FROM WHERE I STAND – July 27, 2002 It seems to me that there will always be debate over the elements of literal prophetic fulfillments, between those who embrace those belief and those who don’t.
Personally I choose to avoid debate. I think there are better uses of our time and energy, but I will declare my beliefs to my students, members of our congregation and to those who read these articles.
One of the building blocks of the anti-rapture theologians goes something like this: “Do you think Daniel and John understood microchips, nuclear warfare, universal currency, or a ten leader group rising out of Europe?”
Our response must be obviously not - and with that comment, we must then turn to the Scriptures, as the Word of G-d is, and must always be, the final authority.
Notice the words of G-d’s messenger to the prophet Daniel, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4
Do you see the three important elements of divine intervention?
First - Daniel is told only to shut up the words and seal them. He has received the vision, but has not been told to interpret, as it is to be sealed until the appropriate time.
Second - with this admonition comes the element of trust that goes with prophetic revelation - we must place our trust in G-d’s divine and sovereign plan.
Third - Daniel was told that men would run to and fro, and that knowledge would increase. It must be stated that this is the case today, especially in theological circles.
Notice the commendation Noah receives in the “Hero Chapter” of Hebrews. “By faith Noah, being warned of G-d of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7
Noah would not stand up the test of the anti-rapture people, but he did with G-d. His was because he did not have any idea what rain was, nor did he ever comprehend building an ark - but his attitude was counted as righteousness as he trusted G-d and did as he was instructed.
When you read the entire eleventh chapter of Hebrews, you will find that all of these great men and women of G-d went out not knowing where they were going. All of them in one way or another obeyed G-d’s commands, even when they didn’t understand them completely.
I have seen many books written about eschatology where the authors have abandoned their belief in the rapture of the church… because they have been, as they state, “Liberated and enlightened” by new revelation.Yes, knowledge has increased, but most of it seems to lack the wisdom so desperately needed to properly embrace and live it.
Allow me to return to the question - did John understand microchips and a universal money system? I now refer to the Scriptures again.
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Revelation 13:16-18
While knowledge increases, John exhorts us to understand with wisdom, about this man and his plan coming to the earth. While it is true that the Emperor Nero developed a similar system in his time, look at what is happening today.
The Russian Orthodox Church has started telling their members to quit their jobs because the new system in Russia is giving identification numbers to their citizens, starting with the number 666. This does not include all of the many automated systems, the merging of various currencies, and all of the other events going on in our world – making this prophecy a reality.
It’s doubtful that Zechariah could sit down with a quill and parchment to write out the principles of Atomic, Biological and Chemical warfare, but he did write what G-d showed him.
“And this shall be the plague wherewith the L-RD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” Zech. 14:12
Probably most of us have seen the nuclear blast films made during the 1950’s. We saw the Nazis destroyed by “melting away” for opening the Ark of the Covenant, and other types of “judgment style” deaths - the great majority of Hollywood productions have shown us people disintegrating in this fashion in one way or another.
G-d does not need Hollywood to validate His Word! It is simply amazing how many people who don’t even claim to know G-d or His Word, but who can better accept these issues. They grasp them quicker than many of those who claim to be Bible believers.
And while I could use more examples of prophets who did as Daniel, John, and Zechariah… the principle is the same.
In today’s world, the challenge comes for us not to become so detached from the belief of the Rapture of the Church - and hold fast to those tenets of faith.
As knowledge increases, we need to retain wisdom so it will bring life to us… not pull us away from the truth of G-d’s Word.
The spirit of Hebrews 11 needs to be in each of us - so that we will remain faithful, perform our call and commission from G-d - NOW - as our predecessors did millennia ago.
I encourage you, when G-d speaks - especially in a prophetic manner as He deems fit – do not “waffle” in your faith, but hold true to the course. In this way, our lives will glorify Almighty G-d.