PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BE WISE...

This month's title is taken from the first part of Romans 1:22, where Paul compares God's righteousness through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the sinfulness of man's attitudes and actions.   Romans 1:22 states God's views of humanity's wisdom clearly:  "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."  Given the sophistries of modern times, our governmental leaders have now gone against tried and true traditions and God's Word to now allow women to fight our nations wars.  In short, social expediency and political correctness now trumph common sense and Biblical prohibitions. 
  The AGC has always stood for Biblical truth, even when it isn't always popular.  In this month's "SHOFAR," we address from a Biblical perspective the truth "once delivered to the saints." Keep in mind that we do not disparage the brave women who have served this nation faithfully, but we do maintain there is a Biblical mandate of truth which the Lord has given to us as believers.  To ignore God ways and truth is to invite all sorts of problems and chaos in the future which can be fatal to us as a nation and people. 
  Having said this, we invite you to read the latest resolution that was passed at the last AGC conference in regard to this new military policy.  In addition we present a paper written by an AGC Chaplain on the same topic.  Lastly, we post the last half of Chaplain Harrison's paper on the three views of the Tribulation.  Even though we do not take an official position on the differing views of the Tribulation, we do discuss matters of faith and practice here at the AGC and invite all believers who name the name of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior to enjoy the following articles for discussion and edification.

 AGC RESOLUTION
    

WHEREAS, the Department of Defense with the approval of the President as Commander in Chief has announced that Secretary of Defense Panetta has rescinded DOD regulations recognizing the Nation’s historic practice of restricting woman from direct, offensive, close combat, thereby allowing women to be assigned to infantry, tank, reconnaissance, and special operations units and thereby eligible for the draft, should such a policy be reinstituted; and

WHEREAS, God created man and woman as distinct human creations, defined by unique and different emotional, biological and physical characteristics, Gen. 1:27; and
WHEREAS, the sacred Scriptures show God deals with men and women differently in accord with those differences and legislates that men and women be treated in accord with their created natures, respecting their divinely ordained differences, Gen. 2: 20-25; Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Pet. 3:1-4; and
WHEREAS, God, through the sacred Scriptures, in addressing the necessity for conscription and provision of warriors for legitimate national defense and national objectives has specifically identified man as the warrior, the instrument for waging the close personal, physical combat necessary for ultimately determining the outcome of armed conflict that is integral in any effective defense, Num. 1: 1-46; Rom. 13:1-8; and
WHEREAS, the scriptural exemptions for mandatory military service in times of armed conflict are limited to men, Deut. 20:5-9; and
WHEREAS, Scripture shows God has established different rules for the treatment of men and women captured in war, Deut. 20:14; and
WHEREAS, the results of DOD’s “Women in Combat” Policy is to make men and women fungible and thereby appropriate for itself the authority to redefine God’s created nature contrary to His ordinances and laws, an act by which DOD is assuming for itself an authority which is God’s alone;

​
WHEREAS, the Bible proclaims that all who believe in Christ have equal access through Christ to God regardless of race, gender, or social status, Gal. 3:26-28, God has not eliminated the unique differences and roles which He established when He created them “male and female”, Gen. 1:27, or the responsibilities which flow from those unique and different natures, Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Pet. 3:1-4.
WHEREAS, Scripture and history are clear that taking action which alters the Divine order of nature, challenges God’s sovereignty, or challenges his authority or wisdom is an abomination, directly disparaging God and thereby rejecting His authority, wisdom and sovereignty expressed in nature and His Word, Deut. 22:5; and ​

Therefore, be it resolved that the Associated Gospel Churches expresses its grave concern over the DOD’s adoption of its Women in Combat policy, which is a radical departure from our Nation’s cultural heritage, respect for the biblical foundations upon which its institutions rest and a repudiation of the Creator endowed inalienable rights that are inherent in the different natures and roles of men and women, and which portends great damage to our nation;​

Be it further resolved the Associated Gospel Churches petition the President and the Department of Defense to rescind its Women in Combat policy initiative immediately, and​

Be it further resolved the Associated Gospel Churches petition Congress to order DOD to take no further action implementing said Women in Combat policy, to withhold all funds that would assist in furthering or implementing such policy, and to hold hearings on the radical change in personnel policy and practice in order to examine the consequences and costs of implementing said policy in accordance with Congress’s primary responsibility to raise and equip the armed forces.​

Be it further resolved the Associated Gospel Churches calls upon all who believe the Creator has established laws for his creation and judges those who dishonor and disobey His laws or abrogate for themselves the right to change them, to (1) pray that the Lord of Hosts would show our leaders the folly of the Women in Combat policy and frustrate their schemes; and (2) petition their members of Congress to oppose and rescind the Administration’s attempt to place women in direct, cLose combat

WOMEN WARRIORS  

 Another new issue has arisen in the ongoing administration effort to completely dissolve

any semblance of common sense in this great country of America. We daily observe intense

efforts and maneuvers that boggle the mind of thinking men and women from every segment

of society. One of the later moves is the announcement this past week by the outgoing

Secretary of Defense that the ban on women serving in combat is now lifted and no area of

service will be banned any longer. 
  This announcement has generated responses that range from one extreme to another.

The “liberated” women of the world are bouncing with new excitement that they now will see

the removal of what they have seen for years as the final barrier in the ongoing battle for

equality in the military. They obviously feel that now military members will no longer be

screened or recommended for certain positions based on gender. Now women feel they will

not be viewed as unfit for certain duty positions that have for years been reserved to their male

counterparts. They, obviously, are jubilant about this recent announcement.  

  At the other end of the spectrum, there are those who think that women, though they

have served for many years in every part of the world, in every conflict in recent years, should

not serve in the military in any capacity. Granted, those who think thus are in the extreme

minority today. They yet still exist. They are extremely dogmatic in their “conviction” and are

unwilling to even consider that they may be extreme and, quite candidly, wrong in their

thinking. 
  Where, we may ask, is the more sensible conclusion regarding this controversial

decision? As a veteran of nearly thirty-eight years of military service, please allow me to make

a few simple observations. I recognize that these views will be regarded as “old-fashioned”,

“out dated”, or any of a number of other prejudices. I feel, however, that many who have

served in the past, as well as many who presently serve, both male and female, will concur with

my “narrow-minded” views.
  Let me say first and foremost that I served with many females over the years, in a

variety of positions that I honestly can say were as capable as any male. Some were more

capable than many of the men that I served with. Having said this however, I feel, at the risk of

being accused of going off “the deep end”, there are certain positions in which women should

not be participating. It has nothing to do with discrimination merely because they are female.

It is simply that their involvement would do much to distract and therefore hinder mission

accomplishment. Having served as a combat aircrew member, I can affirm that this is not just

some old-fashioned male opinion. I knew of no member that I served with that was in favor of

allowing women to participate.
  Arguments abound today regarding the fact that women are just as strong, just as

mentally qualified, just as willing, (and the list could continue) as their male counterparts. This

may be true in a very few cases, but it surely is not the norm. Women, generally speaking, are

designed by God to be the physically weaker of the sexes. This has nothing to do with

inferiority or superiority, it is simply factually correct. 
  “All in all, it is true that women are generally not as strong as men. It is also true, however, that

much of this lies simply in how the bodies of men and women are built for different purposes.

Because of differing size and function, the same muscles groups and potential for strength-gain

work on different scales.” 
  National Strength and Conditioning Association; "Essentials of Strength Training and

Conditioning, 3rd edition"; Baechle, et al; 2008

   The above-quoted statement came from a secular publication which is referenced. It is

not from a “religiously biased” perspective. Because of these differences, men generally

perform better than women in certain tasks where physical strength and endurance are of

prime importance. 
  The Bible also addresses the matter of difference in strength. Peter states, in I Peter 3:7: 
  “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife,

as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be

not hindered.”
  Yes, there are differences between male and female when it comes to strength.

Differences exist both physically and emotionally. 
  In addition to the physical strength issue, there are many other components to the

argument at hand. I stated above that female presence in certain combat situations would

present a distraction that could be extremely critical and could cause further injury, or in some

cases, additional loss of life. Men are, by nature, chivalrous. Many females resent this aspect

of a man’s makeup toda. And, many men, because they are growing more astute to the feelings

of modern womanhood, are not as perceptive in certain situations as they once were. In

combat situations, however, men (generally speaking of course) would perhaps feel a deeper

sense of duty to look out for the weaker soldier who, because of physical weakness, or other

reasons (one main one to be addressed later) could not perform her duties. I know this will not

resonate with many, but I feel it is a realistic conclusion that has been proven in other

situations. Please allow me to cite a personal example from my own experiences in the

military. 
  Back in the mid 1980’s, I, along with a group of other military members, was deployed

to the Middle East for a short TDY. This was not, in any fashion, a combat deployment.

Included in the number of airmen was one single female. Upon arrival in the country of Jordan,

we immediately disembarked the huge military transport and began unloading equipment. Our

first task was to set up camp. As we were well into the operation it was noted that the above-

 mentioned female was merely standing and basically watching the rest of us busily laboring to

finish the immediate task. She was questioned by the NCOIC (Non Commissioned Officer in

Charge) why she decided to not be involved. Her comment was, “I am afraid I will break a

fingernail.” I realize that this surely would not apply to many females who today are exerting

great efforts to infiltrate one of the last remaining “male only” assignments in the military, but I

am afraid that certain other mindsets may exist that would not be initially assessed but would

come out at a later date. 
  I mentioned in a preceding sentence that there is another huge factor in the ongoing

argument regarding women in combat that should be addressed. This is the matter of the basic

internal difference in makeup of male vs. female. I am referring to the fact that women,

generally speaking again, are emotional beings whereas men, generally speaking, are not. I am

certain that many who may read this will take exception to this statement but the simple fact of

the matter is that this can be observed in all areas of life. Some would ask, “What is the

problem with this?” Those who have served in combat would probably reply that in the heat of

battle, an emotional response, rather than a rational, decided, calculated, response is not, in

most cases, the desired reaction. 
  Another issue that has to be addressed is the matter of hygiene and latrine realities.

This is clearly a non-issue in the minds of many more liberated folks today. It is, however, an

issue that could present major problems in zones where there are not adequate facilities.  

The list of problems, whether realistic or perceived, could undoubtedly go on and on

and on. Many of the “talking heads” in the media today are throwing their two cents in on this

debate that is growing, moment by moment, in intensity. Some of the few ideas that I have

mentioned have been argued, both pro and con, by many much more qualified to speak than I.

Many well known senior military officials, most of whom are now retired from military service,

are in complete agreement with me on this issue.  
  As I previously stated, I have no issue whatsoever regarding women serving in the

military. There was a time in the history of this great country where women were completely

forbidden from any form of military service. This barrier was broken long ago. The history of

female military members is continuing to be written. There are multitudes of exemplary

women and their great accomplishments are admired by all. Also, previously stated, I have had

the honor of working alongside some female military members with whom I was very proud of

their service. This, however, does not, in my humble opinion, necessarily grant acceptance into

the area of combat service on the front lines. Yes, females in today’s military often find

themselves in declared combat areas where they serve in support roles which often results in

injury, capture, and in some cases loss of life. They, as do their male counterparts, understand

the risks involved when they are deployed. This again does not justify deliberately placing

females in harm’s way. To do so will, in my opinion, weaken rather than strengthen the fighting

force of our military in today’s world - a world that is daily growing more and more anti-women

as we consider the jihadists that are waging war all over the world.

 

The Post Tribulation Rapture Theory

By Chaplain Harrison

           It was stated earlier that among premillennialists that Christ is coming again. So far the idea of pretribulationism has been discussed, but on the other end of the rapture spectrum is the Posttribulation Rapture view. Proponents of this theory believe that the Rapture and the Second Coming are different parts of the same event. Ryrie shows the distinctions between the two positions by contrasting them[1]:

PRETRIBULATIONISM 1.     Rapture occurs before the Tribulation. 2.     Church experiences Revelation 3:10 before the Tribulation. 3.     Day of the Lord begins with the Tribulation. 4.     1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 occurs at beginning of Tribulation. 5.     144,000 redeemed at start of Tribulation. 6.     Rapture and Second Coming separated by seven years. 7.     Living Israelites judged at Second Coming. 8.     Living Gentiles judged at Second Coming. 9.     Parents of millennial population come from survivors of judgments on living Jews and Gentiles. 10.  Believers of Church Age are judged in heaven between Rapture and Second Coming.

POSTTRIBULATIONISM 1.     Rapture occurs after the Tribulation. 2.     Church experiences Revelation 3:10 at end of Tribulation. 3.     Day of the Lord begins at close of Tribulation. 4.     1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 occurs near end of Tribulation. 5.     144,000 redeemed at conclusion of Tribulation. 6.     Rapture and Second coming are a single event. 7.     No such judgment. 8.     Living Gentiles judged after Millennium. 9.     Parents of millennial population come from 144,000 Jews. 10.  Believers of Church Age judged after Second Coming or at conclusion of Millennium.

 

           Ladd uses different terms in arguing for the posttribulation theory. The first one is Parousia. This word has in it the idea of “presence” or “coming”. According to posttribulationism, several things happen at the coming of Christ. “Furthermore, the parousia of Christ will occur not only to rapture the Church and to raise the righteous dead, but also to destroy the Man of Lawlessness, the Antichrist”[2]. According to the posttribulation view, the word parousia, means “arrival’ more often than it means “presence”[3]. This word is used in reference to the Rapture and the Second Coming. Words in the Greek New Testament can often be translated different ways and the word usage is sometimes left to the discretion of the translator. A good translator will choose words based on the context of the passage. “Likewise, since the Lord’s presence (parousia) will characterize both the Rapture and the Second Coming, the word itself does not indicate whether these are a single event or separate events. In other words, the vocabulary used does not necessarily prove either pre-or posttribulationism”[4]   

           Another word often used to justify this position is apokalypsis, which means unveiling. Again, this word is used in passages that refer to the Rapture and the Second Coming. This word is found in 1 Corinthians 1:7 and 1 Peter 1:7. The idea here is that Christ will be revealed to the Church. This word is also found in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 and others because when Jesus comes again at the close of the Tribulation, He will be “revealed” or “unveiled” to the world[5]. Again, the argument cannot be won based on vocabulary because it is open to interpretation, and proof verses based on usage can be claimed on either side. The final word used in connection with the return of Christ is epiphaneia. This word means manifestation. Ladd comments on this word. “This epiphany of Christ is, however, like His apocalypse the object of the believer’s hope, as it could not be if the Church had received the object of its hope at an earlier time at the Rapture”[6]. The use of this word as well is open to interpretation. To the believer in the Church Age, this manifestation of Jesus is the object of our hope as is found in 1 Timothy 6:14, but to the believer during the Tribulation, it means his or her hope as well such as in 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

           Another posttribulation argument is that the Church is on earth during the Tribulation. The argument is based on the idea that the Church is never said to be in Heaven in Revelation 4-18, the use of the word “saints” in these chapters, and descriptions of Christians in those chapters which correspond to believers during the Age of Grace[7]. In answer to this argument, just because the text does not say the Church is in heaven, does not prove they were on earth. In fact, the absence of the word “church” in these chapters demonstrates stronger support to them being in heaven. Furthermore, it fits better with the belief that God’s focus is again on Israel. The word “saints” is used of believers in every dispensation. In the Bible, there are Old Testament saints, Church Age saints, Tribulation saints, and so on. This word means “set apart” and God has saints throughout history. Naturally there are similarities between Christians in the Church Age and during the Tribulation because they are saved the same way- by placing saving faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. There is no instance where a Tribulation believer is ever referred to as being part of the Bride or the Body of Christ. There must be distinction. 

           Some closing comments about posttribulationism include interpretation of Revelation and timing of events. Pentecost points out that concerning Revelation, this view must either spiritualize the entire book or at least in holding to a literal interpretation, they spiritualize the literalness of events in the book[8]. There is no legitimate place where this view can place the Judgment Seat of Christ or the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It has been shown that there are some real problems with this view that cause it to lack scriptural consistency.     

The Midtribulation Rapture Theory

The final member of the three main Rapture theories is the Midtribulation Rapture theory.                         According to this view, the Church will be raptured about halfway through the tribulation period. It is basically a cross between the pre and posttribulation theories, although sometimes it is considered a branch off from the pretribulational view. Pentecost writes: “The Church will endure the events of the first half of the Tribulation, which, according to the mid-tribulation rapturist, are not manifestations of divine wrath, but will be translated before the last half of the week begins which according to this theory, contains all the outpouring of the wrath of God”[9]. This theory believes that the Church will endure tribulation but not wrath. The deduction then is that like the pretribulation view, the Church will be raptured before the Second Coming of Christ, and so there is a distinction between the two events. Like the posttribulation view, the Rapture is not imminent and the Church is seen between Revelation 4 and 18. The common verses used in this argument come mostly from Daniel and they are: Daniel 7:25; 9:27; 12:7, 11. This theory also uses parts of the Olivet Discourse and Revelation 11:2; 12:6, 14[10]. Buswell, in commenting on the Olivet Discourse says:

In the Olivet discourse, Jesus said that ‘immediately after the tribulation of those days’ (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13: 24, 25) the cosmic disturbances, which I have sought to identify with the outpouring of the vials of God’s wrath (Revelation, chapter 16) will occur. But Christ added ‘And at that time (I understand this to mean, at the time of the conclusion of the terrible tribulation which He had described), there will appear the sign of the son of Man in heaven, and at that time all the tribes of the land will mourn because of Him and they will see the Son of Man coming upon the clouds of heaven with power and great glory…’[11].  

In this portion, Buswell correlates the Rapture, the view of Christ, and the raising of the two witnesses as the same event. The two witnesses will be discussed later. Upon careful examination of the Olivet Discourse, this is not simply a sign of Christ in heaven, but the actual return of Christ to the earth. Previously, Jesus discussed the Great Tribulation, and in light of the context, He says in verse 29, “After the tribulation of those days…” referring to the Great Tribulation.

The problem is that midtribulationists assert that the first half of the tribulation is just that- tribulation or testing for the Church, to be distinguished from the wrath of God which is the last half of the seventieth week of Daniel. Scripture disagrees because John says in Revelation 6:16-17: “…hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” This statement is made right after the sixth seal and before the trumpet or vial judgments. If the wrath of the Lamb has already come, how is this just testing for the Church? The wrath of God for the Christian was settled at Calvary! The midtrubulation proponent would argue that the seal judgments are not judgments at all but the outworking of the program of man and the trumpets the outworking of Satan, making the vials the outworking of God[12]. There is no scriptural footing for these arguments because under the command of Christ, angels deliver these judgments.  

Sometimes Bible scholars divide the tribulation into two parts and rightly so. There are the first three and a half years and the second, which, is also known as the time of Jacob’s Trouble. This is the time when the Jews realize that the Anti-Christ is not their Messiah and have to flee to Petra. The midtribulation view sees this distinction as well and places the time of the Rapture at the sounding of the last trumpet. Proponents of this theory see the catching away of the two witnesses at the end of the first half of the seventy weeks being synonymous with the Rapture.  Ryrie comments that according to this view if you combine the writing concerning the Great Tribulation and a major event right before it, there is in theory, this midtribulation conclusion[13].

The midtribulation rapturist claims that the sounding of the final trumpet in Revelation 10 is the same trumpet identified in 1 Corinthians 15:52. When these two passages are compared, it is clear that these are two different events based on context. In commenting on this point Ryrie says, “In Jewish apocalyptic literature, trumpets signaled a variety of great eschatological events, including judgments, the gathering of the elect, and resurrection. The seventh trumpet is a trumpet of judgment, whereas the trumpet in 1 Corinthians is one of resurrection and deliverance. That they indicate the same event is a gratuitous assumption”[14]. Furthermore, when someone simply reads about this series of trumpet judgments, the last trumpet means- last. In other words, it is the last trumpet in those judgments. Attempting to identify this with 1 Corinthians 15, is reading something into the text that is not there.   

           Like posttribulationism, there is a problem concerning a literal hermeneutic. In making comments about interpretation, Pentecost observes, “The midtribulation rapturists will apply the literal method of interpretation to the last half of the seventieth week, but spiritualize the events of the first half of the week to permit the church to encounter those”[15]. Like pretribulationists, they have the church spending some time in heaven before the Second Coming to allow for the Bema and the Marriage of the Lamb. Midtribulationism, overall is a compromise between pre and posttribulationism and has a serious problem keeping scripturally consistent, and that is why most serious theologians have rejected it.  

Conclusion

           In examining these three main rapture theories several things have been considered. The timing of the Rapture has been discussed, the theological implications have been revealed, the scriptural support has been given and the most scripturally consistent view has been established. In addition, all three theories have been defined, all relevant Scripture has been noted and the main arguments for each theory have been given. After weighing the evidence, the logical conclusion is that the pretribulation rapture position is more biblical. In light of this evidence the Church should watch and wait because our Lord’s return is imminent.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

 

 

Buswell, Oliver J. A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion. Grand Rapids: Zondervan,              

            1986.

   

          

Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology. Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems Inc, 1997.

           

 

Ladd, George E. The Blessed Hope. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956.

 

           

Packer, J.I. Concise Theology. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers Inc., 1993.

 

 

Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958.

 

 

Ryrie, Charles C. Basic Theology. Chicago: Moody Press, 1999.

         

 

Showers, Renald E. There Really is a Difference. Bellmawr: The Friends of Israel Gospel     

            Ministry, 2001.  

 

          

Walvoord, J.F., Zuck, R.B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge 

            Commentary. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1983.

---

[1] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 582-583.

[2] Ladd, George E. The Blessed Hope. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956), 63.   

 

[3] Ibid. p. 64.

[4] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 584.

[5] Ibid., 584.

[6] Ladd, George E. The Blessed Hope. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956), 67.    

 

[7] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 585.

[8]  Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958),194.

 

[9] Ibid., 179.

[10] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 579. 

[11] Buswell, Oliver J. A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1973), 456.

[12]  Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958),183.

[13]   Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 579.   

 

[14] Ibid., 581.

[15] Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958),194.

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  May the peace of God dwell in your hearts always.  Welcome to this months AGC blog/Journal which is written for thought and discussion on things affecting Christianity and Military Ministry.  In this format we feature two thought provoking ideas brought by Chaplains Ron Benzing (ret.) and Steven Harrelson. 
  With many combatants coming back from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan there is a need for ministry and pastoral care from a Biblical perspective.  Too often Chaplains have relegated care for our emotionally scarred warriors to the secular mental health professionals.  While all truth is God's truth and there are aspects of psychology which can help our young men and women, we as Chaplains must not shirk our duty in providing answers to our troops from a Theological point of view.   Ron Benzing's article "God's Plan For Strength" addresses the need to help our military "flock" with spiritual lessons found in the book of Isaiah.
  The second article is a two part study on different views of the Biblical doctrine known as the "Tribulation."  Chaplain Steven Harrelson brings his study to light in this article which first features the "Pre-Tribulation" view.  Next months' article will complete the whole study of both the "Mid" and "Post" Tribulation position.  No matter what eschatological position you personally may have, sit back, read and enjoy the fact that as Christians we can come and reason together for the glory of Jesus Christ.  God bless. 

BIBLE CHURCH OF STUTTGART

By Ron Benzing (COL, US Army, Ret)

God’s Plan for Strength

Isaiah 40:27-31

   I recently saw an ad in our local Stuttgart military paper for Resiliency Training.  It read:  ACS offers a class in maintaining balance to improve happiness.  I went online to read more about the vision and mission of this program on which US Army has spent millions of dollars.  I learned there are 5 Dimensions of Strength.  One of them is Spiritual – strengthening a set of beliefs, principles, or values that sustain a person beyond family, institutional, and societal sources of strength.  Having spent many years in the Army, I could readily see the carefully, crafted words used in this explanation.  Resilience seems to be the name of the game and I’m not sure the Lord has any place in it.

           Being identified as a “Bible thumper” in my active duty days, I immediately went to my Bible to look for resiliency.  Of course, I failed to find the word in any translation.  But what I did find was a concept given to Israel by the Prophet Isaiah.  You can read it in Isaiah 40:31 – But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.  May I delve into that verse with you? 

           I learned in seminary centuries ago, when you see the words but or therefore, stop and ask the question, What is it there for?  What is the context of this often-quoted verse?

           PLIGHT OF GOD’S PEOPLE.   Instead of learning lessons from what happened to their brethren in Northern Israel, the same rapid, national decline also threatened Judea to the south.  Spirituality replaced true godliness.  External rituals overcame internal piety.  Selfishness overtook self-sacrifice.  In both the religious and national life of the nation, weakness ruled.  The people feared that God was hiding His face from them.  Isaiah posed the question in 40:27: why sayest thou, O Jacob and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?  There was plenty of religion around Jerusalem but not much relationship with the Holy One of Israel.  The people of God were weak and faint because they did not remember the character of their God.  They lost their resiliency!

            PERSONAL HELP FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.  Isaiah pointed the people to a Person, not a program.  He rehearsed the character and actions of the Lord for His Chosen People in 40:10 ff.  John Schultz commented:  In one way or another the fourfold Old Testament doctrine of God the Creator is presented here:  He originates everything, maintains everything in existence, controls everything in operation, and directs everything to the end He appoints. (Bible Commentaries.com).   Israel needed to refocus her eyes on the One Who acted on her behalf to protect and provide for her over the centuries.  

When military members return home from deployments, where do they find help to build back or strengthen the important relationships with family and friends?  Who is there to understand or offer assistance?  Do programs like Resilency Training really help?  Some have criticized this training as another way for the military to substitute a program instead of real help.  Since I have not experienced the training, I will not speak to its effectiveness.   I was not aware of any programs when I returned from Viet Nam in 1969.  We chaplains were told to refer soldiers who were experiencing battle stress to the mental health experts.  Most of my soldiers refused to admit a problem fearing their health records would be used against them.  We knew men who did seek professional help and ended up on the psych ward at the local military facility.  I visited some and found them walking zombies, overdosed with drugs and attending questionable group therapy sessions. (Some of which I experienced at Lettermen Hospital in San Fransisco during a short course in CPE in 1971.

It’s time to get back to the Bible.  I believe resiliency (renewing strength) begins when a person lifts his eyes upward.  Vivid memories of traumatic experiences can haunt one for many years.  Future deployments can bring fear.  Both these reactions result in spiritual weakness and lack of strength.   Notice the Prophet’s answer to this problem.   

PROCESS OF RESILIENCY FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.  But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.  These words were primarily written to God’s people.  But the promise of help for the unsaved as well as believers offers an opportunity to present the Gospel.  Leading unbelieving men and women to faith in Christ is where renewal can begin.  Paul said, If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things passed away, behold all things become new (2 Cor 5:17).  There is spiritual healing as a result of the finished work of Christ. 

 Real Knowledge of God.  First, the prophet declared the process began with a real knowledge of God.  The two questions of verse 28 are answered clearly by reminding the readers of the strength and power of Jehovah.  He is the Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator, One Who never wearies, and is omniscient.  Could this God provide resiliency for a weary and powerless soldier?  According to Isaiah the answer is YES.  Verse 29 reads:  He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.  I can’t help but think of the invitation of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30:  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Unfortunately some military men and women want to find fault with God for the horrors of war.  They blame Him for the evil in the world.  My uncle returned from WWII with that attitude.  His unit helped free some of the emaciated Jews from Dachau Concentration Camp.  Several years after the war my dad became a Christian and witnessed to his brother.  His reply, How can I believe in a god who would allow these atrocities to happen to innocent people?  I heard the same kinds of remarks from Viet Nam veterans who were still angry over the unspeakable tragedies of war.  Blaming God instead of knowing who God doesn’t help.  He has made Himself known in His special revelation, the Bible.  This is where Isaiah pointed his readers.

Reality of Human Weakness.  Second, Isaiah realized the reality of human weaknesses.  Combat veterans with multiple deployments can grow weary and tired (v.30) and vigorous, healthy, and motivated youth can stumble badly (v.30).  These are the consequences of our human frailty and a fallen world.  The effects of sin are traumatic.  Combat situations make these effects unforgettable.  The smell of blood, sweat, and the cries of the wounded and dying leave permanent impressions on the mind.  Multiple memorial services conducted by chaplains drain the strength out of the most spiritually healthy pastor in uniform.  Sometimes even we can be tempted to ask God, Why? 

I performed memorial services for over 135 men in one year in Viet Nam.  When I first arrived, I didn’t know these soldiers, but as time passed, I became friends with many.  Some had trusted Christ during my field services and then died within hours or days.  My heart broke when I stood before their fellow Infantrymen to recall the ultimate sacrifice of Bob, Bruce, Larry and many others.  Even my battalion commander was killed in action.  All these horrors siphon our strength.  How can the soldier, commander or chaplain be renewed?

Reliance on the Lord.  The great prophet unfolded the answer in verse 41.  The war-weary soldier has to wait for the Lord.  If there is one thing soldiers detest, it’s waiting.  Hurry up and wait has been the practice of the military for decades.  Have you noticed how often the military requires its members to arrive in the early hours of the morning to actually deploy much later in the day?  Waiting! 

The waiting required by Isaiah is not complaining and finger-tapping impatience.   Keil and Delitsch commentary wrote:  those who wait, ie, those who believe in Him; for the Old Testament applies to faith a number of synonyms denoting trust, hope, and longing…The Psalmist said,  Wait for the Lord; be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord (Psalm 27:14).  

The Lord rewards those rely on Him for strength.  Dr. Martin-Lloyd Jones in his book The All Sufficient God wrote:  And we can go further: here in verse 31 Isaiah gives a detailed description of the working of God’s strength and power within the Christian.  First, His power is sufficient for every task and for every trial that may confront us in life.  Secondly, it is sufficient for every stage of our lives.  Thirdly, Christ has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us, and he will never fail us.   

Isaiah enumerated God’s provision for the weary person who would seek Him.  First, they gain new strength.  Secondly, they mount up with wings as eagles.  I understand eagles molt their tattered and damaged feathers thereby renewing their strength of flight with fresh feathers.  Eagles have strength in their long broad wings and are able to soar and glide even in turbulent winds, while other smaller birds have to constantly flap their wings.  They climb to the heights far above the earth.  When the strong winds of emotional and spiritual weakness blow against the struggling soul, the Lord promises renewed power not only to endure but to soar in victory.

The Prophet presented another promise but it seems anticlimactic.  Soaring as eagles sounds awe inspiring.  But how does running and not being weary lift the soul of the soldier?  I wonder how many miles the average soldier runs in his career?  Running demands endurance.  I remember at Ft. Dix, New Jersey how often the young recruits in Basic Training ran out of steam because they had little endurance.  After several weeks of physical training, that changed dramatically.  Looking to the Lord must be an ongoing practice of spiritual discipline which affects the down-to-earth routines of life.  Daily reading and meditating on the Word of God is vitally important.  Communing with the Lord in prayer encourages the personal relationship.

Finally, the Prophet assures:  they shall walk and not faint.   Walking?  The word is used in the Bible to describe the way of a person’s life.  Perhaps if refers here to the person who has strength renewed so that he can keep walking in the way that pleases God while resulting in the best in life for him.  When the military conducts road marches for the Light Infantry, it means miles and miles of walking and carrying a heavy ruck sack.  I remember on a road march one of the soldiers was injured.  Another man picked up his rucksack and carried it the rest of the way.  Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee, writes the Psalmist in 55:12.  The Apostle Peter reminds us of that truth in his Epistle, Casting all you care upon Him, for He careth for you (I Peter 5:7).  Jesus is there to bear the burden.  Others are there to assist as Paul wrote in Galatians 6:2:  Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.

           In conclusion, I am not suggesting the military abandon Resiliency Training.  Like many other programs, it contains some valuable lessons.  What I am suggesting is that the Bible is the best resource for true and lasting strength renewal (resilency).  It reaches down in to the heart from where the issues of life come forth.  It is there where God’s power is needed, promised, and provided and chaplains have the “rest of the story” to present.

AN EXAMINATION OF THE THREE MAIN RAPTURE THEORIES

BY STEVEN L. HARRELSON

              Scripture tells us that before His passion, Jesus told His disciples: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:3, NKJV). A time is coming when this promise of the Lord will be kept, but it is important to note how He will come. Concerning Eschatology, there are various opinions related to the return of Jesus Christ to the Earth. Some Christians, such as Charles Hodge and J.I. Packer, believe that there is one physical return of Christ which is accompanied by a general resurrection and judgment. Others believe that the return of Christ comes in different phases. Furthermore, most fundamental Christians believe that there is a distinction between the Rapture of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ. Dispensational theology teaches that there are two phases to the Second Coming of Christ; one is the Rapture and the other is the return of Jesus to establish His earthly reign. Between these two phases is the Seventieth Week of Daniel otherwise known as the Tribulation. 

The Rapture is the “catching away” of believers to the third Heaven. This involves the translation of living and deceased Christians. For those who see a distinction, and hold to a literal rapture, there are some important questions that must be answered. First, what are the views concerning the timing of the Rapture? Second, what are the theological implications of these views? Third, what is the Scriptural support for each of them? Fourth, which viewpoint is the most consistent overall? This research paper will answer these questions, and it will attempt to prove that the theory known as the Pre-tribulation Rapture is the most biblical.

The Pretribulation Rapture Theory

What does pretribulationism mean? Dwight Pentecost provides a helpful answer to this question: “The church, the body of Christ, in its entirety, will, by resurrection and translation, be removed from the earth before any part of the seventieth week of Daniel begins”[1]. The building block for this position is interpreting the Bible literally. Pretribulationism is the natural result of Classic Dispensational reasoning of the Scriptures.  

There are many components that make up the belief system of pretribulation rapturists. They believe that the rapture of the Church must occur before the seventieth week of Daniel begins. They believe that the Church and Israel are two distinct groups with two distinct programs. In addition, the pretribulationist teaches that the Church is a mystery that was unknown in the Old Testament. Because of Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ as their Messiah, God’s program for Israel has been put on hold until the last soul has been added to the body of Christ. Along with these main ideas, there are beliefs concerning the removal of the Restrainer, the identity of the twenty-four elders, the Kingdom population, and the placement of judgments, the marriage, and the marriage feast of the Lamb.

There are quite a few Scriptures that support this Rapture theory. “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10, NKJV).  There is an hour of trial, a time of testing that is coming to our planet known as the tribulation period. According to this verse, believers will be spared this testing. Ryrie points out that the phrase (tereso ek tes horas), which is translated keep from, has in it the idea of an outward, not an inward preservation. Also it is worth noting that this verse is not talking about the trials themselves, but the hour as a whole[2]. When commenting on this verse he says:

But how clear and plain the promise is: ‘I…will keep you from the hour of testing’. Not from just any persecution, but the coming time that will affect the whole earth. The only way to escape worldwide trouble is not to be on the earth. And the only way to escape the time when events take place is not to be in a place where time ticks on. The only place that meets those qualifications is heaven.  

So according to Revelation 3:10, the entire body of Christ will be kept completely out of the entire time of testing which is the tribulation period or the seventieth week of Daniel. Since the other views would have believers to endure this hour of trial, it seems that the pretribulation view is more biblical.

Another interesting Scripture is 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. In this passage it is obvious from the context that the believers in Thessalonica were confused about the specifics of the resurrection and how the rapture tied in with their loved ones who were already deceased.

They wondered if the living would have it better than the Christian dead. So Paul writes addressing their concerns so that they would not be uninformed about how things fit together. Furthermore, according to Pentecost, the believers were sorrowful for those who had died already because they would miss the blessing of this return of Jesus in the air. This return of Jesus was a blessing and they were afraid that their Christian dead would miss it. He argues that if they were awaiting the church to experience the seventieth week of Daniel or the tribulation, they would be glad for their deceased loved ones because they would not endure it[3].  Ryrie comments that there is a distinction in subjects in chapters four and five of 1 Thessalonians. In chapter four, Paul writes about the rapture and in chapter five, he speaks of the Day of the Lord[4].

Having established that there is a distinction between these two chapters, what is the emphasis of chapter five? The answer is found in verse nine: “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, NKJV).

This is important because the Church is a mystery in the Old Testament and there are no prophecies related to the rapture. There are many prophecies related to the Day of the Lord and that is why Paul comments that they already knew about it. The connection becomes clear. In the previous chapter he gives them information they did not have about the Rapture and clears up their thinking by contrasting it with what they already knew. This is a powerful argument for a pretribulational Rapture. In chapter four he describes the blessed hope that believers have in the rapture and in the next chapter he writes about the darkness of the tribulation period. As believers, the Thessalonians needed to conduct their lives as Christians honorably in light of the fact that they had not been appointed to wrath but rather salvation through Christ.      

There are other arguments that favor the pretribulationist view of the rapture. The first is the seventieth week of Daniel. According to Pentecost there are two purposes to the seventieth week. The first is to try the “earth dwellers” mentioned in Revelation 3:10. He notes that the same expression is used in Revelation 6:10; 11:10; 13:8; 12; 14; 14:6 and 17:8. In these verses, John is not talking about the location, but rather it is a moral description. Christians are often referred to as pilgrims and strangers and the idea here is a permanent home. It cannot be speaking of the church since the church does not consider earth to be its home. The second purpose of Daniel’s seventieth week is to prepare Israel for the coming of their King. He quotes Mark 9:12-13 which tells of Elias preparing the way for the Second Advent of our Lord[5]. So if these two arguments are considered, there is no reason for the church to be there because of the believer’s standing in Christ. When God sees the Christian, He sees the very righteousness of Christ; what is the purpose for testing someone who does not call earth home and is positionally righteous?

For the Church to experience the tribulation period, the church would need to be redefined. So what is the nature of the church? The believer is brought into relationship, into union with Jesus Christ. The tribulation period is a time when the wrath of God will be poured out on mankind. When Christ died on the cross, He endured the wrath of God as He was made a sin offering. The praise of every child of God is the fact that Jesus took their punishment and endured their wrath for them. If the church goes through the tribulation, must they endure the wrath of God anyway? As stated earlier, the believer is brought into union with Christ. “If the church is in the seventieth week, she is subjected to the wrath, judgment, and indignation which characterizes the period, and because of her oneness with Christ, He likewise, would be subjected to that same visitation. This is impossible according to I John 4:17, for He cannot be brought into judgment again”[6]. Furthermore, it is important to note the difference between the programs that God has for all saved people in all dispensations from righteous Abel to the saints of the tribulation.

It is impossible to discuss the nature of the Church without marking the distinction between the Church and Israel. One of the primary things to point out is that the Church is primarily Gentile. God made covenants with Israel but never with a Gentile. Saved Gentiles share in the Abrahamic covenant because the world was promised a blessing through his seed, and we benefit from the New Covenant. Even it was made between God and Israel. Showers gives several reasons why the Church and Israel are separate. First, because Israel is a nation and the Church is not. Another is because Israel rejected Christ and the Church accepted Him. Thirdly, Israel was the first persecutor of the New Testament Church. Fourth, in order to be a Jew, one must be circumcised as a proselyte. Fifth, a Jew was a Jew by birth and a partaker in the covenants and a Christian is part of the Body of Christ through Holy Spirit baptism[7]. Anyone can be a part of the true church. This is important because it demonstrates the fact that Israel has been in a spiritual timeout for the last two thousand years while God has focused on the Church. After the pretribulation rapture, the focus will once again be on Israel. The seventieth week of Daniel is in regard to Israel as the book of Daniel explains: ““Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.” (Daniel 9:24, NASB). Since the focus is on Israel it is important to show that the Church and Israel are not the same, and since they are not the same, the true Church would have to be raptured beforehand.  

 The pretribulation rapture theory is the most biblically consistent. Another way to demonstrate this is through populating the Millennial Kingdom. With all three rapture theories, the catching away happens before the Kingdom begins and only saved people enter. There is a problem with the posttribulational view which will be discussed later, but for now, the pretribulational view has no problem with this. According to this view, the entire church will be raptured and after the Anti-Christ signs a seven year peace treaty with Israel, the tribulation begins according to Daniel 9:27. Many will be saved during the tribulation, but the ones who survive and enter the Kingdom will enter in their natural bodies. “In due time, babies will be born and grow up. Some will receive Christ into their hearts; others will not. But all will have to give allegiance to the King’s government or suffer the consequences”[8].  Remember that the amount of people entering the Kingdom are few when compared to the world population before the tribulation, and these who enter the Kingdom in natural bodies will repopulate the earth. These saved individuals will be Jew and Gentile alike. They will not receive their glorified bodies until they enter the eternal state.      

The removal of the Restrainer is a condition that must be met before Antichrist is revealed and the tribulation begins. Pentecost writes:

Paul’s argument in verse 7 is that although the mystery of iniquity was operative in his day, that is, the lawless system that was to culminate in the person of the lawless one was manifesting itself, yet this lawless one could not be manifested until the Restrainer was taken out of the way. In other words, some One is preventing the purpose of Satan from coming to culmination and He will keep on performing this ministry until He is removed (vv. 7-8)…it would seem that the only One who could do such a restraining ministry would be the Holy Spirit[9].  

The deduction is that in this present church age, the Holy Spirit restrains through the Spirit-indwelled child of God. Once the Church is raptured, the restraining stops. How do people get saved during the tribulation if the Holy Spirit is not present? He is still present and will still draw people to Christ, but He will not restrain evil during that time. If the Holy Spirit indwells believers who are saved during the tribulation, why does He not restrain? The explanation is that believers during the tribulation are not indwelled by the Holy Spirit because God has returned to an Old Testament economy. The member of the Body of Christ has the distinction of being indwelled.

           The Bema, the Marriage, and the Marriage Feast must happen before the Second Advent. Pentecost discusses how 2 Corinthians 5:9; 1 Corinthians 3:11-16; Revelation 4:4; 19:8, 14 prove that the church has already passed through the Judgment Seat of Christ before the Second Advent and has been rewarded[10]. Under examination of Revelation 19:7-9, the Marriage between Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church and the Feast, precede the Second Coming. In verse fourteen, His armies are with Him on white horses, dressed in white linen. Since angels neither sit on thrones nor ride animals, this must be the Church. There must be an interval between the rapture and the Second Coming in order for these events to happen. Someone might say that God can do anything and so He is not bound by time. That is true, however to argue from that vantage point in light of these clear verses would be a theological stretch.     

           Identifying the twenty-four elders mentioned in Revelation 4:4 will help support the pretribulation claim. To put it simply, they cannot be anyone but resurrected men of the church age. According to the text, the Apostle John sees these elders clothed with white robes, wearing crowns, and seated on thrones. “What is said of the twenty-four elders could not be true angelic beings, for angels are not crowned with Victor’s crowns (stephanos) received as rewards, nor are they seated on thrones (thronos), which throne speaks of royal dignity and prerogative, nor are angels robed in white as a result of judgment”[11]. He goes on to explain that since they are not angels and must be men, they have to be the body of Christ because the Old Testament saints have not been resurrected yet[12].

           Finally, there must be a distinction between the Rapture and the Second Coming. In this argument the biblical illustration of marriage is appropriate:

In Scripture, marriage is often used to describe the relationship of saints to God. In the Old Testament Israel is pictured, as in Hosea, as the unfaithful wife of Yahweh who is destined to be restored in the future kingdom. In the New Testament, marriage is also used to describe the relationship between Christ and the church, but the illustration contrasts with the Old Testament, for the church is regarded as a virgin bride waiting the coming of her heavenly bridegroom (2 Cor. 11:2).^[13]

Pentecost lists the differences between the Rapture and the Second Coming in a clear way. Regarding the Rapture there are no signs, it involves the disappearance of believers, believers are caught up in the air, Jesus comes to claim His bride, the Church is removed and the tribulation begins, and this event brings comfort. Regarding the Second Coming there are signs of the times, Christ appears to the world, He touches down to earth, He returns with His bride, He begins His kingdom, and this event brings judgment[14]. Therefore because of its system of interpretation, its beliefs, its scriptural basis, and the various arguments mentioned, the pretribulational rapture theory is very consistent with what the Bible teaches.

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[1]  Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), 193.

[2] Ibid., 564.

[3] Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), 217.

[4] Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 565.

[5] Ibid., 198.  

 

[6] Ibid., 200. 

[7] Showers, Renald E. There Really is a Difference. (Bellmawr: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 2001), 184-187.

[8]Ryrie, Charles. Basic Theology. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 569. 

[9] Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958), 204-205.

 

[10] Ibid., 205.

[11] Ibid., 208.

[12] Ibid., 209.

^[13] Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (Re 19:6–8). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

[14] Pentecost, Dwight J. Things to Come. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1958),206-207.