Trusting The Lone Voice

 

“When the whole world is running over a cliff,

 he who is running in the opposite direction 

appears to have lost his mind.” – C. S. Lewis

  

Throughout the Biblical story there have been men and women that stood out as a lone voice. Their message, or mission, was so contrary that everyone took them to be fanatic, or lunatic. Noah must have endured incredible mockery and rejection because he warned of judgment while building a monstrosity of a boat – for 120 years, no less. Jeremiah lamented, in anguish, over being a messenger of doom and destruction. Jesus, too, was a lone voice – the vast majority of the Jews wanted nothing to do with his kingdom message.

I recently had a lengthy discussion with a church elder about prophecy, explaining my contrary interpretation of the tribulation, the false hope of a pre-trib rapture, and the seven trumpets that are already being fulfilled. Eventually, he stated his biggest concern. How could all the great prophecy teachers of our day all be wrong? He listed a few – David Jeremiah, John McArthur, David Reagen, and his favorite, JD Farag. Actually, the list is quite extensive. But the truth is, they all parrot one another. Like lemmings running over a cliff, they all follow the leader. Their teachings may have slight variations, but they could all be condensed into one uniform theme, or encapsulated onto one Revelation Timeline chart.

The overwhelming majority of American Christians and their prophecy preachers have bought in to a false teaching -- hook, line, and sinker. It started with John Darby in the !840’s, then came down through Scofield, Pentecost, Chafer, and Walvoord. Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins rode the wave, a tidal wave by that point, casting in stone the false teachings about a seven-year tribulation, a pre-trib rapture, and false notions about the Antichrist.

I am sure they all mean well. I am sure they have all studied and read countless books to come up with their teachings. And I am quite sure they have no intention of knowingly misleading their followers. Don’t get me wrong. I am not trying to cast aspersions on their character or discount their studiousness. Like little David with his sling and a smooth rock from the brook, I just want to slay the giant and send the Philistine army, with their pervasive false teachings, fleeing into the foothills. “Rightly dividing the word of truth” is a huge responsibility – it really does matter (2 Tim 2:15). I have a passion to re-examine prophecy and get it right. My motive is not to be the winner in some sort of theological contest, but to help God’s people be prepared for what God revealed about the coming days ahead. Most of the time I feel foolish and hopeless spouting the warning that I do. But that’s my lot in life, my calling I guess, a messenger of doom and destruction, starting in America, with Christians still on board the sinking ship.

So, there you have it. You can continue to believe the host that are running over the cliff, or you might seriously consider listening to the message of the few who are running in the opposite direction. America will be destroyed, before Armageddon. We will endure death, mourning, and famine (Rev 18:8). After that (not before) Jesus will return to gather up those Christians who are still alive and desperately awaiting His rescue and redemption.