Is The Church Ready For Christ's Return?

In this regular feature, Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call. Here’s this week’s question:“Dear Dave and Tom:I used to think that eschatological views were not all that significant in the practical working out of my Christianity, but now I am concerned that they are.There seem to be some agendas among Christians lately that undermine the Biblical teaching of the Rapture and of future prophetic events in general.They are, in my opinion, pretty much earth bound, such as the Evangelical Environmental Movement and Rick Warren’s Global P.E.A.C.E Plan.Do you see any inherent dangers in such agendas?”

Tom:

Now Dave, you mentioned Rick Warren’s global peace plan.We talked about the EmergingChurch, how many of these movements among the charismatics, among the Calvinists, Christian Reconstructionism, Dominionism, Kingdom Now, kinds of things; they do seem to be earthbound.But I remember you talking about what happens when we get into these things from a prophetic standpoint.In other words, what about Jesus’ return, he’s coming in the clouds.Do you know what I’m getting at here?

Dave:

Well, Jesus very clearly says, When the Son of man cometh will he find the faith on the earth?That’s Luke:18:18And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
See All..., I think somewhere around there; it’s in the Bible somewhere.

Tom:

No, it’s in Luke 18, you’re right.

Dave:

In other words, it’s going to be not a bright picture as far as Christianity is concerned.Who will really believe anymore?Its apostasy, as Paul tells us.That day will not come, he tells us, except the apostasy comes first.

Tom:

The falling away.

Dave:

We’re in the midst of it right now.So, you know how Benny Hinn says it, “I’m not interested in golden streets up there, I want my gold now!”That’s kind of the example that we could put forth as one extreme of this.The charismatic movement—I believe in healing.I have been healed several times myself instantly.I’ve seen people that I have laid hands on and prayed for healed instantly.That doesn’t mean that I or, certainly not I, or anyone else, any of these healers, so-called, they can walk into a hospital and have everybody pick up their bed and walk out of there, you know, and empty this place.No, those who teach healing in the atonement, and there are some who stick with this, that means that every Christian should never get sick.If healing of our physical body—no, healing of our soul and spirit from the plague of sin and the judgment that is coming upon us if we do not repent and receive Christ—that is the healing in the atonement.But there are those who say, “Oh, no, no, that means you should never get sick physically—everyone can just claim their healing.”Well, Tom, I would be so bold as to say that those who preach this do not live any longer than anyone else.I don’t know that you could document that charismatics who preach healing in the atonement, do they live any longer?Catherine Kuhlman died, all the rest of them died, or are dying.So, God has something better for us—that will be new bodies, and a total transformation in heaven with our Lord.But this is an earthbound Christianity that is being promoted in the EmergingChurch, and you find it in various forms everywhere.It’s a temptation because—“We don’t want to leave this world.”Oh, yes, we should want to leave this world and be with Jesus.

Tom:

Dave, also, earlier we were talking about what these things do to our understanding of the Word of God.Now, if I’ve got an agenda, okay, and it’s earthbound, what do I do with all the prophecies that talks about what’s going to take place on this earth?I’ve just got to remove them, I’ve got to undermine them, or push them aside so I can fulfill what I thing we’ve going to have heaven on earth.We’re going to create a utopia, we’re going to solve AIDS, and we’re going to do all of these kinds of things.It’s going to really skew my view of the Word of God.

Dave:

Well, Tom, it’s going to get me working hard at the wrong thing.Now I’m not criticizing again, Rick Warren, and I sympathize with him, or I certainly admire his sympathy for people who have AIDS and lepers and so forth, but what’s he involved in?Well, he’s going to work with Muslims, he’s going to work with Catholics, he’s going to work with everybody, and pretty soon you find out that you are working so hard to do what Eugene Peterson has John:3:17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
See All... saying—

Tom:

Which you quoted earlier.

Dave:

—“we’re going to change this world; we’re going to make it a better world.”

But you forgot, No, we’re to call people out of this world for heaven through faith in Christ Jesus who died for our sins.

Tom:

Dave, Christ is coming to snatch us up—the Rapture of the church.He won’t set his feet on the earth.But many of these views are saying no, we’re going to prepare this earth for Christ’s coming back.”

Dave:

To rule us.

Tom:

And what happens then?You’re not working for the Jesus that I know, the Biblical Jesus; you’re working for the man of sin.

Dave:

You could say it very simply, If some Christ comes, and he doesn’t catch you up, doesn’t take you out of here, take you to heaven, —the kingdom you’ve been preparing for Him, Jesus Christ of the Rapture,— he is the Antichrist, and you have actually been working to set up anti-Christ’s kingdom.Now I wouldn’t accuse any of the people we’ve mentioned of deliberately trying to do that, but this is the trap they have fallen into.