THE GRANDADDY OF ALL
HOAX’S
MIKE CUNNINGHAM
OCTOBER 25, 2009
“...in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always
being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the
hope that is in you,” 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)
Unless
I’m persuaded otherwise, today’s sermon will conclude this series of messages
on the so-called “End Times.” I hope you folks have been considering each
of them with an open mind, and have searched the scriptures to determine to
your satisfaction if what I have been teaching is biblically factual.
I have not been attempting to present an iron-clad defense of my conclusions,
but rather wanted to give you enough biblical evidence which ought
to satisfy the average seeker of biblical truth the Lord may cause to cross
your path. Instead of turning this series into an exhaustive study of the
issue, I hoped and prayed that each individual message would be informative
and thought provoking so that you would become better prepared to give a straight-forward
believable biblical interpretation of the plain meaning of the New Testament
time-relevant prophetic passages we have been considering.
Throughout this series I have occasionally used
a fictitious non-Christian teenage boy who had been diligently studying the
Bible looking for answers. He’s been concerned about his eternal destiny and
also has been trying to make sense out of certain heartbreaking experiences
which were plaguing a couple of friends he cared about deeply. Together with
his parent’s Martha and Charlie, the boy had been attending a weekly Bible
study which was led by an old man some people thought was pretty wise. The
boy liked what the Bible had to say about Jesus and wanted to believe in Him
and enjoy being with Him forever after he died. However, he refused to do
so because he believed Jesus broke His promise to come back and rescue His
suffering followers before executing judgment on the unrepentant first century
Jews. The boy eventually learned that Jesus did come back after all. He became
convinced Jesus had returned in the horrible fulfillment of His prophecy when
the Roman general Titus lay siege to Jerusalem and in AD 70 destroyed “the
Old Covenant world” with its Temple worship, Levite priesthood and animal
sacrifices. That’s as far as the boy had gotten in his independent Bible studies.
However, there was still a major loose-end he had to untangle before he would
allow himself to believe in Jesus. The boys’ understanding of the following
passages was proving to be a huge hindrance.
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days
the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars
will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear
in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth
will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory. 31
And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call,
and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven
to the other”, Matthew
24:29-31 (ESV).
Jesus promised that immediately after
the tribulation of those days He would send out his angels with a loud trumpet
call, and He said they would gather his elect from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other. That’s as far as the boy’s studies had
taken him. Now let’s pretend for a few minutes were back at the next Bible
study. During the previous week the boy’s mother and the teacher had been
wondering what he may have come up with concerning these verses about “The
Rapture.” Because of his illness his father on the other hand had been experiencing
an increased inability to concentrate and so he never even opened his Bible.
After everyone got settled in, the teacher asked the boy if he had discovered
anything new that he would like to share with the group. Instead of his usual
enthusiastic response, this time the boy remained silent. He just sat there!
The teacher repeated his question a couple more times but the boy still didn’t
respond.
Needless to say, when she saw that all too familiar
blank look on his face, the boys “worry wart” mother started to imagine the
worse. Her only child was coming down with Alzheimer’s just as her husband
Charlie. In a couple of seconds the poor woman was actually starting to convince
herself he must have picked it up from one of Charlie’s genes. And, as far
as the teacher was concerned, in all of his eighty some odd years he had never
witnessed anything quite like this.
The boy seemed to be caught up in his thoughts.
It appeared as though he wasn’t there with them but rather he was somewhere
else. Then, in a little less than a minute he suddenly came out of it and
the teacher once again asked if there was anything he would like to share
about “The Rapture.” The boy answered and said, “As a matter of fact I don’t,
teacher. Besides it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I could care less about
this “End Time” stuff. I have a much more serious issue I’m wrestling with
right now.” No sooner were those words out of her non-Christian son’s mouth
than all sorts of awful thoughts raced through his mother’s worrisome mind;
thoughts which powerfully insisted her unbelieving son had written Jesus off
and would have to spend eternity in agony separated from her and Jesus.
For the life of him the teacher still couldn’t
figure out what was happening and asked the boy to elaborate. The boy did,
but this time it was with his usual exuberance when he answered, “All of a
sudden, PRESTO! Just like that,” as he snapped his fingers for emphasis. Before
he could finish, Charlie interrupted and snapped his own fingers and shouted,
“Just like what, kid. Hurry up! I haven’t got all day you know.” “I’m trying
to tell you, dad. A couple of minutes ago while I’m sitting here; all of a
sudden something happened to me that I can’t even begin to describe. It just
came over me and now I know without a doubt that Jesus did come back. I
also know Jesus raptured those poor suffering early Christians.” “Yeah and
how do you know all that kind of stuff, kid,” “Because Jesus promised to,
that’s why. I know everything Jesus said is true and there’s no way He could
break His promise. There’s not a doubt in my mind anymore; Jesus is the
Son of God! As a matter of fact, I now believe everything in the Bible
is the absolute perfect written “Word
of God. It’s all true!” The astonished teacher asked, “Young man, are
you implying that just a moment ago you have come to believe in Jesus?” “I
sure do,” responded the jubilant boy. Charlie quickly threw his two cents
in and said, “Well it’s about time you got with God’s program, kid.” “Shut
up you old fool,” Martha uncharacteristically shouted at him leaving her bewildered
husband speechless. Then she bounded off her chair, and with outstretched
arms and tears of joy streaming down her face, she rushed over and gave her
boy one of those special lingering hug’s that only a loving mother is capable
of.
After a couple of minutes the euphoric teacher
welcomed the boy into God’s family. Then everyone looked over at Charlie who
was obviously angry. Martha returned and sat next to her husband and gently
asked, “What’s the matter, Charlie? I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.” “Do you
want to know what’s the matter, Martha? I’ll tell you what’s the matter. Everything
is the matter, that’s what. Do you want to know why? I’ll tell you why. That’s
the kind of thanks I get after all I’ve done for everybody. Here I’ve been
working like a slave all these years to put food on the table and clothes
on the back of you and that kid sitting over there. I go to church every Sunday
and sometimes even during the week for some stiff’s funeral and a whole lot
of other good deeds and look at all the good it did me. Jesus came back and
rescued His followers--and He left a
nice guy like me behind! And I’m supposed to be happy! Be real!” And the rest of them just sat there
looking at each other shaking their heads until the teacher asked the boy,
“What’s this very serious issue you’re wrestling with, young man?” Before
the boy could answer Charlie keeled over and fell to the ground, Martha started
screaming and almost passed out while the boy and teacher ran over to them
and the Bible study came to an abrupt end.
Since I’m the boy’s creator I know the day was
destined to come when the he would return to the following passages.
“But we do not want
you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you
may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those
who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from
the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the
Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself
will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel,
and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise
first. 17 Then
we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be
with the Lord. 18
Therefore encourage one another with these words,
1 Thessalonians 5:13-18 (ESV).
I believe if we take a moment now
to consider some of the supernatural activity that took place during those
ancient biblical times it may cause us to think about something which is very
relevant to our study. For example a very long time ago one of Cain’s sons
became a faithful follower of God and He rewarded him in a very unique way.
His name was Enoch. I have underlined certain words for emphasis in order
to focus on certain Hebrew and Greek words.
21
When Enoch
had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. 22 Enoch walked with God after he fathered
Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 Thus all the days
of Enoch were 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
Genesis
5:21-24 (ESV)
The inspired author of the letter
to the Hebrews acknowledges this fact but he doesn’t tell us how God did it.
5
By faith Enoch
was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found,
because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended
as having pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 (ESV)
The Bible records the account of
a similar experience of another godly man and a conversation he had with his
successor.
“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what
I shall do for you, before I am taken from you." And Elisha
said, "Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me."
10 And
he said, "You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being
taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it
shall not be so." 11
And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire
and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by
a whirlwind into heaven. 12
And Elisha saw it and he cried, "My father, my father! The
chariots of Israel and its horsemen!" And he saw him no more. Then he
took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 2 Kings 2:9-12 (ESV)
Can you think of an appropriate
word that 21st Century Christians could use to describe what happened
in these supernatural events? How about the word rapture? In the New
Testament the Greek word harpagesomai translates into “to forcefully seize
or carry away,” as in Matthew 12:29 and John 10:12.
29
Or how can
someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he
first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.
Matthew
12:29 (ESV)
12
He who is
a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf
coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and
scatters them. John
10:12 (ESV)
12
From the days
of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,
and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12 (ESV)
19
When anyone
hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes
and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was
sown along the path. Matthew 13:19 (ESV)
28
I give them
eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them
out of my hand. 29
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and
no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. John 10:28-29 (ESV)
23
save others
by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear,
hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:23 (ESV)
15
Perceiving
then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him
king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:15 (ESV)
10
And when the
dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn
to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from
among them by force and bring him into the barracks. Acts 23:10 (ESV)
All these words are derivatives
of the Greek word “harpazo” which translates into English as being
“carried away or caught up.”
“It always expresses “the mighty operation of God,” as well as being “used
of divine power transferring a person marvelously from one place to another,
to “snatch” or “carry away” or being “caught up.”(A) Now let’s consider another
amazing account of a similar experience which occurred a little more than
two thousand years ago. Once again I will be emphasizing certain pertinent
words.
“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Rise and go
toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza."
This is a desert place. 27
And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a
court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all
her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading
the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and join this
chariot." 30
So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet
and asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 31 And he said, "How
can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to come up and
sit with him. 32
Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
"Like a sheep he [Jesus] was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before
its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied
him. Who can describe his generation [of Jews]? For his life is taken away
from the earth." 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, "About whom, I ask you,
does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" 35 Then Philip opened
his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about
Jesus. 36 And
as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch
said, "See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?"
37 38 And he commanded
the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the
eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the
Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went
on his way rejoicing. 40
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through
he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea,” Acts 8:26-ESV).
Now allow me to share the great
Apostle Paul’s personal testimony of the same kind of supernatural experience.
“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught
up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not
know, God knows. 3
And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether
in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told,
which man may not utter. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (ESV)
The last time this word is used
in the Bible is in the Revelation of
Jesus Christ to His servant John.
5
She gave birth
to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but
her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Revelation 12:5 (ESV)
Now let’s return to where we started
and once again I will be emphasizing the English translation of the Greek
word harpazo.
”Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will
always be with the Lord,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV).
I’m deeply indebted to Ed Stevens
for bringing these passages to my attention in his very insightful book which
I quoted from earlier and in which he also cited the following, “In 1 Thess.
4:17 Paul deals with the final rapture into the fellowship of the redeemed
at the last day. It was not the sufferings of the Church that caused Paul
to make the statement, but the concern of some of its members about the fate
of Christians who had already died. This concern is removed by the certainty
of resurrection. Those Christians who were still alive would not die but would
be taken up directly into the fellowship of those who had already been raised,
“as they leave the gates of the world to meet in the air the Christ acclaimed
as Lord.”
As I stated in the beginning of
this message, I have not been attempting to present
an iron-clad defense of my conclusions, but rather wanted to give you enough
believable biblical evidence which ought to satisfy the average seeker
of biblical truth the Lord may cause to cross your path. Instead of turning
this series into an exhaustive study of the issue, I hoped and prayed that
each individual message would be informative and thought provoking, and that
you would become better prepared to give a straight-forward believable
biblical interpretation of the plain meaning of the New Testament time-relevant
prophetic passages we have been considering.
I can end the series at this point. I hope I
have at least persuaded you to seriously consider whether or not this end
of the world Millennium Madness is THE
GRANDDADY OF ALL HOAXE’S. However, if you would like me to, I can
arrange for the boy to return next week and put some “Icing on the cake” and
also have him share with us that much more serious issue he’s been wrestling
with. Please let me know.
May it please the Lord
to take these words of my mouth and thoughts of my heart and turn them into
a blessing for each of you who just heard them, and for many of those who
read them later. Lord willing, next week...
(A)
Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon
of The New Testament, cited in Expectation’s Demand a First Century Rapture,
© 2003 by Edward E. Stevens, International Preterist Association, 122 Seward
Ave., Bradford, Pa., 16701, p. 109.