A few weeks back Gary Stearman host of Prophecy Watchers interviewed pretrib teacher Billy Crone about his book on the seals of Revelation where Crone takes the typical pretrib interpretation that the seals are part of the day of the Lord’s wrath. (I have written a refutation to Crone on his flawed interpretation of the […]
Pretribulationism
Pretribulational teachers add ANOTHER dispensation to human history in order to protect imminence theology against prewrath eschatology
All theologians believe the Bible teaches that human history is made up of a variety of dispensations where God works in a special redemptive mode and epoch. What is debated, however, is the number of dispensations and the nature of them. I believe Paul outlines at least four fundamental dispensations (oikonomia) in human history in […]
Council on Dispensational Hermeneutics
The Council on Dispensational Hermeneutics is a group of traditional dispensationalists made up of mostly pretribulationists, some I have interacted with on the blog. Even though I think they are wrong-headed on pretribulational theology, there are other points that I believe we can learn from them on, for example, the question of Israel’s future, premillennialism, […]
A public debate challenge for Andy Woods to defend his new book: The Falling Away: Spiritual Departure or Physical Rapture?: A Second Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Andy Woods has recently written a booklet (54 pages): The Falling Away: Spiritual Departure or Physical Rapture?: A Second Look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3. He interprets the Greek word apostasia (the apostasy/falling away) as referring to the rapture. “Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes […]
Why should I expect the Antichrist to arrive this generation?
I thought I made it clear in yesterday’s post why I believe this. But let me answer and clarify it again. I believe this for the same reason why I expect Jesus to arrive this generation. If we think that the Antichrist could not meaningfully arrive this generation, then we should not believe that Jesus […]
Why We Should Expect the Antichrist to Arrive THIS Generation
Premise 1: The Bible teaches that Jesus can return during any generation (e.g. Matt 24:36–25:30). Premise 2: The Bible teaches that the Antichrist will arrive before Jesus’s return (e.g. 2 Thess 2:8). Conclusion: Therefore, the church should have a real expectation to face the Antichrist’s arrival this generation. Conversely, if we think that the Antichrist […]
How Do We Know that the Events of the Great Tribulation Begin at Matt 24:9 and Not 24:15?
I am asked if the events in Matt 24:9–14 portray events throughout church history or during the future seven-year period. “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name. Then many will be led into sin, and they will […]
Issues of Interpretation and Commentary on Matthew 24–25 – Jesus’s Olivet Discourse
I am asked frequently if I can recommend a commentary on Matthew’s Olivet Discourse. The problem is that (1) many commentaries on Matthew, in particular chapters 24–25, come from a historicist view, an interpretation that skews Matthew’s message and consequently distorts the application for the church today; (2) some commentaries come from a preterist view and/or […]
Why the prewrath position is not going away. . .
I want to comment on some encouraging observations regarding prewrath in recent years. I have seen the prewrath position become the fastest growing eschatological position in evangelical circles. It has been around for three decades, but it took time for it to gain momentum. My involvement began in the early 90s when prewrath was just […]
Fake Theology from Bob Ulrich of Prophecy Watchers (Video)
Years ago I gave up hope of many pretrib teachers, who claim to be concerned with that little thing called . . . “truth,” of representing the prewrath position accurately, even just the most basic facts. Today Gary Stearman of Prophecy Watchers had Bob Ulrich on promoting the upcoming pretrib prophecy conference of their 2nd […]
The Antichrist Cannot Kill Your Soul. So Stop Being Afraid.
Let’s face it, here is the main reason why many pretribs reject prewrath. . . One of the main reasons, which is unstated, why many pretribulationists reject prewrath is an emotional one: they do not want to think that they may have to face the Antichrist. “But Alan, you cannot read their hearts!” Actually, I […]