PRETRIB RAPTURE SECRECY

by Dave MacPherson

The word “secrecy” when applied to Christ’s return can refer to two different things: time and visibility. Before 1830 the only coming Christians looked for was the “every eye shall see him” second advent to earth – secret only in point of time.
Enter Margaret Macdonald in 1830. She saw “the one taken and the other left” before “THE WICKED” [Antichrist] will “be revealed” – and added that her pretrib rapture would not be “seen by the natural eye” but only by “those who have the light of God within.” Her rapture was doubly secret: at an unknown day and hour and also invisible to “outsiders.”
Desperate to eliminate Margaret as the pretrib originator and the Irvingites as the first public teachers of pretrib, Darby defender Thomas Ice foolishly claims that they taught a secret POSTTRIB coming even though he knows that when Hal Lindsey teaches “one taken” etc. before the Antichrist “is revealed” Lindsey is expressing the kernel of the pretrib view – what MM and the Irvingites clearly taught before Darby did! Google “X-Raying Margaret” and “Edward Irving is Unnerving” to see why they are properly labeled “pretrib.”)
As early as June 1832, Irving’s journal taught that only “to those who are watching and praying…will Christ be manifested…as the morning star. To the rest of the church, and to the world, this first appearance will be…unintelligible.” (“Present State of Prophetic Knowledge” etc., p. 374)
Always trailing and “borrowing” quietly from the Irvingites who in turn had “borrowed” from Margaret, Darby in 1845 finally sounded like them when he wrote that “the bright and morning Star…is the sweet and blessed sign to them that watch…And such is Christ before He appears [at the final advent to earth]. The Sun will arise on the world….The star is before the [Sun], the joy of those who watch. The unwakeful world, who sleep in the night, see it not.” (“Thoughts on the Apocalypse,” p. 167)
And Lindsey’s “Late Great Planet Earth,” p. 143, says that “the second coming is said to be visible to the whole earth (Revelation 1:7). However, in the Rapture. only the Christians see Him – it’s a mystery, a secret.”
My bestselling book “The Rapture Plot” (available at online stores including Armageddon Books) has 300 pages of such documentation and proves that Margaret was the first to “see” a secret, pretrib rapture, that the Irvingites soon echoed her in their journal (which Darby admitted he avidly read), and that Darby was last on all of the crucial aspects of dispensationalism.
Shockingly, all of the earliest pretrib development rested solely on unclear OT and NT types and symbols and NOT on clear Biblical statements. Margaret’s rapture was inspired by Rev. 11’s “two witnesses.” And her “secret visibility” rested on the “types” of Stephen, Paul, and John – all of whom saw or heard what others couldn’t see or hear.
For 30 years Darby’s pretrib basis was the rapture of Rev. 12’s “man child” – actually his plagiarism of Irving’s usage of this “pretrib” symbol eight years earlier!
As I said at the start, the “second advent to earth” is secret in point of time with its unknown “day and hour,” as Christ stated. Pretribs assert that if Christ returns for the church after the tribulation, we could count down the days and figure out the actual date of His return – which would contradict Christ’s words.
But pretribs deliberately ignore the fact that Christ said that the tribulation days will be shortened – and He didn’t reveal the length of the shortening!
Our opponents also assume that the “watch” verses prove the “any-moment imminence” of Christ’s return. But do they? II Peter 3:12 says we are to be “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God” which all premills claim is at least 1000 years ahead of us and therefore hardly “imminent”! What’s the difference between “watching for” and “looking for”?
Another gimmick has pretribs saying “Would you want Jesus to return at any moment and find out you’re sinning?” But Jesus ALREADY knows all about us! And the Holy Spirit, who’s also God, is ALREADY here (Rom. 8:27)!
You have just learned a few of the many secrets that the Secret Rapture Gang has hidden for a long time. Evidently they have forgotten Luke 12:2’s warning that “there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed”!
PS – For the ultimate in uncovered secrets, see engines like Google and type in “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty.”
PPS – While evangelicals stay largely asleep while waiting for their 180-year-old rapture, the shmutzy-tongued subversives of the world (e.g., movie moguls at awards ceremonies) invent new ways to create and unite even more members of the FFA (Future Followers of the Antichrist). For insights Yahoo “backstabbing tirades by David Letterman (and Sandra Bernhard and Kathy Griffin)” in a short Letterman bit.

“Here, at the Cross, is the answers to the questions of the world, and here lays the answers to your questions. Strive to enter in at the narrow gate, always. We mustn’t buy into the modern gospel, or the dictates of the flesh, they are lies.” …

Amen!

I do not struggle with this modern gospel that is presented; it is ‘snake oil’ – I am still amazed however, though I know why, that it is so accepted – and I have to be honest, it makes me both angry and sad…and it is only going to get worse.

As I personally struggle in this flesh of mine, as you said, “Strive to enter in at the narrow gate, always.” – Is my desire. I have hope, through Christ, that each ‘struggle’ will produce in me more of Him and less of me – as I strive to enter. And no, I must not buy into the dictates of the flesh to accomplish what is necessary.

I am so encouraged by you – thanks!

What Brian McLaren is saying and doing is not new. God has seen fit to warn us of those who would pervert His truth. We see their work in the early Church, and we also see how they became more and more acceptable, and then made their way into the pulpit, and eventually engulf the whole organization.

If you would study the early Church history you could/would come away thinking that the early church fathers were pure as the driven snow. The Protestant Church embraces nearly all that came out of the seven ecumenical councils, especially the first four, as the acceptable “form” of Christianity sanctioned by God Himself. But, there is another side to those councils, the side of apostasy. After Constantine formed the bond of church and state brotherhood and the outward persecution stopped, the inward persecution began. We will look in vain for the true Church within the walls and boundaries of the “now” formal hierarchical church organization, that is the child of these councils. But, if we look closely we will find something still alive. The councils condemned the Donatist as heretics because they wanted a pure undefiled worship. They banished the leaders to exile, imposed penalties on the laity, confiscated their property, and killed many of them to secure for themselves a mechanical manmade system undeterred by God. The condemnation was orchestrated by none other than that highly venerated saint, Augustine. I’m not saying that all that Augustine wrote or did was bad, but he did always lead his readers and followers into the obviously apostate Catholic church organization where they would become slaves to apostate masters.

The true Church has always been small and hidden and persecuted, and that is still true today. Stand in the way with righteousness and you will be knocked down; that is the way of the Cross. That is not to say that we are always correct in our efforts to serve God, and neither were the Donatist, but they recognized that their pursuit was in going back, and not forward. They, and we, will get it wrong, and we will feel unworthy and traitorous in much of what we do, but we must look for the boundary markers and strive to stay within the marked path. And, when we venture astray, either voluntarily or involuntarily, we must apply the Blood of His suffering, and find our forgiveness in His mercy, and repent. He is always telling us to “return and do your first works over again.” This is not a return to some creed or precious memory, and not to the writings of men, but all the way back to the beginning, to the Cross, where we found forgiveness, faith, and repentance.

Here, at the Cross, is the answers to the questions of the world, and here lays the answers to your questions. Strive to enter in at the narrow gate, always. We mustn’t buy into the modern gospel, or the dictates of the flesh, they are lies.

Steve

Yes, the book of Judges is quite a sad book…and I cannot help but apply it to this individual heart of mine – I weep at the thought of, “everyone doing what is right in his own eyes,” …and as I face the trials that I am in (which by far are nothing in comparison to what some find themselves in, but nonetheless where I am) – I cannot help but wonder, and fear, that I am deceived by my own flesh. The power of the flesh… being deceived, not pleasing the LORD in all I do, and worse yet, claiming something of Him that is of me, is such a concern of mine that at times I find that I am paralyzed. I know that this does not please Him, for it demonstrates a lack of faith – a lack in believing that He will guide me – a belief that somehow my ‘works’ saves me – LORD have mercy on my soul.

As I read the review of Brian’s new book, along with the analogy at the beginning, I feel such shame and brokenness – such an ache in the heart, though nothing is new under the sun, so to speak, but I cannot help but think that our Father is broken to see such distortion of His word – His character; and again cannot help but apply it to my own heart – my life. Am I distorting God’s character?

Thanks for writing.

Your rather long refutation refutes nothing, and proves nothing, except that you are a follower of Harold Camping, and like so many others, come to the defense of a man, rather than the defense of the truth.

Do you know what the word chaff means? It is foil in thin strips; ejected into the air as a radar countermeasure. When radar locks onto a target “chaff” is released into the air, by the enemy, to confuse the radar and the forthcoming missile, and cause the missile to go off target; chaff is a form of fraud or trickery to lead a person away from truth. In debate it is called a “red herring.” In written matter, such as this refutation of yours, a lot of extra words can be added to make a person sound more intelligent or knowledgeable than they really are, to the average reader, and deflect or misguide a conversation into areas that would appear to add credibility to an argument, when it doesn’t. Most of what you have written is chaff, it has nothing to do with the argument except to make you appear informed.

You have not addressed the major problem you face by doing some mathematical gymnastics, and quoting a bunch of unrelated Bible verses. My contention is that Harold Camping is a false prophet based on three things:
1. He has prophesied the Lord’s return in the past (1994), and was found to be a liar. Deuteronomy 18:20-22. And you do believe Mr. Camping to be a Prophet because you quote Amos 3:7 to prove it.
2. He presumes to know something that the Bible says he can not know. Matthew 24:36
3. He presumes to know information that Jesus, Himself, says He doesn’t even know. Matthew 24:36

Beside these questions, which you avoid in your comment, you think you have discovered, by quoting a single verse, 2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” With this supposed proof you completely confuse and distort God’s word. I see at least three errors in your interpretation.
1. You say “God told Noah there were seven days to escape worldwide destruction, He was also telling the world there would be exactly 7,000 years (one day is as 1,000 years) to escape the wrath of God that would come when He destroys the world on Judgment Day.”

This is absolutely astonishing that you and Harold, and let’s include Peter, were able to figure this riddle out, but Jesus, who is wiser than Solomon, couldn’t connect the dots?

2. You say, “Thus Holy God is showing us by the words of 2 Peter 3:8 that He wants us to know that exactly 7,000 years after He destroyed the world with water in Noah’s day, He plans to destroy the entire world forever. Because the year 2011 A.D. is exactly 7,000 years after 4990 B.C.”

By using the word “thus” you are betting the ranch that Mr. Camping is correct in his exegesis, and apply it to these words in Genesis, even though Jesus tells us that we can not know the time. Who are we to believe here, Harold Camping, who has shown himself to be false, or Jesus? This is too easy.

Are you sure that that is what God wants us to know in the this verse, that Judgment day is May 21, 2011? These verses of Chapter 3 of 2Peter tell me something different. They tell me to beware of scoffers who mock God because He hasn’t come back like they predicted He would, and they have caused others to question whether or not the Lord would return for them. Peter is telling them that God is faithful and that He is not slow in His return, and that He doesn’t measure time as men do, but rather He is patient, and waits for all who will be saved to be saved. Then Peter says something crucial, and don’t miss this, he says verse 10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.” Does a thief announce when he will break into your house?

3. You say, “Amazingly, May 21, 2011 is the 17th day of the 2nd month of the Biblical calendar of our day. Remember, the flood waters also began on the 17th day of the 2nd month, in the year 4990 B.C.”

What is so amazing about this? If I take 4990 and add 10 to it I will get 5000. If I take 4990 and add 2011 then subtract 1 I get 7000. This is not amazing this is simple math. Because you put a date with this is not amazing at all, it is just more chaff.

Harold Camping, like so many others make a mockery of God’s word, and clever people, who refuse to honor God’s word, by believing what He has written, are not Prophets, they are robbers and thieves trying to enter in by another way. You have decided to believe Harold Camping rather than believe God, so what argument do you have with me if I decide to believe God only?

Steve Balckwell

Amos 3:7:

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth his secret unto His servants the prophets.”
By careful study of the Bible we learn that in the year 4990 B.C. (Before Christ) God brought a flood of water and destroyed the entire earth except for eight people and the animals that were with them. They were not destroyed because God brought them into the safety of the ark. Their leader, Noah, had obeyed God’s command to build a huge boat, called an ark, about 450 feet (137 meters) long.

The Holy Bible tells us in Hebrews 11:7:

By faith Noah, being warned of God 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.

Seven days before the beginning of the Flood that completely covered the entire earth, God commanded Noah to warn the peoples of the world that they had seven days to get into the safety of the ark. The Holy Bible tells us that on the 17th day of the 2nd month of that year God shut the door of the ark. Then, the Flood began to completely cover the entire earth.

About 5,000 years later God wrote in His Holy Bible in 2 Peter Chapter 3 about this worldwide destruction by water in the days of Noah. In the same chapter He also warned that the time would come when Holy God would destroy the whole world by fire. Our entire universe would be forever destroyed. In between these two declarations of worldwide destruction that would come because of sin God made a very important statement. God declared in 2 Peter 3:8:

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

God had written in the Holy Bible in Genesis 7:4:

For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

God added in Genesis 7:10-11:

And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the Flood were upon the earth. In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

The ark that Noah had built was the only place of safety from the destruction of the Flood. Likewise, God’s gracious mercy is the only place of safety from the destruction that is coming on the Day of Judgment.

In 2 Peter 3:8, which is quoted above, Holy God reminds us that one day is as 1,000 years. Therefore, with the correct understanding that the seven days referred to in Genesis 7:4 can be understood as 7,000 years, we learn that when God told Noah there were seven days to escape worldwide destruction, He was also telling the world there would be exactly 7,000 years (one day is as 1,000 years) to escape the wrath of God that would come when He destroys the world on Judgment Day. Because Holy Infinite God is all-knowing, He knows the end from the beginning. He knew how sinful the world would become.

Seven thousand years after 4990 B.C. (the year of the Flood) is the year 2011 A.D. (our calendar).

4990 + 2011 – 1 = 7,000
[One year must be subtracted in going from an Old Testament B.C. calendar date to a New Testament A.D. calendar date because the calendar does not have a year zero.]

Thus Holy God is showing us by the words of 2 Peter 3:8 that He wants us to know that exactly 7,000 years after He destroyed the world with water in Noah’s day, He plans to destroy the entire world forever. Because the year 2011 A.D. is exactly 7,000 years after 4990 B.C. when the flood began, the Bible has given us absolute proof that the year 2011 is the end of the world during the Day of Judgment, which will come on the last day of the Day of Judgment.

Amazingly, May 21, 2011 is the 17th day of the 2nd month of the Biblical calendar of our day. Remember, the flood waters also began on the 17th day of the 2nd month, in the year 4990 B.C.

The Holy Bible gives several additional astounding proofs that May 21, 2011 is very accurate as the time for the Day of Judgment. For more information on this subject, you may request a copy of We Are Almost There, available free of charge from Family Radio.

God is proving to us that we have very accurately learned from the Holy Bible God’s time-plan for the end of the world.

GOD’S SUBLIME MERCY AND COMPASSION
God in His Holy Bible has given us a beautiful example of His compassionate mercy. Included in the Holy Bible is the book called Jonah. In it God tells of a very wicked city with a population of more than 120,000 people that existed about 2,800 years ago. It was called Nineveh, which was a capital city of the nation of Assyria that knew nothing of the Bible. But because of its wickedness and because Holy God is merciful, He sent a prophet named Jonah to that city. Jonah’s message from God to them was that in 40 days the whole city was to be destroyed.

The whole city correctly believed with all their hearts that this warning was from Holy God. Thus from the king on down to the lowest servant they repented, which means they turned away from their sins and their pride. The Holy Bible tells us that they sat in sackcloth and ashes. This meant that they fully realized that because of their sins they had dreadfully shamed God. To put on sackcloth and ashes was an act of supreme humility to show in the clearest way to God and to all of the people how greatly they were humbled by their sins against Holy God. It showed that they knew that they fully deserved that God should destroy them because of their sin.

But maybe, there was hope that Holy God might change His mind and instead have mercy on them. The Bible tells us in Jonah 3:6-9:

For the word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?

In answer to their complete humility we read of God’s fabulous, incomprehensible mercy toward these extremely wicked people. God tells us in Jonah 3:10:

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that He had said that He would do unto them; and He did it not.

Because this entire wicked city of Nineveh turned from their evil ways and with great humility cried to God for mercy, Holy God did change His mind and did not destroy them.

Sadly, the Holy Bible tells us that only a small percentage of today’s world will turn from their evil ways, and with great humility and fear will cry to God for mercy. Nevertheless, the Bible assures us that many of the people who do beg God for His mercy will not be destroyed. We learn from the Bible that Holy God plans to rescue about 200 million people (that is about 3% of today’s population). On the first day of the Day of Judgment (May 21, 2011) they will be caught up (raptured) into Heaven because God had great mercy for them. This is why we can be so thankful that God has given us advance notice of Judgment Day. Because God is so merciful, maybe He will have mercy on you. The Holy Bible says in Psalm 51:17:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

And in Psalm 51:1-3 Holy God shows us the attitude we ought to have as we pray for His mercy:

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Sadly, you can’t turn to your religion or go to your priest or pastor or spiritual leader for help. They, too, should be begging God for mercy for themselves. This is a matter only between you and Holy God. God knows every one of your thoughts, words, and actions. Turn away from your sins and humbly beg, beseech, and implore God for forgiveness.

And, thank God that in His great mercy He has given you this warning of the destruction that is almost here, and the great hope that you, too, might be one whom God will bring to Heaven to be with God forevermore in the highest happiness and joy and glory. Holy God in the Holy Bible teaches us in Luke 18:10-14:

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

May God have mercy on you as He did on this publican.

——————————————————————————–

To learn much more about the details of the end of the world you are invited to write Family Radio, Oakland, California 94621, USA to request these free books, or to view them on our website, http://www.familyradio.com:

I Hope God Will Save Me
We Are Almost There!
To God be the Glory!

——————————————————————————–

It doesn’t surprise me that this article is taken to be “over the top,” I suspected that it would be when I wrote it, but is that really the case? With Brian McLaren, the lines are so distorted and the meanings so confused, that if you are not able to “read between the lines” i.e., to discern his intent and purpose, you could easily find yourself tasting the apple of his heresy, and denying Christ without realizing that you have become anathema to everything you once believed. If an error is to be made let it be made on the side of being a little “over the top” and “. . .hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Jude 1:23.

Brian intentionally left the last part of the verse he quoted off, because it would have ruined and exposed his deception. He not only does his dirty work here, in this fantasy, he does it with everything he touches.

The criticism I have with Brian’s piece has nothing to do with a particular stand for or against homosexuals, it is against his misuse of God’s Word. My stand is against his falsifying the “Truth” to accomplish his own agenda of political tolerance. I could care less what the world does, it is not my job to march on Washington, or to vote for the lesser of two evils, or to campaign for some politician. We see the things happening to the Church and the Country because of the wretched state of affairs inside the Body of Christ. God has stated in His Word that when our “ways please the Lord, that He causes even our enemies to live at peace with us.” Brian thinks it is his job to distort God’s word to promote political action, to accomplish what he “imagines” is God’s will. Brian is a liar, just like his father, the Devil.

I do appreciate your comments, but remember we are not a political action blog promoting a false sense of godliness through a liberal dominionist philosophy. When we get our lives right with God, then God Himself, will heal this land.

Thanks,

Steve Blackwell

though i am not a fan of anything that McLaren writes or believes, I think that you might have gone a little over the top with reading between the lines on this one…. he simply stopped short of recreating what Jesus said at the end of that story because it was not really the point of the story.

this may come out kind of weird, but even though i believe homosexuality to be a sin, i am not really against legalizing gay ‘marriage’… to me, the point is that marriage in God’s eyes is between a man and a woman no matter what the government says about it.

I feel that the Christians who protest and put all their effort into stopping gay ‘marriage’ are saying by their actions “if gay marriage is legalized than the definition of marriage will have changed!”

i mean, i really don’t care if the government calls two men “married.” In God’s eyes they are not……..

I wholeheartedly agree. Seeking truth answers every question a believer has, but faith makes the effort to ask them, then rely on what the Spirit makes known. This is how obedience becomes righteousness, for everyone who (actually) has believed in Him will agree with Him in every way, causing these people to be made into just judges, who will “rule the nations with a rod of iron.” “The just man, because of his faith, shall live.” Christianity, therefore, is the mask cowards bring to the party of disobedience, since by distorting truth they have been able to justify everything they do, under a guise of humility. The church we speak of knows nothing of this type of faith, therefore I commend you for knowing the truth. Amen, and you be blessed also.

It is a wonderful thing to dream, but we must wake up some day to the facts of Scripture. The Bible paints a different picture from the ones presented to us from most pulpits. But, for the sake of argument let’s say that a few of the thousands you mention were saved, is God limited in the methods He uses to save one of His children? God uses hirelings to shepherd His flock. Pharaoh was used by God to teach a whole nation. Cyrus and Nebuchadnezzar were called God’s servants; God spoke through the mouth of a donkey; or God can use John 3:16 printed on a baseball cap to deliver His message.

It is nearly impossible to argue against a changed life, especially if the change was for good, but change alone is deceptive. What about the millions of changed lives in the Mormon Church, or the Jehovah Witnesses, or the Christian Scientist, or the Muslims, or even the followers of Adolph Hitler, or for that matter, Mickey Mouse? These would argue for a changed life, so, is it a changed life we are looking for, or is it Truth?

If there is one thing that is perfectly clear from the beginning of the Bible to the very end, it is that the human race is a deceived race of people and that we look for God where He does not exist. The Bible is clear that very few will be saved: He takes one from a city and two from a family; it is like a shepherd that takes from the mouth of a lion a leg bone, or an ear, or a rib, so shall Israel be saved; the way is narrow and gate strait (as in difficult) and very few will enter in; or, on that day many will say Lord, Lord, but He says He never knew them.

But, let’s not forget what the bible say about the end day Church, He says there will be a great falling away, an apostasy from the truth. The Church over the couple of thousand years it has been around has morphed into various shapes of which the Bible calls prostitution. The Prostitute has changed her wardrobe many time in two thousand years, and her followers love it. The crowds love a good show.

You say my post is ridiculous, and it may be so, but it is much closer to the truth than your comment.

Remember that the truth that Jesus spoke appeared ridiculous to the organized church of His day, and they murdered Him for His seemingly ridiculous statements. What He said just could not be true to the status quo. The truth did not fit in then, and it does not fit in today. The truth will always offend.

Steve Blackwell