End time Bible prophecy is perhaps the most debated topic in all of scripture among Christians. Healthy debate is expected, given the multiplicity of denominational backgrounds and varying levels of Bible knowledge. While differing views about the end-times can be a good thing, there is a dangerous unbiblical precedent being set. Bible prophecy is being attacked from within the church. Let’s look at the deception that Jesus and the apostles warned us would come. Jude 1:17-19
I have noted in past articles that what makes false teaching so dangerous is that it is mingled with truth. If you want to deceive someone, you don’t blatantly deny scripture, instead, you twist it and teach it out of context. This is exactly what a growing number of leaders are doing in their attempt to negate end-time prophecy. 2 Peter 3:3-12
In the New York Times Bestseller The Purpose Driven Life, Here is what was written about Bible prophecy: If you want Jesus to come back sooner, focus on fulfilling your mission, not figuring out prophecy. It’s easy to get distracted and sidetracked from your mission because Satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith.
The Purpose Driven Life labeled prophecy as a distraction, so I want to make a distinction between sensationalism and sound end-time teaching because there is a vast difference. True distractions are marked by nonsense such as: Trying to figure out who the Antichrist is. Setting dates and making predictions that aren’t fulfilled (false prophets). Correlating every global event with prophecy (think Y2K). Proliferating conspiracy theories, Illuminati connections, and blood moon hype all to create a narrative that draws attention to oneself and away from Jesus. This usually has much to do with making a profit, not with presenting the gospel.
What I’m addressing here is something completely different. It is the all-out assault on end-time Bible prophecy proliferated by a growing number of leaders in the church. When these people call Bible prophecy a distraction or make fun of it, they aren’t calling out the sensational, they are maligning the Word of God.
There is a recently published book I want to mention. Unraptured – How End Times Theology Gets It Wrong, by Zack Hunt is a blend of memoir and diatribe against end-time Bible prophecy. Hunt paints an unfair and slanderous view of Christians who study Bible prophecy.
While The Purpose Driven Life calls Bible prophecy a distraction, Unraptured goes a step farther and calls the rapture an invention. I’m not talking about Christians agreeing to disagree about the timing of the rapture, because that’s not what’s being said. The book says the rapture is an invention and it’s nowhere in the Bible.
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SOURCE: Christian Post, Howard Green
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