Prophecy Corner

There is a great danger, when once we have adhered to one particular school of thought or adopted one particular system of theology, of reading the Bible in the light of that school or system and finding its distinctive features in what we read.

A second and perhaps even greater danger is that of accepting a theory about the pattern of divine revelation without even recognizing that it is a theory, or without looking at other theories to see which theory fits the data best.

Confused by Bible Prophecy?
The Bible is full of prophecy & as a true student of the Bible, it is important to study and understand Bible prophecy. This is why American Vision is sponsoring their first National Prophecy Conference at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville NC, June 1-4. This will be a comprehensive event covering a vast array of prophecy topics, from Israel and Russia, to Gog and Magog. You don’t want to miss it!
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Where Will the Antichrist Come From?
Will antichrist be Islamic, Roman, American? Is he one specific person or many people? Is he alive in the world right now? What does the Bible really say about antichrist? Come to American Vision’s National Prophecy Conference to learn more about this and many other Bible prophecy questions.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

It’s the End of the World! Or is it?
Speculation that we are in the last days has been around for a while. Through the decades leaders, from Mussolini to Hitler, have been put forth as the anti-christ and a sign that we are in the end times. Today is no different, Harold Camping is teaching that the rapture will occur May 21, 2011. As Christians, we have to know what the Bible says about these things. That is why American Vision is sponsoring the National Prophecy Conference at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, NC. Join us June 1-4 for a comprehensive look at understanding Bible prophecy.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Don’t Be Afraid to Put Your Prophetic Views to the Test
Every time American Vision posts an article on eschatology or sends out an email promoting a prophecy product, we get quite a few emails from people who get upset with us, actually with me. I’m used to it. I’m only bothered by these types of comments because the emailers generally can only see things one way as if their way has been the only way for thousands of years. Too much is riding on their prophetic theology for them to consider any other view, even if it has been thoroughly studied, analyzed, and debated “over, under, sideways, down, backwards, forwards, square and round.”[1] Many Christians are so focused on just a few elements of the Bible that they can’t see anything else. Consider this brainteaser to help illustrate the point:
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Do You Know What the Bible Really Says About Rebuilding the Temple?
Many popular prophecy writers and teachers claim that the temple will be rebuilt as a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Though there are many references to a rebuilt temple in the Old Testament, and that rebuilding did happen, there is no reference to to another rebuilt temple in the New Testament. Come to American Vision’s National Prophecy Conference for an accurate and comprehensive look at Bible prophecy.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Signs of the End Times in the Middle East
Are the riots in Egypt a sign of the End Times? Many prophecy writers say there are many prophetic signs in the Middle East that the end is near. Gary addresses the supposed signs from the book of Zephaniah.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

The Rapture: May 21, 2011
There is a lot of speculation that the rapture will take place in 2011. Gary highlights the predictions of Harold Camping.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Jerusalem: The Have-Not Whore
With his face still set against Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), Jesus continued His journey there, prosecuting His case against the adulterous city as He went. Picking up after the parable of the strong man (11:1-26), this week we’ll proceed further into that lawsuit. As we noted before, Jesus fulfilled the prophet’s role of bringing a covenant lawsuit against an unfaithful covenant partner-in this case, Jerusalem. She had been unfaithful. Her idolatries amounted to spiritual adultery. This is why Jerusalem is called the “Great Whore” in Revelation 17-18. Earlier prophets had used the same theme (Jer. 3; Eze. 16:26; 23). Ezekiel 23 teaches that Jerusalem had committed even worse whoredom than had her despised sister Samaria. Verses 16-17 say,
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

The Unacceptable Cost of Christian Zionism; Its Legacy of Pain
Truth is the product of Jesus’ work. But those who preach from mega-church pulpits claiming to follow Jesus have been playing the Monopoly war game with the bankers and politicians. Please stop following them! No religious sect has ever been more clearly responsible for so much bloodshed and destruction as “Christian-Zionism.” This 100-year old departure from fundamental Christianity has almost single-handedly legitimized wars upon Arab people since January 1991. Individuals within this Judeo-Christian movement are almost always motivated by altruistic religious belief. I learned this the hard way, by being one of the misguided on the receiving end of this false teaching. The driving force behind its leaders is almost always tainted by money, power, and fame.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

American Vision to Host National Prophecy Conference to Evaluate Growing Prophecy Threat
For the past 40 years, popular Christian writers and speakers have been predicting the end of the world with little success. Unfortunately, the perennial failure of these prognostications has not adequately dissuaded a growing swell of evangelicals who continue to fall prey to constant calls of “the end is near . . . Jesus is coming soon . . . we’re living in the last days.” Convicted that the present flood of end-times warnings are not only misleading millions of people, but are also impugning the credibility of the church and its message, American Vision has assembled a 7-member conference panel to discuss this growing threat to the integrity of the Christian religion and the authority of the Bible.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Parables of Judgment
As I wrote last week, “Most people don’t realize that many if not most of Jesus’ parables were intended not as general morality tales, but as particular pronouncements of coming judgment and change. Jesus was warning Jerusalem to repent and to accept its new King (Jesus) or else fall under ultimate condemnation of God. In fact, much of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels pertains primarily to that pre-AD 70 crowd, and without reading it in this light, we misunderstand it. And when we misunderstand it, we misapply it.”
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

Just Like the Days of Noah
Almost daily I get questions about prophetic topics. In most cases, I’ve already dealt with them in my books Last Days Madness, The Early Church and the End of the World, Why the End of the World is Not in Your Future, and 10 Popular Prophecy Myths Exposed and Answered. When I point people to these books for my take on a particular passage, a number of them bristle at the suggestion. A few of them want a “yes” or “no” answer right then and there. It’s almost never that simple. What they’re really looking for is an excuse not to study the issue.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

End Of Days In May? ‘Christian’ Group Spreads Word
If there had been time, Marie Exley would have liked to start a family. Instead, the 32-year-old Army veteran (sic) has less than six months left, which she’ll spend spreading a stark warning: Judgment Day is almost here.Exley is part of a movement of Christians loosely organized by radio broadcasts and websites, independent of churches and convinced by their reading of the Bible that the end of the world will begin May 21, 2011.
– by Tom Breen, Associated Press / Yahoo News

The Beast of Revelation: Identified (DVD)
Features Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry’s teaching at the 1999 Ligonier conference. This presentation features Dr. Kenneth L. Gentry’s one-hour teaching on the book of Revelation from the 1999 Ligonier conference in Orlando, Florida. An introduction hosted by Eric Holmberg sets the stage with dramatic vignettes and a critique of the dispensational view of the end-times prevalent in American pop culture. An additional one-hour question and answer session follows as Dr. Gentry attempts to answer the question: Who is the beast of Revelation?
– by The Forerunner

All Israel will be Saved, but Not All Israel
In response to my views on Jerusalem and the Mother of Harlots in Revelation 17, some readers expressed their predictable denial. God would never write off ethnic and physical Jerusalem in that way, they say, because He made an eternal covenant with Abraham and his seed. One reader objected thusly:
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

Jerusalem, Mother of Harlots
Jesus told his listeners, “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt. 21:43). For many people, this verse provides the heart of “replacement theology”–the idea that the Christian Church has replaced the old physical nation of Israel as God’s chosen people and priestly nation (1 Pet. 2:9–10, et al). Without requiring the use of the label “replacement,” this is essentially what the verse teaches. It does not mean that Jewish people can never again taste of God’s grace, it simply means that the Old Jewish way of God”s witness and work on earth–the Old Testament Temple ritual system–was being abolished. It was being abolished because it was never meant to be permanent, but only a symbol that pointed to the reality of Jesus Christ, the true Temple, the true Emanuel.
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

Why the Dome-of-the-Rock is Better than a Re-Built Temple
I say let the Dome-of-the-Rock stand. In fact, I will go so far as to say that it would be non-Christian and unbiblical to call for its replacement by a Jewish Temple. Rather, in due time, Christ reigning from his current throne will spread the Gospel and subdue all His enemies—even the Muslim and Jewish enemies. He will bring them into the Church—His body—the only True Temple and Dwelling Place of God. Even Zion has been “spiritualized,” if you will-revealed to be fulfilled in the person of the Ascended Christ: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” (Heb. 12:22-24). (Was the writer of Hebrews really guilty of “spiritualizing” the text?!)

What is Zion but the Spirit-Indwelt people of God? What is the Temple except these same Indwelt people of God? To trade this truth for any stack of concrete blocks on any hill is to trample the Son of God underfoot and slap God in the face.

Someday, even Muslims and Jews will be converted and understand this truth. Some dispensationalists may see it, too. When that day comes, that beautiful golden-domed Mosque may just make a very pretty church.

Before then, I would hate to see it spoiled with the worthless blood of bulls and goats, and the idolatrous incantations of would be Sadducees (Heb. 9).
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

No Biblical Support for Christian Zionism’s Political Views
Zionism denies all basic teaching of Jesus and the Prophets. Were it not for mega millions of misled Christian Zionists in America who support Israel’s war making agenda in the Middle East there would be no occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and Philistine, and children could sleep soundly in Lebanon, Iran and Gaza confident that no American made bombs would fall on their beds tonight
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Part II: No Biblical Support Exists for Christian Zionism’s Political Views
The church-centered pro-Zionist group that influence the largest voting bloc in the U.S.A, practice the reverse of what their leaders say they believe. Southern Baptists and most non-denominational mega-churches are led by TV celebrities, profess that the Bible is the literal, inerrant word of God, preserved by His hand. They teach not from the ancient words, but from man added footnotes and commentaries inserted into several popular study bibles, which often avoid or deny Jesus words. This is the dark secret this sect can not face. This author’s audio-visual presentation on this subject is called “The Tragedy and The Turning.”
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Matthew 24: A Summary
Matthew 24 may be the most misinterpreted passage of Scripture and is one of the pillars of dispensationalism. In this episode, Gary quickly goes through the chapter, dispelling the myths and misinterpretations.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

The Olivet Discourse
As one of the cornerstones of Dispensational Eschatology, the Olivet Discourse is crucial for proper teaching and understanding. In this episode, Gary covers some of the main points of difference taught from Matthew 24. It all comes down to whether you really believe Jesus or not.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Prophetic Speculation under the Microscope
In yesterday’s article, “Testing the Prophets (Again),” I began a brief response to Greg Laurie’s article “Are these signs of the times?” I included comments From H. Wayne House who is a NT scholar and takes a dispensational premillennial approach to the passage. One of House’s points is that the “wars and rumors of wars” mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 24:6 had to be global. But notice Jesus’ words: “you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars.” There is no expectation that His audience would see or experience any of these wars. They would only be hearing about them. The dispensationalists expect “global warfare and chaos.”
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Church Superstition and 666
Many, if not most, Christians refrain from much, if any, involvement in politics or modern culture. More troubling still is when the Church does get involved but over something inconsequential and superstitious. If Christian’s would adopt a biblical worldview and eschatology, and work to redeem our culture, we would see a radical difference!
– by American Vision’s Vantage Point

Testing the Prophets (Again)
As this millennial decade comes to an end and North Korea is rattling its military sword, popular Christian writers will reach into their prophecy bags, appeal to the Bible, and tell us that the end is near. The more judicious ones don’t come right out and say Jesus’ coming will take place in “our generation”; they temper their claims with something like this: “So is the end of the world near? I don’t know for certain, but clearly there are signs of the times.” Greg Laurie, like so many prophecy writers past and future, adds a caveat after spending a dozen or more paragraphs marshalling what he believes are incontrovertible evidences that the end must be near. No one would pay much attention to articles on prophecy if their authors didn’t suggest in nearly dogmatic terms that Jesus IS returning very, very, very soon.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Eschatology Matters: Competing Worldviews
Christians aren’t the only ones with a view of the future. Every religion and major social or political movement has an eschatology that effects how they conduct day to day life. In this episode Gary looks at some of the various major eschatological views and the impact they have had on our culture.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Prophecy Fulfilled Exactly!
Teacher, when will this be? And what will be the sign that this will happen? These questions of the disciples (Luke 21:7) were asked following the Lord’s declaration that “there won’t be one stone left upon another that won’t be thrown down” (v. 6). The discussion had to do with the future of the temple in Jerusalem (and the city of Jerusalem, where it was located). The words, as is obvious, can’t mean anything less than total destruction.
– by Jay Adams / Institute For Nouthetic Studies

Who Is The Antichrist?
Through the years there have been many theories on the identity of “The Antichrist”. The common belief held by many Christians today looks quite different than what you actually find in the Bible. How important is it to have a correct eschatology and does it really matter?
– by American Vision’s Vantage Point

Christians Who Argue Like Idiots
American Vision received many responses to an article Joel McDurmon wrote on “The Anti-Christ Hoax.” Some of the responses were well thought out and reasonable but many were idiotic at best. It makes you wonder if these Christians read, comprehend and think during their study of the Bible any better than they do online.
– by American Vision’s Vantage Point

The Antichrist Hoax
You can pretty much rest assured that prophecy teachers (pastor, preacher, “prophet,” pundit, televangelist, and the like) have little idea what they’re talking about when they use the phrase “the Antichrist.” It’s a dead giveaway that any such person has sold out dogmatically, uncritically, and close-mindedly to a particular system of end-times theology rather than a purely biblical assessment of the issue.

Why such a strong conclusion over the mere phrase “the Antichrist”?

Because no such character appears in Scripture. Let me explain.
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

Was Luther Wrong About Modern-Day Israel?
We live in a world of Christianity today that is fixated with ethnic Israelites, “the future of Israel,” and the physical land of Israel today as a focus for prophecy and alleged end-times events. Fixated. The suggestion that the promises of an eternal Kingdom are fulfilled in Israel the New Testament Church draws accusations of “anti-semitism,” or “anti-Judaism” as one scholar has recently put it.[1] Who could dare be so callous and unloving to the Jewish people as to claim they have no special place in the future of Bible prophecy? Anyone who so cold as to “exclude” “God’s chosen people” from the promises “made to them” must simply be filled with prejudice and hate.

The poster-boy for this “hateful” claim is Martin Luther.
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

Does Prophecy Really Matter?
End times doomsayers have been saying the same thing since Dispensational theology was formulated and systemetized in the 19th century. Yet, none of their claims come to pass. Meanwhile, generations come and go and Christians slowly give up the great freedoms bought by the blood of our forefathers.

My wife found this haunting quote by Ronald Reagan in Janet Folger’s new book, The Criminalization of Christianity:

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
– by Brandon / American Vision

Why I Began to Write on Prophetic Subjects
I began writing on prophetic subjects after I began to speak on the topic of “God and Government” after the publication of my first book of the same name. After addressing how government is not a synonym for politics and outlining what the Bible says about developing a biblical worldview, invariably there would be someone in the audience who would ask a relevancy questions: “How is any of this relevant since we know that we’re living in the last days and Jesus is returning soon?” This was in 1983. Two volumes of God and Government followed in 1984 and 1986.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

What Does Peter Mean by the Passing Away of Heaven and Earth? A Study of 2 Peter 3
If there’s one passage of Scripture that is repeatedly brought up as an indictment against anyone who objects to modern-day prophetic speculation, it is 2 Peter 3:3-18. If you dispute with those who argue that all the signs around us indicate that we are living in the “last days,” then you are labeled a “scoffer” or a “mocker” (2 Peter 3:3). If this is true, then how should we describe those who argued that proposed signs during the two world wars were not signs of the end? They were right! Were they “scoffers”? The same could be asked about those who rejected the claim that events surrounding the French Revolution in the 18th century were sure signs of a prophetic end of all things. Every generation has had those who claimed the end was near and those who argued that the end was not near. Appealing to contemporary signs to make predictions of a near end has a long history as Francis Gumerlock demonstrates in his book The Day and the Hour. One would think that by now Christians would stop doing it. But they don’t. They know revving people up over the “last days” sells books, lots of books.
– by Gary DeMar and David Chilton / American Vision

Earthquakes, Floods & War: Is It the End of the World?
Every day we hear of earthquakes, war, floods, volcanoes and other disasters and troubles all over the world. Is this a sign of the end of the world? With the advent of the Tea Party movement and the decline of the Republican party due to its compromise and liberal leanings, is there a need for a third party in America?
– by American Vision’s Vantage Point

The Unannounced Reason Behind American Fundamentalism’s Support for the State of Israel
Their eschatology has produced a kind of Catch-22 for fundamentalists. What if, as a result of evangelism, the Jews of Israel were converted en masse to Christianity? They would then be Raptured, along with their Gentile brethren, leaving only Arabs behind. This scenario would make the immediate fulfillment of prophecy impossible: no post-Rapture Israelis to persecute. So, fundamentalists have concluded that the vast majority of the Jews of Israel cannot, will not, and must not be converted to Christianity.

This raises an obvious question: Why spend money on evangelizing Israelis? It would be a waste of resources. This is why there are so few active fundamentalist ministries in Israel that target Jews. They target Arabs instead. Eschatologically speaking, the body of an Israeli must be preserved, for he may live long enough go through the Great Tribulation. But his soul is expendable. This is why fundamentalists vocally support the nation of Israel, but then do very little to preach to Israelis the traditional Protestant doctrine of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Fundamentalists have a prophetic agenda for Israelis that does not involve at least two-thirds of the Israelis’ souls. Israelis are members of the only group on earth that has an unofficial yet operational King’s X against evangelism by fundamentalists, specifically so that God may preserve Israelis for the sake of the destruction of modern Israel in the Great Tribulation. The presence of Israel validates the hope of fundamentalists that Christians, and Christians alone, will get out of life alive.
– by Gary North / Preterist Archive

Christian Fundamentalism Permeates the Republican Party: Sarah Palin’s links to the Christian Right
Many of the religious evangelical groups in America are coordinated top-down by a secretive organization called the Committee on National Policy. Former close Bush adviser, Rev. Ted Haggard, was a member of the Committee on National Policy until a sex and drugs scandal forced him out in late 2006. Haggard was Pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs described as the ‘evangelical Vatican,’ and was head of the National Association of Evangelicals. Ted Haggard was also a member of a highly significant and little-understood sect known as Joel’s Army or the Manifest Sons of God, the same circles which spawned Sarah Palin.
– by F. William Engdahl / Global Research

Palin goes biblical: Nukes in Iran could lead to Armageddon
“We have to realize that, at the end of the day,” Palin warns in the interview, “a nuclear weapon in that country’s hands is not just Israel’s problem or America’s problem — it is the world’s problem. It could lead to an Armageddon. It could lead to that World War III that could decimate so much of this planet.”
– by Ron Brynaert / The Raw Story

A “Howse” Built on Prophetic Sand
You’re thinking that I misspelled “house.” I didn’t. The reference is to Brannon Howse who heads up Worldview Weekend. A better designation would be “World-Ending Weekend” since so many of his speakers and article topics push an end-of-the-world eschatology. Howse warns his young audiences of the dangers facing society with one batch of speakers and then with another batch of speakers tells the same impressionable and eager audiences that the rapture is near. Here’s a list of some of the many articles he publishes on end-of-the-world themes:
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Eschatology and The New Christian Right
In my article, I pointed to the obviously rival goals of the fundamentalists who had voted for Reagan: pro-political reform vs. pro-Rapture. Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority was inherently schizophrenic. Premillennial dispensational eschatology is committed to portraying the world as inherently incurable and in moral decline. Only the following series of eschatologically inevitable events can reverse this decline: the (somehow) secret Rapture, followed by the Great Tribulation against the State of Israel, followed by the return of Christ to set up an international Christian bureaucracy.
– by Gary North / Chalcedon

Kingdom Come: The Politics of the Millennium
Christianity has played a central role in Western civilization and contributed an important influence on the development of classical-liberal thought. Not surprisingly, Christian beliefs about the “end times” are very important for us right now. Christian Reconstructionism is one of the fastest growing and most influential currents in American religious and political life. Though the fascinating discussions by Jeffrey Tucker and Gary North (in the July and September issues of Liberty) have called libertarian attention to, and helped explain, this movement, to clarify Christian Reconstructionism fully we have to understand the role and problem of millennialism in Christian thought. The problem centers around on the discipline of eschatology, or the Last Days, and on the question, How is the world destined to come to an end?
– by Murray N. Rothbard / LewRockwell.com

A Giant Leap of Faith?
We Hold These Truths has released its new documentary Christian Zionism: The Tragedy & The Turning, Part I. To watch the preview go to: http://vimeo.com/15197234
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

BP and Bible Prophecy
In order to understand the book of Revelation you have to read it against the backdrop of the Old Testament, and you also have to understand the subject matter and the timing as to when these events were to take place. The book of Revelation isn’t describing events in the distant future, it’s describing events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Declaring the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico as fulfillment of Revelation 8 is nonsense.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Oil, Israel and the Apocalypse
Dispensationalists say that there are no signs leading up to the rapture but there are signs leading up to the tribulation. Since the tribulation is supposed to occur right after the rapture, signs for the rapture would, by default, be signs for the tribulation as well. Throughout history, every major disaster has been touted as a sign of the end, in spite of the fact that we are still anticipating a signless, imminent rapture.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Signs of a Signless Event
The majority of dispensationalism teaches a pretribulational rapture that could happen at any time. If the rapture is an imminent event, then Israel becoming a nation again, or any particular sign, prior to a pretribulational rapture cannot be a prophetic sign. It’s no wonder that so many Christians are confused about Bible prophecy.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

The Jewish World is Not Unified on Zionism
And, Christian Zionism is being challenged here in the United States. Christian Zionists believe that the modern state of Israel is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy and that Christians must support Israel no matter what Israel does, and, support wars in the Middle East to protect Israel. A recently introduced documentary, With God On Our Side (www.withgodonourside.com) , and We Hold These Truths’ new documentary, Christian Zionism: The Tragedy and Turning, help expose and explain why Christian Zionists hold to such religious dogma that allows them to turn their backs on the suffering of the Palestinian people at the hands of Israel with the support of the United States government. We must pray to God for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Israel but work as if it depends on us alone. After all, it was Jesus who said, “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31)
– by Tom Compton / We Hold These Truths

Dispensational Prophecy Myths Busted
Gary DeMar recently debated Jim Fletcher, author of “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine)” and director of Prophecy Matters, on whether or not modern Israel is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. In preparation for this debate, Gary wrote a new book titled “10 Popular Prophecy Myths Exposed”. This book lays out some of the most popular dispensational teachings and refutes them from God’s Word.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Modern Israel in Bible Prophecy
Many Bible prophecy teachers and writers believe and teach that Israel becoming a nation in 1948 is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The revival of the Hebrew language is often taught as a fulfillment of Zephaniah 3:9. Should the Bible be viewed through the lens of current events or should we rather view current events through the lens of the Bible?
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Poll: 41 percent expect Jesus by 2050
More than four out of 10 U.S. citizens expect Jesus Christ to return to Earth during the next 40 years, a poll suggests. The Washington-based Pew Research Center said its telephone poll of 1,546 adults, conducted April 21-26, found 41 percent of respondents expect Jesus to return by 2050, while 46 percent said it would definitely or probably not happen. he think-tank said 58 percent of respondents who identified themselves as white evangelical Christians agreed Jesus would be back by 2050, compared to 32 percent of Catholics and 27 percent of white mainline Protestants.
– by United Press International

Does Prophetic Speculation Hurt the Gospel?
Predictions of Armageddon and impending world destruction have the same effect as the boy that cried wolf, weakening the gospel message to unbelievers.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Hoping and Praying for Gog and Magog to Attack
I knew it would happen. The latest incident in Israel has brought out the prophetic speculators again. “A council of rabbis in Israel says their nation’s conflict with Turkey over a flotilla of ‘aid’ ships headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip controlled by the terrorist Hamas organization just may be the beginning of the ‘Gog and Magog process where the world is against us, but which ends with the third and final redemption'” (see here). Picking up on the story, Christian prophecy speculator Joel Rosenberg takes a similar position but with some caution:
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Prophecies of Gog and Magog Fulfilled – Again?
End times “gurus” are pointing to the recent flotilla raid in Israel as fulfillment of the gog and magog prophecies. Gary examines these claims in today’s episode and exposes them in the light of scripture
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Renee’s Family Picket at Her Church
Renee was raised a Southern Baptist and attended community churches all her life. She says she was taught that “Israel was the chosen people” everywhere she went. Her awakening began about the time of the second bombing of Iraq in 2003 as a result of facts she learned from secular sources, and not from one word spoken by her church. She learned the stories about weapons of mass destruction that persuaded many of her Zionist friends to support the attack were lies. She is now sure that church people are the ones most victimized by this deception. More recently, she learned about the Zionists’ distortions of Biblical scripture. She believes Jesus’ statements: blessed are the peacemakers, love you brother and even your enemy. She says Jesus was the final sacrifice, and she no longer believes the form of pro-Israel racism she was taught at Calvary Community.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Prisoners of Unbiblical Eschatology
In today’s episode Gary takes a look at the crippling effects of incorrect eschatology and how dispensational premillennialism keeps Christians from impacting the world for the Kingdom of Christ.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Why Some Dispensationalists are Like Evolutionists
Millions of Christians are fixated on what is going on in Israel today. Ever since Israel became a nation again in 1948, prophecy writers have insisted that this event is a prophetic sign that we are nearing the conclusion of the so-called Church Age. When 1988 came and went (40 years after Israel’s modern founding), a new paradigm had to be found to explain why the rapture had not taken place before the end of 1988, as Hal Lindsey and Chuck Smith had predicted, and before the new millennium, as Jerry Falwell and John F. Walvoord had predicted. There was a lull in the prophetic storm when 1988 passed without the promised “rapture” of the church. …Dispensationalist prophecy writers are like evolutionists. When the facts don’t fit the theory, modify the theory.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

The End Times?
As one raised in Dispensational theology, I understand first hand the End-Time jitters and paranoia associated with that particular interpretation of Scripture. I lived through the Hal Lindsey and Edgar Whisenant’s End-Time scares. Through the years of study in the Scriptures, however, I have rejected that view for a number of reasons.
– by Rusty Lee Thomas / Forerunner.com

‘Is Gary DeMar a Demon?’ Really?
Gary responds to an emailer who accuses him of “demonic teachings”. Using scripture to interpret itself, Gary exposes the emailer’s error and brings truth to light.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Interview With Rev. John C. Egerdahl
Interview: Rev. John C. Egerdahl, author, ‘the Bible Versus Dispensational Eschatology,’ A demonic doctrine. That is the topic on this “The American View” radio program which broadcasts live, daily, from 11 am to Noon (EST) and is now on the Liberty News Radio Network.
– by John Lofton / The American View

Pastor John Hagee: Is the Devil in Him?
John Hagee, the megachurch televangelist, is approaching the Washington, D.C. area again, ready to land in his private jet on July 20. An army of politicians and wide-eyed believers will follow this professed “man of God” who outdoes, in a sinister way, televangelists Pat Robertson and the late Jerry Falwell combined. Although Falwell did receive a Lear jet from the Israeli government in 1979, he never had an 8,000-acre luxury ranch loaded with mansions, hotels, barns and a private landing strip. But Hagee, the “corpulent con man,” as he is popularly known, does. This Texas pirate is running a large number of organizations all geared toward spreading the word of the coming rapture and promoting war for Israel.
– by Thomas L. McFadden / American Free Press

Is the “Day of the Lord” the end of the World?
Gary continues his review of “Will the World End in 2012?” by Raymond C. Hundley. In this segment Gary takes a closer look at Dr. Hundley’s interpretation of prophecies from Zephaniah and Joel in the Old Testament.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Doomsday Predictions Debunked
In the conclusion of his review of the book Will the World End in 2012? by Dr. Raymond C. Hundley, Gary looks at the prophecies of Nahum and Malachi as well as many instances where the word “near” is used in reference to the “end times.”
– by The Gary DeMar Show

A New Kind of Future
The eighth question that is “transforming the Christian faith,” according to author Brian McLaren, is the biblically and politically heated question of eschatology. For those not familiar with the term, eschatology refers to the study of “last things,” and specifically, in this case, to the interpretation of what the Bible has to say about these last things. McLaren rightly points out that some version of the dispensational view, which was “invented somewhat recently…[and] popularized worldwide through the Scofield Reference Bible” (p. 191), is far and away the most popular and accepted interpretation among the modern evangelical church. I would go even further and say that dispensationalism has become so synonymous with modern evangelicalism that most churches are dispensational simply by default. Many are not only unaware of the “newness” of the system, but they would be shocked to learn that any credible alternatives to it actually exist.
– by Eric Rauch / American Vision

“Last Days” Not Quite Prophetic
Gary responds to an e-mail he received recently that a person sent in reaction to an American Vision Ad sent through e-mail that commented on the dispensational thinking that has led to the decline of Christianity in America. This e-mailer tries to bring out passages that talk about the “last days” to bolster the thinking that Jesus will come back only after things get really bad. Gary contends that these passages refer to today, not the future.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

It’s Not Getting Worse, It’s Always Been Like This
Gary DeMar continues discussing an e-mail he received questioning his viewpoint on the end times. Gary discusses how the “last days” in the Bible apply to New Covenant times, not to some futuristic event, and addresses the issue of things supposedly getting worse before Christ returns.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

‘The Left Behind Fantasy’
Interview with William Powell Tuck, author, “The Left Behind Fantasy: The Theology Behind The ‘Left Behind’ Tales.” That is the topic on this “The American View” radio program which broadcasts live, daily, from 11 am to Noon (EST) and is now on the Liberty News Radio Network.
– by John Lofton / The American View

The Theology Behind the Left Behind Tales
The popular Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins has sold more than 62 million copies since the first volume appeared in 1995. Jerry Falwell pronounced it the most important series of books in the history of modern Christianity. Many readers have assumed it gives the true facts about the way the world will end and what will happen to all the people in it. But according to real biblical scholarship, this series is seriously flawed. Based on a misreading of many scriptures, including Daniel and the Book of Revelation, it has fed a kind of hysteria in the Christian populace that has led many people to reorder their existence in expectation of an impending doom and the sudden, unexpected return of Jesus. In this book, William Powell Tuck carefully and authoritatively refutes the premises and faulty theology of the Left Behind books, critiquing them in the light of genuine biblical scholarship and common sense.
– by William Powell Tuck / Wipf and Stock Publishers

Left Behind Answered Verse by Verse
LEFT BEHIND rejects the teaching of Martin Luther and John Calvin (leaders of the Protestant Reformation), Roger Williams (the first Baptist pastor in America), John Knox (early Scottish Presbyterian), Cotton Mather (a leader of Congregationalists in the American colonies), John Wesley (Methodist), John Wycliffe (Bible translator), John Huss (martyred by the Inquisition), and the 1646 Westminster Confession of Faith.
– by David A. Reed / Left Behind Answered Verse by Verse

Interpreting the Bible With the Bible
Many end times “prophets” seek to pull out individual verses from the Bible and base all their eschatology on that one verse, ignoring the historical and biblical context. Gary DeMar discusses the errors in this way of interpreting the Bible and how to avoid it.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Shaking Up Bible Prophecy
End times’ speculators look to the Bible for signs and wonders of the last days, then predict that the end is near because we experience the kind of natural disasters the Bible mentions. Earthquakes have always been happening–practically everyday. What make the earthquakes of the end times unique is what Gary DeMar sheds light on in today’s show.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Dispensationalists Want Lots of Jews Wiped Out
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu recently proclaimed the fulfillment of the prophecy in Ezekiel 37. Dispensationalist Jan Markell is excited that an authoritative Israelite is on the Bible prophecy bandwagon. What dispensationalists are not telling Israelites is that they believe two-thirds of them are potentially about to be wiped out! Gary DeMar reports on this and reflects on the errors of interpretations in Old Testament Scriptures that dispensationalists make.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Judaized Christianity is a Front for New World Order 1956
“Darby and the Plymouth Brethren brought a Jewish Christianity to America. Masons Rutherford and Russell started Jehovah Witnesses’ Judaism which is now worldwide with their message of the divine kingdom. Mason Joseph Smith started Mormon Judaism with its Jewish teaching of millennialism.”—“At the turn of the twentieth century there appeared the Scofield Bible with a Jewish interpretation of the prophecies. With wide use of this “helpful” aid, all the American churches have silently become synagogues. We now have Baptist Jews, Methodist Jews, Church of God Jews, apostate Catholic Jews, and many Protestant Jews throughout America. We are aliens in our own country because of false religion.” —Senator Joseph McCarthy (1908-1957)
– by Henry Makow.com / We Hold These Truths

Rockefeller and the New Temple in Jerusalem
Prophecy enthusiasts speculate that a man on the rise to ‘savior’ status in the Middle East will build a new temple in Jerusalem! Of course, this story has come and gone, and the developments are not true. But what are Christians expecting to happen if a new temple is built in Jerusalem, anyway? Gary DeMar explores the Biblical ramifications of Jerusalem and such a temple.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Gary Answers Your Bible Prophecy Interpretations
In response to yesterday’s show and an article on the same topic, many of our followers commented on the matter. These Christian friends wanted to tell Gary why he was wrong in interpreting Matthew 24 as “events that must soon take place.” If Christians will study the whole of Scripture and take the meaning of the Greek words for what they literally translate to mean, they will come to the same conclusions Gary has arrived at. Gary revisits Matthew 24 and opens discussion to the book of Revelation to follow up with your comments.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

What Matthew 24 Really Means
People often make the mistake of not getting all the facts on the table before they make a case about the facts. Example: Bible prophecy is often misinterpreted when Christians assume Bible passages must fit into their presupposed eschatology. “Pay no mind to what the Bible says-I’ve already made up my mind what the Bible means….” Gary DeMar urges viewers to take Biblical facts at face value, and not reorder or redefine the facts to fit your presupposed beliefs.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Interpreting Signs of the End Times
Interest in Bible prophecy is picking up again among Christian eschatology enthusiasts. The integrity of the Bible is at stake when Christians make assumptions about the end times making the claim the Bible supports them. When students, unbelievers, and the Church at large are watching to see whether Christians will rightly discern the truth, Christians should carefully represent Scripture — accurately relating Bible prophecy to the world at large.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

The Early Church and Bible Prophecy
The Early Church and the End of the World by Gary DeMar and Francis Gumerlock asks this fundamental question: “What did the earliest of the early Christian writers actually believe about prophetic events?” We can only answer this question by studying what they wrote. Unfortunately, we do not have a complete record of the period. Many of their surviving works are only fragments of larger works no longer available to us. To make an historical investigation even more difficult, there are translation issues. Many of the works of those who wrote just before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and beyond have not been translated into English.
– by Eric Rauch / The American Vision

A History of Dispensationalism in America
The issue before us is not a few minor differences or disagreements between those who hold basically the same position. It is not just a difference in eschatology. It is the whole system of theology that touches every major doctrine of Christianity. What is at stake is the saving gospel of Jesus Christ and the sinner’s assurance that he is living according to God’s plan for history.
– by Ernest Reisinger / Reformation Online

Rapture and Resurrection
When shall the saints be raptured from earth to meet their Lord? When shall believers be “caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air,” ever to be with Him (I Thess. 4:17)? The passage just cited makes it clear that the rapture coincides with (1) the resurrection of the saints (vv. 1316, and “together with them” in v. 17), and (2) the coming of the Lord from heaven (v. 16). Scripture elsewhere clarifies when these two events shall occur.
– by Greg L. Bahnsen / Reformation Online

Sit Back, Enjoy The Wickedness
It’s All Suppose To Happen This Way!
Those who say it is the end times so things are suppose to get worse, neutralize Christian men, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The preoccupation with ever-changing prophecy charts by Christians in America has produced bad fruit which is evidenced by the state of our nation.

The truth is Christ is a king (I Tim.1:17). He is “the ruler over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5). He is the King of kings and Lord of lords (I Tim 6:15). His kingdom is to expand in the earth (Lk.13:18-20). His is a conquering kingdom (Mt.16:18). The reputation of the early Church Christians was that they “turned the world upside down…saying there is another king – Jesus.” (Acts 17:7).

Unfortunately when it comes to the Church in America, all His ambassadors and soldiers have left the field of battle having been neutralized by the faulty idea of present-day, popular, ever-changing eschatological schemes.
– by Matt Trewhella / The Covenant News

Harold Camping’s 2011 Apocalyptic Predictions
There are many Christian dispensational scholars that predict the time of “the end” of the world. One more such person, you may have not heard of, is Harold Camping. If you’ve been watching Bible prophecy discussions closely since the early 1990s you may remember his name. Gary DeMar reviews reports from Camping that the end of the world is in 2011 (just like Camping said it was going to be in 1994).
– by The Gary DeMar Show

The History of Preterism and Futurism: Poisoning the Well
Moreover, while history is instructive, it is not authoritative. In the final analysis, Christians should want to know what the Bible says on the subject of eschatology.

A modern-day competitor to dispensationalism and a long-term competitor to full blown futurism is preterism. Preterists believe the majority of NT prophetic texts were fulfilled in the lead up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem that took place in A.D. 70. Preterists base their reasoning on the use of time words like “near,” “shortly, and “quickly,” the way “this generation” is used by Jesus in the synoptic gospels, and other considerations.
– by Gary DeMar / The American Vision

What is Preterism? Part 1
Most Christians don’t learn the competing view-points of Christian eschatology. Do you know what preterism is? How about partial-preterism? Gary answers Christian scholar Stephen Myers’ preterism misinterpretations. It is good to know your terms, types, and answer a man accurately.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

What is Preterism? Part 2
The prophecies in the Word of God make sense and speak for themselves. Gary reviews Old and New Testament prophecies that show how the destruction of Jerusalem was the focus of their intent. Most of Revelation does not relate future events, but instead the events of the first century in the Roman Empire.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

The End of Christian Zionism, or Just a Facelift?
Join us for a fascinating discussion with Chuck Carlson of www.whtt.org as he discusses the attempt on the part of Zionist interests to change the ugly face of Christian Zionism (John Hagee, Pat Robertson et al) with the ‘new and improved’ version featuring creatures such as Rick Warren and Sarah Palin. Listen Now
– by The Liberty Hour

Critically Studying Biblical Eschatology
People’s eschatology effects the way they live out their worldview. Pre-millennialists and post-millennialists acknowledge this. The relationship between eschatology and culture is inseparable in each generation and nation. Gary critically evaluates his critics that suggest “getting along” is more important than rightly interpreting Bible prophecy. If Biblical eschatology can be understood by believers today, it is most important for Christians to the right eschatological view so that they will most effectively live out biblical dominion. Without a correct interpretation, Christians will inevitably loose heart and passively acknowledge what their Lord has in mind for the Church to do.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Is Abraham Part of the History of a New Faith?
Evangelical (Judeo-Christians) are the lone exception, they have invented theology that suggests God’s plan failed the first time God tried it on man because the surviving Israelites were so stubborn and evil as not to accept Jesus. They have it that God had to go back to the drawing board and work out a second Jesus re-run to fix the broken plan…therefore, they conclude His kingdom is yet to come.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Israel Rules
Adding to the war cry are congregations of fake Christians. A great number of them, organized by someone’s money under the banner, “Christian Leaders for a Nuclear-free Iran,” has written to Congress demanding sanctions against Iran that amount to an act of war. The roll call includes the “Christian” Zionist John Hagee, who, according to reports, denigrates Jesus Christ and preaches to his illiterate congregation that it is God’s will for Americans to fight and die for Israel, the oppressor of the Palestinian people.

Among the signatories of the “Christians” demanding an act of war against Iran, are Dr. Pat Robertson, president of Christian Broadcasting Network, Nixon-era criminal Chuck Colson, and Richard Land, president of Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention. Obviously, for southern Baptists ethics means murdering Islamists, and religious liberty excludes everyone but “Christian” Zionists.

It is a simple matter for an educated person to make fools of these morons who profess to be Christians. However, these morons have vast constituencies numbering in the tens of millions of Americans. There are, in fact, more of them than there are intelligent, informed, moral, and real Christian Americans.
– by Paul Craig Roberts / VDare.com

Film: Waiting for Armageddon
Americas 50-million strong Evangelical community is convinced that the world’s future is foretold in Biblical prophecy – from the Rapture to the Battle of Armageddon. This astonishing documentary explores their world – in their homes, at conferences, and on a wide-ranging tour of Israel. By interweaving Christian, Zionist, Jewish and critical perspectives along with telling archival materials, the filmmakers probe the politically powerful – and potentially explosive – alliance between Evangelical Christians and Israelan alliance that may set the stage for what one prominent Evangelical leader calls World War III.
– by You Tube

Dealing With Straw Man Eschatology
In the Preterist view, God has canceled every covenant with Israel. There is no future or significance for the Jewish people or Israel as a nation. There is no fulfillment of the Davidic covenant. There is no reign of Messiah from a throne in Jerusalem. All of God’s promises to Israel have been nullified. Israel has been replaced by the church.

-Dr. Robert Heidler

The above assessment of preterism is inaccurate, mistaken, erroneous, wrong, incorrect, false, bogus, and misinformed. Have I missed anything? How about flawed and untrue? One would call Heidler’s understanding of preterism as it relates to Israel a straw man, “a false caricature of another position.”[1] Like any straw man, it’s easily set aflame. Let’s begin by pointing out some obvious errors. Quoting Old Testament prophecy, Peter describes how the Davidic covenant was fulfilled in exacting detail in Jesus:
– by The Gary DeMar / The American Vision

Dallas Seminary and the New Dispensationalism
Gary reviews a recent article by Dan Wallace about how Dallas Seminary graduate students are rejected by secular doctoral programs because the school is dispensational.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Reading Into Bible Prophecy
Gary debates the dispensational views of Bible prophecy. Dispensational scholars have said the burden of proof is on the preterists, but as Gary demonstrates, it’s quite the other way around.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Prophecy Past Vs. Prophecy Future
Gary uses scholarly biblical hermeneutics to make an honest interpretation of Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy supports more fulfillment of Revelation than not. The fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 must be explained by dispensational scholars to validate futurist apocalyptic prophecy.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Preterism in the Witness Box
Gary counters more dispensationalism with Bible-based facts. The New Testament lays out a “soon” judgement of Israel, and how it was fulfilled was through the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. Dr. Heidler interprets Preterism as replacement theology, but as Gary explains, there’s not a replacement at all.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Preterism Found in the Book of Acts
What dispensationalists think preterists believe usually is not true. There are several misconceptions about preterism that are commonly spread by dispensational scholars. Gary tackles the subject to give you a better understanding of how preterism is supported by Bible prophecy.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Israel in End Times Bible Prophecy
Gary describes the different views of interpretation in Bible prophecy in relation to the nation of Israel. Some Christians believe Israel is set apart from the Church; others think the Church is added to the “children of God” and the outgrowth of “God’s people” since the time of the apostles. Learn how to make sense of all the views and see what is consistent with the Word of God in today’s show.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Scripture Plucking to Justify Land Theft and Murder
The New Testament (the whole book of Galatians for one place) deals with this question of who is Abram’s “seed” from the only prospective a Christian can honestly take, which is Abraham is part of the history of a new faith. But the Jewish Federation people Henry is dealing with will not accept the New Covenant because, (1) they don’t believe there was a Jesus, and (2), if they did accept the new covenant they lose their argument for the land. Christian Zionists must also ignore many of Jesus’ words in order to continue their worship and support of political Israel. Thus they stop being Christ followers for the sake of Israel.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

2012, Prophetic Speculation, & Tim LaHaye
The Hollywood film ‘2012’ is based on the Mayan calendar which predicts that the end of the world will come the same year
– by The Gary DeMar Show

After Six Years of Vigils in Front of Christian Zionist Churches
We sense a powerful undertow pulling in our direction at this our 6th intervention at Hagee’s event. But that tide against the bigotry of Christian Zionism has yet to reach the mainstream media, which was present at Symphony Hall, but wrote not one word nor aired one photo of it for the public to see. ABC affiliate Channel 15 TV interviewed several of our people including this writer. ‘The reporter told us he had to hurry to have his story ready for the 5:00 PM news. But our message to the press is: “Christians are worshiping Israel instead of Jesus; they have blood on their hands; The killing will stop when churches stop supporting war.” Our message did not make the 5:00 PM news nor the 10:00 PM news, nor any news at all.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Are You Suffering From E.D.?
Christians who suffer from this Dysfunction are often unware that there are sound, biblical cures and remedies for their malady. If you feel you are suffering from this condition, it may be time to have “the talk”: a basic discussion of the present power and reign of Jesus Christ, from his present throne in heaven, through His people and providence on earth. This talk begins with the importance of Psalm 110 and the Great Commission Christ gave His people just after his declaration that “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matt. 28:18-20).
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

The Pandemic of End-Times Dysfunction
Joel McDurmon, hosting today’s show for Gary DeMar, exposes End-times Dysfunction (E.D.) for what it is. Joel shares with doomsdayers how they can get relief from their paranoia and troubled souls.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

The Importance of Psalm 110
The New Testament quotes from Psalm 110 more than from any other Old Testament passage. This apostolic emphasis deserves more attention than it has so far received. In the New Testament references to this passage we find the determinant keys to Eschatology, or the doctrine of the future. The resulting ideas we glean from how Peter, Paul, and others apply Psalm 110 overturn much of the popular understanding of prophecy and “end times” teaching. A more consistent understanding will help modern Christians see through popular doom and gloom, through maniacal apocalyptic hysteria, and instead apprehend an optimism and goal-oriented Christian life many have not even yet considered.
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

The Ninety-Five Theses Against Dispensationalism
What follows should not be interpreted to mean that NiceneCouncil.com nor the historic Bible believing church would place every dispensationalist outside of the Christian faith. We acknowledge that most are dedicated to the foundational orthodox doctrines of Christianity. Unlike the sixteenth century dispute over the doctrine of justification, this is an in-house discussion, a debate among evangelical Christians. We recognize and treasure all born again believers who operate within a dispensational framework as brothers and sisters in Christ.

However, we must remember that Paul loved his fellow apostle Peter and esteemed him the senior and more honored of the two of them. Nevertheless, when it came to a point of theology that had profound implications for the purity and health of the Church, Paul was constrained by his love for Christ and the Truth publicly to withstand Peter to his face. (Galatians 2:11)

Therefore, because we believe that dispensationalism has at least crippled the Church in her duty of proclaiming the gospel and discipling the nations, and out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed in a series of videos written and produced by NiceneCouncil.com under the title The Late Great Planet Church. And as iron sharpens iron we request that every Christian, congregation, and denomination discuss and debate these issues. By the grace of our great Sovereign let us engage in this debate with an open mind and an open Bible. Like the Bereans nearly two thousand years ago, let us “search the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things are so.”
– by Dr. Robert L. Reymond / AgainstDispensationalism.com

William Lane Craig and Preterism
Gary answers some of the objections that Dr. William Lane Craig raises regarding the preterist interpretation of Bible prophecy. Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Report on Strait Gate Vigil at Hagee’s Night to Honor Israel, Phoenix
WHTT held its sixth Project Strait Gate Vigil at Christians United For Israel’s (CUFI) Night To Honor Israel, this time in front of the Phoenix Symphony Hall on Oct. 18, 2009. Participants from We Hold These Truths and friends confronted those in attendance with Biblical and moral challenges to their beliefs.

–Most Christian Zionists, including John Hagee and many attendees, believe that: the modern State of Israel is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy; that war is a necessary part of their religion leading to a second conflict in Israel between Jesus himself and the Jewish Pharisees of today; that “born again Christians” are excused by God for bloodshed resulting from the support of Israel’s occupation of Palestine and the US government’s warring in the Middle East; and that it is a sin for “Christians” to fail to support Israel in every way possible.

Video of Chuck Carlson’s Project Strait Gate vigil for peace and justice at John Hagee “A Night to Honor Israel” Phoenix Symphony Hall October 18th 2009.

Part 1 – Part 2
– by We Hold These Truths

Post Rapture Pet Care
“Do you wonder what is going to happen to your pets when Jesus descends from Heaven to re-unite the Church with the Father taking all Christians – dead and alive – up to Heaven? Will your pets be left behind with no-one to care for them? “Have no fear! We at Post Rapture Pet Care are confirmed atheists and as such will be part of the left behind when the time comes. Just because we are atheists doesn’t mean we are not animal lovers. We adore all kind of pets and would love to look after your pets after you are gone.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Who Has the Real ‘Anti-Semitic Bent’?
We showed that it was Lindsey’s dispensational system that has it in for the Jews after the “rapture,” a point I made in my article in response to the “Last Days Fever” article that appeared in Charisma. Dispensationalists teach that two-thirds of the Jews will be killed during their version of a future Great Tribulation, and that prior to the rapture Israel has no prophetic significance since God is now dealing with the church. Lindsey describes the judgment against Israel in A.D. 70 as a “picnic” compared to his super holocaust that will kill billions of people, including two-thirds of the Jews living in Israel.[1]
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

CUFI May Be Coming to your Town…Get Ready
John Hagee openly claims or strongly implies that his success (and yours) is God-given because of his support of Zionism…he claims that God blesses the Christian-Zionists and curses any who dare oppose them. He invites you to prosper by supporting Israel and spins lavish biblical yarns to “prove” his point with distorted scripture. If Pastor Hagee is correct, he and all those who bless Israel by helping destroy Arabs and Islamic countries will be richly blessed, even as we are cursed. I call all Christ followers to this mission at Hagee’s shameful warmaking meetings. John Hagee has even called for a nuclear, pre-emptive strike against Iran to protect Israel.4

We must believe the words of Jesus Christ rather than the words of CUFI. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers”; He never blessed war. Jesus blessed the little children, and He cautioned us to never harm them…in fact, he told us we must be like them in innocence to enter into his kingdom. Jesus would never condone bombing and terrorizing little children on account of their race or capturing and torturing hundreds when they are not old enough to resist.5 He never told us to make warriors out of our own children to destroy others in political wars. Jesus never blessed heinous wars against entire populations of any people, and to do so in his name is to take His own Holy name in vain.

Do John Hagee’s Bible citations mean anything? Very little, as most are snipped out of context. His warring proclamations over the ownership of the land of the Philistines can be traced directly to The Scofield Reference Bible, in the footnotes on pages 19-20 of Genesis Chapter 12: 1-3. This perverted bible is published by Oxford University Press; authored under the pseudonym “Editor Cyrus I. Scofield,” who died 40 years before the current edition appeared.6 These man-made footnotes can be accurately stated to be Zionism’s claim to all the Arab lands of the Middle East.
– by Tom Compton / We Hold These Truths

End-times Madness
Is Jesus returning in 2012? Does the conversion of Jews point to the end times? Gary takes a look at the latest editions of Charisma magazine and gives an educated rebuttal to it’s end-times arguments.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

It’s Time to Dump Dispensationalism
Glenn Beck, a self-proclaimed Mormon, has bought in to the dispensational perspective. Joel Rosenberg, a popular end-time writer and one of Beck’s regulars on his show, was recently discussing “the 12th imam.” How can one man be so forthright against the socialized government yet believe that we’re living in the “end-times?”
– by The Gary DeMar Show

The Evangelical Shift
A cursory reading of the Fundamentals, a series of papers published in 1917 to define the fundamentals of the Christian faith, do not deal with an evangelical evaluation of social reform. There is an article in the Fundamentals that criticizes reforms as modernists developed them, but nothing is offered to replace these social-gospelers. Of course, it was about this time that the dispensational view of eschatology was making its way on the evangelical scene and its doctrine of the “imminent” return of Jesus. Cyrus I. Scofield’s (1843-1921) note-filled study Bible was first published in 1909 and later revised by Scofield in a 1917 edition. Dispensationalism is all about what happens after the rapture of the church. Our time in the “parenthesis” is only temporary. The church is God’s afterthought, His “Plan-B” after His plan-A failed.

The earlier reform worldview espoused by the revivalists “was replaced by an eschatology that looked for the return of Christ to rescue the ‘saints’ out of this world. Premillennial teaching implied that the world was in such bad shape that it would only get worse until the return of Christ. Some even argued that efforts to ameliorate social conditions would merely postpone the ‘blessed hope’ of Christ’s return by delaying the process of degeneration.”[1]
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

The Zionist, Messianic-Christian Network Inside Evangelical Churches
Judeo-Christians pretend to believe the unnatural and impossible in the name of loving Israel. They turn from Jesus’ words of love to programmed Zionist words of hatred. The troubadour in the snakeskin boots was the church’s missionary to us. He sang songs featuring Jesus’ name to harass and torment, hoping to inflame to violence. This is vile, hate-filled fruit of Zionism, hiding behind Jesus’ name, and ignoring the meaning of His very words and acts. It clearly demonstrates that Christian Zionism is not Christianity.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Seeing Beyond the Fences
Every generation has had its prophecy analysts who claimed that current events are tied to an inevitable cataclysm. The History Channel is running “Apocalypse: The Puzzle of Revelation,” “Seven Signs of the Apocalypse,” and “Nostradamus and 2012″ based on the Mayan doomsday prophecy. A series on the Antichrist has just finished. The Antichrist seems to get more attention than Jesus Christ, and this includes those who write from a Christian perspective.

Until the time of the Reformation, there were only a few agreed upon prophetic certainties, most notably the belief that Jesus would return a second time, as the Apostle’s Creed states, “to judge the quick and the dead.” There were certainly no developed prophetic systems as we know them today. The terms premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial that are used today with familiarity are of fairly recent origin. Differing views of prophecy are recognized early in the history of the church, but they are rarely if ever given a specific name or made a point of doctrinal orthodoxy. The claim has been made that chiliasm (Greek for a “thousand years”), which defined someone who believed in an earthly millennium, was the prevailing view of the early church. A study of the available writings of that era will show that such dogmatic assertions rest on meager and disputed evidence.[1]
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

The Battle of Gog and Magog
It’s good to see that someone agrees with me that Gog in Ezekiel 38 and 39 is not Russia: “Gog is not a present or future leader from Russia,” writes Joel Richardson author of The Islamic Antichrist. “Russia is not spoken of in biblical prophecy. Despite all of the hype and discussion that has been devoted in recent years to casting Russia as the leader of a soon-coming invasion of Israel, the Bible nowhere expresses any such thing.” Richardson still agrees with many end-time prophecy writers that “the Bible clearly predicts just prior to the return of Christ that the nation of Israel will enter into a comprehensive peace treaty or ‘covenant’ with surrounding nations. He agrees that the covenant will be mediated by the man who Christians call ‘the Antichrist.'” While Richardson is correct that Ezekiel 38 and 39 are not describing modern-day Russia, he is incorrect that these two prophetic chapters are dealing with modern-day Middle East.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Pre-Wrath v. Dispensationalism
Marvin Rosenthal formally named and publicized the pre-wrath Bible prophecy position in 1990 with the publication of his book The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church, published by Thomas Nelson. He was a committed dispensationalist for many years. He rejected the position when after his own personal study he could not find support for the pre-trib rapture view. Rosenthal turned to John Walvoord to find clear biblical support for the position. Walvoord’s The Rapture Question includes a list of fifty arguments in support of a pre-trib belief. Rosenthal was shocked when after reading the list that there was no biblical text that explicitly supported the doctrine.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Eschatology and the End Times
Gary talks about his radio interview with Neil Boron and Grant Jeffrey on eschatology and the end times. Is the end near? Well, there are social, moral, and political implications in place to make such eschatological assertions.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Three Pastors with Differing Motives Condemn the Philistines to Occupation
We are a nation of churches, and if pastors taught what the Bible says about peacemaking, no politician or businessman would dare drag us into a war. War making is national economic policy, and most pastors dare not denounce it for fear of losing their tax exempt status. We only ask them to honestly teach what the New Covenant of Christ teaches in the New Testament about peacemaking and love of one’s brothers…all of our brothers, including those who are Muslim. Jesus did not exclude any race.

Huckabee and Coral Ridge are lost causes, but in Pastor RA and 100,000 pastors like him we find both our greatest problem and our best hope. He sincerely believes what he says and has little in common with those he defends, else he would never take the risk to write to us. I do not know Pastor RA, so I am typing him based on contacts with hundreds of pastors and laymen– Christians who talk just like him. His position (“its biblical… that no one but Israel owns the land”) is not based on avarice or his own craving for power, but on self-deception absorbed from the Bad Book of Christianity that teaches that the State of Israel is the fulfillment of Biblical prophesy, and that Israel’s needs are more immediate than Jesus’ commands for us.

There is not just one bad book but many, for Judeo-Christianity has made end times writing a big business. False books of Judeo-Christian leaning are epidemic. However the Scofield Reference Bible is, we believe, the terrible root source of corruption of evangelical Christianity, published in 1908 by Oxford University Press, and now in about its fifth update. We have researched and written about this bible a lot. (5)

One who is taught from the Bad Book will eventually find himself placing the interest of Israel ahead of the teaching of Jesus Christ, especially relating to war and peace; the State of Israel has been at war with its neighbors and those it occupies for its entire 60-year existence. One cannot support Israel and its leaders without also supporting war.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Candidly Speaking: Evangelicals: An appreciation
The principal reason for Evangelical support is that unlike other Christian groups, they reject replacement theology, which teaches that God forsook the Jews for having rejected Jesus. They respect Judaism as the foundation of Christianity and believe that the Jews will always remain God’s chosen people. They believe that the Jewish claim to Israel is based on the biblical promise from God. That may embarrass secular Jews, but for traditional Jews it remains the core of their relationship with the Holy Land.

Evangelicals also believe that when God told Abraham that those who bless the “Children of Israel” will also be blessed (Genesis 12:3) this meant that God would bless Christians who love the Jewish people and support the State of Israel.

EVANGELICALS’ SUPPORT for the Jewish state today manifests itself primarily by advocacy for Israel. However, they insist that they will never publicly “pressure or oppose policies adopted by Israel’s democratically elected government.”
– by Isi Leibler / The Jerusalem Post

Barack “Anti-Christ” Obama?
Prophecy pundits are at it again! Listen how Gary explains passages from Isaiah and Luke in reference to “Satan falling as lightning (baraq) from heaven” (Luke 10:18) .See what can happen when reading the Word with preconceived notions (as well as mistranslating your Bible)!
– by The Gary DeMar Show

Making Bad Prophecy Predictions Vanish
In his 1976 book The Soon to be Revealed Antichrist Chuck Smith wrote, “we are living in the last generation which began with the rebirth of Israel in 1948 (see Matt. 24:32-34).” You will search in vain in the three verses Smith references to find any mention of “the rebirth of Israel.”
– by Gary DeMar / The American Vision

The Second Most Important Event In The Bible
The Apostle Peter warned us that in the last days scoffers would choose to deny or ignore the fact that the flood of Noah occurred and even mock the return of Jesus, saying “Where is the promise of his coming?” (II Peter 3)

Peter goes on to explain that like Noah’s world the current world is also awaiting its day of judgment, only this time the judgment will not be by a flood of water. The apostle wrote 2,000 years ago that in the end the heavens will pass away with a great noise and the elements will melt with a fervent heat and be burned up.

As in Noah’s day, when the end comes to this world, people will be busy building houses, starting new businesses, and worrying about which team will win the Super Bowl or the World Series. They will be planning hunting trips and family vacations. They will be planning for the future as if they were going to have one.

And then the end will come.
– by Bill Sizemore / NewsWithViews

Did Jesus Identify Obama as the Antichrist?
An article on WorldNetDaily’s website reports on an anonymous “Christian with a theological education and many years in the ministry . . . who claims Jesus might have revealed who the antichrist is.” Mr. Anonymous makes it clear in his five-minute YouTube video that he is not claiming that Barack Obama is the antichrist. He states that he is only pointing out how two Hebrew words have “striking” correlations to Jesus’ statement in Luke 10:18 and Isaiah 14:14 and the President’s name. The argument begins with Luke 10:18. “When I started doing a little research,” the unnamed minister states, “I found the Greek word for ‘lightning’ is astrape-, and the Hebrew equivalent is baraq. I thought that was fascinating.”
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Israel’s Cherished Friends
Yes, the key element in dispensationalism is the refounding of Israel, but if these modern chiliasts had practiced proper hermeneutics, the torn veil that separated the Holy of Holies in the temple would have been the major key for preventing their offbeat doctrine. When Christ was crucified it was torn from top to bottom thus signifying that the manifestation of God was no longer there. This was prima facie evidence that Christ by His death had put an end to all sacrifices for sin and was now the eternal High Priest. Any future sacrifices of animals would be an insult to God and His Son. This meant that the temple was no longer needed by Israel and its destruction in A.D.70 was the end of the commonwealth. Israel as nation was no more. It ceased to exist. Therefore, if dispensationalists were to interpret the Bible correctly as eighteen hundred years of church history have shown, there would never have been an expectation by Christians of a regathering of Israel. In 1948 when Jewish zealots announced that Israel was reborn as an independent political-religious entity, no Christian should have believed that it was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.
– by Gordon Ginn / We Hold These Truths

Interview with Jerry Johnson
Gary DeMar interviews Jerry Johnson, producer of The Late Great Planet Church. Jerry discusses the relevance of dispensationalism, and what it means for Christian history all the way up to our present Christian culture.
– by The Gary DeMar Show

‘Cashless Society’ a Sign of the End?
I’m beginning to see that prophetic speculation is taking place on the fringes of the Christian publishing industry. Of course, you will still find the occasional prophetic pot-boiler. Mark Hitchcock writes a couple of prophecy books a year. They are mostly exercises in “newspaper exegesis,” driven more by current events than the Bible.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Is It Israel or Jesus?
When we take the verse from Genesis 12:3 and apply it to the present day state of Israel, we are distorting the very gospel itself. Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, is the Seed through whom “all nations will be blessed.” That is, and always has been, the only gospel message of both the Old and New Testament. Paul closes Galatians 3:26-29 with these profound words: “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
– by Tom Compton / We Hold These Truths

Baptist Pastors Struggle Over How to Pray for a Just Peace in Gaza
The host pastor of a regional meeting of Southern Baptist Pastors bravely invited me to be the luncheon speaker at a monthly meeting of about 16 men. My subject was Christian Zionism and its affect on war in the Middle East. Needless to say it was an act of providence that I would have the chance to speak, but the reception to the story of my personal trip to Gaza in 2001, my visit to the Southern Baptist church there, and Israel’s daily execution of Gazans was greeted with stony disbelief.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Christian Scripture: The Zionist Deception
Judeo-Christianity is less than 200 years old. The World Jewish Zionism movement has played a key part in assuring its growth. We see the result of this mind bending in the creation of a new “Christianity” which in its extreme form is known as Christian Zionism, fed by Oxford University Press’s Scofield Reference Bible, published in New York in 1908.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

The Jerusalem Declaration On Christian Zionism
Christian Zionism is a modern theological and political movement that embraces the most extreme ideological positions of Zionism, thereby becoming detrimental to a just peace within Palestine and Israel. The Christian Zionist programme provides a worldview where the Gospel is identified with the ideology of empire, colonialism and militarism. In its extreme form, it places an emphasis on apocalyptic events leading to the end of history rather than living Christ’s love and justice today.
– by We Hold These Truths

Late Great Planet Church: A Brief Review
The history behind Darby, Scofield, Chafer and others puts the emergence of the dispy system in a new light, helping the viewer see how and why the system grew so popular in American culture, while at the same time showing some of its numerous deficiencies.
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

Peddling Prophetic Snake Oil
Hal Lindsey claims that the Bible predicts that oil will be discovered in Israel. [1] The book Breaking the Treasure Code: The Hunt for Israel’s Oil [2] claims to prove it by an appeal to the Bible:
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Premillennialism and Politics Don’t Mix
For years I have been criticized by well-intentioned Christians who are upset that I write articles critical of men like MacArthur who hold to an end-time point of view that discounts the future and minimizes the Christian’s role in cultural issues like politics. I’ve continued to tell people “prophecy matters.” For years, I have been dealing with issues related to the last days. I began to write on the topic of eschatology because Christians were using last-days theology as a way to explain the state of the world and why Christians can’t (shouldn’t) do anything to reverse present trends. MacArthur is a leading representative of this view when he writes, “‘Reclaiming’ the culture is a pointless, futile exercise. I am convinced,” he writes, “we are living in a post-Christian society-a civilization that exists under God’s judgment.-[2] His premillennial eschatology is his guiding directive, as it is with millions of other Christians.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

Prophecy Pundits are at it Again
Calvary Chapel of Chino California held “The Southern California Prophecy Conference” last week (Feb. 20-22, 2009). I wonder if those who came to hear speakers like Tim LaHaye, Mark Hitchcock, Paul McGuire, David Hocking, David Reagan, and Ed Hindson were aware that Chuck Smith, the founder of the Calvary Chapel network of churches, made some very definite predictions about when the “rapture” was going to take place.

While cleaning up my office, I came across a cassette tape of a sermon Chuck Smith preached on December 31, 1979. He told his very accepting audience on that day that the rapture would take place in 1981.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

What Every Christian Should Know About The New World Order
I am amazed at how ignorant and seemingly unconcerned many of my Christian brethren appear regarding the very real threat to our liberties that a burgeoning New World Order presents. I have previously written two columns on this subject that I trust all my readers will share with their pastors and fellow churchmen (along with others, of course). See the columns here and here.

After writing the above columns, I proceeded to preach a full-length sermon entitled “What Every Christian Should Know About The New World Order.” I am happy to report that this sermon is now available as an online video. It can be viewed free of charge by going here.

It is critical that God’s people begin waking up to this very serious and dangerous threat. After all, “judgment must begin at the house of God.”

I am confident that if enough pastors were awakened and energized sufficiently to rally their congregations to resisting this sinister and devilish New World Order, they could change the course of our country posthaste.
– by Chuck Baldwin / NewsWithViews

Hamas: Its Strange Enemies and the Tunnel Network that Feeds Gaza
It was Jesus, the presumed moral guide of 200 million professing American Christians, who reminded us to take the timber out of our own eye before we try to remove the fleck from someone else’s eye. When Evangelical Zionists again follow the clear teaching of Jesus, whom they call “Lord,” the Philistines will have peace, and so will America.

A majority of Americans believe there is a God who actually judges men. Many disagree by what rules He decides. Consider how God might view an individual who knows the Israelis are exterminating the Philistines with weapons America willfully provide, but who says and does nothing, or worse, encourages the murder. Some think the USA is, as a nation, undergoing Gods judgment.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Is Peace Out Of Reach?
Has peace in the Middle East become nothing more than a pipe dream? As Bob Simon reports, a growing number of Israelis and Palestinians feel that a two-state solution is no longer possible.
– by CBS News

Israel’s American Apologist for Palestinian Extermination
World Zionism cannot proceed without the continued financial and political support of Christian Zionists. For every bloodthirsty Jewish Zionist, there are 20 to 50 totally misguided, but equally bloodthirsty evangelical Zionist “Christians.” What the Dershowitzes of the world should fear, if they do not already, is the awakening conscience of the millions of Christians who went astray, morally and theologically.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

The Gaza Song
Listen and listen well
O! One who could have been our brother
For we are one people, whether you like it or not
You are a Semite, A son of Israeel (Issac)
I am a Semite, A son of Ismaeel (Ishmael)
Our father, the father of both you and I
Is Ibrahim (Abraham)
Or are you one who will even deny his own father?
– by Mirza Yawar Baig / You Tube

Revisiting “Would Jesus Concur or Weep? or, Who’s Right: Alan, Bob, or Henry?
So what do Alan, Bob and Henry have to do with my reflections on my story? These three Jewish men represent three different and divergent opinions on questions related to the state of Israel.
– by Tom Compton / We Hold These Truths

Would Jesus Concur or Weep?
So, there is a small probability that this little girl’s parents could be Christians. Of course, it doesn’t make any difference whether her parents were Muslims, Christians or Jews. If her parents are still alive, they would be grieving. And, we as Christians should be grieving.
– by Tom Compton / We Hold These Truths

Christians Use Prophecy To Excuse Laziness
It is extremely difficult for me to reconcile the apathy and slave-like mentality that seems to permeate modern Christendom (in America) with both our own heritage and the very Word of God.
– by Chuck Baldwin / NewsWithViews

Evangelical Zionist’s Dilemma: Love Your Enemy or Starve Him
Jesus said, love your brother, even your enemy; Evangelical Zionism, in its extreme morphs, holds that Old Testament scripture allows the extermination of the Palestinians.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Yes, We Get The Land
One implication of this is the needed realization that Christians do not need to be consumed with the idea of a piece of real estate in the Middle East. It really is irrelevant to Christian eschatology that the Jews be in the Middle East since the Middle East, as well as the whole earth, is to be occupied and claimed by those who have been successfully evangelized by the disciples of Christ.
– by Bret McAtee / Backwater Report

The Long-and Largely Untold-History Of Jewish Opposition to Zionism
While many in Israel and in Jewish communities here and in other countries now promote the idea that Zionism and Judaism are, in effect, the same, and that opposition to Zionism constitutes “anti-Semitism,” the historical-largely untold-fact is that, for most of its history, Zionism has been a decidedly minority movement among Jews throughout the world.
– by
– by Allan C. Brownfeld / WRMEA.com

The Truth About the 2009 Gaza Massacre
Eye opening montage of news clips and photos that tell the truth about the events in Gaza.
– by You Tube

Palestinian Christians Demonstrate for Justice
Throughout Palestinian Christian communities services focused today on peace and justice for the Gaza Strip. Christians in Gaza are holding limited organized events as Israeli forces continue to pummel the Strip by both air and land.
– by Beit Sahour / PNN

Israeli ‘Colonization’
Writes David Kramer: “Here’s something else you won’t see on the front page of the New York Times.” (The LRC Blog) Anna Baltzer, a young Jewish American, went to the West Bank to discover the realities of daily life for Palestinians under the occupation. What she found would change her outlook on the conflict forever.
– by Anna Baltzer, YouTube / The Covenant News

Christian Zionism Is On The National Council of Churches Radar Screen
A timely flier has been introduced by The National Council of Churches that comes when Christian Zionists are more worried about the security of Israel than the deaths of over 500 Palestinians. In light of the attacks on Gaza by Israel, the National Council of Churches reports the following statement from Jerusalem:
– by Tom Compton / We Hold These Truths

Christians without Borders
The relationship between church and state continues to be a subject of great interest and importance to me, particularly the dangers of statism and its inevitable by-product, nation-worship.
– by David Alan Black / DaveBlackOnline

State Of Israel: Not Biblical Prophecy!
Jews & Evangelical Christians claim that the modern State of Israel is a fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. This claim evinces a shallow and errant understanding of the Bible. … For former Jews like myself who now call themselves Christians are the true fulfillment of Biblical prophecy!
– by RealJewNews

Christian Zionist Bauer Opposes Evenhandedness
“George Mitchell has a reputation on his previous work in the Middle East as being evenhanded between Israel and the Palestinian extremists. And for me that means the appointment is bad because I don’t believe we should be evenhanded between Israel and the Palestinians,” he contends.
– by Jim Brown, OneNewsNow / We Hold These Truths

Israel: The New American Idol
Israel has become the new American Idol. The mantra of “We will always support Israel” is disturbing enough coming from our Presidents, and most of the Congress and Media, but when many of the Christian Evangelical Churches across America are the loudest voices in the chorus, it’s time to investigate.
– by Ericka Moore / We Hold These Truths

More On The New World Order
In my last column, I attempted to wake up my fellow Americans, who are either currently slumbering through the collapse of our constitutional republic or in a protracted state of denial regarding a very real–and very dangerous–burgeoning New World Order. The information that I need to disseminate on this matter is so plentiful that it is extremely difficult to condense into one column. Therefore, I must at least attempt to provide a little more information on this subject. I will use this column to do just that.
– by Chuck Baldwin / The Covenant News

A Very Real New World Order
It is hard to believe, but a majority of Americans (including Christians and conservatives) seem oblivious to the fact that there is a very real, very legitimate New World Order (NWO) unfolding. In the face of overwhelming evidence, most Americans not only seem totally unaware of this reality, they seem unwilling to even remotely entertain the notion.
– by Chuck Baldwin / The Covenant News

Replacing “Replacement” Theology – Part 2 – Part 3
The great problem here is, of course, that no Reformed Theologian I know espouses this boogey-man label “replacement theology” that has been placed upon them. No one really believes that the Church has so replaced Israel that modern Jews are cast aside by God as unwanted, unwelcome, and unsalvable. Just the opposite, the Reformed tradition has always stressed that Jews can come to faith just like anyone else can come to faith …Call it Fulfillment, Fullness, Expansion, even Grafting Theology-a dozen other labels will do-but replacement will not do, thank you.
– by Joel McDurmon / American Vision

House Divided: Christian Zionism Agonizes Family Members
“Many friends and family members consider themselves evangelicals. They religiously watch, listen and obey corrupt TBN evangelists and Family Christian Radio pastoral talk show hosts. “How do I reconcile my complete frustration with their refusal to see the error in their interpretation of the Bible and current events?”
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Christian Zionist’s End Times: Election Reveals Cracks In Logic
Unfortunately, their unity of purpose is confused about, and is not centered on Jesus’ words; Jesus has to defer to the needs and desires of Israel. Because they enthrone Israel, Judeo-Christians have an endemic capacity to be misled on political issues, including war. For instance they oppose abortion of unborn children, but never discuss or observe the violent killing of Arab children in a war zone, nor do they object to Israel’s massive state sponsored abortion program.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Christian Fundamentalism and Zionism
In the light of the revelation (divine or not) about Pastor John Hagee’s assertion that Hitler was God’s agent, is it too much to hope that Jews everywhere, and Jewish Americans especially, will insist that Zionism terminate its unholy alliance with Christian fundamentalism?

This alliance has always seemed to me to be the greatest madness and also the biggest obscenity in the continuing story of conflict in and over Palestine.
– by Alan Hart / Information Clearing House

John Hagee: Deviant Theology, Dangerous Foreign Policy
Many people, some influential, some not, think religious belief should guide American Middle East policy. Others would say that that the Bible and foreign policy ought to remain entirely separate and that a discussion of Hagee’s religious doctrine is about as meaningful as trying to decide how many angels can fit on the head of a pin. What individuals on both sides of this debate don’t realize is that Hagee’s highly selective reading and strange interpretation of the Bible put him well outside mainstream Christian belief.
– by John Taylor / Online Journal

Lobbying for Armageddon
Bush and other leading Republicans have lined up behind a growing movement of Christian Zionists for whom a European Antichrist figures prominently in an end-times scenario. … At the center of it all is Pastor John Hagee, a popular televangelist who leads the 18,000-member Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas.
– by Sarah Posner / IsraelNews.com

Christ’s Kingdom Here Now
In the 1971 book by Dr. John Wesley White titled “Re-Entry: Striking Parallels Between Today’s News Events And Christ’s Second Coming” (Worldwide Publications), White says: “From time immemorial, man has longed for a combination on this earth of law and order; peace and prosperity; freedom and fulfillment; health and happiness; godliness and longevity of life. It will happen when Christ comes again to this earth to set up His Kingdom.”
– by John Lofton / The American View

A Defense of Dispensationalism
Of course, I have no problem with someone debating the merits of full-preterism or partial preterism, the belief that a majority or even most of the prophetic passages in the New Testament refer to events that were fulfilled in events leading up to and including the destruction of Jerusalem that took place in A.D. 70.

Engelsma and MacArthur know that they cannot deal with partial preterism on its own terms because it would show how each of their prophetic systems cannot stand biblical analysis. So they attack an extreme form of the position, hoping no one will notice. This tactic is often successful because most people are ignorant of the facts.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

One-World Government Biblical?
Some readers get upset any time I point out how modern-day prophecy writers misrepresent the Bible. My critics don’t seem to mind that Hal Lindsey has been wrong over the years in an area of study that has made his reputation and so much of Christendom has embraced as “gospel.” I’ve pointed out a number of these “miscalculations” in previous articles and books. It was amazing to see how people defended Lindsey even though I quoted Lindsey’s own words that he would be a “bum” if his 1948-1988 rapture scenario did not come to pass as he claimed it would.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

The End of Days
Bill Barnwell, minister from Michigan and writer for LewRockwell.com, discusses the merit of the “Obama is the Antichrist” rumors, how American dispensationalists influence Mideast policy, the havoc created if a Third Temple were rebuilt in Israel, the wisdom of a historical-contextual reading of the Bible and the conflict between militarist theology and Biblical scripture.
– by Bill Barnwell / Antiwar.com

Debating Another Dispensationalist
For 20 years I have been debating the topic of eschatology … The debate continues, although it’s getting more difficult to find dispensationalists who are willing to be challenged publicly on their views. On October 22, 2008, I debated Barry Horner, author of Future Israel, on whether Matthew 24:1-34 refers to events leading up to and including the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70 or whether Jesus was describing a future Great Tribulation.
– by Gary DeMar / American Vision

The Roots of Christian Zionism Part I, The Cause of the Conflict Conflict
If Christian Zionism can be correctly exposed as a warring religion, America may be restored to peace, justice, and at least some of the prosperity which we have lost. Many of us are all beginning to suffer economic distress as a result of the very wars Christian Zionists have supported, supposedly because these wars please God and are necessary for Jesus’ return to earth.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

The King of Kings
In biblical terms, it is unthinkable to have a king without a kingdom. Since Jesus ascends to His coronation as king, with that coronation comes the designation by the Father of a realm over which He rules. That realm is all creation.

The King is already in place. He has already received all authority on heaven and on earth. That means that at this very moment the supreme authority over the kingdoms of this world and over the entire cosmos is in the hands of King Jesus. There is no inch of real estate, no symbol of power in this world that is not under His ownership and His rule at this very moment.

The lordship of Jesus is not simply a hope of Christians that someday might be realized; it is a truth that has already taken place. It is the task of the church to bear witness to that invisible kingdom, or as Calvin put it, it is the task of the church to make the invisible kingdom of Christ visible. Though invisible, it is nevertheless real.
– by R.C. Sproul / Ligonier Ministries

Pro-American Group Protests Pro-Israel Pastor in Washington
Critics say Hagee’s outfit is cult-like and not Christian at all, and that it places worship of the modern-day state of Israel (and the Jewish people) at its center, rather than devotion to Jesus Christ and His teachings. With this in mind, some traditional Bible-believing Christians greeted Hagee and his followers outside the convention center, waving picket signs and distributing literature exposing the un-Biblical and un-Christian nature of Hagee’s theology.

These critics patiently explained to Hagee devotees who dared to listen that Hagee’s theology is not Biblical in origin, but rather a product of the late 18th century and only came to popular attention in the mid-20th century.
– by Michael Collins Piper / We Hold These Truths

The Gospel of the Kingdom
The Gospel of the Kingdom is a remarkable book, an epiphany to this writer. Philip Mauro, a lawyer, (nevertheless a devout follower of Christ), wrote this as a devastating refutation of the Scofield Reference Bible with amazing insight in 1927. In a chapter headed “Concerning Zionism” he tells us:
– by We Hold These Truths Blog

Peace-monger
He’s (Charles Carlson) probably right when he says that born-again Christians like himself are best qualified to hammer home to other pro-life evangelicals that their support for war is inconsistent.—Carlson threatens, “We want every church in the county wondering when we’re coming.”
– by Tony Ortega, New Times / We Hold These Truths

Israel and the Philistines, Who is the Aggressor?
Americans are preoccupied with Iraq, and most (with the big exception of Christian Zionists) admit that the USA is the aggressor. Christian Zionists also deny Israel’s guilt for religious reasons. But it is time everyone else admits that war in the land of the Philistines continues because Israel’s present leaders do not believe they can live in peace with Muslim Arabs. They pretend to seek peace, but keep the conflict going.
– by Charles E Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Ezekiel Was Not a Prophet of Christian Zionism
What does the old prophetic book of Ezekiel say about the present day political State of Israel? Pastor Rizzo tells his flock Ezekiel is all about Zionism; Project Strait Gate Vigil Leader, Rich Siegel refutes Pastor Rizzo, explaining that Ezekiel has nothing to do with Zionist Israel of today
– by Rich Siegel / We Hold These Truths

Dealing With Christian Zionists Inside Our Own Churches And Families
John sought an answer to two scriptural references, and to his frustration the pastor’;s reply was entirely secular. This big church pastor ignored the questions involving Jesus and the Apostle Paul’s words.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

The Judeo-Christian Conflict: Zionism vs. Jesus
Christian Zionism is a growing enigma to traditional Christians and to non-Christians alike. Most of those inside its churches are very certain of what they believe, but they are not at all sure why they believe it.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Judeo-Christians: Pied Pipers of Serial War
Our Serial Wars cannot be ended for only one reason. There remains one big, stubborn, grassroots block of support for war that will not fade away. We Hold These Truths calls it Judeo-Christianity; to others it is Christian-Zionism, and many adherents consider themselves “Evangelicals.” We avoid this latter term because not all evangelicals are Judeo-Christians, as we will explain later. Judeo-Christianity, by whatever name, is anomalous, unique from all other forms of Christianity in its near total support for any war in which Muslims are on the receiving end, or from which war Israel is perceived to be a beneficiary…. In this series we will first show from recent respected polls and surveys that Judeo-Christianity is the primary warmaking super-sect in America; it is also the political backbone support for those who make war as a profession.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Christian Zionism Made Simple
Many Christian Premillenial Dispensationalists — the theological persuasion Pastor John Hagee belongs to — believe that the majority of the Jews currently living in Israel will be killed in the period of warfare that follows the “Rapture,” when “believing” Christians ( fundamentalist Christians, that is ) are bodily transported up to safety in heaven. The standard interpretation is that 2/3 or more of Israeli Jews will be slaughtered during this period but that a righteous “remnant”, who have realized the error of their ways and converted to Christianity, will survive what Christian Zionists often call the “final Holocaust” or the “second Holocaust.” Writings and statements made by CUFI board members Jerry Falwell and George Morrison sum up such views:
– by Bruce Wilson / Talk To Action

Transforming Christ Followers Into Christian Zionists
Long before there was an Israeli state, a fledgling and much ridiculed religious movement was being cultured around the notion of a predictable end to the present world. It became generically known as “evangelicalism” or “dispensationalism.” It called for a political state of Israel in Palestine as a Christian imperative, and it did so even before Zionism was formalized as the World Zionist Organization in 1895. Later, Zionists used an American pastor-pretender Cyrus I. Scofield to add hundreds of new pages to the old Authorized King James Version of the Bible by 1908. (2) Ingenious Zionists transplanted their agenda into many fragmented Christian denominations amidst the ashes of the two world wars. The new Zionist friendly religion was to rewrite the Bible to establish the future racially pure Jewish state called Israel as a vital precursor to Christ’s return to earth. Israel was to be a sign of Jesus’ “second coming.” The coveted real estate was to be the ancient land of the Philistines; provinces of Syria. Zionists correctly perceived that American Christianity would someday be strong enough to give the land to them over the objections of the owners, providing enough Christians could be convinced that Jesus expected them to do it.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

To Whom Does the Land of Palestine Belong?
Christian Zionism and dispensationalism represent a giant step backward in our theological progress. Instead of resting in the once-for-ever sacrifice by Christ on the Cross for our sins, dispensational Zionists look forward to the building of another temple in Jerusalem with animal sacrifices. Instead of rejoicing in the New Covenant which was promised to all God’s people, Jeremiah 31:31-34, they want to go back to the Old Covenant which has been forever abrogated. Instead of inviting our precious, beloved Jewish friends to partake in the eternal blessings of the heavenly Jerusalem, they try to send them back to the Old Jerusalem, even though they believe that 2/3 of them will be slaughtered in a 7-year period of Tribulation to come very soon. The entire tendency of this theological system is to lead us all back to Judaism. The founder of dispensationalism, John Nelson Darby, openly admitted that his teaching would lead us back to Judaism. Let us rather heed the exhortation of the apostle saying, “Let us go on,” Hebrews 6:1, rather than turning back to the empty shadows of a religion that was meant only to prepare mankind for the coming of Christ. The duty of Christian churches today is to seek the well-being of Jews according to the flesh, Romans 9:3. We will accomplish that, not by lobbying for the territorial expansion of Israel, but rather by preaching the Gospel and planting churches, thereby giving all Jews and Gentiles an opportunity to enter the heavenly Jerusalem for all eternity.
– by Thomas Williamson, Media Monitors Network / We Hold These Truths

How to Dialogue with a Judeo-Christian
Norman did not answer directly but politely switched the subject to what is no doubt his favorite when he finds a listener, his Christian walk: “I am a Christian so I believe it” all (weather included) in God’s hands.” With only a little gentle prodding Norman went on: “God is winding things up; he is going to end everything”after the rapture and tribulation…the end times….” He looked at me wondering if I understood. Norman had opened the door to a discussion with life and death implications, the Judeo-Christian churches’ role in the Serial War era. Somewhere between 40 and 80 million Americans’ beliefs lead them to support war. Judeo-Christians are called by many names; the Christian Right, dispensationalists, Charismatics, Mormons, Pentecostals, and even Christian-Zionists, but all believe what Norman had just stated.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

The Troubling Worldview Of The ‘Rapture-Ready’ Christian
When the subject of the “end-times” comes up, many Christians and non-Christians don’t want to talk about it. Some Christians, annoyed with all the competing theories and terminology just say, “What difference does it make? Jesus is coming back and I just need to be ready.” Non-Christians just assume that since Christianity isn’t true, then the whole issue doesn’t matter. Well, actually, it does matter. I will submit that the popular doctrines of the Left Behind series pose very real threats not only to Christianity, but also to the wider culture….Ironically, many dispensationalists are involved in the Religious Right movement and want to stem abortions, ban gay marriage and make America more Christian. But at the same time they believe in a theology that says the world can only get worse, that there’s nothing any of us can do about it, and that it’s about to get so bad Christians are going to be taken off of the earth. If the ship is irreversibly sinking, why try and patch up the leaks?
– by Bill Barnwell / LewRockwell.com

The End Times For Christian Zionism
Is there a nation, or even an illiterate tribe that does not now realize US serial wars policy relies upon churches for its support? It is reasonable to say George W. Bush would have no significant popular underpinnings for his continuous warring plans toward Middle Eastern countries were it not for the celebrity leaders of Christian-Zionist churches. We who call ourselves by Christ’s name must understand why. This means the US would never have been in Iraq but for the Celebrity Christian leaders of the evangelical churches who openly support Israel as a scriptural imperative; nor would there be support for the occupation and mass extermination of Arab Palestinians were it not for them. “Christianity” is based on Jesus Christ, who the Bible tells us, is the “Prince of Peace.” This obvious contradiction deserves to be studied and exposed.
– by Charles E. Carlson / We Hold These Truths

Was Jesus A Failure?
Even giving them the benefit of the doubt, if dispensationalists believe that Jesus came to offer a political kingdom to the Jews, and that his offer was rejected, they must believe that Jesus failed in His mission. But our Jesus did not fail, nor will He ever fail. His offer was a Spiritual Kingdom, one not of this world. In fact, it was Jesus who rejected the Jews effort to make Him their political leader against Rome (John 6:15). God did not need to change His plans, as the dispensationalist s claim, and send Jesus to the Cross as a substitute idea. Nor was the Kingdom postponed to a distant future date yet to come, the present Christian “era” but a parenthesis in the plan of God for His “chosen people”, the Jews. Another question: Does God not know what He is doing?
– by Dick Meyer / Project Strait Gate

Not Replacement…Expansion!
Through Jesus Israel has been expanded in a glorious way, not replaced. Fulfillment of the promise to Abraham has come and will go forward until its completion when Messiah returns. Jesus must reign until all his enemies are placed under his feet. He will conquer all nations, including the Jewish nation with the gospel. Therefore, let us recommit ourselves to bringing the message of restoration to blessing “to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile”!
– by Fred Klett / CrossMap Pastoral Resources

Amillenialism And The Jews
Remember, the church is not a Gentile organization, contrary to what Dispensationalists so often conclude. The church is a Jewish organization. From one perspective, we might describe it as the most loyal sect within Judaism. It’s Savior is Jewish. It was founded entirely by Jews. Its first converts were all Jewish. Its apostles were all Jewish. Most (and perhaps all) of the New Testament was written by Jews. As Paul put it in Romans 11, the church is a Jewish olive tree, and Gentiles have been grafted into it.
– by by Ra McLaughlin / Third Millenium

The Greatest Prophecy Ever Fulfilled
The Scripture containing this GREATEST PROPHECY EVER FULFILLED is one of the most marvelous and most important in the Word of God. That which is of most supreme interest in this portion is the divinely recorded TIME MEASURE, starting from the return of the Israelites out of Babylonian Captivity down to the culminating event of all prophecy and all history, even unto “Messiah,” and to His being cut off and having nothing.
– by L.R. Shelton, Word Of Truth Radio Network / Geocities.com

Matthew Twenty-Four
It was a shocking statement that Jesus made to his disciples that day. As they left the temple in Jerusalem, certain ones remarked about what a magnificent temple it was and how splendid were its stones. But Jesus said that the time would come when one stone would not be left upon another that would not be thrown down! This statement about the destruction of the temple aroused questions from the disciples.
– by Ralph Woodrow, “Great Prophecies Of The Bible” / The-Highway.com

The True Israel Of God
Based upon the clear teachings of God’s holy, inerrant, unbroken, verbally inspired Word, our purpose in this study on THE TRUE ISRAEL OF GOD is to show that the Scriptures teach in clear, bold, unmistakable truths, that all believers, God’s children by the new birth, are the true Israel of God; and that they, and they alone, are God’s chosen people upon the earth today and are the present heirs of the promises made to Abraham and his seed in Christ.
– by L. R. Shelton / The Mountain Retreat

Israel and the Church
Modern premillennialism teaches that God has not one, but two separate peoples of God, Israel and the Church. This teaching, known as dispensationalism, was developed in the 1830’s by J.N. Darby. Darby, seeking to legitimize his newly created rapture theory and its two “second comings,” divided up the Bible into passages for Israel and the Church.
– by Jack Van Deventer / Credenda Agenda

Temple of God, Antichrist and Abomination of Desolation
However, the Book of Revelation is not the only place in the New Testament where eschatological events such as the Second Coming, Resurrection of the dead, Antichrist, Judgment, etc. are mentioned. There are many passages in the New Testament from which to develop a Scriptural understanding of the Second Coming, the Resurrection, Judgment Day, the Millenium and other eschatalogical teaching by systematically studying the Gospels and Epistles.
– by Today’s American Dream

Daniel’s 70 Weeks – Future Or Fulfilled?
. . . those who say that the confirming of the covenant and causing sacrifices to cease in the midst of the 70th week refers to a future Anti-Christ, completely destroy this beautiful fulfillment and are at a complete loss to show where in the Old Testament the time of our Lord’s death was predicted.
– by Ralph Woodrow, “Great Prophecies Of The Bible” / Theologue.org

Comparison Of Four Eschatological Positions
All positions agree that: 1) The Bible is the word of God, fully inspired and authoritative and 2) There was a first advent and there will be a personal, visible, glorious, and objective 2nd advent.
– by Nate Wilson / TheNateWilsonFamily.net

Three Millennial Views
The central issue within each position is (should be) Christ, His Exaltation and His Sovereignty. Any position weak or even lacking in these areas will also find themselves faulty (at least in some areas) in their eschatological conclusions.
– by Sam Hughey / The Reformed Reader

A Quiz On The Rapture
The following eight questions were compiled to help those who want to understand what the Bible says will happen when Christ returns. The questions deal with events, conditions and circumstances that the Bible says will take place at the time of the “Rapture”, the coming of Christ and our being gathered to Him (along with the dead in Christ) with new glorified bodies.
– by Today’s American Dream

Why End Times Doctrines Matter
Eschatology is probably not a heaven or hell doctrine. It is not up there with believing that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and believing that He was resurrected from the dead, which are essential, basic doctrines of Christianity. However, the Bible would not have so much to say about the subject, if it didn’t matter. The truth is, eschatology can have a major impact on how a believer lives in the here and now.
– by Bill Sizemore / NewsWithViews

To Rapture Or Not To Rapture
If the rapture is real and it occurs before I hear from you, I hope I am not here to answer your email. But then on second thought, if in the end it really is going to be as it was in the days of Noah, maybe I should hope I will be here, because in the days of Noah, it was the bad guys who were taken away, not the good ones.
– by Bill Sizemore / NewsWithViews

The End of the World?
The question is this: how does our view of eschatology – the study of the end times and the biblical prophecy involved in that- affect how we do business? Such a question offers a multitude of possible approaches to the subject, but we tried to limit our focus to two specific, predominant camps of thought: the futurists and the preterists.
– – by Jared Crooks / ChristianBusinessDaily.com

Does Eschatology Matter?
Have you ever heard someone say that studying eschatology is a waste of time? It is not uncommon for evangelicals to dismiss the biblical teachings of prophecy as irrelevant or unimportant. “It doesn’t affect one’s Christian life one way or another, so why should I bother with it?” Often the unspoken implication of such a statement is “Why should you bother with it either?”
– by Jack Van Deventer / Credenda Agenda

What’s Your Eschatology?
28 questions to determine your eschatological understanding
– by Sven Svenson / QuizFarm.com