Bible Doctrine

Before enumerating the many events that had to occur before His return Jesus warned His disciples, “Take heed that no man deceive you.” (Matthew 24:4). Yes, take heed that no one deceive you. Be wary of male, female, preacher, pastor, scholar, theologian, etc. We are ALL fallible and subject to err. The Lord then goes on to say, “For many shall come in my name (Greek “onoma”, pronounced ON’-om-ah, meaning “authority), saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and shall deceive many.” (verse 5, Matthew 24). Now only a handful of crackpots have surfaced down through the centuries claiming that they themselves were Christ, and those few who did so did not deceive but a very few. Jesus was actually saying that many would come supposedly by His authority, claiming to be anointed by Him, called by Him to represent Him and preach, saying Jesus was indeed the Christ of God, the Messiah, and would deceive vast multitudes by then preaching and proclaiming profound error. AND THAT HAS HAPPENED! Denomination after denomination has arisen proclaiming Jesus to be the Christ of God, the Savior of the world, and these various denominations have deceived multiplied millions by then preaching doctrines that are totally unscriptural.

Instead of proclaiming a deliverance of His followers by a secret “rapture” Jesus point blank warns them “Then shall they (the unbelievers, to-wit, the followers of a then worldwide false religion at the close of the times of the Gentiles – yet future) deliver you up to be afflicted, AND SHALL KILL YOU, and you shall be hated of ALL nations for my name’s sake (because you are Christians).” Christians are then hated by all nations as all nations at that time will then be followers of a worldwide religion that will proclaim God has no Son and teach it is blasphemy warranting the death penalty for teaching such. ALL nations means ALL nations, to-wit, America, England, Canada, Ireland Italy, Mexico, etc. This prophecy was never fulfilled in the past with the hatred of the Jews as the Jews were never hated and killed in all nations. The pogroms against the Jews were carried out in only a few nations in Europe and the Middle East. And even the nations wherein the Jews were hated, they were not hated by all the inhabitants of that nation, nor were the Jews ever hated and killed for Christ’s name sake.

“And then (at the time of this slaughtering of Christians in all nations) shall many be offended (Greek “caused to stumble, led to sin, apostasize – embracing this false religion), and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:10 with 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5).). “And many false prophets (preachers, teachers) shall rise (by the thousands, scores in every community), and shall deceive many (prior to the surfacing of this great false religion)” (verse 11). This is as certain as the rising of tomorrow’s sun, friend. You don’t have to believe it. Truth remains truth whether it is accepted or rejected. There are 52 countries where the Bible is now banned or severely restricted. In North Korea, Afghanistan and Somalia just having a Bible in your possession carries the death penalty. At the time of the end, the time immediately preceding our Lord’s return, the Bible will be totally banned in all countries of the world. Friend, the only “rapture” this generation is going to experience is that which they enjoy when buying their first new car, marrying the love of their life, or holding their first child in their arms. Please believe that for it is so. To be continued in Part 2.

Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

The sea you have hidden Sheikh Osama Bin Laden’s body in, we swear to Allah, we’ll mix it with your blood!” Those were the words spoken by the ISIL leader February 15, 2015 moments before he, and his terrorist comrades cut off the heads of a dozen Coptic Christians on the beach along the southern Mediterranean coast. Finally, the speaker declared, “We will conquer Rome, by Allah’s permission.”

The average American citizen, if even aware of what that ISIL leader said, soon forgets his threat and goes about his merry way.  But the clock keeps on ticking.  The hands on that clock slowly but surely inch their way to the hour of destruction.  Pope Francis has made many overtures and concessions to the Muslim community, knowing that the words spoken by that ISIL leader were not idle words.  When a Muslim, especially an ISIL or ISIS leader, makes a pronouncement and swears to Allah that his words are utter truth, you can well believe he will do everything within his power to bring to pass what he has uttered.

America’s political leaders are utterly blind to the imminent jeopardy in which they are placing this nation when they welcome more and more Muslims to immigrate to America.  They might not live long enough to see the horrors they are unleashing on this country.  Their sons and daughters might yet escape, but their grandchildren will pay the price for their grandparents folly.  And they can forget about being whisked away to safety by a “rapture.”  God help you to understand.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

There are several scripture passages one would have to read and understand before they could possibly discern how there is no discrepancy or contradiction in the scriptures that say Jesus Christ is returning FOR His saints and also that He is returning WITH His saints? Previously we learned that the vision of the transfiguration of Christ on the mount showed Him returning in glory with at least two of His saints, Moses and Elijah! Well, then, doesn’t this support the “rapture” doctrine? Not at all. Not when one considers what Paul wrote to the Philippian believers. Beginning with Philippians, chapter 3, verse 7: “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, THAT I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death, IF BY ANY MEANS I MIGHT ATTAIN UNTO THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD. NOT AS THOUGH i HAD ALREADY ATTAINED, EITHER WERE ALREADY PERFECT, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. BRETHREN, I COUNT NOT MYSELF TO HAVE APPREHENDED, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:7-14). Note: The English words apprehend and apprehended in verses 12 and 13 are translated from the Greek  katalambano (pronounced kat-al-lam-BAN’-o), meaning to seize, possess or attain.

Notice how Paul clearly says that he had not yet attained unto the resurrection of the dead! But WHAT resurrection? He says the power of Christ’s own resurrection! Paul long before had attained to the resurrection of the redeemed sons of God, but he wanted to be partaker of a far better resurrection – a resurrection awarded to all those who were perfected in Christ. These are the believers who will enjoy a “rapture” of sorts, being resurrected prior to the general resurrection of the redeemed and returning WITH Jesus Christ in glory along with Moses and Elijah and a host of others, surely including the parents of John the Baptist. (See Luke 1:5-6). These spiritually perfected believers comprise and are the bride of Christ!  (See Revelation 14:1-5 with Ephesians 4:11-24).

The word “resurrection” occurs nowhere in the Hebrew scriptures – the Old Testament. The word “resurrection” occurs forty-one times in the Greek scriptures – the New Testament. Thirty-nine times it is translated from the Greek word anastasis (pronounced an-AS’-tas-is), meaning “raised to life again.” Once it is translated from the Greek word egersis (pronounced EG’-er-sis), and meaning “a resurgence from death.” (See Matthew 27:53). And once it is translated from the Greek word exanastasis (pronounced ex-an-AS’-tas-is), meaning “a rising from death,” but much more than that. The EX in front of the word anastasis speaks of an “out resurrection,” that is a resurrection from a group to be resurrected but leaving the greater majority held in death until a later time. And the ones left unresurrected are unperfected children of God!

So, the rapture doctrine does have an element of truth in it. But every professing Christian who thinks they are going to be caught away into heaven at any moment are in for a grim surprise. Such folks should read Revelation 2 and 3 and see if they can discern which of those Christians mentioned therein would have been caught away to heaven had the “rapture” occurred in the First Century.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Before proceeding any further with this “rapture” series of mini-articles there is a Greek word we need to examine closely as that word is often spotlighted by the “rapture” teachers as definitely showing Jesus Christ’s return is going to be invisible to all but the truly redeemed. That word is the Greek word parousia (pronounced par-oo-SEE’-ah), meaning “advent, return, or presence.” This same Greek word is found in I Corinthians 16:17; 2 Corinthians 7:6 and Philippians 1:26. Here are those verses: “Paul writes, “I am glad of the coming (parousia) of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.” (I Corinthians 16:17). These three Christians did not appear in Ephesus (from where Paul wrote the Corinthian letter) invisibly, yet Paul said he was glad of their parousia, or coming. Paul uses the word parousia again in 2 Corinthians 7:6, writing, “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming (parousia) of Titus.” Did Titus come to Paul invisibly? Of course not. Neither will Jesus return in two phases, His first appearance being invisible, His second appearance visible to every eye! And once more in Philippians 1:26, Paul speaks of his visiting the believers at Philippi as his “coming (parousia) to you again.”

Nothing in Matthew 24:3 or 27 implies that Jesus’ return is in two phases or that His presence in the clouds will be invisible to anyone! In fact, verse 27 of Matthew 24 states clearly “for as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, so shall (in like manner) also the coming (parousia) of the Son of man be.” And what light, or lightening effect, comes out of the east and shines to the west? the SUN! Jesus was not referring to the momentary flash of lightning during a storm. He was referring to the sun’s bright light as it shines in full strength as it courses across the sky from east to the west, visible to all but the totally blind. And that brightest of lights is not visible for a split second only. It is visible for many hours, “so shall also the coming (parousia) of the Son of man be.”

Preachers have a bad habit of parroting one another. If most all ministers of their given denomination say such-and-such is the teaching of the scriptures, they generally say the same. Seminary and Bible college graduates of a Lutheran college enter the Lutheran ministry and preach Lutheran doctrine. Young Baptist preachers departing sheepskin in hand from a Baptist seminary preach Baptist doctrine, accepting a pastorate in a Baptist church. Surprise, surprise, surprise! 

Look closely at these four verses of scripture from Luke 21: “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and (simultaneously) upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity (mankind never having seen such phenomena before), the sea and the waves roaring (as something is happening with the moon that creates the ocean’s tides). Men’s hearts failing them for fear (they’re suffering cardiac arrest because of these terrifying astronomical events), and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth (asteroids, comets, etc. actually striking the earth), for the powers of heaven shall be shaken (moving out of their ageless orbits). And THEN (not before, but THEN) shall they (the fearful and unbelieving) SEE the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and GREAT GLORY (not a “secret” rapture). And when these things (that Jesus has just described) begin to come to pass, THEN LOOK UP (believer), and lift up your heads (no longer bowed in grief due to terrible persecution and violent death at the hands of Islam’s conquering hordes), for your redemption draws nigh (yes, THEN – not before).” (Luke 21:25-28). Those who teach a “secret rapture” of believers could occur at any moment unwittingly make Jesus a false prophet. Those who say Jesus Christ could “break through the blue” at any time misconstrue these plain, clear statements of scripture and many similar passages. I repeat, Satan’s blinding power is staggering. Deceived men pen books like the popular work of FICTION entitled “Left Behind” and millions believe these errors of men and ignore the words of Jesus Christ. Hollywood then makes a movie of that book and everybody gets rich – everybody connected with the writing of the book and making of the movie. When these followers of men live out their lives without seeing the return of Christ their faith will waver. They will be ripe for Satan’s further deceptions and will come to believe the Bible is nothing more than a book of myths when in actuality the myth was the “rapture” teaching. Those who teach and preach the “rapture” error are false witnesses of God, and they will pay dearly for deceiving the hearts of the simple – unsuspecting believers who buy into this lie as they are profoundly ignorant of the scriptures.

Don’t look for Jesus to return just yet. In the above quoted passage of scripture, He told us plainly and clearly WHEN to look for Him and HOW He would return – and it is NOT NOW and it is NOT IN SECRET! God have mercy on those who choose to ignore Jesus and listen to deceived writers of fiction!!!!

But doesn’t the scriptures say quite plainly that Jesus Christ returns WITH His saints? Doesn’t this show plainly that believers are taken to heaven by a rapture prior to our Lord’s second coming? (See Zechariah 14:5; I Thessalonians 3:13 and Jude 14).  In Part 5 of this series on the rapture those questions will be answered in depth.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Most of the pastors and preachers of this world are unwittingly preparing their congregations for eventual failure and defeat! “Jesus is coming soon,” they cry. “The end is near,” they say. “We are living in the last days right now,” they claim. Most seem totally oblivious to the fact that preachers have been making that claim not for a few years, or decades, BUT FOR CENTURIES!

“Well, He’s closer to coming now than He was ten or twenty years ago,” they argue. And that is true. But it is true in the same sense you are closer to your destination an hour after beginning your journey than you were when you first started, but what if your destination is San Francisco and you have begun your journey from your home in New Jersey? Still, you have a long, long way to go.

How are Christian congregations being prepared for defeat, you ask? When the decades continue to slip by and Christianity finds Islam growing more widespread and violent, gaining more and more territory and adherents, with more and more Christians slaughtered and beheaded many Christians will throw in the towel and concede, “We have been wrong. Jesus is not coming back. If the end is near, then it is the end of Christianity.”

If you are advanced in age, you probably don’t have a lot to worry about regarding Islam. It is the next generation, and the next, and the next that will suffer unspeakable atrocities and horrors. Those inhabitants of earth at that time will find comfort, peace and safety only in proportion to their submission to Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. Even then, many will suffer martyrdom, but at least will have the hand of God to comfort and sustain them in their trials.

The handwriting is written on the wall in fiery letters. I read it long ago. Nor am I alone. Many others see clearly what I see, but we are in the extreme minority. I am but one watchman on that wall.

If preachers would just quit parroting one another, holding to the party line, so to speak, and finally allow the scriptures to say what they so plainly say, more and more of them would have to concede this present generation is NOT the generation that will witness Christ’s return to planet earth.

Again and again I have categorically stated that there is not an infant alive on earth today that can possibly live long enough to witness Christ’s return in their own lifetime. Your Bible clearly states that at the time of the end, the time immediately preceding Christ’s return every nation on earth will be followers of a great false religion, and that religion will be Islam. Any remaining Christians at that time will be hated of ALL nations! They will be hated in America, England, Australia, Norway, Denmark, Scotland – ALL NATIONS! They will be beheaded! (See Matthew 24:7-11 and Revelation 20:4).

Folks, Satan’s deceptive powers are staggering. He horribly deceived the wisest man who ever lived – Solomon. Billy Graham and Charles Stanley are not immune to his deceptive influence, neither am I, or you. But we must allow the Word of God to say what it says and accept its message. This world’s inhabitants have been inundated with false concepts and religious beliefs, and, for the most part, they just will not let them go. “All these people can’t be wrong,” they argue. All what people? All these Muslims? All these atheists? All these Roman Catholics or Mormons or Baptists?

Make no mistake. Jesus Christ IS coming back someday, but the day of His return is not as near as many have been led to believe. Nearly two thousand years ago the apostle Paul was confronted with this issue. Believers in Thessalonica had misconstrued something Paul had said in the first letter he had written to them and, therefore thought Jesus Christ could return at any moment. Paul then wrote them a second letter, saying, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by (or, concerning) the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him (at THAT time – not at the moment of our death)….Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except 1) there come a falling away first (Christians abandoning Christianity in great numbers), and 2) that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts Himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he IS God. Remember you not that when I was with you I told you these things? And now you know what withholds (Jesus’ return) that He might be revealed in His time” (See 2 Thessalonians 2:1, 3-6).

Notice that Paul plainly tells the Thessalonian believers that two distinct and easily recognizable events MUST occur before Jesus Christ’s return: 1) There must be a great falling away from Christianity, and 2) one who exalts himself above God must sit in the temple of God thereby showing that he himself is God! Folks, that temple hasn’t even been built yet! So, calm down, Jesus won’t be “breaking through the blue” before you finish reading this article. So go ahead and buy that house or car on time. You will have time enough to enjoy and pay for it before our Lord’s return.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

Jesus warned His followers, “If they shall say unto you (you believers), ‘Behold, he (the returning Christ) is in the desert,’ go not forth, (expecting to meet Him); ‘Behold, he is in the SECRET chambers,,’ believe it not” (See Matthew 24:26). Note well that Jesus clearly says there will be nothing secret about His return. “For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE!” (verse 27, Matthew 24). The return of Jesus Christ will be the most spectacular event the people of this world have ever witnessed!

Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away!” (Matthew 24:35). If we will only listen to Jesus and pay attention to the words He spoke and the statements He made we would not be confused or susceptible to men’s distorted unscriptural teachings. King David wrote, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Again, “The entrance of thy words giveth light, it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:13). I do not listen to the words of Tim LaHaye or Jerry B. Jenkins – authors of the Left Behind fictional series portraying a distorted view of the end times and Christ’s return. Nor am I swayed by the oratory of Hal Lindsey in his bestseller The Late Great Planet Earth. These three men might mean well. The Mormon bishop might mean well. The Pope might mean well, but that is no indication they know and speak the truth.

Tens of thousands of professing Christians and their pastors, who lived in the 20th Century were absolutely certain they would be alive to be caught away in the “rapture.” Most of them are now long dead, their bodies moldering in their graves. Tens of thousands of professing Christians of this 21st Century likewise are certain they will be caught away in a secret rapture long before Islam begins conquering nation after nation. Many of them are so certain of this that they refuse to prepay their funeral expenses or purchase grave plots. They are unaware that thousands of Christians who lived and died in the 20th Century had the same mindset. 

The apostles had no idea over twenty centuries would pass (and maybe even more) before the Lord would return. Early on, they thought the Lord’s return was imminent. And they thought that due to the intense persecution brought against the Christians by both Jews and pagan Rome. Over and over again in his first epistle Peter speaks of the suffering of Christians and how they were looked upon as evil doers. (See I Peter 1:6-7; 2:12, 19-23; 3:14-17; 4:1-4). And then, in light of this continued persecution of believers, Peter writes “But the end of all things is at hand Be ye, therefore, sober, and watch unto prayer!” (See I Peter 4:7). Christians were not being spared these fiery trials, suffering and persecution, and it was such continued treatment that prompted Peter to say, “the end of all things is at hand!” He could not be faulted for believing that as the Lord had plainly stated there would be a great persecution of believers prior to His return!

When Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Jesus, “What shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (or age)…Jesus answered and said….Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you, and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake…and then shall the end come” (See Matthew 24:3-14). These were the words that were ringing in Peter’s ear as he saw the growing persecution of Christians, prompting him to write “the end of all things is at hand!” (See I Peter 4:7).

Peter then writes, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (I Peter 4:12). It seems most believers would think it mighty strange if they began to be persecuted and even put to death! Yet Peter firmly believed such treatment was a sure sign of the Lord’s near return.

Peter goes on to write, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed (following this unparalleled suffering of Christians), ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified” (See I Peter 4:13-14).

Peter then says, “Wherefore let them that suffer ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator” (verse 19, I Peter 4).

The apostle Paul also taught that the intense persecution of Christians would be the sign that our Lord’s return was imminent, for in speaking of the severe “present distress” of Christians by the Romans – so severe that Paul advised against Christians marrying and attempting to raise a family – Paul then wrote ‘THE TIME IS SHORT…..for the fashion of this world passes away!” (See Romans 7:25-31).

Paul and Peter could not be faulted for believing “the end of all things was at hand” and that “the time is short.” Even James wholeheartedly agreed, writing that it was “the last days” and that “the coming of the Lord draws nigh” even stating “the judge (Jesus Christ) stands before the door!” (See James 4:1-9). He then speaks of Christians “suffering affliction.” (verse 10). That’s WHY James was certain the Lord’s return was quite near. Satan has blinded countless pastors, preachers and Bible teachers from seeing this oft repeated truth, leading them to teach the very opposite – that Christians will escape persecution by being “raptured” or “caught away” before things get really bad.  Continued in Part 3.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

More than once Jesus said to His disciples, “Why reason ye among yourselves” (Matthew 16:8), or, “Why are you asking one another of what I said? Ask me!” Jesus is the source of eternal truth. If you want to get your doctrines and beliefs straight, saying what Jesus says in a given matter, go to Jesus, go to the Word of God – the Bible, especially the four gospel accounts that contain the very words that Jesus spoke.

Many in reading the scriptures, especially the gospel accounts – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – fail to take into account the preconceived ideas and beliefs of our Lord’s disciples upon reading some of the questions His disciples asked Jesus. Remember, Jesus’ disciples did not expect a sacrificed Messiah. When He spoke of His impending betrayal and crucifixion, they asked one another “What is He saying? What does He mean?” They expected a conquering Messiah – a glorious one who would throw off the Roman yoke and return Jerusalem and Israel to their former glory. “Then He took unto Him the twelve, and said unto them, ‘Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished, for He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on, and they shall scourge Him, and put Him to death, and the third day He shall rise again.’ AND THEY UNDERSTOOD NONE OF THESE THINGS, AND THIS SAYING WAS HID FROM THEM, NEITHER KNEW THEY THE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN.” (Luke 18:31-34).

Who do you think was hiding these truths from the disciples? Satan, of course. NEVER underestimate the deceiving POWER of Satan. Here was Jesus, in person, speaking as plainly as language will allow to His own disciples and Satan hid from them the plain truths Jesus was uttering. And, he will do the same with you, friend, whoever you are. These disciples, from the time they were little boys, had heard and been taught that the coming Messiah would be the greatest. most successful leader Israel would ever have. He would outshine Moses and Joshua, David and Solomon. He would deliver Israel from all her oppressors. So, when Jesus said He would be delivered into Roman hands, mocked, spat upon, whipped and put to death, Satan was easily able to hide from them the plain truth of Christ’s words. So, too, with the “rapture” teaching and most Christians of today. Christian denominations have taught profound error for so long to so many, now when they hear the truth, if it is ever presented to them at all, they can’t receive it. Jesus’ own words can be read or quoted to them verbatim, still it is hid from them neither know they the things which are spoken.

Instead of proclaiming a deliverance of His followers by a secret “rapture” Jesus point blank warns them “Then shall they (the unbelievers, to-wit, the followers of a then worldwide false religion at the close of the times of the Gentiles – yet future) deliver you up to be afflicted, AND SHALL KILL YOU, and ye shall be hated of ALL nations for my name’s sake (because you are Christians).” Christians are then hated by all nations as all nations at that time will then be followers of a worldwide religion that will proclaim God has no Son and teach it is blasphemy warranting the death penalty for teaching such. ALL nations means ALL nations, to-wit, America, England, Canada, Ireland Italy, Mexico, etc. This prophecy was never fulfilled in the past with the hatred of the Jews as the Jews were never hated and killed in all nations. The pogroms against the Jews were carried out in only a few nations in Europe and the Middle East. And even the nations wherein the Jews were hated, they were not hated by all the inhabitants of that nation.

“And then (at the time of this slaughtering of Christians in all nations) shall many be offended (Greek “caused to stumble, led to sin, apostasize – embracing this false religion), and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another” (Matthew 24:10). “And many false prophets (preachers, teachers) shall rise (by the thousands, scores in every community), and shall deceive many (prior to the surfacing of this great false religion)” (verse 11). This is as certain as the rising of tomorrow’s sun, friend. You don’t have to believe it. Truth remains truth whether it is accepted or rejected. There are 52 countries where the Bible is now banned or severely restricted. At the time of the end, the time immediately preceding our Lord’s return, the Bible will be totally banned in all countries of the world. Friend, the only “rapture” this generation is going to experience is that which they enjoy when buying their first new car, marrying the love of their life, or holding their first child in their arms. Please believe that for it is so. Continued in Part 2.

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

On December 17, 1903, Wilbur and Orville Wright made four brief flights at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina with their first powered aircraft.  The Wright brothers had made the world’s first successful airplane.  On January 30, 1948, Orville Wright died in Dayton, Ohio at the age of seventy-six.  (Wilbur Wright had died of typhoid fever at home in Dayton, Ohio on May 30, 1912).  In the space of but forty-five years mankind had gone from the Wright Brothers first powered flight to the invention of jet aircraft and commercial aircraft flying all over the world!  Human intellect, in just a few dozen years, not only produced phenomenal travel through the air but introduced many other inventions such as the radio, television, motion pictures in color with full sound, mass produced automobiles, etc.  The world of 1948 was far different from the world of 1903.

As I type these words, the year is 2016.  Can you even begin to imagine how different the world might well be forty-five years from today – in the year 2061?  Many, perhaps most, who read these words will not even be a part of that world.  Just as Wilbur Wright had long been dead when January of 1948 rolled around, so, too, many of us shall have been long dead when January of 2061 rolls around.  There will be many changes in this world by then.  In fact, there will be many changes in this world long before that moment.

ISIS and the movers and shakers of Islam have a time-table for the changes they desire to see on the world scene over the next few years and decades.  They seem to forget that China, North Korea, and other nations also have plans for tomorrow – plans that do not include them or Islam, and their worlds are on a collision course.  And you can well believe they most certainly will collide.  The world we live in today is not a world that is steadily inching toward peace and harmony but a world that is marching ever more energetically toward its own destruction.  ISIS knows its’ only hope of achieving success in seeing Islam embraced the world over is by use of the sword and violence.  And they have adequately shown to all that they eagerly accept that challenge.

Many believers are certain they need not be concerned in such matters as they believe they will be “raptured” away long before matters get really heated up.  (I wonder if Christians in Egypt, Libya and the Middle East had a similar mindset as Islamic terrorists slit their throats and cut off their heads?  Had they never heard of the “rapture” doctrine?  Did they believe it?  What confusion must have filled their minds as they were dressed in orange jumpsuits, made to kneel down and then had their throats slit?)

Reader, you had better get to know your Bible and I mean know it real well.  You had better start believing what you read in that sacred book.  Don’t look to radio and television preachers for your doctrine.  Look to God’s holy Word alone.  Believe the apostles Paul and Peter knew what they were talking about when they spoke of the end times.  “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which IS to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you…..If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.  On their part (the Muslims will yet prove themselves far more anti-Christian than the citizens of the Roman Empire ever were) He is evil spoken of…But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf” (See I Peter 4:12,14 and 16).  Peter had just written, “For the end of all things is at hand” (See verse 7).   Peter was led to this conclusion by the horrific persecution of Christians by Nero.  Peter well knew that a fiery persecution of Christians was to precede the Lord’s return.  Peter knew nothing of any “rapture theory” – that believers would be spared such tribulation by being caught away to heaven.  That is a recent teaching.  But it has spread like wildfire and is accepted as God’s truth by millions.  Various novels and movies have popularized this teaching!  Christian authors and noted preachers prior to the 20th Century are completely silent as to this “rapture” doctrine.

The “present distress” Paul speaks of in I Corinthians 7 prompted Paul to write “the time is short.” (See I Corinthians 7:26-29).  The distress Paul speaks of was the intense persecution of Christians by the Romans, but note well how Paul saw the persecution of believers as a sure sign of Christ’s soon arrival, agreeing with Peter in this matter.  James is in total agreement with these two apostles for he speaks of the coming of the Lord drawing near while at the same time mentioning how believers were suffering affliction. (See James 5:8-10).

We had better get as close to our Lord as we can in our trust and our obedience. This is especially true of young believers  – because what we observe happening to Christians on the other side of this planet will yet spread to this side of the globe.  Oh, it might take several decades yet, but it will come as surely as tomorrow’s sunrise.

Many believers need to study very carefully Jesus Christ’s Olivet prophecy in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.  John omits this prophecy from his gospel account.  They need to compare 2 Thessalonians 2 and several chapters of Revelation with all of these texts.  Knowledge of the closing chapters of Daniel must also be taken into account.  Oh, one more thing, all sin must be abandoned for the Holy Spirit to grant spiritual enlightenment.  May our blessed Lord give you understanding in all things.

Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley

 There is so much that needs to be said in order for my reader to truly understand just WHY God has evidently insisted upon being called the God OF ISRAEL.  He is called that one hundred and eighty-eight times in the scriptures and only once called the God of the Gentiles (i.e., nations), for He is the God of ONE nation – the nation Israel.  Only in Romans 3, verse 29, do we read the words, “Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.” Jesus, this rejected Messiah of the Jews, declares “other sheep I have (the Gentiles), which are not of this fold (Israel), them also I must bring (to God the Father), and they shall hear my voice (so as to understand and respond), AND THERE SHALL BE ONE FOLD, AND ONE SHEPHERD” (See John 10:16).  And that one fold is the spiritual house of Israel!!!  There are not two bodies of Christ – a Gentile fold and an Israelite, or Jewish, fold.  There is but ONE fold, one body of Christ – and that body of Christ is spiritual Israel.  This is a basic, fundamental doctrine of scripture, and unless rightly understood literally hundreds of scriptures remain locked to the understanding of not just the world but locked to the understanding of believers – even many “preachers!”  For some reason God is seeing fit to impart to your minds a truth closed to multitudes of Christians, or at least those who call themselves such.  Satan has a greater understanding of this truth than most ministers, and that is pathetic, reprehensible, tragic, but nonetheless TRUE!  That is WHY Satan moved early on to divide the body of Christ into two folds – a Sabbath keeping fold and a Sunday keeping fold.  Seeing his success, he then moved quickly to divide and subdivide these two bodies into scores of differing, dissenting, bickering organizations by introducing denominationalism.  And his success has been staggering. 

Satan had a masterstroke of genius when he moved to confuse believers into thinking the terms Old Testament and Old Covenant were synonymous thereby leading some believers into thinking the Old Testament had, in a sense, been abolished or done away with – no longer used to formulate doctrine or determine God’s will in a given matter.  His second masterstroke of genius was to deceive some believers, and, yes, it has proven to be the majority of believers, that God’s sacred, holy, ETERNAL Sabbath was changed from the seventh day of the weekly cycle to the first day of the week, from Saturday (actually from sunset Friday till sunset Saturday) to Sunday!  Many believers are convinced God authorized this change in honor of Christ’s resurrection – a belief that is without one shred of scriptural authority or proof.  The God of Israel meets in fellowship with spiritual Israel on the Sabbath – always has and always will.  That is not to say we cannot have marvelous, valid fellowship with God on the other six days of the week.  We can and should, but scripture plainly reveals that God “blessed and sanctified” the seventh day.  (See Genesis 2:1-3).  No such language is ever used of the first day of the week, Sunday.  In God’s eyes Sunday is a regular work day, a day as common as any other!  Paul’s writings have been perverted, distorted, misinterpreted to supposedly show that Sunday is the “Christian” sabbath.  Not so!  To be continued…… 

Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),

Donald Wiley