All Theology Has A Bias

“All science has a bias.” My interest was aroused when I read that statement, recently, in a forestry publication. The author was trying to accentuate the differences in viewpoints held by foresters, loggers, environmentalists, and politicians. All profess to be scientific, but all come to differing conclusions due to variations in their starting bias. The writer was trying to urge tree farmers not to back off from the debate and formulation of policies and laws in the forestry industry. But I quickly switched tracks. I applied it to theology. The same is true, “All theology has a bias.”

We all inherit beliefs -- from parents, church, denomination, school, theologians and commentators. And with those beliefs comes an underlying bias, whether we know it or not. Every new truth or opinion then must fit the mold which that bias creates. You cannot think differently, cannot consider otherwise. You cannot even hear statements that do not support your bias. They go sailing right on by.

Jesus told his disciples over and over that he would die and that he would rise again. Over 20 times he told them. But it never ever registered with them They did not expect him to rise from the dead. Jesus’ enemies heard him, but not his disciples. How is that possible? Probably due to a great big huge bias that they held, derived from Daniel’s great prophecies. They believed that the Son of God would rule an eternal kingdom, that “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed” (Dan 7:14). They did not believe he would die, so they never even heard Jesus say that he would rise again. You see, a bias can be pretty powerful when it’s deeply entrenched.

I want to illustrate further by saying that in my lifetime of study, teaching, ministering and writing, I have changed my beliefs in three significant areas of theology. And I mean change, not just tinker with them.  Those three areas of theology are demons, the Holy Spirit, and end times prophecy. I won’t elaborate my starting point and ending point in these three theologies, because what I want to emphasize is this. If you are willing to scrutinize your beliefs at the very foundational level, you must look at the underlying bias that supports them. When I saw the errors in the underpinnings of some of the doctrines I was taught, then the whole superstructure was suspect. It had to be reconsidered, realigned, completely redefined. In some cases that redefining task took on urgency and moved quickly. Other times it was a slow train moving. But that was fine with me. I would rather arrive at the truth than stay stuck in a bias that I inherited.

To be honest, I may not have moved in the direction of scrutinizing my beliefs if it had not been for events and teaching that God providentially put in front of my face at various times. At those points I was left with a decision – dismiss the providence of God, or dismantle the bias I had inherited. I think that changing our bias in theology requires great sensitivity to the Spirit of God and letting go of the pride and self-assured cockiness that accompanies our bias. A wise mentor said to me when I was much younger, “Know what you believe, but hold it loosely.” I have never forgotten that statement. It may sound like heresy to some, but for me it was wisdom from the mind of God. What do you see in the picture? A rabbit? Don’t be so sure. Maybe it’s a duck.

                                                   

Don’t get me wrong. There is the case for heresy. (Just ask the apostle Paul.) There is a case for pastors and elders protecting the flock from following after false doctrine and false teaching. But when a good portion of the church believes differently than you do, it might be wise to hold back on the attack. They are your brother in the Lord. Love is more powerful even than truth – engage the person, not the debate.

“Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."  --  William Symington

Seven Trumpet Warnings (part 2 of 2)

They Are Happening Now

Trumpet Warning #4

The fourth trumpet (Rev 8:12-13) describes a third of the sun, moon, and stars being struck, resulting in the length of both days and nights becoming shortened. This is not describing a physical event, such as the axis of the earth shifting and days becoming 16 hours long instead of 24 hours. Apocalyptic visions are very symbolic. Time will be shortened and the world as we had always known it will be experienced differently. This trumpet warning may be referring to the same prophetic events recorded by Daniel (Dan7:25), “He will… try to change the set times and the laws.” The world began to change with the industrial revolution, like nothing ever before. Then came electronic and atomic development, which began to change our world exponentially. After WWII the United States rose up to become the dominant world power, unique since the fall of the Roman empire. The computer and internet age once again changed the world, almost faster than mankind could keep up. Communication and commerce could be transacted almost instantaneously, rather than taking weeks or months. Time became truncated. After the fall of the Berlin wall a new age of globalization began to develop and it has only grown and expanded through the years leading up to the end of the age. This world is nothing like your great-grandpa’s world.

Trumpet Warning #5

The fifth trumpet (Rev 9:1-11) describes a bottomless pit of fire causing a massive amount of smoke, like a gigantic furnace, blocking the light of the sun. During the Gulf War, as Iraqi soldiers were exiting Kuwait, they wreaked destruction with a “scorched earth” strategy, igniting over 600 oil wells around the deserts of Kuwait. These were some of the largest underground wells of oil on the planet. From the seemingly bottomless holes in the ground, smoke entered the atmosphere and blocked sunlight for three months. With Sadam Hussein as their president, whose name means “Destroyer” or “Abaddon” (see Rev 9:11), Iraqi soldiers invaded and occupied Kuwait in August, 1990. Five months later (see Rev 9:5), in January of 1991, the ultimatum was given by the United States and the UN for Hussein to exit Kuwait. After weeks of ground battles, the Iraqi rebels retreated from Kuwait, but were slaughtered on the “highway of death”, on Feb 26, 1991 (see Rev 9:6). Tension and turmoil, war and death, have continued in the Middle East ever since.

Trumpet Warning # 6

The sixth trumpet is yet to sound (Rev 9:13-19). When it does it will unleash yet another great war which will occur near the Euphrates River, the historic boundary between Israel and her enemies to the East. Four angels will be released and command an army of 200 million soldiers. A third of mankind will be killed by fire, smoke, and sulfur. With a population of more than 1 billion people, China can field an army of 200 million soldiers. Perhaps. More likely, Arab countries united under the Islamic faith could create an army of that size.
We might be tempted to call this cataclysmic confrontation World War 3, but in Revelation it is called Armageddon (16:16). The many visions of John’s Revelation overlap each other and dovetail with each other. They are not strictly successive. This sixth trumpet war is probably the same war as detailed in the sixth and seventh bowl judgments (16:12-16), and also the war described at the return of Jesus, when the Lamb defeats an alliance of ten “kings” (17:11-14).
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree…. When you see all these things, you know it is near, right at the door” (Mt 24:32-33). Trumpet warning #6 is the only one yet to happen before Jesus returns.

Trumpet #7, the Last Trumpet

The last trumpet is not a warning to mankind, as the previous six. It is the trumpet call to harvest. This last trumpet is lengthy in description (Rev 10-14) with several interconnected apocalyptic mini-visions interspersed. The description begins with the pronouncement, “There will be no more delay!” (Rev 10:6), and it ends with the announcement, “the time to harvest has come” – two harvests to be exact (Rev 14:14-20.).

The first harvest is that of the saints, those who have chosen to trust in Jesus. This great harvest is the resurrection of the dead in Christ and the rapture of the living saints. From heaven’s perspective it is an ingathering of the harvest that has been ripening since the creation of mankind. The imagery of this harvest (Rev 14:15-16) is similar to that of Matthew 24:30-31. “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” The great apostle Paul describes this incredible event this way: “At the last trumpet… the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (I Cor 15:52; I Thes 5:16-17).

The second harvest is far different. It is the harvest of grapes for the winepress of God’s wrath. This harvest is the outpouring of judgment upon all the unbelieving people and nations of the earth, and all evildoers. This judgment is delineated and augmented in the following seven bowl judgments (Rev 16). Go ahead, take a peek. See what it will be like.  

This last trumpet marks the end of human government and the establishment of the Kingdom of God, on earth. Jesus will come again, this time as Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Don’t say you weren’t warned.

How do you stand with your relationship with Jesus? Are you ready for His return? Will you live forever in His love, or forever suffer God’s wrath and judgment? The decision is yours, and you better decide soon. Maybe even today, because Today will not last much longer. Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus. His second coming is our blessed hope (I Jn 3:2-3).

Dave Eymann, author of Apocalypse Puzzle, available on Amazon.com

Seven Trumpet Warnings (part 1 of 2)

They Are Happening Now!

Don’t say you weren’t warned. When the seventh trumpet sounds it will be too late to give heed to the preceding six. Unfortunately, very few people have heard the trumpets. They give no credence to their warning. The only way to be prepared for the seventh trumpet is to acknowledge God’s eternal plan and trust Jesus as Savior, Lord, and coming King. When the last trumpet sounds the saints will be gathered up to be with the Lord and the nations will be judged. God will begin to set up his eternal, perfect kingdom. And that kingdom will not include any who refuse to believe His truth and trust His love. Surrender to the God of the universe. That is your ticket to enjoy His love and presence forever.

The seven trumpet warnings are found in Revelation, chapters 8 to 14. Some interpreters think that they are trumpet judgments, apocalyptic foretelling of God’s coming wrath. Not so. His wrath and judgment are revealed in the seven bowl judgments (Rev. 15-16) that follow the seventh trumpet. The seven successive trumpet warnings are catastrophic events that man himself initiates, not God, events that should sound a desperate warning that we are bringing upon ourselves the end of the world, the coming judgment of God. But once again, no one is paying attention. Even in the description of the seven trumpets it says that no one pays attention (Rev 9:20-21). No one turns from their evil ways to trust God – not in mass, that is.  

Trumpets have long been the means by which warnings were sounded. In ancient days a walled city was built on a hill. A watchman could survey the surrounding landscape and watch for approaching danger. If needed he would sound the trumpet to gather all the city’s dwellers to come in from the surrounding fields to be safe inside the walls. During wars such as the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, the bugle would sound to give orders and warnings.

Trumpets have not always been the brass instrument that we are familiar with. But in whatever shape and form was common to a people and an era, the trumpet has been the means by which to send out a signal, far and wide. And the most crucial signal to send and to heed is that of a warning of impending danger. That is why the imagery of seven trumpets is used in Revelation. They are warnings to mankind.

Trumpet Warning #1

The first trumpet in John’s apocalyptic vision (Rev 8:7) describes hail and fire mixed with blood falling to the ground, and approximately 33% of all of the grass and trees in the known world destroyed. During World War I, large amounts of artillery shells and chemical agents were released on troops for the first time in history through modern warfare, killing as many as 18 million people. Soldiers on both sides burned vast tracts of land in order to eliminate any natural or man-made items that their enemies could use.

Trumpet Warning #2

The second trumpet foretold another great war, World War II (Rev 8:8-9). The Bible explains that a third of the ships involved in the conflict would be destroyed. During World War II, that is what occurred -- approximately one third of the ships that participated in the conflict were sunk. Additionally, the nuclear bombs deployed upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki resembled “something like a great mountain burning with fire” (Rev 8:8), a sight that was phenomenally new on the world stage. Death toll estimates range as high as 70 million, the deadliest in world history.

Trumpet Warning #3

The third trumpet (Rev 8:10-11) prophetically describes the nuclear age which we live in, with the 1986 nuclear disaster at Chernobyl being the flagship. Apocalyptically, this disaster is described as a star, called Wormwood, falling and affecting a third of the waters. Take note that “chernobyl” is the Ukrainian translation for the word “wormwood”. Furthermore, the nuclear radiation that emanated from the Chernobyl meltdown contaminated more than 33 percent of the water supply in Europe and Western Asia, killing thousands and affecting hundreds of thousands of other citizens with diseases caused by the radiation.

Since the beginning of the nuclear age at the beginning of the 20^th century, mankind has lived with the fear of nuclear contamination, nuclear meltdowns, and nuclear warfare. While recently touring the Reactor B plutonium site at Hanford, I noticed a quote made by J. Robert Oppenheimer, the leading scientist on the Manhattan project.  When the first atom bomb was detonated on July 16, 1945, in the Trinity test in New Mexico, he remarked that it brought to mind words from a Hindu writing: "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds."

Fearful that the Germans would beat the allies in developing a nuclear weapon, physicist Albert Einstein wrote to FDR, urgently pushing America's atomic bomb development. But after the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, he and many scientists on the project publicly expressed deep regret. “I made one great mistake in my life”, he wrote in 1954, “when I signed a letter to FDR recommending that atom bombs be made.”

The atomic bomb is such a significant warning to mankind of the impending end of the age that it is actually mentioned at least three times in the prophecies of Revelation – 8:8; 8:10; 13:13; and possibly 9:18 (although that war seems to be conventional -- tanks, artillery and aircraft).