As a follow-up to the recent discourse on the Lord’s Return it would
seem to be very profitable to discuss in detail its antithesis which exists as
a major factor in today’s apostate churches.
So, before continuing with the message in this context we need to define
the terms being used. First, Zionism is the theological concept that there
remains a resurgence and ultimate dominance of the nation state of Israel to a
place of centrality in the governing of the world. A Trojan horse comes from Greek mythology with
the insertion that an invading army makes entrance into an enemy’s camp through
subterfuge and disguise. And finally the
word antithesis according to the American Heritage Dictionary is defined as the direct or exact opposite concerning
a concept or assertion. The definition of these words will be understood as we
progress through the discourse of the title above.
The
basic scripture used in the explanation of the title and foregoing definitions
above comes from II Thessalonians chapter two where we find the son of
perdition being revealed at verses ten and eleven: “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in hem that perish
because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a
lie.” What we would discern form the entire text of chapter two of II
Thessalonians is a very strong and solemn warning to the people who would
acknowledge Christ. How then is this possible and what is exactly the “strong
delusion”?
In
order to answer the question we will need to examine the content of the
prevailing theology held in today’s evangelical and fundamentalist churches. It
is held by them very dogmatically that the Jews are God’s “chosen people” and
there remains for Jews and the nation state of Israel a future destiny for
their exaltation and actual dominance of the world during the period of the
tribulation and the subsequent millennium in the form of a dominant world
government with Jewish Israel as its apex. This theology is fully supported by
the numerous heresies of a theological paradigm known as
dispensationalism. It was made popular
through the publication of the Scofield Reference Bible in 1909 with several
follow up republications each time adding to the Zionist friendly notes
contained throughout. It was eventually adopted on a broad scale by
evangelicals and so-called fundamentalist Christians. It is now the standard
protocol of millions of evangelicals including their educational seminaries and
Bible schools. For the exhaustive details of this false paradigm see my seven
part series posted in July.
Having laid the basic and necessary background there
is a need to project into the prophetic scriptures in order to understand some
relevant passages in support of our thesis. First, we have the warning of the
Lord Jesus himself at Matthew 24:4 given to his disciples in advance of
answering their questions concerning the end of the age. “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Later in the chapter we find
some additional warnings given them which are also for our instruction. After
the verse revealing the abomination of desolation which is established as the
precursor to the onset of the tribulation period he again gives warnings
related to the issue of deception. “Then
if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ or there, believe it not.(verse
22). “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.”(Matthew 24:26). Dispensationalists hold that the
Lord’s return will be in relation to Jewish Israel with his appearance on the
earth to defend and extol them to a place of dominance and defend them against
their earthly adversaries. In an investigation of Daniel, chapter 11 we
discover that this activity will actually be the mission of the Antichrist. This is covered at Daniel 11:36-45 with his
ultimate objective to set up his palace between the seas (Mediterranean and
Dead Seas) in the glorious holy mountain, i. e. in Jerusalem.
We are also told by the Lord that the manifestation of the son of
perdition will be accompanied by a time of great deception. “For there shall arise false
prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:24). So in the
paradigm given to us in dispensationalism we find the following tenets being
defended: (1)The Jews are the chosen people. (2) They are destined
to return to a place of international dominance. (3) They believe the return of
Christ to be earthly as their champion and defender against their enemies. (4)
They believe he is to establish his throne in Jerusalem with the likely
rebuilding of the temple. All of these strongly held tenets of their doctrine will
subject them to “strong delusion”. If
you read Daniel 11:30-45 and can actually understand it then you will see that
the Antichrist and his overseer Lucifer
being the master of deception will completely fulfill the paradigm of this
heretical theology with masterfully contrived deceptions and counterfeits. i.e.,
a strong delusion that you might believe a lie. A delusion actually so strong
because it is endorsed and strengthened by the Lord himself because one did not
receive the love of the truth.
For
reinforcement of what I have set forth here review my seven part series on
dispensational theology on my blogsite posted in July. To further understand the scriptures both
doctrinally and prophetically I recommend my three books. They are in order of
publication These Prophets and the
Revelation, The Israel Deception, and
Christian Zionism and the Scofield Reference Bible.
David Lance
Dean website: authordavidlancedean.com
blogsite: theseprophets.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment