No treatment of the end of the world nor of the
Dispensational teaching would be complete without some
reference to what is known as The Great Tribulation.
Dispensational books abound on every hand, giving
expression to this theme. It forms a favorite sermon
background, with unlimited room for excursions in fantasy and
forecasting the future political trends of the world. The
antichrist looms large in the center as the villain who
perpetrates treachery and surpassing cruelty along with
“wholesale” slaughter of human beings. Just what is the Great
Tribulation that projects its fearsome profile across our future
history?
Very briefly, the Great Tribulation, according to
Dispensational teaching, will commence after the rapture of
the church. Its vortex of action will take place in Palestine,
and it will entail death and suffering affecting the entire world.
The antichrist, who is the chief architect of the Tribulation, is
supposed to make a Covenant with the Jews at the
commencement of Daniel’s Seventieth Week, and then
repudiate this covenant after three and one-half years, and
plunge the Jews and others into merciless extermination.
While the details may differ according to the expositor, this
seems to be the sequence of events, which is subscribed to by
the vast majority of Dispensationalists.
It’s only natural that what has been said already about the
antichrist and about Daniel’s Seventieth Week has a bearing
on this answer also. [ NOTE: The author is referring to his article
entitled: Who is the ANTICHRIST? ] Truth is one. Truth applies to
the whole, and therefore, it cannot contradict itself. If the
seventieth week of Daniel took place on schedule as God
said, then the antichrist of the tribulation is false doctrine
because his emergence comes at a time already long-past
fulfillment. Thus the Dispensational teaching of a future great
tribulation dissolves into history instead of prophecy. If the
Everlasting Covenant, which Christ sealed during Daniel’s
seventieth week fulfilled God’s Plan, then it is impossible for a
future antichrist to duplicate it. The Seventieth week can only
happen once. It has to be either according to what God
“determined” or according to Dispensational jockeying of
“hidden interval postponement.” The issue in God’s Word is
very clear.
Dispensationalists call the Great Tribulation the Day of
Jacob’s trouble, and by various other captions. The 24th
chapter of Matthew, perhaps, exceeds all other portions of
Scripture for references to this event, as well as the multiform
and very complicated explanations offered. These are
endless and diversified beyond calculation. This is
unfortunate, and for the most part both useless and needless.
God has given us certain landmarks in prophecy to serve as
anchors and as “North Stars” to guide us through difficult
passages with comprehension and assurance that our
conclusions are right. Truth is not complicated and truth does
not contradict itself. Difficult portions in the Bible must adhere
in interpretation exactly to what is plainly declared. The Bible
does not make a plain statement and then contradict itself
with something that is less-easy to perceive.
In order to provide the context for what follows, let’s invite
your attention once more to Luke 24:44, “Then He (Christ) said
unto them. These are the words that I spake unto you, while I
was yet with you, that all things must be FULFILLED, which were
written in the law of MOSES, and in the PROPHETS, and in the
PSALMS concerning Me.” The references to Moses, the
prophets and the Psalms abound through the New Testament
as is indicated by Paul and Peter and others. The question that
is relevant now is, “What did MOSES say?” What bearing did
Moses have on Israel’s prophecy and Israel’s future. The
answer is very obvious in the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy.
Listen to what Moses said, for it gives an unambiguous
prophetic history of Israel.
The chapter is too long to quote in its entirety so we shall
quote the pertinent verses, although we invite anyone to read
the entire chapter. Moses spoke in what must be his farewell
address to Israel as follows: “But it shall come to pass that if
thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to
observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I
command thee this day; that ALL THESE CURSES SHALL COME
UPON THEE AND OVERTAKE THEE.” (Deut. 28:15) Having made
this unconditional judgment, Moses began to go into detail
and outline the nature of the curses for breaking God’s Law.
As Moses unfolded the future of Israel he made this amazing
statement: “The Lord shall bring thee AND THY KING WHICH
THOU SHALT SET OVER THEE, unto a nation which neither thou
nor thy fathers have known…” (Deut. 28:36) This penetrating
prophecy foresaw Israel far down the future with a king exactly
as it came to pass, and further he told them of their captivity.
Eventually he told them of their continued apostasy and the
inescapable judgments of God. Moses continued as follows:
“Moreover ALL THESE CURSES SHALL COME UPON THEE…and
they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, AND UPON
THY SEED FOREVER.” (Deut. 28:45a, 46) Evidently Moses was not
a Dispensationalist painting the future of Israel in glowing
colors of national supremacy. The curse was FOREVER.
That’s not all! Look at what follows: “And the Lord shall
bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth,
as swift as the EAGLE flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt
not understand, a nation of fierce countenance…” (Deut. 28:49,
50a) This nation is identified as Rome whose symbol in war was
the eagle. “And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the
flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters…wherewith thine
enemies shall distress thee.” (V. 53) What Moses describes from
v. 53 to verse 57 is almost too revolting to read, but it
corresponds exactly in every detail with the historical
description of the fall of Jerusalem in A. D. 70, even to the
cannibalism to which the population was reduced.
Moses continues thus: And the Lord shall scatter thee
among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the
other…and among these nations thou shalt find no ease…and
the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt (bondage)again.” (Vv. 64-
68) THAT IS WHERE MOSES ENDS HIS PROPHECY. It is very plain and simple as well as complete. Any return to God’s favor
subsequent to this is a RETURN AS INDIVIDUALS UNTO the LORD
rather than a return to the land.
We call attention once more to the fact that Moses gave the
complete prophetic history of Israel, but it hasn’t a vestige of
Dispensationalism in it, concerning a restoration and a brilliant
conclusion. Moses said, “And He (God) said, I will hide my
face from them, I will see WHAT THEIR END will be for they are a
very froward generation in whom is NO FAITH. For they are a
nation void of counsel. O that they were wise, that they
understood this, that they would consider their LATTER END.”
(Deut.32:20, 29. This pathetic lament of Moses, concludes his
concern as well as his prophecy of Israel. It ends with a
whimper! What else is written in God’s Word concerning this
nation must conform to this explicit and lucid summary. Truth,
later on in God’s Word, cannot negate truth already clearly
stated.
Although there are many clear anchors for truth, we shall
next: consider Daniel’s prophecy. Dispensationalists have a
“field day” inventing every imagination possible concerning
the end of the world from Daniel’s writings. Here they find a
king, whom they identify as antichrist, tribulations, abomination
of Daniel the prophet, and endless time tables, parenthetic
period, and inscrutable interpretations. We condemn this as
out of keeping with a God who intends His followers to
comprehend His purposes. We dismiss it as contradictory with
truth already plainly given by Moses. How then, do we
comprehend Daniel? It’s very simple.
Turn to Daniel 12:7b, “When He shall have accomplished to
scatter the power of the holy people, all these shall be
finished.” Let’s remember that Daniel, like Moses, gives a
prophetic history of Israel. The great difference between the
two prophets is that Daniel introduced a time element, which
indicated the exact calendar year the events would transpire.
Daniel said “Seventy weeks are determined.” Oddly, the
Dispensationalists see a re-gathered Israel in a restored nation
and a position of world leadership in their interpretation of
Daniel 9:24-27. Because history does not afford such a
fulfillment, they accuse God of not keeping His promises and
postponing the prophecy, which Daniel gave under the
inspiration of the Holy Ghost. This is where their interpretation
takes on serious proportions, for it violates a fundamental
principle given by God with which to judge true prophecy.
“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing
follow NOT, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord
hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it
presumptuously; thou shalt not be afraid of him.” (Deut. 18:22)
When Dispensationsalists boldly assert that “Nothing in history
corresponds to their interpretation of Daniel, and that it must
THEREFORE be postponed, they stand judged by God’s Word of
either making Daniel a presumptuous visionary, or of making
God a victim of His own measuring device for discerning
inspiration. This is the most serious weakness of the entire
Dispensational theory. On this rock it is wreaked and deserves
to be condemned.
What Daniel really said is identical with what Moses said,
although in different words. Daniel said that when the Jews
were scattered, then everything is fulfilled. It is very simple
and very clear. This includes the tribulation which he
prophesied. Daniel didn’t even mention antichrist. Moses told
of the horrors wrought by the Romans and the eventual
dispersion. Daniel told of the prince who would destroy the
city and the sanctuary and disperse the inhabitants. There’s
no contradiction and there’s perfect harmony, so far as Daniel’s
concerned. Daniel didn’t see a restored Israel. He saw
“Seventy weeks determined” on them. After Daniel received
his prophetic vision, he went into mourning three full weeks.
(Dan. 10:1) Would this have been his reaction, if he foresaw the
“Dispensational glory”, surrounding Israel? Daniel saw Israel’s future in the same manner as Moses stated so clearly.
The prophecy given in Matthew 24 has some areas that
seem obscure, but the interpretation must be in harmony with
the Scriptures that are plain. This is not difficult. Matthew tells
his readers that, “When ye therefore shall see the abomination
of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the
holy place, whoso readeth let him understand, then let them
which be in Judea flee to the mountains: (Matt. 24:15, 16a)
Obviously, if Matthew’s readers were to understand how to
recognize this portent when it arrived, it would have to have
some unmistakable identification. For this reason, if for no
other, we would reject the Dispensational surmise that it means
an idol set up in a future temple. For one thing, no one could
“SEE” such an idol except under very unusual circumstances.
Matthew’s talking of something that’s visible for all to behold.
Mark refers to the same event in almost the same words.
When we come to Luke’s gospel, the wording is
unmistakable. Matthew wrote his gospel for the Jews who
were familiar with the Old Testament prophets. But Luke, being
a Gentile, not only related the event but made is so that
Gentiles would comprehend the meaning as well. Luke said,
“And when ye shall see Jerusalem encompassed with armies,
then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them
which are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Luke 21:20, 21a)
Luke’s instruction is the same as Matthew’s and Mark’s. Luke’s
gospel corresponds with history. When Jerusalem was
surrounded by the armies of “the prince” (Titus), the Christians
knew the “Abomination spoken of by Daniel” had arrived and
they fled to the mountains and thus were “saved out of it.” In
this manner the infant church was preserved.
History recorded by Josephus, an eyewitness, reveals that
the events, which took place during the siege were identical to
what Moses prophesied. This was the Great Tribulation. This
was the Day of Jacob’s trouble. This was the abomination of
desolation spoken of by Daniel. When the Jews (the holy or
Covenant people) were scattered, all of Daniel’s prophecy,
including the Seventy weeks, which God determined, was
finished. It’s all very harmonious and clear. The Everlasting
Covenant was sealed and ratified during the Seventieth Week,
and the dispersion eventuated with that generation in
accordance with Christ’s Judgment.
The Bible never leaves us without corroborating testimony to
confirm our conclusions. Thus we read in Luke’s gospel, “For
these be the days of vengeance, that ALL THINGS WHICH ARE
WRITTEN MAY BE FULFILLED.” (Luke 21:22) Thus if Luke’s gospel
clearly fulfills all prophecy, it has to include what was written
by Matthew and Mark and Daniel and Moses. Also it is in
complete harmony with all of them.
In conclusion, we would not want to infer that
Dispensationalists are guilty of all of the suggestions, which their
interpretation demands. It’s not the people that we’re
opposing. It is their doctrine, and in this regard we have to
remember that Dispensationalism is of recent origin, and it’s
opposed to the clear teaching of Scripture. Both doctrines can’t be right, for
they’re based on different premises, and they arrive at very
different conclusions. Dispensationalism, according to their
highest authorities is founded on the Old Testament and is in
harmony with the Jewish interpretation of the Talmud. This is
where we part company. We’re living under the New
Testament. The Old Testament was abolished and abrogated.
We’re under the New Testament, which has established a new
and better way. (Hebrews, chapter 8)
In addition to the above, let us also say, that while we
believe the Bible is clear and unmistakably plain in defining
the Great tribulation and identifying it with the history of the
downfall of the Jewish nation, together with its subsequent
dispersion, still we wouldn’t by any means suggest that no
further tribulations could befall this world. There’s evidence of
persecution in many lands. There’s evidence of falling away
spiritually and the permissiveness, occultism, devil worship,
fortune telling, consorting with spirits, and general unrest bodes
ill for our children. Evil is rampant, with the stage becoming
more vile and indecent and the screen more violent and cruel.
The judgment of God will not overlook these rebellious acts of
trying to depose God from His universe. God is still on His
throne. The Second Coming will usher in His judgment. His
rewards and punishment, and then ETERNITY. The Lord told us
to WATCH and PRAY. No advice is more pertinent, timely and
needed. The Great Tribulation is past. Let’s learn the lesson!
“He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or
three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the
Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,
wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done
despite unto the Spirit of grace.” (Heb. 10:29) God operates a
universe that is based on law. You can see this in every detail
from the precise regularity of the sunrise and the changing
seasons to the meticulous conformity of the planets and worlds
without end. The God whose law keeps His universe silently
performing His will has a will for man, his creature. Man cannot
break that law of love with impunity. God is not concerned
with obscure antichrists or nebulous tribulations. He’s
concerned that men get right with God and live according to
His will. If we do that, we have no fear of the Second Coming,
the Judgment or any other fearsome event lurking in the future.
When we settle out relationship with God at Calvary and
commit the keeping of our soul to Him, God will take good
care of our FUTURE.
God holds us responsible for our past. We must answer Him
for our record. God has graciously granted us the present and
for its use, He demands our loyal service. The word “future” is
not in the Bible! Joseph said, “Do not interpretations belong to
God? (Gen. 40:8) Moses said, “The secret things belong unto
the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong
unto us and to our children forever, that we do all the things of
this law.” (Deut.29:29) Many preachers spend far too much
time delving into future speculations. Time invariably
repudiates their futile predictions. God didn’t give us a bag
full of mysteries, but the Book of Life. He didn’t give us a
bunch of riddles to make us look ridiculous by posing as
experts able to solve the inscrutable future.
God gave us His Son and He told us to follow Him. To the
bewildered disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration, God
spoke with reassurance. “This is My beloved Son, Hear Him.”
Theologians ought to heed this wise counsel and concentrate
on present principles and plain pathways rather than futuristic
spiritual weather forecasts. When God gave us a plumb line, it
wasn’t to take soundings of uncharted depths into future ages,
but to erect an upright character in accordance with His
design and pattern. If we heed this present guidance of His
Spirit, the God who holds the future will care for us as it unfolds
in history and blends with eternity. Preachers were not meant
to be soothsayers but truth-sayers. We weren’t called to
predict the future antichrist, but to proclaim the eternal present
Christ. Finally, we have no authority to postpone what God
determined. Let’s rather proclaim what God decreed.
Amillennialism EXALTS this Christ and His FINISHED work.
Dispensationalism INSULTS Christ by telling us He would have
set up His kingdom, but a handful of unbelieving Jews thwarted
His plan and caused it to be postponed to a future age. The
Kingdom of God is based on God’s Sovereign will, and not on
sinful man’s option. (Rom. 9:22-25) Dispensationalism foresees
a TRIBULATION, with Christ drenching the world in human blood
and gaining His victory through death-dealing struggles
against a mystical arch-fiend antichrist. Amillennialism sees
Christ victorious at Calvary, now exalted by the right hand of
God, reigning in power and glory, “eternal, immortal, and
INVISIBLE, the only-wise God.” (to Whom) be honor and glory
forever and ever.” (1 Tim. 1:17) Christ said, on ascending to His
throne,” All power is GIVEN, (Not going to be given at some
future time), but GIVEN unto ME IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.”
(Matt. 28:18) WHO IS YOUR CHRIST?
