Debunking “Last Days Fever” at Charisma

[GaryDeMar]

“Charisma magazine provides news, analysis, prophetic commentary and teachings for charismatic and Pentecostal Christians.” Lee Grady, who came out of the Maranatha movement of the 1980s, is its editor. Since I don’t follow what goes on among charismatics, I can’t comment on all the diversity of opinion that’s in the movement, and there is a lot of it. The charismatic movement is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get doctrinally. That’s what makes Charisma magazine so intriguing. Sometimes the magazine tackles subjects that other magazines won’t touch with a ten-foot poll. One of them is Bible prophecy. Grady wrote Don’t Get Infected With Last Days Fever back in August of this year in his “Fire in My Bones” blog.

Troy Anderson’s “Last Days Fever” in the October issue of Charisma expands on what Lee wrote in his blog post. It’s a good attempt at sorting out various views on the subject of the last days. Instead of promoting speculation regarding the last days, Anderson presents several opinions, even including preterism: “Peter Wagner, president of Global Harvest Ministries, is an adherent of partial preterism, believing most end-times prophecies were fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.” Wagner is the author of Dominion! How Kingdom Action Can Change the World published by Chosen Book in 2008. There are better representatives for the partial preterist position than Wagner, but at least it’s a start.

A sidebar debate between Wagner and Perry Stone on the rapture is also included on pages 22 and 23. Stone’s explanation is pure dispensationalism with no bibliographical support for some of his historical claims. I would like to see him back up his assertion that John Gill taught a pre-tribulational rapture since dispensationalist Grant Jeffrey writes that “there is some ambiguity in Dr. Gill’s 1748 timing and sequence of prophetic events.”[1] Wagner, unfortunately, offers no exegetical rebuttal. Anderson should have called on a real preterist to counter Stone’s argument.

A great deal is said about Israel in this article. Some of it is quite encouraging:

• Since the late 1960s, the number of Jews professing faith in Jesus has exploded from several thousand to anywhere from 250,000 to 500,000 worldwide.
• David Brickner, executive director of the San Francisco-based Jews for Jesus, says a growing number of the world’s nearly 14 million Jews are discovering Jesus as their Messiah and revival is beginning in Israel.
• “What we are seeing now in the beginning of the 21st century is openness and a surge of Israeli believers in Jesus,” Brickner says.

What starts off as good news for the Jews ends up in disaster. Rabbi Jonathan Bernis states, “There are Jews in just about every country in the world. These are clear signs of the last days that are often overlooked when we talk about end-times prophecies. Israel is restored, Jerusalem is restored, the Jews are coming back from the four corners of the earth and they are being restored to Jesus, their Messiah.” This is seen as a “super prophecy” where “hundreds of thousands of Jews are returning to Israel from exile.” What Bernis and his fellow end-time advocates do not tell the readers of Charisma is what happens to the Jews after they return to Israel: Two-thirds of them will be slaughtered during the great tribulation (Zech. 13:7–8). Knowing this, dispensationalists should be telling Jews to leave Israel.

Because Charisma has a large charismatic audience, a number of prominent charismatic leaders often write for the magazine. Benny Hinn is one of them. The title of Hinn’s article is “The Fig Tree Is In Bloom.” He believes the fig tree represents modern-day Israel and it is the singular sign that is telling us when that the last days are upon us. We heard this with the signing of the Balfour Declaration in 1917, when Israel became a nation again in 1948, and when the Jews captured Israel in the Six-Day in 1967. Hinn has given himself some prophetic room by making a generation 100 years. Even so, he gets the fig tree sign wrong:

Many of these events [in Matthew 24] began to unfold immediately after Christ ascended back to the Father and have continued to this very day. But what was the one “sign” that would be unmistakable? As Jesus often did, He answered their question in the form of a simple story: “‘Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place’” (Matt. 24:32–34).

First, notice that it was Jesus’ present audience that would see the signs: “when you see all these signs.” Jesus does not have a future generation in view. Second, the “this generation” of Matthew 24:34 refers to the generation to whom Jesus was speaking. This includes the “parable of the fig tree.” Third, if you want a tree that represents Israel, it’s the olive tree (Rom. 11:17–24). Fourth, if the fig tree represents Israel in Matthew 24, then there is a problem with Matthew 21:19:

“Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, [Jesus] came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only; and He said to it, ‘No longer shall there ever be any fruit from you.’ And at once the fig tree withered.” Fifth, the parallel passage in Luke 21:29–30 shows that Jesus referred not only to the fig tree but to “all the trees”: “And He told them a parable: ‘Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; as soon as they put forth leaves, you see it and know for yourselves that the summer is now near. Even so you, too, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.’” (Luke 21:29B30). Thus, it’s not just the fig tree but all the trees whose leaves herald the nearness of summer. Sixth, Hinn needs to take a look at what dispensational scholar John F. Walvoord wrote about the fig tree being Israel:

Actually, while the fig tree could be an apt illustration of Israel, it is not so used in the Bible. In Jeremiah 24:1–8, good and bad figs illustrate Israel in the captivity, and there is also mention of figs in 29:17. The reference to the fig tree in Judges 9:10–11 is obviously not Israel. Neither the reference in Matthew 21:18–20 nor that in Mark 11:12–14 with its interpretation in 11:20–26, gives any indication that it is referring to Israel, any more than the mountain referred to in the passage. Accordingly, while this interpretation is held by many, there is no clear scriptural warrant.

A better interpretation is that Christ was using a natural illustration. Because the fig tree brings forth new leaves late in the spring, the budding of the leaves is evidence that summer is near.[2]

When you see leaves on a fig tree, Jesus told His audience, and for that matter, when they see leaves on all the trees, they would know that summer is near. In a similar way, when they saw all these signs, they would know that Jesus was near, “right at the door” (Matt. 24:33). Near to what? Near to fulfilling the promise He made about coming within a generation to destroy the temple.[3]

In attempting to deal with Last Days Fever, Charisma at least is attempting to tackle some of the movement’s date-setting elements. But it can’t shake the paradigm that makes date setting or “generation setting” one of its main pillars. Benny Hinn’s article cancels out most of the good that is found in Troy Anderson’s article.

Endnotes:

[1] Grant Jeffrey, “A Pretrib Rapture Statement in the Medieval Church,” When the Trumpet Sounds: Today’s Foremost Authorities Speak Out on End-Time Controversies, eds. Thomas Ice and Timothy Demy (Eugene OR: Harvest House, 1995), 121–122. Quoted in James F. Stitzinger, “The Rapture in Twenty Centuries of Biblical Interpretation,” The Masters Seminary Journal 13/2 (Fall 2002), 163. Stitzinger claims that Gill, Philip Doddridge, and Thomas Scott held to a pretribulational rapture position. This is a questionable conclusion based on referencing a secondary source. What is not questionable, however, is that all three men held to a preterist interpretation of Matthew 24.
[2] John F. Walvoord, Matthew: Thy Kingdom Come (Chicago, IL: Moody, [1974] 1980), 191B92.
[3] For a comprehensive study of the fig tree parable, see DeMar, Last Days Madness, appendix 3.

[Brother Les]

by Gary DeMar
What starts off as good news for the Jews ends up in disaster. Rabbi Jonathan Bernis states, “There are Jews in just about every country in the world. These are clear signs of the last days that are often overlooked when we talk about end-times prophecies. Israel is restored, Jerusalem is restored, the Jews are coming back from the four corners of the earth and they are being restored to Jesus, their Messiah.” This is seen as a “super prophecy” where “hundreds of thousands of Jews are returning to Israel from exile.” What Bernis and his fellow end-time advocates do not tell the readers of Charisma is what happens to the Jews after they return to Israel: Two-thirds of them will be slaughtered during the great tribulation (Zech. 13:7–8). Knowing this, dispensationalists should be telling Jews to leave Israel.

Gary, I would question if Rabbi Bernis is a 'Rapturest Dispen? Dipsies do not preach that the 'Jews' that are back in Judea are 'Christains' but still following the Law of Moses (i know that 'Jews for Jesus' 'follow The Law'). Would you think that this would make very good propapanda that the 1/3 'Saved' after the Rapturest Tribulation are already 'Chrisitan Jews'? This would make good on the Prophecies of "I will throw The Rebels out of The Land...." But wait, are not so-called 'Christians' (being predestination one can never be sure) Helping The Rebels go to God Promised Land.


I also wanted to point out about The Fig tree that Jesus cursed
In Mark 11:20 it said that the tree had 'Dried up from the Roots'.... meaning that 'The Root' (God/Jesus) system was completly gone for The Mosaic Law/Temple Cultus System. All 'Christians should understand that God (The Root) does not support this rebel nation under the Mosaic Marriage Contract.




Brother Les

[JTClaydon]

Just a few questions:

How big is your God?

How much does he love the world?

Is there evidence that He notified other groups of end times somehow?

Do you look to the jot and tittle or to the Almighty for your guidance?

Might you not learn more about "Last Days Fever" on your knees and fasting than worrying about the wisdom of man?

He loved us enough to send His Son, to provide "the way, the truth and the life" enough to cause us to be able to hear His voice clearly, and enough to confirm His word in many ways so that we can walk in Him in peace with understanding.

May the Almighty bless you in all that you do, make his presence real to you in your daily life. and be the God of Ps.91.

[jjbrsvl]

Matthew 24 identifies the "physical judgment of Israel" (being alert for it, shown in 24:42). Matthew 25 identifies "spiritual eternal judgment of Israel". See how Matthew 25:13 answers Matthew 24:42.

Matthew 24:4-14 shows what the "misleading signs" are: (1) "false Christs" verse 5, (2) "wars" verses 6 & 7, (3) "natural calamity" verse 7, (4) "persecution" verses 9-10, (5) "apostasy" verse 12, (6) "gospel in the world" verse 14. In Matthew 24:15-35, the "sign of the end" is: (1) "the Abomination of Desolation" verse 15, (2) "Fleeing the city" verses 16-20, (3) "great tribulation" verses 21-22, (4) "the Son of Man comes in Judgment" verses 23-28. Matthew 24:29-35 shows the "Time of These Things" is: (1) "signs in heavens" verses 29-30, (2) The "elect are gathered" verse 31, (3) The "Fig Tree parable" (destruction of Jerusalem) in Matthew 24:32-34. Matthew 24:1-3, "Tell us, when will these things be?" is answered in Matthew 24:32-34, (4) "this generation will not pass away until ALL these things take place..." Matthew 24:34-35. The spiritual eternal judgment of Israel relates to the kingdom of heaven and the church (body of Christ) in: (1) Matthew 25:1, "kingdom of heaven" is defined in some verses of Scripture. Revelation 5:9-10 shows that "Thou was slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." The kingdom consists of men purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, (2) Acts 20:28 shows "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood." Therefore, the kingdom of heaven and the church consists of men and women purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. Matthew's account of judgment on Israel in chapter 24 is physical. History has detailed what happened in A.D. 70. Matthew's account of eternal judgment on all mankind in chapter 25 is spiritual. When Jesus returns to this earth, only the Father knows (Matthew 24:36). Not submitting to Jesus in their own lifetime prevents any more chances. "Last days" only exist in the sense that each person has only his/her lifetime (physical). Jesus has been reigning through His body, the Church, established 2000+ years ago.

[DonaldJamesParker]

Since I don’t follow what goes on among charismatics, I can’t comment on all the diversity of opinion that’s in the movement, and there is a lot of it.

I strongly suggest you find out - but don't focus on the intellectual side of things. Jesus called us to love God and to love our fellow man. I was of the opinion that studying and defending the tenets of the faith was a way to do that. Now I'm reaching the conclusion that I was misguided. I have learned that sterile examination of verbiage in scripture and critical analysis of people's comments about the gospel leads to spiritual pride and an attitude of superiority. I have suffered from the desire to be a know it all and to correct every single iteration of untruth. Now I realize that I need focus on loving people and not correcting them. In the context of love correction will not be precluded but that exhortation to adhere to truth takes on a different nature. It is very hard to get caught up in law itself and not the spirit of the law if you put all of your eggs in the apologetic basket. It is mandatory to experience the love of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to truly be a balanced Christian. There is little power in the persuasion of human voices to truly change the hearts of men. Obviously there are some charismatics who are out to breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However you can't throw out the infant with the holy water. Read Always Enough by Heidi Baker if you want to get a glimpse into the real world of the working of the Holy Spirit. Watch the Sid Roth show to see the things that God is doing on our planet. You cannot totally grasp the gospel with the intellect. One thing I do comprehend - a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. It is time for the charismatics and non-charismatics to meet at Promontory Point and drive the golden stake of truth through the lies of the devil. For those who believe that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased and continue to battle to promote that doctrine, I can only offer exhortation to consider that if you're wrong, you're fighting against God's master plan. In essence you would be a pawn in the devil's hands. I truly believe that those people are sincere and truly want to hear their Lord say "well done, faithful servant." I can't caution you enough to be careful about what battles you choose to fight here on Earth. Throw down your shield of doubt and pick up the shield of faith.
Donald James Parker

[GaryDeMar]

Interesting comments by DonaldJamesParker, but they have little do do with the topic at hand since I did not attack Charismatics. I only stated that there is a diversity of opinion. This diversity of opinion comes because there is the presence of a "super spirituality." "You need the Spirit. . . You need the gifts of the Spirit. . . It's the Spirit of the law not the written law." There was very little exposition of Scripture. Every man is a spiritual law unto himself. I would hear "Spirit-led" postulations that could not be questioned.

Jesus always took His disciples and His antagonists back to the Bible. The Bereans "searched the Scriptures." If you want to know what the Bible has to say about the Last Days, the topic of the above post, then you must begin with what the Bible actually says.

DonaldJamesParker mentions Sid Roth. Roth, host of “Messianic Vision,” on the September 18, 1991, edition of the “700 Club,” stated that “two-thirds of the Jewish people [living in Israel] will be exterminated.” He, along with other futurists, bases this view on a futurized interpretation of Zechariah 13:8–9. He sees incidents like that of Blacks against Jews in New York as a prelude to a coming great persecution. Pat Robertson asked Roth: “You don’t foresee some kind of persecution against Jews in America, do you?” Roth responded: “Unfortunately, I believe God foresees this.” Roth believes that the end (pre-tribulational rapture) is near. Since he believes that Jews are destined to suffer, based on a futurized interpretation of Zechariah 13:8–9, he postulates that today’s anti-semitism is a prelude to a greater future tribulation. The reality of violent acts against Jews today is all part of the inevitabilities that come with dispensational premillennialism. What is the origin of this position? Does the Bible teach it? It does not.

[Daviel D'Paz]

Hi Brother DeMar:

Sadly, we are living in a generation of christians that lost their capacity for discernment. We need just to look at the charismatic mess to realize how far we are from the real track. As a former pentecostal myself, I can assure you that all that matters in charismatic circles is not a reasoned faith that springs up from a sound exegesis. What really matters to them is to be guided by the Holy Spirit (which is only their own emotions), and if someone tells them to be like the Bereans examining all those things, they accuse you with a lot of epithets: "you are a pharisee", you are a "rationalist", you are an "unbeliever in the Holy Spirit" etc.

We need Reformation. But the Reformation we need IS NOT like the one Robert Shuller has been promoting with his possibility thinking stuff. We need the kind of Reformation that will expose all the NONSENSE that is going on in various charismatic circles nowadays (like Luther did with a bunch of Anabaptists). That kind of practices damages the gospel of the free grace of God. So, I think that though CHARISMA magazine may have good intentions in writting those articles, there won't be a real getting at hearth of the issue UNTIL they cease to promote and give an open FORUM to persons of Benny Hinn and the likes. For God's sake, What's the sound scholarship that 'Benny Hill' can give to a difficult eschatology subject like the Last Days? If he is going to give us his 'prophetic utterances' like the ones he did before (and are ALL failed, of course), I don't think that's what we really need.

So, I would encourage all of the charismatics to be MORE discerning and careful, and NOT swallow everything that popular TV 'stars' gives them. But it appears that now what really counts in evangelical circles is not your commitment to sound biblical expository teaching, but the name who is promoted in "christian television" and the names who are behind on the "Best seller's list". We need a second Reformation in order to drive out the modern 'Tetzels' who are merchandizing the gospel like the RC did before.

Thank you very much for your ministry and personally I have profited a lot from it. You teach me how to be more careful at handling the eschatological Scriptures.

In Christ
Daviel D'Paz

[DonaldJamesParker]

that lost their capacity for discernment. We need just to look at the charismatic mess to realize how far we are from the real track. As a former pentecostal myself, I can assure you that all that matters in charismatic circles is not a reasoned faith that springs up from a sound exegesis. What really matters to them is to be guided by the Holy Spirit (which is only their own emotions), and if someone tells them to be like the Bereans examining all those things, they accuse you with a lot of epithets: "you are a pharisee", you are a "rationalist", you are an "unbeliever in the Holy Spirit" etc.

Discernment - good word - and something that we are exhorted to utilize. Problem is that we won't know until the other side of Heaven if we discerned correctly or not. You can sit in your ivory tower and smugly believe that you have all the right answers, but God has the answer sheet. As an ex-Pentecostal, obviously you have discerned that the gifts of all are counterfeit or you would not be an ex-Pentecostal but rather a discerning one. I have been into the practical application of the word of God for years. And in doing so, I found that I was a Pharisee. I was not capable of truly loving anyone because I wouldn't let them close enough to contaminate me with their bad doctrine, sinful life, or physical repulsiveness. Obviously people are going to be led astray by signs and wonders - but not ones done in the name of Jesus Christ. The demons can't even abide the name of Jesus (of course you might believe that demons ceased along with the spiritual gifts) much less say it. The church is losing people and losing momentum because the focus has been intellectual pursuit (a dead work if ever there was one by itself.) It is imperative that the two disciplines are both applied. The Holy Spirit is only their emotions? I grant you that people do get carried away and think that their emotional outpourings are a sign of the Holy Spirit when they are not. However, words of wisdom, knowledge and prophecy do not fall under the category of emotional outbursts. I don't need to throw out any epithets. All I tell people is to consider the possibility that they are wrong. Who wants to be a hindrance to God's work in the name of serving the Lord? I don't think anyone does. It is not an easy task to filter out truth with so much information and so many opinions.

[HappyHappy 1]

No one knows the day or hour but if they read chapter and verse there are signs to look for.GOD SAID I HAVE FORTOLD YOU ALL THINGS HAVE YOU READ IT.We just have to look around this world today and see prophesy coming to past it may not be in our life time.We are the generation of the Fig Tree.GOD SAYS DON'T JUST LEARN ABOUT IT READ IT.Goes all the way back to the beginning with Adam and Eve.The year of our LORD was in 1948 when Israel became a Nation again.I don't believe in the rapture theory it is not in the Bible alot is misinterpreted.GOD SAYS I'M AGAINST THOSE THAT TEACH MY CHILDREN TO FLY TO SAVE THEIR SOULS.Only JESUS CHRIST DOES THE SAVING.He is our Advocate to GOD THE FATHER.NO ONES COMES TO THE FATHER BUT THRU ME JESUS.

[Lumberjack]

Welcome HappyHappy,
Great shades of Arnold Murray ! I see you've been studying with the old boy. Isn't his recall impressive. I followed him for years, he does an outstanding job at debunking the Rapture theory. Another thing that impressed me was his " can do " attitude. Also he didn't preach a sissy sweet Jesus. We could use a lot more like him. I always hoped the Lord would have totally converted him over to the Christian Reconstruction movement, but I guess that wasn't in the cards for him.

Best Regards, Lumberjack

[Brother Les]

by HAPPYHAPPY 1
No one knows the day or hour

But He did declare the generation... First century.

but if they read chapter and verse there are signs to look for

He said there would be NO Sign of Jesus Parousia but the destruction of Jerusalem and Judea (first century)

We just have to look around this world today and see prophesy coming to past it may not be in our life time

every generation has 'seen' the same things.

We are the generation of the Fig Tree.GOD SAYS DON'T JUST LEARN ABOUT IT READ IT

We are not the 'generation'of the fig tree (or any othe tree) Just don't learn about it, read it, (Audience relevance)

The year of our LORD was in 1948 when Israel became a Nation again

'Israel' has been a 'nation' (The Church) for over 2,000 years and beyond. What does 1948 has any thing to do with The Year of Our Lord?

I don't believe in the rapture theory it is not in the Bible alot is misinterpreted.

By believing that a Secular nation is Gods nation, your non-belief in a rapture is more puzzling as:

A) The Church are Gods people
B) A Secular nation is Gods people

(does not compute

GOD SAYS I'M AGAINST THOSE THAT TEACH MY CHILDREN TO FLY TO SAVE THEIR SOULS.

What verse does this come out of?


Blessings
Brother Les

[lounor]

[Just observed the following bit on the worldwide web]

PRETRIB RAPTURE – HIDDEN FACTS !

How can the “rapture” be “imminent”? Acts 3:21 says that Jesus “must” stay in heaven (He is now there with the Father) “until the times of restitution of all things” which includes, says Scofield, “the restoration of the theocracy under David’s Son” which obviously can’t begin before or during Antichrist’s reign. Since Jesus must personally participate in the rapture, and since He can’t even leave heaven before the tribulation ends, the rapture therefore cannot take place before the end of the trib! Paul explains the “times and the seasons” (I Thess. 5:1) of the catching up (I Thess. 4:17) as the “day of the Lord” (5:2) (which FOLLOWS the posttrib sun/moon darkening – Matt. 24:29; Acts 2:20) WHEN “sudden destruction” (5:3) of the wicked occurs! (If the wicked are destroyed before or during the trib, who would be left alive to serve the Antichrist?) Paul also ties the change-into-immortality “rapture” (I Cor. 15:52) to the posttrib end of “death” (15:54)! (Will death be ended before or during the trib?) If anyone wonders how long pretrib rapturism has been taught, he or she can Google “Pretrib Rapture Diehards.” Many are unaware that before 1830 all Christians had always viewed I Thess. 4’s “catching up” as an integral part of the final second coming to earth. In 1830 it was stretched forward and turned into a separate coming of Christ. To further strengthen their novel view, which the mass of evangelical scholars rejected throughout the 1800s, pretrib teachers in the early 1900s began to stretch forward the “day of the Lord” (what Darby and Scofield never dared to do) and hook it up with their already-stretched-forward “rapture.” Many leading evangelical scholars still weren’t convinced of pretrib, so pretrib teachers then began teaching that the “falling away” of II Thess. 2:3 is really a pretrib rapture (the same as saying that the “rapture” in 2:3 must happen before the “rapture” ["gathering"] in 2:1 can happen – the height of desperation!). Other Google articles throwing light on long-covered-up facts about the 178-year-old pretrib rapture view include “Famous Rapture Watchers,” “X-Raying Margaret,” “Revisers of Pretrib Rapture History,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers),” “Wily Jeffrey,” “The Rapture Index (Mad Theology),” “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism,” “Scholars Weigh My Research,” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “Pretrib Rapture Desperados” and “Deceiving and Being Deceived” – all by the author of the bestselling book “The Rapture Plot” which is available at Armageddon Books online. Just my two cents’ worth.