Christian Zionists May Soon Have A Big Problem

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Cathy

September 14, 2018 by Steve Lumbley

Trump or No Trump?

Disclaimer – This is not a criticism of Christians who voted for or support President Trump. In the interest of full disclosure I support the presidents policies and efforts to change the direction of this nation.

Christian Zionists who support President Trump’s attempt to “Make America Great Again” may soon have a real dilemma on their hands. Dispensationalism (which has spawned modern Christian Zionism) has always held that a future world leader known as the antichrist will make himself known first by establishing a peace treaty with modern Israel. In the beginning this will be hailed as a wonderful time of peace leading to the rebuilding of the temple and re-establishment of animal sacrifice in Jerusalem. According to the teaching though, after 3 & 1/2 years the antichrist will break the treaty, betray Israel and a period known as the great tribulation will begin.

In case you are unfamiliar with this doctrine it’s all based on what I believe to be misinterpreted scriptures primarily from Daniel chapter 9 and Matthew chapter 24

Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.” Dan 9:27

Dispensationalism says the “he” being spoken of here is the antichrist and the “covenant” is a modern day peace treaty with Israel. The “week” is symbolic of 7 years and so “in the middle of the week” means 3& 1/2 years after the initiation of the treaty he will bring an end to sacrifice and offering which has been re-instituted in the Jerusalem temple and declare himself to be God in the flesh.

A full refutation of this doctrine is beyond the scope of this article but allow me to address the biggest flaw in this whole scenario. The he being spoken of in Dan 9:27 isn’t antichrist but Christ himself. Jesus is the subject and he did in fact establish a covenant with many. Not a modern day peace treaty with Israel but the new covenant prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer 31:31) and confirmed by Christ himself in Matthew chapter 26, Mark chapter 14 and Luke chapter 22

For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mat 26:28

The covenant with many established by Jesus did cause the temple sacrificial system to cease. First by making it obsolete (Heb 8:13) and eventually stopping it all together when He sent the Roman army in 70ad to destroy it forever. So as you can see, Daniel 9 is not a prophecy to be fulfilled in our day but rather a prophecy that’s already been fulfilled in Christ.

With all that as background I’m wondering why we’re not seeing more hand wringing or cheering or something about President Trump’s soon to be released peace plan for Israel?

Report: Trump to Introduce Mideast Peace Plan at UNGA

Trump peace plan | The Times of Israel

Dispensational legend has it that the antichrist will come in as a great world leader who is a friend to Israel and seemingly solves many problems. Not only bringing peace to the middle east but also reinvigorating the world economy. Peace and prosperity, what more could anyone want.

Christian Zionist’s are cheering Trump as the most pro Israel president we’ve ever had. He’s moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, shut down the PLO office in Washington and stopped US tax dollars from being spent on the UN Palestinian resettlement program. Since taking office, the U.S. economy has soared. Unemployment is at historic lows and wages are rising. Next item on the agenda is the peace plan for the middle east and the stage will be set for the final 7 year countdown.

Given all that, I’m wondering when will Christian Zionist’s begin to declare Trump a real candidate for the role of antichrist? I haven’t seen any CZ or so called prophecy expert even hint at the possibility of Trump as antichrist. I’ve heard some grumbling about Trumps Jewish son in law, Jared Kushner. Some believe he’s the real antichrist figure behind the peace process. But what about Trump himself. So far, he fits the bill better than anyone.

Lest some of you get the wrong idea, I am not saying Trump is the antichrist or even a candidate for the office. I understand that democrats, leftists, liberals, Marxists ideologues, and anarchists (redundant terms, I know) have no problem seeing Trump as the antichrist in the political sense. Virtually every president of my lifetime has been seen as an antichrist by some group, so that’s not what I’m advocating here. I’m just anxiously awaiting the realization by CZ’s that what they’ve been taught about the future antichrist is unfolding before their eyes in the form of President Donald J. Trump.

I was brought up under the doctrines of dispensational eschatology so I know what I’m talking about. I have rejected dispensationalism not because I don’t understand it but because I don’t believe it’s an accurate representation of what the Bible teaches. I do not believe in a future world ruling antichrist or a 7 year great tribulation, or a rapture of the church or any of the other tenets of dispensationalism.

So, what do I believe. I’m glad you asked.

I believe that mankind has always been plagued with messianic figures, antichrists if you will, whether they be from the religious, political, military, or economic realm. This will continue until Christ returns but none of them will ever achieve the world rulership role traditionally envisioned for THE antichrist. There will always be an antichrist candidate in the world or on the horizon. It is the nature of man to seek a messiah, any messiah other than Christ. We will experience wars and rumors of war, great storms and earthquakes, economic disaster and recovery. All those things have always been and they always will be until Christ returns.

Our job as Christians is to endure these things and occupy until he comes. We are called to influence the culture of our day, not through politics, the military or economics, but by living out our faith in the midst of these trials for all to see. Tribulation or testing is the natural state of believers as long as we are in this earth. All believers will go through tribulation in one form or another. It may be actual physical martyrdom as is happening now to many of our brethren in foreign lands or it could be the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches that we experience here in America. Regardless of its form, tribulation is designed by God to test us, to shape us, to bring us closer to Christ. It is a vital and necessary part of His process of sanctification in our lives.

strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; Rom 5:3

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:35

rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; Rom 12:12

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2Cor 1:4

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.… Rev 1:9

Don’t get caught up in endless speculation about ‘end times’ and antichrists. It’s easy (and profitable for many) to read current events into the scriptures. In the end it’s nothing but a waste of time. Embrace the times in which you live knowing that Jesus rules not only in heaven but on this earth. Nothing can separate us from that. Nothing can diminish that for us. Not even an alleged antichrist or a president that looks like one.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

Steve Lumbley 2018

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(Interesting and informative post by Steve Lumbley, but I do want to add my own disclaimer here, and that is that I am not a Trump supporter.)

WHY WERE THE REFORMERS BURNED?

Posted on September 7, 2018 by Cathy

http://www.spiritual-research-network.com/why-were-our-reformers-burned-JC-Ryle.html

Excerpts…

“We should make a note of that fact, and let it sink down into our minds.

Rome never changes.

She burned our English Reformers 300 years ago.

She tried hard to stamp out by violence the Protestantism which she could not prevent spreading by arguments.

If Rome had only the power, I am not sure that she would not attempt to play the whole game over again!

***

Rowland Taylor: Striking and deeply affecting was his last testament and legacy of advice to his wife, his family, and parishioners, though far too long to be inserted here, excepting the last sentence —

“For God’s sake beware of Popery! For though it appears to have in it unity — yet the same is vanity and Antichristianity, and not in Christ’s faith and truth.”

When he was stripped to his shirt and ready for the stake, he said, with a loud voice, —

“Good people, I have taught you nothing but God’s Holy Word, and those lessons that I have taken out of the Bible; and I am come hither to seal it with my blood!”

***

But I pass on to a point which I hold to be one of cardinal importance in the present day. The point I refer to is the special reason why our Reformers were burned!

The principal reason why they were burned, was because they refused one of the peculiar doctrines of the Romish Church. On that doctrine, in almost every case, hinged their life or death. If they admitted it — they might live; if they refused it — they must die!

The doctrine in question was the real presence of the body and blood of Christ in the consecrated elements of bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper.

Did they, or did they not, believe that the body and blood of Christ were really, that is, corporally, literally, locally, and materially, present under the forms of bread and wine after the words of consecration were pronounced?

Did they or did they not believe that the real body of Christ, which was born of the Virgin Mary, was present on the so-called altar, as soon as the mystical words had passed the lips of the priest?

Did they or did they not?

That was the simple question.

If they did not believe and admit it — they were burned!

There is a wonderful and striking unity in the stories of our martyrs on this subject. … all, without an exception, were called to special account about the real presence, and in every case their refusal to admit the doctrine formed one principal cause of their condemnation.

Wherever the English language is spoken on the face of the globe, this fact ought to be clearly understood by every Englishman who reads history.

Rather than admit the doctrine of the real presence of Christ’s natural body and blood under the forum of bread and wine — the Reformers of the Church of England were content to be burned!

And just as our martyred Reformers went to the stake rather than admit the real presence — so I hold that we should make any sacrifice and contend to the bitter end, rather than allow a materialistic doctrine about Christ’s presence in the Lord’s Supper to come back in any shape into our Communion.

I do deny that any clergyman, however zealous and earnest, has a right to reintroduce Popery into the Church of England. And, above all, I deny that he has any right to maintain the very principle of the Real Presence, for opposing which the Reformers of his Church were burned.

***

But what are we going to do? The danger is very great, far greater, I fear, than most people suppose. A conspiracy has been long at work for unprotestantizing the Church of England, and all the energies of Rome are concentrated on this little island.

The danger, in plain words, is neither more nor less than that of our Church being unprotestantized — and going back to Babylon and Egypt. We are in imminent peril of reunion with Rome.

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In the name of the Lord let us set up our banners. If ever we would meet Ridley and Latimer and Hooper in another world without shame — let us “contend earnestly” for the truths which they died to preserve.