11 Nov 2008

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The International Prophetic Voice for the Endtimes

666

DemocracyandAntichrist

SpiritualGiftsPg.42

The International Prophetic Voice for the Endtimes

NOVEMBER 2008$4.75

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

WhatChancesaGlobalFinancial

ApocalypseNow?Pg.29

MidtribulationismPg.19

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8Bible Prophecy forOur TimeBy Arno Froese

Second Peter 3:8 reads:"But,beloved,be not ignorant of

this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand

years, anda thousand years as oneday."When we speak

of Bible prophecy for our times,we arealways right on

target, as the Word of God is timeless.Neither our earthly

measurements, nor our earthly time is decisive in ourunderstanding of God's eternal plan of salvation.

19

Midtribulationismby Dr. Ron J. Bigalke Jr.

Midtribulationism is one of the primary views concerning the timing

of the rapture in relation to the seven-year tribulation.

Midtribulationists are premillennialists who believe the church

will experience the first half of the seventieth week,and that the

rapture will occur at the midpoint of the eschatalogical tribulation.

Such teaching clearly denies the imminency of the rapture.

29 Money:Ends andTrends

What Chances a Global FinancialApocalypse Now? - Part IBy Wilfred Hahn

Much of the high-income region of the world has been gripped in a growing anxiety. Global

financial markets have encountered unsettling volatility, and more worryingly, the integrity of

global financial and credit systems has been threatened.Are America's troubles a catalyst for thefinal global collapse?

MidnightCallNOVEMBER 2008

C O N T E N T S

COVER STORY

34USA

America Takes Wind-

Power Lead

35 GERMANY1,600-Year-Old Version

of Bible Goes Online

37 BAHRAIN

Pope Invited to Visit

Muslim Country

38 EU

Slovak Mint Starts

Production of Euro

Coins

40WORLD

Study Says Young

People More

Religious Than

Assumed

41 INDIA

AWACS With Brazilian

Jets and Nuclear

Submarine From Russia4 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ByArno FroeseNAHUM 2:2

42 Letters to theEditor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .By Arno Froese666..DEMOCRACY AND ANTICHRIST...SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1

DEPARTMENTS

$

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4 M I D N I G H T C A L L

Thou hast multiplied thy merchantsabove the stars of heaven:the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away (Nahum 3:16).

E D I T O R S N O T E

B y A r n o F r o e s e

1

It may seem strange that we use

Nahum 3:16 as our text for the

December issue Editors Note,

since this is the month of Christmas.

But this was not planned. Our studyof the Twelve Minor Prophets and

Nahum chapter 3 just happened to fall on De-

cember 2008.

Yet there is a message that is fitting for this

time of the year. When we take a closer look

at the above Scripture, we realize that materi-

alism is the key issue being addressed. It does

not mean that material things are bad or sin-

ful in and of themselves, yet while studying

the various prophets, including Nahum, we

realize that the blessing of material things

leads to the denial of the God of heaven, Who

created the materials. This has been true

throughout the ages. Follow Israels history,

and you will learn that at the climax of mater-

ial blessings, Israel fell into idolatry.

We cannot deny that todays world is pos-

sessed with this spirit of desire to accumulate

riches, and that at any cost, way, shape or

form. To possess things is considered success,

and is often identified with the word bless-

ing. Quite a number of books have been pub-

lished by respectable authors, who bluntly

claim that material riches are the result of the

Lords blessing; thus, we should strive to accu-

mulate more.What does the Bible say? Here are the

words of the brother of our Lord, James; Go

to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your

miseries that shall come upon you. Your

riches are corrupted, and your garments are

motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered;

and the rust of them shall be a witness against

you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye

have heaped treasure together for the last

days (James 5:1-3). We note the last two

words, last days. Most of us will agree that

we are in the last days. The type of judg-

ment described in these verses is coming to

planet earth. It is not yet, but it is not too far

off, either.

The worst part is that when judgment

comes, humanity collectively will not repent.

This is documented in Revelation 9:20-21,

And the rest of the men which were not

killed by these plagues yet repented not of the

works of their hands, that they should not

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B y A r n o F r o e s eE D I T O R S N O T E

1

Next an important question is being asked, Art thou better than populous

No, that was situate among the rivers, that had the waters round about it, whose

rampart was the sea, and her wall was from the sea? (Verse 8). The name pop-

ulous No identifies the city of Thebes, in Egypt. It was built on the east bank ofthe Nile River and was totally destroyed. Only archaeological remains testify to

the former glory of that city.

The prophet even enumerates the strong allies to this city kingdom:

Ethiopia and Egypt were her strength, and it was infinite; Put and Lubim were

thy helpers (verse 9). But nothing helped: Yet was she carried away, she went

into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the

streets: and they cast lots for her honorable men, and all her great men were

bound in chains (verse 10).

In view of the demise of other mighty powers and kingdoms, God makes this

declaration to His prophet Nahum: Thou also shalt be drunken: thou shalt be

hid, thou also shalt seek strength because of the enemy. All thy strong holds

shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall

into the mouth of the eater. Behold, thy people in the midst of thee are women:

the gates of thy land shall be set wide open unto thine enemies: the fire shall de-

vour thy bars (verses 11-13). Note the words shall and shalt. It is yet to

come. Verse 11 is significant: Thou shalt also be drunken. This is a definition

of irresponsible behavior. We already read in Revelation 18:3: For all nations

have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. This is utter deception;

it is the accumulating of riches without realizing the source of them. Verse 23 in

Revelation 18 emphasizes, for thy merchants were the great men of the

earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.As far as defense is concerned, we know that the fig tree is not a robust tree.

One cannot use its wood for anything strong to build. When the tree is shaken,

the fruit quickly falls off. This indicates no strength.

How about the mighty soldiers? Luthers translation may help: Your people

have become like women. Women were not to fight. Defense and attack were

the tasks designated to men.

Mockingly, the prophet gives advice to the Ninevites on how to defend them-

selves: Draw thee waters for the siege, fortify thy strongholds: go into clay, and

tread the morter, make strong the brickkiln (verse 14). But there is no hope.

Again, note the three-fold shall: There shall the fire devour thee; the sword

shall cut thee off, it shall eat thee up like the cankerworm: make thyself many as

the cankerworm, make thyself many as the locusts (verse 15).

Now we come to our introductory verse: Thou hast multiplied thy mer-

chants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away

(verse 16). In todays language, the economy, the financial institutions, and the

central banks will be of no help.

The entire leadershipthe nobles, the wise, and those in authority will van-

ish: Thy crowned are as the locusts, and thy captains as the great grasshoppers,

which camp in the hedges in the cold day, but when the sun ariseth they flee

away, and their place is not known where they are. Thy shepherds slumber, O

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NOVEMBER 2008 7

king of Assyria: thy nobles shall dwell in the dust: thy people is scattered upon

the mountains, and no man gathereth them (verses 17-18).

Final judgment is declared, ending with a profound question: There is no

healing of thy bruise; thy wound is grievous: all that hear the bruit of thee shallclap the hands over thee: for upon whom hath not thy wickedness passed con-

tinually? (verse 19).

We note the word continually. During Noahs time, the condition of the

world was revealed with the words, And GOD saw that the wickedness of man

was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart

was only evil continually The earth also was corrupt before God, and the

earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it

was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth (Genesis 6:5,

11-12).

In view of this shocking pronouncement of judgment upon the power of

Nineveh and the fact that it was destroyed, we may ask the question, What

about our world, our country? Will the same judgment come upon this world?

The answer is no. Why not? Because it is going to be a lot worse. Jesus said:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the

world to this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:21).

Here is the pronouncement of judgment by the Lord Himself: For as Jonas

was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this gener-

ation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to

hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The

men of Nineveh shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shallcondemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and, behold, a greater

than Jonah is here (Luke 11:30-32). At the coming of Emmanuel, God with

us, Whose name is JesusIsrael rejected repentance. John the Baptist, who

prepared the way for the Lord, had a very short gospel message: Repent ye, for

the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2). In the next chapter, we read

of Jesus repeating the message, challenging Israel, Repent, for the kingdom of

heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17). Israel did not repent. Isaiahs prophecy was

fulfilled; Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut

their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand

with their heart, and convert, and be healed (Isaiah 6:10).

What about today? Based on the clear documentation we have in Scripture, it

is going to be worse. This world does not have a future.

But blessed is he who has separated himself from this world and trusts exclu-

sively in the redemption Christ accomplished on Calvarys cross. Such a one is

practicing Titus 2:13: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appear-

ing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.

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8 M I D N I G H T C A L L8 M I D N I G H T C A L L

BY Arno Froese

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Advent is the time leading up to Christmas.

The forerunner of Jesus, the herald of His

coming, and the man of Advent was John the

Baptist. He rejected the comparison with Christ.

He only wanted to be a pointer to Him. We read

in Luke 3:15-16, And as the people were in ex-

pectation, and all men mused in their hearts of

John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John

answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize

you with water; but one mightier than I cometh,

the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to

unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy

Ghost and with fire.

Jesus Christ came and will come again

Like John the Baptist, the believers of the new

covenant are also called to be pointers to JesusChrist. It is our task to be bearers of the Gospel,

and therewith forerunners of His return, as He

said in John 14:3, I will come again, and re-

ceive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye

may be also. Today our world is also in expec-

tation, in the advent preceding the return of the

Lord.

Joy and gladness

We can learn from John the Baptist what it

means to be a pointer to Jesus Christ. Before he

was born an angel of the Lord appeared to his fa-

ther, Zacharias, in the temple, and told him a

few things concerning the future of his son,

And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and

many shall rejoice at his birth (Luke 1:14).

Do you spread joy or sorrow? Do you help

depressed people to rejoice again? As our lives

always leave a trail behind them, I also have to

ask myself what trails I have left behind today.

Were they trails of joy, gladness and content? Or

do the people I meet turn up their noses when

they think of me? When I think of my father-in-

law, who is with the Lord now, I only have happy

memories of him. I have seldom seen such a

contented, grateful, polite man, who radiated

such love. He left a sweet savor behind him.

Everything we do or do not do, whether we

speak or are silent, leaves a trail behind us.

When the name of a person is mentioned, we

can often tell from the expression on a persons

face what they think of the other person. Our

behavior, as well as our words, always has an ef-

fect.

John the Baptist was the cause of joy and glad-

ness. Why? From the beginning, Johns whole

life belonged to the Lord; his life was dedicatedto Him, and this in itself brings joy. Whoever

you dedicate your life to, and put your life at the

disposal of, will leave his mark on your life. If it

belongs wholly to the Lord Jesus, He will make

your joy complete, These things have I spoken

unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and

that your joy might be full (John 15:11). If you

are still living in sin, however, you are the ser-

vant of sin, Whosoever committeth sin is the

servant of sin (John 8:34). This affects your

whole behavior and your words: hypocrisy,

speaking evil of others in order to put yourself in

a better light, lying and deceiving, etc. C.S.

Lewis writes in Mere Christianity, If you are

thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you,

you are embarking on something which is going

to take the whole of you, brains and all. Only a

person who has joy in his or her own heart can

bring joy to others. John the Baptist was guided

by this joy in the Holy Spirit. We cannot divide

his devotion to God and the joy that he radiated.

C O V E R S T O R Y

SEPTEMBER 2008 9

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which

shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it

shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever(Daniel 2:44).

NOVEMBER 2008 9

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We hear this man who prepared the way for the

Lord say, Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I

said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent be-

fore him. He that hath the bride is the bride-groom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which

standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly be-

cause of the bridegrooms voice: this my joy

therefore is fulfilled (John 3:28-29).

Recently I heard someone say, Those who

dont read the Bible any more, soon stop believ-

ing. I would add to that, and will soon stop

rejoicing! A man by the name of Wolfgang

Bhne wrote in a commentary on John Pipers

book, The Dangerous Duty of Delight, John

Piper is completely convinced that we honor

God the most when we rejoice in Him and are

content in Him. Without this joy, a characteris-

tic sign in the Lords service is lacking.

Only with the One in our hearts who created

joy, and is Himself the origin of all joy and hap-

piness, can we bring true joy to others.

I once read in a daily

newspaper that a

young pop star said at

the end of the year: I

am looking forward to

the new year, new mu-

sic and a new me.

When I read these

words

I thought to myself,

Do we get a new me

in the new year, or do

we take the old one

with us? This pop

star expressed the wish

of so many people, to

have a new me. But

almost all of them are looking in the wrong

place, which is why nothing changes in their

lives. They take their old me with them into

the new year.

Great in the sight of the Lord

The angel prophesied further of Zacharias

son, He shall be great in the sight of the Lord

(Luke 1:15). What a testimony that is, what a

divine stamp on Johns life! All others in this

world pale in comparison. John the Baptist

would one day be great, not in the sight of men,

but in the sight of the Almighty. In this world

there are many great people, with title and

honor, but great in the sight of the Lord is so

much more.

Frieder Burda, an art expert and shareholder

in a large German media organization, stated in

resignation, I bought myself a large ship to sail

on the seas. What a bore! I never had a happy

day on this ship. Only to spend money, mean-

ingless, soulless and without a goal, is no life.


When Jesus returned from Egypt, it was fulfillment of prophecy: And was there until

the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the

prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son (Matthew 2:15).

BIBLE PROPHECY FOR OUR TIME

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C O V E R S T O R Y

This is sheer boredom. Poet Kathe Wal-

ter, on the other hand, wrote, Only this

is the meaning of life on earth, to live to

the praise of God and to illuminate the

way for others with the light from eternal

sources. I recently heard in a song the

words, You are not dead, but ask your-

self if you are alive!

What is true greatness? What is the

utmost a person can achieve? What

greatness counts in the end? We are liv-

ing at a time in which people have lost

the art of wanting to be great in the sight of the

Lord; the spiritual desire is no longer there. To-

day people want to be something in the world, in

the sight of men. They want to achieve great

things in order to receive recognition.

When Nebuchadnezzar wanted to find an elite

team of young men, it was of utmost importance

that these should be of the kings seed, and of

the princes; children in whom was no blemish,

but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and

cunning in knowledge, and understanding sci-

ence, and such as had ability in them to stand in

the kings palace, and whom they might teach

the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans

(Daniel 1:3-4). Moreover these young men were

to eat a daily provision of the kings meat,

and of the wine which he drank (verse 5)

throughout the time of their education, for three

years. But Daniel and his three friends wanted

to please God in the first place, Now among

these were of the children of Judah, Daniel,

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah But Daniel

purposed in his heart that he would not defile

himself Now God had brought Daniel into fa-

vor and tender love (verses 6-9).

The names of all others who wanted to be

great in Nebuchadnezzars kingdom are not even

mentioned. Daniel, however, became a great

man of God, who is still remembered today.

Moses could have been great in Egypt. But weread in Hebrews 11:24, By faith Moses, when he

was come to years, refused to be called the son

of Pharaoh's daughter.

Who was greater: Caesar Augustus of Rome,

or Mary, the young country girl? Herod and his

magnificent buildings, or the wise men from the

East? The emperor Nero, or Paul? We all know

the answer.

The greatest thing is to be called by the Lord

Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, and to

follow Himlike Peter, the fisherman, Levi

(later on called Matthew), the publican, or Paul

the tentmaker. Among these, Paul was certainly

the most educated, but he tells us in the first let-

ter to the Corinthians that this is not important

at all, For ye see your calling, brethren, how

that not many wise men after the flesh, not many

mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath

chosen the foolish things of the world to con-

NOVEMBER 2008 11

A number of items have been found confirming that the temple was a reality on

Mount Moriah some time ago, but that is not sufficient to overwhelmingly convince,

for example, the Muslims, who outrightly reject that a Jewish temple ever existed on

Mount Moriah.The Mosque of Omar from Mount Moriah, Jerusalem

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found the wise; and God

hath chosen the weak

things of the world to con-

found the things which are

mighty; and base things of

the world, and things

which are not, to bring to

nought things that are: that

no flesh should glory in his

presence. But of him are ye

in Christ Jesus, who of God

is made unto us wisdom,

and righteousness, and

sanctification, and redemption: that, according as

it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the

Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).

Great and approved in the sight of the Lord is

not he that commendeth himself, but whomthe Lord commendeth (2 Corinthians 10:18).

Paul said a true, born-again Jew is one whose

praise is not of men, but of God (Romans 2:29).

Material things are of secondary importance

Of the future life of John the Baptist, it is said

further, and shall drink neither wine nor

strong drink (Luke 1:18).

Nobody has to follow John the Baptist and eat

locusts and wild honey, or walk around dressed

in camels hair. No, born-again people can be

statesmen such as Joseph, Daniel and Nehemiah;

or be rich like Abraham, Job, or King David. But

we must get our priorities right!

We do not want to be more pious than the

Bible. The Word of God does not teach us to be

poor and to forgo all luxuries. We may enjoy

everything the Lord puts at our disposal, but it

must not be so important to

us that it obstructs our view

of Jesus. It is of primary im-

portance what we seek first,

But seek ye first the king-

dom of God, and his right-

eousness; and all these

things shall be added unto

you (Matthew 6:33). It is

not so important what mate-

rial things we possess, but

what possesses us!

There are poor people who are striving after

earthly things and cling to the little that they

have. Then there are rich people who strive first

after spiritual things. It is not important whether

we are rich or poor, but what we are striving af-

ter; what determines our lives. We should notask ourselves, What would I do if I had? but

rather, What am I doing with that which I

have?

The following is a little example of this:

Two men were talking about their friendship.

One of them asked the other, If you had five TV

sets, would you give me one? Sure! said the

other. The first man then asked, If you had five

cars, would you give me one? Certainly! his

friend replied. If you had five shirts, would you

give me one? the first man asked. The other

man shook his head, No. His friend wanted to

know why, and he said, I have five shirts!

Filled with spiritual wisdom

Zacharias was told concerning his son, He

shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his

mothers womb (Luke 1:15).

How about earthquakes? Do we need to enumerate the many earthquakes that hap-

pened recently? When we read these prophecies, we are struck by the fact that they are

not really prophecies at all. Jesus is not telling us any news; He is simply stating how it

was in times past, and that it will remain the same in the times to come.


A massive earthquake killed more than 8,500 people andtrapped more than 900 under debris in China in May.

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C O V E R S T O R Y

It is not predominant for

the Lords work whether we

have the Holy Spirit, but that

the Holy Spirit has us. Only in this

way will we be able to do Gods work in Gods

way. Hudson Taylor, the great missionary to

China, once said at a missionary conference,

Take a cannon. The cannon is nothing in itself;

the cannon ball and the gunpowder are harm-

less. Then the spark comes, and the gunpowder

becomes lightning, the cannon ball a thunder-

bolt, the cannon barrel a tube of fire. We have

everything the mission needs today, but often

the spark from above is lacking.

The human striving to be great in this world,

also in Christian circles, has brought spiritual

poverty to many. There are impressive cannons,

cannon balls and gunpowder, but the spark of

the Holy Spirit is lacking. For this reason Paul

had to admonish Timothy, Wherefore I put thee

in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,which is in thee by the putting on of my hands

(2 Timothy 1:6). The New International Version

translates this, For this reason I remind you to

fan into flame the gift of God.

God wants people who are filled with the Holy

Spirit this is sanctification. He does not want

people who merely obey a list of commandments

and are proud of themselves for doing so. No,

the Lord wants our whole lives to come under

the lordship of the Holy Spirit.

With many people, however, this is a sore

point. Most believers confuse earnestness with

holiness. They think that if they are earnest

enough they will be holier. This is not so. The

Holy Spirit leaves the personality of the individ-

ual child of God as it is, but He sanctifies his

character. The holiest people that I have known

have been happy, uncomplicated, big-hearted

people.

People who are not filled with the Holy Spirit

are like electronic devices whose batteries have

run down. It is no use having your mobile

phone with you at all times so that you can be

reached, if you do not make sure that the battery

is charged.

Gods signposts

Because John the Baptist would be filled with

the Holy Spirit, it was also prophesied of him,

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn

to the Lord their God (Luke 1:16).

What a relief it is when on a long trip to see a

sign like Gas station one mile ahead, or

Restaurant, or the name of our destination.

Such signposts never point to themselves, but al-

ways to something else. What would you think

of a signpost that said, Here I am!? This is ofno use to anyone; it brings them no nearer to

their destination.

John was a true signpost who determinedly

pointed away from himself and to Christ, The

voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye

the way of the Lord, make his paths straight

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed

baptize you with water; but one mightier than I

cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not

worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the

Holy Ghost and with fire I am not the Christ

(Luke 3:4 & 16 and John 1:20).

There are not a few servants of God who

only point to themselves today, or are convinced

that only their church or ministry can save peo-

ple. This is in itself a pointer to the fact that

they are not led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy

Spirit identifies Himself with the Word of God,

the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17).

NOVEMBER 2008 13

If the Europeans had stayed home and not traveled the two conti-

nents, America and Australia would not have been discovered. People

have always traveled and they will continue to do so.

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(Compare also John 1:12,

3:16, 5:24, 14:6, Acts 4:12

and 1 Corinthians 3:11.)

The greatest and best

thing a person can be is a

signpost pointing to Jesus

Christ, in the place where

God has put him. There

is no more fulfilling task

than this.

The fulfillment of the

Word of God

It was further prophe-

sied of John the Baptist,He shall go before him in the spirit and power of

Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the chil-

dren, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the

just; to make ready a people prepared for the

Lord (Luke 1:17). In the book Malachi the

same thing is said of Elijah, as the angel prophe-

sies here concerning John the Baptist, Behold, I

will send you Elijah the prophet before the com-

ing of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and

he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the chil-

dren, and the heart of the children to their fa-

thers, lest I come and smite the earth with a

curse (Malachi 4:5-6).

This statement concerning Elijah was applied

prophetically to John the Baptist. Through this it

becomes clear that John came in the spirit and

power of Elijah. This is why the Lord Jesus said

of John, And if ye will receive it, this is Elias,

which was for to come (Matthew 11:14).

There is nothing better than when the Word of

God is realized in and through us. It takes place

when we live out the Word of Godwhen we are

not on our way in our own power, but in the

power of the Word of God and the Spirit of Jesus;

that is, in the power of His name.

Prophetic direction

Zacharias was also told by the angel that the

ministry of his son John would one day serve to

make ready a people prepared for the Lord

(Luke 1:17). John the Baptist, as a man, did in-

deed appear on the scene in the spirit and power

of Elijah, to be a forerunner of Jesus, to make

ready a people prepared for the Lord. He did

this at a time when only few were expecting the

coming of the Messiah in Israel.

Is it not similar today? We are expecting the

return of Jesus for His Church (the Rapture),

Prophecy for today is the prophecy of warning. The Lord Jesus Christ used both

instancesthe judgment of water in Noahs time and the judgment of fire in Lots

timeto show that normal people doing their day-to-day chores, loving their family

and being responsible citizens, may be honorable people, but they could not stand

before a righteous God.


Noah's Ark Giclee Print by Gustave Dore

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C O V E R S T O R Y

which will take place without warning. We are

Advent people. John the Baptist went before the

Lord and made ready a people prepared for the

Lord. This is also the task of Midnight Call

Ministries.

The last book of the Bible begins with the

words, The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which

God gave unto him, to show his servants things

which must shortly come to pass; and he sent

and signified it by his angel unto his servant

John (Revelation 1:1). Two verses later it says,

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear

the words of this prophecy, and keep those

things which are written therein: for the time is

at hand (verse 3). In the last chapter of the

Revelation it says, And he said unto me, These

sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God

of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto

his servants the things which must shortly be

done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he thatkeepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this

book (verses 6-7).

True faith changes society

John was to turn the disobedient to the

wisdom of the just, in order to make ready a

people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17).

As born-again Christians, we have a society-

changing task in this world. This does not mean

that we take part in all their activities, but that

we point to the Lord Jesus and the Word of God,

so that the disobedient are changed into the

wisdom of the just, so that they bring fruits

worthy of repentance (Matthew 3:8 and Luke

3:8). Daniel and his three friends are a good ex-

ample of this (compare Daniel chapters 3 & 6).

It is Gods aim that people are changed for

eternity. This transformation can only take

place, however, when we ourselves are trans-

formed through the Word of God and put our

Christianity into practice.

Swiss businessman Henry Dunant was the

first man to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, in the

year 1901. In 1855 he founded the Swiss chap-

ter of the YMCA, and in the 1860s the Red

Crosstoday the most recognized and respected

organization in the entire world. He trusted in

God and practiced Christian brotherly love,

which transformed the society of that time.

Everywhere Christians took the Word of God

to heart, gave up their indifference and became

fervent followers of Jesus, society was trans-

formed (think of Luther, Moody, Peter Marshall,

NOVEMBER 2008 15

Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the

earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because

he knoweth that he hath but a short time (Revelation 12:12).

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and George Mller). They

followed the One who trans-

formed the world as no other

before Him: Jesus Christ.

The Lord expects that as

born-again Christians we do

our part out of love for Him

to improve human lives with-

out thinking of the profit.

Christmas the time of

presents

John the Baptist pointed in

a unique way to the heavenly

gift in Jesus Christ, by saying

of Him, Behold the Lamb of

God, which taketh away the sin of the world

(John 1:29). The Lord Jesus does not want to

take anything from you except your sins, but He

gives you everything that is good for you andyour family for time and eternity. Concerning the

first coming of Jesus to this earth, the apostle

Paul wrote, For ye know the grace of our Lord

Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for

your sakes he became poor, that ye through his

poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

The best Christmas present for God is

when Jesus is born in the heart of a person.

He saw the lost condition of every person who

goes to eternity without forgiveness of his sins.

Out of pure love, therefore, He became man in

Jesus Christ (John 1:14). He was born as a baby

in Bethlehem, and as a man He went to Calvary,

where He was crucified in our place for our sins

(1 Peter 2:24), that whosoever believeth in

him [Jesus] should not perish, but have everlast-

ing life (John 3:16). But Jesus did not remain

on the cross or in the tomb, but He rose again

and is alive forever. As the Risen Lord He says to

you now, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I

am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I

am alive forevermore (Revelation 1:17-18).316/MR1207

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 (Matthew

24:31).


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C O V E R S T O R Y

NOVEMBER 2008 17

Thus, the fig tree symbolizes the covering of sins. We can

rightly say the whole Old Testament is a testimony to the covering

of the sins of the people of Israel. That is the entire law.

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Israel as a visible reality in the Promised Land is the greatest end time sign for the

Church. Now is the time for us to lift up our eyes, for our redemption draweth nigh.


MC

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by Dr. Ron J. Bigalke Jr.

NOVEMBER 2008 19

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lationism. The ob-

vious contrast

with midtribula-

tionism is that it

requires a radicallydifferent interpreta-

tion of the Scriptures

regarding the coming of

Christ for His church, as op-

posed to His coming with His

church to earth to establish the Davidic

(Messianic) kingdom.

Midtribulationism does have some

similarities to pretribulationism in some

fundamentals, such as the eschatologi-

cal character of the seventieth week.

However, midtribulationism places the

rapture at the midpoint of the tribula-

tion, and not prior to the beginning of

it. Of course, the chronological place-

ment of the rapture at the midpoint dis-

tinguishes midtribulationism also from

posttribulationism. It is best to under-

stand midtribulationism as an interme-

diary of pretribulationism and

posttribulationism.The adherents of midtribulationism

are found generally to have abandoned

pretribulationism or posttribulationism.

For instance, Van Kampen was pretribu-

lational and sought to find the common

denominator that made the biblical

truths of pretribulationism and post-

tribulationism come together perfectly.5

Although no mention was made of

midtribulationism within the so-called

new view of pre-wrath rapturism, it is

quite similar to that system. Indeed, it is

best to regard the pre-wrath view as a

variation of midtribulationism.6

The Last Trumpet and SeventhTrumpet

Harrison understood the sounding of

the last trumpet of 1 Corinthians

15:52 to occur at the midpoint of the

tribulation. The last trumpet in 1

Corinthians 15:52

was thought to be

the same as the

seventh trumpet of

Revelation 11,which midtribula-

tionists believe will

commence the great

tribulation. Therefore, the

seventh trumpet of Revelation

would be the last trumpet for the

church. The identification of the last

trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 with the

seventh trumpet of Revelation 11 is es-

sential for the midtribulational view to

be correct.

Midtribulationism requires the sev-

enth trumpet to begin the great tribula-

tion. Therefore, the church will

experience the first half of the tribula-

tion, but not the great tribulation. The

seven seals and the first six trumpet

judgments occur in the first half of the

seventieth week, which means they do

not occur during the great tribulation.7

Pretribulationists would generally agreethat the last half of the tribulation could

be designated the great tribulation (cf.

Matt 24:21); however, the midtribula-

tionists conclusion that the last trumpet

of 1 Corinthians 15:52 and the seventh

trumpet of Revelation 11 are the same

would be strongly opposed as a false in-

terpretation, in addition to the

midtribulational understanding of the

wrath of God during the entire seven

years of tribulation. Harrison wrote,

Wrath is a word reserved for the Great

Tribulationsee wrath of God in [Rev]

14:10, 19; 15:7; 16:1, etc.8 Harrison

cited Revelation 11:18 (Your wrath

came) as proof that the wrath of God

will not be associated with the seven

seals and first six trumpet judgments.

Of course, he did not reference 6:16-17

or 7:14 in his lists of wrath references

in Revelation, since they obviously ar-

NOVEMBER 2008 21

Harrison under-stood thesounding of

the last trum-pet of 1Corinthians15:52 to occurat the midpointof the tribula-tion. The lasttrumpet in 1Corinthians

15:52 wasthought to bethe same as theseventh trum-pet of Revela-tion 11, whichmidtribulation-ists believe willcommence the

great tribula-tion.

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MIDTRIBULATIONISM


First, the lasttrumpet maybe a technicalphrase denot-ing the end of

the dispensa-tion of thechurch. Theword last isquite com-mon when re-ferring toevents sur-rounding the

end of thechurch age.

gue against the seventh trumpet begin-

ning the time of divine wrath.9

There is also a problem of context

with midtribulationism in arguing that

God connected the last trumpet of 1Corinthians 15:52 with later revelation.

The Corinthians would have under-

stood Paul as speaking of an imminent

return (in a moment, in the twinkling

of an eye) of their Lord at the last

trumpet. There is nothing in the con-

text of 1 Corinthians that would indi-

cate a time of intense tribulation upon

the whole world that would precede the

return of their Lord. The interpretation

of the last trumpet in 1 Corinthians

would be changed by the revelation of

the seventh trumpet in Revelation.

Moreover, a primary matter is whether

or not last is limited only to a given

chronological sequence. Indeed, the us-

age of the word last is not limited to

the last in a given chronological se-

quence; it can also refer to the end of a

specific period (or epoch).10 Therefore,

last can refer to the end of somethingchronologically, as in the seven trum-

pets of Revelation, or to the end of a

specific period (e.g., the dispensation of

the church). Gerald Stanton rightly

stated, the fact of subsequent trumpets

is no problem for a pretribulational in-

terpretation of 1 Corinthians 15:52.11

Even amillennialist Barnes noted, The

word last here does not imply that any

trumpet shall have been before sounded

at the resurrection, but is a word denot-

ing that this is the consummation or

close of things; it will end the economy

of this world; it will be connected with

the last state of things.12

Although Gods programs for Israel

and the church are distinct, both pro-

grams appear to end with the sounding

of a trumpet. However, these trumpets

are not identical. The last trumpet of

1 Corinthians 15:52 is not a reference to

the last in any preceding sequence, but

is related to the end of a specific age;

namely, the dispensation of the church.

The significance of the last trumpet in

verse 15:52 may be twofold. First, thelast trumpet may be a technical

phrase denoting the end of the dispen-

sation of the church. The word last is

quite common when referring to events

surrounding the end of the church age

(Acts 2:17; 2 Tim 3:1-5; Heb 1:2; Jas

5:3; 1 Pet 1:5, 20; 1 John 2:18; Jude 18).

Second, last trumpet may also be a

technical phrase indicating the gather-

ing together of the church. E. Schuyler

English noted that the sounding of a

trumpet in Numbers 10 was to gather

an assembly of the people. Therefore,

last trumpet would be a rallying call

indicating that the church is changing

locations, much like Israel changed

camps in the wilderness (1 Cor 15:23).13

The resurrection of Christ made Him

the firstfruits, the first resurrected

from the dead. Christs resurrection is

the firstfruits of many to be raised. Theseventh trumpet of Revelation 11, how-

ever, announces the kingdom reign of

Jesus Christ, which is why there is men-

tion of the resurrection of the righteous

dead from the Old Testament economy

(11:18; cf. Dan 12:2, 13). With the an-

nouncement of the kingdom in Revela-

tion 11, the remaining bowl judgments

will immediately precede the establish-

ment of that kingdom.

The Wrath of God

According to the midtribulational

view, the church is only exempted from

the wrath of God during the great tribu-

lation (Rev 11:2; 12:6), or the last half

of the seventieth week. Midtribulation-

ists regard the last half of the seventieth

week as more severe than the first half.

Indeed, Harrison described the first half

as sweet anticipation to John, as it is

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to them [Israel]

under treaty pro-

tection, they will

be sitting pretty,

as we say. But thesecond half

bitter indeed.14

Pretribulation-

ists could agree

that the first half

of the Tribula-

tion will be rela-

tively peacefulfor Israel, since

this will be a

time of protec-

tion for the nation (albeit deceitful).

However, if midtribulationists intend to

argue that the seven seal judgments and

the first six trumpet judgments occur in

the first half (i.e., because the seventh

trumpet announces the rapture), it

would be difficult indeed to imagine

John thinking of the prophecies in

6:1217, 8:11, and, 9:110:11 as

sweet anticipation.Buswell believed that the first half of

the tribulation would be characterized

by general trials and troubles that the

church would experience. He under-

stood the first half to depict the wrath

of man and not the wrath of God. Con-

cerning Jacobs trouble in Jeremiah

30:7 (Buswell correlated Dan 11:31 and

12:12, 11 with this reference), he

wrote:

This most terrible time of trouble is not

to be identified with the wrath of God. Both

Matthew and Mark record the words of the

Lord predicting cosmic upheavals immedi-

ately after the tribulation of those days

(Matthew 24:29; cf. Mark 13:24, 25; Luke

21:25, 26). The Lord proceeds to enumerate

as definitely coming after that tribula-

tion, signs and portents which should be

identified with the events which take place

at the pouring out of the vials of Gods

wrath (Revelation 16:121). I take the refer-

ence to these portents, coming after the

tribulation of those days, to mean that the

pouring out of the vials of Gods wrath (a

time which is commonly, but mistakenly,

identified with the great tribulation) will

be definitely subsequent to this very brief

but very intense time of trouble. Tribula-

tion is the common lot of the church in

every age.Tribulation is, generally speaking, from

the wrath of man, and to undergo tribula-

tion is the common lot of the church in all

ages. But the wrath of God is not for the

church.15

The fact that unbelieving kings and

rulers, rich and strong men as well as

slaves, seek to hide from the face of Him

who sits upon the throne, and from the

wrath of the Lamb, and that these unbe-

lievers say, The great day of His wrath has

come,these reactions of unbelievers do

not prove that the sixth seal is the day of

wrath. This is but a reaction of the ungodly

to cosmic disaster. 16

Buswell attempted to make an artifi-

cial distinction (in opposition to Rev

45) between the wrath of man and the

wrath of God by citing passages like

Acts 14:22 and 1 Thessalonians 3:34 as

proof that tribulation is the common

NOVEMBER 2008 23

Pretribulation-ists could agreethat the first half

of the Tribula-tion will be rel-atively peacefulfor Israel, sincethis will be atime of protec-tion for the na-tion (albeitdeceitful).

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MIDTRIBULATIONISM


lot of the church in all ages. Therefore,

he argued, the first half of the tribula-

tion cannot be identified as the wrath

of God. As evident from the previous

quotation, Buswell did not even regardthe bowls of Gods wrath as compo-

nents of the great tribulation. He re-

lated the commencement of the

millennial kingdom and the wrath of

God (associated with the bowl judg-

ments only). Commenting on the

sounding of the seventh trumpet in

Revelation 11:1417, he wrote, What

has taken place is that He who is eter-

nally and continuously the King of

kings and Lord of lords has now

ended the time of His longsuffering.

True, He allows the Antichrist to con-

tinue for three and one half years, but

his continuance on earth is under the

outpouring of the vials of the wrath of

God.17

Matthew 24:29 was cited to indicate

the time of the wrath of God. In that

verse, Jesus stated that cosmic signs

would follow immediately after the

tribulation of those days. Those days

are a reference to the great tribulation

that commenced in 24:15. Buswell re-

garded the cosmic signs in Revelation

16 (cf. 11:13) as part of the bowls of

Gods wrath. However, Buswell arguedthat special cosmic signs follow the

great tribulation and herald the wrath

of God. Whereas

Buswell used the

cosmic signs re-

sulting from the

opening of the

bowls in Revela-

tion 16 to argue

for the time of

the wrath of God,

Harrison related

the time of the

wrath of God

with the seventh

trumpet in Reve-

lation 11. Both

Buswell and Har-

rison ignored the

unequivocal ref-

erences to divinewrath in Revela-

tion 6:1617 and 7:14. For instance,

Buswell disregarded the aorist (elthen)

in 6:1617 as but a reaction of the un-

godly to cosmic disaster.18 Instead, he

understood the seventh trumpet as the

beginning of the wrath of God.

But not only does the seventh trumpet

announce the beginning of the earthly

reign of Christ, the voices of the twenty-

four elders further announce, The nations

were angry and Thy wrath has come and

the time to destroy those who are de-

stroying the earth. These words, I believe,

refer to the outpouring of the vials of the

wrath of God, and the destruction of the

Beast and the False Prophet, and of the

armies of the Beast. 19

The promise of rewards for the saints

in 11:18 was correlated with 1 Corinthi-

ans 15:5152:20

However,Buswell ar-gued that spe-cial cosmicsigns follow

the great tribu-lation and her-ald the wrathof God.

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MIDTRIBULATIONISM


they will gather His elect from the four

winds, from corners of heavens to corners

thereof (Matthew 24:30,31; cf. Mark

13:26,27).

It is my opinion that in the coming to

life and Rapture of the two witnesses (Rev-

elation 11:11 ff.) we have an exact

synchronization of events. The two wit-

nesses are caught up into heaven in the

cloud at the same moment that the elect

of God are caught up together in clouds

to the meeting of the Lord in the air (I

Corinthians 15:52; I Thessalonians 4:13-

18). 23

Apparently, the church remains in

the clouds with Christ to view the un-

folding of the tribulational events.

John says [in Rev 19:11-16], I saw

heaven standing open. Literally, the per-

fect passive participle, having been

opened, is harmonious with my specula-

tive suggestion that Christ is visible with

His glorified saints in heaven throughout

the three and one half year period during

which the Antichrist is allowed to prevail

upon the earth.24

Midtribulationists erroneously con-

clude the loud voice from heaven say-

ing to them, Come up here is the

rapture of the church. Nothing in the

context supports the conclusion that

Revelation 11:12 is the rapture; rather,

only the two witnesses are resurrected.

Furthermore, Revelation 11:14-15

places the seventh trumpet after the

events of 11:3-14 when the second

woe is past. The second woe is still

the sixth trumpet opened in 9:13. If

Revelation 11:12 is the rapture, then

midtribulationists would have to ac-

cept the opinion that the rapture oc-

curs at the sixth trumpet as opposed to

the last trumpet in Revelation. The sev-

enth trumpet actually occurs near the

time of the end of the tribulation,

somewhat prior to the second coming

of Christ.

The seventh angel does not sound

the seventh trumpet until after the res-

urrection of the two witnesses. How-

ever, in 1 Corinthians 15:52 the

trumpet for the rapture sounds in amoment, in the twinkling of an eye

(cf. 1 Thess 4:13-18). In the sense that

the seventh trumpet is the seven bowls

of wrath, the seventh trumpet sounds

for a continuous period of time. (The

Greek word esalpisen in Rev. 8:7 indi-cates the trumpet will begin to sound.)

Gods Purposes for Israel and theChurch

The midtribulational view interre-

lates Gods program for Israel and the

church with each other. The reason for

this overlap is due to the belief that the

church participates in at least one half

of the seventieth week, the time of Ja-

cobs trouble, but not in the last half

(and most severe) of the seventieth

week. Both Harrison and Buswell force

the church into the context of the

Olivet Discourse. Harrison argued thatthe existence of the Temple until AD

70 (i.e. for approximately forty years of

church history) is proof that Gods pro-

gram for Israel and the church overlap.

Buswells overlap of the programs for

Israel and the church is obvious in his

understanding of the Olivet Discourse,

as the following quotes demonstrate.

The next section in the Olivet dis-

course begins again with tote, at that

time. This word does not mean then in

the sense of subsequently. That meaning

would be indicated by eita or epeita. Tote

means then in the sense of at that time.

In other words, the rapture of the church

is not said to come subsequently to the

time of the wrath of God, but is said to

come at that time.

This par ticular section of the Olivet

discourse is given almost identical words

in Matthew and Mark, and in almost iden-

Midtribula-tionists erro-neouslyconclude theloud voice

from heavensaying tothem, Comeup here isthe rapture ofthe church.Nothing in thecontext sup-ports the con-

clusion thatRevelation11:12 is therapture;rather, onlythe two wit-nesses are res-urrected.

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tical words in Luke as

far as Luke goes in

this section. Matthew

says, And at that

time there will ap-

pear the sign of the

Son of Man in heaven

and at that time all

the tribes of the land

will weep [Zechariah

12:10-14; cf. Revela-

tion 1:7] and they

shall see the Son of

Man coming upon

the clouds of heaven

with power and great

glory. And He will send forth His angels

with a great trumpet [I Corinthians 15:52; I

Thessalonians 4:16; Revelation 11:15-19]

and they will gather together His elect

from the four winds from corners of

heaven unto corners thereof (Matthew

24:30,31).

I have indicated above that the Apostle

Paul alludes to these words of Christ in II

Thessalonians 2:1 taking the noun, gath -ering together, in the phrase, our gather-

ing together unto Him, from the very

verb which Jesus us ed in saying, They will

gather together His elect.

Luke (ch. 21:27,28) uses the same

words employed by Matthew and Mark in

reference to the coming of the Son of

Man in a cloud, with power and great

glory. Luke does not include the state-

ment with reference to the great trumpet

and the angels and the gathering to-

gether of the elect, but Luke adds, When

these things begin to come to pass, look

up and lift up your heads, because your

redemption is near. In my opinion, the

words, these things refer back to the ma-

terial in Luke 21:25,26, namely, the cosmic

disturbances that are to come after the

brief tribulation. In other words, although

Luke does not specifically refer to or de-

scribe the rapture, yet his words, your re-

demption draweth near, are the equiva-

lent of it.

Midtribulationists ignore the obvi-

ous by forcing the church into the

Olivet Discourse, and hence, the first

half of the tribulation. The tribulation

is the seventieth week of Daniel, the

period with which the Olivet Discourse

is largely concerned. The dispensation

of the Law ended with the crucifixionof Christ (2 Cor 3:11; Gal 3:25; Col

2:14) and the dispensation of the

church began at Pentecost (Acts 2).

Since the sixth-ninth week was ful-

filled prior to the crucifixion of Christ,

and the church was not instituted until

Pentecost, then Gods program for Is-

rael has been postponed until the dis-

pensation of the church is completed.

Once the rapture occurs, God will be-

gin His program again with Israel as a

nation, which will begin the seventieth

week. The overlap of the two programs

is not a biblical teaching, but it is a

necessary teaching for midtribulation-

ism.

The Doctrine of Imminency

Midtribulationists vigorously deny

the biblical teaching concerning the

imminency of the rapture. Midtribula-

NOVEMBER 2008 27

The dispensa-tion of the Lawended with the

crucifixion ofChrist (2 Cor3:11; Gal 3:25;Col 2:14) andthe dispensa-tion of thechurch beganat Pentecost(Acts 2).

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MIDTRIBULATIONISM


tionists must deny imminency. If the

rapture is midtribulational, then it is possi-

ble to set a date for its occurrence. Indeed,

date setting is quite characteristic of Harri-

son.26 If the rapture occurs at the midpoint

of the tribulation, then believers would

merely count three and one half years from

the signing of the peace treaty with Israel,

which surely will make international news.

Such teaching clearly denies the imminency

of the rapture. Christians are not to look for

the Antichrist, but the imminent appearing

of Jesus Christ. God provided Israel withnumerous signs that would precede the sec-

ond coming. In light of such signs, Israel

was to live in expectancy of the coming of

Messiah to fulfill the biblical covenants and

establish His millennial reign.

CONCLUSION

This brief examination of midtribula-

tionism has demonstrated that the essen-

tial characteristics of the view are contrary

to the true interpretation of Scripture, and

should therefore be rejected as false.

ENDNOTES

1 Thomas D. Ice, Stage-Setting of the Last Days, in

Revelation Hoofbeats, gen. ed. Ron J. Bigalke Jr.

(Longwood, FL: Xulon Press, 2003), 283-300.

2 Gleason Archer, The Case for the

MidSeventieth

Week Rapture Position in The

Rapture: Pre-, Mid-, or Post-Tribulational? (Grand

Rapids: Zondervan, 1984), 115-45.

3 Nor ma n B. Ha rr ison , The End: Re-thinking the Reve-

lation (Minneapolis: Harrison Services, 1941), 118.

4 It would be best to understand

Scripture to teach that the sixth seal

occurs at the midpoint of the tribula-

tion. See Ron J. Bigalke Jr., A Compari-

son of the Synoptic Eschatological

Discourses and Revelation 620,

Chafer Theological Seminary Journal 13

(Spring 2008): 60-78.

5 Robert D. Van Kampen, The Rapture

Question Answered(Grand Rapids: Rev-

ell, 1997), 47.

6 Mike Stallard, An Analysis of the

Use of Cosmic-Sign Passages by Propo-

nents of the Pre-Wrath Rapture Theory (paper pre-

sented at the Pre-Trib Study Group, Dallas, TX,

2002).

7 Harrison, The End, 54.

8 Ibid., 91.

9 Ibid., 91, 120. When he did interpret 6:16-17, Harri-

son regarded it as a future tense.

10 J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come (Grand Rapids:

Zondervan, 1964), 189.

11 Gerald B. Stanton, Kept from the Hour(Miami

Springs: Schoettle Publishing, 1991), 194-195.

1 2 Al ber t Ba rne s, Notes on the First Epistle to the

Corinthians (London: Gall & Inglis, 1847), 386.

13 E. Schuyler Engl ish, Re-Th inki ng t he R aptu re ( Nep-

tune, NJ: Loizeaux Brothers, 1954), 109.


15 J . Oliver Buswell ,A Sy stem atic T heol ogy of t he Ch ris-

tian Religion (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1962; repr.,

1976), 2:389.

16 Ibid. , 2 :43536.

1 7 Ibi d., 2 :4 57 .

1 8 Ibi d., 2 :4 36 .

1 9 Ibi d., 2 :4 57 .

20 Ibid. , 2 :45758.

21 Ibid.


23 Buswell, Systematic Theology, 2:456.

2 4 Ibi d., 2 :4 83 .

25 Ibid. , 2 :398-99.

26 Harrison, The End, 20, 42-43, 218.

This brief ex-amination ofmidtribula-tionism hasdemonstratedthat the essen-tial character-istics of theview are con-trary to thetrue interpreta-tion of Scrip-ture, andshould there-fore be re-

jected as false.

MC

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MONEY: ENDS & TRENDS

$For more perspectives and resources on world economic and financial trends of interest to Christians,

visit Wilfreds website http://www.eternalvalue.com for additional resources and subscribe to the free

newsletter Eternal Value Review: World Review and Market Monitor.

What Chances a Global Financial

Apocalypse Now? Part I

Over the past year or so, much of the high-income region of the world has

been gripped in a growing anxiety. Global financial markets have

encountered unsettling volatility, and more worryingly, the integrity of global

financial and credit systems has been threatened. To date, financial

institutions at largewhether smaller or greaterhave sustained lossesnow exceeding $500 billion.

B y W i l f r e d H a h n

Specifically, the nations

that we have dubbed the

Top-10X in past re-

searchthese being the 10

highest-income and economi-

cally largest nations in the

world of dominant Christian heritage1

seem to be on the horns of a brewing fi-

nancial catastrophe. Given their heavy

reliance upon debt-based monetary sys-

tems, as well a high level of financializa-

tion,2 their financial institutionsbanks,

insurance companies, investment brokers,

hedge funds, etc.have been particularly

vulnerable to bursting asset bubbles.

There is real fear that a global financial

meltdown might yet ensue.

Could this happen? Closer to home,

in North America, such fears are even

greater. The perfect storm of falling

real estate prices (some regions in the US

even experiencing near collapses) higher

energy prices, the high debt-servicing

costs of many households due to over-in-

debtedness, and now an economic slow-

down compounded by a reluctance to

lend, has the doomsayers in full bloom.

Indeed, housing markets are falling the

fastest since the Great Depression, and

more banks are expected to fail over the

next several years than in that prior, infa-

mous time. Even some Christian min-

istries have seized on these fears,

contriving such emotional themes as

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B y W i l f r e d H a h nMONEY: ENDS & TRENDS $

Christians and high oil prices or

the falling dollar. Fanning

these fears, secular analysts now

forecast that total losses amongstall financial players could yet

broach $2.5 trillion and

more.

The questions beckon:

Will there yet be a total fi-

nancial collapse? If so, just

what will happen to Amer-

icas economic position in

the world? And, surely a question on the

lips of many: Is the financial security of

our own families at risk? This latter

question, of course, is the most anxiety-

ridden. No matter that such worries are

also exaggerated due to our society being

amongst the most materialistic of any in

the world. Financial well beingthe

comfort of wealth in our Global Age of

Capitalis popularly seen as the top pri-

ority.

Well stop with the questions and next

attempt some answers. Foundationalhere is a premillennial perspective on

global collapse. Scripture provides clear

guidance on this topic. While this per-

spective will likely not provide the near-

term reassurance that most North

Americans are looking for, the Bible does

not fail to provide us with reasons for an

attitude of contentedness, peace as well

as hope.

America: What Vantage Point toAdopt?

Without a doubt, Americas current

troubles have not been sleeping (2 Pe-

ter 2:3). These are the product of choices

those of corrupt leaders as well as

households and individuals. A progres-

sive slide toward materialism, various

kinds of idolatry, and greedy lawlessness

has been documented for many decades.

In fact, this beginning slide was already

detected by both Christian

and non-Christian writers 150

years ago and more. So why

should there be surprise thatfinally the chickens have

come home to roost?The Bible clearly says,

Do not be deceived:

God cannot be mocked.

A man reaps what he

sows (Galatians 6:7).

Of course, there has

been a long line of false prophets and

soothsayers that have popularized the

ideas that there are no consequences of

revelry, that you can eat your cake andhave it, too, and that there is no suchthing as sin and wrongdoing. This mes-

sage offered pleasing license to compla-

cently rush down the broad road to the

difficulties that America and the world

are experiencing today. That being so,

wouldnt it be reasonable to see Americas

troubles as a catalyst for the final global

collapse? We argue, not at this time, forseveral reasons.

In answering this question, lets first

focus on Americas perceived role in this

regard. Here, a number of religious per-

suasions color the view. For example, US

economic and financial challenges of

latedeserved as they areare com-

monly being seen as divine intervention

in Christian circles, or as prophetic ful-

fillment and validation of other interpre-

tational systems of Scripture. For

example, Dominion Theology theorists

(also called Reconstructionists), who,

among other beliefs, hold that Christians

will yet reform the entire world before

Christ returns, are a group gaining in in-

fluence. They are feeling triumphal at

present. Various proponents of this view

have long predicted that a global finan-

cial and economic collapse will occur.

Recent financial tremorsas already

The questions

beckon: Will

there yet be atotal financial

collapse? If

so, just what

will happen to

Americas

economic

position in the

world? And,

surely a

question on

the lips of

many: Is the

financial

security of our

own families

at risk?

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B y W i l f r e d H a h nMONEY: ENDS & TRENDS $

popularly seen as direct di-

vine interventions of warn-

ing. Moreover, Americas fate

is seen as either dominatingor determining the fate of

the world. All the same,

while many may be inclined

to take the perspective that

Mead describes, it doesnt provide

any specific insight to the question of

premillennial global collapse. Yet, all of

the above views intermingle with the

bated question of whether indeed a

global collapse has now started.

Global Financial Apocalypse Now?We can state our view clearly at the out-

set: The great global collapse (and its vari-

ous subsidiary judgments) that is

prophesied in the Bible is not yet unfold-

ing at present. The Bible has the final say

as to when this collapse occurs, and that is

yet in the future, as we will later show in

detail. That said, it remains true that at

this time globalism and the vulnerabilitiesof the worlds systems continue to build

toward that ultimate outcome (and in that

way could be viewed as prophetic fulfill-

ment). But the final collapse is not yet.

Not only can this view be proven from

Scripture, it can also be logically deduced.

After all, a functioning global financial and

trading system is essential to bring the

world to the apex of the Antichrists reign

inside the Tribulation period. As prophetic

events of the Great Tribulation are yet to

occur, a widespread global collapse now

would be before its time. As such, we can

know that a crippling global financial col-

lapse is not going to unfold at present. But

what do we make of America now?

Americas Role in Global CollapseThere are at least two other conclu-

sions we can settle upon that are of po-

tential interest to North Americans. For

one, America and other countries

facing similar difficultiessuch

as Britain, Spain, and Australia, to

name the major ones in thisgroupcould very well face a

long phase of decline and finan-

cial hardship even to the point

of being eclipsed economically

by other nations in the world.

Even respected secular analysts

and mainstream publications are of the

opinion that this is occurring, should

trends not change. Therefore, though we

can be sure that the final collapse is not yet

upon the world, this offers no assurance

for America and other affected countries

over the near-term.

But what would happen to the world if

the financial systems of the afore-mentioned

bloc of nations were actually to collapse, as

some observers fear? Isnt America so large

and economically influential that such a de-

velopment would spell certain doom for the

entire world in other words, be sure to

trigger the prophesied global economicbreakdown? Actually, whether the US may

possess a manifest destiny or not, financial

troubles on this continent do not necessarily

mean that the entire world must be fated for

immediate collapse. There are some persua-

sive arguments supporting this view, which

we will present in Part II.

Thoughts to PonderWe have only scratched the surface of

what the Bible says about the great eco-

nomic collapses that lay ahead for the

world during the Tribulation period. There

are different types of collapse, and the con-

sequences are yet future. For example, the

judgment befalling the wealth of Babylon

the Great is different than that of the de-

ceitful trading systems of Tyre and other

wealthy nations throughout history, or the

more general judgments mentioned by Isa-

iah (chapter 24) that apply to all nations.

Actually,

whether the

US maypossess a

manifest

destiny or not,

financial

troubles on

this continent

do not

necessarily

mean that the

entire world

must be fated

for immediate

collapse.

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The Most Abused Brand Name in the World

There is much detail in this

regard that we will yet ex-

amine. However, for now,

we can draw some key con-clusions.

First, the worlds sys-

tems are certainly and in-

delibly proceeding to an

endpoint. In that sense,

many of the trends that we

are witnessing today (glob-

alism and globalization, for example)

could be viewed as prophetic preparation,

in that they play a role in the continuing

process towards the ultimate and literal

events that are yet to come.

Overall world financial systems will not

melt down before their time. They may

suffer tremors, hair-raising crises, temporary

panics and so on, but not incapacitating

meltdown. Why? It stands to reason that

they must remain operational for at least the

early stages of the Tribulation period.

That said, collapses of lesser types have

occurred and can occur any time. In fact,this has been the normal course of history.

Some nations have risen in power; others

have fallen or been overturned. There have

been recessions, even world-shaking de-

pressions, as in the 1930s and countless

currency crises and individual country dis-

asters.

Yet, the worlds systems, though bat-

tered, were patched together only to ad-

vance to a more heightened state of

globalization. It does not counter Scripture

nor violate the immediacy of Christs re-

turn to conclude that this pattern will con-

tinue. Even should the US experience near

calamitous conditions, an analytical argu-

ment can be made to support this view.

As anticipated at the outset, our conclu-

sions are likely to disappoint some readers.

We can provide no assurance that individ-

uals or specific countries such as the

United States might not face even tougher

times ahead. Yet, such a

conclusion is entirely in

alignment with Scripture,

for we are counseled toplace our entire hope in

our Lord. That does not

mean that we are to abdi-

cate common sense or any

responsibilities of steward-

ship, but simply not to fear

other things more than

God. [] do not fear what they fear, and

do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the

one you are to regard as holy, he is the one

you are to fear, he is the one you are to

dread, and he will be a sanctuary []

(Isaiah 8:12-14).

(In Part II, we will conclude on the

question of Americas role in a pre-millen-

nial global collapse.)

ENDNOTES

1 The group of the 10 richest Christian nations,

accounting for 10.7% of the world population and

60% of world annual income, are comprised of Aus-

tralia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy,

Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom and the United

States. The criteria used by the author to define this

group are three: 1. The majority of the countrys pop-

ulation declaring an affiliation with a Christian faith;

2. Total population greater than 10 million; and 3.

Average annual gross national income (GNI, Atlas

Method, World Development Indicators) of greater

than US $20,000 per annum. There are 10 countries

that qualify under this definition.

2 Financialization embodies the concept of financial

activity and obligations as a relation to overall eco-

nomic life. For example, a country that has a high

level of debt, money stock, complex layers of finan-

cial obligations and so on, would be said to be more

financialized than a country with a lower level.

3 Walter Russell Mead, biographical information.

Wikipedia. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.

4 Walter Russell Mead, The New Israel and the Old: Why

Gentile Americans Back the Jewish State. Foreign

Affairs, Volume 87 No. 4, July/August 2008.

$

Overall world

financial

systems willnot melt

down before

their time.

They may

suffer tremors,

hair-raising

crises,

temporary

panics and so

on, but not

incapacitating

meltdown.

NOVEMBER 2008 33

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The US had not been expected to

reach this milestone until the end of

next year. It achieved this early, while still run-

ning behind Germany in total installed capac-

ity, because its average wind speed in

significantly stronger.

The total capacity of wind installations in

Germany was 22,000 megawatts in 2007,

compared with 17,000mw in the US.

Nonetheless, with growing attention on wind

energy in the US, the AWEA says the country

could well take the world lead in installed ca-

pacity as well by the end of this year.Texas gave approval for a $4.9 billion plan

to build transmission lines to channel wind en-

ergy from the plains of west Texas to large

cities, such as Dallas.

T. Boone Pickens, the veteran Texan oilman

and latter-day wind advocate, unveiled the

Pickens Plan, which calls on the US to use

wind power to generate the 22 percent of its

electricity now drawn from natural gasfree-

ing that fuel to be used for transportation.

Mr. Pickens is now spending billions of dol-

lars to build the worlds largest wind farm in

Texas.

Despite the growing interest and milestones

passed, wind meets only about 1 percent of

the current US energy demand. Mr. Pickens

says building wind facilities from Texas to

North Dakota could produce 20 percent of

electricity used by the US at a cost of

$1,000bn.

-Financial Times, 22 July 2008, pg. 3

The first time the word wind is men-

tioned in the Bible is in Genesis 8:1:

And God remembered Noah, and every

living thing, and all the cattle that was

with him in the ark: and God made a wind

to pass over the earth, and the waters as-

suaged. This wind served to prepare the

world for Noah and his family. The last

time wind appears is in Revelation 7:1:

And after these things I saw four angels

standing on the four corners of the earth,

holding the four winds of the earth, that

the wind should not blow on the earth, noron the sea, nor on any tree. The purpose

of the wind here is to prepare divine pro-

tection for the 12 tribes of the children of

Israel.

In the meantime, wind is being uti-

lized for its energy, and energy is trans-

lated into benefit for modern mankind.

Such is the case also with solar and fossil

fuel. All is there, provided for man, but in

the end, man will use his accumulated

riches to oppose the living God: And the

rest of the men which were not killed by

these plagues yet repented not of the

works of their hands, that they should not

worship devils, and idols of gold, and sil-

ver, and brass, and stone, and of wood:

which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Neither repented they of their murders,

nor of their sorceries, nor of their forni-

cation, nor of their thefts (Revelation

9:20-21). 3346

U S A

America Takes Wind-Power Lead

The US rush into wind power has enabled the country to passGermany to become the worlds biggest generator of such en-ergy, according to estimates for the first half of 2008 from the

American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

G E R M A N Y

Top of WorldsSolar PowerLeague

Germany has reinforced its status as the

world leader in solar power generation, af-

ter less stringent cuts in renewable energy subsi-

dies than had been anticipated.

Germany boasts more than 50 percent of theworlds installed solar power capacity, thanks to

the subsidies, known as feed-in tariffs that give

households with solar panels a fixed income for

20 years from electricity sold to the national grid.

Solar Power

Share of global installed solarpower capacity, 2006 (%)

Germany

Japan

US

Spain

Rest of

Europe

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

-Financial Times, 28 July 2008, pg. 3 3352

Source: IMU/OttoBrenner Foundation,Frankfurt:Photon International

magazine

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Sections of the Codex Sinaiticus, which

contains the oldest complete New Testa-

ment, will be available on the Internet, said the Uni-

versity of Leipzig, one of the four curators of the

ancient text worldwide.

High-resolution images of the Gospel of Mark,

several Old Testament books, and notes on the

work made over centuries will appear on

www.codex-sinaiticus.net as a first step towards

publishing the entire manuscript online by next

July.

Ulrich Johannes Schneider, director of Leipzig

University Library, which holds part of the manu-

script, said the publication of the Codex online

would allow anyone to study a work of fundamen-

tal importance to Christians.

A manuscript is going onto the net which is like

nothing else online to date, Schneider said. Its

also an enrichment of the virtual worldand a bit

of a change from YouTube.Selected translations will be available in English

and German for those not conversant in ancient

Greek, he added.

Dating from around 350, the document is be-

lieved by experts to be the oldest known copy of

the Bible, along with the Codex Vaticanus, another

ancient version of the Bible, Schneider said.

The vellum manuscript came to Europe piece

by piece from Saint Catherines Monastery by

Mount Sinai after German biblical scholar Kon-

stantin von Tischendorf found a number of folios

there in 1844. He was allowed to take some to

Leipzig.

Tischendorf returned to the monastery in 1859

with Russian backing and acquired the biggest

section of the Bible for his imperial sponsors. It re-

mained in St. Petersburg until the Soviet Union

sold it to the British Museum in 1933.

The first section was clearly a gift to Tischen-

dorf, but thats not so clear in the case of the sec-

ond portion. The monks all signed a contract at the

time, but the rumor persists that they were given a

raw deal, said Schneider.

And there is probably some truth to this.

Subsequent discoveries meant that the original

Codex, missing roughly half the Old Testament, is

now housed at four locations in Europe and the

Middle East.

The project, launched in cooperation with the

Russian National Library, the British Library and

Saint Catherines Monastery, also details the con-

dition of the Bible, believed to have been written by

early Christians in Egypt.

I think its just fantastic that thanks to technol-

ogy we can make the oldest cultural artifacts

ones that were once so precious you couldnt

show them to anyone accessible to everyone, in

really high quality, said Schneider.-msnbc.com,21 July 2008

To be able to read a copy of the oldestavailable manuscript of the Bible is certainly

fascinating. This time its worldwide on the

internet and can be accessed by literally bil-

lions of people. But there is one problem, and

that is faith. Without faith it is impossible

to please God, and without faith we cant

come to Jesus and understand the message of

salvation. We may admire these old manu-

scripts from a historical and archaeological

point of view, but that wont help anyone.

The Bible is a book of faith. First John 5:13

reads: These things have I written unto you

that believe on the name of the Son of God;

that ye may know that ye have eternal life,

and that ye may believe on the name of the

Son of God. For those who dont believe, it

is foolishness, just as the Scripture states:

For the preaching of the cross is to them that

perish foolishness; but unto us which are

saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians

1:18). 3351

J A P A N

New DNA Tech-nology IdentifiesDisease Risks

Japans Matsushita Electric Industrial

Company said that it had developed a

new way of predi

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