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I attended the Prophecy Conference with over 4000 people at each service, it was a most blessed event. I did not hear all the speakers, and did not hear anyone predicting the Rapture although I heard about the rapture in scripture.

The mosy dynamic speaker IMO was Ed Hinson from Liberty University who spoke on the Coming of the Antichrist..
One thing that stood out was in regards to President Obama.

First let me say Ed did not say he thought Obama was the Antichrist..HOWEVER he said..*Do you see how a total unknown Like Barak Obama really came from no-where, a man that was able to capture the hearts and minds of people not only in the USA but all over the world, he said who could of thought *One Man* could accomplish such adulation in such a short time, just speaking about *Change* he said if Obama could accomplish this, what do you think the Antichrist can do? He also said if anyone currently could identify who the Antichrist is we can be sure, we have been *left Behind*.
He said what is holding the Antichrist back is GOD...GOD is still in control, GOD is still in the earth with his flock
(Holy Spirit)but when GOD removes his church (The Rapture) harpazo in greek the taking away, then the Antichrist will be able to rein on earth..So although the Antichrist has not appeared what we have is a Climate of Antichrist which is in Politics, Society and in the Church...

This was a confrence based on scripture, living in the Last Days and how to survive in these challenging times..
http://www.socalprophecy.com/

First let me say Ed did not say he thought Obama was the Antichrist..HOWEVER he said..*

"However" ... that's a key word for the Rapture Ready® crowd. They are always hedging their bets, insinuating they know more than they really know. Anything to sell books and videos, especially to Joe Average in the pew who lacks the discernment to know truth from falsehood.

So although the Antichrist has not appeared what we have is a Climate of Antichrist which is in Politics, Society and in the Church...

That’s an easy statement to make. John said the same thing in the first century (1 John 4:3). In reality Hinson knows nothing more than what John knew, probably much less. Besides, why would he spend a whole lecture trying to help you identify someone that you won’t be around to identify? Was it just to show you how cleaver he can be with the Bible? “Is the Antichrist Alive Today?” Who really cares?

Some other titles:

“What's About to Happen in the Middle East” Oh, brother. Yet another revision from the failed date-suggesting theology.

“Why God Has Given Us Bible Prophecy?” To sell books and DVDs, obviously.

“The Late Great United States” Coming down a notch from Hal Lindsey days.

“Will You Be Left Behind?” Another opportunity for Tim to remind you of all his works of fiction.

This was a confrence based on scripture, living in the Last Days and how to survive in these challenging times..

Did anyone teach on the Great Commission, Christ’s word to His Church to go into all the world, making disciples of the nations and baptizing? Did they talk about how Christ is seated on His throne, subduing the nations into the kingdom He is preparing for the Father? Did they talk about an eschatology of victory, or was it all defeatist doom-and-gloom, we’re outta here “real soon now” stuff?

You said — “I attended the Prophecy Conference with over 4000 people at each service, it was a most blessed event. I did not hear all the speakers, and did not hear anyone predicting the Rapture although I heard about the rapture in scripture.”

That’s wonderful that you were able to attend. Did you get the CDs of the series? I see the speakers were the following —

Paul McGuire – The Coming One World Religion
David Hocking – What’s About to Happen in the Middle East
Jack Hibbs – What Are the Last Days and Why Should You Care?
Ed Hindson – Is the Antichrist Alive Today?
Britt Merrick – Why God Has Given Us Bible Prophecy?
Mark Hitchcock – The Late Great United States
David Reagan – What Happens When You Die?
Bob McEwen – Freedom in Crisis, A World View
Tim LaHaye – Will You Be Left Behind?
Bob McEwen – Finding Hope in the Global Crisis

In terms of anyone predicting the Rapture, I have not heard anyone of these well-known and major prophecy speakers, preachers and teachers ever doing that. I’ve certainly heard of *others* do that, in which they gain a following for a time and get people excited and then they go away. These guys don’t do that.

The reason why is that they understand the “doctrine of imminence”, and you’ll hear them speaking about it. They say that no “signs” will precede the coming of Jesus Christ, in the air, for the church, the Rapture. They say that there are no prophecies to be fulfilled before the Rapture. That’s why they call it a “signless event”. It will be a surprise and people will not be expecting it.

At the same time, we have to realize that Jesus Christ’s “second coming” to set up the Kingdom on earth is not a “signless event”. For one example, we can say that 1,260 days will elapse from the time of the abomination of desolation (the Antichrist in the Temple and stopping the sacrifices) to the coming of Jesus Christ to set up the Kingdom on earth. This is a *definite* time that can be “counted down” to that point of when He returns. All someone has to do, at that point in time, is count the exact days, and when you get to day 1259 — you know that Jesus Christ is coming *tomorrow* — exactly and right on the money.

So, there’s a difference between a “signless event” where no prophecies have to be fulfilled (for the Rapture, hence the “doctrine of imminence”)— and — all the prophecies that have to be fulfilled before Jesus Christ sets up the Kingdom on earth. Those two things are two different events, at two different times.

Now, it has been said that when you see that the “timing” for the “second coming” of Jesus Christ seems to be *coming quickly* (and *that* is not a signless event, as said above) — then — you know that the Rapture is coming *even more quickly*... (which is a signless event).

It’s like saying — “I see Christmas items being put up in the stores — so — Thanksgiving must be *really, really close*...” LOL...

You could say, the same thing — that “I see the signs for the second coming of Christ (to set up His Kingdom) lining up in many different ways, so the Rapture must be really really close!”

AND SO..., *this* is the most that you’ll ever hear from these guys (like the ones you heard at that prophecy conference) — in that they’ll say, “We see the signs of Christ coming to set up His Kingdom and things are lining up dramatically — so — the Rapture must be really really close!” And that’s about it. There is *still* the “doctrine of imminence” that they all adhere to — which is different than the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to set up His Kingdom, here on earth.

It’s the same way with me — when I see the Christmas decorations going into the stores — I do know that Thanksgiving is really really close!” :-)

In regards to what you said about Ed Hindson — “First let me say Ed did not say he thought Obama was the Antichrist..HOWEVER he said..*Do you see how a total unknown Like Barak Obama really came from no-where, a man that was able to capture the hearts and minds of people not only in the USA but all over the world, he said who could of thought *One Man* could accomplish such adulation in such a short time, just speaking about *Change* he said if Obama could accomplish this, what do you think the Antichrist can do? He also said if anyone currently could identify who the Antichrist is we can be sure, we have been *left Behind*.”

Yes, that’s very true, what Ed Hindson says. This gives an “insight” into the mentality and thinking of the people today — that they accept so readily, someone like Obama — who can have *some* characteristics of the Antichrist and see people react this way. This shows that people *are being prepared* for the coming of the Antichrist.

And this points out something that I’ve always thought. The Bible gives prophecies about what is to happen during these days (that we are in). Many people think that things happen “full blown” literally overnight. But, in reality, it doesn’t happen that way. We always see the precursors and the events “building” over time. It could be developing quickly, to be sure, but they will be building, nonetheless.

For example, Israel will be under great distress during those times (the Tribulation) and it will be persecuted and abandoned by the nations. We do see that the pressure is building on Israel and the nations don’t seem to be inclined to see things from Israel’s perspective of “mere survival” but rather from the perspective of the Islamic terrorists who want to destroy Israel. Then we see Iran stating boldly that they want to see the nation of Israel totally destroyed and wiped out and driven out of the area and have Islam take control over the land of Israel. And repeatedly, Iran keeps *asserting* that they have absolutely no intention of backing off their nuclear technology and how it’s their right to have it and no nation will interfere with them. They also state that Israel and the United States are their enemy and that they both will be destroyed.

This is all stuff that is *building* and is observable, in the meantime — before it gets to the climax of the events (those particular prophetic events. So, the prophetic events are key items and one could say that they are “highlights”. We are not given all the “mechanisms” that lead up to them — but — those mechanisms that lead up to the particular prophetic events *will be in operation* in “realtime” and they will be observed by the people living in those “prophetic days”. So, that’s what we see going on right now. It’s what is called (by many of these prophetic teachers) as “stage setting”. It’s setting the stage before the “next act” occurs. So, the “world’s stage” is being “set” — before the final call for the last act of the Tribulation period.

So, once again, we have particular and “limited” prophetic events that are given to us. They don’t just “happen” without “lead-on events” in real life happening first. So, we can see the “lead-on events” in realtime, which lead up to those “certain prophetic events” given in the Bible. And that’s what we see happening now.

What Ed Hindson is saying about Obama, is not that Obama can be the Antichrist, no..., not at all. What he is saying is that Obama is the “type” or the “lead-on event” that shows the “mentality” and the “thinking” of people of *this particular day* — in how they *can accept* the kind of person like who the Antichrist is — who is coming shortly. The “people” are now being “prepared” for the coming of the Antichrist — and you can actually “see it”...