Jacob Prasch – Twisting Scripture the Midrash Way

Shadows of the Beast- Jacob Prasch

Shadows of the Beast:  Jacob Prasch – Twisting Scripture the Midrash Way

So I bought the book, “Shadows of the Beast” by Jacob Prasch and didn’t really make it past the Prologue.  I was kinda horrified at a number of things.  I will begin to list them in this article.  To start off with, Jacob Prasch is anti Pre-Tribulational rapture and bases his whole ‘idea‘ on the premise that Jesus won’t come back and Rapture the church until the anti-Christ makes himself known in the middle of the Tribulation.  He uses this verse as his only backup:  (2 Thessalonians 2:3)  “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”

The problem is, Jacob is not telling us the truth, because if you go and read from the beginning of the chapter you find out that Paul is speaking to the Thessalonians, not about the Rapture, but about ‘the day of the Lord’.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
1  Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters,
2  not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.
3  Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.

Talking of pre-tribulationists, Jacob Prasch says, “They must also fail to draw due distinction between the Great Tribulation and “the Day of the Lord” which are distinct time periods.”  [pg. 17]     Well I beg to differ.

What exactly is “the day of the Lord'”?  The day of the Lord is The Tribulation made up of two parts;  The Tribulation being first 3.5 years and the Great Tribulation being last 3.5 years, totaling 7 years from start to finish plus Jesus’ Second Coming!

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So what 2 Thessalonians 2:3 is saying is this: The Tribulation aka “the day of the Lord” will not start until the apostasy comes first, and Jesus’ Second Coming (when He sets foot on earth) will not take place until after the anti-Christ has been reveal.

Another way to look at it is that, the Antichrist will be revealed before ‘the day of the Lord’ (or Tribulation stars) but can only be revealed right after the time of the Rapture.

Jacob Prasch says, “The Rapture and Resurrection cannot happen until the “man of lawlessness” is revealed. [pg. 22]   Then he quotes (2 Thessalonians 2:3) “Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come unless the apostasy come first, and the man of lawlessness, the son of destruction.”    He is saying that the word, “it” is the Rapture and Resurrection only.   This is FALSE.  As shown above, it is “the Day of the Lord” which encompasses The Tribulation and Jesus’ Second Coming.

Regarding the Rapture

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
1 Now on the topic of times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you.
2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.
3 Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the darkness for the day to overtake you like a thief would.
5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

Paul says: (1 Thessalonians 5:1)“But of the times and seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.”  The word time here in Greek means chronos (khron’-os) in which we get the English word chronology.  So, of the general chronology, of this particular time Paul says that no one needs write about it because they have ALREADY been instructed: 1) concerning the general time when Jesus said He would come and 2) concerning the particular time.  So the general time CAN be known, but not the actual time. And this is a FANTASTIC message.

In (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3) Paul says: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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.”

Time of Jacob’s trouble

It is IMPORTANT to note that the whole 7 year Tribulation period (also known as “Time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7) is considered a time of JUDGEMENT from God, not just the last 3.5 years which some seem to think.   Judgments will be poured out on earth as the seven-sealed scrolls are opened consecutively by the Lamb.  Judgments of the Seals, Trumpets and plagues GROWS IN INTENSITY, until you reach 2nd half of the tribulation, namely the Great Tribulation which lasts for another 3.5 years, where God’s Wrath is finally poured out IN FULL on mankind.  If Jacob Prasch thinks that the first half of The Tribulation is not part of God’s wrath on earth, then I do not know what bible he is reading.  Maybe he should stop reading extra-biblical books like the Midrash and pay attention to the Word of God alone to get a clue.

So how does the Rapture of the church relate to “the Day of the Lord” which happens before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by 7 years?  We know that “the Day of the Lord” will come suddenly and unexpectedly like a thief in the night, in other words, The Tribulation starts suddenly and unexpectedly.  And the Rapture of the church MARKS the end of ‘the day of Grace’ and simultaneously MARKS the beginning of the ‘the day of the Lord’.  As soon as the church is removed, the Antichrist is revealed and the trials and tribulations of this world begin in all earnest, the birth pangs are over, the birth begins, and no one can escape it.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6
5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

Paul tells the born again believers to be alert and sober, to watch for Jesus!

Looking for Satan

We are not to look for Satan as Jacob Prasch want us too, we do not have to identify the him and his False Prophet! Jacob deliberately writes a book twisting scripture trying to cheat saints out of the Blessed Hope. The Bible tells us we are look towards Jesus Christ only and comfort one another with the message that He will return.    (1 Thessalonians 4:1-18)  “15 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-18

1  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Jacob Prasch mentions many ideas and mis-conceptions in his book that make it sound like Pre-tribulationsists are a bunch of false teachers that need to be dealt with urgently.  I am going to list them and answer them:

1) He makes the statement that “The patriarch of Pre-Tibulationism, Dr. John Walvoord of Dallas Theological Seminary admitted there is no stated biblical passage overtly teaching a Pre-Tribulational position.  Walvoord states, that “the Rapture is between the lines”. [pg. 16]     So because Dr John Walvoord changes his view now we must all fall down and beg for forgiveness because a so called patriach of Pre-Tribulationism says so?  I think not.  Walvoord can change his mind, but the Word of God stays the same.

2) Jacob states that Pre-Tribulationists are against identifying the anti-Christ and this is a BIG problem.  This is news to me, I had no idea that we were against identifying the anti-Christ because the bible tells us that  (1 Thessalonians 5:6) “we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.”    However the bible also does tell us not to focus our attentions on evil things, but to focus our attentions on Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:1-4
1 If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.

3) Jacob states; “The Greek term for “tribulation” (thelipsis) and the eschatological testing in Rev. 3:10 are precise synonyms despite linguistic evidence to the contrary.  Jesus in fact informed Christians that they would have tribulation in the world.” [ pg 17]       Oh boy, talk about trying to fool us, do you think we are of low intelligence? Of course Christians will have ‘tribulation’ in this world, but if we look at Revelation 3:10 it talks about the hour of temptation  which refers to THE Tribulation.    (Revelation 3:10)  “10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.    Jacob, should know, being the self proclaimed guru of all guru’s that an ‘hour’ in the Bible, denotes a period of time.  Having “trials and tribulations” is very different from THE Tribulation, a set period of time where God pours out His judgement on the earth for a full 7 years.

Revelation 3:7, 10
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open:
10 Because you have kept my admonition to endure steadfastly, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

The promise of verse 10, like all the promises to these different churches, is for every true child of God“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  This is the Lord’s own pledge to those who love His Name and seek to keep His Word – they will not be left down here to pass through the appalling tribulation that is just ahead of those who “dwell upon the earth.” This expression is found frequently in the book of Revelation. It does not simply mean those who live in the world. A careful reading of the various passages in which this peculiar term is found will make it clear that “the earth-dwellers” are in contrast to those whose citizenship is in Heaven. They are persons who, while professing to be Christians, refuse the heavenly calling. They prove by their earthly-mindedness and worldly ways that they really belong to this world. All their hopes and their treasures are here. The Lord has said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  [Emphasis added]   — Dr Henry Ironside

4)  Jacob states that Pre-Tribulationsists flounder because “they equate the removal of the Holy Spirit with the removal of the church.  This is a mistaken eschatology resulting from a mistaken pneumatology; they misunderstand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, which results in a further miscomprehension of 2 Thessalonians.” [pg. 17]    We misunderstand the doctrine of the Holy Spirit now do we?   No Jacob.  We understand it fine.   It’s Jacob who is making up stories here to fill pages in his book.  Jacob believes that when we say that the Holy Spirit removes the church during the Rapture, he actually thinks we mean the Holy Spirit goes forever, good-bye, and the rest of the people on earth have to make do without Him.  Nope, we know that the Holy Spirit is then poured out as God once again shifts His attention back to the salvation of Israel during the 7 year Tribulation period.

Acts 2:17
17 ‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.5) He states 2 dangers to the Pre-Tribulationist view:

a) That we will not be prepared for the reality of the Tribulation.  Forewarned is forearmed” Jacob Prasch says [pg 19] .    Really?  What does he plan to do to hide away in a bunker in his garden from God’s judgments during the first 3.5 years of the THE Tribulation?

b) His second concern is that we (Pre-Tribulationists) won’t know who the anti-Christ and False Prophet will be, and this according to Jacob Prasch is a huge problem.   This is ridiculous because as born again Christians we will have an inkling to who it could be because the bible tells us to keep watch for the signs of the times, as it means Jesus’ return is getting closer and closer, but there is no need for us know identify him because we will be raptures right before He makes himself known to the world and the Tribulation stars.

1 Thessalonians 5:5-6
5 For you all are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of the darkness.
6 So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

6)  Jacob then calls Pre-Tribulationsists false christs/prophets, deceiving the Elect.

a)  “Jesus Himself warned us of false Christs and false prophets in the Olivet Discourse, yet just as Preterists falsely teach it not longer applies to Christians because it has all (instead of partially) transpired in the events surrounding A.D. 70, Pre-Tribulationsists are left agreeing with them that it does not apply to us because we have already been raptured before the Antichrist and False Prophet become and issue.” [pg. 20]

b)  Jacob says we are not the Elect, we are false Christians, false prophets;  “The rapture and resurrestion cannot and shall not take place until the faithful believers can identify the ultimate two beasts of Revelation Chapter 13. The popular myth asserting the contrary as if it were an exegetical fact is a dangerous myth with must be debunked as a deception perpetrated against the Elect  [pg. 21]

False Christ/False Prophet, deception perpetrated against the Elect;  this is tantamount to calling us Heretics = a dissenter from established religious teaching.

7) Jacob says more and more people are fortunately turning away from the “erroneous nature of Pre-Tribulationalism and the need understand how to properly identify the final Antichrist and False Prophet – the beast of Revelation 13.” [pg. 20]    Yes more people are apostacising and turning away from Jesus Christ and focusing their attention on Satan instead. You are helping fulfill 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “…. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes …”

8)  Jacob says, “If only those who have wisdom will understand how to calculate the number of the beast (Rev. 13:18), and if it requires the true believers (whose wisdom is Christ), then who will be here with the wisdom to do the calculation?  These cannot be the tribulation saints because if they had the wisdom they would not be here either.” [pg. 19]

Revelation 13:18
18 This calls for wisdom: Let the one who has insight calculate the beast’s number, for it is man’s number, and his number is 666.The bible does not say we have to know, it says, let the one who has insight calculate the number.  By the time THE Tribulation starts and the Holy Spirit is poured out on the earth, people will have the wisdom to calculate the number of the beast and know who it is for sure.  Or is Jacob contradicting himself and saying that the Holy Spirit won’t be on earth during THE Tribulation?  Contradictions, galore in this book.

9)  This is a classic:   Jacob accuses Pre-tribulationists of saying that the apostasy is actually the Rapture. He says, “Some even venture so far as to identify the apostasy (apostasia) as the Rapture, not, as the context dictates, the departure from the truth when a delusional judgment comes upon those rejecting the truth they once professed. (2 Thes 2:10-11) [pg. 20]     I have never heard of this before, Jacob must have dug deep to find this nonsense to add to his book to paint us with a tarred brush.   If one looks at how Jacob Prasch has twisted the truth, one would think he is under a strong delusion. (2 Thes 2:10-11)

10)  Jacob Prasch says “that a very good translation of Laodicea is as a compound Greek term lao-dikaomai meaning  “people’s rights” or “people’s opinions”. Pre-tribulationists may have a right to their opinion, but they have no right to expect others to believe it when they themselves admit they cannot prove it with a single verse or passage by an inductive exegetical means” [pg. 21]    Jacob, Pre-Tribulationists have never denied that they cannot prove their position.  If you have found someone who has changed their eschatological view, it’s only because if you look deeper you will find that more than likely their entire doctrine is  suspect.   If we look at you with a magnifying glass, we find that you twist scripture, fellowship with men who follow doctrines of demons, insist that Christians spend their time identifying Satan, and use extra biblical manuscripts called the Midrash to interpret the bible thereby completely negating the Holy Spirit – see below:

Jacob Prasch was asked by Richard Engstrom this question:

“Can a group of sincere, literate, English speaking people in isolation from the rest of the world, come to a COMPLETE understanding of ALL that God deeds to us through the Bible, if all they have in their possession is a KJV without notes (without Midrash, without Eidersheim, without Josephus)?”

Jacob’s answer was complicated, high-handed – but his basic reply was “NO!”

Engstrom comments:

“No matter how you slice it, his answer was NO! He denies that YOU, dear reader, can come to a COMPLETE understanding of ALL that God deeds to us through the Bible, if all you have in your possession is a KJV without notes (Midrash, without Eidersheim, without Josephus). You be the judge. Did I misrepresent his answer or not?”

Jacob’s full answer is now given:

“The Word of God was given in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic – not Elizabethan English. I accept the infallibility of the original manuscripts in the original languages, and not the infallibility of any translation, be it KJV or otherwise. Literacy in English is not a major factor, scripture demonstrates the importance of bringing out the original meaning in the original languages (e.g. Neh. 8:8 where after the captivity most people no longer knew Hebrew so the original Hebrew meaning had to be explained ). Hence, because I believe in the priority of the original languages (I have more faith in the bible than I do in translations of it ) MY ANSWER To YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS NO.”  —http://www.apostasynow.com/articles/midrash.html

Please read this article:  MIDRASH: THE CAMEL’S NOSE

We only need Jesus Christ to understand the Bible:

Revelation 3:7-8
7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Holy One, the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open:
8 ‘I know your deeds. (Look! I have put in front of you an open door that no one can shut.) I know that you have little strength, but you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.

The Lord spoke of Himself as “…the True One, who holds the key of David, who opens doors no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open” (3:7). This verse is clearly a reference to Isaiah 22:22. In that Isaiah passage he who had the key of David was the treasurer of David’s house. There it is said of Eliakim, “The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” The remainder of the passage shows that Eliakim was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one on whom should be hung all the glory of His Father’s house. He, by His Spirit, opens the great treasure-house of divine truth, and none can shut it. On the other hand where there is perversity of spirit and an unwillingness to walk in the truth, He shuts and none can open. So He has said elsewhere, “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matthew 6:23).

It is blessed to realize that, while Christ is said to have the key of David, there is another sense in which we see that He is the key. By the presentation of Himself to the souls of His people He opens up the treasures of His Word. Thus Christ is the key to the Holy Scriptures, and no other is needed. To understand the Bible you need only to know Christ. [Emphasis added] —  Dr Henry Ironside

The Bible is clear, no Midrash, no other extra biblical manuscripts or tools, just Jesus Christ is needed.  Jacob Prasch does not tell us the truth when he tells us that we need other tools to understand the Bible.

What is Midrash?

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If we go and read about Midrash here on Moriel’s website, we can clearly see that something is very very wrong.

The Midrash definition is extremely vague, so much so that Jacob Prasch says,

Unless someone has been educated in Judaism, Hebrew, or theology, it is easier to demonstrate midrash than to explain it.”   

How peculiar, why can’t he explain it, are we not smart enough?

Strangely enough Wickipedia can explain it.

Midrash (Hebrew plural midrashim, lit. “to investigate” or “study”) is a homiletic method of biblical exegesis. The term also refers to the whole compilation of homiletic teachings on the Bible.

Midrash is a way of interpreting biblical stories that goes beyond simple distillation of religious, legal or moral teachings. It fills in many gaps left in the biblical narrative regarding events and personalities that are only hinted at. [1]

So it helps you “go beyond” teachings and “fill in the gaps” of the Bible;  that is very interesting – basically you are adding “extra biblical revelation” to the bible.  Jewish websites and others will admit Midrash is a collection of stories, allegory, history, scientific observations and legend.  Jacob claims the word Midrash is supposedly mentioned in the bible, as he claims here in this article:   What does the Word of God Actually Say About Midrash?.  But then we need to ask ourselves so is Enoch mentioned in the Bible, this does not mean we now can read the Book of Enoch as something inspired.

I went to go and look through the bible for the word “Midrash” and I can’t find it, but then after reading Jacob Prasch’s articles, the word “Midrash” does actually appear, as the word “story”  – this is what Jacob deems to be “Midrash” in the Bible.

Strong’s Number H4097 matches the Hebrew (midrash), which occurs 2 times in 2 verses in the Hebrew concordance of the KJV (2Ch 13:22;  2Ch 24:27)

1) study, exposition, midrash, record, story
a) writings of a didactic nature
b) midrash – transliteration of the Hebrew word

Root Word (Etymology):   Hebrew (darash) – Strong’s Number H1875

meaning to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require, search be it of God or of heathen Gods.

Hmmmm.  Really?  I think someone is a trying to make the Bible fit the Midrash.  Just because the word ‘story’ means Midrash, and the root of it means to ‘seek’,  it does not mean we can use stories and fables or ancient methods of study to investigate the bible.

Prasch states:

“You will never understand the Book of Revelation with the kind of limited approach to biblical interpretation that is taught in Protestant seminaries. Midrash is like a quadratic equation or a very complex second order differential equation, a thirteen or fourteen step equation. Some people take the first step of grammatical-historical exegesis and think the equation is solved”  [Emphasis added]The problem with the Reformers is that they only went so far. They made rules governing the application of their grammatical-historical system in order to refute medieval Roman Catholicism, and many of those rules are still taught in theological seminaries today.  [Emphasis added]

Jacob Prasch claims that you need to be well educated in Greek, Hebrew and a whole host of other rabbinical teachings to “truly understand scripture“.  This sounds very much like Roman Catholicism who only speak in Latin (so that you don’t understand) and tell their converts that they will never be smart enough to understand the bible; so you need to rely on specialist experts in all forms of theological studies to give you the message instead.

As I mentioned above, scripture is clear, you only need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to be able to understand scripture and Christians through-out the centuries have done fantastically fine without Jacob Prasch and his Midrash.   Judging by the way Jacob has handled such simple scriptures as those mentioned at the very beginning of the article, I would say that a Reformer from a few hundreds of years ago could run circles around him and teach him a thing or two on CORRECT BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION.

But according to Prasch, it is just so terrible to think that the Reformers only went so far in their faith and could go no further without the Midrash.  It would seem Jacob Prasch is trying to take us back to the dark ages where the little people have to listen to the big people with regards to what the Bible says.  See (Galatians 4:2-12)  This is unbiblical.

Midrash and Kabbalah

And now we come to the FACT that there is a connection between Midrash and Kabbalah.  Surprise!!  Now, they say that the earlier Midrash differs from the later Medieval versions, but I mean who is pulling the wool over who’s eyes here?   These Jewish manuscripts, writings and studies are not OT Biblically inspired – this is where some of the Apocrypha (Magisterium, Canon Law, Sirach, Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Susanna) comes from.

Let’s go back to the Wickipedia definition of Midrash:

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“Midrash (Hebrew plural midrashim, lit. “to investigate” or “study”) is a Hebrew term referring to the not exact, but comparative (homiletic) method of exegesis (hermeneutic) of Biblical texts, which is one of four methods cumulatively called Pardes. The term midrash can also refer to a compilation of homiletic teachings (commentaries) on the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), in the form of legal and ritual (Halakhah) and legendary, moralizing, folkloristic, and anecdotal (Aggadah) parts.”

What is Pardes?

“The term, sometimes also spelled PaRDeS, is an acronym formed from the name initials of these four approaches, which are:

eshat  – “plain” (simple) or the direct meaning.
Remez  – “hints” or the deep (allegoric) meaning beyond just the literal sense.
Derash – from Hebrew darash: “inquire” (seek) – the comparative (midrashic) meaning, as given through similar occurrences.
Sod (pronounced with a long O as in gold) – “secret” (mystery) or the mystical meaning, as given through inspiration or revelation.

Really?  “Secret, mystery, mystical meaning, as given through inspiration or revelation.”

It would seem that mysticism is denounced when it comes to other preachers who delve into it and even Jacob and his ministry are quick to label them as false teachers, but it is biblical when it comes to Midrash?  How is this possible? What stories has he spun over the eyes of those following him, that they have swallowed up the lie?  The Midrash is nothing but a very sly and sneaky way of getting believers involved in mysticism.

Multiple meanings for the Bible?

“Midrash makes heavy use of allegory and typology to illustrate and illuminate doctrine, but never as a basis for doctrine. It sees multiple meanings in Bible texts found in strata,”   [Emphasis added] — http://www.moriel.org/articles/sermons/midrash.htm

  1. Using Midrash to search through the Bible to illustrate and illuminate the doctrine – instead of the Holy Spirit who illuminates.
  2. You need a Jewish Rabbi to explain Midrash to you before you can have the “secret key” that will open the door to understanding.
  3. Use Midrash to searching for “secret knowledge
  4. Using Midrash to finding “multiple meanings” in the Bible.   Apparently the only way to find God’s proper truth is if you have multiple meanings.

Gnosticism teachers that the Bible cannot be understood as it is, you need to have a “secret key” which unlocks the “hidden mysteries” in the texts.  This is EXACTLY what Jacob Prasch presents to us under the banner of Christianity.

The Bible says…

John 14:26: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

You do not need to understand Hebrew or Greek, or have a degree to understand the Bible, all you need is the Holy Spirit abiding in you.   Anyone who tells you that you need to look outside of scripture in order to understand it is not telling you the truth.

John MacArthur

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a)  Jacob Prasch says that Dr John Walvoord is a good man, excellent preacher and author like John MacArthur. [pg 16]

Who is John MacArthur?  A Calvinist who preaches that Jesus did not die for the whole world but for the Elect only. He preaches that you are not saved, you are CHOSEN by God before birth and that if you are Elect your children will be Elect.  John MacArthur denies the Blood of Jesus Christ and says it’s ‘just liquid’.  John MacArthur believes in a works based Salvation, called Lordship Salvation.

b) Jacob says, “Among these bretheren  are some of my closest personal friends who seek to uphold biblical truth in an age of apostasy where it is being eroded.  Among these are Dave Hunt, Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Dr David Hocking, Pastor Chuck Smith, Dr Thomas Ice, Dr Randolph Price…” [pg. 16]

I’m only going to focus on Chuck Smith.  Chuck  Smith is the founder of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa and the Jesus Movement in the 70’s that  Jacob Prasch says he belonged too in the hippie days.  See Shadows of the Beast [pg.19]

Chuck Smith close and personal friends with Jacob Prasch

Who is Chuck Smith:

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Lonnie Frisbee

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Chuck Smith

“Actually “the Calvary Chapel Movement was essentially spawned by Lonnie Frisbee, not Chuck Smith. It was Chuck’s embracing of Frisbee that drew the massive crowds of young hippies during the Jesus Movement…who then grew up and were Institutionalized by the opportunistic and shrewd Businessman, Chuck Smith.

Can a healthy Spirit-Led Movement of God be founded upon a man, Lonnie Frisbee, who was doing LSD and having homosexual relations with other men on Saturday…and then preaching the “real” Jesus Christ and Gospel on Sunday?

Lonnie Frisbee’s life and struggles with drugs and homosexuality is well documented. He died of AIDS as a result of his homosexual lifestyle. A very sad end I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

Kathryn Kuhlman, another Calvary Chapel and Chuck Smith partner that was instrumental in the genesis of the Movement is hailed as the major influence in Benny Hinn’s life.  The hyper-Charismatic “faith healer”,

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Kathryn Kuhlman

Kuhlman, was very close to Smith and very much a part of the early days of CC.

Chuck Smith intervened with a Church Discipline Process with regards to David Hawking’s Adultery and sex scandal, circumventing another Church’s Scripturally motivated disciplinary process.

The list of scandals and cover-ups in Camp Calvary Chapel, Chuck Smith’s Progeny, is astounding. This site documents the tip

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Chuck Smith and Rick Warren apostacising together

of the Ice Burg (but we’ll get to many others in time, and the list keeps growing as more people contact me with information).

A defense I’ve heard from some in the Online Discernment community, the supposed “Watch People” of “Sound Doctrine” and “Apostasy” etc. is, “Well, Chuck Smith is a gifted bible teacher”…and that excuses the Scandals and lack of following Scripture in dealing with sin in the Camp.

Well, what happens if Chuck Smith is preaching Heresy with regards to a Core Doctrine of the Faith? Can Chuck Smith be “wrong” and have a “wrong interpretation of Scripture” on a foundational issue like the Resurrection? Personhood? (Who the “real me” is).

I submit that Chuck Smith cannot be wrong on the Doctrine of Resurrection and be trusted as a true Prophet of God. The issue of Resurrection is key to our Faith. If one is “wrong” on the Resurrection…then others (Gnostics, Emergents, RCC, Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, you name it) can be “wrong”, too, and it shouldn’t rise to the level of calling out the different “interpretation”…if we can just ignore something as serious as a Heretical View of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and of the Saints.”

“What does Chuck Smith say about who “we” are as “the Real Me”? What is Chuck Smith’s teaching regarding the Doctrine of Resurrection?

Chuck Smith teaches that (in his own words, see video) that “the REAL ME is spirit“…classic Gnosticism.

Chuck Smith goes on to teach a Doctrine of Resurrection of both Jesus Christ and the Saints where “your spirit LEAVES your body” and “goes into a NEW body” after you die. Classic Jehovah’s Witness Theology.

He goes on to explain that Jesus Christ had a “similar but different” body when He Resurrected. It is not the “same” Physical Body that has been Glorified, but rather the “spirit” of Jesus (and our “spirit” who is the “real me“) LEAVES our “old bodies” and then migrates to a “new body“…some Quasi-Spirit Body. This is Heresy.

I call on Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel to repent of their Heresy regarding the Doctrine of Resurrection. They cannot be “wrong” on this Core Foundational issue as the Gnostics and Jehovah’s Witnesses are. If we compromise the integrity of this Foundational Truth…then we are on a Slippery Slope and we are preaching a “different Jesus”.

There is no “old body” in the Tomb that Jesus arose from. Jesus Christ has “one” Literal Physical Earthly Body that was Glorified. We have one Literal Physical Earthly Body that is “the real us” that is Glorified.   Jesus’s “spirit” and our “spirit” does not “leave our old body” and migrate to some “new body” that is a Quasi-Spirit Body. That is JW and Gnostic and off the Reservation of Christian orthodoxy.”      [Emphasis added]    — http://calvarychapelabuse.com/wordpress/?p=998

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
14 Be you not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what concord has Christ with Belial? or what part has he that believes with an infidel?

Ephesians 5:11
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Please share:

Deborah (Discerning the World)

Deborah Ellish is the author of the above article. Discerning the World is an internet Christian Ministry based in Johannesburg South Africa. Tom Lessing and Deborah Ellish both own Discerning the World. For more information see the About this Website page below the comments section.

292 Responses

  1. York says:

    [delete]

  2. York says:

    [deleted – I told you, if you continue to request to meet me I will delete your comments. I have every right, under the circumstances NOT TO MEET YOU, or anyone for that matter. You say you are a Christian, I do know what who you are. And based on the lies coming out of Moriel Ministries I am even less inclined to trust anyone who agrees with them.
    It is COMMON KNOWLEDGE that police authorities warn you not to just readily meet people from the internet – I might look stupid to you, but I am not York. If you go back and look at everyone who has constantly requested to meet me on this blog, it has always been under duress where I have exposed someone and the fans come out the woodwork insisting on meeting me because they have something to tell me in person that they can’t do in writing on this blog. They want my address, they want this, they want that. NO. Get it? And mostly importantly, my husband says to you, “Not in this life time, will you meet her”. And I agree with him.]

  3. York says:

    @ York:

    No, I am talking about my comment about false teachers, I made a list of them. I never said I agree with everything that Jacob Prasch says, but I take offense to your judgement of Andrew Murray, as well as one of your bloggers calling me a stalker.

    If you a strong christian, then you shouldn’t be afraid to at least say which church you fellowship with.

    My mom is also shocked at your comments about Andrew Murray.

    Keep safe in Jesus name
    Cheers

  4. York says:

    @ Deborah (Discerning the World):

    Can you show me the evidence of this, please. What does this have to do with the face that he was a great man of God ?

    Cheers

  5. York

    >> “but I take offense to your judgement of Andrew Murray”……”My mom is also shocked at your comments about Andrew Murray.”

    Truth hurts unfortunately. If you can’t see that the chaos the went on in his church was NOT of God… and he accepted it, people falling over, slain in the spirit, then honestly, that is your problem, something you need to deal with. Why are you following the words of MEN anyhow, why are you not relying on your BIBLE alone.

    >> but I take offense to ….as well as one of your bloggers calling me a stalker..

    When someone says NO, then and you persist in asking, it comes across as being ‘stalkerish’. Stop being so sensitive.

    >> If you a strong christian, then you shouldn’t be afraid to at least say which church you fellowship with.

    How do you know I do not fellowship with people? You did not ask. Good grief. And No, I am still not going to tell you – I am certainly NOT going to tell you where I go too, the house address.

    I’m getting tired of this. Ask one more time and I will block you from commenting for sure, ok?

  6. York

    This topic is about Jacob Prasch. You go and do your own research on the matter. Use Google.

  7. York says:

    @ Deborah (Discerning the World):

    If you are going to judge Andrew Murray, then realize that God is going to judge you according to the same standard. You are slandering a name of a person that has done far more for the kingdom of God then you ever will. Like I said before, if you want to point fingers, then point it to the ones that are obviously false, like TD Jakes, Creflo Dollar, Kenneth Copeland, Joel Osteen, Paula White, Juanita Bynum, Oral Roberts, Rodney Howard Browne, Joseph Prince. These people are in danger of the hell if they don’t repent !

    Cheers

  8. York

    Understand one thing. I do not judge anyone only God can do that. But I have every right to QUESTION/DISCERN/JUDGE the words and actions of anyone that is contrary to the Word of God. Do you understand? Just as you are questioning those people you list, I question Andrew Murray. If you don’t want to go and research as to why I say he was not kosher, then don’t, no one is forcing you to search for the truth.

  9. Myfanwy Brown says:

    YORK,

    Please read my comment again, I said, quote: you are starting to look like a stalker. I apologise if my comment offended you, but it offends me when someone keeps hassling a friend of mine.

  10. York says:

    @ Deborah (Discerning the World):

    Ok but do you at least agree that those people that I mentioned on the list are false ?
    They are still alive and are a far more serious threat to the church than anyone else.
    I actually forgot to include the “grand daddy” of all false prophets, Benny Hynn

    Anyway, I appreciate your efforts on this site. We need more sites like this.

    Love in Jesus name
    Cheers

  11. York

    >> Ok but do you at least agree that those people that I mentioned on the list are false ?

    Yes

    >> They are still alive and are a far more serious threat to the church than anyone else.

    Anyone alive or dead that preaches/preached a doctrine that is not 100% true is a threat.

  12. York says:

    @ Deborah (Discerning the World):

    The other aspect to this of course is this :

    When a person “follows” a certain teacher, they might only get the 95% truth part, but luckily escape the 5% poison. This doesn’t justify it though, just saying that christians can still learn a lot from those that are suspect. For example many people have been brought to Christ by Billy Graham. It’s only NOW that he has become liberal, accepting the roman catholic church etc. But if you look at the substance of what he preached ( I have videos ), there is nothing biblically unsound about it at all.

    There are many good teachers out there who are calvinists, and it DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HELL.

    You get good calvinists with good hearts and bad calvinists who are suspicious. The same goes for arminians.

    At the end of day, every single one of us are going to be held individually responsible for ANYTHING unbiblical that we say about the nature of the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, gifts, blessings, prosperity etc.

    Also, we CANNOT condemn all roman catholics to hell, since there are many catholics with good hearts.

    Keep safe in Jesus name
    Cheers

  13. York

    >>When a person “follows” a certain teacher, they might only get the 95% truth part, but luckily escape the 5% poison. This doesn’t justify it though, just saying that christians can still learn a lot from those that are suspect. For example many people have been brought to Christ by Billy Graham. It’s only NOW that he has become liberal, accepting the roman catholic church etc. But if you look at the substance of what he preached ( I have videos ), there is nothing biblically unsound about it at all.

    There are many good teachers out there who are calvinists, and it DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HELL.

    You get good calvinists with good hearts and bad calvinists who are suspicious. The same goes for arminians.

    At the end of day, every single one of us are going to be held individually responsible for ANYTHING unbiblical that we say about the nature of the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, gifts, blessings, prosperity etc.

    Also, we CANNOT condemn all roman catholics to hell, since there are many catholics with good hearts

    Oh really? So according to you if the person is ‘good’ and has a good heart, it does not matter that they follow PAGAN religions and believe in a false Christ. Tell me, please go and find scripture to back up you claim where Jesus or anyone in the bible says that your ‘good heart’ supersedes sound doctrine.

  14. Andy says:

    It is not judging to discern a person teaching false doctrine. I’m so tired of the “judge not!” call. It’s unbiblical to say a person is “judging” when they discern someone teaching false teachings. The false teachers are always exposed in Scripture. Discernment of false teaching is not “judging”.

  15. Robbie says:

    York

    Mar 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

    repeat….”Jesus did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”.

    If you think that Jesus saves pretty good, basically moral, church-going people, you do not understand the heart of the gospel. If you think that someday when you stand before God, He will let you into heaven because you’ve tried to do your best, you’ve been regular in attending church, you’ve given money to the church, you’ve never intentionally hurt anyone, then you’re in for a rude awakening.

    Jesus’ words here should jolt you into rethinking your understanding of the Christian faith.

  16. York says:

    @ Deborah (Discerning the World):

    Ok so are you saying that ALL roman catholics are going to hell, and the fact that some of them have a relationship with the true Christ doesn’t count for anything. I am NOT making excuses for the roman catholic church, or the doctrine, or the practises. I am talking about placing a broad umbrella over them and saying that they are all damned.

    If you condemn others based on their doctrine, then you’d better hope that your doctrine is 100% perfect when you stand before God, else He is going to say there are holes in it just like in the doctrines of the ones you pointed fingers at.

    This is what makes this whole situation so frightening. “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you”

    I say again, There are many good teachers out there who are calvinists, and it DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HELL.

    You get good calvinists with good hearts and bad calvinists who are suspicious. The same goes for arminians.

    At the end of day, every single one of us are going to be held individually responsible for ANYTHING unbiblical that we say about the nature of the Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus, gifts, blessings, prosperity etc.

    You know what would be nice…..if somebody on this site could make a list of all the “prerequisite” doctrines that a christian MUST believe in order to be assured of salvation.

    Also, an exact list of things, which, if NOT done regularly, can cause loss of salvation.
    Then everyone can have a blueprint as to what to believe and what to do.

    Keep safe in Jesus name
    Cheers

  17. Redeemed says:

    York: You said:

    Also, we CANNOT condemn all roman catholics to hell, since there are many catholics with good hearts.

    Please find a verse in the Bible where it states that anyone is saved because they have a “good heart”.

    Yes, there are no doubtedly many good Roman Catholics who sincerely believe in the false Christ of the Eucharistic Mass and believe that they are saved by the graces of the Roman Catholic belief system and are saved because they were baptized as infants, but that does not make it truth. They are believing in a FALSE GOSPEL. FALSE GOSPELS do not save anyone. The Bible says there is a way that seems right to a man, but the way thereof leads to destruction. Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25

    Many people sincerely believe in false religions, but they are sincerely wrong. And no one is condemning Roman Catholics to hell. No human has the right to do that. Only God who sets down the conditions for salvation. Roman Catholics may think they believe in Christ, but it is a counterfeit Christ that is not in the Bible.

    Do you see this York? I hope so becsuse if you have the opportunity to share the true gospel with a Roman Catholic and you fail to do so, YOU are the one who is condemning them to hell because you have withheld the truth from them and allowed them to continue to believe they are on the right path.

  18. John Chingford says:

    Hi York

    You said that Billy Graham used to preach sound doctrine. Is that actually true?

    The truth is that he has always been in the business of encouraging some converts (at his rallies) to go back to their Catholic church. In the 1960’s there is a video where he said he believed in life on other planets and extolled the virtues of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Godspell” which are complete blasphemies and destruction of gospel truth. Regarding those films, someone posted this video on COMMENT NO.6 http://www.discerningtheworld.com/2012/11/13/when-will-the-rapture-happen/#comment-227185. where he discusses his endorsement of those films.

    Regarding his belief in Aliens look at the video on my site on this link: [removed]
    Specifically look at this part: “I post all the links which give the conclusive proof. The first during the early days of his ministry (please go to the end of this first tape) has Billy (his own lips) saying he believes in beings on other planets????? This surely should have alerted us when he first said this that something was not right with Billy.”

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vifJE8wcehQ

    At 5:17s he says, “Now I personally hold the view that there are beings on other planets, but I believe this is the only planet in rebellion against God.”>

  19. York

    I asked you for scripture to back up your claim York, where is it?

    >> Ok so are you saying that ALL roman catholics are going to hell,

    I do not say they are going to hell. I have no right to say who goes where. But the doctrine they follow, the words that people preach that are contrary to the Word of God will be their judge.

    Matthew 12:36-37
    36 I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak.
    37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

    >> and the fact that some of them have a relationship with the true Christ doesn’t count for anything

    How is this possible? How can a Roman Catholic have a relationship with Jesus Christ of the Bible when the ‘Jesus’ of the Roman Catholic Church is actually HORUS, and Mary (whom they pray too) is actually an incarnation of ISIS, and their GOD is actually OSIRIS. Do you not get it that the Catholic church is a PAGAN RELIGION disguised as Christianity?

    You contradicted yourself earlier in another comment when you spoke about Billy Graham you say… “For example many people have been brought to Christ by Billy Graham. It’s only NOW that he has become liberal, accepting the roman catholic church etc”

    Here you say Billy Graham was once ok, UNTIL he accepted the teachings of the Catholic Church. YORK, make up your mind will you. IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CHRISTIAN OR IS IT NOT? You can’t have it both ways. The fact is the Catholic church is NOT Christian and if a Catholic were to become born again they will LEAVE THE CATHOLIC church immediately. As the Bible says, Revelation 18:4 “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, so you will not take part in her sins and so you will not receive her plagues” This pertains to the Roman Catholic church, and this includes moderate Catholics and Pentecostal type Catholics.

    >> If you condemn others based on their doctrine, then you’d better hope that your doctrine is 100% perfect when you stand before God, else He is going to say there are holes in it just like in the doctrines of the ones you pointed fingers at.

    When you are born again York the Holy Spirit comes to abide in you and HE promises to lead you into ALL TRUTH, not some truth or 95% truth, but 100% truth. Do you think the Holy Spirit is a liar?

    John 16:13
    13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever he hears, and will tell you what is to come.

    If you do not have the Holy Spirit abiding in you then you will not speak all truth, you will speak a mixture of truth and lies. And this is evident of ALL false teachers including all FALSE religions. Roman Catholicism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Seven Day Adventists, CALVINISM, Arminians, Methodists, etc, Word of Faith Metaphysical Teachings, Latter Rain – New Apostolic Reformation false Christianity, etc. The list of false religions claiming to be Christian is astounding.

    >> This is what makes this whole situation so frightening. “With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you”

    Yes, thank Goodness because I am born again and the Holy Spirit abides in me and I am confident that I preach the gospel because IT MATCHES THE BIBLE and I do not deviate from SCRIPTURE. And if I make a mistake I am the first one to repent and fix my mistake very quickly. People have seen this on my website where I have mis-read something and I was called out on it and I apologized and mixed my mistake. But ultimately these mistakes are little things. Not gross error.

    >> I say again, There are many good teachers out there who are Calvinists, and it DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE GOING TO HELL.

    Wrong, the false doctrine they preach is what CONDEMNS THEM, I do not condemn them York, see verse above. Calvinism is a deadly doctrine in that it preaches the truth 95% of the way until you get to the message of SALVATION. Here Calvinists instead of teaching that Jesus died for the whole world, they blasphemously teach that Jesus only died for the ELECT. They believe that God before the creation of the world (or whenever), select some to be saved and the rest to go to hell. And how to you know if you were CHOSEN by God, well my goodness, if you believe in their twisted gospel of PREDESTINATION then you must be CHOSEN. If you don’t believe in PREDESTINATION then you are a REGENERATE and EVIL, the one that God must have chosen to go to hell. They do not believe in salvation, they believe in SELECTION. As a genuine Christian you are born again SAVED BY GRACE, CALVINIST are ELECT by their own PRIDE. < -- This YORK is NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ and NO ONE can get genuinely saved in the CULT of Calvinism. >> You know what would be nice…..if somebody on this site could make a list of all the “prerequisite” doctrines that a christian MUST believe in order to be assured of salvation.

    Read this York, let the Holy Spirit be your guide. 09 – How to Become a Child of God

    >> Also, an exact list of things, which, if NOT done regularly, can cause loss of salvation.

    If you are genuinely saved you can’t lose your salvation York, God promises to seal you until the end.

    Ephesians 1:13-14
    13 And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Christ – you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,
    14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

    You know if you are genuinely saved or not, you know what is going on in your life. You know if there is confusion in your mind regarding what the BIBLE SAYS. I can’t give you a list or rules to follow, only your total surrender to Jesus Christ will bring you genuine salvation and will allow you to understand everything that is happening, as the Holy Spirit then comes to abide in you and illuminates your mind (not the New Age way, but the Biblical way) and gives you complete understanding of scripture.

    John 14:26
    26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.

    Regarding Billy Graham, he has been a tool of the Roman Catholic Church from the beginning: The New Evangelical – Evil fit for a New Dark Age

  20. York says:

    @ Deborah (Discerning the World):

    “If you are genuinely saved you can’t lose your salvation York, God promises to seal you until the end.”

    This is already a contradiction, since this is fundamental aspect of calvinism, THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS !!!

    So you YOU are the one who looks confused. You either believe that you are sealed till the end, or you believe that you can lose your salvation, so which is it ?

    Also, you are treading on dangerous ground by saying that “This YORK is NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ and NO ONE can get genuinely saved in the CULT of Calvinism.”

    Therefore, YOU ARE CONDEMNING THEM TO HELL !! Since you are saying that “NO ONE can get genuinely saved” !! My mom was brought up as a calvinist, although I am challenging her beliefs, IT STILL DOES NOT MEAN THAT SHE IS NOT SAVED. I am beginning to wonder whether what Jacob Prasch said is true, are you a pathological liar ? You see this why women should not be pastors, because they are more susceptible to spiritual seduction.

    Now concerning Billy Graham, yes he is very suspicious, but I am not talking about whether he is saved or not, that is for God to judge. What I am saying is that many people have been brought to Christ by his crusades, otherwise you are saying that NO ONE has been brought to Christ by his crusades ?

    Keep safe in Jesus name
    Cheers

  21. Colin Ford says:

    When I was a new believer, I learnt much from Revelation TV, in its early days. However I always sensed a strong underlying sympathy to the Roman Catholic Church. Ten years ago I didn’t know what ecumenism meant.
    Oftentimes Howard Conder and other presenters would talk about the ‘good people in the Catholic Church’. They would from time to time host debates and such like between Catholics and Protestants (I believe the inference being that we should find common ground and unite!), which surprised me because I thought the leadership at RTV were supposed to be evangelical Christians (whatever that term means today?).
    The leadership at RTV would propagate the view that you could be a practicing Roman Catholic and a saved Christian as long as you trusted in Christ alone for salvation. This is obviously a dangerous and false doctrine. If you believed in Christ alone, you wouldn’t pray to Mary as co-redeemer and take part in the blasphemous mass and many other pagan and idolatrous practices. If the Holy Spirit revealed the truth to you, a cold shiver would run down your spine and you would show the whore Roman Church a clean pair of heels.
    The false Roman Church is a cult. Many people have been saved out of it, not by it. The many, many other errors of the Roman Church are, I believe well documented elsewhere on this website, and many others beside.
    There is no NT mandate for an officiating priest at an altar, that was abolished by the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. The rending of the veil proclaimed the termination and passing away of the ceremonial law: it was a sign that the old dispensation of sacrifices and ordinances was no longer needed; its work was done; its occupation was gone, from the moment that Christ died. And yet this whore Church will sacrifice Him again and again at their mass. The Roman Church teaches that we are not saved by faith alone, when would we ever know we had ever done enough to earn our salvation? Whatever peace does this wicked institution offer the poor undone sinner? I could go on and on. No true blood bought believer should ever have any sympathies whatsoever with the Roman Church. At every opportunity we should witness to those that are ensnared within her shackles.

  22. John Chingford says:

    York

    You can believe in eternal security of the believer (biblical truth) without being a Calvinist (Augustinian/agnostic preconceived interpretation of the Bible). Just because Calvinism has one small bit correct, doesn’t make the whole of Calvinism truth.

    Calvinism believes you cannot lose your salvation because you are the preselected elect. Whereas the Bible teaches that we have eternal security because ALL those who receive Jesus are born into God’s kingdom and cannot be unborn after being born again.

    Regarding whether a Calvinist can be saved I differ from Deborah. Please read this article of mine which shows how I differ:

    [removed](Reformed Theologians) Are They Unsaved?”

    My argument shows that most probably ARE saved. This is an excerpt of what I wrote:
    “I AM NOT suggesting that a Calvinist is not saved. I will now address the reasons why I believe that (possibly) MOST Calvinists ARE saved!

    In dealing with this question, we need to be careful to always remember HOW one is saved. I do not know of anyone who becomes a Calvinist, Arminian or of any other belief system BEFORE they receive Jesus as their Saviour. Usually a believer becomes a Calvinist etc AFTER they come to faith (depending upon what Christian group influence them, at that time).”

    Therefore, if they were truly saved BEFORE they became a Calvinist then they are SAVED!!! However, if they were brought up in the atmosphere of Calvinistic teaching it is much more difficult for them to embrace the true gospel and be saved.

    I think this is possibly the point that Deborah may be trying to make.

  23. York

    >> This is already a contradiction, since this is fundamental aspect of calvinism, THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS !!!

    No dude, If you read my comment earlier and understood the principle of ELECTION with regards to Calvinism you will understand that they are NOT SAVED, they are CHOSEN.

    The BIBLICAL version of Eternal Security is this. And I am going to just copy from an email I sent to someone a few days ago and save myself the time explaining it all over again.

    “There is a BIG DIFFERENCE between Calvinism’s version of ‘once saved, always saved’ and the BIBLICAL version. Calvinists believe you are CHOSEN by God before you are born, therefore you are actually ‘ONCE CHOSEN, ALWAYS CHOSEN’. If you are Elect, you can’t become un-elect! The Biblical version is WE HAVE FREE WILL, when you come to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and are REGENERATED the Holy Spirit comes to abide in you and HE SEALS YOU, and your name is written in to the book of Life (Philippians 4:3) 3 “Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.” This verse also makes is clear that once a name is written in the book of life, Jesus promises that He will never blot it out (Revelation 3:5) 5 “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” These are those who overcome the trials of earthly life and are genuinely saved. In Revelations, Jesus was speaking to all the Churches, and promises to acknowledge us before his own father and the angels, those whose names are written in the book of life. Conversely… (Revelations 20:15) reveals the fate of those whose names are NOT written in the book of life and they go to the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15) “15 And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

    In Revelation 13:8 and Revelation 21:27, we find the references to the “Lamb’s book of life”, in which are also names of all those who have been washed by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. The Lamb who has been “slain from the creation of the world” has a book in which are written all those who have been redeemed by His sacrifice. They are the ones who will enter the Holy City, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:10) and who will live forever in heaven with God. Since the book of life is that which records all who have eternal life through the Lamb, it’s clear that the book of life and the Lamb’s book of life are one and the same.

    When the Holy Spirit comes to abide in us, he stays there forever! He does not come and go and come and go each time you fall into some kind of sin. (John 14:16) And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. The fact that the Holy Spirit will never leave a believer is also seen in (Ephesians 1:13-14) where believers are said to be “sealed” with the Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13-14) 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

    The Holy Spirit who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” The picture of being sealed with the Spirit is one of ownership and possession. God has promised eternal life to all who believe in Christ, and as a guarantee that He will keep His promise, He has sent the Holy Spirit to indwell the believer until the day of redemption. Similar to making a down payment on a car or a house, God has provided all believers with a down payment on their future relationship with Him by sending the Holy Spirit to indwell them. The fact that all believers are sealed with the Spirit is also seen in 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 4:30. 2 Corinthians 1:22 “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

    Prior to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit had a “come and go” relationship with people. The Holy Spirit indwelt King Saul, but then departed from him (1 Samuel 16:14). Instead, the Spirit came upon David (1 Samuel 16:13). After his adultery with Bathsheba, David feared that the Holy Spirit would be taken from him (Psalm 51:11). The Holy Spirit filled Bezaleel to enable him to produce the items needed for the tabernacle (Exodus 31:2-5), but this is not described as a permanent relationship.

    All of this changed after Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Beginning on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit began permanently indwelling believers (Acts 2). The permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the fulfilment of God’s promise to always be with us and never forsake us.

    While the Holy Spirit will never leave a GENUINE believer, it is possible for our sin to “quench the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) or “grieve the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30). Sin always has consequences in our relationship with Jesus. While our relationship with God is secure in Jesus Christ, unconfessed sin in our lives can hinder our fellowship with God and will quench the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives. That is why it is so important to confess our sins because God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). So, while the Holy Spirit will never leave us, the benefits and joy of His presence will feel far away from us, as sin drives a wedge between us and God and we effectively move away from Jesus.

    As Christians sealed by the Holy Spirit you will still sin, but if you are genuinely born again, the Holy Spirit will chastise you every time you sin and you will sooner than later repent for your sins. But there are people who PROFESS to be Christian and they DO NOT have the Holy Spirit in then. These are people who speak Jesus’ name, they go to church, have even have big ministries teaching people the bible and they sound so intelligent, but they have not been REGENERATED, because they refuse to give up their sinful ways, they refuse to pick up their cross and follow Jesus. (Luke 14:27) Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. They think they can have it both ways. (2 Timothy 3:5) “They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these….

    Yes, Satan always does twist scripture for his own advantage and tell people that at an alter call if they just pray the sinners pray they will be saved and never lose it, but God knows who is GENUINELY saved and who isn’t. We CAN’T fool Him. People CAN FOOL each other into believing they are real Christians, when in fact they are not. And how do we tell if they are not, well by the things they do (the fruit of the spirit) and say – the words the preach.”

  24. John

    Your logic can be applied to even a Word of Faith church…

    >> In dealing with this question, we need to be careful to always remember HOW one is saved. I do not know of anyone who becomes a Calvinist, Arminian or of any other belief system BEFORE they receive Jesus as their Saviour. Usually a believer becomes a Calvinist etc AFTER they come to faith (depending upon what Christian group influence them, at that time).”

    They can come to accept Jesus Christ and be saved yes inside a Calvinist church, but when they find out what Calvinism is all about THEY WILL LEAVE THE CHURCH, and they will not want to be called Calvinists, they will call themselves Christians.

    The same logic can be applied to any other church, Wof, NAR etc. People can go to a Wof church because they themselves are seeking Jesus Christ and they will be genuinely saved, but the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to the truth of what is being preached there and they will LEAVE. The same goes for Calvinism, the Holy Spirit will open their eyes to the truth of what the doctrine of Calvinism REALLY IS and the person will not tolerate such heresy, and leave the church and not want to be labelled as a Calvinist.

  25. John Chingford says:

    Debs

    I would agree with you with a slight exception. Some people take longer than others to see through the WoF and Calvinistic lies. But (I agree) eventually they will have to leave that church or organisation but maybe some could stay a little longer and preach against that false doctrine until they are thrown out.

    Before anyone says “isn’t that the same for those saved in Catholic churches?” No it is not the same. 2 Cor chapter 6 is referring to such an organisation “temple of demons” when it says to “come out” and do not have fellowship with them.

  26. Michael says:

    York comments…“If you are genuinely saved you can’t lose your salvation York, God promises to seal you until the end.”

    This is already a contradiction, since this is fundamental aspect of calvinism, THE PRESERVATION OF THE SAINTS !!!

    You are wrong here…once TRULY SAVED by choice you cannot lose your salvation. However the emphasis is on choice and truly saved. The Lord Jesus died ONCE for our sins and we cannot be reborn twice.

    Secondly Calvinism teachings revolve around PRE-destination…ie choosen and selected without the choice of repentance and believing that Jesus Christ died for sins…no choice at all. To suggest that God would deliberately create a human being to be destined to agony and torment is blasphemy and an attack on a holy and just God.

  27. Michael says:

    The Lord Jesus always gave a CHOICE to follow Him…He gave the prostitute a choice, He gave the rich young man a choice, the Samarian woman at the well, His disciples including Judas (but Judas had hidden agendas and motives…just like some of the false christians today) and the same Jesus has not changed His modus operandi today.
    We are called to make good choices by Him…the most important one is to recognise Him for who He claimed to be…the Messiah…the Saviour and His saving atonement at Golgotha.

  28. York says:

    Ok thanks for the response

    John makes an interesting point….once saved always saved is only one aspect of calvinism and doesn’t define calvinism as a whole.

    The one aspect of calvinism that is disturbing is the fact that God chooses certain people for hell. I know this teaching causes chills down people’s spines, and mine.

    You know I think we are never really going to know the exact truth about God’s operation concerning grace, forgiveness, redemption, perseverance, since we cannot understand the mind of God.

    The fundamental issue is this : AVOID DELIBERATE SIN AT ALL COSTS !!!
    This statement is true irrespective of your views on predestination.

    When I think of babies…perhaps they are chosen for heaven ? I mean those babies that die young, since they never reaced the “age of accountability”, which is a big topic in itself, and which God determines on an individual basis.

    There are some who believe that babies and infacts CAN go to hell when they die, like the sons of muslims for example.

    What we can say is that ANYONE who is not born again is in danger of the hell if they don’t repent. “For unless ye are born again, you shall by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”.

    Also, those “christians” who are going to word-faith churches are either not born again to begin with, or, they are resisting the Holy Spirit, which can turn into blashpemy.

    I have a friend who is caught up in Kenneth Copeland’s gospel, and is applying it to his life. He lacks discernment on certain issues of scripture though, and I am VERY worried that he is not born again.

    All I know is, we cannot tell a person,”I believe you are on your way to hell.” This statement cannot be made by anyone except Jesus Christ.

    We can speculate all we want about people that we feel are on their way to hell, but….there is still the possibility of a death-bed conversion.

    Father I pray that you please forgive everyone that is one this site of their sins, and please help them to love one another, and open their hearts and minds to the truth.

    The greatest act of love that one person can do for another is to die for them. ( Scriptural reference ?? )

    Keep safe in Jesus name
    Amen

  29. York

    >> John makes an interesting point….once saved always saved is only one aspect of calvinism and doesn’t define calvinism as a whole.

    No again, you do not understand the doctrine of Calvinism and ELECTION and PREDESTINATION – IT IS NOT THE SAME AS Biblical Eternal Security!

    >> You know I think we are never really going to know the exact truth about God’s operation concerning grace, forgiveness, redemption, perseverance, since we cannot understand the mind of God.

    No, again you do not read your bible, Jesus said WE WILL KNOW by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If we can not understand this then Satan can deceive us! THEREFORE WE CAN UNDERSTAND. Why can’t you understand York?

    >> The fundamental issue is this : AVOID DELIBERATE SIN AT ALL COSTS !!!
    >> This statement is true irrespective of your views on predestination.

    A deliberate SIN is to follow the DOCTRINE OF DEMONS “PREDESTINATION” after you have been told what it entails! Jesus warned you in the bible to make sure you do not follow after FALSE DOCTRINE. HE WAS NOT JOKING!

    >> There are some who believe that babies and infacts CAN go to hell when they die, like the sons of muslims for example.

    Oh but on the contrary dear York, your wonderful doctrine of Calvisnim believes this too! They believe that babies are EVIL. See here, listen to what Paul Washer has to say about little babies…

    http://youtu.be/mEOqxibhCxU

    Calvinism believes that God would CHOSE some little babies to be Elect and some before they are born to go to hell. This is why John Calvin could murder people because he believed he was ELECT and doing God’s work by removing the world of reprobate (evil people), this included children – see article below.

    >> Also, those “christians” who are going to word-faith churches are either not born again to begin with, or, they are resisting the Holy Spirit, which can turn into blashpemy.

    Um… um…. I don’t think you have the right to point fingers… and blasphemy? hmmm…

    >> I have a friend who is caught up in Kenneth Copeland’s gospel, and is applying it to his life. He lacks discernment on certain issues of scripture though, and I am VERY worried that he is not born again.

    You lack discernment too. You have no right to judge your friend York, you believe that Catholics are Christian and that Calvinists are Christian.

    >> All I know is, we cannot tell a person,”I believe you are on your way to hell.” This statement cannot be made by anyone except Jesus Christ.

    You seem to think that you can say it and then point fingers at others for saying it when they never said it… you are a strange character.

    >> Father I pray that you please forgive everyone that is one this site of their sins, and please help them to love one another, and open their hearts and minds to the truth.

    How dare you, ARE YOU JESUS? What you have done is acted like a Catholic priest would and ask forgiveness for others sin, you are JUDGING everyone on this website saying we are in sin because we do not agree with YOUR FALSE IDEOLOGIES!

    Read here if you want to know the truth: Unconditional Election and Total Depravity are Gnostic Teachings

  30. John

    >> I would agree with you with a slight exception. Some people take longer than others to see through the WoF and Calvinistic lies. But (I agree) eventually they will have to leave that church or organisation but maybe some could stay a little longer and preach against that false doctrine until they are thrown o

    Hmmm, 50 years ago we could say that, but today in the time we are living in and the URGENCY of the time we are living in, I don’t believe this holds true anymore. God is calling everyone OUT OF FALSE DOCTRINE before the tribulation starts and that is very soon.

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