And The House Came Tumbling Down

There are certain beliefs about end-times prophecy that are cornerstones supporting the greater edifice. If any one of those cornerstones were to be removed the whole house would come tumbling down. In the process of re-examining prophecy, unfortunately, it is the very cornerstones that must be discarded. And when they are removed the whole house will collapse. You cannot save the stain-glass windows, the gabled dormers, or the stone faced fireplace.

If you have ever played the game of Jenga you just know that there are certain blocks that cannot be pulled out or the whole tower will come crashing down. Whether it’s a Jenga tower, or a collapsed house, it is impossible to put Humpty-Dumpty back together again.

Allow me to describe my experience of re-examining prophecy. It was certainly not my intention to collapse the entire structure. But whenever one piece was removed then other pieces lost support, and then more and more pieces came tumbling down.

The first cornerstone belief that I examined and had to remove was the belief that Revelation 13 was a description of the Antichrist. I came to realize that the beast was a nation, the seventh head of the beast-motif that originated in Daniel 7. It became clear that the feet of clay mixed with iron (Daniel 2), and the little horn were describing America as well -- the world-ruling nation of the last days. Without Revelation 13 as a valid description of Antichrist, then, I realized that the caricature we cherish was bogus. No one-world government ruler, no miraculous healing or coming back from the dead, no covenant with Israel then destroy their temple, no larger than life madman. No more main character for the “Left Behind” series.

The second cornerstone to be removed was the seven-year Tribulation. I came to see and understand that the seven trumpet warnings were events that have been unfolding throughout the last 100 years. Clearly, these events are what was prophesied both in the trumpet warnings and bowl judgements. I determined that Daniel 9, the vision of the seventy weeks, gave absolutely no indication that the 70^th week was intended to be separated from the 69^th week by 2000 years. That, too, was bogus. And with the removal of the Great Tribulation cornerstone then the pre-tribulation rapture could no longer be supported either. That meant that the Church was going to be around for a lot of turmoil and destruction that Christians were taught they would escape.

Here's what I think. American theologians and scholars are afraid to re-examine the cornerstones of end-times prophecies. Because if they did they would have so much to lose – their credibility, their popularity, their rapture escape before the Tribulation, and their peace, safety and tranquility. And all they have to gain, in exchange, is telling Christians that they were wrong, that in fact we should plan on enduring the sword, plague and famine.

Prophecy must be re-examined. With new cornerstones in place the whole of Revelation takes on new meaning. If we are courageous enough to do so then we can prepare for what truly lies ahead.

 

Time, Times, and Half a Time

 

 

There is an enigmatic phrase in end times prophecy that is greatly misconstrued --“time, times and half a time”. It also appears in two other forms -- “1260 days”, and “42 months”. Altogether, the phrases appear some six times – twice in Daniel, and four times in Revelation¹. All three phrases are referring to the same concept. But what do they mean? What span of time do they represent? Furthermore, where did the phrase even originate?

Most people would agree that the phrase comes from Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks. The seventieth week, the last seven years, is divided in half by the statement “in the middle of the seven he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.” Most teaching in America would suggest that this statement refers to Antichrist reneging on a covenant with the Jews during a seven-year Tribulation. At the midpoint he will abominate and destroy the temple which he helped them to build, thereby bringing an end to sacrifices and offerings. The last three and a half years of the Great Tribulation, then, is what all the references of “times, time, and half a time” are referring to.

But the fact is that the “seventy weeks” prophecy is an incredible Messianic prophecy. Unfortunately, it has been audaciously changed into a prophecy about Antichrist and a Great Tribulation. In line with the Messianic interpretation, the end to sacrifice was accomplished by Jesus, when He was crucified “in the middle of the seven”. The last three and half years of the seventieth week are kind of left dangling, then. That time span took on a very important significance. In every use of the phrase, it represents an extended period of time, indefinite in its length. In fact, several of the occurrences refer to the Gentile age as a whole.

In Daniel 7, the holy people of God are oppressed for a time, times, and half a time. This is not referring to Antichrist, as the oppressor, but to America, the little horn. Hard to believe, if you are an American, but God said it, not me. Revelation 11 records the vision of the two witnesses. The Gentiles will trample on the holy city for 1260 days. Jerusalem has been the most war-torn city in all the world, in all of history. And for 1260 days God will empower two witnesses to prophesy. These two are not Elijah and Moses, but rather, Israel and the Church. And in Revelation 12, the woman flees into the desert for 1260 days (12:6, 14). This refers to Israel, the mother of Messiah, fleeing from the dragon, Satan, finding safety by being dispersed among the nations for 2000 years.

And there you have it. We must let go of the idea that “times, time and half a time” refers to the second half of the Great Tribulation. That would help, immensely, in letting go of the Tribulation hoax, entirely.

¹  Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2; 11:3; 12:6; 12:14.

 

Many Will Fall Away

 

Jesus spoke to his disciples about His second coming while sitting on the Mount of Olives. They had asked him, “What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Mt 24:3). Jesus mentioned several signs, but one in particular intrigues me. He said that many will turn away from their faith, and fall into disbelief and hatred.

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Mt 24:10-13)

Can you imagine such a thing, Christians falling away from the faith at the end of the age?  What in the whole wide world could cause such a thing? What kind of delusion could be so deceptive and so powerful?

Jesus described the falling away using the Greek word, “skandalizo”, meaning that believers will be tripped up by a snare, causing them to stumble and fall away. Can you imagine a snare, or a scandal, so great that they will begin to distrust and desert the One whom they previously trusted and obeyed. Furthermore, they will betray and hate each other. Christians turning on one another – it boggles my mind.

Jesus seems to mention two causes for such a scandal. First, many false prophets will arise and deceive the faithful. This is talking about preachers and teachers in the church who lead the faithful into error on such a magnitude that it causes despair and giving up on God. The second cause is the unbridled increase in wickedness, perhaps referring to the lawless buildup to Armageddon (II Thes 2), or to a massive societal breakdown (2 Tim 3:1-3). This unbridled wickedness will cause the love of believers to grow cold. They will reason, “God has lost control of this world, why should I trust Him anymore?” They will lose hope and faith. I am not making that up. Jesus predicted it.

Consider a similar occurrence at the first advent of Jesus, when the disciples fell away the day Messiah was crucified (Mt 26:31). The Jews were scandalized and deceived for centuries, believing that Messiah would establish a sovereign and everlasting kingdom when He came. Jesus, though, told His disciples repeatedly that He must be betrayed and killed, and then rise again. But they never heard Him -- in one ear and out the other. They had trusted Jesus to be Messiah. But that hope was for naught, they thought, when Jesus was arrested and crucified. They deserted Jesus and fled (Mt 26:56). Their impenetrable bias was not displaced until Jesus appeared to them.

Just what is the false teaching that will scandalize the faith of Christians at the end of the age, causing them to fall away. Fact is, the false teaching is already in place. For nearly two hundred years now, Christians have been indoctrinated that they will be raptured before a seven-year Great Tribulation. They have been taught that all the evil of Antichrist and the judgments of God will then unfold during that period, while they are long gone. How confusing it will be for Christians when America is “consumed by fire” (Rev 17:16), and we are faced with “death, mourning, and famine” (Rev 18:8) -- while we are still here on earth, futilely hoping for an early rapture. Christians will be desperately confused when world events don’t happen the way they were led to believe. Confusion will lead to dismay, despair, then disbelief, and they will hate those who still trust God.

Many people say to me, “God is going to do what He is going to do anyways. So why argue over prophecy?” There is one compelling answer. Because many will fall away, deceived and scandalized by false teaching about the end times. God revealed His plan in great detail so that those who believe may stand firm to the end. When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?