A Review Of Pastor Steve Anderson's 
Work: “The Book Of Revelation”

“The Rapture simply cannot happen at any moment.” —Pastor Steven L. Anderson (01:27:05 video)

David J. Stewart
December 2013 | Updated March 2016

1st Thessalonians 4:17-18, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

       Let me begin by saying that I personally admire Pastor Steve Anderson for his sincerity and willingness to literally take a physical beating for his beliefs. I really like the guy for his feistiness. Best of all, he's King James Bible only, and 100% correct on God's plan of salvation for man! Brother Anderson is the real thing! Albeit, I don't agree with some of the things he says, or some of his doctrinal positions. Yet, I have no doubt that he is a born-again Christian, and I agree with 95% of his preaching. We do agree on the major issues—the simplicity that is in Christ for salvation, and the King James Bible. I thank God for Pastor Steven Anderson, his uncompromising preaching, bold stand for the truth, love for family, and aggressive soul-winning church. Here's an awesome MP3 sermon by Brother Anderson titled, “Raising Godly Children.”

Having said that, kindly, I believe that Brother Anderson is errant in his logic concerning the Scriptures regarding the Rapture (but he does make a solid argument). I have humbly prayed and asked God to give me wisdom and knowledge on this matter of the Rapture, so that I may help other believers who are confused or struggling on the issue. Prophecy requires an intense study of the Word of God if one is to “rightly divide” the word of truth. One of the keys to understanding the doctrine of the Pretribulation Rapture is to first learn how to correctly study the Bible.

Perhaps I missed something, but in “AFTER THE TRIBULATION” Brother Anderson teaches that the Rapture happens AFTER the Tribulation, but then he says in his “THE BOOK OF REVELATION” video that the Rapture happens 75 days after the middle of the Tribulation (i.e., the Abomination Of Desolation, when the Antichrist claims to be God while standing in the temple in Jerusalem). So I will refute each work accordingly.

With God's help I hope and pray to keep it simple and help my web visitors see the errors in Pastor Anderson's teaching; but moreover, to see the truth of the Pretribulation Rapture and Biblical prophecy. Remember, the purpose of all Bible prophecy is to testify of Jesus. Revelation 19:10, “...worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

And may I humbly make the important observation that the greatest men of God of the past 150 years all believed in a PRETRIBULATION RAPTURE! Harry A. Ironside, John R. Rice, Harold Sightler, Jack Hyles, Bob Jones Sr., Lee Roberson, Oliver B. Greene, R.A. Torrey, J. Frank Norris, George W. Truett, Dwight L. Moody, Lester Roloff, Curtis Hutson, Billy Sunday, W.A. Criswell, Charles C. Ryrie, M.R. DeHaan, Merrill F. Unger, Raymond Barber and others all concluded and taught a Pretribulation Rapture of the saints!!! Amen! Were they all wrong on the Bible? I think not!

In his booklet titled, “The Second Coming Of Christ,” Dr. Curtis Hutson (1934-1995) teaches on page 11 concerning the Rapture. . .

“Jesus Christ could come for His own at any moment. There are no signs that precede His coming. The Bible does not say to watch for signs but we are to watch for the Savior, the Son.

For instance, Philippians 3:20 states, 'Our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior.' Not looking for signs but for the Savior.

Titus 2:13, 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Not looking for signs; looking for the Savior.

Hebrews 9:28, ' . . . And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.' We are not told to look for signs but for the Son, the Savior.

There are no signs that precede Christ's coming for His own. His coming is imminent and has been since New Testament times. The Apostle Paul thought Jesus Christ would come in his lifetime and said in I Thessalonians 4:17, 'Then WE which are alive and remain  . . . ' Paul thought he would be living when Jesus came.

...The coming of Christ for His own is imminent. It could happen any second. No signs have to be fulfilled. He could have come day before yesterday. He could have come last year. He could have come in Paul's time. HE MAY COME TODAY! We are to live in constant expectancy of His coming. [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Pastor Curtis Hutson, 'THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST,' p. 11; copyright, 1981 - Sword of the Lord publishers; Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Amen! We're not supposed to be watching for signs of Christ's return; but rather, LOOKING FOR CHRIST HIMSELF!!! Respectfully, Brother Anderson is doctrinally wrong to teach that, “The Rapture simply cannot happen at any moment.” According to Pastor Anderson THERE WILL BE SIGNS before Christ's return. Obviously Brother Anderson and the Bible are in conflict. I believe that Dr. Curtis Hutson did an excellent job explaining the matter, and I agree with him, because he agrees with the Holy Bible. You must decide for yourself my friend. You have just read the Scriptures for yourself, which plainly teach us to LOOK FOR JESUS, not signs. Brother Anderson is telling us to look for signs, saying that Jesus' return must be preceded by signs.

NOTE: One item in Brother Hutson's book that I disagree with is on page 13, where he states: “The expression 'caught up in clouds' means clouds of people.” I checked and that phrase is not found in the Bible, so he must be referring to 1st Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” I do not believe that “clouds” refers to the gathering of people; but rather, literal clouds. When Revelation 1:17 says, “Behold, he cometh with clouds,” I take that as literal clouds, just as Christ ascended in in Acts 1:9 and “a cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:11, “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Jesus ascended into the clouds 2,000 years ago, and He's going to return at any time to Rapture the saints into the clouds, and 7-years later He's returning in the clouds to the earth. At the Rapture the saints are going UP, and at the Second Coming 7-years later we're going DOWN.

Read what Evangelist Billy Sunday (1862-1935) said in his classic sermon, “The Second Coming Of Christ”...

The Lord does not come to the world at the time of the Rapture, but only reveals himself to the members of His Body. At the time of his resurrection He was only seen by those who believed on Him. Pilate and the High Priest, and those who crucified Him, did not know that He was risen. So it will be at the time of the Rapture. The world will not know that He has been here, and will have no knowledge of Him until He comes with the members of His Body, at the close of the Tribulation.

SOURCE: The Second Coming of Christ — by Evangelist Billy Sunday

Clearly, Billy Sunday concluded and taught a Pretribulation Rapture. The Bible very plainly teaches that the TIME of the Rapture is a carefully guarded secret.

Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

Ye Do Err, Not Knowing The Scriptures

Matthew 22:29, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures...”

To cut to the chase, Pastor Anderson sums up his beliefs in part 10 of 22 in his video series on Revelation and it's really strange stuff. It's what the Bible calls “strange doctrine” (Hebrews 13:9). I felt sorry for the people sitting through all that mess in the video, trying to understand what Pastor Anderson was talking about. 1st Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” Anderson crunches a bunch of numbers and divides 1335 days in Daniel 12:12 by 7, which he says is 190.71, which on a calendar is the 10th day of the 7th month. I won't even try to explain what he's teaching because it is utterly confusing. Jehovah's Witnesses and Seventh Day Adventists also twist numbers around to concoct bizarre doctrines.

I really hate writing this article, because I am a big fan of Pastor Steven Anderson. I love his preaching. I adore his big family. I admire his character, talent and hardwork. Dr. Hyles used to say that he'd rather see a guy with wild fire than no fire. Brother Anderson is an on-fire preacher and I love him in the Lord! I try to hear all his online sermons. I get my toes stepped on quite often listening to his tough sermons, but that's why I love listening to him, he says it like it is. Albeit, I am first and foremost a Christian, and my loyalty is to Christ above all, just as is Brother Anderson. There is no doubt that he is 100% sincere.

He teaches that the Rapture will happen on the 10th day of the 7th month of the year. This is DATE SETTING, a big no no for any preacher to do. Mark 13:32-37 plainly warns that NO MAN knows the time of Christ's return, not even the angels in Heaven. If you really want to be confused, listen to what Pastor Anderson says at 35:00 minutes into Part 10 (you need to cue these up, I couldn't link directly to the spot in the video). Pastor Anderson says he is not referring to our calendar or even the Hebrew calendar, when he says Jesus will return on the 10th day of the 7th month. Wow, this stuff is insanely confusing! But he is adamant that it will be 1,335 days into Daniel's 70th week when the Rapture happens. Pastor Anderson is making a fool of himself to say he is not setting a date, when he just plainly stated that the Rapture will happen 1,335 days into Daniel's 70th week, and 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation...

“So, I'm not setting any kind of date, I never have and I never will—until I see the Abomination of Desolation and then I'm going to start setting to set a date. And hopefully I'm still alive at that time.” —Pastor Steven Anderson, 'Revelation - Part 10' (Time: 35:25 minutes into video)

That is DATE SETTING! Pastor Anderson errantly teaches in this chart from chapter 2 (of Pastor Anderson's YouTube movie titled: 'THE BOOK OF REVELATION') that the Rapture will happen 75 DAYS after the Abomination of Desolation (see Comments 35 and 36 at the bottom right). Listen for yourself in Part 10 of his Revelation series, at 31:00 minutes into the video, where he states:

“When does the Rapture take place? 1,335 days into Daniel's 70th week.” —Pastor Steven Anderson, 'Revelation - Part 10' (Time: 31:00 minutes into video)

If you study Pastor Anderson's chart, you will see that he believes the Tribulation only lasts for 75 DAYS, and then he says the Rapture comes. This contradicts the plain teaching of the Scripture in Mark 13:32-37 that no one knows the time of Christ's return. Some Bible students will claim that the four Gospels have nothing to do with the Rapture. I humbly disagree. The Apostle Paul said that he was revealing “a mystery” in 1st Corinthians 15:51. But this doesn't mean Jesus wasn't referring to the Rapture when He said no one knows the time of His return. The Bible plainly tells us the number of days from the Abomination of Desolation until the end of the Tribulation. So, the people living in the Great Tribulation (i.e., the last 42 months, or 3 1/2 years) will know the time of Christ's return at the Second Coming. Only the time of a Pretribulation Rapture is a mystery.

I hope one day Pastor Anderson changes his position, which seldom men are willing to do. I used to believe in a Young Earth view, simply because I didn't have enough evidence to convince me of an Old Earth, and the popular consensus in the churches is a Young Earth. So I went along in ignorance. Albeit, now I have much more information and have studied the matter, being fully convinced of an Old Earth (but I believe in a young human race; and all forms of evolution are a bogus lie). Likewise, I have researched the matter of the First Resurrection and Rapture of the saints, and I believe there is no other Biblical conclusion possible if you rightly divide the Holy Scriptures, than a Pretribulation Rapture. The Bible is clear that Christ's return is imminent, it will be sudden and without signs.

Smaller Chart | Larger Chart

Steve Anderson Errantly Teaches a Mid-Tribulation, Pre-Wrath, Rapture

The pre-wrath position says that believers will not be raptured until part way through the Tribulation. Pastor Anderson states in his video (part 2 of 22) that he believes the Rapture will occur 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation (the preceding chart is a screenshot from Pastor Anderson's YouTube movie titled: 'THE BOOK OF REVELATION' (chapter 2). In his heretical chart (kindly said), you can see that he thinks the Rapture will happen 75 DAYS after the Abomination of Desolation. This is DATE SETTING, which is a big no no for any preacher to do. Mark 13:32-37 plainly warns that NO MAN, not even the angels in Heaven, know the time of Christ's return. I have heard some preachers claim that Mark 13:32-37 cannot be about the Rapture, because Paul called it a 'mystery' prior to 1st Corinthians 15:51-58. However, Jesus spake in Matthew chapter 24 about the future Tribulation period, describing future prophetic events in vivid detail, which only God could have known. So, likewise, Jesus as God in Mark 13:32-37 fully knew the future, and He spake about the coming Rapture, which no man knows the timing of.

By the way, this is further evidence of why I believe the inspired Bible teaches a Pretribulation Rapture. If, as Pastor Anderson claims, the Rapture happens after the Man of Sin (Antichrist) appears, then we WOULD KNOW exactly when Christ is returning. Pastor Anderson even sets a date of 75 DAYS after the Abomination of Desolation, which blatantly violates the simplest rules of Bible interpretation. Sadly, tens of thousands of naive people are following Pastor Anderson's false teaching, and are not LOOKING FOR THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST!!! They are instead looking for signs and the Antichrist, which is wrong. As Dr. Curtis Hutson showed you earlier, we are not supposed to look for signs, but for Christ Himself.

The half-way point of the Tribulation is exactly 1260 days (Daniel 9:27). A Biblical month is 30 days. So 3 1/2 years equals 42 months. 42 x 30 days equals 1260 days. Anderson subtracts 1260 from 1335 (Daniel 12:12) and gets 75, which is where he gets his mid-tribulation Rapture date. This is shoddy Bible interpretation at its worst.

What Brother Anderson is teaching simply cannot be true, because it totally rejects the eminency of Christ's return. If the Lord returns 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation (when the Antichrist declares himself to be God from the temple in Jerusalem), then we would know exactly WHEN the Lord is coming back. This goes contrary to everything the Bible teaches about Christ's sudden return. Mark 13:32, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Clearly, we would KNOW if we have exact dates for the timing of the Rapture. This one point by itself sinks Brother Anderson's battleship!

I heard a preacher say that Matthew, Mark, Luke and John couldn't have been writing about the Rapture, because it was still a mystery until revealed by the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:52-57. Yet, Jesus DID KNOW about the Rapture, and His words were being recorded by the apostles. In Matthew 24, Jesus provides vivid details of future events which will happen during the Tribulation period. Remember, Bible prophecy is history written in advance. So I believe Mark 13:32-37 is concerning the Rapture, and the Lord said no one knows WHEN He is going to return, not even the angels. The only logical conclusion is a pretribulation Rapture.

Furthermore, the apostle Paul sincerely expected the Lord to return in his lifetime... “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1st Thessalonians 4:17). Paul wouldn't have said this if he knew exactly when the Lord would come back. James 5:8, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” The Lord's return is imminent, unpredictable and may happen suddenly at any moment. Again, Jesus said that NO MAN KNOWETH the time of His return!!!

The “pre-wrath” doctrine teaches that the Rapture happens after the middle of the Tribulation, but before the Great Tribulation begins. There is little debate that the Great Tribulation will be a horrific time of God's fury and wrath being poured out upon the world for their wickedness and unbelief. Brother Anderson teaches that the wrath of God (or, the Great Tribulation) won't begin until toward the end of the Tribulation; but the Bible teaches that after the Abomination of Desolation (when the Antichrist claims to be God, executing anyone who refuses to worship his IMAGE) that the Great Tribulation begins (that is, the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year Tribulation period).

Although the word “Tribulation” in the Bible never specifically refers to a 7-year time period, the Bible does clearly specify that there will be a period of time lasting the during of 7-years, and the word Tribulation is appropriately fitting to use theologically. . .

The 1260, 1290 & 1335 “Days” Of Daniel's 70th Week (an in-depth explanation by Dr. Max D. Younce)

The Bible Likens Christ's Coming To A Thief In The Night

Revelation 16:15, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”

Paul, Peter, and John have based their figure of the thief on the parables of Jesus. Please notice that the following Scriptures make very clear reference to a PRETRIBULATION Rapture in Revelation 3:1-3. The Lord Jesus is speaking to the CHURCHES and warns them that He may return at any time without warning AS A THIEF...

Revelation 3:1-3, “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

Notice that the preceding warning is TO THE CHURCHES. The word “angel” comes from the Greek word aggelos and means “to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an 'angel'; by implication a pastor.” Hence, these 7 letters are written to the pastor of each church, this particular message to the church at Sardis. The Rapture will come as a thief in the night, catching many believers with their pants down so-to-speak, living in selfishness and sin, not faithfully serving the Lord as they ought.

If the Rapture doesn't happen until 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation as Steve Anderson claims, or at the end of the Tribulation as Postribulationists claim, then the element of surprise is totally gone!

For those believers who are faithfully serving the Lord, they will not be caught unexpectedly off guard...

1st Thessalonians 5:1-4, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”

A thief does not willingly signal his presence, but numerous telltale signs will precede Christ’s Second Coming at the climax of the Tribulation. In Steve Anderson's scenario, there would be numerous advance signals that Christ is returning.

The following unbiblical comment is from Pastor Anderson's video, “AFTER THE TRIBULATION.” It appears that Anderson changed his views between this video and his series on Revelation...

“The Rapture simply cannot happen at any moment.” —Pastor Steven L. Anderson (01:27:05 video)

Perhaps I missed something, but in “AFTER THE TRIBULATION” Anderson teaches that the Rapture happens AFTER the Tribulation, but now he says in his Revelation series that the Rapture happens 75 days after the middle of the Tribulation.

Even the most knowledgeable Christians from time-to-time need to re-examine their beliefs, which is perfectly acceptable. We should always be willing to change our beliefs if we're wrong. What you need to do is weigh the evidence, “search the Scriptures” as Jesus commanded in John 5:39, and pray for God to teach you the truth. John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth.” We don't need The Apostle Creed, John Calvin or Jacob Arminius, et cetera. Presbyterians adhere to The Westminster Confession, which errantly teaches sacraments. They teach that water baptism bestows a special grace (power) upon the believer. I totally disagree. Water baptism is simply the believer's public profession of faith (Romans 6:4). The Word of God is all we need “for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2nd Timothy 3:16).

Revelation Chart by Harry A. Ironside

Rapture Happens BEFORE Tribulation; Tares & Wheat Separated AFTER

The big problem with Pastor Anderson's Revelation series is his unbiblical views on the Rapture. The beloved King James Bible teaches a Pretribulation Rapture. The Pretribulation Rapture is so obvious and clearly seen if you simply take the Lord's Words to heart...

Luke 12:42-46, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

Please notice again that the Lord is speaking about “a faithful and wise servant” and not the unsaved wicked as in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39). The Bible is speaking to born-again Christians concerning the imminent, unpredictable, sudden Rapture. Remember that although Pastor Anderson still believes in a mid-Tribulation Rapture, he plainly declares that he DOESN'T believe in an imminent Rapture...

“The Rapture simply cannot happen at any moment.”
—Pastor Steven L. Anderson (01:27:05 video)

According to Steve Anderson's bizarre theory, the Rapture will occur exactly 75 days after the Abomination of Desolation. If this were true, which it is not, then believers would fully know exactly WHEN the Rapture occurs. This would contradict the Biblical passage we just read in Luke 12:42-46...

Luke 12:42, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

The Bible plainly teaches that we KNOW NOT when the Lord will return. This is very strong evidence in favor of a Pretribulation Rapture. If I stopped right here and went no further in this article, I will have sufficed to Biblically prove Brother Anderson's Mid-Tribulation Rapture theory totally WRONG. The core philosophy of the Pretribulation Rapture is the element of surprise!!!
 

Comparing Apples With Oranges

Someone once asked me what was my strongest evidence of a Pretribulation Rapture. There are numerous strong reasons, including the one I just shared with you; but primarily it is the drastic difference between the manner in which the Lord returns privately to CATCH UP believers in the air at the Rapture (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18), verses returning in militant power and magnificent glory, for all the world to see, at the Second Coming (Revelation 1:7). Pastor Anderson attempts to make a very weak connection between 1st Thessalonians 4:16-18 and Revelation 1:7 (claiming that they are the same event) merely based upon the mention of “clouds.” However, there is a drastic difference between meeting in the air “in the clouds” (1st Thessalonians 4:17) verses “He cometh with clouds” at the Second Coming (Revelation 1:7). Anderson's attempt to unite these two events, that is, the Rapture and the Second Coming, is feeble and unscholarly at best. At the Rapture Jesus is coming FOR His own; whereas at the Second Coming the Lord is coming WITH His own.

Through deductive reasoning from studying the Scriptures, any honest Bible student can only conclude a Pretribulation Rapture...

Here are 32 differences between the Rapture and Christ's Second Coming

It is so important to interpret each passage of Scripture as unique, and to be careful when comparing events. For example: We read in 1st Thessalonians 5:4 that believers won't be caught off guard during the Tribulation as will the unsaved world when the Day of the Lord comes upon them as a thief in the night. It will be too late once the wrath of God is upon the wicked! However, the passage of Scripture in Matthew 24:44 refers to believers before the Rapture, warning them to be ready. It is unfaithful believers who will be caught off guard at the Rapture; and it is the unsaved who will be caught off guard when the Day of the Lord comes, which includes the Second Coming of Christ, when all the tribes of the world shall see Him (Revelation 1:7).

If Steve Anderson is correct that the Rapture won't happen until 75 days AFTER the Abomination of Desolation, then Luke 12:42-46 is IMPOSSIBLE, because we would know exactly WHEN Christ will return.

Also, it is senseless to conclude that the catching up of the saints (Rapture) happens simultaneously with the separating of the tares (unsaved) from the wheat (saved), because everyone would be removed from the earth. In Anderson's fictitious scenario, there's no one left on earth. If the saints are raptured and the tares are removed at the same time, who will be left on earth?

Steve Anderson accuses adherents of a Pretribulation Rapture view of espousing what he calls a “Secret Rapture.” He uses Matthew 24:23,26 to teach his heresy, “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. ... Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.” Brother Anderson is misinterpreting this Scripture passage and misapplying it as well. Matthew 24 happens during the 7-year Tribulation period, including the Rapture at the beginning and the Second Coming of Christ at the end. The Bible is teaching that many false Christs will arise during the End Times, which is plainly stated in Matthew 24:24, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Although there are already false Christs and false prophets today, they will greatly increase after the saints are Raptured out of the world.

The separating of the tares from the wheat in Matthew 24:38-42 does NOT speak concerning the Rapture. It helps to understand these Bible verses if you consider that Noah is mentioned... “AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH” (Matthew 24:38). Also, Matthew 13:40 confirms that the tares are the unsaved being removed from the earth, and not the righteous (wheat). Matthew 13:38 and 40, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one ... As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.” Clearly this is a completely different and separate event than the Rapture, when the saints are removed instead.

Notice that Noah and his family were delivered beforehand, that is, before the world was judged and destroyed by flood. Likewise, so also was Lot and his family removed from Sodom before God poured down His wrath to destroy Sodom with fire and brimstone. Likewise, God will remove (Rapture) the saints away from the earth before He pours out His fury during the Tribulation period.

The saints with whom the Beast will make war against in the Tribulation are those saved DURING the Tribulation. Revelation 13:7, “And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” Pastor Anderson and Alex Jones attempt to use this Scripture to prove that the Church WON'T go through the Tribulation; however, we must NEVER conclude any doctrine based upon only one particular Scripture. To “rightly divide” the Word of truth we must consider the whole counsel of God, cross-reference Bible passages, and comparing spiritual with spiritual.
 

Texe Marrs' Heresy On The Rapture

I enjoy listening to Dr. Texe Marrs regularly at Bible Home Church. Here's Pastor Marrs preaching a sermon series on the coming World War III. Texe is confusing at best on the subject, as I will show you. I've written an entire article refuting Dr. Marr's unbiblical position on the Rapture. The following statement seems to indicate that Texe believes in a PreTrib Rapture, but HE DOES NOT, which the following second quote will evidence ...

“The important thing I'm convinced is this, that these things (this destruction) is for the world, and is going to come upon the world; and the mass of the horrors will occur, yes, after the Rapture.”

—Pastor Texe Marrs (a quote from the MP3 sermon titled, Does The Bible Prophesy WW III, Part 3 of 4)

However, then I listened to a Bible Home Church series titled, “The Rapture Controversy,” in which Texe states:

“The elect are going to be right here, during Tribulation. During all of these things you're going to be right here. You say, 'I thought I was going to be raptured first.' Well just read Matthew 24, that's what it says.”

SOURCE: 'The Rapture Controversy,' Part 6; by Dr. Texe Marrs, Bible Home Church.

The preceding latter statement plainly evidences that Dr. Marrs rejects a Pretribulation Rapture view, that is, the doctrinal position that the Rapture (removal) of the saints from the earth will happen in timing BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation period. Notice that Texe said the saints would be present on earth “During all of these things.” This certainly seems to indicate that Texe believes in a Postribulation Rapture. Furthermore, in his “The Rapture Controversy” series on the Bible Home Church website, Texe mocks the idea that God would remove (rapture) the saints, just to turn around and bring them right back again. Dr. Marrs states: “God is not a manufacturer of yo-yo's.” Texe makes contradictory statements concerning the Rapture, but he clearly denies a PreTrib position.

Dr. Texe Marrs continues in his sermon talking about the horrifying conditions which will exist during the Tribulation. The Old Testament prophets were given a disturbing glimpse of the future. Amos 8:9, “And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.” Revelation 8:12 says the sun shall be smitten and 1/3 cease to shine. Will the earth freeze without a third of the sun's light? Joel 2:1-32 is fascinating, describing the horrors of the Tribulation in detail. Nuclear war will devastate the earth in the end times. Zechariah 14:12, “...Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.”

Biblically, the only saints present during the Tribulation will be those who are saved AFTER the PreTribulation Rapture of the Church (Revelation 7:14). I disagree with Dr. Marrs and Stephen Anderson on the Rapture. Kindly, Alex Jones doesn't know what he believes, and he certainly is completely Scripturally illiterate. Alex ignorantly regularly refers to the book of “Revelation” as “Revelations.” It's not plural (See Revelation 1:1). I only point this out because Alex has been making some really inflammatory remarks lately against fundamentalist preachers, attacking anyone who teaches a PreTribulation rapture. Alex is woefully wrong!!!

Acts 1:10-11 & I Thessalonians 4:16-17 Are NOT The Same Event

Proverbs 26:9, “As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.” Now I'm not calling Brother Anderson a fool, for he is a godly man in my estimation; yet, it is painful to listen to him butcher the Bible on the doctrine of the Rapture. It's like a painful thorn. In part one of his 22 video series, Steve Anderson attempts to merge Acts 1:9-11 and 1st Thessalonians 4:17 into ONE EVENT...

Acts 1:9-11, “Ac:1:9: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

The big theological error that Pastor Anderson keeps making is interpreting particular Scriptures WITHOUT considering other Bible passages. Anderson's attempt to merge the two preceding Scriptures into ONE EVENT is a classic example of his lack of study. Please consider Revelation 1:7, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” Clearly, this passage of Scripture teaches that the wicked people who crucified our Lord, and EVERY EYE (the entire world), shall see the Lord. This refers to Christ's Second Coming AFTER the Tribulation.

In sharp contrast, consider that the Bible teaches in 1st Thessalonians 4:17 that only the saints will be “CAUGHT UP” to meet with the Lord in the clouds. This is completely different than Acts 1:9-11 when the Lord will descend upon the earth in the same manner that He left. According to Steve Anderson, Revelation 1:7 is the “KEY VERSE” to understanding Revelation. In particular, Anderson focuses on the phrase “He cometh with clouds.” Since Acts 1:9-11 and 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 both mention “CLOUDS,” he contends that they are the SAME EVENT. In fact, they are NOT the same event. Paul said in 1st Thessalonians 4:17 that believers would be “caught up” to meet together with other believers “IN THE CLOUDS”; whereas, Luke says in Acts 1:9 that “A COULD RECEIVED” Jesus out of their sight. These are two very different statements.

There are multiple problems with merging the Rapture and the Second Coming into one event as Pastor Anderson has done. Here are 32 distinctions between the Rapture and Christ's Second Coming which ought to compel any Bible student to conclude a Pretribulation Rapture...

Here are 32 differences between the Rapture and Christ's Second Coming

Imminent Return Of Christ Intended To Keep Believers On Their Toes

The whole purpose of the Bible not announcing WHEN the Lord will return is to maintain the element of surprise. Luke 12:37 and 39-40 “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching ... And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” In total disregard for the imminent and sudden return of Jesus Christ, Steve Anderson foolishly states...

“The Rapture simply cannot happen at any moment.”
—Pastor Steven L. Anderson, from his video titled, AFTER THE TRIBULATION (01:27:05 video)

To say that Jesus' return is not imminent is heresy. To say that Jesus cannot return immediately and suddenly without warning is to totally contradict the Bible. The whole idea behind “secrecy” is to keep believers on our toes. Anderson plainly rebukes the idea of a “secret Rapture,” but this is the plain and bold teaching of the Word of God. Mark 13:32, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Could the Bible be any plainer?

Mark 13:32-37, “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.”

If the Lord cannot return at any time at the Rapture as Brother Anderson teaches, then what would be the purpose to “WATCH?” Obviously, there would be no reason nor motivation to watch. If the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet (Daniel 9:27, 12:11) and the Lord Himself (Matthew 24:15) must happen first, then it will be quite clear to Christians who are watching WHEN the Lord will return.
 

'Great Tribulation' Begins Immediately at the 'Abomination Of Desolation'

The Bible teaches that the Church (saints) will be removed (Raptured) BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation begins. The saints will be removed before God's fury and wrath are poured out upon the wicked world, aka, “the day of the Lord.” This pouring our of God's wrath will reach its climatic ending with the Battle of Armageddon and Christ's triumphant return at the Second Coming, when “every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen” (Revelation 1:7).

As I showed you earlier, in sharp contrast to the Bible, Steve Anderson teaches that the saints (Church) will be raptured 75 DAYS after the Abomination of Desolation. In part 15 of 22, he says the saints will be Raptured AFTER the Tribulation, but BEFORE God's wrath is poured out. This is commonly referred to as a “Mid-Tribulation” or “Pre-wrath” position of the Rapture. Anderson teaches that the saints will be removed BEFORE the wrath of God is poured out upon the world. There's a big problem with his reasoning, because Jesus Himself taught that the murderous violence would begin immediately upon the Abomination of Desolation, when the Antichrist (Beast) proclaims to be God. The Antichrist will demand that everyone worship his IMAGE (Revelation 13:15), exactly like wicked king Nebuchadnezzar did in Daniel 3:1-6, executing anyone and everyone who refuses to worship the idolatrous image (Daniel 3:6). It just doesn't make sense that the Church would go through the most intense of the wrath for 75 days, and then be raptured. Although I respect Brother Anderson tremendously for his zeal for God, I total disagree on his view of a PreWrath Rapture of the Church.

Notice what the Lord said in Matthew 24:16-21...

Matthew 24:15-21, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:  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 teaches that the Great Tribulation BEGINS as soon as the Anti-Christ declares to be God from the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. During the last 3 ½ years of the Tribulation, two-thirds of all the Jews in Palestine will be killed by the Anti-Christ (Zechariah 13:8,9). In the rest of the world, outside of Palestine, only one out of ten Jews will survive (Isaiah 6:11-13 and Amos 5:1-3). After all of Israel's persecution for disobedience, at last God says “They shall call on my name, and I will hear them. I will say, It is my people; and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

BILLIONS of people will be killed by natural disasters worldwide. Multitudes of people will die from heart exhaustion, scorched by the sun's abnormally high, intense heat (Revelation 16:8-9). Hundreds-of-millions of people will die when two asteroids slam into the earth's ocean. The oceans, lakes and rivers will be poisoned. The islands will disappear under water. Revelation 16:20, “And every island fled away...” Tens-of-millions will die from the tidal surges, tsunamis hitting coastal areas, toxified water and massive forest fires worldwide.

So Anderson's theory cannot be accurate, because the Great Tribulation begins right away when the Anti-Christ claims to be God. Jesus warns the Jews to flee into the mountains. But Revelation 13:15 plainly includes all humanity. Anyone who refuses to worship the IMAGE of the Beast will be killed. This atrocity begins upon the Abomination of Desolation. It is illogical to assume that the Church will endure through the Anti-Christ's bloodthirsty vengeance upon those who refuse to bow to his IMAGE for 75 days before the Rapture can happen. It makes much more sense that the Church is Raptured completely before the 7-year Tribulation begins (which is what the Bible teaches if you compare Scripture with Scripture). Chronologically, the only doctrine that fits Bible prophecy is a Pretribulation Rapture. Interpreting Biblical prophecy is exactly like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. You form the outside edges first and then work from familiar to unfamiliar, comparing piece with piece, looking for matching shapes.

The phrase “Abomination of Desolation” is very interesting when we examine the Greek word meanings. The word “abomination” is the Greek word bdelugma and means “a detestation, that is, (specifically) idolatry.” The word “desolation” is the Greek word eremosis and means “despoliation,” which is defined as, “the act of stripping and taking by force.” Lucifer (Satan) has always wanted to be “LIKE” God. Notice that Lucifer didn't want to be higher than God; but rather, EQUAL with God. This is the sin of feminists, that is, demanding EQUALITY with masculine authority in the marriage, home and church. The Bible doesn't address society because the world has always been wicked and doesn't fear God nor regard His Word. Isaiah 14:14, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” The Bible is addressed primarily to THE BELIEVER. 1st Corinthians 2:14 teaches that the unsaved person cannot grasp the truths of the Bible. It is foolishness to them, because they are unregenerated.

The Anti-Christ will be possessed 100% by Satan. I disagree with Pastor R.A. Torrey that the Anti-Christ will have Satan as his biological father. No, the Beast will be a man, i.e., the “man of sin” (2nd Thessalonians 2:3). Granted, there have always been men who were totally possessed by Satan throughout history, like Judas (John 6:70). I'm sure most people would agree that Hitler, Stalin and George W. Bush were demon possessed monsters! But what will make the Anti-Christ unique is that he will be prepared, positioned and promoted to a position as world dictator. This is what the forming New World Order is all about, that is, setting the stage for the coming Anti-Christ to rule the world.

This requires breaking down the safeguards that God established at Babel in Genesis 11:7-9. This means breaking down all barriers of language, national borders, religious denominations and race. Hence, in a desperate desire for power (that Satan has always wanted), his minion will commit the disgusting and contemptible act of forcefully seizing the place of God, demanding worship from men as if he were God.

Notice that God never forces Himself upon men. God has given each of us a freewill. We can choose to obey or disobey God. We have been given complete liberty to make our own choices and determine our own eternal destiny. In sharp contrast, Satan always forces himself upon men, through the brutality of war, tyranny and deception. Whereas God is willing to offend humanity by being brutally honest in the Bible with the truth; the Devil lies to everyone under the pretense that he is their friend.
 

Two Classes Of Resurrected Saints

Pastor Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951) makes the brilliant observation that the Bible distinguishes between the saints who are taken at the PREtribulation Rapture, verses the martyred saints in the Tribulation:

Revelation 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

The first part of Revelation 20:4 is a fulfillment of 1st Corinthians 6:2, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?” The Apostle John sees these saints, who were taken at the PreTribulation Rapture, judging the world as God promised. Yet, John also sees a second group of saints, those who were martyred (murdered for Christ) during the Tribulation, who will reign with Christ during the millennium period. This is clearly a different class of believers than those mentioned in the first part of the verse. This plainly evidences that the Rapture will happen BEFORE the Tribulation. To read Dr. Ironside's entire exegesis, please read his sermon, “Not Wrath, But Rapture!”

Evangelist John R. Rice Teaches The Truth That The "Rapture" Happens Before The Tribulation

The “Day Of The Lord”

The last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation (known as the “Great Tribulation” or “Time of Jacob's Trouble”) will be a time of woe that this world has never known... “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it” (Jeremiah 30:7). The saints will be removed from the earth before God's wrath is poured out...

1st Thessalonians 5:9, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is much confusion concerning the phrase “the day of the Lord.” In part 6 of 22 Steve Anderson teaches that the day of the LORD refers to a 24-hour one day period... ONE DAY! The Bible would seem to disagree with Pastor Anderson drastically. From comparing and contrasting Scripture with Scripture, it becomes apparent that THE DAY OF THE LORD must include everything between the middle of the Tribulation until the end of the 1,000 year Millennium period.

I have done an in-depth Bible study on the terms “The Day Of Christ” and “The Day Of The Lord.” Now, kindly, I disagree with some good pastors and Bible scholars concerning the meaning of “THE DAY OF THE LORD” in 2nd Thessalonians 2:2, “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that THE DAY OF CHRIST is at hand.” This is one of the trickier passages of Scripture to interpret. I've read numerous Bible commentaries and heard various pastors claim that “The Day Of Christ” is a mistranslation in the King James Bible and ought to actually be rendered, “The Day Of The Lord.” I respectfully disagree. I just don't see a problem. That's my humble opinion. The 54 scholars who translated the King James Bible weren't careless. They used these different terms for a good reason. I think the King James Bible has it 100% correct with the translation of “The Day Of Christ.” I think Dr. Merrill F. Unger gets it 100% correct, which I quote in the preceding link to THE DAY OF THE LORD. I'm tired of preachers saying that the King James Bible is full of mistranslations. Although they mean well, they are effectively saying that God has failed to preserve His pure words for today's generation. Again, Dr. Unger explains it right.

In Revelation 9:10, deadly scorpion-like creatures from Hell will aggressively bite and cause their victims to suffer and seek death for “FIVE MONTHS,” but they won't be able to die. Creepy!!! It sounds like an episode of “Creep Show” or “Tales From The Darkside!” People will be tormented and unable to commit suicide for 5 MONTHS.

Paul quotes Isaiah 13:8 in 1st Thessalonians 5:3, likening the fearful men of the day of the Lord as being in great travail, as a pregnant woman in travail. Revelation 13:8 teaches that the sun and moon will be darkened during The Great Tribulation (the last 3 1/2 years of the 7-year Tribulation). Thus, “the day of the Lord” is no doubt referring to both the Great Tribulation, Christ's Second Coming (and according to 2nd Peter 3:10, also the millennial kingdom). 2nd Peter 3:10, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

Jesus referred to “the day of the Lord” in Mark 13:24-26 and related it to His second coming (notice the phrase “after that tribulation” below)...

Mark 13:24-26, “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

Isaiah 13:10-13 confirms that Mark 13:24-26 speaks concerning Christ's Second Coming...

Isaiah 13:10-13, “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine (see Revelation 8:12). And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”

This prophetic event happens after the 1,000 millennial reign of Christ (known as the “MILLENNIUM”). Hence, as you can see “the Day of the Lord” has a very broad application to numerous prophetic events, but all pertaining to the Lordship and preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who “is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). The “DAY OF THE LORD” refers to God's time of taking action. Enough is enough! What a great day it will be when Jesus reigns over the world!

Nevertheless, the phrase “the day of the Lord” almost always refers to The Great Tribulation followed by Christ's return. This is the primary application of this term in the Word of God. There is theological debate whether or not “the day of the Lord” includes the millennial kingdom, but 2nd Peter 3:10 cannot be left out. We do know that “the day of the Lord” DOESN'T refer to the Rapture! In 1st Corinthians 5:5 we read the phrase, “in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Paul said to turn the man living in fornication over to the Devil for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit might be saved “in the day of the Lord Jesus.” This phrase applies only to the saved person, and refers to the Rapture.

So “the Day of the Lord” includes THE LORD judging the world, coming again, defeating the Antichrist in the battle of Armageddon, His millennial reign from Jerusalem and the final chapters of humanity and the universe as we know it. There is no other conclusion that can be reached if you view all the Scriptures referring to “the Day of the Lord.” Keep in mind that the term “last days” has referred to the past 2,000 years of history. 2nd Timothy 3:1, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” We are living in the LAST DAYS and have been since Christ walked this earth. We are now also clearly entering into the END TIMES!

We learn from the Old Testament in Zephaniah about the dreaded DAY OF THE LORD. This phrase “The Day of the Lord” appears 7-times in Zephaniah. Obadiah and Joel were the first of the writing prophets to use the phrase. Zephaniah uses the phrase more than anyone. Here it has a particular application to the Great Tribulation. The Day Of The Lord includes the Millennial kingdom. The theme of the little book of Zephaniah is “The Dark Side Of Love.” The Day Of The Lord is presented in Zephaniah as being dark instead of light, but it is both. Here is a wonderful exegesis of the book of Zephaniah and “the day of the Lord” by Pastor J. Vernon McGee.

1st Thessalonians 5:1-4, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”

“The day of the LORD” is mentioned 24 times in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; 34:8; Jeremiah 46:10; Lamentations 2:22; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14; 5:18,20; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 1:7,8,14,18; 2:2,3; Zechariah 14:1 and Malachi 4:5). “The day of the LORD'S anger” is used three times (lamentations 2:22; Zephaniah 2:2-3). “The day of the LORD'S vengeance” is used once in Isaiah 34:8. “The day of the LORD'S wrath” is mentioned in Zephaniah 1:18. Clearly “the day of the Lord” in part deals with God's fury being poured out upon the wicked world for their sins. God is sick of the world's wickedness. It is as in the days of Sodom. It wasn't even this bad 10-years ago. Every day this world gets more sick, more sinful, more perverted!

When I look around America and see the sodomy that abounds, that lewd nakedness and fornication in SIN CITY La Vegas, I realize that we are living in the times of Noah and Sodom. What happened to Sodom was an example of what will happen AGAIN! It will be PAYDAY SOMEDAY for the filthy, wicked sinners of this world! Get is going to settle the score, punishing the inhabitants thereof!!! God is going to punish the world! Jude 1:7, “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.” This describes the United States today, when everyone is going after fornication (immoral relationships) and strange flesh (homosexuality). Life is short, Hell is hot and eternity is a long time!!!

Isaiah 13:11, “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” This Scripture uses the law of Double Reference...

"Double references" are prevalent in scripture. A double reference is when generally when a prophecy has partial fulfillment at one time, but whose ultimate fulfillment occurs at a later date or is still yet future. Many of Daniel's prophecies are double references (i.e., the reference to Antiochus Epiphenes and the Antichrist) as are Isaiah's. SOURCE

Again, the preceding Scripture (Isaiah 13:11) uses the law of Double Reference, referring to the wicked who are cast into the Lake of Fire, as well as God's wrath which will be poured out upon the world during the Tribulation. This truth is confirmed by reading the surrounding passage of Scriptures...

Isaiah 13:10-13, “For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine (see Revelation 8:12). And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”

In the New Testament, there are five times when “the day of the Lord” is used (Acts 2:20; 1st Corinthians 5:5; 2nd Corinthians 1:14; 1st Thessalonians 5:2 and 2nd Peter 3:10). All of these Scripture passages clearly speak of God's wrath upon the ungodly. God's kindness toward “the unthankful and to the evil” (Luke 6:35) will not last forever. God's day of wrath against mankind is coming! As in the days of Noah, the world today has no fear of God, living in utter wickedness (Matthew 24:37-39). 2nd Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Albeit, the DAY will come when God will say “ENOUGH!” In this present Church Age (the times of the Gentiles, Luke 21:24), we see God's grace manifested towards mankind in a way that it never was before. When the Great Tribulation comes, beginning “The Day Of The LORD,” it will be a time of woe as the world has never before known.

Isaiah 13:6-9, “Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.”

Isaiah 13:10-13 prophecies of the darkening of the sun, moon, and stars just as Joel did in Joel 2:31. Jesus also referred to this prophetic event in Mark 13:24-26 and related it to His second coming. Paul quotes Isaiah 13:8 in 1st Thessalonians 5:3. Thus, “the day of the Lord” is clearly referring to both the Great Tribulation and Christ's Second Coming. The Bible speaks of these separate prophetic events in the Old Testament as one event. The “DAY OF THE LORD” refers to God's time of taking action and exercising His Lordship over humanity. Enough is enough! We are living in times of God's great patience toward humanity. 2nd Peter 3:9 tells us why, that is, because God doesn't want anyone to perish but desires for all men to repent. Albeit, time is running out!

Like today, people during Zephaniah's time were saying that it doesn't matter what men do, because God doesn't do anything either way. Zephaniah 1:12, “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.” Well, in the Day of the LORD, men won't be saying that anymore. They'll be hiding in the mountains in fear of God (Revelation 6:16).

Whereas Steve Anderson sees the Great Tribulation as 75 days long and he sees “the day of the Lord” as being only 1 day long; the Bible teaches that the Great Tribulation is 3 1/2 years long, beginning with the Abomination of Desolation midway though the Tribulation. This entire event, from the Great Tribulation onto Christ's Second coming is all part of “the day of the LORD.”

Chart Showing Chronology Of Old Testament Books

Saints Going UP At The Rapture To Meet Jesus “IN THE AIR”

If the serious Bible student carefully considers Acts 1:9-11 as compared to 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, it becomes apparent that there would be a conflicting problem if the Rapture and Christ's Second Coming were the SAME event...

Acts 1:9-11, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

The angel proclaimed in Acts 1:9-11 that Jesus would come again “IN LIKE MANNER” as they saw Him go, that is, Christ's return at the Second Coming will be VISIBLE, COMING IN THE CLOUDS, and DESCENDING UPON THE EARTH. There is no mention of the saints being “CAUGHT UP” in Acts 1:9-11. Clearly, the Rapture is a separate event. At the Second Coming, EVERY EYE shall see Him. But at the Rapture, only the saints will behold Him. We will be “CAUGHT UP” to meet the Lord “IN THE AIR” (1st Thessalonians 5:17). The $64,000 question is why would the Lord Rapture us up into the air to meet with us, and then turn around and come down to earth? Why wouldn't the Lord simply meet us ON THE GROUND? Do you see the ridiculous situation created by combining the Rapture with Christ's Second Coming?

Again, at the Rapture the saints are “changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1st Corinthians 15:51-52), and then we are all CAUGHT UP to meet the Lord IN THE AIR. In sharp contrast, at the Second Coming 7-years later the Lord is coming TO THE EARTH, descending from the clouds in the LIKE MANNER in which He left in Acts 1:9-11.

• Jesus came 2,000 years ago TO His own.
• He is coming at the Rapture FOR His own.
• And the Lord is coming at the Second Coming WITH His own.

1st John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” This refers to the Rapture, that is, when we shall see Jesus. We will be like Him, like Jesus! Isn't that Awesome and beautiful?

Doesn't Matthew 24:31 Prove That The Rapture Must Happen At Christ's Second Coming?

The following Scripture below has caused quite a stir, convincing some Bible students that the Rapture happens at the same time as the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. At a glance Matthew 24:30-31 seems to teach that the Rapture will happen after the Tribulation, when the angels gather the “elect“ from the four winds of the earth...

Matthew 24:30-31, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 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.”

Carefully notice that the Bible says “gather” not “caught up” as in 1st Thessalonians 4:17.

Carefully notice that the angels also gather the elect “from one end of heaven to the other.” The Rapture is not a time when the angels gather the saints; but rather, we are changed and CAUGHT UP to meet the Lord in the air. When Jesus ascended in His resurrected, glorified, body in Acts 1:9-11, He was not lifted by angels. The Lord rose of His own power. Christians will rise into the air, in the clouds, in their new glorified bodies. The “elect” refers to people who have chosen of their own free will to believe the gospel for the forgiveness of their sins. They have received God's free gift of eternal life by faith in Christ's death, burial and resurrection from the dead. Hence, every Christian believer is a part of the “elect.”

God chose us (the elect) because He knew in His foreknowledge that we would choose His Son. This is NOT being chosen for salvation. God DOESN'T choose anyone to salvation. 1st Peter 1:2, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” God does NOT choose anyone for salvation; but rather, He predestinates those whom He knows will trust Christ to be conformed into the image of His Son. Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Notice that believers are predestinated to be “conformed to the image of his Son,” not to salvation. To be saved, each individual MUST choose of their own freewill to believe the gospel. The teachings of John Calvin (Calvinism) are of the Devil.
 

Innumerable Gentiles Will Be Saved During The Tribulation

Revelation 7:9, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. ... These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

The Church will be Raptured prior to the 7-year Tribulation. Albeit, there will be many people saved during the Tribulation. The 144,000 Jews will be dedicated soul-winners in the Tribulation. Many of these new tribulation saints will be executed by the Antichrist, beheaded, and then resurrected into Heaven immediately after The Great Tribulation is concluded. Albeit, the new believers (including the 144,000 Jews) who are not executed by the Antichrist during The Great Tribulation will be “sealed” (Revelation 7:3; 9:4) by God to protect them during the “the great and the terrible day of the LORD” (Joel 2:31). As we learned earlier, the Day of the Lord begins with The Great Tribulation.

The “elect” (believers who have endured until the end of the Tribulation) and those saints already in Heaven will be gathered by the angels “from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven” (Mark 13:27) just before the Second Coming of Christ occurs. They will be gathered to Israel, where the Lord will reign as King from the throne of David for 1,000 years during the Millennium. So the fact that there will be saved people present during the Tribulation ISN'T proof that the Church will go through the Rapture. Clearly, people will be getting saved during the Tribulation.

The New Testament Church will be completely removed at the Rapture BEFORE the Tribulation. But the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will still be present in the world. The Church, and the Holy Spirit's work through the Church, will be removed at the Rapture from the world; but the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will still be present, without which no man can be saved (John 6:44). Although the Holy Spirit convicts unsaved men of their sins and need to be saved, He does not indwell them as He does every believer (Romans 8:9; 1st John 3:24). The Holy Spirit indwells every believer (Romans 8:9), but He still convicts the unsaved of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8).
 

The Rapture Will Be Imminent, Sudden And Unpredictable

Pastor Anderson criticizes the Pretribulation Rapture view as being a “secret Rapture.” Well, the Rapture is not a secret, we know that it is coming, we just don't know when. Did not Jesus say that no man, nor the angels, nor even He Himself, know the time of Christ's return? That's exactly what He said. Notice carefully that at Christ's Second Coming that He will return “WITH GREAT POWER AND GLORY” when He executes judgment on the ungodly. There will be the Battle of Armageddon.

At the Rapture, in the twinkling of an eye we will be changed. Our old mortal bodies will put on our new immortal bodies. The saints will rise into the clouds to meet with the Lord. Philippians 3:21 says that our new, glorified, bodies, will be fashioned like unto the Lord's glorified body. 1st Thessalonians 4:17 teaches that we will be gathered in the clouds to meet Jesus. We will be resurrected in our new glorified body to meet in the air with the Lord and other resurrected believers (1st Thessalonians 4:16).

Anderson claims that Acts 1:9-11 and Revelation 1:7 which says “EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM” proves that there is no secret Rapture. However, Christ returns “WITH GREAT POWER AND GLORY” at the Second Coming, which is totally the opposite of the Rapture.

Mark 13:24-26, “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.”

The Lord is NOT coming in great power and glory at the Rapture; but rather, humility and exclusivity to the believer.


The Theological Rule Of “Double Reference”

In theology there is something called the “Law Of Double Reference.” I call it “Dual Interpretation.” These are Scripture passages in the Old Testament which focus on the immediate historical context of the prophet, yet there is a more complete and underlying prophetic fulfillment in the future. This writing technique of speaking of events that are separated by time, as though they were not, is called the principle of “Double Reference.” A classic example is Psalms 22:1, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?” Although David was crying out to God, this passage of Scripture is clearly a Messianic prophecy concerning Christ upon the cross. Some other Scriptures containing Double References to Christ (messianic prophecy) are found in Zechariah 9:9-10; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-21 and Micah 5:2.

EXPLANATION OF ABOVE CHART
The Above Helpful Chart is By Dr. Max D. Younce

Only He Who Now Letteth Will Let

2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” The preceding passage of Scripture is tricky to interpret, but by simple reasoning one can only conclude that the one who “withholds,” “letteth” and restrains is the Holy Spirit, which also must include both the Church and the Holy Spirit’s work in and through the Church.

When the Pretribulation Rapture occurs, nearly all religions will be unaffected. Romans Catholics are unsaved. They will not be raptured. NONE of these reprobate religious groups will be raptured... Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Judaizers, Church of Christ, Lutherans, Scientologists, Unitarian Universalist, Greek Orthodox, Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventists, Lordship Salvationists, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists. These are all unsaved people who add works to faith and corrupt the plan of salvation. Others, like Islam and Judaism, reject Christ altogether. Hence, the newsmedia will likely downplay the disappearance of a small handful of born-again Christians as an act of terrorism, alien abduction or bizarre act of nature.

Already we are seeing such scenarios played out on television, preparing the world for the future event of the Rapture. The heathen world will say that there is no way the event could be the Rapture, because of all the numerous religions still existing upon the earth. Also, consider that when the flood came, NO ONE got on the ark except Noah and his immediate family. The Lord said in 2nd Peter 3:9 that the only reason for His delay in returning is a desire for all men to repent and get saved. Each day fewer and fewer people are coming to Christ. This is because of false Bibles, false prophets, false Christs, false churches and the power of mass-communication, corrupting the entire world as it was in the days of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9. America is quickly abandoning Biblical Christianity. As of November 2013, Illinois is the 16th state to legalize same-sex marriage for homosexuals. America's doom is inevitable and fast-approaching. Only repentance toward God can save our nation!

The following Scripture refers to the unsaved, heathen, world during the Tribulation.

Matthew 24:38-42 “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”

The Bible very plainly teaches that the TIME of the Rapture is a carefully guarded secret, whether Steve Anderson likes it or not.

Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”

I really enjoy Brother Anderson's guitar playing/singing on YouTube and hope that he does some more music videos down the road, Lord willing. He is one of few preachers who are awake to righteousness concerning the evils of the New World Order (NWO). Brother Anderson is on the spiritual frontlines making noise (as every believer should), contending for what he believes to be true and right. Unfortunately he is CONFUSING a lot of people; therefore, I have to refute his false teachings.

Proverbs 26:9, “As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.”

The Synagogue Of Satan Revealed

I have watched and enjoyed listening to most of Pastor Anderson's Revelation series, all 22 parts. In fact, I've listened to it multiple times. So far 14,454 people have viewed part 1 on YouTube. No doubt, multitudes more have purchased the video series. As Christians we are taught to earnestly contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). Most of the series is really good stuff. I agree 100% on his teachings about the fraud of Zionism. I'm glad that Brother Anderson exposes the lie that Christ-rejecting Jews are all automatically God's chosen people. They are not! Biblically, God's promise to bless Israel is CONDITIONAL. Exodus 19:5, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.” IF YE WILL OBEY! IF YE WILL OBEY! IF YE WILL OBEY! Don't miss that! People read over that and ignore this Scripture. IF YE WILL OBEY! The Jews not only disobeyed God, but murdered their Messiah. Pastor Anderson is 100% correct on Israel.

Pastor Anderson does an excellent job (part 2 of 22) teaching about the “SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN” is in Revelation 2:9, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” The Synagogue is not a race; but rather, a religion. We're not talking about the Jewish race; but rather,  the false religion of Judaism. The Bible says that the synagogue of Satan is composed of professed Jews who are not genuine Jews. A “synagogue” is a religion.

Many people foolishly say, “Well, the Jews worship the same God that we do as Christians, they just don't believe in Jesus.” That's impossible. The Bible teaches that to reject the Son means to also reject the Father...

1st John 2:22-23, “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.”

The so-called “Judeo-Christian” religion is a false religion, an Antichrist religion, Biblically called “The Synagogue of Satan.” Followers of Judaism and Zionism have a completely different false god than the holy God (heavenly Father) of the Bible. As you just read in 1st John 2:22-23, anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ has also denied the heavenly Father. Judaism and their unholy book, the Talmud, adamantly deny Jesus Christ as the Messiah. They are Antichrist.

There is a popular false teaching circulating in many churches today called “Zionism,” which teaches that ethnic Jews are “God's chosen people,” and that God blesses those who bless ethnic Jews, saved and unsaved alike. In sharp contrast to Zionism, the Bible teaches that the Jews were some of the bitterest enemies of the New Testament Church and that God's full wrath is upon them...

1st Thessalonians 2:14-16, “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.”

How ridiculous it is for anyone to teach that God automatically blesses Christ-rejecting, blaspheming, wicked, Jews merely on the basis of their ethnicity. Biblically, the promises of God ALWAYS followed a line of FAITH. This truth is evidenced by Galatians 3:26-29, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” As you just learned, all believers become ONE IN CHRIST. Galatians 3:28 says that being a biological Jew does not carry any merit or value IN JESUS CHRIST.

John the Baptist confirms this truth in Matthew 3:9, “And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” John warned the Jews, who trust in their ethnicity to get them to Heaven, that God could raise up lifeless stones as His children if He desired. John the Baptist squelched their Jewish pride, reminding them that just because they were ethnic Jews didn't guarantee them a place in Heaven. John plainly told the Jews that he could not save them; but rather, Jesus could. John baptized them with water unto (or) repentance. Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.”

Rebellious, unsaved, Christ-rejecting, wicked, Jews are NOT A HOLY NATION. Exodus 19:5, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.” IF YE WILL OBEY! People read over that and ignore this Scripture.

The Israelites were a holy people, a special nation and a chosen people at the time the following Scriptures were written in Deuteronomy...

Deuteronomy 7:6, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. ”

Deuteronomy 14:2: “for thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”

But the Israelites were stiffnecked and rebellious, even murdering their Messiah. Long before they killed Jesus, God divorced Israel (not casting away His own; but rather, it was a business agreement gone bad). In 586 BC God raised up Babylon against Israel and king Nebuchadnezzar totally destroyed Jerusalem. Northern Israel has been carried away captive a century earlier by Assyria. God became fed up and gave up on Israel as a nation serving Him. So God turned to the Gentiles to do the work of evangelizing the earth with the gospel. Hence, God's people include only born-again believers of all kindreds, nations and ethnicities (Galatians 3:26-29). Christ-rejecting Jews are hellbound in their sins, having no special agreement nor promise from God of divine protection from eternal judgment and damnation in the Lake of Fire. God is no respecter of persons (Romans 2:11).

Galatians 3:29 totally blows Zionism out of the water! It is rubbish to assume that biological, ethnic or national Jews are automatically God's chosen people, despite their blasphemy and rejection of Jesus as their Messiah. In fact, ONLY born-again Christians, whether Gentile or Jew matters not, will be counted as God's people in eternity. Every believing Gentile is a spiritual son or daughter of Abraham, “AND HEIRS ACCORDING TO THE PROMISE”...

Galatians 3:26-29, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

The fall of Israel has brought the salvation of the Gentile world (Romans 11:11). Hosea 1:10, “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.” Remember that all believing Gentiles are included with believing Israel, counted as the children of Abraham and sons of the living God by faith. No Christ-rejecting Jew who dies in his or her sins will ever enter into The Promised Land.

Pastor Steve Anderson Denies A Pretribulation Rapture

The term “Pretribulation Rapture” refers to the future prophetic event when Jesus Christ returns FOR His saints BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation period, when every born-again believer will be “CAUGHT UP” to meet with the Lord in the air (1st Thessalonians 4:17). Again, here is an easy way to remember these truths...

• Jesus Christ came 2,000 years ago TO His own!
• He is coming at the Rapture FOR His own!
• And then He is coming 7-years later at the Second Coming WITH His own!

The Pretribulation Rapture is a big deal. It's a big deal because the primary motivation to keep believers on their best behavior is the anticipation of Christ's imminent, certain, promised and prophesied return to gather His saints...

Luke 12:42-46, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

Notice that Jesus is addressing a “WISE SERVANT,” not the unsaved. I love what Peter asks Jesus in Luke 12:41. In essence Peter is asking... ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? Luke 12:40-41, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?”

For this main reason we KNOW that the Rapture must happen before the Tribulation period. If Pastor Anderson is correct in his unbiblical theories, then Christ's return cannot be imminent. Steve Anderson states in his video...

“The Rapture simply cannot happen at any moment.”
—Pastor Steven L. Anderson (01:27:05 video)

The preceding statement goes 100% totally contrary to the plainest teachings of the Bible...

Luke 12:42,44, “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ... Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh..”

So why couldn't Christ return at any moment? Why not I ask? Steve Anderson is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! The Word of God is RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT!!! Jesus could return at any moment and every believer's body would be transformed “IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE.” 1st Corinthians 15:51-52, “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” And please notice that Jesus was speaking to His disciples, who called Him “Lord.”

The truth is that Pastor Roland Rasmussen led Brother Anderson's father to the Lord, and Dr. Rasmussen teaches the SAME EXACT false doctrine of a PreWrath Rapture.
 

Strange Doctrines

The Bible teaches that the tares (unsaved) will be taken up from amongst the wheat (saved) at Christ's second coming (Matthew 24:40-41). This event happens at the end of the Tribulation period and is NOT the Rapture. This event is the exact opposite of what will happen at the Rapture, when God will remove the saints only. At the Pretribulation Rapture God removes the saints from the earth; but at the second coming of Christ, God the Father removes the wicked from the earth and casts them into Hell. There's no way that these two prophetic events could happen simultaneously if the Rapture were to occur at the same time, nor would it make sense chronologically.

Of course, Pastor Anderson doesn't believe this. Instead, he teaches a Pre Wrath Rapture, that is, that the saints will be raptured 'After The Tribulation' but before God's wrath is poured out upon the wicked on earth. However, this PreWrath position presents a bunch of theological problems. This is where it gets STRANGE! For example: Pastor Anderson only believes that the Tribulation lasts for 3 1/2 years—ending with the Abomination Of Desolation (the event when the Antichrist claims to be God from the temple in Jerusalem). Pastor Anderson teaches that God's Wrath begins at this time, but the saints will be raptured 75 days later from God's wrath upon the wicked. But why do the saints have to endure 75 days of God's Wrath? These are bizarre doctrines, strange doctrines, that are foreign to both the historical fundamental Baptist position and mainstream Christianity. Date setting is a big no, no! Brother Anderson insists that he is not setting any dates, playing with his words, saying that we don't know when the Tribulation will happen, so we don't have any way of knowing WHEN these events will occur. However, Brother Anderson plainly indicts himself as a false prophet, because from the Abomination Of Desolation, he predicts it will be exactly 75 days until the Rapture. That is a set time!

Also, Pastor Anderson's PreWrath scenario fails to allow time for the Judgment Seat of Christ (2nd Corinthians 5:9-11) and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9). These two prophetic events are solely for the saints.

If all the horrific events of the Tribulation must happen first (i.e., the sun and moon darkening, two asteroids hitting the earth and poisoning the waters, men being scorched with the sun's intense heat, hell-spawned creatures stinging and tormenting humans for 5-months, burning of the earth's forests, et cetera), THEN we would know exactly WHEN Christ will return at the Second Coming, narrowing it down very closely (close enough to get our house in order). The Bible clearly teaches that NO MAN knows when the Lord will return; thus, since Christ may return at any time we ought to be living for the Lord, serving God faithfully, preaching the Gospel.

Another flaw in Steve Anderson's PreWrath theory is that he says only the first 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week are the Tribulation. And then he says the last 3 1/2 years are called “Wrath” in the Bible. But if the saints are raptured 75 days into the time of Wrath, then wouldn't the remainder of that time in Daniel's 70th week also be a time of Tribulation? Anderson's entire theory is based upon Matthew 24:29, the little phrase, “IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION OF THOSE DAYS.” It just doesn't make any sense what he is teaching! Anderson downplays the term “Tribulation,” saying that it is not taught in the Bible as a 7-year time period. Yet, Jesus Himself referred to the time of wrath as “Great Tribulation” in Matthew 24:21.

Please notice that this time of “Great Tribulation” precedes Steven Andersons PreWrath Rapture theory in Matthew 24:29-31. This alone exposes him as a false teacher on this issue. When the Bible speaks of “After The Tribulation Of Those Days,” it is speaking of THE GREAT TRIBULATION!!! So according to Anderson's theory, the saints would be raptured AFTER the GREAT TRIBULATION (the worst of the suffering). So how are they delivered from WRATH??? If you logically think Anderson's PreWrath Rapture theory through, it completely falls apart! Only a PreTribulation Rapture makes complete sense, which is why nearly every mighty man of God over the past two centuries have taught it. Prior to the 19th century, theology was not organized like it is today. We are blessed to have had many great modern Bible teachers; such as, John R. Rice, R.A. Torrey, Harry Ironside, Lee Roberson, Jack Hyles, Curtis Hutson and many others.

Another flaw in Pastor Anderson's theory is that the Bible plainly tells us that “After The Tribulation Of Those Days,” the Lord Jesus Christ appears in the clouds of heaven in power and glory with His saints and angels. Clearly, this is NOT the Rapture! This is Jesus' Second Coming to the earth!!! Please carefully read the following Bible verses, which is the entire basis of Stephen Anderson's heresy of a PreWrath Rapture. Look at it carefully and you will plainly see that THIS IS NOT THE RAPTURE!!!:

Matthew 24:29-30, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Folks, the whole earth sees the Lord Jesus Christ at this time, and they mourn. This same event is recorded in Revelation 1:7, “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.” This is Christ's Second Coming TO THE EARTH. In sharp contrast, the saints are caught up into the clouds at the Rapture, to meet the Lord in the air, and Jesus DOES NOT set foot upon the earth at that time.

So, truthfully, Steven Anderson doesn't have even a single Scripture to support his PreWrath Rapture garbage theology. Contrary to Anderson's frequent allegation that there is no Scriptural evidence to support a PreTribulation Rapture, there is quite a bit if you actually study the Bible. Through the process of elimination, using deductive reasoning, taking into account the whole counsel of God, rightly dividing the Word of truth, the diligent and honest Bible student can only conclude a PreTribulation Rapture!!!!!!!
 

Follow The Money

Syndicated radio host Alex Jones (Infowars.com) and Pastor Steve Anderson have joined together publicly to aggressively attack the Biblical doctrine of the Pretribulation Rapture (or “PreTrib Rapture”). They're making money from their exploits. The Bible contains one-third prophecy (31% to be exact). This is quite remarkable. In sharp contrast, the Muslim Koran (or Quran) contains NO prophecy! Prophecy is history written in advance! Amen! History is HIS-STORY! There is no other book in the world comparable to the inspired Words of God. Amen and amen!

Alex Jones has been a big supporter of Steven Anderson's PreWrath Rapture theory. They've sold millions of copies of the films, “AFTER THE TRIBULATION” and “THE BOOK OF REVELATION.” I'm telling you THE TRUTH for free! It appears that Alex Jones, Steven Anderson, Paul Wittenberger, Texe Marrs and others are greatly profiting from the sale of millions of videos promoting the heresy of a PostTribulation Rapture, et cetera. I am leery of anything that makes millions-of-dollars for the producers, because they have a self-invested interest. Steve Anderson's movie “After The Tribulation” is sold on Amazon.com for $20 each. Alex Jones has a net worth in the millions!

Granted, Pastor Anderson is extremely generous and gives away more stuff at the church he pastors than most churches in America, but he's not kidding anyone, those Framing The World videos will generate millions-of-dollars over the coming decades!!! I've never heard Alex Jones preach the Gospel, or even give a clear testimony that he is a born-again Christian. I have heard him teach works salvation numerous times. I've also heard Alex promote the satanic Catholic church. Alex bashes fundamental preachers all the time! I'm not making any accusations, I'm simply leery when I see Alex Jones desperately pushing the sale of snake oil, aphrodisiacs and PostTribulation promoting videos! Texe Marrs and these guys are making bookoo bucks!!!
 

Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth

The Bible plainly teaches a Pretribulation Rapture if you cross-reference Scripture with Scripture, comparing spiritual with spiritual, here a little and there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept. Isaiah 28:13, “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.” Most Christians randomly open the Bible from time to time and glance into the holy Scriptures, but not long enough to actually grasp what they're reading. Every born-again believer ought to STUDY the Bible. Jesus commanded in John 5:39 to SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES!!!

The debate over a PreTrib verses PostTrib Rapture is a matter of DISCIPLESHIP and not one of SONSHIP. That is, the debate is not a matter of salvation. Pastor Anderson's denial of a Pretribulation Rapture removes the urgency and motivation for believers to be on our best behavior for Christ (on our toes so-to-speak), ready for the Lord's imminent return without warning. The entire underlying atmosphere (attitude) of the coming Rapture of the saints BEFORE the 7-year Tribulation period is one of mystic, immanency, without notice, surprise and accountability.

2nd Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” I thank God that Brother Anderson is correct on the Gospel, rather than be all messed-up like Dr. John MacArthur (who denies the efficacy [saving power] of Christ's literal, physical, blood sacrifice—Hebrews 9:12,22-24).

Respectfully, Pastor Anderson is in error concerning his denial of a Pretribulation Rapture. I love the guy for his fire for the Lord, even if it's wildfire. Brother Anderson has stuck his neck way out, Paul Wittenberger has made a massive investment, and Alex Jones has gone all out to promote Anderson's videos, which leads me to conclude that Stephen Anderson will NEVER change his position on the Rapture.

Every Christian believer ought to cherish the doctrine of a PreTribulation Rapture. Remember, the word “Bible” is not found in the Bible either, but we use it. There is nothing wrong with the word “Rapture.” Titus 2:13, 'Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” I'm not looking for signs, I'm looking for the Savior!

BEWARE “After The Tribulation” Film HERESY!

“If you take the Bible at face value, you can only come to the conclusion of a Pretribulation Rapture.” —Dr. Lee Roberson | .PDF

The Holy Spirit And The End Time
(by Pastor Jack Hyles)

Sir, The Rapture Comes Before Armageddon
(Real Audio sermon by Pastor Jack Hyles)

The Revelation Of JESUS CHRIST
(A verse-by-verse commentary authored in 1963 by Dr. Oliver B. Greene, 1915-1976)

If you believe what the Bible teaches, attend a church that teaches the Bible!

Another Gospel Which Is Not Another
(a red-hot MP3 by Dr. Curtis Hutson exposing Lordship Salvation)