Tens of millions of Protestants are praying for Israel and supporting them wholeheartedly. Christian evangelicals have long been ardent supporters of Israel since its founding in 1948. They have been one of the leading groups urging our country to give Israel more money, weapons, technology, and intelligence. The current crisis taking place in the Middle East is no exception.
Israel at war: Trump faith advisor rallies millions to pray for Israel
"There are millions upon millions praying with you and for you,” @PaulaWhitePrays said.
🌐︎Full story: https://t.co/Sx2zvyZsYl
✍️@MaayanJaffe pic.twitter.com/gDdAh9m8uJ— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) October 8, 2023
The American televangelist Paula M. White-Cain, who served as Donald Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board chair, just declared that “millions and millions” of Christians are praying for the state of Israel. It is important to note that the majority of evangelicals back Israel for religious rather than political reasons.
Unfortunately, what most people don’t seem to know is that evangelicals worldwide support Israel primarily because they have accepted the theological framework known as dispensationalism that views events like the restoration of the state of Israel, the rebuilding of the Third Temple, and the gathering of Jews into the Holy Land as the final events, that will usher in the end of the world and the coming of Jesus.
Evangelical Pastor Greg Locke calls for the destruction of Muslim Dome of the Rock pic.twitter.com/NirGYNgprn
— Advent Messenger (@Advent1844) October 9, 2023
In the video above, Evangelical Pastor Greg Locke of Tennessee calls for the annihilation of all non-Jews in the Holy Land and urges the destruction of the Muslim Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem’s Old City. This is the voice of the dragon (Protestant America), who, through his misinterpretations of the book of Revelation, encourages genocide and war.
Evangelicals generally view the Middle East from a biblical perspective and believe that God gave the land of Israel to the Jews. Many believe that the promise of Genesis still stands and that the God of Abraham will literally bless the United States if the United States blesses Israel (Genesis 12:3). That is why many evangelicals raise funds to purchase airplane tickets for Jewish families to migrate back to Israel. More extreme Evangelicals denounce the political policies of the roadmap to peace, land for peace, or the two-state solution in Israel because they see this as a compromise with the Arabs and a forfeiture of the territories that God gave to Israel.
The Bible instructs us to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” in Psalm 122. I am praying for Israel—I pray that God will protect them from their enemies. Will you join me in this prayer?
— Franklin Graham (@Franklin_Graham) October 9, 2023
In any case, what should concern us as Seventh-day Adventists is the likelihood that the real motive for Christian support of the Jewish people in Israel is based upon the end-time prophetic scenario held by the evangelicals. According to their understanding of prophecy, Evangelical Christians want to see the Jews return to Israel so that the secret rapture of the church and the seven-year tribulation can begin.
This view teaches that during the so-called seven years of tribulation, the Jewish restoration in Israel is completed, thus fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies concerning the return of Jews to their ancestral home. This “re-gathering” into Israel results in a large-scale conversion of Jews to Christianity, which in turn infuriates Satan to rise up.
Then, it is alleged that there will be a series of catastrophic events, such as the Antichrist becoming the political leader of the world. Next, there will be a major battle known as the Battle of Armageddon, in which Satan will declare war, through the Antichrist, on the newly reestablished state of Israel. In this scenario, two-thirds of the Jews are killed, and the remaining Jews convert to Christianity.
Finally, when all appears hopeless for the Jews, the Second Coming of Christ, along with the raptured Christians, will appear in the heavens to destroy the Antichrist. From the ruins, a “New Jerusalem” will arise, and all the remaining Jews who were not killed in the Battle of Armageddon will have converted to Christianity. All the end-time prophetic events, according to dispensationalism, depend on one thing: the Jews must be in full control of Jerusalem. Therefore, if the Jews do not control Jerusalem, the rapture of the church, the Battle of Armageddon, and thereafter the Second Coming of Christ cannot occur.
Will the United States follow policies on “Israel” that are based solely on conflict-ridden interpretations of Bible prophecy? Will legislators surrender to the doctrinal wishes of the Evangelical leaders in America and give in to their lobby, who intend to usher in their fulfillment of Revelation? One thing is certain: The false theories of dispensationalism are flooding the world through books, movies, radio, television, and apparently now via United States Foreign Policy.
Seventh-day Adventists should respond in two ways: 1) – We must continue to give the warning message about the “leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common (including dispensationalism), shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions” (Great Controversy, p. 445). 2) – We must give the real “present truth”—the true understanding of Revelation found in the Three Angels’ Messages—to counter the false representations of prophecy.
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Amen!
More likely to cause a third world war and impede the giving of the gospel to all the world, than advance the second coming of our Lord. Although the after effects would very likely be renewed calls for peace and safety on a global level, enhancing the call and probably acceptance by most for global government to ensure such peace and safety. The previous world wars created such a reaction, and the institutions of the League of Nations, and the United Nations. It is certainly not beyond the scope of the evil one and or his minions to bring such a war about with these exact intentions in mind. To many people are dead set against global government at present, but another world war might change this mindset. The evil powers that be, know the effect of the previous world wars, and will no doubt resort to this most despicable tactic if they deem it necessary. Such would undoubtedly create reactionary political movements aimed at the peace and safety global government enthusiasts claim they can provide. Nevertheless-
1Th 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 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.
When the image of the beast is formed, these pastors will give the same call to go after Sabbath-keepers.
I don’t know why Greg Locke thinks he can push the agenda of God and his timing of the coming of Christ. What will be will be. The scriptures clearly state to:
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matt. 25:13 NKJV
2 Peter 3:12. There is truth where there’s error.
He is drunk on the wine of Babylon.
Not even the Son knows the hour. He plainly tells us how he will return. This is 100% deceit and incredible to witness.
Lord, please help us to stand up and profess truth!
“An early English version of this passage reads like this: “Concerning this day and hour, no one makes it known, not even the angels in heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father.” According to eminent critics, this is the true meaning. The word knowledge of the Ordinary Version is used here in the same sense that St. Paul uses it in 1 Corinthians 2:2, when he says: “For I did not judge that I should know [to make known] anything else among you except Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ crucified.” Men will not make known the day and hour, neither will angels make it known, neither will the Son, but the Father. The verb know is used in the passage in question as a causal voice in the Hebrew sense of the hipphilic conjugation (hiphil), that is, to make known. Therefore, Christ’s response is: the Father will make it known when he pleases; but he did not allow man, nor the angels, nor the Son to make it known. It is in this sense that Paul uses the term knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:1, 2): “I went to announce to them [to make known to them] the testimony of God. For I did not think that I should know anything else among you except Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ crucified.” The Father will give
know the time. This is obviously what this passage teaches us”. THE SUFFERINGS, DEATH AND GLORIOUS RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST, Ellen White, SECTION 2 – THE RETURN OF CHRIST, Chapter 7.
The explanation brother Milton provides proves itself true, not only because of the linguistic applications, but more importantly because it coincides with the inspired text.
“In the time of trouble we all fled from the cities and villages, but were pursued by the wicked, who entered the houses of the saints with a sword. They raised the sword to kill us, but it broke, and fell as powerless as a straw. Then we all cried day and night for deliverance, and the cry came up before God. The sun came up, and the moon stood still. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters, which shook the heavens and the earth. The sky opened and shut and was in commotion. The mountains shook like a reed in the wind, and cast out ragged rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot and cast out stones upon the land. And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus’ coming and delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sentence, and then paused, while the words were rolling through the earth. The Israel of God stood with their eyes fixed upward, listening to the words as they came from the mouth of Jehovah, and rolled through the earth like peals of loudest thunder. It was awfully solemn. And at the end of every sentence the saints shouted, “Glory! Alleluia!” Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God; and they shone with the glory, as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked could not look on them for the glory. And when the never-ending blessing was pronounced on those who had honored God in keeping His Sabbath holy, there was a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image.” EW 34.1
“And as God knows all things, He knows the mind of every man that He has created. We are the work of His own mind, through Christ Jesus.” SpTB07 53.1 [Note – this is also a non-trinitarian statement written in 1904 which informs us that Christ possesses the very mind (Spirit) of of the Father.]
“I am so grateful that we have a Lord who knows all things, who readeth the hearts of all; and if you meet with many who have crookedness of character, remember that does not at all belong to Jesus, for Christ was pure and undefiled. It belongs to Satan. You may be disappointed in men, but look and consider how Jesus was disappointed. He came to bring salvation to men, but they hated Him, rejected Him.” 5LtMs, Lt 62, 1887, par. 5
“Why take inferior sources of instruction when Christ is the great Teacher who knows all things? Why present inferior authors to the attention of students, when he whose words are spirit and life invites, “Come, … and learn of me”?” CE 81.1
“Many of those who had been following Christ apostatized almost immediately after the miracle of the loaves. Why did they do this? “Ye seek me,” said the One who knows all things, “not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.” 12LtMs, Lt 17, 1897, par. 6
The list of similar quotes is seemingly endless.
Thank you, Milton. This was the teaching of James White and it fits perfectly with Seventh-day Adventist teaching of the end events as set forth in The Great Controversy.
“The voice of God is heard from heaven, declaring the day and hour of Jesus’ coming, and delivering the everlasting covenant to His people.”
GC 640.2
You end up with all sorts of absurdities if Christ doesn’t know the date of His own return. The entire future would have to be hidden from Him for the Father to keep the hour a secret. Jesus would never have known whether you and I would even be born since He couldn’t know if His return was before the dates of our births. Ellen White heard the date and hour of Christ’s coming declared by the Father while in vision. When she came out, she had no recollection of the time specified. Did the Father have to plug Christ’s ears during the vision or erase His memory afterwards as He did Ellen’s?