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Below is the first account of any revelation found in history that claimed that Jesus's return would be invisible to those unbelievers on the earth. There is no record anywhere that this teaching given by way of prophetic revelation through a young girl Margaret MacDonald ever existed before then. Margaret and her friend Mary Campbell appear to have been dabbling in the occult not an unusual practice in those days when conducting seances was considered a normal pastime among the rich.
The Pre trib Doctrine Came From A "Revival" Similar To Today's
Her pastor Edward Irving adopted her views that later spread to the Brethren movement through J.N. Darby who brought it to the US and passed the torch to C.I. Scofield having already done so in part regarding D.L. Moody.
Discerning The False Spirit That Delivered The Secret Coming Doctrine ( PRESENTED IN PART BELOW)
EXCERPT FROM MACDONALD'S VISION: " . . . now look out for the sign of the Son of man. Here I was made to stop and cry out, 0 it is not known what the sign of the Son of man is; the people of God think they are waiting, but they know not what it is. I felt this needed to be revealed, and that there was great darkness and error about it; but suddenly what it was burst upon me with a glorious light I saw it was just the Lord himself descending from Heaven with a shout, just the glorified man. even Jesus; but that all must, as Stephen was, be filled with the Holy Ghost, that they might look up, and see the brightness of the Father's glory. I saw the error to be, that men think that it will be something seen by the natural eye; but 'tis spiritual discernment that is needed, the eye of God in his people. . . . be filled with the Spirit.'" Notice that Scripture says the world sees Him as He comes. There is no scripture that says the world does not see Him when He returns. Margaret's next statement completely changes Jesus' description of the coming of the Son of man, replacing it with Stephen's vision in Acts when he was martyred: ". . . but that all must, as Stephen was, be filled with the Holy Ghost, that they might look up, and see the brightness of the Father's glory. I saw the error to be, that men think that it will be something seen by the natural eye; but 'tis spiritual discernment that is needed, the eye of God in his people." The "glorious light" that suddenly burst upon Margaret led her to believe that the returning Jesus will not be seen with the natural eye, but with "the eye of God in his people." But only "another spirit", masquerading as an angel of light, would change the meaning of the words of the Word of God Himself, and she did so by pointing to the martyr Stephen, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SECOND COMING. MacDonald spoke of a "Jesus" who, when he came, WOULD HAVE TO BE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. This was a blatant denial of Jesus come in the flesh, a sign of the antichrist spirit. Yet, MacDonald said this was through the revelation of the Scriptures: "Many passages were revealed, in a light in which I had not before seen them." |
Margaret MacDonald the same evening prophesied that Robert Owen (1771-1858) was the Antichrist. Although considered the father of modern communism he didn't turn out to be the 'man of sin' commonly called the 'Antichrist'. In other words she gave a false prophecy the same evening that she prophesied that a secret invisible return of the Lord would take place. J.N. Darby visited the Irvingite assembly of the MacDonald family and spent three weeks with them due to his interest in the prophetic gifts. (Darby believed in child baptism and was non-charismatic having come from the Anglican Church.) Darby after some hesitation originally discounted the revelations but later incorporated Margaret's secret invisible return of Jesus into his dispensational system. (Something the Irvingite's had previously done.)
Darby brought the doctrine to St Louis where C. I. Scofield with the backing of the Zionist lawyer called Samuel Untermeier (Untermeyer) went on to produce the Scofield Reference Bible.
(Note I DO NOT agree with many things presented on these sites below, but the information on Scofield can be independently verified.)
(* Presented only to reveal Scofield's associations with a criminal secret society and highly placed politically active Zionists.*)
Cyrus I. Scofield Pope of Premillennialism
Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, Author of the Scofield Reference Bible
Pre-trib and dispensationalism were being spread not because they came from God's Word but because they were supportive of Zionism (Freemasonic control of the Holy Land.) and were considered politically expedient to gain Christian support for a Jewish Homeland due to such being considered prophetically necessary prior to Jesus return. It is interesting that J. N. Darby traveled very extensively especially for that day and age but who was paying all the bills? C. I. Scofield before he had published anything was accepted into the 'Lotus Club' a literary guild upon the endorsement of Samuel Untermeyer an executive therein. Scofield also resided at the Lotus Club for twenty years. It would certainly appear that ultra wealthy Samuel Untermeyer planned on making Scofield into a literary star and so didn't think it strange to plant him among his soon to be contemporaries.
While it is true that prophecy reveals that the nation of Israel would be reestablished in the end time while in a state of apostasy Christian's (those not of this world) are supposed to be fulfilling the Great Commission NOT compromising themselves politically with those of the world or secret societies in an attempt to help God fulfill prophecy. He through restraint sets bounds upon both Satan and fallen man to thereby restrict evil according to His own purposes and so doesn't need our meddling in world politics. Satan uses politics and involvement in social reforms to compromise believers thereby and turn them away from actually obeying God by soul winning and training disciples. Neither political philosophy; Christian-socialism nor Christian-humanism can save so much as one single soul so don't let the devil replace or adulterate the Gospel using either of the former.
While pre-trib doctrine was promoted among many nations the main thrust appears to have been toward Britain and America who incidentally were the two nations who figured so strongly in support of Zionism such being sponsored and controlled by the Illuminati-Freemasonic orders who in turn are controlled by the Jesuits. (The Jesuits control the Rothschild family (Vatican bankers) that figure so prominently in Europe's Black Nobility (Illuminati) that runs Freemasonry along with the cults created by those Freemasons. EG. Mormons, JWs, Herbert W. Armstrong's cult (British Israelism) ad nauseam. Do the research and you will find that the founders of all these cults and many others not listed here were members of the Masonic Order. These cults compete with and weaken the overall influence of Protestantism upon society and the world's governmental institutions. The Catholic Church is all for separation of church and state wherever Protestantism (not to be confused with the true faith once delivered unto the saints) is (or was) the predominant religion (Particularly in England and the US.) and as such also favors the dissolution of Protestant ecclesiastical authority regarding government using sectarianism (EG. British Israelism, the Oxford Movement, and Darbyism, ad nauseam.) and ecumenism that she may thereby (using many façades -EG. Freemasonry) gain more political control over governments. Note that Darbyism is second to none when it comes to sowing discord among the saints not to mention producing numerous hostile sects among themselves. Its history plainly reveals a 'holier than thou' religious spirit that maintains control using specious threats of excommunication.
Mr. Grant on "The Darby Brethren"
Secret Societies - Paths of the Ecumenical Movement
The Catholic Church being in the deception business so long has turned such into a science by using many fronts (and distracting ruses - EG. America is Babylon, Iraq is Babylon, Israel is Babylon, or anti-Christ is just one man in the end time - when such is actually the wicked spirit in all mankind promoting false religion and false gospels - her's included.) to distract attention away from herself. The Freemason's as cult masters (black magicians) therefore can enrich themselves with her blessing by stealing from many deceived victims while pleasing both their father -Satan and their mother - Rome - the mistress of witchcrafts.
(The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.)
The Catholic Church using occult secret societies has thereby captivated some very wealthy and influential Jews to further her own causes while using the larger population of Jews as scapegoats. EG. She used Jews brainwashed into communism in an failed attempt to overthrow her rival in Russia - the Orthodox Church. (Those communists dumped Rome and sided with the Russian Orthodox Church who bought them off using the Czar's hidden gold.) The Protocols of the Elders of Zion - a blueprint of the Catholic Church's plan for world domination using the secret societies and international banking was falsely attributed to the Jewish people in order to promote anti-Semitism thereby leaving the Jesuits relatively undisturbed as they continued to carry out their plans (destroying Protestantism) with the Jews being set up to take all the blame.
(Would you expect anything less from Satan's mistress?)
So what we have is a small segment of rich wealthy Jews entangled in the occult being used of Rome to further her ambitions of controlling the Holy Land (By proxy using the Freemasons as puppets.) all the while deceiving and trampling on the Jewish people. It appears that they also plan on foisting a 'false messiah' upon the Jews and the entire world as well.
SOME PRE-TRIB DISTORTIONS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE
Without proof from scripture some say that the elect in Matthew 24:31 refers only to the tribulation saints. The exact same Greek word however is used in Col. 3:12 where the combined Church made up of both Jews and Gentiles is referred to.
Colossians 3:10-13
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Scofield by his notes concerning Matthew 24 verse 34 where the word 'generation' is found tried to make it sound as if the word meant 'race'. In the Scofield Reference Bible (Old edition p. 1034) instead of using the proper definition for the Greek word actually found there for 'genea' meaning 'generation' he substituted the definition of another Greek word 'genos' that means - race. That is either very poor scholarship or a deliberate attempt to deceive people into believing pre-trib.
David Chilton puts it this way. " I challenge you: Get out your concordance and look up every New Testament occurrence of the word generation (in Greek, genea) and see if it ever means 'race' in any other context. Here are all the references for the Gospels:
Matthew 1:17; 11:16; 12:39, 41, 42, 45; 16:4; 17:17; 23:36; 24:34; Mark 8:12, 38; 9:19; 13:30; Luke 1:48, 50; 7:31; 9:41; 11:29, 30, 31, 32, 50, 51;18:8; 17:25; 21:32. ... In fact, those who say it means "race" tend to acknowledge this fact, but explain that the word suddenly changes its meaning when Jesus uses it in Matthew 24!"
Scofield was determined to teach pre-trib even though he couldn't prove it was in the bible. It's strange that so many words suddenly change their meaning when support is needed for pre-trib.
If pre-trib is derived from God's Word then:
and (2) Present the verse that separates the resurrection of the just from the Lord's visible return. and (3) Present the verse that reveals a return of the Lord before He returns in glory with the Holy angels as is found in Matthew 24:31. |
UNTIL YOU FIRST SHOW THAT FOUNDATION PRE-TRIB REALLY HAS NOTHING FROM SCRIPTURE TO BUILD ITS CASE UPON.
The most basic proof of things required in order to first lay a foundation is entirely missing while pre-trib apologetics forges ahead anyway assuming that there is actually a foundation under it. There isn't!
There will be only two resurrections.The first is called the resurrection for the just that includes the tribulation saints (Rev 20:4-6) and takes place on the last day at the beginning of the millennium. The second resurrection that takes place at the end of the millennium is called the resurrection unto damnation and includes all whose names are not found written in the Lamb's 'Book of Life'. Pre-trib however maintains that there is a 'THIRD' resurrection that takes place several years before the above mentioned 'first resurrection' but provides no scripture to prove that this is so.
Two first resurrections for the just if such was actually taught by God's true apostles in the early Church would have raised many questions among the believers regarding the timing of each especially concerning the first of two first resurrections; such actually being an absurdity due to the fact that the post-trib resurrection could not possibly be called the first if there was in fact one prior to it. As well there would have been much confusion over who actually participates in the two separate (first) 'resurrections for the just'. There is absolutely nothing in the New Testament that addresses those issues proving that pre-trib definitely wasn't being taught back then.
The Lord warns against believing any doctrine claiming that His return differs at all from His own account.
Matthew 24:21-27
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. |
Pre-trib allows for a return of the Lord in the very time frame that we are told of the Lord not to believe in such things. There are reports that there will be attempts to fake a messianic return of a Christ (a counterfeit called the 'man of sin' accompanied by a false prophet) to usher in a global transformation of society that includes a deceptive but very powerful religious experience. Some in their efforts to bring in this delusion have even designed holographic projectors capable of projecting gigantic 3D pictures in the atmosphere. There also exists technology to broadcast sound directly into a person's head. (Used covertly on a small scale in the first US war against Iraq to facilitate the surrender of Iraqi troops.)
With a limited nuclear war to facilitate by way of extreme stress the rapid psychological transformation of society; and throw a little post-hypnotic conditioning (TV, radio, etc.) into the mix along with signs and wonders and you have one great big fanatical global cult springing up almost overnight. With millions involved in the occult (New Age teachings) and already mesmerized by gross deception along with thousands of false (Christian) ministers proclaiming that the Christ has returned, and millions wandering around confused because; 'How can this be happening?' - 'Where is the rapture?' and the devil will be having a real field day overthrowing many thousands in their faith. Pre-trib plays right into that disaster.
IS THE PRE-TRIBBER IN DANGER OF ACCEPTING A FALSE CHRIST?
It could go something like this - a bright light appears in the heavens and the image changes from a pictorial stereotype of Jesus, to a Mary-goddess, to Mohammed, and to various messianic conceptions as held by man. Along with this a sound is heard, perhaps of a whirlwind, that is heard by people right inside their heads. The TV and radio, etc. are used to broadcast the news that God has now revealed Himself to man as having appeared to man before in many different ways thus rendering the Christian exclusive salvation by faith in and through Jesus Christ alone a heresy at odds with ecumenism (and God) and something that must be destroyed for the good of all mankind. Many already think that way now and so this profound 'revelation' will certainly be accepted by them as a most welcomed thing. (Many having previously blamed the Christians for WW 3 itself because of Darbyite (Christian-Zionist) interference in Middle-East politics.) The whole world will turn against any non-ecumenical (unadulterated) form of Bible based Christianity and the 'problem' of the separate 'born agains' will become a New World Order - priority. (Starting at WW3 but stepped up at mid-week.)
Luke 21:5-36
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. |
While it is true that Christians do not suffer the wrath of God history does prove that believers lived through very trying times and were most often persecuted for their faith. If believers lived through horrendous times and were imprisoned and put to death because they were Christians (like many early apostles and other Christians were) only to find that they are blessed with eternal life and no longer subject to death or distress of any kind could it properly be said that they suffered God's wrath? If living during tribulation on the earth is considered suffering God's wrath then you must also conclude that the apostles and early Christians also suffered God's wrath which is an absurd but necessary and consistent conclusion that must be drawn if being on the earth during the last days (but blessed of God regardless) is considered suffering God's wrath.
Pre-trib has confused the whole issue of what constitutes God's wrath and many verses are pulled out of context to support the 'being on the earth during tribulation = suffering God's wrath' distortion of the truth.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
Notice the topic is about Christians being sorrowful (like unbelievers who mourn their dead) concerning other believers who died in faith. And Paul is thus removing their ignorance concerning the future of their departed brethren.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
This verse tells us that all believers who died in faith would be gathered unto the Lord first before the rest of us are which cannot happen if there are still believers in the future who are martyred.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: THEN we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that day should overtake you as a thief.
Notice that the secret aspect of the Lord's return only refers to the wicked being caught off guard because they are in darkness not because of a mysterious resurrection prior to the first resurrection that includes the tribulation saints.
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, WHETHER WE WAKE OR SLEEP, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The reference to wrath above concerns eternal damnation (not tribulation in the world) as contrasted with our eternal life in Christ - WHETHER WE WAKE OR SLEEP and the topic itself confirms that:
1 Thes. 4:13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
The verse above does NOT read: For God hath not appointed us to tribulation, but to obtain a pre-trib rapture by our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another thereby, even as also ye do.
Let scripture interpret scripture and don't let pre-trib interpret scripture contrary to scripture. The pre-trib doctrine that Christians will suffer God's wrath if on the earth during the tribulation period is not only illogical when compared to the facts but entirely devoid of support from God's Word or man's historical records concerning the true Church. So then Christians do not suffer God's wrath whether they be dead (asleep) or alive after the flesh. The wicked on the other hand do suffer God's wrath whether dead (eternal wrath) or alive (temporary wrath according to the Lord's purposes) in the flesh. Those who have Jesus are blessed eternally and those who don't are eternally damned. The Gospel is all about our eternal salvation not exemption from troubles in this life. We can spare ourselves some trouble by being obedient to the Lord but common sense reveals that everyone while on this earth will have problems nevertheless. (Both believers and unbelievers however can suffer a temporary form of wrath from God because of disobedience and that should not be confused with eternal damnation because the Lord's discipline regarding believers is for our benefit while such regarding the unbeliever can serve as a warning to repent or barring such, a token foreshadowing of His eternal wrath to come.)
The Lord bless you and confirm your heart in full assurance of faith that whatever temporary tribulation we encounter it will not affect our ETERNAL salvation through Jesus Christ.
MARANATHA
