by Allie Martin
The founder of Gospel for Asia says while persecution is increasing worldwide for Christians, he believes it will soon impact believers in America — and K.P. Yohannan says they need to get ready for it.
Persecution against Christians is increasing worldwide, especially in countries such as India, where attacks on churches and Christians by Hindu extremists have increased dramatically. In fact, when missionaries graduate from Gospel for Asia (GFA) Bible colleges, they are told to expect persecution — and perhaps even death — for spreading the gospel.
According to GFA founder K.P. Yohannan, Christians in those countries expect such treatment and are prepared when the tough times come. But he believes Christians in America will soon be faced with persecution as well — and he is fearful that many are not ready.
“The great falling-away from faith could be worst here in [America] because people are absolutely not prepared to face suffering or persecution — because we cannot imagine a gospel with the cross and the suffering in it,” says Yohannan. “Yet the Bible teaches very strong about it. So as the Word of God says: He who has ears, let him hear.”
The ministry leader is convinced that prosperity has caused many Christians in America to focus on material possessions instead of surrendering all to Christ. The result, he says, is that American Christians have become “very na
Alan Kurschner
Step One: Have them affirm that the church is present at the Appearing of Christ as seen in the verse below,
“Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming [parousia]” 1John 2:28. (cf. Titus 2:13; 1Tim. 6:14; 2Tim. 4:8; Col. 3:4; 1Peter 5:4; 1John 3:2)
Step Two: Next, show them the verse below that demonstrates that the revealed Antichrist will be present as well at the Appearing of Christ,
“Then that lawless one [Antichrist] will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming [parousia].” – 2Th 2:8
Step 3: Therefore,
…since the Church and the revealed Antichrist will be present at the Appearance of Christ, (1) the rapture cannot be imminent, since the Antichrist must be revealed prior to Christ’s Appearing, and (2) the Church will be here during Antichrist’s rule.
Read Ben’s Encouraging Story on How Scripture Led Him to the Prewrath Perspective…
After studying my Bible and reading multiple books from different angles, I have come to the conclusion that the Bible does not teach a Pre-Trib Rapture. I see some excellent points from the Post-Tribulation view in their responses to the Pre-Trib view, but there are also some flaws in their view that I can see as well. I don’t plan on focusing on those since this note is focusing on why I don’t believe the Pre-Trib view, and why I do believe the Pre-Wrath view. Continue Reading…
Premillennial Nuggets: The Coming Millennial Kingdom : A Case for Premillennial Interpretation
Edited by Donald K. Campbell and Jeffrey L. Townsend
Fourteen evangelical scholars have brought together a collection of essays for the best case for Premillennialism under one cover. With each scholar writing in his field of expertise, this book covers both the Old and New Testaments and gives cogent exegetical evidence for Premillennialism. The Post and Amillennial views are interacted with as well. Indeed, after reading this book one will never be able to say, “Premillennialism is argued in only a few verses in Revelation 20.”
Every premiller should have this book in their library!
Contents
1. Premillennialism Introduced: Hermeneutics
Elliot E. Johnson
2. Evidence from Genesis
Robert B. Chisholm, Jr.
3. Evidence from Psalm 89
Ronald B. Allen
4. Evidence from Isaiah 2
John H. Sailhamer
5. Evidence from Jeremiah
Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.
6. Evidence from Ezekiel
Mark F. Rooker
7. Evidence from Daniel
Kenneth L. Barker
8. Evidence from Joel and Amos
Homer Heater, Jr.
9. Evidence from Matthew
David K. Lowery
10. Evidence from Acts
Darrell L. Bock
11. Evidence from Romans 9-11
S. Lewis Johnson, Jr.
12. Evidence from 1 Corinthians 15
D. Edmond Hiebert
13. Evidence from Revelation 20
Harold W. Hoehner
14. Premillennialism Summarized: Conclusion
Jeffrery L. Townsend
