Will Rob one day answer the Bell? – How comprehensive is God’s grace?

Posted on March 26, 2011 by Chuck Coty
As many are probably aware, cult figure (and I’m not using that word pejoratively but rather culturally), Rob Bell has recently proclaimed his affinity for the doctrine of Universal Atonement, also known as Comprehensive Grace & Universalism. To be fair, Bell, at the opening of his “Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever” book tour, Bell denied holding to the classical definition. However, in his rebuttal found HERE, in my opinion, he wasn’t very convincing.

I found the above video of Doug Wilson rather interesting. He clearly delineated the issues that must be addressed i.e. the doctrines of Heaven, Hell, wrath, and grace. Although I believe Bell’s doctrinal proclivities are dangerous, the ensuing debate will prove to be healthy. I may have a warped perspective, but it seems to me that most Christians aren’t equipped to deal with these kinds of theological issues.  
 
Bell, in his Gen X style, has been asking some very poignant questions that strike at the heart of ecclesiastical tradition. So, in some regard, I have found Bell to be a breath of fresh air. However, in this instance, I believe he’s teetering on the precipice of heresy. And mind you, I don’t use that “h” word flippantly since it has been a label affixed to some of my views as well. Any time you deviate from the norm (orthodoxy), folks love to use labels because they aren’t equipped to refute the arguments Scripturally. So it becomes far less taxing and proves ultimately successful, to use the common rule of engagement known as guilt by association. But I digress…
 
In this case, I think it is much to do about a WHOLE LOT. This strikes at the heart of the Gospel and obliterates God’s wrathful nature. Heck, we all DESERVE Hell, so, it’s not a question of fairness. It’s a question of, what does the Bible teach? It’s not my intent here to deal with this issue, but suffice it to say, I believe the Bible overwhelming affirms that those who don’t trust the finished work of Christ by faith, will be forever separated from God and eternal life. 
 
At any rate, this is a very important issue I hope many wrestle with not just emotionally but doctrinally. We must be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us. 
 
Bell’s plea is in the video below.  

Posted in Gospel, Universalism | Leave a comment

The Shape of Things to Come???

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Chuck Coty

Consider a local church’s upcoming sermon series (below) to determine if eschatology really matters. (*If come across this blog post a few years from now, just for context I’m writing this in March of 2010) In preparation for the series, they placed brochures (like the one below) on the doorknobs of 40,000 homes. According to the pastor, “THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME” (the title of the sermon series) is apparently pretty bleak. And this is all good and well if the Bible actually teaches that “The worst is yet to come” (one of the sermon titles). However, this is not much of a blessing if the pastor is as wrong as his eschatologically-likeminded predecessors have been?

If you aren’t depressed yet, just check out these. Lots to look forward to, eh? 

  • “Antichrist: the Future World Ruler”
  • “Apostacy: Corruption of the Church”
  • “Tribulation: The Worst is Yet to Come.”

The overwhelming majority of Christians believe that horrific times are fast approaching and some of the warning signs are already evident. The Antichrist, they say, is living among us and is about to be revealed. And the world is on the verge of an unrecoverable downward spiral. These dire predictions have been in play since Hal Lindsey’s “Late Great Planet Earth” (1971), and they continue to reverberate through literally hundreds if not thousands of prophetic books, movies and sermons series like the list below.

However, the question I began asking since I’ve been hearing this drumbeat since I became a Christians in 1972 is, “Is it possible that these prognostications are based on an incorrect interpretive method? Could this dispensational premillennial eschatology that emerged in the mid-1800s and which is responsible for these predictions, be grossly errant?

What if these sermons are based on a completely inaccurate and distorted interpretation of Bible prophecy? Yes, I realize that some consider it blasphemy to even pose this question, but after all, this eschatological system has been a complete failure to predict “What God says about our future” (the subtitle of the brochure below).

I truly don’t think most realize the effects these prognostications have had on the church over the past 40-50 years. How have these expectations affected you personally? Some appear oblivious to the onslaught but the majority are affected in ways that they probably don’t even realize. In the 70s I was told that saving for the future was a waste of valuable resources; In the 80s they warned that bringing children into a world on the verge of tribulation would not be prudent, and leading up to Y2K it was a common view that life would never be the same so be prepared for the worst.  

I can say rather confidently that the system of interpretation that produced these sermons is not biblically sound and that these predictions are errant. Who am I to make such a brash statement? Believe it or not, developing a sound eschatological framework is not rocket science. Sure, it will take some effort, but you would be surprised that if you use sound interpretational principles, accurate conclusions can be within your grasp. I know this sounds like an infomercial but what you may not realize is that the “experts” are ignoring some very simple hermeneutical (science of interpretation) principles. 

The reason I believe more and more Christians need to get their eschatological feet wet and begin to study these things on their own is because we are losing our culture due to the tidal wave of doom and gloom expectations that have been ravaging the church. The “Good News” of the gospel appears to have been so severely truncated and distorted, that its victorious nature has been ripped from its moorings.

Even though 2,000 years ago the apostles lived in the most perilous times, even they, while they endured persecution so horrific that one grieves to contemplate, spoke of the overcoming nature of their faith. While facing danger to life and limb the Apostle John penned, “Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world.” Shortly thereafter, from AD 64 to 66, the Neronic persecution claimed the lives of the majority of the church. They faced unrelenting apostacy, a climate rife with false Christs and antichrists (1 John 2:18) and they lived through the tribulation (Rev 1:9) that brought the most perilous events.

Isn’t it strangely ironic that all of the events today’s prophecy pundits predict for our near future, happened to those who lived through the decade of the AD 60s? Matter of fact, in 1805 Peter Holford wrote an apologetic for the Christian faith, “The Destruction of Jerusalem: An Absolute & Irresistible Proof of the Divine Origin of Christianity”. He detailed the fulfillment of every event predicted by Jesus in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21).  If you take some time to read this short book I believe you will be shocked. Why is this information not taught in our churches? Why is the fulfillment of these prophetic events not used as an irresistible proof of the divine origin of Christianity as it was in George Holford’s day?  

I sincerely hope and pray that people begin to wake up to the historical realities. Though I believe the pastor who is preaching this sermon series below is a godly man with the absolute best of intentions, it makes me weep for our future. In my view, we have been severely hamstrung by negative expectations. How has the church gone this far off course?


Terrorist attacks. Food shortages. Political upheaval. Disintegrating morals. Surely we must be headed for earth’s final days. Is there any room for hope?
God’s Word answers: YES!

In these simple but profound Bible messages, Pastor Rummage identifies crucial truths every believer needs to understand about the end of time, and the difference those truths can make in our lives today. Join us for this exciting and encouraging prophecy series.

March 20, 2010 – Apostasy: The Corruption of the Church (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-5)

March 27, 2010 – Rapture: The Next Date on God’s Blackberry (1 Corinthians 15:20-24; 35-50; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

April 3, 2010 – Antichrist: The Future World Ruler (Daniel 7)

April 10, 2010 – Tribulation: The Worst is Yet to Come (Matthew 24)

April 17, 2010 – Atonement: The Center of Time and Eternity (Romans 3:21-26) – PALM SUNDAY

April 24, 2010 – Resurrection: The Hope for Your Future (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) – EASTER

May 1, 2010 – Armageddon: The Last Battle (Revelation 16:16; 19:11-16)

May 8, 2010 – Millennium: The Reign of Christ on Earth (Revelation 20) – MOTHER’S DAY

May 15, 2010 – Judgment: The Final Verdict (1 Corinthians 3:12-15; Revelation 20:11-15)

May 22, 2010 – Eternity: The Beginning of Forever (Revelation 22:1-6)
Posted in End of the World, Eschatology | Leave a comment

Matthew 16:27-28 – “Some Standing Here…”

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Chuck Coty

Have you ever pondered the implications of Matthew 16:27-28 (below)? It seems rather straightforward, doesn’t it? So it’s rather puzzling that commentators are all over the map on this one, with most refusing to consider its most obvious meaning i.e. that some of those who stood listening to Jesus, would still be alive to witness His second coming. What’s your first impression? Do these two verses make you uncomfortable, causing you to scurry for your footnotes? It can mean what it sounds like it means, can it?

Matthew 16:27-28 (NASB) “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds. 28″Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”

Most often the commentators attempt to do one of two things and sometimes both. They either divorce verse 27 from verse 28 (since chapter divisions were not part of the original manuscripts) as though Jesus was speaking of two events separated by thousands of years i.e. verse 27 referring to a still future 2nd coming, while 28 referred to a more imminent event such as either the transfiguration or Pentecost; OR they couple verse 27 and 28 and argue that Jesus was speaking about either the transfiguration or Pentecost.

Let me ask you a question. Are the above solutions the most natural and plausible explanations of these verses?

Is it possible that the paradigm/worldview of the commentators, is driving them far afield from what Jesus was actually teaching? Without stealing any of his thunder, consider the short videos believe from Don K. Preston (www.eschatology.org). In these”Preston’s Ponderings”, Don presents what I believe makes the most exegetical. Well, dig in and be prepared to be challenged.

 

























Handling two objections



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Mysterious Mass Deaths of Birds & Fish – Last Day? Kirk Cameron Weighs on CNN

Posted on January 14, 2011 by Chuck Coty
The more I cross paths with actor Kirk Cameron, the more I appreciate him as a brother in Christ. Even though I don’t agree with his eschatology, I really love this guy. He’s so down to earth and is such a committed Christian.
 
In the below CNN story regarding the mysterious mass deaths of birds and fish, the interviewer, Anderson Cooper, tried coaxing Cameron into linking these strange occurrences to an impending “end of days” scenario.

Kirk could have easily taken this interview in a very different direction, however, much to my appreciation he stayed focused and grounded. Kirk pointed out that after everything is said and done, any given day could be our last. And we MUST be prepared for that day. I think he’s right on the money. In this CNN interview with Cameron (halfway through the above clip), Kirk said with a little grin, “I’m not the religious conspiracy theorist go-to guy”. And I just about busted a gut. Bravo Kirk!
 
Then, when CNN’s Anderson Cooper pressed him on the whole “Left Behind” series (in which Kirk played a prominent movie role), Kirk said, “I’m probably going to die of some other cause before this [the end of the world] happens.” How refreshing! This is a wonderful perspective and one I wish more Christians took.
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“True Revelation” by Kenosis

Posted on December 22, 2010 by Chuck Coty

Friend, Dustin Curlee, recently sent me a couple of cuts from his new CD, Transidentity. His hip-hop band, Kenosis, comprised of Cody Miles, David Boone and of Dustin, is dedicated to the proclamation and propagation of the Gospel. As they attempt to glorify Christ in all areas of life, they preach a powerful message of fulfilled redemption. I took cut #6, “True Revelation,” and added the video. I hope you’re blessed half as much as I have been.

 

(click on the 4 small arrows above to bring full screen)
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You’ve Got to be Kidding…Right?

Posted on November 23, 2010 by Chuck Coty
You’ve Gotta Be Kidding . . . Right? chronicles Brian L. Martin’s (Editor of Fulfilled! Magazine) eschatological journey. His view of the “last things” (eschatology), though it may be new to you, is soundly rooted in Scripture. Join Brian as he encounters scriptural principles (hermeneutics) like “audience relevance”, “apocalyptic language”, “cloud-comings”, and much more. Prepare to be challenged!

Everyone has a paradigm (worldview) even if it’s not well-defined. When we encounter that which differs from what we have been told, we often immediately jettison the new view without serious consideration. Before even carefully analyzing the facts, we ask skeptically, “Who else believes this?” Have you ever wondered why we’re unwilling to take up the task of being faithful Bereans? I think it’s a matter of confidence. We lack the boldness to push commonly help presuppositions aside, especially when those more learned and spiritually astute, oppose that which is sitting before us.

And this is tragic, especially for a generation that has access to more Scriptural tools than any generation in history. Certainly, we are at a disadvantage with those who have a working knowledge of Greek or those who have a boatload of seminary training in their background. There is no substitute for hard work and diligence but we must realize that even pastors and seminary professors interpret the Bible through a lens that may be filled with errant presuppositions. This is the reason the Bereans were lauded. They took their responsibility to “see if these things are so” very seriously. Should we do any less?

Acts 17:11 (ESV) Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

J.I. Packer made a rather intuitive statement that sheds a great deal of light on the plight of the today’s Christian. And I suppose this is really not a problem confined to our modern world. Consider this:

We do not start our Christian lives by working out our faith for ourselves; it is mediated to us by Christian tradition, in the form of sermons, books and established patterns of church life and fellowship. We read our Bibles in the light of what we have learned from these sources; we approach Scripture with minds already formed by the mass of accepted opinions and viewpoints with which we have come into contact, in both the Church and the world. . . . It is easy to be unaware that it has happened; it is hard even to begin to realize how profoundly tradition in this sense has molded us. But we are forbidden to become enslaved to human tradition, either secular or Christian, whether it be “catholic” tradition, or “critical” tradition, or “ecumenical” tradition. We may never assume the complete rightness of our own established ways of thought and practice and excuse ourselves the duty of testing and reforming them by Scriptures. (Fundamentalism and the Word of God, by J.I. Packer. [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1958.] pp. 69-70)


It’s not a matter of if we read the Scriptures with built-in biases that we’re not aware of. It’s a given that we do. It’s only natural. However, what’s of vital importance is recognizing that our current presuppositions (which may be errant) can prevent us from understanding the truth. In order to maintain sanity, we often ward off all views that oppose our own and allow only that which corroborates and sanctions our paradigm to enter our minds. Our defense mechanisms, valuable in many ways, do at times insulate us from the truth.


With these things in mind, consider for a moment a view of eschatology that may be foreign to you. And do your best to be objective. Brian Martin, the producer of “You’ve Got to Be Kidding….right?” and author of “Behind the Veil of Moses, presents a solidly Biblical view of eschatology. Know this. Brian is deeply committed to the authority and inspiration of Scripture. So his view emanates from a very high view of the Bible. So much so, that he challenges those who so flippantly cast off the many eschatological passages tied to such blatantly imminent language i.e. “soon”, “at hand”, “shortly” and “in a very little while”.

My recommendation is that you watch the video in two sessions. Then revisit the video jotting down all verses used so you can better understand the context. Well, enjoy and be prepared to smile. Brian has a wonderfully refreshing sense of humor. =)
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Polish Michael Jackson? – Classical Collides with Contemporary!

Posted on October 15, 2010 by Chuck Coty

Yes, Grupa MoCarta is a Polish group and I can’t understand a lick of what they’re saying, but I had a blast watching them (videos below). They’re all well-educated instrumentalists who graduated from prestigious Academies of Music in Warsaw and ?ódz, but they decided to play classical music in a humorous way. “What’s more, they created something like a musical cabaret, one in which the music, not the words were the source of laughter.”

The power of their jokes can be characterized like this: they take a classical composition as canvas, analyze its structure and theme, and surround it with musical associations. So while listening to the final product one is constantly surprised by various musical quotations. Classically trained, they explain their intentions this way:

“We exist despite the sober formality of great concert halls, despite the boredom of classical musicians’ life, despite fanatic lovers of classical music, despite fans of rock, rap or pop who are afraid of classical music. We treat our Muse with a humorous irony and we’re sure, she will have nothing against it!”
Enjoy!


Posted in Entertainment, Music | 1 Comment

Science vs. Scripture

Posted on September 11, 2010 by Chuck Coty
If science and the Bible are or even appear to be at odds with one another and we were forced to take sides, which one would you choose? Many side with Scripture although they might be uncomfortable with what may seem like a rather expansive chasm between them. Most evangelicals assent to the Bible inspiration (2 Tim 3:16), but a far lesser number appear to recognize the pressure and impact outside influences bear on their interpretation of Holy Scripture. In the following sermon, David Curtis exposes what I believe is an issue most of us are unaware of, that science is a controlling factor in Biblical interpretation.

When we say “Sola Scriptura” (by Scripture alone) what exactly do we mean? Is the Bible only authoritative on matters of faith, salvation, and holiness? In other words, does the Bible only regard spiritual matters while science is left to elucidate truth on the physical side of the equation?Do you believe Scripture should be the foundational source of ALL truth? If so, what does that mean? I think that question is no more clearly highlighted than when we read the first 3 chapters of the Genesis. Do you believe the earth is billions of years old? If you were on a desert island with only a Bible and no influence from science, what would you conclude about the age of the earth? Is there anything in the Genesis account (chapters 1-3) that would lead you to believe the earth is 20,000,0000,000 years old? I can’t see how.

Yet, there are many Christians today who think those who adhere to a relatively young earth, must be flat-earth Neanderthals who skipped science class. They say a day in Genesis is clearly not literal and therefore equates to millions if not billions of years. Some even believe Genesis 1-3 is allegorical. So let me ask you a question. Is science or Scripture controlling your view of the “day” in Genesis? I will argue that no one reading the Genesis account would come to an old earth theory…that is without scientific influence. So the reality is, for those who believe the earth is billions of years old, science, not Scripture is driving your conclusions.

Now, let’s consider another issue that also speaks to this issue of Scriptural authority. Do you believe the earth rotates and revolves around the sun? Of course, right? Heliocentricity, as it’s called, is accepted as a scientific fact that very few challenge. But again, let’s rerun the same test. If you had nothing but your Bible, would you arrive at the heliocentric position? At this point, I’m not suggesting you are wrong, but for argument’s sake, what drives the heliocentric view, the Bible or science?

From our earliest recollections, we’ve been told that geocentricity, which is the view espoused by Scripture over sixty times, is merely a function of accommodative type language i.e. from our point of view. So when we read that the sun rises or sets, we automatically assume that, from our point of view, the sun is rising.

Notice again that this heliocentricity vs. geocentricity argument is the same as the young vs. old earth origin theories. Did you know that all theologians prior to the 1600’s when Copernicus came up with his heliocentric theory, were geocentrists? That’s because we don’t know what we know today, right? Yes, but consider this fact. Did you know that heliocentricity is a theory, not a fact? Matter of fact, it may come as a surprise that it has NEVER been proven. When I first heard this about a year ago I almost choked on my granola. Of course, it’s proven, I thought. Not so.

Without a doubt, David Curtis will push the limits of your paradigm. The bottom line is, if we truly believe Scripture is the ONLY source of truth, few are practically applying that fact. And no more are we put to the test than in the examination of the heliocentric vs. geocentric theories.

Enjoy the sermon, but before you do, let me offer a disclaimer of sorts. Some have suggested that Pastor David Curtis has no business discussing science from the pulpit. They condescendingly mock him for even considering such. Why? Because, in their view, science can and in fact does bring us the truth. They have a very high view of science and in so doing, they unwittingly lower the Scriptures. You see, in their world, when we are chided for daring to place the scientific evidence below the authority of God’s Word, they have a major problem. Because they too are non-scientists, they have handed over the entire realm of science to a group who has, for the most part, excluded spiritual influence.

Are we truly bound by what the scientists tell us the truth is? If so, then why don’t these people believe the theory of evolution since that theory has risen to the fact level? If they aren’t allowed to tread in the caverns of scientific exploration, who are they to pick and choose which theories to accept and which ones to reject? They accept an old earth and heliocentricity but not evolution or geocentricity. On what grounds?

I’ll tell you what grounds. Because the Bible is preeminent in ALL areas of life including science. Double gasp! Yes, I made the audacious claim that the Bible is not subject to anything. It is the beginning and end of truth. How ignorant! How foolish! Anyone with a high school education knows the Bible isn’t a science textbook. Again, let me challenge your paradigm. The Bible doesn’t merely contain truth, it is our source of truth and is in no way confined to the spiritual realm. The Bible is authoritative over ALL areas of life, not the least of which is science. So, without further ado, please enjoy the sermon. 🙂

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We are His Workmanship!

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Chuck Coty
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

I thought the following was an exceptional dialogue for anyone who is serious about their walk with the Lord and excited about being an effective disciple. But I’d like to offer a word of caution. Our works, although absolutely vital to the maturing of our faith, are NOT dependable evidence of faith. It’s clear that God chisels those He has adopted as sons, but the workmanship begins only after entering into Jesus’ eternal Sabbath rest.Please do NOT make the mistake I did, and unintentionally trivialize or subjectify your faith decision, if for a season, your works or acts of piety are not consistent with your calling. Matter of fact, if we are honest, we’ll readily admit that our post-conversion efforts will ALWAYS fall far shy of God’s amazing grace.

Consider the following texts that on the surface appear paradoxical. Are they?

James 2:21 (NASB) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?

Galatians 3:6 (NASB) Even so Abraham believed God , and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.


This is an apparent contradiction…a paradox. In my view, a Paradox is NOT an acceptable hermeneutical principle. Too often, because two passages (such as ones quoted above), appear to be in diametric opposition, we throw our hands in the air, willingly submit to both and chalk the problem up to “God’s ways are not our ways.” In my opinion, this is not a tenable solution and one that must be vigorously rejected.

Trying to mesh the inspired verses above, has driven many to form what I believe are errant conclusions, of which cause severe chinks in the perceptions of our eternal security. I believe the solution must NOT, in my view, include a synthesis of these two opposing statements.

Someone cannot be saved by works but also be saved by faith. Therefore this should drive us us to reevaluate James 2. Interpret the unclear with what is clear. Many, instead choose to embrace the paradox and make both statements true. I won’t castigate those who, just like I did, embrace this kind of logic… However, I must not be silent either. Unfortunately, in our haste to reconcile this paradox, “Belief” has been relegated to a 2nd class subjective status. We hear things like, “He didn’t really believe.” Or based upon her behavior, we say, “She obviously has head knowledge but not real faith.”

I don’t have the inclination here to solve what many consider a mystery, but suffice it to say, salvation is by grace through faith alone. It’s a gift of God. So let’s not act like we can DO anything to either merit the gift or prove that our faith is real.

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What If…? – by Jenkins Entertainment

Posted on July 31, 2010 by Chuck Coty


Behold, the return of Kevin Sorbo and Kristy Swanson. In the movie What if…, in theaters Aug. 20, Sorbo plays Ben, a man who left his college sweetheart, Wendy (Swanson), and his dream of becoming a preacher to pursue a business opportunity. Fifteen years later, his Mercedes breaks down and a tow truck driver (John Ratzenberger) claims to be his guardian angel and gives him a look at what his life would have been like had he followed his original path. Watch the trailer below. Yes, it looks like it should be on the Hallmark Channel in December, but Sorbo and Swanson appear to give surprisingly understated performances (that could land them a Hallmark Channel movie!).

Ratzenberger is totally a guardian angel I would get. I’ve always imagined mine as like a George Carlin, who really has no interest in my life and only pays attention to me when I speak inarticulately, at which point, he takes out his annoyance by screwing with me. That explains so much…. Who do you picture as your guardian angel? (God, by the way, looks like Steve Martin.)

_________________


As a disclaimer… I’m certainly no fan of the Jerry B. Jenkins’/Tim LaHaye”Left Behind” series because I think the eschatology portrayed therein is unwittingly destroying the credibility of the Gospel. However, I believe Jerry’s a fine writer and he appears to be a wonderful human being who is deeply embedded in the cause of Christ. And it should be noted that the film producer is actually Dallas Jenkins, Jerry’s son. Looks like an interesting film. In my view, we need more movies that espouse Biblical themes. I’ll hope for the best. 🙂
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Understanding Scripture

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Chuck Coty
This is one of the most vital sermons, friend, Pastor David Curtis, has preached. If you want to understand Scripture as a contiguous, homogeneous, unfolding plan of redemption, this will aid you in your quest. David explains in visual PowerPoint form, the transition period that existed between the two covenants. If you are confused about the “already and about to be” language of the New Testament, I believe this sermon will help you a great deal.

(Click button above for full screen)


Mark 10:28-30 (NASB) Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age [about] to come, eternal life. (Greek word “mello” means “to be about” or “about to be”)

Hebrews 9:8-9 (NASB) The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,

Luke 18:30 (NASB) who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”

1 Corinthians 10:11 (NASB) Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Matthew 24:1-3 (NASB) Jesus came out from the temple and was going away when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. 2 And He said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” 3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Hebrews 8:13 (NASB) When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.

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Britain and the Struggle for the Holy Land

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Chuck Coty

(Missing part 4)

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Are men growing worse and worse?

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Chuck Coty
Is the world getting worse and ready to implode? Have people been on a fast track toward moral decay since the Apostle Paul warned Timothy of impending corruption 2,000 years ago? (2 Timothy 3:1-13) If you think times are so horrific right now and you could pick any time in history to live, when would that be? I continue to hear references to “the good ole days” as if there was a time in the history of the world when things were far better than they are now. Have you ever considered the possibility that “the good ole days” never were? Does the following verse capture the moral depravity of your neighborhood?

Genesis 6:5 (NASB) Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Consider the conditions surrounding the composition of our Canon [the Bible] in the first century. How do the religious leaders of our day (Dobson, LaHaye, Falwell Stanley, Colson, Swindoll etc.) stack up against the contemporaries of Jesus? Is there truly any comparison?

Matthew 23:33-36 (NASB) “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell? 34 “Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, 35 so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 “Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

Would you like to exchange places with the Apostles? Ten out of the twelve were brutally murdered, one ended his own life, and we believe the other was banished to an island prison. Association with Christ meant certain death. On one side were the Jews, who regularly, according to the writer of Hebrews, plundered the goods of Christians…and on the other side were the Romans who fed the Christ-followers to the lions or strung them up on posts, tarred and lit them on fire in order to light their grounds for dinner guests.

I’m not suggesting that we live in a perfect world…far from it. We have incredible challenges up ahead. What I am attempting to get people to think through, is the misconception that things are bad, getting worse, and will continue to worsen until a cataclysmic end. Not only do I think this is unBiblical, but it is far and away relegating the Gospel to ultimate failure.

Consider our progress. Consider our potential through Christ. We have never had this kind of unabated access to the Word of God and the communication ability to spread the good news to every person on this planet. I think we are extraordinarily blessed to live in these amazing times! Yes, man is born into depravity today just as he has been since the fall of Adam. However, that doesn’t negate the fact that the resurrection of Christ has had and will continue to have a dramatic effect on our world. Everywhere the Gospel has been proclaimed that part of the world has been significantly altered.

It is my opinion that we MUST change our perceptions in accord with the expectations of Scripture. I continue to hear of the impending “New world Order”, and I don’t doubt there are nefarious individual at work who’d like nothing better than to control the masses. But I want to know where in the NT do we find an antiChrist led one world government? It’s simply NOT there.

In the latter 60’s AD, we find the writer of Hebrews refer to the Old Covenant as “becoming obsolete“, “growing old” and “ready to disappear“. (Heb 8:13) The New Covenant was a “new world order” in which the righteousness of Christ would dwell.

Revelation 21:3 (NASB) And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

This is exactly the what we have right now! Consider the exhortation from John’s 2nd epistle.

1 John 4:4 (NASB) You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

1 John 5:4-5 (NASB) For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

These words were written 2,000 years ago before the destruction of the Temple and the elimination of the Old Covenant sacrificial system. So how is it that we have developed such a glass half empty mentality? Why has it become so fashionable to believe that we’re supposed to lose to evil? It seems odd that God would forcefully advance His Kingdom for 2,000 (the sprouting of the mustard seed) only to allow it to be overcome.

Sadly, I believe the prevailing eschatology of our day (that many aren’t even well-versed in) is like the tail wagging the dog of our expectations. Where in Scripture do we find evidence that the Gospel is supposed to be defeated by the evil forces of an antichrist, that was already in the world 2,000 years ago? It should not escape our notice (as it did mine for too long) when these words were written. With Christ all things are possible!

1 John 4:3 (NASB) and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.

1 John 2:18 (NASB) Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.

For a point of reference, below is the Apostle Paul’s warning to Timothy. Remember, this was written in the mid 60’s AD and warned the Christians at that time what was on the horizon for the “last days”, which both Peter and the writer of Hebrews made clear was in their day. (1 Peter 1:5, 20; Hebrews 1:1-2) Have you ever considered the fact that, if, for the past 2,000 years, “evil men and impostors” have been “proceeding from bad to worse”, there would be few remaining survivors? It simply makes no sense whatever to uproot this passage from it’s context and force it as a fait accompli in our day.

2 Timothy 3:1-13 (NASB) But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

10 Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

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BP, Wormwood and Other Fairy Tales

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Chuck Coty

I have grown very weary of the interminable contrived associations of the BP oil spill with the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. With every scientifically enshrouded attempt to manufacture a global apocalyptic “end of the world” scenario, I find eschatological presuppositions at the epicenter. First, it was Henning Kemner, then Dr. James P. Wickstrom and now Lindsey Williams. All arguing that this is not just the greatest ecological disaster this country has ever faced, but it is the beginning of the end. I found that Williams, whom I initially presumed to be making objective scientific claims, is also being driven by his dire apocalyptic paradigm.

A friend recently wrote:

“My thoughts are based solely on my opinion of Lindsey Williams. I bought the book [“Where’s the Food”] in 1987 “when I was young and gullible” and he had me believing the food would be gone in 2 years (which was his prediction). Looking back now I’m quite ashamed of my gullibility. I had no idea the guy was still around till I saw this post. I know nothing of the radio host [Alex Jones]. Back then he was driven by his eschatology and it looks as if he still is. Preterism rescued me from all that..”

Following is a sound hermeneutical (science of interpretation) discourse on Revelation 8:8-11.

Part 2

Thanks to Gary DeMar (above videos) for his commitment to a well-reasoned interpretational approach. Being driven and tossed by the proverbial winds of the prophetic speculators, is a very sad place to be, and I can’t begin to verbalize how grand it is to have stepped off that merry-go-round. Shame on the modern day “prophets” for contributing to a fear-based mindset which is causing the spiritual indifference and ultimate malaise (or is that mayonnaise 🙂 that too many in the Church are wallowing in.

As I’ve stated before, simply because this is NOT a fulfillment of Bible prophecy, doesn’t lessen the severity of this eco-disaster. Many lives will be irreparably altered by what appears to be the callous negligence of BP. However, instead of panicking and assuming this is a God ordained “last days” plague, which it is not, we must strive to find the solution.

The Gospel will be victorious. We aren’t living in the “present evil age” (last days) that passed away with the Old Covenant in the first century. Therefore, I believe God is looking for messengers who will view serious problems like the one we’re facing now, not as unscalable mountains but as mere hurtles to be traversed. It’s all a matter of perception. I’m so looking forward to the day when the Church steps out of this defeatist, glass-half-empty rapture mentality. A whole lot more can be accomplished if we expect success rather than doom.

Let me close by quoting from both the first and last chapters of Jesus’ last canonized revelatory words. We may be confused by the contents of the imagery contained in this book of imagery, but as long as we recognize that God cannot lie, we can rest assured these events are not in our future.

Revelation 1:1-3 (NASB) 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, 2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 22:6-7 (NASB) 6 And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. 7 “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

Revelation 22:10 (NASB) And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.

Revelation 22:12 (NASB) “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.

Revelation 22:20 (NASB) He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Could God have been any clearer regarding the timing of His intentions? When we ignore the clarity of His prophetic word, we allow visions of disaster to dance in our heads.

NOTE: If it’s considered “orthodox” to believe that God was not capable or willing to communicate truthfully and clearly to His first century Church, then at at that point I must reject orthodoxy. The God I worship is faithful and true and it is not within His divine nature to lie, deceive or intentionally mislead. By arguing that the Revelation’s fulfillment is still future when in the first century Jesus Christ prophesied “the things “MUST soon take place“, are we not in grave danger of unwittingly calling God’s veracity into question?

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The unprovoked 1967 attack on the USS Liberty

Posted on June 26, 2010 by Chuck Coty
Was Israel’s 1967 Attack on the USS Liberty, a mistake in identity?
 

You be the judge whether “mistaken identity” was even a remotely plausible excuse for the deaths of 34 servicemen and the injuries of 174 more. In the videos to follow, watch the testimonies of the courageous men who survived this horrific unprovoked attack. Under Secretary Ball’s concluding comment (below the first of two videos), will forever ring in my ears. Will we learn nothing from this tragic event? To what degree has our Middle East policy been shaped by this attack? And to what measure does the Israeli mindset, KNOWING that “they can get away with almost anything” without retribution, shape the Middle East today, some 43 years later? Our consistent acquiescence and insistence that their acts (like the one detailed below) are fully protected and empowered by the sovereign hand of God, is leading us in every direction but the Promised Land.

“Loss of Liberty” – The cover-up of the 1967 Israeli assault on the USS Liberty

George Ball (1909-1994), the Under Secretary of State of Economic affairs during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, wrote: “The ultimate lesson of the Liberty attack, was that it had far more effect on policy in Israel than in America. Israel’s leaders concluded that nothing they might do would offend the Americans to the point of reprisal. If America’s leaders did not have the courage to punish Israel for the blatant murder of American citizens, it seemed clear that the American friends would let them get away with almost anything.”

  
Comments from the surviving decorated heroes of the USS Liberty: “If we could get the truth of the Liberty out, it would change the history of this country.” “I can’t understand why the American newspapers and TV people have helped cover this up by not covering our stories.” “Never before has the U.S. Navy ignored eyewitness testimony of American Military, to accept on faith the story told by their attackers.” “There should be a congressional committee, both senate, and house, to examine all the data…and it’s getting late to do this, because, like McGonagle, God bless, he’s gone.” “To me, that was one of the worst cover-ups in American history. How low can our government go?” “So I will never buy the idea that some of the pilots thought this was another ship.” “We didn’t know who was attacking us. They didn’t know who was attacking us. I don’t know how Washington can say, Don’t go, because they’re friends of ours. That’s the thing that’s always bothered me, right there.” 
 

Anytime anyone even questions Israel, the immediate cry is racism and/or antisemitism. Let it be clear that I am neither a racist nor an Antisemite. Few abhor bigotry any more than I do. I love the Israeli people. and they desperately need the Gospel of Christ. However, they have not been well served by their Zionist leaders who have appeared to stop at nothing to further their cause. As Christians, I don’t believe it’s prudent to blindly accept Israel’s every action as though they are empowered by the hand of God. Clearly, they are an ally, but then again, what did that mean for the crew of the Liberty? Do allies intentionally sink the ships of their compatriots?

Forty-three years after the vicious and sustained attack on the USS Liberty, the testimonies of the survivors and the blood of the dead speak clearly. We can squabble about motives all day long but the fact is that only those so heavily weighted by presupposition could possibly believe this was merely a mistake in identity. The Zionist track record is simply not very good. With what many refer to as an ethnic cleansing in the late 1940’s throughout the 50’s (see Elias Chacour’s “Blood Brothers“) and the attempted sinking of the $40m USS Liberty intelligence ship in international waters, what else are they prepared to do?

(In my view, the above video by sensationalist Alex Jones, somewhat clouds the waters.)

The following quotes are from the book, The Attack on the Liberty: The Untold Story of Israel’s Deadly Assault on a U.S. Spy Ship (2009, Simon & Schuster), by James Scott, a longtime journalist living in South Carolina, whose father was an officer on the Liberty.[http://mondoweiss.net/2010/05/the-u-s-s-liberty-and-the-culture-of-impunity.html]

[With the Liberty] the United States had the capability to intercept and decipher VHF and UHF radio frequencies, common frequencies used for government and military communications…

In the case of the Liberty, the White House, afraid of offending Israel’s domestic backers at a time when it needed support for its Vietnam policy, looked the other way…

Hints of disbelief did emerge, often from small newspapers outside the Beltway. Many puzzled over how Israel’s exceptional military could make such a blunder…

[T]he overall lack of criticism of Israel baffled some senior government leaders. The dogged press corps consistently challenged the administration on its Vietnam policy and ambitious social programs. In the case of the Liberty, the press aimed most of its critical questions at the American government. Israel in contrast, enjoyed a reprieve. Reporters soon adopted the phrase ‘accidental attack,’ a description that frustrated Pentagon officials, who felt it minimized the ferocity of the sustained assault that had killed or injured two out of every three men on board…
 

“We were quite convinced the Israelis knew what they were doing,” [Thomas Hughes, director of the State Department’s Intelligence office] later said. “It was hard to come to any other conclusion.” Other senior staffers agreed, believing that Israel did not want the United States reading its wartime message traffic….

 
Despite Jerusalem’s close ties with Washington, many State Department officials–and others in the intelligence community–believed the Jewish state’s survival instinct was so strong that, if necessary, Israel would attack a close ally in the interest of self-preservation….
 

[According to William Wolle, former State Department:] “The feeling of those of us at the working level in NEA [State Department Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs] was that the Israelis had deliberately done this so that we couldn’t read all of their communications, etc. We are their ally but they are not going to trust us when it comes to a wartime situation in terms of what information might get out, what we might pass along to someone. We all felt it was no accident.”… 

Soon after the Liberty attack, [National Security Agency director Lieutenant General Marshall] Carter appeared before a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee to discuss the Liberty. [Deputy Secretary of Defense] Cyrus Vance joined him… “Cy Vance just told me to keep my mouth shut,” [Gerard] Burke [Carter’s chief of staff] recalled his boss telling him…. “There was absolutely no question in anybody’s mind that the Israelis had done it deliberately,” Burke said. “I was angrier because of the cover-up… The only mystery to me was why was the thing being covered up.”… 

Some of President Johnson’s advisers later regretted the handling of the attack. “We failed to let it all come out publicly at the time,” said Lucius Battle, the assistant secretary of state for near eastern and south Asian affairs. “We really ignored it for all practical purposes, and we shouldn’t have.” George Ball, the former undersecretary of state prior to [Nicholas] Katzenbach, wrote that the Liberty ultimately had a greater effect on policy in Israel than in the United States. “Israel’s leaders concluded that nothing they might do would offend Americans to the point of reprisal,” Ball wrote. “If America’s leaders did not have the courage to punish Israel for the blatant murder of American citizens, it seemed clear that their American friends would let them get away with anything.”

” . . . an act of military recklessness reflecting a wanton disregard for human life.”
 
Then-Secretary of State Dean Rusk in a 10 June 1967 diplomatic note to the Israeli Ambassador, wrote the following:
 
“But I was never satisfied with the Israeli explanation. Their sustained attack to disable and sink Liberty precluded an assault by accident or some trigger-happy local commander. Through diplomatic channels, we refused to accept their explanations. I didn’t believe them then, and I don’t believe them to this day. The attack was outrageous.” Rusk, As I Saw It, W.W.Norton, 1990. p 388
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