Posted on 12/10/2021 1:36:36 AM PST by Cronos
The End Times are nearing, and the ‘Rapture’ could happen within 10 years, according to the World Bible Society President. Dr. F. Kenton Beshore. More specifically, Beshore claims that the “Rapture” is likely to occur between now and 2021 and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ from 2018 and 2028. (Related article: “The ‘End-Time’ Is Really A Good Time – OpEd“)
The ‘Rapture” is the belief by some Protestant Christians that prior to the Second Coming of Christ, faithful Christians will be “caught up,” and removed from the Earth. Pre-tribulation rapture theology — such as espoused by Beshore — was developed in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren and popularized in the United States in the early 20th century by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible.
Beshore says he’s releasing his estimate at this time of global economic, political and spiritual crisis in hopes of inspiring believers to get prepared for the greatest opportunity for worldwide evangelism in the last 2,000 years.
As part of this effort, Beshore says his Costa Mesa, Calif.-based ministry is printing millions of copies of the 45-page Jewish Scriptures to distribute to Jews worldwide before the seven-year Tribulation period. Beshore hopes Jews will read the books containing Biblical prophecies about Jesus’ first and second comings and become some of the “144,000 Billy Grahams” described in Revelation 7 that will lead billions to Christ during the Tribulation.
“There are 144,000 Jews during the Tribulation who are going to turn to the Lord,” says Beshore — the 86-year-old father of Kenton Beshore, pastor of Mariner’s Church in Irvine, Calif., one of the nation’s 25 largest churches. “Now, we are all going to be gone (following the Rapture).”
“But if we can get our Jewish Scriptures into their hands now, the Holy Spirit will lead them to them at the right time. They may have set them aside, but they will read them, turn to the Lord and lead billions and billions to Jesus,” said Beshore.
For his prediction, Beshore updates some of the material used in the 1970’s Hal Lindsey book, “The Late Great Planet Earth.” In the book, Lindsey claimed he had unlocked the secrets of the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24-25 in which Jesus described the signs of his Second Coming.
Lindsey suggested the generation that witnessed the 1948 rebirth of the nation of Israel — purportedly symbolized by the fig tree — would see the return of Christ. Lindsey wrote a biblical generation is “something like 40 years” — suggesting that “within 40 years or so of 1948, all these things could take place.”
But when 1988 came and went without Jesus’ return, Lindsey came under heavy criticism, ministers shied away from teaching Bible prophecy and many became skeptical about predictions regarding the Second Coming. They noted Jesus’ admonition in Matthew 24:36 that no one would know the “day or hour” of His return.
While no one knows the exact date, Beshore argues people can know the “times and seasons,” or the approximate timeframe, by watching for the signs Jesus described of his return.
In terms of the prediction in The Late Great Planet Earth, Beshore argues Lindsey’s interpretation of the parable of the fig tree was right, but he was wrong about the length of a biblical generation.
Instead of 40 years, Beshore says Psalms 90:10 reveals a biblical generation is actually 70-80 years: “The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong.”
Therefore, Beshore believes the Second Coming will occur sometime between 2018 and 2028, or 70 to 80 years after 1948.
Taking into account the seven-year Tribulation period, Beshore expects the Rapture — the belief that Christians will be miraculously removed from the Earth prior to the Tribulation and Second Coming — to occur sometime between now and 2021.
But before the Rapture occurs, Beshore says certain events must still take place.
Beshore says five of these events are taking place now — the “falling away” or apostasy of the church, an increase in travel and knowledge, the rise of anti-Semitism, development of “Mark of the Beast” technology and that Israel is dwelling safely before an attack by a coalition of Russian and Islamic nations.
Yet another in a long line of false prophets.
Why do people do this? Only the Father knows. Of course, all that has been prophesied comes closer to fulfillment with every passing day, so we should be ready at all times. Trying to outguess God is absurd.
Pack your bags!
The rapture is something that happens in our own hearts when we allow Jesus to come in. The Second Coming is always nigh.
There are a lot of folks out there who cling to the idea that there are “secrets” or “signs” out there that reveal what is to happen, mainly so they can fool themselves into thinking they are smarter than everyone else. That’s why that phony came up with the idea of the “Rapture” - it allows people to feel superior to their fellow man, even when it is abundantly clear they are losers.
Most of these people who think they are going to heaven while their neighbors burn in hell are some of the nastiest, un-Christian folks in word and deed. Let ‘em think what they want - I prefer to live my life doing good works as Jesus enjoins us, for I may not know the hour…
Here we go again. Is he cleaning up on retirement account donations like the last guy who tried this?
They have a worse record than the Washington Generals.
One day, one of these morons is going to be right.
Nobody will care or be there to give them the attention they desire.
fantasy
I wouldn’t say...”most” who believe that way are as nasty as you say. The problem is is that such nasty folks are “memorable” and give all of us a bad rap.
Christians are bound for Heaven and those who aren’t Christians are going to hell. The world in general finds such exclusionary talk quite offensive anyway. I agree with you that whether one believes in a pretrib rapture or some “upgathering of living saints with the dead in Christ”” at of the “end of the age”, that we should never be “nasty” to one another and to strive to be at peace with our neighbors.
Talk about equivocation!
Regards,
The Rapture? It seems likely that a lot of folks will have unrealistic expectations as they clamor in vain for a seat on the bus. The good they’ll see in themselves will be highly delusional but we still won’t really know if the bus itself isn’t just a figment of somebody else’s overactive imagination. The first step would be to give one’s self over to the fear of missing out on perhaps the mother of all opportunities of a lifetime. The next steps would be towards self-preservation and to survive all subsequent scrutiny in order to secure the required voucher. Whether or not these steps could be made by any means necessary is not necessarily clear, and if anyone or any science could see into the future, would The Rapture or something like it be observable? I won’t hold my breath.
Glad someone is in the know....../s
You’re right - I should have been more charitable. Many, not most.
All I know is I’m trying to be the best Christian/husband/father/neighbor/citizen I can be, without worrying about whether others are going to hell or not.
You sure are on top of things.
"Yet another in a long line of false prophets."
Indeed, Catholic and Protestant. For years many have even been claiming that no less than your pope, elected by your prime leadership, is one.
Hardline Colombia Catholics shun 'false prophet' pope
And while Protestantism must have more, Catholicism can claim a greater history of such, apparently some even by popes:
Pope Sylvester II predicted, along with many other Clerics in Europe, that on January 1st, 1000 AD, the world would end. Riots occurred in parts of Europe and people made pilgrimages to Jerusalem.
Pope Innocent the 3rd...decided that adding 666 to the year Islam was founded would give us the date of the end of the world. - https://list25.com/25-times-the-world-was-predicted-to-end-but-didnt/
And also as related to futurism, plus a 1,000 reign:
Millennial hopes and ambitions reached new levels as a result of the work of Joachim of Fiore. The first officially approved theologian to reject Augustine and return to a notion of a future millennium, he postulated that there were three great ages of history: (1) that of the Law, (2) that of the Gospel, and (3) that of the Holy Spirit. His eschatology revitalized medieval millennialism, and, soon after his death at the beginning of the 13th century, prophecies attributed to him were linked to current events and were believed to predict imminent apocalypse.
The Hundred Years’ War, the Black Death, and other 14th-century catastrophes further fueled the desire for final divine intervention. In 1356 the Franciscan John of Roquetaillade (Rupescissa) prophesied that plagues, a revolt by the poor, and the appearance of Antichrists in Rome and Jerusalem would be followed in 1367 by the ascendence of a reforming pope, the election of a king of France as the Holy Roman emperor, and the onset of a millennial reign of peace and prosperity.
More: https://www.britannica.com/topic/eschatology/Medieval-and-Reformation-millennialism
And from a priest:
Its origins are in the counter reformation move of Papal Rome in the 16th century after Martin Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. It is less well known that Pope Leo X authorized three Jesuit Priests to reinterpret Daniel’s 70 weeks of prophecy; the Book of Revelation; and Ezekiel. The goal of these jesuits was to take the heat of the reformation away from the papacy and the protestant association of the Anti-Christ with the pope. The three Jesuits were:
The doctrine – called futurism – which would later become ‘the rapture’ originated and was submitted by Francisco Ribera in 1585. His Apocalyptic Commentary was on the grand points of Babylon and the Anti-Christ which are now known as the rapture doctrine. Ribera’s published work was called “In Sacram Beati Ionnis Apostoli & Evangelistate Apocoalypsin Commentari” (Lugduni 1593). You can still find these writings in the Bodleian Library in Oxford England. The work was considered flawed and faulty, and was ordered buried in the Church archives, out of sight, by the pope himself.
Unfortunately, over 200 years later a librarian to the Archbishop of Canterbury by the name of S. R. Maitland (1792-1866) was appointed to be the Keeper of the Manuscripts at Lambeth Palace, in London, England. In his duties, Dr. Maitland came across Francisco Ribera’s rapture theology and he had it republished for the sake of interest in early 1826 with follow ups in 1829 and 1830.
This was spurred along with the Oxford Tracts that were published in 1833 to try and deprotestantize the Church of England. John Nelson Darby (1800-1882) (A Leader of the Plymouth Brethren) became a follower of S.R. Maitland’s prophetic endeavors and was persuaded. Darby’s influence in the seminaries of Europe combined with 7 tours of the United States changed the eschatological view of the ministers which had the trickle down effect into the churches.
Another contributor to the rapture ideology came through Emmanuel Lacunza (1731-1801), a Jesuit priest from Chile. Lacunza wrote the “Coming of Messiah in Glory and Majesty” around 1791. It was later published in London in 1827. The book was attributed to a fictitious author name Rabbi Juan Josafat BenEzra. - http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/46653.htm
Francisco Ribera, an Augustinian amillennialist, and confessor and ultimate biographer of Teresa of Aliva. Ribera proposed that only the introductory chapters of "Revelation referred to ancient Rome, and the remainder referred to a literal 3.5 years at the end of time.
He also thought that the antichrist, as a single individual, would:
Luis del Alcázar, a Spanish Jesuit theologian. His interpretation of the Apocalypse was then followed by Robert Bellarmine (who pushed the reign of antichrist into a future period of 3 1/2 literal years.) And the Spanish Dominican Thomas Malvenda. Google Books
Manuel De Lacunza (1731–1801), a Jesuit from Chile, was also an advocate of Futurism.
In addition, Rome denies premillennialism that the Second coming will occur before a literal thousand-year reign of Christ from Jerusalem upon the earth, though ancients as Papias, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hippolytus, Methodius, Commodianus, and Lactanitus were premillennialists.
Ribera “in the days of the Reformation, first taught that all the events in the book of Revelation were to take place literally during the three and a half years reign of the antichrist way down at the end of the age.” http://www.theologue.org/Theory-JPEby.html (Protestant source, which gives the most lengthy explanation).
Dispensational Premillennialism is considered by the non-dispensationalist to be a system of interpretation that came into existence during the early 1500's as a counter-reformation that was administered by the Roman Catholic Church. A group in the Catholic church called Jesuits were the leaders of this movement. Their proper title is the "Society of Jesus." They were first called, Compania de Jesus, which is Spanish for "Military Company of Jesus." In 1585, a Jesuit priest named Francisco Ribera started a theory that the Pope could not be the Antichrist or Man of Sin, because that was yet to happen in the future. He took the Seventy Weeks of Daniel and originated the Gap Theory, which will be discussed later. Ribera was later aided by two other Jesuits, Cardinal Robert Bellarmine and Luis de Alcazar. Later this theory was expanded through the efforts of many others, and especially through the efforts of John N. Darby of the Plymouth Brethren, and C. I. Scofield of the Presbyterians. - http://www.mountainretreatorg.net/eschatology/eschatol.shtml
Then there are those from secular sources: https://www.aei.org/carpe-diem/18-spectacularly-wrong-predictions-made-around-the-time-of-first-earth-day-in-1970-expect-more-this-year/
The greatest sign is the increase in the presence of the Holy Spirit on the earth right now. It’s stronger than ever.
After that "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." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
And will go with Him to fight in the Battle or Armageddon:
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. (Revelation 19:14-15)
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (Jude 14-15)
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Revelation 19:19-20)
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20:1-3)
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years [which Catholicism wrongly denies is literal]. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)
Also after the first resurrection is the judgment seat of Christ which is not that of the Great White Throne judgment, which is part of the day of Christ, of His appearing before the 1,000 year reign, and which is not to determine who is saved or lost and their particular punishment, but is the judgment of the elect, which determines their rewards of less thereof based upon their manner of workmanship they helped build church with. Yet one is saved despite loss, and not because of such:
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:8-15)
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:4-5)
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1 Peter 1:7)
Thus Paul saidHenceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)
And
they shall reign with him a thousand years. And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are [cf. 19:20], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:6-15)
Now if the first resurrection itself has two parts separated by a thousand years, with the rapture/catching away occurring before the Great Tribulation, then it is a win/win situation for those who prepared for the latter, while if not, then those who believe they would be delivered from it are likely to be disillusioned when experiencing the persecution of the Tribulation. Yet we can hardly expect to be more favored than the first century church which was warned and exhorted "to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." (Acts 14:22)
While can allow for disagreement on this, yet the denial of the 1,000 year reign of Christ - literally referred to 6 times and not "as" in 2 Peter 3:8 simile - is simply untenable in the light of the clear statements which teach of two resurrections and two judgments separated by 1,000 years. Sometimes we have references to one judgment, (John 5:28,29) but further on details of time are given, by the grace of God.
Interesting stuff. Studying the Anti-Nicene fathers is also very interesting. Much neglected these days.
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