Biblically Optimistic and Gospel-Based
"For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:22)
Posted on 02/24/2009 10:10:12 AM PST by topcat54
Calvary Chapel of Chino California held “ The Southern California Prophecy Conference” last week (Feb. 20–22, 2009). I wonder if those who came to hear speakers like Tim LaHaye, Mark Hitchcock, Paul McGuire, David Hocking, David Reagan, and Ed Hindson were aware that Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel network of churches, made some very definite predictions about when the “rapture” was going to take place.
While cleaning up my office, I came across a cassette tape of a sermon Chuck Smith preached on December 31, 1979. He told his very accepting audience on that day that the rapture would take place in 1981. The former Soviet Republic going into Afghanistan in August of 1978 was the prelude to what Smith considered to be a full-force invasion of the Middle East. It would not be long before “Russia” would invade Israel, Smith told his audience. All of this was said to have been “predicted” by Ezekiel 2600 years ago.
Smith went on to claim in his end-of-the-year message of 30 years ago that because of ozone depletion Revelation 16:8 would be fulfilled during the soon-coming Great Tribulation: “And the fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun; and it was given to it to scorch men with fire.” According to Smith, Halley’s Comet would pass near the earth in 1986 and would wreck atmospheric havoc for those left behind as debris from its million-mile tail pummeled the earth. Halley’s Comet did appear in 1986 with no damage done to our planet. (A similar prelude to the end had been predicted based on the so-called Jupiter Effect.[1]) ...
(Excerpt) Read more at americanvision.org ...
"Smith wrote in 1980 that from his “understanding of biblical prophecies, he was “convinced that the Lord [would come] for His Church before the end of 1981.” He did add that he “could be wrong” but went on to say in the same sentence that “it’s a deep conviction in my heart, and all my plans are predicated upon that belief.”[5] Notice the last statement. He may have voiced some doubts, but actions speak louder than words. " ...
"In addition to some very specific prophetic predictions, Smith claimed that “the rapture is at hand.”[9] His 1976 book on the antichrist states that he will be revealed “soon.”" ...
"As a futurist, Smith “believes that Revelation says what it means and means what it says, and he or she does not need to twist its words to make them fit any particular doctrine. The futurist believes this book is to be taken at face value. . . .”[14]" ...
"Those who came to hear these men speak on the topic of Bible prophecy did not hear a word about the failed prophecies of Hal Lindsey and Chuck Smith and so many other prophecy “experts” before them. The attendees most assuredly walked away under the delusion that they are living in the final generation that will experience the rapture. They most likely told that the world is in a death spiral and there is nothing to be done except to be taken to heaven in a “rapture.” Of course, the participants were assured that all of the end-time rhetoric they heard was based solidly on the “literal interpretation of the Bible.” If I remember correctly, that’s what prophecy speculators have been saying for generations! None of this matters, since the people who attend these conferences have no sense of prophetic history, and this is what the prophecy writers depend on so they can sell their prophecy books and stay in business."
"For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled." (Luke 21:22)
“Children, it is the last hour, and just as you heard that the antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists 39 have appeared. We know from this that it is the last hour.” 1 John 2:18 Like it or not, we are living in the “last days.” False prophets notwithstanding.
I am the only true prophet; I’ve recently prophesized that there will appear more prophets who will predict the end of times, the end of the world and the invasion of the planet by scaly space aliens.
If you would like to know more about my awesome predictions; send $19.95 via Paypal to www.tunaforthecrackpotsoul.nod
Know one knows the day or hour The Lord will return but Jesus told us the signs to watch for and warned us to be ready. Live like he’s coming today plan like he’s coming 100 years from now. Though I doubt it’ll be a 100 years, there’s too many countries getting the bomb - either them or terrorists will sooner or later set one off which will lead to WW3.
Did you think about that at all? John was speaking to his contemporaries in the first century, not directly to us. THEY were living in the last days; these words are no reason to believe we are. If so, the "last days" are awfully long. In reality, I think the end came in 70 AD.
Why would WW3 have anything to do with Biblical prophecy? WW1 and WW2 didn't.
Here’s what one reviewer wrote about the book: “Years ago, I used to read Dr. Hitchcock's books with great eagerness. As his new books continued to roll off the presses, I began to see a repeated theme emerging. Hitchcock no longer writes to teach the Body of Christ but rather to fleece them and make a buck off of the booming prophecy industry. There are many excellent books out there on the subject, but they are often not published by the mainstream book publishers. After Hitchcock's last book which as a transparent effort to jump on the Iranian President's prominence in the news, I was disappointed to say the least. But I still chose to give him the benefit of the doubt and I purchased this book as well. My worst fears were realized. With the United States in a serious financial and moral crisis, Hitchcock has proven to me that he is simply capitalizing on the latest events in the news and the anxieties of the sheep for the purpose of making a quick buck. Mr. Hitchcock and the Christian publishing world should be greatly ashamed. It is not about growing one's own little empire, but about proclaiming the coming Kingdom of Christ. This will be the last book written by Mr. Hitchcock that I will ever purchase or read.”
Yes, but which "end"? Temporally speaking, it was the end of the old covenant system and the beginning for the new (Heb. 8:13). Jesus appeared at the “end of the ages (aeon)” (Heb. 9:26).
Christ will return one day to cast Satan and his followers in the lake of Fire, put an end to death and Hades, make our bodies like His, and wipe away every tear.
Of course I’ve thought about it! As far as your contention that “I think the end came in 70 AD” most scholars date the Johannine epsitles after 70 AD. And thankfully, the “last days” are awfully long owing to God’s grace and patience that all should receive the gift of eternal life.
Jesus said there would be birth pains before he returns and it would be difficult to find two bigger ones. WW2 led to the rebirth of Israel which is one of the biggest signs that points to the Lord's return.
Yes it's true that every generation believes it's the last, but Israel wasn't around during the previous ones, so that's how we know his return is near.
What makes you think modern Israel is at all related to biblical Israel?
IOW, what makes you think Israel is “around” biblically speaking?
Awfully long, but less than 100 years left? What gives you the sort of historical or spiritual perspective to judge that? Why not another 100,000 years? To believe that today's world is somehow new and shockingly different, and suddenly ready to fulfill all the prophecies, is to lack any sort of historical perspective and to indulge in a rather egotistical bout of navel-gazing.
We're not so different, and our world is not so different, from the world of the past 1,938 years, in terms of relation to Biblical prophecy.
[Topcat:]What makes you think modern Israel is at all related to biblical Israel?
IOW, what makes you think Israel is “around” biblically speaking?
Exactly. Plus, if modern Israel is the key and the Dispensational view is correct, shouldn't Edgar Whisenant have been correct about the "rapture" being in 1988?
Calm down. I think you are reading something into my post that I did not intend. I have not put a date on the Lord’s return at all. I didn’t even say it was close. All I did was to quote the writer of 1 John who said “it is the last days”. I wonder what kind of historical and spiritual perspective he had. BTW- do the words “For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.” have any meaning for you?
True, but all I did was point out that he was writing to his contemporaries, not directly to us. It seems to me that the interpretation that does the least violence to the text is to take it at face value - they were indeed in the last days before the destruction of Jerusalem. By the way, I am aware that many scholars date those epistles and the Revelation rather late; I happen to disagree with them. There is ample and convincing evidence to place their writing in the 63-66 AD range.
I wonder what kind of historical and spiritual perspective he had
I think his perspective was the same as the tone of the whole New Testament: they were on the verge of something big, something catastrophic, something that would change the world forever. That something was the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the permanent end of sacrifices in the Temple, and the permanent end of Temple-based Judaism. In other words, the end of the Old Covenant - the "old Heaven and old Earth" - to make way for the New Covenant - the "New Heaven and New Earth."
“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.” have any meaning for you?
Yes, but I think it had more meaning for those who were there to witness it.
These are my opinions; I respect those of others - I used to be a futurist myself. Hopefully I don't come across as disrespectful or mean; I think robust discussion is a healthy thing.
What in the whole wide, wide world of sports do you mean by "Biblically Optimistic"? As opposed to "Biblically Pessimistic"?
Postmillennialism also teaches that the forces of Satan will gradually be defeated by the expansion of the Kingdom of God throughout history up until the second coming of Christ. This belief that good will gradually triumph over evil has led proponents of postmillennialism to label themselves "optimillennialists" in contrast to "pessimillennial" premillennialists and amillennialists.
Yep.
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