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Great Tribulation

A Reply to Billy Crone on the Seals in the Book of Revelation

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Pretribber pastor Billy Crone was recently on Gary Stearman’s Prophecy Watchers (see video below). Crone was promoting his new book, The Seals: A Panoramic View of the First Half of the Seven Year Tribulation. Hence, I have written a reply to Billy Crone on the seals in the book of Revelation. Being pretribulational Crone was defending the notion that all of the seals in the book of Revelation are expressions of the future day of the Lord’s wrath. Regrettably, it was the same cliched stock arguments that we are all accustomed to and that I have responded many times too. But Crone and many others, to their loss, live in an echo chamber with no willingness to engage challenges to their interpretations.

Nevertheless, we always have new readers at Eschatos Ministries who are either pretrib themselves or have recently become prewrath and are ex-pretribbers. So in this article, I want to comment on several assertions that Crone makes. I will note the time-stamp for each one followed by links where I have previously discussed the issue.

Let’s begin.

Will the Church Be Present in Daniel’s 70th Week? (Time Stamp 2:37)

Billy Crone make an erroneous argument that Daniel’s 70th week has nothing to do with the church. I have responded to his arguments previously in my article “A Teachable Moment Why Pretrib Logic Fails Miserably on the Daniel’s Seventy-Weeks Prophecy.” He shows no willingness to be corrected on this point. I have also responded to it in “A Critique of the Pretribulation Interpretation on Daniel’s 70 Weeks’ Prophecy.”

Incidentally, if you watch the video, you will notice how dogmatic Crone is about his pretrib position. Yet, when he is challenged to debate such as by myself in a public moderated debate, there is only…crickets. He keeps on saying in this video things like “there is no possible way to believe such and such.” Crone is disingenuous because he refuses to even listen to the other side, which is telling in itself.

The Meaning of Jesus Opening the Seals (Time Stamp 6:00)

Crone claims that by virtue that Jesus is the one that opens the seals then that must mean the seals by nature are expressions of the day of the Lord’s wrath. This is a naive pretrib argument that is frequently heard.

Crone has an incredibly skewed understanding of the God of Scripture. It’s as if in his thinking that Jesus can only act in control if it relates to God’s wrath! Further, I do not think he is even aware that he is committing the ancient heresy of dualism in his attempt to defend his argument at all costs, even at the cost of God’s sovereign character. I have responded specially to his theology on this in “Billy Crone Commits a Form of the Ancient Heresy of Dualism.” See also “Are the Seven Seals of Revelation’s Scroll the Wrath of God Because Jesus Opens Them Up?” I have also done a podcast episode related to this titled “Do the Seals on the Scroll in the Book of Revelation Express the Day of the Lord’s Wrath? – Ep. 13.” And see “The Beginning of Birth Pangs Parallel the First Three Seals in the Book of Revelation.”

Is “has come” in Rev 6:17 Refer to Past Time of God’s Wrath? (Time Stamp 10:50)

In this part, Crone illustrates the axiom “a little Greek is a dangerous thing.” He commits the “aorist tense = past time” fallacy. He asserts that the aorist Greek tense-form behind the phrase “[the wrath] has come” (ἦλθε) in Rev 6:17 means “past time.” It does not. You will rarely find this blanket statement in commentaries today. This outdated notion of the aorist has been dispelled for decades, but I do not think that he is even aware of this. I think he is simply aping another dated pretribber. In fact, I called out Thomas Ice on this fallacy in my debate with him in Texas a few years back. The contextual indicators show that the verb should be taken as the wrath is about to begin, not that it has already been happening back at the first seal! I have written an entire article on this instance in Rev 6:17, “A Reply to Pretrib Thomas Ross and His Faulty Understanding of the Aorist Greek Tense-Form in Revelation 6:17.” I have also written a primer on the Greek verb tense-forms if one is interested in learning about it, “A Primer on the Koine Greek Verb Tense-Form.”

How Many People Die in the Fourth Seal? (Time Stamp 18:25)

Crone claims that one fourth of the population of the earth dies in the fourth seal and therefore this must mean that it is God’s wrath. This is not what the biblical text actually says. He has read into God’s Word to make it fit with this pretrib presuppositions. I have written on this topic in “The Fourth Seal of Revelation.”

What about Christian Martyrs in the Fifth Seal (Time Stamp 20:00)

This is where Crone’s pretrib theological vehicle loses it wheels and crashes. He tries to explain away the problematic fifth seal for pretribbers by dismissing them as “not the church.” Who are they then?…surprise! They are deus ex machina tribulation saints! For whatever twisted theological reason Crone thinks these blood-bought saints of Christ are deserving of God’s wrath. Keep in mind he claims all the seals are God’s wrath.

In other words, he is teaching that Christians in the tribulation period are some sub-class group that have not been redeemed by the blood of Jesus in the same way as “the Church,” so they can experience God’s condemnation in his wrath.

This is heresy, because it eviscerates the very heart of the Gospel by making God a liar claiming that there are certain Christians who have not truly “gained salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That statement comes from the very verse that promises exemption from God’s wrath!: 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

This is just another reason Crone will not debate me because he knows I will ask such questions as: If as you claim that the seals are God’s wrath, then why do Christians experience God’s wrath in the fifth seal? He cannot answer this. And if you notice in the video he skirts around it. He knows it contradicts his position. He completely diverts attention to the “screaming” of the martyrs. This diversionary tactic will not work with thinking Christians.

For articles and episodes that I have done on this issue see “The Fifth Seal and ‘The Pretrib Contradiction’ – Ep. 110.” On a related issue see “Refutation of Dave Love’s Purgatory Interpretation of the Fifth Seal in the Book of Revelation – Ep. 73.”And see, “The Fifth Seal — And “Those Who Die in the Lord From This Moment On!”

Two other links I want to provide is other responses over the years to Billy Crone, and my book Antichrist Before the Day of the Lord.

 

 

 

‘A Proposal for (Future) Apostate Jerusalem’s Role in a Progressive Dispensational Eschatology: Another Look at Revelation 17–18’ by J. Paul Tanner

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A Proposal for (Future) Apostate Jerusalem’s Role in a Progressive Dispensational Eschatology: Another Look at Revelation 17–18

by J. Paul Tanner

ABSTRACT

Among the interpretative problems pertaining to the book of Revelation, the identification of the harlot, Babylon the great, in Revelation 17–18 stands as one of the most significant. Suggestions range from preterist views identifying Babylon as either first-century Jerusalem or Rome, the historicist view of Babylon as the Roman Catholic Church, idealist views, and numerous futurist views fulfilled in the Great Tribulation. The latter would include both symbolic views (e.g., ungodly civilization in opposition to God’s people) and literal views of a future city related to the Antichrist. Dispensational interpreters have upheld the futurist view, usually of a literal rebuilt city of Babylon or a combination of a religious system and a literal city (so Walvoord). In this paper, I hope to show that Babylon the great is apostate Jerusalem (and Judaism) in the time of the Great Tribulation, and that such a position is consistent with a progressive dispensational eschatology. In our Lord’s Olivet Discourse, Luke includes God’s judgment on apostate Jerusalem in A.D.70 (Lk 21:20-24), seemingly to prefigure a greater end-times judgment on Jerusalem inaugurated with the abomination of desolation. Jerusalem as the harlot, then, looks at that unsaved part of Israel that is duped into entering into league with the Antichrist, only to find herself betrayed in the final analysis and a victim of the Antichrist’s effort to annihilate Jerusalem. This paper has two objectives. The first is to present the evidence in support of the theory of Babylon the great as apostate Judaism in the Great Tribulation with its focal point being the city of Jerusalem. The second is to show how this interpretation sheds valuable light on other prophetic portions of Scripture, such as Dan9:27, the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24), and the man of lawlessness in 2 Thess 2.

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE…

h.t. Chris White

 

What Is Prewrath?

 

 

Pretrib Pastors Robert Jeffress and John Hagee, Be Careful What You Wish For . . .

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Last week pretribulational pastor Robert Jeffress delivered an opening prayer at the Jerusalem embassy dedication. In addition, pretribulational pastor John Hagee gave the closing benediction.

Many pretrib teachers are abuzz over the recent event of moving the US embassy to Jerusalem. They believe they hear the prophetic furniture shuffle behind the curtain. And that may be the case.

But here is the problem:

They think they will be only spectators in the arena. Pretrib teachers and pretrib believers think they will be raptured at any moment, which will occur before the arrival of the Antichrist’s great tribulation. They are giddy to talk about biblical prophecy from afar. Ironically, they chatter and write profusely about the Antichrist and related Bible prophecy events, all along thinking in the back of their mind that they will escape the front-line persecution of the Antichrist.

They want current events to be fulfillments, preparing the way for the “tribulation period,” a time when they think they will be raptured just before that period, ensued by the slaughter of untold numbers of Jews by the Antichrist.

The Biblical reality is that both the Church and many non-Christian Jews will suffer at the hands of the Antichrist.

The Church will not be a spectator in heaven looking down on Antichrist’s bloody arena. Rather, the Church will be the target of Antichrist within the arena among the wild beasts.

The prewrather thinks differently than the pretribber. Biblical prophecy and current events are not taken lightly. We are not giddy, but sober, for we know that before the second coming, we will become participants in the great persecution of the Antichrist against the world-wide Church. We do not wish this to come upon us; but if it does, we embrace God’s holy decree and trust in his faithfulness no matter the cost.

Perhaps, pretrib teachers should best spend their time preparing their flocks to spiritually face the Antichrist’s great tribulation, than muse over current affairs in Jerusalem.

Be careful what you wish for, Mr. Pretrib Teacher.

 

 

The Transcript of My 2015 Debate with Thomas Ice Is Now Available

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I want to thank Doug Eigsti who tediously transcribed my 2015 debate with Thomas Ice!

You can access the PDF transcript at this link where you will also find a link to the video or audio of the debate.

My debate with Thomas Ice was on this question: “THE CHURCH WILL FACE THE ANTICHRIST BEFORE THE RAPTURE.” I took the affirmative, while Dr. Ice took the denial.

 

 

A Response to Chris Steinle and His Denial of a ‘Catching Up’ in 1 Thess 4:17

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Here is my series response to Chris Steinle:

Is the Meaning of Harpagēsometha in 1 Thess 4:17 ‘Rapture’ or ‘Plunder’? Part 1 – Ep. 114

Is the Meaning of Harpagēsometha in 1 Thess 4:17 ‘Rapture’ or ‘Plunder’? Part 2 – Ep. 115

 

Is the Meaning of Harpagēsometha in 1 Thess 4:17 ‘Rapture’ or ‘Plunder’? Part 3 – Ep. 116

Is the Meaning of Harpagēsometha in 1 Thess 4:17 ‘Rapture’ or ‘Plunder’? Part 4 – Ep. 117

 

 

Doug Hamp and Chris Steinle co-authored the book Reclaiming the Rapture: Restoring the Doctrine of the Gathering of the Commonwealth of Israel. Hamp recently had Steinle on his video program as shown below. In attempt to disprove pretribulationism, Steinle has committed important lexical errors himself in Paul’s rapture passage, including other aspects of straining Paul’s passage in 1 Thessalonians. I want to comment on Steinle mishandling of the Greek lexical data in a series on my The Biblical Prophecy Program. I do not know how many episodes this will take, but I will ask Doug Hamp after I am finished responding if he would be willing to have me on his program to distill my response to Steinle. Hamp and I have intended to connect in the past, so maybe this will be an opportunity to join him on his show. He is a sharp biblical thinker, which I appreciate, even though I disagree with him on various points. In the meantime, watch the interview below, so you can be prepared for my series responding to Steinle statements.

4 Reasons Why the Great Tribulation Does NOT Span Over the Entire Church Age: A Reply to Historicism – Ep. 113

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Historicism is the eschatological position that says the thrust of prophecy in the Olivet Discourse and Revelation are fulfilled in the span of the church age. So for example, they would say that the great tribulation was not fulfilled in the first century, nor is it to be fulfilled in the future. Instead, it spans the entire church age (i.e. inter-advental). 4 Reasons Why the Great Tribulation Does NOT Span Over the Entire Church Age: A Reply to Historicism – Ep. 113

You may by surprised to learn that most evangelical scholars are not preterists or futurists—they are historicists. But many are a mixture of preterist-historicist.

There are at least four reasons why Historicism is not a valid interpretation.

For then there will be great tribulation unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved.  (Matt 24:22)

 

 

A Brief Reply to Mike Stallard of Israel My Glory…

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https://israelmyglory.org/article/when-is-it/

I want to comment on this recent article by Dr. Mike Stallard who is the Director of International Ministries for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.

This article above is from the recent January/February 2018 issue of Israel My Glory, which is an arm of the ministry The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.

“Prewrath Rapture. Proponents of this position, a modified midtribulational view, believe the Rapture will occur sometime during the last half of the Tribulation”

I appreciate that Stallard did not define it by stating prewrath believes the rapture occurs “3/4th into the tribulation period.” Many pretrib teachers wrongly state this. He uses the accurate description of prewrath: “the Rapture will occur sometime during the last half of the Tribulation.” But here he uses the term “the tribulation,” which is a loaded pretrib term suggesting that this seven-year period is some monochromatic event, all characterized by God’s wrath. Prewrath believes that the Antichrist’s great tribulation begins at the midpoint and at some unknown period during the second half Jesus returns to rapture and resurrect his people; then on that same day the Day of the Lord’s wrath begins to be poured out on this world for the remaining part of the seven-year period.

I would also take issue with his statement, “a modified midtribulation view.” It is not. If anything prewrath is more “modified postrib” since it shares affinities with posttrib. The midtrib view is much more similar to pretrib, especially on the key issue of whether the Church will face the Antichrist. Pretrib and midtrib both believe they will be raptured before the Antichrist’s persecution.

“The pretrib and posttrib views are the most prominent among premillennialists.

This is true, but he fails to mention that prewrath is the fastest growing among all the views, with many pretrib, midtrib, and post-trib believers leaving their positions and affirming prewrath.

“If we assume the prewrath position, the seal judgments would precede the Day of the Lord. These judgments include war (second seal; Rev. 6:4) and seriously unsafe conditions. So this view also fails to handle the “peace and safety” statement.”

Not at all. Stallard does not address the prewrath response to this objection. Recently I did an episode on this very objection on The Biblical Prophecy Program.

I would like to propose an idea to Dr. Stallard. Let’s have a written debate in Israel My Glory between prewrath and pretrib. I actually think that your readers would appreciate this and benefit from this theological interaction. It would allow them to hear the other side from a prewrath exponent. And I am willing to post the entire written debate at my site here, so my prewrath readers can hear the other side as well. Shall we?

 

The Fifth Seal and ‘The Pretrib Contradiction’ – Ep. 110

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The Pretrib Contradiction exposes the weakness of pretribulation rapture theology. I explained two aspects to this contradiction. First, I talked about how the fifth seal relates (or does not relate) to Paul’s promise in 1 Thess 5:9 about believers not having to experience the day of the Lord’s wrath. Second, I highlighted elements in the fifth seal passage showing how it points to a future wrath, not a wrath that is happening at that time.

So, what is “The Pretrib Contradiction”?

I’ll put it in syllogistic terms to highlight the unsound pretrib logic:

Premise 1: Pretribulationism claims that 1 Thessalonians 5:9 is a promise that exempts Christians from the future day of the Lord’s wrath: “For God did not destine us for wrath but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 5:9).

(So far so good)

Premise 2: Pretribulationism claims that all the seals in the book of Revelation depict the day of the Lord’s wrath, which includes the fifth seal.

(Not so good)

The Pretrib Contradiction: The fifth seal depicts the death of Christians; therefore, according to pretrib reasoning these Christians experience the condemnation of the wrath of God.

“Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” Each of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been.” (Rev 6:9–11)

Some comments: The nature of this contradiction is why they will avoid dealing with this issue in their literature like the plague (no pun intended). They know that it is highly problematic to their theological system of thought.

And those that do try to address it will usually respond by saying that Christians during the so-called tribulation period are “not really part of the Church” because they did not participate in the rapture. In other words, they are inadvertently teaching that Christians in the tribulation period are some sub-class group that have not been redeemed by the blood of Jesus in the same way as “the Church,” so they can experience God’s condemnation in his wrath.

This is heresy, because it eviscerates the very heart of the Gospel by making God a liar claiming that there are certain Christians who have not truly “gained salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That statement comes from the very verse that promises exemption from God’s wrath!: 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

 

Links mentioned in the episode:

Eschatos Ministry Amazon Resource List

 

 

The Simplest and Most Effective Way to Teach Prewrath! – Ep. 109

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Find out how pretrib teacher Dave Hunt responded to Joel 2:30–31 when asked about it. In this episode I explained why Joel 2:30-31 is the simplest and most effective way to teach prewrath. I consider it an anchor passage, or an “interpretive key,” as it helps to compare Scripture with Scripture by learning about the framework of prewrath eschatology.

“I will produce portents both in the sky and on the earth– blood, fire, and columns of smoke. The sunlight will be turned to darkness and the moon to the color of blood, before the day of the LORD comes– that great and terrible day!” (Joel 2:30–31)

 

The Prophecy ‘There Is Peace and Security’ Contradicts Pretribulational Imminence Theology – Ep. 107

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In this episode I addressed another prophecy that undermines pretribulational imminence doctrine.

Now when they are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.(1 Thess 5:3–4)

In this passage the apostle Paul teaches that the thief-like return of the Lord will result in sudden destruction for the ungodly. He summarizes the perception of unbelievers when they will exclaim “peace and security.” During the Antichrist’s great tribulation, the world will experience peace and security for those who are loyal to him. Hence, Paul prophesies that the world will be saying, “There is peace and security” before Jesus returns to mete out his day of the Lord’s wrath upon the wicked. The world will be oblivious to the impending wrath, uttering this slogan before the day of the Lord occurs. Accordingly, this event will happen before the rapture, because the rapture and the day of the Lord’s wrath are back-to-back events; consequently, the prophesy of the world proclaiming “peace and security” renders imminence invalid. Therefore, this is just another prophesied event in a long series of intervening events that will happen before the rapture—rendering the pretrib teaching of imminence contradictory in light of this biblical evidence.[1]

I want to make a couple more comments on this passage. The peace and safety will be illusory, a false security for unbelievers, because eventually unforeseen calamity will come upon them just as unexpected labor pains come upon a pregnant woman (cf. Matt 24:37–39). Paul’s analogy of labor pains is drawn from a day-of-the-Lord passage in Isaiah.

Wail, for the Lord’s day of judgment is near; it comes with all the destructive power of the sovereign judge. For this reason all hands hang limp, every human heart loses its courage. They panic—cramps and pain seize hold of them like those of a woman who is straining to give birth. They look at one another in astonishment; their faces are flushed red. Look, the Lord’s day of judgment is coming; it is a day of cruelty and savage, raging anger, destroying the earth and annihilating its sinners. Indeed the stars in the sky and their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine. (Isa 13:6–10; see also Isa 26:17–21)

We should be careful not to confuse Paul’s use of the birth pangs analogy with Jesus’ purpose in using the same phrasing in the Olivet Discourse (“All these things are the beginning of birth pains,” Matt 24:8). Paul uses the phrase in a completely different application. Jesus applies the birth pangs metaphor to particular events before the Antichrist’s great tribulation, while Paul applies it to the situation of the onset of the day of the Lord’s wrath after the great tribulation.

Next, since destruction will come suddenly like labor pangs, Paul says the ungodly “will surely not escape.” Here we see a parallel with Luke, who also uses this “escape” language in the same context as the Lord’s return.

But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness [cf. 1 Thess 5:6–8] and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth [cf. 1 Thess 5:2–4]. But stay alert at all times [cf. 1 Thess 5:6], praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen [cf. 1 Thess 5:3, 8], and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:34–36)

Furthering the parallel, Luke’s “escape” language is found in the context of the celestial disturbances as well (21:25–28). This parallel is strengthened when we consider that both the celestial disturbances and this same “escape” language are found during the sixth seal as the ungodly seek to escape the inescapable (Rev 6:12–17).

One further mention should be Isaiah 26:17–21, which references both “birth pangs” and uses “escape” language, followed by a depiction of the resurrection of God’s people escaping from his wrath:

As when a pregnant woman gets ready to deliver and strains and cries out because of her labor pains, so were we because of you, O Lord. We were pregnant, we strained, we gave birth, as it were, to wind. We cannot produce deliverance on the earth; people to populate the world are not born. Your dead will come back to life; your corpses will rise up. Wake up and shout joyfully, you who live in the ground! For you will grow like plants drenched with the morning dew, and the earth will bring forth its dead spirits. Go, my people! Enter your inner rooms! Close your doors behind you! Hide for a little while, until his angry judgment is over! For look, the LORD is coming out of the place where he lives, to punish the sin of those who live on the earth. The earth will display the blood shed on it; it will no longer cover up its slain. (cf. Isa 13:6–10; Joel 2:30–32; Amos 9:1ff)

Returning to Paul’s passage, his reassurance to the Thessalonians implies that they were anxious that they might not escape the day of the Lord. To reassure them, Paul contrasts the ungodly, who will not escape because Christ is coming back as a thief for them, with believers who are obedient-vigilant and “not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.” Incidentally, this reassuring promise undermines the pretribulational notion that Jesus is secretly coming back as a thief for his church. The metaphor of darkness refers to being apart from Christ and opposed to God. Conversely, not being in darkness refers to the morality of a child of God; thus by their nature, believers should be spiritually vigilant and prepared.

In summary, my main point in this passage is to highlight that the church will be here to witness the ungodly exclaiming that they are experiencing peace and safety. This prophecy that Paul mentions undermines imminence because it will happen before, not after, the rapture.

[1] Some pretrib teachers have objected that this prophecy contradicts prewrath because they ask why would the world be saying “peace and security” during the day of the Lord’s wrath. Not only is this objection a misrepresentation of prewrath but it also misrepresents Paul’s explicit words. Paul is not saying that they will be saying “peace and security” during the day of the Lord. They will be saying this before the day of the Lord’s wrath happens. Or more specifically, Paul is teaching that they will be saying this “when they are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction comes on them.” They will be oblivious to the coming judgment of God. This is consistent with Jesus’s teaching on the same topic when he invokes the Noahic illustration when the generation of Noah was oblivious to the coming flood judgment (Matt 24:37–39). Paul’s prophecy of what the wicked will be saying makes sense in a prewrath framework. In the first half of the seven-year period, there will be wars and major disasters. It will be a chaotic time in the world at large. This is why Jesus cautions believers that it is the beginning of birth pangs, and that we are to “make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matt 24:6). The unrevealed Antichrist during the first half will be positioning himself politically to become a world major power. During this time, there will be no sense of peace and security. Only until the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint and into the second half will the world under the Antichrist bring stability (see Rev 13). Thus, it makes sense that the world will be saying “peace and security” during the Antichrist’s great tribulation before God’s eschatological. To be sure, this peace and security is a facade, a delusion from giving allegiance to the Antichrist. They do not realize that their so-called “peace and security” will be, as Paul teaches, divinely interrupted with the day of the Lord’s wrath.

 

Why Matthew 24:14 Disproves an Any Moment Rapture – Ep. 106

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The prophecy in Matthew 24:14 contradicts pretrib imminence theology. Listen and find out why.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matt 24:14).

The Great Commission is also linked to another event mentioned in the Olivet Discourse: the preaching of the gospel mentioned in Matt 24:14. This link is significant for the same reason as the link with the beginning of birth pangs. It demonstrates that the church will experience the eschatological prophetic fulfillment of the preaching of the gospel to the whole world. The church will not be raptured until this prophesied event happens.

So here we have another explicit prophecy that must happen before the end: the gospel being preached “throughout the whole inhabited earth.” Since Jesus taught in the Great Commission that the church will be on earth up the end of the age, they will witness the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy of the world-wide proclamation of the Gospel. Five words demonstrate this point: “then the end will come” (Matt 24:14). The church will not be removed until this prophecy is fulfilled. It is simply another prophetic event that undermines an any-moment return of Jesus.

On a related noted, having established that the church will be present on earth up to the end of the age in verse 14, notice in verse 15 Jesus says, “Therefore [oun] when you see…” The interpreter should not miss that Jesus has the same audience in view after verse 14. In verse 15, Jesus begins to describe the Antichrist’s great tribulation in more detail. There is no justification to claim that the referent “you” in verse 15 and afterwards is different from the “you” before verse 14. In other words, the disciples, who represent the new community of God (i.e. the church), are the consistent audience of Jesus’ entire discourse. In short, since the “you” before verse 15 represents the church, there is no reason—except for theological bias—that it represents anyone differently in verse 15 and afterwards.

 

Copyright © 2018 by Alan Kurschner.