Please Note: I am not standing for the pre-trib, mid-trib or Post-trib in this article as I do not believe we should be so dogmatic on these subject, I am just touching on the attacks that are leveled against people who do not hold to a post-trib position is part of a Roman Catholic Jesuit, Occultist Conspiracy that is leading many to be part of the great falling away, I am merely disgusted, to say the least, I will say that many people have said that the work that Joe Schimmel Produced on the Satanic Agenda in Hollywood and the music industry to be commendable and the work he did on gay rights.
Joe Schimmel is teaching that eschatology is an issue for the gospel making what they believe essential for salvation to quote them.
Referenced by Joe Schimmel’s website makes mention of the DVD (not the trailer) in “Left Behind or Led Astray,”xv is that the Pretrib teaching provides a platform for a most serious error which undermines the very Gospel itself.
What is it Joe Schimmel is saying is the pre-trib believers falling foul of Romans 1:17 that they are suppressing the truth of the gospel in unrighteousness? if this is the case Joe Schimmel is saying that the wrath of God will come upon all pre-tribbers, GFM are making this into an issue of Salvation meaning not only Joe Schimmel but Jacob Prasch also from Moriel Ministries is committing the sin of schism, the Bible tells us with such people mark those who cause division, Romans 16:17 I beseche you brethre marke them which cause division and geve occasions of evyll contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoyde them. (translation of William Tyndale New Testament).
In Joe Schimmels recent video I had responded with the comments concerning the pre-trib being a catholic conspiracy in the trailer at 3:35seconds in the video trailer Left behind or Led Astray?, there had been no response as yet to the video, it is a shame and I am sorry to see that the video trailer features Kirk Cameron, we also know that has had involvement with Ray Comfort who is an ecumenist Lordship Salvation promoter and supporters of the liberal and pro-abortionist organisation such as the Salvation Army along with an Ecumenist and compromiser TBN host Kirk Camermon, who had involvement with Glenn Beck who is a Mormon, Kirk has not even spocken against Glenns Mormon Beliefs but received Glenn Becks seal of approval as well as inviting a former evangelical pastor who converted to Roman Catholicism to TBN to make the case for Santa Claus as Cameron promotes his new film “Saving Christmas,” which seeks to convince Christians who choose not to celebrate the holiday, he has even urged Christians to celebrate Halloween, this was no different to Ravi Zachirias who gave endorsement to Nicky Gumbel who said the GOD INSPIRED NICKY GUMBEL IN HIS WORK WITH THE ALPHA COURSE.
This is not surprising, to say the least because there has been some oversight of these issues on the part of Joe Schimmel.
It is sad that Good Fight Ministries is attacking is adding to the unnecessary divisions that are already a foot in the churches, in a second video Left Behind or Led Astray?: The Church Fathers [Excerpt], at 3:46 secs not all the early church fathers are listed in the film trailer due to its content on one subject, what the film omits is that there are some of early Church Fathers are listed the Great Fathers such as Ambrose (340–397), Jerome (347–420), Augustine (354–430) and Saint Gregory the Great (540–604), Basil (c. 329–379), Athanasius (c. 296–373), Gregory of Nazianzus (329 – c. 389) and John Chrysostom (347–407) who were also called the “Eight Doctors of the Church” are regarded as the basis for the what was later to be recognised as the formation of the Roman Catholic Church, it eventually led later to the formation of Vatican 1 after the council of niece, in my reading of the Fathers, it was clear that some of them argued and did not form agreements on issues around the Eucharist, Baptism etc, my personal preference is to go directly to the Bible is self as that is the sole basis and authority of doctrine.
Getting back to the point if the pre-trib position is part of a great Catholic conspiracy to deceive them from the truth and lead them away from the Gospel as Good Fight Ministries film trailer asserts at 3:35seconds, the question must be asked why is it in four places in the Catechism of the Catholic Church does it strongly teach the post trib position, I am not saying post-tribbers are Catholics or agree with Catholicism but to say the pre-tribbers are part of a Jesuit Catholic conspiracy to lead many into the great apostacy of the church, but I have a good reason to believe this is being a bit schismatic and creating unnecessary division.
Who’s leading who astray????
It is interesting that Joe Schimmel is promoting the idea that a Jesuit who is often seen to be representative of RCC had an agenda to push the Pre-trib view when in fact we know that the RCC is teaching a post-trib view.
CCC Number Vatican Core Belief 2642 The Revelation of “what must soon take place,” the Apocalypse, is borne along by the songs of the heavenly liturgy 127 but also by the intercession of the “witnesses” (martyrs).128 The prophets and the saints, all those who were slain on earth for their witness to Jesus, the vast throng of those who, having come through the great tribulation, have gone before us into the Kingdom, all sing the praise and glory of him who sits on the throne, and of the Lamb.129 In communion with them, the Church on earth also sings these songs with faith in the midst of trial. By means of petition and intercession, faith hopes against all hope and gives thanks to the “Father of lights,” from whom “every perfect gift” comes down.130 Thus faith is pure praise.
CCC Number Vatican Core Belief 675 Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers.574 The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth 575 will unveil the “mystery of iniquity” in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.576
CCC Number Vatican Core Belief 676 The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgment. The Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, 577 especially the “intrinsically perverse” political form of a secular messianism. 57
CCC Number Vatican Core Belief 676 The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. 579 The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God’s victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his Bride to come down from heaven.580 God’s triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgment after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world. 581
The RCC teaches that Contrary to the rapture doctrine, Christians will not be spared the great tribulation.
The RCC teaches not to believe in this means you follow pseudo-religious teachings.
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/endtimes.htm
“As Cardinal Ratzinger recently pointed out (in the context of the message of Fátima), we are not at the end of the world. In fact, the Second Coming (understood as the physical return of Christ) cannot occur until the full number of the Gentiles are converted, followed by “all Israel.” Approved Catholic mystics (Venerables, Blessed and Saints, approved apparitions) throw considerable light on this order, by prophesying a minor apostasy and tribulation toward the end of the world, after which will occur the reunion of Christians.
Only later will the entire world fall away from Christ (the great apostasy) and the personal Antichrist arise and the Tribulation of the End occur. Although this is not Catholic doctrine, arising as it does from private revelation, it conforms to what is occurring in our time, especially in light of Our Lady of Fátima’s promise of an “Era of Peace.” This “Triumph of the Immaculate Heart” (other saints have spoken of a social reign of Jesus Christ when Jesus will reign in the hearts of men) would seem to occur prior to the rise of the Antichrist.
The optimism of the Pope for the “New Evangelization” and a “Civilization of Love” in the Third Millennium of Christianity fits here, as well. This would place us, therefore, in the period just before the events spoken of in the Catechism, that is, on the verge of the evangelization of the entire world. Other interpretations are possible, but none seem to fit the facts as well, especially when approved mystics are studied, instead of merely alleged ones.” (ETWN Quote)
A question is asked so is the so-called apparition of Our Lady of Fatima called the immaculate heart right that the Church will not survive the tribulation ???????
Is it the case that we can accept some of the teachings in the Catholic Catechism and reject others as some would have us focus on what we agree rather than what we disagree, on the other hand if the Church of Rome is seen to be a false church who is not representative of the bible as most who believe in Sola Scriptura do then we also must with it reject the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church and use the Holy Bible as our sole authority.
It would not be wise to go along with Moriel Ministries, Good Fight Ministries, Way of the Master, Living Waters on what is said here it would be wise not to listen to these points, the same things I would raise with those who are dogmatic in the pre-trib or mid-trib position what is more important is the Gospel regardless of the view.
(What we are saying is generally speaking) “You cannot treat the early fathers on par with the scriptures or the Apostles even if there is a direct link, it maybe the case that some of the teachings may have agreed with scripture it is my position that as long as the scripture is placed above the early fathers we use the bible as a means to discern correctly.”
(To add to this point as it has been misconstrued by Joe Schimmel, the quote above was not specific to Good Fight Ministries)
Miguel Hayworth (2015).
This is not an endorsement of the following link with all things we firmly suggest you use discernment, the argument contrary to the video from the pre-trib side is that the Early Church Fathers did teach in this view before Darby.
http://beginningandend.com/what-did-ancient-church-fathers-believe-about-the-rapture/
Response back to answering Joe Schimmel
http://www.leftbehindorledastray.com/use-of-the-early-church-fathers-and-a-jesuit-conspiracy/
Update to the article August 19th, 2015 I had just seen a response to our article from Joe Schimmel and will to make a few observations on his response but two citations and corrections to the article that I thank Joe for pointing it out publicly,
1) I had given surfactant time for Joe to contact me before writing this article, either he did not get my message or maybe he was too busy to respond, what ever the reason for his public response I wish to address his misconceptions of my write up.
2) I did not suggest that Joe did not hold to Sola Scriptura, the question on that paragraph was put to the reader, to let the reader conclude and so the comment was a generalization, nor was my statement about Kirk false, as they are backed up with evidence.
Joe Schimmel falsely assumed I hold to a pre-trib position, I hold to a Pan-Trib view (this means you can be pre but also be ready for a post, that is my whole view), I clearly stated that I am not standing for the pre-trib, mid-trib or Post-trib, as I reject the notion that I am dogmatic about the pre-trib view, but I will speak out against any aggressive attacks on the pre-trib believers as I have witnessed and I will speak out against any aggressive attacks on the post-trib believers, because this who debate should not be subject a personal issue.
3) It does not really do any good to say that the pre-tribbers or those who do not hold to post-trib view, for example, the mid trib’s who lean to pre are called heretics and part of the Jesuit Satanic Plot to deceive the body of Christ, the point is you could apply Joe’s Jesuit reasoning and use the same argument to suggest that the Jesuits also influenced the pre-wrath, and mid position also, with the book of revelation the events don’t happen at the same time as the second advent either and have a split between events.
An example of where Pre-trib believers are aggressively attacked was stated by one of Joe’s followers as one of many examples of this “whenever you reveal the wicked plans of the counter-reformation led by the evil Jesuits you can expect that there will be people that will fight against you! Thanks for having the courage to go against the grain on this and speak biblical truth”
The statements made by Joe and his followers would suggest that their view of the post-trib rapture is essential doctrine, they may reject it but it would not make sense to call Pre-tibs heretical, this is bringing this in line making it matter for the gospel as they state that the pre-tribbers are part of the falling away, they falsely assume that all pre-tribbers all have the same position in believing they place their hope in a rapture, I know of pre and mid-trib believers who have a different view of the blessed hope and this is in the Gospel, the death, blood and resurrection of Christ and his offer of redemption, my critique against the American Christian Counterpart whether they are pre, mid or post, it is believed by some that the events in the USA concerning biblical prophecy are captivated to the USA and they have not considered Israel, there has been many eschatological arguments where as some believe that the USA is the center of the universe when it comes to the end time’s and conveniently wrap the events conveniently to suit their theological position in relation to other countries fighting ISIS, Israel is not mentioned, in the USA around these teachers have their own speculations about a theory when Biblically speaking the events in the Bible are tied to Israel then the rest of the world.
The hope we should have should be in Christ and not in escapism “the rapture”, the issue of the rapture is a side issue and should be a none issue, the blessed hope is not worrying about looking for the anti-christ and expecting a rapture after the last part of the three and a half years after the temple is built but looking to Jesus rather they preface because it does not fit their theological argument they come against you.
What these people like the commenters of GFM’s Facebook are essentially doing rather than strengthening a person’s faith they are putting people who do not hold to the same eschatology this places into question their salvation by saying that they eventually are leading many away from the gospel this is what is means to be part of the great apostasy simply means to reject the gospel, something is a miss, if they look closely they would find it was not the view of eschatology that is leading many into a false gospel but the new ecumenism, transformational theology, spiral dynamics, replacement theology and a whole host of others that shows there is already a great apostasy in the churches streams of denominations this includes the contemporary Christian music scene and modern worship songs, even the not so obvious compromises in the GFM own camp.
My article was not a personal attack on Joe or his ministry, it is commendable that Joe is doing what most should be doing in preaching the gospel and reaching the lost, I wish many more did this then get into nonsensical and unnecessary debates, the matter I wish to point out is that his trailer was very schismatic over a trivial issue and does not deal with essential points that were raised, Joe’s response to me shows that he was not willing to acknowledge that the RCC hold to a Post Trib position, nor does he stress that Eschatology is not an essential teaching that we should not be devising over as this was not the impression from his trailer, it gives the listener the subtle impression that all pre-tribbers are part of the apostate church and does not take into account that should be widely mentioned and stressed but does not want correction on an issue that should not cause division. In his focus on that issue, he does not think involvement with ecumenists was important and so he has kept this poeple on his trailer this had led me to have a genuine cause for concern, these concerns have not been addressed but ignored.
No where has my article at one point mentioned the DVD as it had not been released at the time I wrote about the video on youtube posted by GFM, the word video referred to the video trailer Joe Schimmel was rather erroneous in his assumption of my critique nor did I state that Kirk Cameron appeared on the DVD hence the title [Official Trailer] Review.
Joe did not answer the points nor did he respond to the question as to why does the CCC teach a post trib is the pre-trib was a Catholic conspiracy that led Darby’s teaching on the subject supposedly?
Nor does it answer the point that the early church fathers did not agree on the issue, and it would appear that Joe is choosing the early church fathers that agree with his position.
John Darby has been incorrectly credited with “inventing” the Rapture I do not believe Joe is accurate on Darby.
For the reader to this post, you may want to consider other factors that Joe Schimmel did not consider the list of the early church fathers below.
Written on August 2, 2013, By
http://beginningandend.com/what-did-ancient-church-fathers-believe-about-the-rapture/
All over the internet, there are many articles and videos that claim that the Rapture doctrine was “invented” in 1830 by a man named John Darby. The following is an excerpt that summarizes this theory:
“The Rapture doctrine, which was the invention of the Plymouth Brethren led by John Nelson Darby (1800-1882), has today been adopted by most Baptist, Pentecostals, Assemblies of God, and a variety of other fundamentalist sects. The idea that Jesus Christ will return for His true Church just before the beginning of the Great Tribulation in a secret gathering or “catching away” was an important part of Darby’s teaching. The movement in which this teaching began originated in small groups in England and Ireland about 1828 and by 1831 was part of the official teaching of the Plymouth Brethren. By 1860 the “rapture” had made its way to the United States.
Today, prophecy pundits and “end-time” revivalists preach the Rapture as if it were established dogma from the time of Christ until the present. The truth is that the first historical reference to the Rapture doctrine comes from the Plymouth Brethren. Not only is the Rapture not found in the teachings of the Church, but even “end-time” heretics throughout the centuries never dreamed of proposing such a novel idea. For example, the 4th century Montanists, who preached both pre-millennialism and that they knew when Christ would return, never ventured so far as to create another 2nd coming of the Lord in a secret rapture.
In all the writings of the Scriptures, the Early Fathers, and the Ecumenical Councils, there is no mention of two 2nd comings of Christ.” (source) [Emphasis added].
In short, the objection is that rather than being a real part of the Bible, the entire idea of a pre-Great Tribulational Rapture was just an invention by Darby and “not even heretics” ever used it. This is very strong language, but is it true? Were there no ancient Christian writings about the church being Raptured before Great Tribulation? An examination of early church writings shows that this charge is false, and some church fathers indeed wrote about the Rapture.
Irenaeus
Irenaeus (130 A.D. – 202 AD) was a bishop of the church in Lyons, France. He was an eyewitness to the Apostle John (who wrote the Book of Revelation) and a disciple of Polycarp, the first of the Apostle John’s disciples. Irenaeus is most-known for his five-volume treatise, Against Heresies in which he exposed the false religions and cults of his day along with advice for how to share the Gospel with those were a part of them.
In his writings on Bible prophecy, he acknowledged the phrase “a time, times and dividing of times” in Daniel 7 to signify the 3 ½ year reign of the Antichrist as ruler of the world before the Second Coming of Christ. He also believed in a literal Millennial reign of Christ on earth following the Second Coming and the resurrection of the just.
On the subject of the Rapture, in Against Heresies 5.29, he wrote:
“Those nations however, who did not of themselves raise up their eyes unto heaven, nor returned thanks to their Maker, nor wished to behold the light of truth, but who were like blind mice concealed in the depths of ignorance, the word justly reckons “as waste water from a sink, and as the turning-weight of a balance — in fact, as nothing;”(1) so far useful and serviceable to the just, as stubble conduces towards the growth of the wheat, and its straw, by means of combustion, serves for working gold. And therefore, when in the end the Church shall be suddenly caught up from this, it is said, “There shall be tribulation such as has not been since the beginning, neither shall be.”(2) For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which, when they overcome they are crowned with incorruption.”
Irenaeus in this passage describes the church leaving the sinful world just before unprecedented disasters. Note his use of the term “caught up” which is Rapture terminology as that is the meaning of harpazo, the term for “caught up” in the King James Bible describing the Rapture in 1 Thessalonians 4. He then quotes Matthew 24:21 where The Lord Jesus Christ says: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” And it is during this period that those who convert to Christianity during the final years will receive the incorruptible crown mentioned by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:25. In Irenaeus’ belief, the Rapture took place before the end times Great Tribulation.
Cyprian
Cyprian (200 AD – 258 AD) – Cyprian was Bishop of the Church in Carthage. During his short stint as leader of the church, he guided the flock through intense persecution at the hands of the Roman Empire. In 258 AD after spending seven months of confinement to his home by order of Roman authorities, he was beheaded for his faith. Several of his works still exist today.
In Treatises of Cyprian he wrote in describing the end times Great Tribulation:
“We who see that terrible things have begun, and know that still more terrible things are imminent, may regard it as the greatest advantage to depart from it as quickly as possible. Do you not give God thanks, do you not congratulate yourself, that by an early departure you are taken away, and delivered from the shipwrecks and disasters that are imminent? Let us greet the day which assigns each of us to his own home, which snatches us hence, and sets us free from the snares of the world and restores us to paradise and the kingdom.”
Again we see a use of language commonly found about the Rapture as Cyprian describes the judgments of the end times as “imminent.” And he makes his belief on the timing of the Rapture when he wrote that Christians will have an “early departure” and be “delivered” from the devastating global judgments that come during the Day of The Lord.
In line with the Apostle Paul, who wrote that “God has not appointed us to wrath, but salvation..” Cyprian expressed joy and encourages the believing reader to rejoice that the Church will be “taken away” before the disastrous Great Tribulation. Just as The Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 24 used the same language of one “taken away” and the other “left.” Additionally, Cyprian references the mansions which The Lord Jesus Christ promises to come back and take His believers to in John 14.
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:1-3.
As Beginning and End detailed in our article “The Red Moon Rapture – The Biblical Timing of The Rapture”, in both the Matthew 24 passages (“one taken, the other left”) and in John 14 (“..receive you unto myself..”) the Greek work paralambanō is used for taken and receive. The meaning of that word is “join to one’s self” indicating that Jesus is coming to unify fully with His church – which takes place at the Rapture. Clearly Cyprian believed and taught that the Rapture takes place before the Great Tribulation.
Ephraim The Syrian
Ephraim (306 AD – 373 AD) was made a deacon in the church in Syria in 338 and later became the bishop of Nisibis. Although he was made a “saint” in the Roman Catholic Church, he was not involved in Catholicism and did not even live in the Roman Empire until the final years of his life. The book Pseudo-Ephraim was one of his still existing works. It was called “Pseudo” because of a later dispute over authorship. However the book’s one reference to the rapture is very compelling:
In his work, On The Last Times 2, he wrote:
“We ought to understand thoroughly therefore, my brothers, what is imminent or overhanging. Already there have been hunger and plagues, violent movements of nations and signs, which have been predicted by the Lord, they have already been fulfilled (consummated), and there is not other which remains, except the advent of the wicked one in the completion of the Roman kingdom. Why therefore are we occupied with worldly business, and why is our mind held fixed on the lusts of the world or on the anxieties of the ages? Why therefore do we not reject every care of worldly business, and why is our mind held fixed on the lusts of the world or on the anxieties of the ages? Why therefore do we not reject every care of earthly actions and prepare ourselves for the meeting of the Lord Christ, so that he may draw us from the confusion, which overwhelms all the world? Believe you me, dearest brother, because the coming (advent) of the Lord is nigh, believe you me, because the end of the world is at hand, believe me, because it is the very last time.
Or do you not believe unless you see with your eyes? See to it that this sentence be not fulfilled among you of the prophet who declares: “Woe to those who desire to see the day of the Lord!” For all the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins. And so, brothers most dear to me, it is the eleventh hour, and the end of the world comes to the harvest, and angels, armed and prepared, hold sickles in their hands, awaiting the empire of the Lord. And we think that the earth exists with blind infidelity, arriving at its downfall early. Commotions are brought forth, wars of diverse peoples and battles and incursions of the barbarians threaten, and our regions shall be desolated, and we neither become very much afraid of the report nor of the appearance, in order that we may at least do penance; because they hurl fear at us, and we do not wish to be changed, although we at least stand in need of penance for our actions!”
With a sense of urgency and strong warning, Ephraim writes that the end times are upon this world and could start at any moment. This text very clearly states the saints and elect of God, all born again believers in The Lord Jesus Christ, will be “taken to the Lord” before the Great Tribulation. Ephraim also identifies the Old Testament “Day of The Lord” and the end times Great Tribulation as the same event (in line with the teachings of the Beginning and End Rapture Series). Ephraim quotes Amos 5:18 which says: “Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! To what end is it for you? The day of the LORD is darkness and not light.”
The point he makes is that a Christian should know the Day of The Lord is coming. In the first part of the passage Ephraim notes that:
“We ought to understand thoroughly, therefore, my brothers, what is imminent or overhanging. Already there have been hunger and plagues, violent movements of nations and signs, which have been predicted by the Lord, they have already been fulfilled (consummated)” And not only that but that true Christians will be taken away before it starts.
Here he is describing the first 3 of the first four seals of Revelation 6 – wars, famines, and plagues. These are the same end times signs Jesus Christ describes in Matthew 24:
And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. – Matthew 24:3-8.
Jesus describes these events as “the beginning of sorrows.” He also says that when these things come to pass “the end is not yet.” Ephraim’s writing agrees with this interpretation as he says those same events have been “fulfilled (consummated)” in his day, but it was still not the actual Great Tribulation. This also falls in line with Beginning and End’s Rapture series as explained in our article Who Are The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse? (The first four seals of Revelation 6 were opened at the time Jesus Christ ascended to Heaven. And the rapture itself does not occur until the opening of the 6th Seal.)
Ephraim in very strong language warns the reader not to be consumed with the cares of the world because the world in its current form, is coming to an end. As the Second Advent or Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ grows near, believers are to look to Heaven and set their hearts on pleasing God. It is evident that Ephraim distinguishes the Second Coming of Christ from the rapture, placing the Rapture before the Great Tribulation to come.
The Early Church Believed In The Rapture
Although there are not a great number of writings on the end times from the early centuries of the church, there is no question that there was a belief in the Rapture among the church fathers, and they taught it with strong language and scriptural support. Regarding the timing of the Rapture, the early church fathers placed it before the end times Day of The Lord/Great Tribulation. The writings of early saints in the church are not Scripture and should not be treated on the same level of the Bible. These writings also do not “prove” that the pre-Great Tribulation Rapture or the Beginning and End Rapture Series are correct. Only rightly divided Scripture from the Bible can determine if a specific belief is accurate or in error. But the writings of church fathers can serve as useful commentaries (just as we use Bible commentaries today in our studies) and indeed prove that the Rapture doctrine existed well before John Darby and had been a part of Christian belief since the earliest days of the Apostles.
(End)
Miguel Hayworth
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