THE GRANDADDY OF ALL HOAXES

MIKE CUNNINGHAM

OCTOBER 25, 2009

“…in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you,” 1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

Unless I’m persuaded otherwise, today’s sermon will conclude this series of messages on the so-called “End Times.” I hope you folks have been considering each of them with an open mind, and have searched the scriptures to determine to your satisfaction if what I have been teaching is biblically factual. I have not been attempting to present an iron-clad defense of my conclusions, but rather wanted to give you enough biblical evidence which ought to satisfy the average seeker of biblical truth the Lord may cause to cross your path. Instead of turning this series into an exhaustive study of the issue, I hoped and prayed that each individual message would be informative and thought provoking so that you would become better prepared to give a straight-forward believable biblical interpretation of the plain meaning of the New Testament time-relevant prophetic passages we have been considering.

Throughout this series I have occasionally used a fictitious non-Christian teenage boy who had been diligently studying the Bible looking for answers. He’s been concerned about his eternal destiny and also has been trying to make sense out of certain heartbreaking experiences which were plaguing a couple of friends he cared about deeply. Together with his parent’s Martha and Charlie, the boy had been attending a weekly Bible study which was led by an old man some people thought was pretty wise. The boy liked what the Bible had to say about Jesus and wanted to believe in Him and enjoy being with Him forever after he died. However, he refused to do so because he believed Jesus broke His promise to come back and rescue His suffering followers before executing judgment on the unrepentant first century Jews. The boy eventually learned that Jesus did come back after all. He became convinced Jesus had returned in the horrible fulfillment of His prophecy when the Roman general Titus lay siege to Jerusalem and in AD 70 destroyed “the Old Covenant world” with its Temple worship, Levite priesthood and animal sacrifices. That’s as far as the boy had gotten in his independent Bible studies. However, there was still a major loose-end he had to untangle before he would allow himself to believe in Jesus. The boys’ understanding of the following passages was proving to be a huge hindrance.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”, Matthew 24:29-31 (ESV).

Jesus promised that immediately after the tribulation of those days He would send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and He said they would gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. That’s as far as the boy’s studies had taken him. Now let’s pretend for a few minutes were back at the next Bible study. During the previous week the boy’s mother and the teacher had been wondering what he may have come up with concerning these verses about “The Rapture.” Because of his illness his father on the other hand had been experiencing an increased inability to concentrate and so he never even opened his Bible. After everyone got settled in, the teacher asked the boy if he had discovered anything new that he would like to share with the group. Instead of his usual enthusiastic response, this time the boy remained silent. He just sat there! The teacher repeated his question a couple more times but the boy still didn’t respond.

Needless to say, when she saw that all too familiar blank look on his face, the boys “worry wart” mother started to imagine the worse. Her only child was coming down with Alzheimer’s just as her husband Charlie. In a couple of seconds the poor woman was actually starting to convince herself he must have picked it up from one of Charlie’s genes. And, as far as the teacher was concerned, in all of his eighty some odd years he had never witnessed anything quite like this.

The boy seemed to be caught up in his thoughts. It appeared as though he wasn’t there with them but rather he was somewhere else. Then, in a little less than a minute he suddenly came out of it and the teacher once again asked if there was anything he would like to share about “The Rapture.” The boy answered and said, “As a matter of fact I don’t, teacher. Besides it doesn’t matter to me anymore. I could care less about this “End Time” stuff. I have a much more serious issue I’m wrestling with right now.” No sooner were those words out of her non-Christian son’s mouth than all sorts of awful thoughts raced through his mother’s worrisome mind; thoughts which powerfully insisted her unbelieving son had written Jesus off and would have to spend eternity in agony separated from her and Jesus.

For the life of him the teacher still couldn’t figure out what was happening and asked the boy to elaborate. The boy did, but this time it was with his usual exuberance when he answered, “All of a sudden, PRESTO! Just like that,” as he snapped his fingers for emphasis. Before he could finish, Charlie interrupted and snapped his own fingers and shouted, “Just like what, kid. Hurry up! I haven’t got all day you know.” “I’m trying to tell you, dad. A couple of minutes ago while I’m sitting here; all of a sudden something happened to me that I can’t even begin to describe. It just came over me and now I know without a doubt that Jesus did come back. I also know Jesus raptured those poor suffering early Christians.” “Yeah and how do you know all that kind of stuff, kid,” “Because Jesus promised to, that’s why. I know everything Jesus said is true and there’s no way He could break His promise. There’s not a doubt in my mind anymore; Jesus is the Son of God! As a matter of fact, I now believe everything in the Bible is the absolute perfect written “Word of God. It’s all true!” The astonished teacher asked, “Young man, are you implying that just a moment ago you have come to believe in Jesus?” “I sure do,” responded the jubilant boy. Charlie quickly threw his two cents in and said, “Well it’s about time you got with God’s program, kid.” “Shut up you old fool,” Martha uncharacteristically shouted at him leaving her bewildered husband speechless. Then she bounded off her chair, and with outstretched arms and tears of joy streaming down her face, she rushed over and gave her boy one of those special lingering hug’s that only a loving mother is capable of.

After a couple of minutes the euphoric teacher welcomed the boy into God’s family. Then everyone looked over at Charlie who was obviously angry. Martha returned and sat next to her husband and gently asked, “What’s the matter, Charlie? I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.” “Do you want to know what’s the matter, Martha? I’ll tell you what’s the matter. Everything is the matter, that’s what. Do you want to know why? I’ll tell you why. That’s the kind of thanks I get after all I’ve done for everybody. Here I’ve been working like a slave all these years to put food on the table and clothes on the back of you and that kid sitting over there. I go to church every Sunday and sometimes even during the week for some stiff’s funeral and a whole lot of other good deeds and look at all the good it did me. Jesus came back and rescued His followers–and He left a nice guy like me behind! And I’m supposed to be happy! Be real!” And the rest of them just sat there looking at each other shaking their heads until the teacher asked the boy, “What’s this very serious issue you’re wrestling with, young man?” Before the boy could answer Charlie keeled over and fell to the ground, Martha started screaming and almost passed out while the boy and teacher ran over to them and the Bible study came to an abrupt end.

Since I’m the boy’s creator I know the day was destined to come when the he would return to the following passages.

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴ For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words, 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18 (ESV).

I believe if we take a moment now to consider some of the supernatural activity that took place during those ancient biblical times it may cause us to think about something which is very relevant to our study. For example a very long time ago one of Cain’s sons became a faithful follower of God and He rewarded him in a very unique way. His name was Enoch. I have underlined certain words for emphasis in order to focus on certain Hebrew and Greek words.

²¹ When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. ²² Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. ²³ Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. Genesis 5:21-24 (ESV)

The inspired author of the letter to the Hebrews acknowledges this fact but he doesn’t tell us how God did it.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 (ESV)

The Bible records the account of a similar experience of another godly man and a conversation he had with his successor.

“When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” ¹⁰ And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” ¹¹ And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. 2 Kings 2:9-12 (ESV)

Can you think of an appropriate word that 21^st Century Christians could use to describe what happened in these supernatural events? How about the word rapture? In the New Testament the Greek word harpagesomai translates into “to forcefully seize or carry away,” as in Matthew 12:29 and John 10:12.

²⁹ Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. Matthew 12:29 (ESV)

¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. John 10:12 (ESV)

¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12 (ESV)

¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. Matthew 13:19 (ESV)

²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:28-29 (ESV)

²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:23 (ESV)

¹⁵ Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. John 6:15 (ESV)

¹⁰ And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. Acts 23:10 (ESV)

All these words are derivatives of the Greek word “harpazo” which translates into English as being “carried away or caught up.”

“It always expresses “the mighty operation of God,” as well as being “used of divine power transferring a person marvelously from one place to another, to “snatch” or “carry away” or being “caught up.”(A) Now let’s consider another amazing account of a similar experience which occurred a little more than two thousand years ago. Once again I will be emphasizing certain pertinent words.

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. ²⁷ And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship ²⁸ and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. ²⁹ And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” ³⁰ So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” ³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. ³² Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he [Jesus] was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation [of Jews]? For his life is taken away from the earth.” ³⁴ And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. ³⁶ And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” ^{37 38} And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea,” Acts 8:26-ESV).

Now allow me to share the great Apostle Paul’s personal testimony of the same kind of supernatural experience.

“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. ³ And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (ESV)

The last time this word is used in the Bible is in the Revelation of Jesus Christ to His servant John.

⁵ She gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God and to his throne, Revelation 12:5 (ESV)

Now let’s return to where we started and once again I will be emphasizing the English translation of the Greek word harpazo.

”Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord,” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (ESV).

I’m deeply indebted to Ed Stevens for bringing these passages to my attention in his very insightful book which I quoted from earlier and in which he also cited the following, “In 1 Thess. 4:17 Paul deals with the final rapture into the fellowship of the redeemed at the last day. It was not the sufferings of the Church that caused Paul to make the statement, but the concern of some of its members about the fate of Christians who had already died. This concern is removed by the certainty of resurrection. Those Christians who were still alive would not die but would be taken up directly into the fellowship of those who had already been raised, “as they leave the gates of the world to meet in the air the Christ acclaimed as Lord.”

As I stated in the beginning of this message, I have not been attempting to present an iron-clad defense of my conclusions, but rather wanted to give you enough believable biblical evidence which ought to satisfy the average seeker of biblical truth the Lord may cause to cross your path. Instead of turning this series into an exhaustive study of the issue, I hoped and prayed that each individual message would be informative and thought provoking, and that you would become better prepared to give a straight-forward believable biblical interpretation of the plain meaning of the New Testament time-relevant prophetic passages we have been considering.

I can end the series at this point. I hope I have at least persuaded you to seriously consider whether or not this end of the world Millennium Madness is THE GRANDDADY OF ALL HOAXE’S. However, if you would like me to, I can arrange for the boy to return next week and put some “Icing on the cake” and also have him share with us that much more serious issue he’s been wrestling with. Please let me know.

May it please the Lord to take these words of my mouth and thoughts of my heart and turn them into a blessing for each of you who just heard them, and for many of those who read them later. Lord willing, next week…

(A) Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of The New Testament, cited in Expectation’s Demand a First Century Rapture, © 2003 by Edward E. Stevens, International Preterist Association, 122 Seward Ave., Bradford, Pa., 16701, p. 109.