Rapture “doctrine”

Have you ever heard of Chuck Missler?  Perhaps not but if you have ever watched the GTV (God Channel) you may have run across him.  He presents some very detailed studies on biblical topics.  He is, of course, a Rapturist and pushes the doctrine of “Imminence”.  While I believe this to be a bunch of bunk and a teaching of true “deception” I do believe his view deserves a look.  Do not be convinced by him because of the massive amount of scripture he presents as it is not the amount of scripture quoted but the application. 

His presentation is in a lecture style and using video presentations of graphs and outlines on the topic at hand.  I wanted to bring him to your attention as he presents the “refined” doctrines of the Rapture and of  Imminence as is being taught by those of the Evangelical community and can be profitable for anyone interested in how they, the Rapturist, come to the conclusions they do. 

You need to take notes and challenge what is presented and if you do it will be a good exercise and help you to better understand brothers and sisters of the faith and how they can be so confused or deceived.  Do I believe Chuck Missler is an agent of Satan?  I cannot say, I do believe he believes what he is teaching.  He has so convinced himself and refined the argument to favor this deception it seems as truth to him.  Let me quote a small statement he made to demonstrate the reasoning used to support the doctrine of “Imminence” and it is the same type of reasoning used for the Ratpure doctrine also, after all, they go hand in hand.

Chuck says, “To hold a view of certain prophetic events must happen before He (our Savior) can come you have to deny the doctrine of Imminence.”

Hello, anyone home?  His statement is true, of course, but what he meant (as the context of the presentation demonstrates) is that anyone holding to the position certain prophetic events must take place before our Savior returns is to deny the doctrine of Imminence.  Therefore, that cannot be so as the doctrine of Imminence is true, or at least is accepted as true by the Rapturist.  What he is reasoning is that if you suggest, for example, the earth is must shake and rock and reel, etc. before He returns then you are denying the truth of Imminence.  I know it seems confusing because he is teaching the doctrine of “imminence” is true and thus any prophetic events listed in scripture that are to occur prior to our Savior’s return must mean something else. Do you get it?  Imminence is true so prophecy that does not agree with “imminence” (His imminent return, at any moment, from the time He was crucified to now). 

I apologize if I seem a little redundant but it is just so crazy and coming from such an avid bible scholar and teacher as Chuck Missler it seems twisted.  He is lost in his own faulty reasoning (if it’s his), never posing the question, “what if the doctrine of Imminence is wrong”? You see, those holding to the Rapture doctrine need the doctrine of Imminence as a support for the Rapture at any moment teaching.  Explaining prophetic events that seem to get in the way of this must mean something else so they use this kind of twisted reasoning to catch you up (pardon the pun) into their way of thinking.

Our Savior’s return cannot be “imminent”, it will be one day, but not today, nor tomorrow.  The proof of the Word is in the happening of events foretold.  Using Chuck Missler’s reasoning we would be calling the Word, the Prophetic Word wrong, in error, a lie.  Our Savior told us of events to happen, events that would occur before His return, events that have not happened yet.  We are told of events to happen before any “rapture” or better yet, the Resurrection. 

Much of what Chuck Missler presents is interesting and can lead to profitable bible study and examination of how others see things but always, always keep in mind – the Word is true and by comparison, every man is a liar.  What Chuck does, by his position, is to call the Word a liar -- if you deny the doctrine of Imminence.

Can or will our Savior come at “any moment”?  The answer is, no!  We can see certain things must happen first and this fact of scripture makes the “doctrine of Imminence” a lie.  Here is a small example:

(2Th 2:1-4)  Now we beseech you, my brothers, with regard to the coming of our Lord Yahshua the Christ and our gathering together to Him, that you should not be soon shaken in mind or troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word or letter, as through us, as if the Day of Christ is at hand.  Let not anyone deceive you by any means. For that Day shall not come unless there first comes a falling away, and the man of sin shall be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, setting himself forth, that he is God.

  Two major things must happen first, before our Lord will return, and while every generation has thought it to be living in the time of His return it has not been so and the instruction received from the Apostle should be all the more taken to heart for one thing is sure, we are, today, closer than they were in the first century.  It should be noted, the “falling away” has been occurring along a continuous path but the revelation of the “man of sin” is something to happen later and is still yet future as is certainly plain to anyone with a mind to think with.  YaHshua is not here, is He has not established His Kingdom centered at Jerusalem has He? 

 The “man of sin” that “Lawless One” is yet to be revealed, the one Satan will be giving his power and his seat to.  YaHshua will not return until after that “revealing”.  Before this event, this “revealing” or exposure of this the “Lawless One” many other things are to happen.  This destroys the concept of the doctrine of Imminence and makes Chuck Missler’s words false by false implication.

Peace to you, in His Name, YaHshua and your servant, Dan Baxley

servant@yahshuaservant.com