Gary DeMar, who is a preterist advocate from the American Vision worldview ministry, posted today this surface-level critique of the prewrath position. Actually, it was not so much a critique of the prewrath position as it was more a drive-by rambling against futurism. Gary DeMar is not a scholar, he is a popularizer, but that […]
Prewrath
Interviewed on Whether Matthew 24 Applies to the Church
Today, Chris White interviewed me on the subject of the applicability of Matthew 24. Does it apply to the Church or does it apply to “Jewish believers during the tribulation period” as pretribulationists claim.
Does Jesus Intend a Chronology in His Parable of the Wheat and Weeds?
There are at least three common questions that arise when people study the parable of the Wheat and the Weeds in Matthew 13. The first question is whether we are able to identify the wheat and weeds. I argue in a forthcoming book that responds to posttribulationism that the parable is not a picture of […]
Part 6 – Why the “Coming” in Matthew 24:36–44 Refers Back to Verses 30–31
This is the last installment of our six-part series. The last reason why verses 36–44 refer to the immediate context of the coming in verses 30–31 is found in a helpful parallel passage in the gospel of Luke. The passage in Luke 17:22–37 parallels Matthew 24:23–41. Luke reads: (22) Then he said to the disciples, […]
Part 5 – Why the “Coming” in Matthew 24:36–44 Refers Back to Verses 30–31
The fourth reason why verses 36–44 refer to the immediate context of the coming in verses 30–31 is found in the use of the term parousia. The term is used only four times in the gospels and are all found in Matthew 24:3, 27, 37, 39. Hart argues the parousia mentioned in verses 37 and […]
Part 4 – Why the “Coming” in Matthew 24:36–44 Refers Back to Verses 30–31
The third reason why verses 36–44 refer to the immediate context of the coming in verses 30–31 is recognizing Jesus’ audience. Hart argues verses 4–35 are intended for a Jewish audience and verses 36–44 are for the church. However, both passages have the same audience of disciples. The second person plural “you” is found in […]
Part 3 – Why the “Coming” in Matthew 24:36–44 Refers Back to Verses 30–31
The second reason why verses 36–44 refer to the immediate context of the coming in verses 30–31 is found in the natural antecedent. Verse 36 reads, “But as for that day and hour no one knows it—not even the angels in heaven—except the Father alone” (Matt 24:36). The immediate and natural antecedent of “that” day […]
Part 2 – Why the “Coming” in Matthew 24:36–44 Refers Back to Verses 30–31
As mentioned in the first part, Hart views these two passages as incompatible because he construes verses 4–35 teaching signs before Christ’s coming, while verses 36–44 teaching no signs before his coming. Therefore, he claims verses 36–44 must not be referring back to the coming in verses 30–31, instead must refer to a pretribulational rapture […]
Part 1 – Why the “Coming” in Matthew 24:36–44 Refers Back to Verses 30–31
Pretribs have three big proof texts: James 5:7–9, Titus 2:11–14, and Matthew 24:36. It is the latter proof text that I will split up in a six part series. This first part is the introduction explaining the argumentation for their interpretation. In the next five parts I will give five reasons why the “Coming” in […]
Three Quick Tips for New Prewrathers
Recently, I have received a spate of emails from new prewrathers who were previously prettribbers—that is a good thing! In their excitement they (rightly) tell their believing pretrib friends at church about the prewrath position. A very common objection they encounter by their pretrib friends is, “But it denies imminence.” This is expected since that […]
Tenets of Prewrath
There is a future seven-year period, and at the midpoint the Antichrist will be revealed and commit the abomination of desolation, initiating his great tribulation against the Church and Israel. There is a biblical distinction between the Antichrist’s great tribulation against the Church and Israel and the day of the Lord’s wrath against the ungodly. […]