EXPOSING A FALSE DOCTRINE
By W. G. Guy
Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Ever since the beginning of the church age the enemy has been working to pervert, distort and corrupt the Word of God and true Bible doctrines. One of the most prominent false doctrines is when are we gathered to Christ at His coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Even back in the time of the apostle Paul the enemy was already trying to pervert, distort and corrupt what the saints believed about the return of Christ. This is even more so today as a popular false doctrine about the return Christ is being promoted by many means and sources on Christians. This doctrine was unknown to the church until the 19th century.
2 Thessalonians 2:3a – Let no man deceive you by any means:…
The false doctrine referred to is the “pre-tribulation rapture” of the church which says that the resurrection of the dead and living Christians being caught up (raptured) to meet the Lord in the air occurs before the time of the antichrist and the great tribulation. What does the Bible actually say about this?
2 Thessalonians 2:3b – ….for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Before Jesus comes for us at the resurrection and our being caught up (raptured), we will see a falling away first along with the manifestation of the man of sin (referred to as the antichrist). There are so many Christians that hold to the pre-tribulation doctrine that it is likely that when the rapture does not occur, and they find themselves in the great tribulation, and having to deal with the antichrist, that their faith will be destroyed because what they believed is proven to be false. This will likely cause a falling away from the faith as they will now question most of what they came to believe, having been deceived.
Too many Christians fail to understand the importance of FAITH, and that it needs to be maintained because it is the means of our salvation. Salvation is not by grace as so many teach, but by faith.
Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace are ye saved through faith;
Grace is God’s provision for our salvation as stated in scripture, because God’s grace is feely given to ALL mankind.
Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Grace is the essential element that provided salvation, but faith is the means upon which we obtain that which God has freely offered. Grace is the offer, faith is the acceptance of that offer. Consider what the apostle Paul said can happen to your faith:
1 Timothy 1:19 – holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1 Timothy 5:12 – having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
2 Timothy 2:18 – who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Faith can be shipwrecked, cast off or overthrown, which will likely happen to many who hold to the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine when they see it did not occur; thus they may be part of the predicted “falling away”.
Be advised that the church will go through the great tribulation. You can believe for the pre-tribulation rapture, but you better be prepared for a post tribulation rapture after the reign of the antichrist, when things will get rough.
Scripture tells us when the resurrection/rapture will occur.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
When does the last trumpet sound? It sounds at the end of the age when all is finished according to the Lord’s plan for the ages.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 – 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. 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.
What is the last trumpet and what does it declare?
Revelation 11:15 - And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever, (see also Revelation 10:7).
This seventh trumpet marks the end of the tribulation, the domain of sinful men, and the reign of antichrist on the earth.
There are no more trumpets after this one; so this seventh trumpet is the LAST TRUMPET! This trumpet is the announcement of the end; this is also confirmed by the event of the seventh angel pouring out his vial which is concurrent with the trumpet, not consecutive to it.
Revelation 16:17 – And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Note that the trumpet is the announcement, and the vial is the actual event. What is a trumpet used for? – announcing an event!
There are many other scriptures that attest to the fact that Christ returns at the end of the tribulation; at which time the saints will be redeemed from the earth and the wicked will be judged. We are looking for that day – the day of redemption!
Matthew 24:29-31 – Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Since the events described in the above verse have never happened yet, they are still in the future, at the end of the tribulation. Thus the resurrection, and rapture, that we believers are all looking for, occurs after the tribulation, not before. Believers are not to be fearful of these coming days because God knows how to keep and protect His children. Consider the ten plagues that the Egyptians experienced on their nation, yet none of those plagues touched God’s people Israel.
Scripture indicates that we may see these things happen during the tribulation, but those who abide in Him are not likely to experience them. Those who do not faithfully abide in Him could suffer the consequences of their failed faith and unbelief.
Psalm 91 – He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Do not let yourself be beguiled by false doctrine or the vain theory that Christians will avoid the tribulation. Christians throughout history have had to go through various forms of tribulation, but their victory was in Christ, as ours will be also.
2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
I like what Billy Graham stated when asked about Christians going through the tribulation. He said, “I believe the Holy Spirit will sustain us wherever the Lord will lead us”. Will there be suffering to endure? Obviously, there always has been, but our Lord has promised to be with us REGARDLESS!
Matthew 28:20 –…. lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 – …… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Be prepared to ENDURE! Why? The world hates you and Jesus Christ!
Matthew 24:13 – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Meantime, we all have a work to do as His representatives here on earth:
Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Romans 8:35-39 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
By W. G. Guy
Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Ever since the beginning of the church age the enemy has been working to pervert, distort and corrupt the Word of God and true Bible doctrines. One of the most prominent false doctrines is when are we gathered to Christ at His coming.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Even back in the time of the apostle Paul the enemy was already trying to pervert, distort and corrupt what the saints believed about the return of Christ. This is even more so today as a popular false doctrine about the return Christ is being promoted by many means and sources on Christians. This doctrine was unknown to the church until the 19th century.
2 Thessalonians 2:3a – Let no man deceive you by any means:…
The false doctrine referred to is the “pre-tribulation rapture” of the church which says that the resurrection of the dead and living Christians being caught up (raptured) to meet the Lord in the air occurs before the time of the antichrist and the great tribulation. What does the Bible actually say about this?
2 Thessalonians 2:3b – ….for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Before Jesus comes for us at the resurrection and our being caught up (raptured), we will see a falling away first along with the manifestation of the man of sin (referred to as the antichrist). There are so many Christians that hold to the pre-tribulation doctrine that it is likely that when the rapture does not occur, and they find themselves in the great tribulation, and having to deal with the antichrist, that their faith will be destroyed because what they believed is proven to be false. This will likely cause a falling away from the faith as they will now question most of what they came to believe, having been deceived.
Too many Christians fail to understand the importance of FAITH, and that it needs to be maintained because it is the means of our salvation. Salvation is not by grace as so many teach, but by faith.
Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace are ye saved through faith;
Grace is God’s provision for our salvation as stated in scripture, because God’s grace is feely given to ALL mankind.
Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Grace is the essential element that provided salvation, but faith is the means upon which we obtain that which God has freely offered. Grace is the offer, faith is the acceptance of that offer. Consider what the apostle Paul said can happen to your faith:
1 Timothy 1:19 – holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:
1 Timothy 5:12 – having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith.
2 Timothy 2:18 – who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Faith can be shipwrecked, cast off or overthrown, which will likely happen to many who hold to the pre-tribulation rapture doctrine when they see it did not occur; thus they may be part of the predicted “falling away”.
Be advised that the church will go through the great tribulation. You can believe for the pre-tribulation rapture, but you better be prepared for a post tribulation rapture after the reign of the antichrist, when things will get rough.
Scripture tells us when the resurrection/rapture will occur.
1 Corinthians 15:51-52 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
When does the last trumpet sound? It sounds at the end of the age when all is finished according to the Lord’s plan for the ages.
1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 – 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. 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.
What is the last trumpet and what does it declare?
Revelation 11:15 - And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever, (see also Revelation 10:7).
This seventh trumpet marks the end of the tribulation, the domain of sinful men, and the reign of antichrist on the earth.
There are no more trumpets after this one; so this seventh trumpet is the LAST TRUMPET! This trumpet is the announcement of the end; this is also confirmed by the event of the seventh angel pouring out his vial which is concurrent with the trumpet, not consecutive to it.
Revelation 16:17 – And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
Note that the trumpet is the announcement, and the vial is the actual event. What is a trumpet used for? – announcing an event!
There are many other scriptures that attest to the fact that Christ returns at the end of the tribulation; at which time the saints will be redeemed from the earth and the wicked will be judged. We are looking for that day – the day of redemption!
Matthew 24:29-31 – Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Since the events described in the above verse have never happened yet, they are still in the future, at the end of the tribulation. Thus the resurrection, and rapture, that we believers are all looking for, occurs after the tribulation, not before. Believers are not to be fearful of these coming days because God knows how to keep and protect His children. Consider the ten plagues that the Egyptians experienced on their nation, yet none of those plagues touched God’s people Israel.
Scripture indicates that we may see these things happen during the tribulation, but those who abide in Him are not likely to experience them. Those who do not faithfully abide in Him could suffer the consequences of their failed faith and unbelief.
Psalm 91 – He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Do not let yourself be beguiled by false doctrine or the vain theory that Christians will avoid the tribulation. Christians throughout history have had to go through various forms of tribulation, but their victory was in Christ, as ours will be also.
2 Timothy 3:12 – Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
I like what Billy Graham stated when asked about Christians going through the tribulation. He said, “I believe the Holy Spirit will sustain us wherever the Lord will lead us”. Will there be suffering to endure? Obviously, there always has been, but our Lord has promised to be with us REGARDLESS!
Matthew 28:20 –…. lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 – …… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Be prepared to ENDURE! Why? The world hates you and Jesus Christ!
Matthew 24:13 – But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Meantime, we all have a work to do as His representatives here on earth:
Matthew 24:14 – And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Romans 8:35-39 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
