Liz Cheney to Hang Today - The
“Latter Rain” Revival Movement Part 4 - US MILITARY NEWS - Tucker Carlson Fired
From Fox - Rod From God Hits Ukraine Bunker - Glenn Beck Breaking - Bill Maher
Says Blacks Killing Blacks - Scott Ritter & Middle East and more.
Researched & Comments by Pastor
Gary Boyd
April 24th 2023
Real Raw News: Military Sentences Liz
Cheney to Hang to Death - By Michael Baxter -April 23, 2023 - Vice Admiral
Darse E. Crandall of the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps asked an
all-female panel to find Liz Cheney guilty of treason after she all but
confessed to betraying her oath of office and threatened to have her people
murder the admiral and his family. He delivered a scorching statement painting
Cheney as a depraved, bitter woman whose hatred of the U.S. Constitution
rivaled her father’s, and whose unjustifiable animus for President Trump
prompted her to commit election fraud and, later, spitefully chair a committee
that failed to shame or criminally indict Trump. https://realrawnews.com/2023/04/military-sentences-liz-cheney-to-hang-to-death/
US MILITARY NEWS: Restored Republic
via a GCR - Update as of April 24, 2023 - By Divina Ellisson - 24 April, 2023 – Vatican now empty all hanged
for child trafficking – 650 plane leads of gold from Vatican tunnel seized by
white hats returned to rightful owners worldwide – Two D/S helicopters shot
down with VIP black hats aboard – D/S ground bunkers raided important D/S
Colonel taken prisoner - https://theusmilitarynews.com/restored-republic-via-a-gcr-update-as-of-april-24-2023/
Russia Fires Hyper-Sonic Missile at Ukraine
DUMB - 400 DMF’s - Monday, April 24, 2023 7:41 - A few days ago Russia fired
six hypersonic missiles at military targets in Ukraine. One of the missiles acted
like a “Rod From God” and took out a NATO Command Bunker 400 feet below the
ground, killing over 300 top Ukraine and NATO Commanders. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/04/russia-fires-hyper-sonic-missile-at-ukraine-dumb-400-dmfs-video-3791883.html
US MILITARY NEWS - Judy Byington:
President Trump Just Pressed the Nuclear Button, Twice!! GCR Update as of Mon.
24 April 2023 (Video) - Monday, April 24, 2023 7:32 - https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/04/judy-byington-president-trump-just-pressed-the-nuclear-button-twice-gcr-update-as-of-mon-24-april-2023-video-3791882.html
Dan Bongino Show: 60 Minutes Goes
Full Pravda! - Dan Bongino - Monday, April 24, 2023 14:56 - In this episode, I
address the shocking episode of 60 Minutes where they try to gaslight America
about January 6th. In 825 days since Joe Biden STOLE OFFICE, he has been the
MOST CORRUPT, PATHETIC, INCOMPETENT, ASININE, TRAITOROUS and EVIL PRESIDENT
EVER. Another 636 days to go. PLEASE HELP US GOD! - https://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2023/04/60-minutes-goes-full-pravda-dan-bongino-3661057.html
Jan 6th Capitol Riot was THE STORM IS
UPON US! Grammys Cancelled - Get On GETTR (First post on: Jan 7, 2022) -
Monday, April 24, 2023 15:46 - Mass formation psychosis is trending, most have
no idea what tyranny or mass formation means. COVID is an IQ test, how’d you do?
Freemason Grammy Awards CANCELLED! January 6th Capitol riot distraction was on
the same date we got the tweet from our VP – JFK Jr. “My fellow Americans, the
Storm is upon us…….” God bless. President Trump statement and interview with
Glenn Beck on January 6th. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/04/jan-6th-capitol-riot-was-the-storm-is-upon-us-grammys-cancelled-get-on-gettr-first-post-on-jan-7-2022-3791909.html
Juan O' Savin HUGE Military Intel Apr
24: "OUR TROOPS ARE IN THIS "Theater Of War" (Video) - Monday,
April 24, 2023 7:21 - Things are heating up and in this special military Intel,
Juan exposes what’s really going on and what we can expect to take place very
soon. https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/04/juan-o-savin-huge-military-intel-apr-24-our-troops-are-in-this-theater-of-war-video-3791880.html
Bo Polny: APRIL WORLDWIDE SHOCK!
(Video) - Monday, April 24, 2023 9:38 - Bo is joined by Francine Fosdick an
these 2 have some HEAVY Intel to share about the end of the month! This could
get ugly!! https://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2023/04/bo-polny-april-worldwide-shock-video-3791895.html
Scott Ritter - Middle East Embraces
Russia & Loses Trust In The US! Forces In Play In Sudan Conflict! - Must
Video - Monday, April 24, 2023 14:02 - https://beforeitsnews.com/war-and-conflict/2023/04/scott-ritter-middle-east-embraces-russia-loses-trust-in-the-us-forces-in-play-in-sudan-conflict-must-video-2478010.html
Glenn Beck Breaking: Could Losing
Tucker Carlson DESTROY Fox News? - Must Video - Monday, April 24, 2023 13:19 - In
this clip, Glenn announces breaking news that may be the biggest story for
media this year: Tucker Carlson is OUT at Fox News. Glenn and Stu speculate why
the number one host may be leaving, where Tucker will go next, and the
DISASTROUS consequences this could have for the cable channel. Could this
DESTROY Fox News and be the end of the network…? https://beforeitsnews.com/politics/2023/04/glenn-beck-breaking-could-losing-tucker-carlson-destroy-fox-news-must-video-3288411.html
NTEB: The Last Truth Teller’ Tucker
Carlson Is Unceremoniously Fired From Fox News As Word Got Out He Was Planning
To Expose Truth About Network - Monday, April 24, 2023 14:09 - Back in August
of 2020, we did an article on Tucker Carlson where we called him the ‘last
truth teller’ in the dinosaur corporate media, and in it we asked the question
of how long can Tucker last before getting fired? As it turns out, today.
During our live Podcast this afternoon, the news broke over the wire that
Tucker Carlson had been fired immediately, not even being allowed a last show
or even a goodbye. Why? We know why. Fox News is fake news, and the truth is
not allowed there. https://beforeitsnews.com/global-unrest/2023/04/the-last-truth-teller-tucker-carlson-is-unceremoniously-fired-from-fox-news-as-word-got-out-he-was-planning-to-expose-truth-about-network-2537739.html
MAIL ONLINE: CNN insiders slam
'misogynistic, sexist, POS' Don Lemon as he's fired from network for 'losing
the respect of women on staff' and for thinking being 'black and gay' gave him
a 'get out of jail free card' - Sources said that no one wanted to work with Don
Lemon after sexist comments - They claimed he thought he had 'get out of jail
free card' for being black and gay - Lemon was sacked by CNN on Monday,
igniting a war of words with the network - By JAMES VITUSCKA FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
- PUBLISHED: 13:37 EDT, 24 April 2023 | UPDATED: 14:03 EDT, 24 April 2023 - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12008465/CNN-insiders-slam-misogynistic-sexist-POS-Don-Lemon-hes-fired-network.html
HAL TURNER SHOW: 3600 Pounds of GOLD
BULLION Stolen from Canada Airport – WORLD - BY HAL TURNER - 20 APRIL 2023 - Police
in Toronto and surrounding areas are going berserk looking for 3,600 pounds of
Gold Bullion that was STOLEN from Pearson Airport in Toronto, Ontario. The Gold is said to be worth over US$100
Million. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed they are looking into a
gold robbery at Pearson International Airport. Gold mined in Canada can travel
through Pearson on its way to customers around the world. - https://halturnerradioshow.com/index.php/en/news-page/world/3600-pounds-of-gold-bullion-stolen-from-canada-airport
GLENN BECK: THIS idea is PROOF that
climate activists are ANTI-HUMAN - Some far left, climate activists now want to
eliminate rice in order to save the world?! It’s ‘immoral,’ Glenn says,
considering millions of people throughout earth rely on rice to survive. But,
this is just further proof that climate activists — and the global elite who
side with them — are anti-human. Alex Epstein, Founder and President of the
Center for Industrial Progress, joins Glenn to explain why the combination of
an ‘anti-human motive’ and evil governments dictating policy is a dangerous
recipe for disaster… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3RcdO3AVK4
ALL ISRAEL NEWS: Hamas-affiliated
digital accounts in its continued battle against terrorism - The Jewish state’s
National Commission for Combating Economic Terrorism seized dozens of digital
accounts affiliated with the Islamist organization Hamas in its ongoing battle
against terrorism. In addition, the Israeli authority also succeeded in
exposing hundreds of e-wallets used for providing funds of the Gaza-led
terrorist organization. https://www.allisrael.com/israel-seizes-hamas-affiliated-digital-accounts-in-its-continued-battle-against-terrorism
ZERO HEDGE: 'Why Aren't Black Celebrities
Talking About That?' - Bill Maher Asks Why Black People Are Killing Each Other
In Cities Like Chicago - BY TYLER DURDEN- MONDAY, APR 24, 2023 - 07:24 AM - HBO
host Bill Maher has done it again, asking the third rail questions and saying
the quiet part out loud. The comedian and self-professed liberal said blasted
Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson during his most recent show, saying that
Johnson was "excusing horrific behavior" in a speech he delivered
following several shootings in Chicagoland last week. Maher talked about crime
with Brown University economist Glenn Loury and international relations scholar
Daniel Bessner in the context of Chicago electing a soft-on-crime mayor and
shoplifting in New York City. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/why-arent-black-celebrities-talking-about-bill-maher-asks-why-black-people-are-killing
The “Latter Rain” Revival Movement Part
4
by Thomas Ice
Researched by Pastor Gary Boyd
April 24th 2023
In a continuation of the fourth
installment of our study of the ” latter rain” movement, I will pursue a study
begun last month on key theological concepts and passages. Previously I began
this section with an investigation of the idea of ” restoration” within the ”
latter rain” tradition. I now turn to an examination of their notion of ”
spiritual Israel.”
Key Theological Concepts and Passages
Spiritual Israel
Another common technique used by
Restorationist and ” latter rain” advocates is to say that the Church is now
spiritual Israel. They believe that they then have the right to take the
volumes of passages, often from the prophets, and link them spiritually to the
Church. Therefore, Israel is finished in God’ s plan as a nation, while
individual Jews may come to faith in Christ; the Church inherits the promises made
to Israel in some spiritual way. Restorationist Rick Godwin is an example of
this view.
So we see in Abraham the birthing of
two seeds: the nation of Israel physically and the spiritual nation of Israel-
the Church. And if I hear one more person say, ” Ahhh, there ain’ t no such
thing as the spiritual Israel.” I’ m going to vomit all over ‘ em. What are we
reading? For God sake, get rid of that Judaistic spirit after the flesh and we’
ll find out what the real Jew is! You’ ll find out God has never been and is
not now a racist. Ever! The Church is. God isn’ t. Never has been.” [26]
Well, Rick, there is no such thing as
spiritual Israel. Watch out below!
Let’ s look at this matter more
closely. The Church IS the spiritual seed of Abraham, but NOT spiritual Israel.
The Bible does say that ” if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’ s
offspring” (Gal. 3:29). It does not say that New Testament, Church Age
believers are spiritual Israel. Was Abraham an Israelite? No, but he was the
father of Isaac, who was the father of Jacob or Israel. Abraham became the
source of blessing to both Jew and Gentile.
Too often those who want to replace
physical Israel with the Church do it by stretching the term ” seed of Abraham”
to all of a sudden mean ” spiritual Israel.” Charles Ryrie has noted that those
who hold to a spiritual Israel view ” often argue that since the Church is the
seed of Abraham and Israel is the seed of Abraham, the Church equals Israel.”
[27] Ryrie answers that view by clarifying the proper relationship of the
Church to the seed of Abraham by saying that ” the Church is a seed of Abraham,
but this does not mean that the Church is Israel.” [28] Ryrie notes the three
ways the Bible uses the term ” seed of Abraham:
(1) There is the natural seed, the
physical descendants of Abraham- . . . (Isa. 41:8). (2) There is Christ- . . .
(Gal. 3:16). (3) Christians are Abraham’ s seed- . . . (Gal. 3:29).[29]
Those who believe in a future destiny
for physical Israel do not deny that the Church is part of the spiritual
blessing flowing out of the Abrahamic Covenant through Christ. However, we do
not believe that the Bible teaches that the Church replaces Israel, as do many.
In this instance it is a ” both/and” situation, not an ” either/or” choice.
Paul makes it clear in Romans 15:27
that Gentiles during the Church Age ” have shared in their (Israel’ s)
spiritual things.” Therefore, as sharers, he does not mean taker-overs. We are
not spiritual Israel! Who, then, is spiritual Israel?
I think that the Bible uses the
concept of spiritual Israel to refer to physical Israelites or Jews who are
regenerate believers in Jesus as the Messiah. In other words, they are spiritual
(born again) Jews or Israelites. Just as the term ” spiritual Gentile” would
refer to a Gentile who has a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Paul is saying in Romans 2:28-29,
when he states ” he is not a Jew who is one outwardly . . . but he is a Jew who
is one inwardly,” that just because one is a physical Jew does not mean that He
is saved and going to heaven. There are two kinds of Jews, those who do not
know God through Christ, but are racial Jews (physical Jews), and those who are
physical Jews, as well as spiritual Jews, who know God through Christ.
These spiritual Jews are the ones
Paul is greeting as he closes his letter to the Galatians: ” peace and mercy be
upon them and upon the Israel of God” (6:16). After having been so rough on the
Judaizers- Israel after the flesh only- he concludes with a greeting to those
within the family of God who are Jews, but are believing Jews; called in this
passage by Paul ” the Israel of God.” S. Lewis Johnson, in an essay where he
studies the meaning of the term ” Israel of God,” concludes:
If there is an interpretation that
totters on a tenuous foundation, it is the view that Paul equates the term ”
the Israel of God” with the believing church of Jews and Gentiles. To support
it, the general usage of the term Israel in Paul, in the New Testament, and in
the Scriptures as a whole is ignored. . . . If, as LaRondelle asserts, ” Paul’
s benediction in Galatians 6:16 becomes, then, the chief witness in the New
Testament in declaring that the universal church of Christ is the Israel of
God, the seed of Abraham, the heir to Israel’ s covenant promise (cf. Gal.
3:29; 6:16),” then the doctrine that the church of Gentiles and Jews is the
Israel of God rests on an illusion. It is a classic case of tendentious
exegesis.” [30]
Apostasy or Revival?
Another important area where
Restorationist and ” latter rain” advocates have missed the teaching of
Scripture is in regard to the state of the Church as this age draws to its end?
Will it end in revival or will it sink increasingly into apostasy? They fail to
realize that the Church, in its overall posture, cannot be characterized by
both revival and apostasy at the same time. This is an ” either/or” issue. Rick
Godwin has said,
The Lord is going to have a ” Glorious
Church” before He returns. . . . For years the belief was that we would never
have another revival, . . . We utterly reject that line of thinking in light of
clear Scripture. The Glorious Church is to be a mighty army of over-comers
through whom God reveals and demonstrates Himself to man.[31]
The Bible does not teach that the
Church will be this mighty army of overcomers, in the way Godwin envisions.
Once again, his ” support” is taken from passages which refer to Israel and not
the Church. He misuses verses that refer to believers during the tribulation
period, after the Church has been removed.
Let’ s look at what the words ”
revival” and ” apostasy” mean as used by Christians today. A ” revival”
includes evangelist success but usually means more than that. It often is used
to refer to the stirring up of Christians who rededicate themselves to living a
more committed life on behalf of our Lord. Effectiveness of a ” revival” is
sometimes gauged by the social and political change which results from the impact
of those who have be stirred to action. On the other hand, ” apostasy” does not
refer to whether a small or large numbers of individuals are coming to Christ
at a given point in time. Instead, it is concerned with the theological or
doctrinal integrity of the Church. This is why a believer can always preach the
gospel with confidence during the whole of the Church Age knowing that God is
at work bringing sinners to Himself, even until the very end.
The New Testament, especially the
Epistles, clearly teach that the whole of the Church Age is a time of
increasing apostasy within Christendom . In fact, so much space is spent in the
New Testament dealing with the issue of apostasy that it has to be considered
one of its major themes. Apostasy constitutes the main theme of entire books
and chapters as well as paragraphs and verses in the New Testament. Apostasy
and its evil effects provide the main message of such books as First and Second
Timothy, Second Peter, and Jude. Apostasy occupies a prominent place in such
books as Galatians, Second Thessalonians, Hebrews and Revelation. Apostasy and
apostates are set forth with varying degrees of detail as to their character
and conduct, influence and teaching. Believers are warned to know how to
recognize them and Christian leaders are supposed to protect their flocks from
them and their unhealthy doctrine. Apostasy is doctrinal error, not how many
will or will not be saved, whether or not the economy will be good or bad, or
how moral or immoral society will be. The focus of apostasy is not secular
society, but what is going on within the Church itself. When the great amount
of New Testament Scripture, dealing with apostasy within the Church, is
compared with the absence of language speaking of the victory of the Church, in
the sense that restoration and ” latter rain” advocates suggest, then there is
zero basis for their opinion found in the Word of God. The Bible does speak of
individuals who are overcomers, but that proves the point, since they are
contrasted with apostates. Victory language in the New Testament applies to
individual believers, not the Church as a whole. Notice the chart which lists
the references to apostasy in the New Testament.
APOSTASY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
Gospels*
Matthew 12:14-37; 13:1-52; 15:12;
23:1-36; 24:10-28
Mark 6:21-30
Luke 8:13-18
John 6:60-71; 8:31-59; 13:21-30;
15:18-27
Acts
Acts 8:8-24; 13:4-12; 20:17-35
Paul’ s Epistles
Romans 1:18-32; 10; 16:17-18
2 Corinthians 11:1-15; 13:5
Galatians 1:6-9; 5:1-12
Philippians 3:2, 18-19
Colossians 2:4-23
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
1 Timothy 1:3-7; 4:1-3; 6:3-5
2 Timothy 2:11-26; 3:1-14; 4:1-6
Titus 1:10-16
General Epistles
Hebrews 2:1-4; 3:7- 4:13; 5:12- 6:12;
10:26-31; 12:14-17
1 Peter 3:19-20
2 Peter 2:1-22; 3:3-10
1 John 2:18-23; 3:4-12; 4:1-6
2 John 9
Jude 3-23
Revelation
Revelation 2:1- 3:22; 4:1- 5:14; 6:1-
10:11; 11:1- 15:8; 16:1- 19:24; 19:1- 20:15[32]
* Incomplete listings
I take no pleasure in the apostasy
theme of the New Testament, but we all must acknowledge this point in an effort
to call the Church away from apostasy. The sobering fact is clear: either the
restoration/” latter rain” movement is a heaven sent revival from God or it is
part of the end-time apostasy preparing the way for the coming Antichrist. It
cannot be both. We all must decide! No one can be neutral on this issue! If it
is the great revival supposedly predicted for the end-times, then all true
believers must join the band wagon. If it is not, then all true believers
should have enough biblical sense to come in out of the latter rain apostasy.
These are important issues.
(To Be Continued . . .)
The “Latter Rain” Revival Movement
Part V
by Thomas Ice
After presenting an overview of the
central role that the doctrine of apostasy plays in New Testament teaching, I
will continue in this installment of the ” latter rain” series by examining key
” latter rain” issues in the light of Scripture. These are important
contemporary items since they provide a challenge to those of us who interpret
Scripture literally, believe in the pretrib rapture, and recognize God’ s
distinction between His plans for Israel and the Church. These errors must be
recognized and refuted from Scripture.
Key Theological Concepts and Passages
Restoration of the Fivefold
Ministries
In a previous issue[33] I noted Bill
Hamon’ s explanation of the restoration of the fivefold ministries of
evangelists, pastors, teachers, apostles, and prophets in the end-time.[34]
This is said by Restorationist to be spoken of in Ephesians 4:11-16. Fellow ”
latter rain” advocate, Rick Joyner, claims that he received the contents of a
book he authored called The Harvest, as a revelation from God on three different
occasions in the late 1980s.[35] ” What is about to come upon the earth is not
just a revival, or another awakening; it is a veritable revolution,” says
Joyner about the vision he claims from God in his book. ” This vision was given
in order to begin awakening those who are destined to radically change the
course, and even the very definition of Christianity.” [36] Joyner spoke in his
book about the restoration of apostles and prophets in order to prepare the
Church for the soon coming fullness of the ” latter rain.” He said,
The next spiritual contraction will
bring about the restoration and recognition of the PROPHETS. We will see the
prophetic ministry become the primary focus of attention during the next few
years as a much greater anointing comes upon this ministry than has been seen
since Biblical times. [37]
There will be another contraction
during which a true APOSTOLIC authority will be restored and recognized within
the advancing church.[38]
” Latter rain” advocates like Hamon
and Joyner commingle their interpretations of the Scripture with their own
supposed direct revelation about the restoration of the gifted men in Ephesians
4:11. Their notions are erroneous for a number of reasons. A major objection is
rather obvious to anyone who would simply read the passage. The passage says
nothing about a restoration of these ministries. Simply put, the text does not
speak of such an occurrence. They have pulled this concept out of the thin air
of their fertile imaginations that they claim as a revelation from God. The New
Testament warns against those who would have such a seared conscience that they
would be bold enough to pass of their own imaginations as the sure Word of God
(Acts 20:17-35; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-6; Jude 8, 17-19).
Christ’ s giving of apostles and
prophets to the Church is said in Ephesians 2:20 to be something which is to be
foundational to the Church, not something given to each generation of
believers. The passage says, ” having been built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone.” The
picture is that of a building process which is going on during the entire
period of the Church age, from Pentecost to the rapture. This process can be
described as taking place in three stages: Phase one is the laying of the
corner stone , which describes the first century, non-repeatable, work of
Christ. The rest of the building is supposed to orient itself in terms of
Christ the corner stone.
Phase two is the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, which also occurred in the first century and is
non-repeatable. However, just as with Christ, even though it is non-repeatable,
it does not mean that it is non-applicable for today. Just as with a foundation
in a physical building, once it is laid, continues to be used for the life of
the structure. So it is with the ministry of the apostles and prophets, who
gave us the boundaries of the gospel and doctrine with which believers are
being used of God to build Christ’ s Church. Once the foundation is laid, you
don’ t keep relaying it each generation, instead you continue to build upon it.
Phase three represents the
superstructure of the rest of the building. The building is built upon in
accordance to the guidelines mandated by the dimensions of the corner stone and
the foundation. This work began at the birth of the Church in Acts 2 and will
be completed at the rapture when the last person destined to make up the final
component of the Body of Christ believes the gospel. Then the Church will be
complete.
From the perspective of the Biblical
picture presented in Ephesians 2, it is wrong to say that God is restoring
apostles and prophets in our own day. This error implies that the first century
foundation was not complete and that it needs further work. This would mean
that until recent restoration times, God has been building the house upon a
shaky foundation. This kind of thought is a grave error.
Ephesians 3:5 echoes the thought of
2:20 when Paul says concerning the mystery of Christ: ” which in other generations
was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy
apostles and prophets in the Spirit.”The emphasis in this passage is upon
revelation received during the time of Paul’ s writing in the first century.
This strongly suggests that the ministry of apostles and prophets was completed
in the past.
When we come to the Ephesians 4:11
use of apostles and prophets, with evangelists, and pastors-teachers, we
observe a division of labor employed in the building of God’ s spiritual
temple- the Church. The foundation, phase two, was completed during the
apostolic age ending around A.D. 100. Upon completion, those workmen left the
scene, leaving behind the trustworthy the fruit of their labor- a foundation.
That foundation was the New Testament canon of Scripture.
Phase three is entrusted with the
task of building upon the sure foundation of Christ and the apostles. This is
why the bulk of labor, over the life of the project (the Church age) is done by
the evangelist, and the pastor-teachers. They remain on site until the
structure is complete at the rapture. This is why the Pastoral Epistles (1 and
2 Timothy and Titus) stress the importance of following and protecting the
fixed deposit of Apostolic faith by faithful men, so that it can be passed from
generation to generation (2 Tim. 2:2). Therefore, evangelist, and
pastor-teachers have never been removed from the scene so that they have to be
restored at the end of the Church age as ” latter rain” advocates teach.
The Holy Spirit has been using
believers to win and disciple others for the last 2,000 years without
interruption, as taught by the Restorationist movement. The Church is being
perfected with the original doctrine contained in the New Testament and does
not need an updated version of ” Apostles’ doctrine 2.1.” The first edition did
not have any glitches and cannot be improved upon. Why would anyone want to
bring the foundation crew back on the job when the roof is near completion,
unless they want to improperly change the foundation with their new revelation.
Yet, the desire to add to the foundation, when it has already been set, is the
desire and practice of false prophets and teachers. The believer who opens
themselves up to ” new revelation” is opening themselves up to deception. As
Paul told Timothy, ” Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard
from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the
Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you” (2
Tim. 1:13-14).
This is the Church’ s calling in our
day: to guard the foundation laid by Christ, and the apostles and prophets,
while building upon that foundation the superstructure through evangelism and
discipleship. Believers are looking forward to the return of Christ at the
rapture, not for new revelation.
A Perfect Church?
Restorationist Rick Godwin has been
described by a former Southern Baptist pastor, Jack Taylor, as ” God’ s John
Wayne to the Church!” [39] Probably a more accurate description would be to liken
Godwin to Rambo since John Wayne had manners and was a gentleman. Godwin states
his belief that the Church will be perfected before Christ’ s return:
The Lord is going to have a ”
Glorious Church” before He returns. This thought encompasses the theme of
personal and corporate purity, for Scripture says that His Church will be ”
without spot, wrinkle or blemish.” His Church will have Power followed by signs
and wonders, for Scripture says, ” it will be a glorious church.[40]
Ephesians 5:25-27 is the much quoted
passage which ” latter rain” /Restorationist use to teach that the end-time
Church will see the restoration of apostolic power, coupled with unity, which
will produce the greatest period of miracles and conversions to Christ in all
of history. However, to draw such a conclusion from this passage provides a
clear example of their ability to mishandle Scripture. ” Husbands, love your
wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that
He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the
word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no
spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless”
(Eph. 5:25-27).
There is no question that this
passage speaks of a glorious church, without sport or wrinkle. But how does the
Bible use these terms? Do Restorationists use this passage in the same way the
Bible does? I believe they do not! In a nutshell, the Bible here describes the
believer’ s legal standing before God, as won on our behalf through Christ’ s
work on the cross. On the other hand, Restorationist (mis)apply this text as
something which the believer and the Church must grow into and become in our
current experience.
God’ s plan of salvation is often discussed
in terms of one’ s covenantal standing before God. This is legal language. When
Adam fell, his sin was imputed or credited to the legal bank account of every
person born thereafter, even though no one personally committed Adam’ s sin
(Rom. 5:12-21). Our legal standing (some call this positional truth) forms the
basis from which our experience should follow. Therefore, human beings sin
experientially because they are legally or positionally sinners. In the same
way, Christ had to first deal with the legal barrier of sin in winning
salvation for the Church as the basis for experiential change in the life of
the individual believer and the Church as a whole. Positional standing in
Christ is the basis upon which the believer is to live his life experientially
through faith.
When properly interpreting Scripture,
one must establish from Scripture itself, the way the Bible uses various terms.
Often a decision must be made as to whether or not a word or phrase is
describing a positional truth or an experiential aspect of salvation. The
difference it makes in the interpretation of Ephesians 5:25-27 is great. If
these are positional terms, then the perfection spoken of in this passage is
that earned by Christ through His saving work, which is applied positionally to
the believer. This means that our position will not be experienced in its
fullness until glorification at the time of the resurrection. However, if these
are taken experientially, as applying to our current time, then it is teaching
experiential perfection of the individual believer as well corporate
perfection.
In my final installment on ” latter
rain” theology, I will complete the study of Ephesians 5:25-27 and provide
reasons why this passage should be interpreted positionally. I will also draw implications
for the doctrine of the rapture if such teachings are adopted.
(To Be Continued . . .)
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