian.” Jesus was referring to Pharisees and teachers of the Law, the religious crowd. Paul was referring to false teachers (see 2 Timothy 2:14-26), the religious crowd. All of these are religious apostates.

An apostate is “one with full knowledge of the truth of the Gospel, perhaps even professing a belief in the Gospel at one time, but ultimately turns against it and rejects it.” The Pharisees and teachers of the Law were being religious, but actually renouncing the heart of the Law of Moses. Obviously, the false teachers were renouncing anything and everything Paul was teaching the churches.

When Jesus was talking to the Pharisees and teachers of the Law in Mark, it would have been in the last days of the Jewish age of 490 years they were allotted by God (see Daniel 9:24-27). Think about it. The Church age would start at Pentecost in just a few months. Then there are only seven years remaining to fulfill the 490 years allotted by God. This will be accomplished during the seven year Tribulation. If you mentally remove the Church age, which is parenthetical, they were in the last days. During those last days they had become corrupt, and will more so until their eyes are opened during the Tribulation.

The Church, based on the prophetic signs in Scripture, is also in her last days. Now I want to be very clear about our being in the “last days” for the Church. I do not know how close we are to the Rapture, which precedes the Tribulation. Only God knows that date. It could be today, tomorrow, several years off. I don’t know. All I can say is, based on God’s Word; we are certainly within the season of His return.

In summation, my point to make for these two Scripture passages, Mark and 2 Timothy, is that these types of people come from those who claim to be religious. They claim to be Christian, but they reject the Truth, claim the lie and are what we see listed in Mark 7:21-22 and 2 Timothy 3:2-5.

Our churches today are overflowing with these types of people. They talk like a Christian, walk like a Christian, act like a Christian, dress like a Christian, etc., but their heart is elsewhere. These people claim Christ but serve Satan. They are no more a child of God than the Pharisees and teachers of the Law who confronted Jesus and wanted Him dead.

The people of Israel, specifically the leaders, were basically apostate. They had drifted far away from God’s Law. Jesus hit the “pause” button with Israel and will finish His work with them during their last seven years; i.e. the Tribulation.

The Laodicean church is alive and well in our day. It is obviously apostate to the core, all the way up to its so-called leaders. Perhaps sooner than we realize Jesus is going to hit the “start” button by removing His true Church, then finish His dealing with Israel and the world at large.

YOU ARE WORTHY BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST

"For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9)

There is a lot a information packed into this single verse. To begin with, it says 'for by grace you are saved THROUGH FAITH' - let's stop there for a second.

'Grace' (Gk charis) means benefit, favor or gift. It is from the word 'grace' that we get the word 'gratitude' or the sense of being grateful.

Note that grace alone does NOT save. Grace is both the extension of the gift and the gratitude of its recipient. To be grateful, one must first receive. While grace is extended to all mankind, not all mankind accepts it.

Not all mankind is grateful. Grace is extended to all, but salvation comes by faith. A simple concept, but many miss the big picture.

Let's look at the next section of the verse, 'And that not of yourselves'. What is not of ourselves? Grace? If it refers to grace, then the Lord has wasted words unnecessarily. Of course we can't extend grace to ourselves! It is not only impossible, such an extension of grace would be meaningless. We haven't the authority to save ourselves.

Read the verse again. "For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God." Since we already KNOW that grace 'is not of ourselves' that only leaves one other element that can be the 'gift of God' and that is saving faith.

So the Scriptures say that even the faith that saves us is a gift from God, and not something we conjure up as a result of our own works, 'lest anyone should boast.' This verse is the great equalizer of Christians.

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent Me draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44)

We all come to the Cross the same way; recipients of God's extension of grace, which we receive by a faith which is God-given. None of us has any reason to feel superior. If we are saved, it is because we were drawn of the Father to the Son.

"It is written in the Prophets, "And they shall all be taught of God." Therefore everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to Me." (John 6:45)

Allow that to sink in. "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:16)

And again; "For many are called, but few chosen." (Matthew 22:14)

And again; "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16)

"Among whom are ye also the CALLED of Jesus Christ:" (Romans 1:6)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the CALLED according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

The goodness of God in converting and saving sinners encourages others to hope in His grace and mercy. Our faith, our conversion, and our eternal salvation, are not of works, lest any man should boast. These things are not brought to pass by any thing done by us, therefore all boasting is shut out.

It is the free gift of God, and the effect of being quickened by His power. It was His purpose, to which he prepared us, by blessing us with the knowledge of His will, and His Holy Spirit producing such a change in us, that we should glorify God by our perseverance to holiness.

'Holiness' (Gk hagiasmos) means 'purification' which is a PROCESS, also accomplished by God through Jesus.

"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath BEGUN a good work in you will PERFORM it UNTIL the day of Jesus Christ:" (Phillipians 1:6)

There are no Christians more deserving than others. Because you have not yet achieved the state of holiness others have does not mean you are less favored. We all come to the Cross equally lost, and we all came away equally saved.

Salvation is an eternal state for which each of us were chosen before the world began.

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," Paul writes to Timothy, (2 Timothy 1:9)

"In hope of eternal life, which God, that CANNOT LIE, PROMISED before the world began. . ." (Titus 1:2)

We are eternally secure, because we are eternally saved, which was accomplished in the Mind of God when each of us was called -- BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN!

Assessment:

Let's bring it together. Nobody can come to Christ unless they are drawn by the Father, who provides us with both the extension of the offer of salvation and the faith necessary to receive it, a calling that was sealed in heaven before the world began, according to His purpose and grace.

Our salvation is immediate and eternal, but our purification is a process, which, having been begun in us at the moment of salvation, will be perform in us BY CHRIST until the day we stand before Him. Lest anyone should boast.

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10-12)

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (Romans 3:23-24)

"I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)

Legalism runs counter to the clear teaching of Scripture. This is a very difficult doctrine to both teach and understand. It sounds like a license to sin. It is not.

It is an understanding that our relationship to Christ is unique -- that God knows our hearts, and has already judged us accordingly. So that sin cannot reign supreme in our mortal body and thereby render us useless to our calling.

The most effective weapon we have in our war with the enemy is the knowledge that he cannot take away our salvation. There is never a time when we are unworthy to tell others of Jesus Christ.

Paul tells us, "Finally, my brethren, be strong IN THE LORD, and in the power of HIS might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." (Ephesians 6:11-12)

Paul says we put on the 'armor of God' in a specific order. The certainty of the truth of Scripture, the breastplace of righteousness (imputed by Christ) the knowledge of the Gospel and the shield of faith. Our heads are protected by the 'helmet of salvation' - the certainty of our eternal salvation. These are all DEFENSIVE weapons.

Having secured our defense, we then take up our only offensive weapon, the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.

If the enemy can convince us of our own personal unrighteousness (of which each of us is acutely aware) or cause us to doubt the truth of Scripture or of our faith (which is a gift from God, lest anyone should boast) or cause us to doubt our own salvation, then we will not be able to effectively wield the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

God chose each of us, and His plan is to use us to seek out those similarly chosen and introduce them to their Savior. That is our assignment on this earth. THAT is our 'calling.' To spread the Gospel.

That isn't Calvinism -- Calvinism teaches that because the Church was predestinated, we are under no obligation to lead people to Christ -- God has already chosen them so He'll sort it out.

There is a joke about the Calvinist who fell down the stairs, and remarked, "Thank God that's over."

Instead, the Scriptures teach that God foreknew who would be saved, therefore it is predestined. But God also knew who He selected to carry the Word to that person. And the enemy will work overtime to thwart God's will by convincing us we are not worthy to carry it.

As Christians, we have an awesome responsibility before God. We have been assigned to seek out the lost and offer them the Gospel. To accomplish our mission, we need to be fully equipped for the task.

That is what eternal security is all about. Not a license to sin, but rather a certain knowledge that our sin is forgiven.

Jesus said of His sheep (the Church) "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."

"Give" (Gk didōmi) means 'to bestow'. It is a present-tense verb. The Scripture does NOT say, "I WILL give them eternal life," it says it has already been bestowed upon us.

Jesus said that no man can pluck His sheep from His Hand. I am a man. If I can sin my way out of His gift of eternal life, it is neither eternal, nor is it a gift. It then becomes wages, dependent upon my works.

But the Scriptures say; "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

And since I, a man, can, by my works, undo His Word, it means His Word is not true.

Our works are the 'fruits' of our labor for Christ. Our labor is to lead others to Christ.

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon." (1 Corinthians 3:10)

Our foundation is our salvation, but our obligation is to build upon that foundation by leading others to the Cornerstone of Life. But our individual salvation is already an accomplished fact.

When we stand before the Bema Seat of Christ, "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

The mission is to provide each one of us with the information necessary to equip us for the work of one on one evangelism.

Henry Ford once said, "I'd rather have one percent of the work of a hundred men, than 100% of the work of one man." Ford was the father of mass production. In the time it takes for one man to build a single car, a hundred men can build a thousand cars.

Don't let the enemy render you powerless. You ARE worthy, not because you are you, but because of Him Who made you worthy according to His will and by His own Hand.

"Therefore said He unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2)

WHY THE RAPTURE?

By Jack Kinsella

''These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.'' (John 16:33)

According to the editors of the "World Christian Encyclopedia": A comparative survey of churches and religions - AD 30 to 2200," there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups, and many smaller ones.

For eighteen of the world's major religions and its 270 sub-divisions, the concept of the sudden and instantaneous translation of millions of adherents from one form of existence into the next is completely unheard of.
It is even a controversial doctrine within Christianity. There are entire huge subdivisions, or denominations within Christianity that totally dismiss the concept of the Rapture.  

I found a column at the appropriately-named AgainstDispensationalism.com that argues belief in the Rapture is little more than "The Arrogance of the West."  I chose that column to highlight because it is a shining example of why the Rapture is so controversial.

To Jerry Johnson, the president of something called the Nicene Council, the Rapture is "paperback" theology and a recent theological concoction never taught by the 'historic church'.

(For context, the 'historic church' would be the one that embraces replacement theology. And my Bible is paperback).

Notes Johnson: "One is hard pressed to think that all of the great minds from St. Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Charles Haddon Spurgeon, that though they had read I Thessalonians 4 failed to understand the important teaching of a pre-millennial, pre-tribulation rapture."

Then he lashes out with his best, Sunday punch.

"Pre-tribulation rapture theology is at its foundation conceited!"  

This is the main objection to the doctrine of the Rapture - the misconception that the Rapture is a Great Escape.  Why should Christians escape the Great Tribulation while others do not?

"It's unfair and God isn't unfair."

One wonders if they find it equally unfair that some go to heaven and others go to hell.  My bet is that some do, but others don't.  (But all would agree that Hitler shouldn't go to heaven.)

That's why God is God and theologians are not.

Assessment:

As noted, no other religion has anything resembling a Rapture doctrine, including whatever 'historic church' Jerry Johnson was referring to.  So where did it come from and why is it there?

The first thing anybody does when trying to answer that question is to hopelessly complicate the issue so that whatever answer they come up with, it is practically impossible to decipher.

If you take enough verses from different places throughout the Bible, you can make a case for a Rapture, against a Rapture, for pre-trib, mid-trib, post-trib, amillennial, premillenial, or post millennial, with or without a 1000 year Kingdom.

I know that to be true because there are scholars that adhere to each and every one of those positions (which is why they have names for them) and I refuse to believe that they hold those positions without some kind of Scripture to hang them on.

If one sees the purpose of the Rapture as a "Great Escape" then it is easy to take verses from all over the Bible to refute it.  Not because the Rapture is a false doctrine.  

But because that isn't the purpose of the Rapture. Knowing why provides valuable clues as to when and how.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ promised His disciples that when He ascended into Heaven, the Holy Spirit would come upon them and indwell them and empower them.  That indwelling Power would come upon and indwell all who believed.

Jesus called Him the Comforter.  Jesus promised that He would abide with me forever.  

Let's examine the simplest questions first.

What does it mean when Jesus Christ makes a promise to the Church? Is it reliable? What does "forever" mean?  Is there a time constraint on forever? When would forever run out?  Does abide forever mean "abide forever for every generation but one?"

Houston, we have a problem. According to my paperback theology, the Comforter is:

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."  (John 14:7)

So, the Comforter is the Spirit of Truth and He indwells me.  That's what my paperback theology teaches me.  Then comes Part Two of the paperback Promise.

"I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you." (John 14:18)

So how to resolve this obvious "contradiction" in Scripture?  There is only one way.  The Holy Spirit continues in indwell me throughout the Tribulation Period.  Therefore, by the authority of the Word of God, specifically, 1st John 4:4, "Greater is He (the indwelling Holy Spirit) than he that is in the world."  
Since the indwelling Holy Spirit is greater and since He will not leave or forsake me during the Tribulation, it is not possible for the antichrist to overcome my indwelling Spirit and pledge allegiance to him.

But that contradicts Revelation 13:7 which says that he can. And it's not a little contradiction, either.

For the antichrist to overcome an indwelt child of the Living God, he must defeat the Indweller.  Unless the Holy Spirit no longer indwells me.  And if He doesn't, did He ever?

And if He did, where did He go? And how did He do that without breaking Jesus promise not to leave me Comfortless?  The Tribulation is, after all, the time of greatest spiritual trial in all of human history.

And although every generation, from those thrown to the lions to those being massacred today in Iraq, have the benefit of the indwelling Holy Spirit, during the Tribulation I will be Comfortless?

How does that work?  If the Rapture is a Great Escape from Tribulation for Christians, then wouldn't the opposite be when Christians suddenly have the Comforter ripped from them just when He is most needed?  

And if I am still indwelt, then what is the purpose in sealing the Jews of Revelation 7 with the Holy Spirit so they can share the Gospel?  What's wrong with using me?  Isn't that my job since the Great Commission?

Here's the Rapture narrative in summary. The Age of Grace began at Pentecost with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  The Age of Grace concludes at the Rapture with the withdrawal of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Promise to the Church is kept precisely as it was given by the Lord Himself.  

Now, if one really works at it, one can find creative ways to portray the Rapture as the Great Escape and from there, all kinds of creative ways to dismiss it as paperback theology.   

But the simplest answer is still the only one that makes sense.