12 Dec 2008
12 Dec 2008
12 Dec 2008
E.G. White
DestroyedSoul
HappyHolidays
Pg. 44
The International Prophetic Voice for the Endtimes
DECEMBER 2008$4.75
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Pre-WrathRapturism
Pg. 17
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8
The Heraldof His
Coming
By Norbert Lieth
The forerunner of Jesus, the herald of His coming, and the
man of Advent was John the Baptist. He lived his life as a
pointer to Jesus Christ. As believers of the newcovenant, it
is our task to be bearers of the Gospel, and therewith
forerunners of His return.
17
Pre-wrath Rapturism
by Dr. Ron J. Bigalke Jr.
Pre-wrath rapturismis a variation of the midtribulational
viewof the rapture. It teaches that the church passes
through approximately three-fourths of Daniel's
seventieth week before being raptured, and that only
the final one-fourth includes the wrath of God.
29 Money: Ends and Trends
What Chances a Global Financial
Apocalypse Now? - Part II
By Wilfred Hahn
Just Howsignificant are the recent economic
troubles of America in relation to the whole world?
The U.S., and other countries facing similar
difficulties, could very well face a long phase of decline
and financial hardship ... even to the point of being eclipsed
by other nations in the world.
Midnight Call
DECEMBER 2008
C O N T E N T S
COVER STORY
35 ITALY
Christmas and the Pagan
Shrine
37AUSTRALIA
Santa Warned Ho Ho
Ho Is Offensive to
Women
38 CHINA
Growing Opportunities
for Wealth
39EU
Serbia Could Become EU
Candidate in 2009
40 USA
Wicca,
Fastest
Growing
Religion in
America
41 INDIA
New Agreement Cuts
Cost for Asean Bloc
4 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .By Arno Froese
NAHUM3:16
16 HealthWise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .By Dr. John Cionci
WHY ARE AIDS CASES BEING UNDERREPORTED INTHE UNITED STATES?
26 Missions Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .By Arno Froese
INDIA
44 Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .By Arno Froese
E.G. WHITE...DESTROYED SOUL...HAPPY HOLIDAYS
1
DEPARTMENTS
Dr. John Cionci 536 Fort Washington Ave., Fort Washington, PA 19034
Why are AIDS cases being underreported in
the United States?
B y D r . J o h n C i o n c i
MC
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DECEMBER 2008 17
Dr. John Cionci 536 Fort Washington Ave., Fort Washington, PA 19034
B y D r . J o h n C i o n c i
Pre-wrath rapturism is a variation of the midtribulational view of the
rapture. Only the name pre-wrath rapture is of recent origin. The
major works on the subject include: Marvin J. Rosenthal, The Pre-Wrath
Rapture of the Church (1990); Robert D. Van Kampen, The Rapture
Question Answered (1997); and, Robert D. Van Kampen, The Sign (1992).
Rosenthal also publishes a bimonthly publication entitled Zions Fire.
by Dr. Ron J. Bigalke Jr.
RAPTURISM
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18 M I D N I G H T C A L L
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS
Pre-wrath rapturism is the teaching that the
church passes through approximately three-fourths
of Daniels seventieth week (the seven-year tribula-
tion) before being raptured. The initial period of the
tribulation is termed mans wrath since man and
Satan are regarded as the agents causing the prophe-
sied events. Pre-wrath rapturists are adamant that
the entire period of Daniels seventieth week should
not be regarded as the tribulation. Only the final
one-fourth of Daniels seventieth week includes the
wrath of God. Since God does not outpour His
wrath until after three-fourths of the seventieth
week have passedand the church is allegedly rap-
tured prior to the last one-fourth of the period when
God outpours His wraththe originators of this
view regard themselves as pre-wrath.
Rosenthal provided the basic tenets of the pre-
wrath rapture view as follows:
1. The Rapture of the church will occur immediately
prior to the beginning of the Day of the Lord.
2. The Day of the Lord commences sometime within
the second half of the seventieth week.
3. The cosmic disturbances associated with the sixth
seal will signal the approach of the Day of the Lord.
4. The Day of the Lord will begin with the opening of
the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1).
1
There are, at least, four additional tenets that are
important for the pre-wrath view. First, the opening
three and one-half years of the seventieth week com-
mence with the Antichrist signing the peace
covenant with Israelthis is called the beginning of
sorrows. These first three and one-half years only
comprise the trials and tribulations of life; therefore,
pre-wrath rapturism does not place the wrath of
God during the beginning of sorrows. Rosenthal be-
lieves that any designation of the first half of Daniels
seventieth week as the tribulation has no biblical
justification.
2
Second, the Antichrist will commit the abomina-
tion of desolation, thereby revealing his true nature,
at the midpoint of Daniels seventieth week. The
abomination of desolation marks the beginning of
the great tribulation. Although the great tribula-
tion begins at the midpoint of the seven-year week,
it does not actually continue until the end of the last
three and one-half years. The majority of Rosenthals
charts illustrate that the great tribulation only com-
prises half of the last three and one-half years.
3
Third, the first six seals cover the time span of ap-
proximately five and one-quarter years of Daniels
seventieth week. It is the opening of the sixth seal,
resulting in the cosmic disturbances, which sig-
nals the sign of Christs coming. The sixth seal fol-
lows the great tribulation but precedes the end of
the last three and one-half years.
4
Fourth, the seal judgments are mans wrath
through Antichrist. Approximately five and one-
quarter years will comprise the seal judgments. The
trumpet judgments are Gods wrath on all mankind
(Israel and the nations). Approximately one and
three-fourth years will comprise the trumpet judg-
ments. The bowl judgments are Gods wrath upon
the nations for persecution of Israel. The bowl
judgments will last thirty days after the Day of the
Lord; that is, the bowl judgments will occur after
Daniels seventieth week.
5
Rosenthal does believe correctly that the Olivet
Discourse is a central text in determining the
chronology and sequence of Daniels seventieth
week. His next statement, however, that the seven-
tieth week of Daniel has three major, distinct, and
identifiable periods of time: the beginning of sor-
rows, the Great Tribulation, and the Day of the Lord
[the sole time of Gods wrath]all found in the
Olivet Discourse
6
is to be challenged.
THE TRIBULATION PERIOD
According to Rosenthals chronology, the rapture
occurs after the great tribulation and prior to the
PRE-WRATH
RAPTURISM
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Day of the Lord. It is because the Day of the Lord is
the beginning of the wrath of God that this view is
called pre-wrath. Pre-wrath rapturists do not iden-
tify the entire seven years of Daniels seventieth
week with the wrath of God. The distinctions in ter-
minology for the pre-wrath view are central to the
arguments raised. In Chapter 8, And What of the
Tribulation Period? of The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the
Church, Rosenthal argued,
The designation the tribulation period should properly
be omitted from any honest consideration of the time of
the Rapture of the church. The termtribulation period is
normally used by pretribulation rapturists as a synonym
for the seventieth week of the book of Daniel (Dan. 9:27);
that is, to describe the seven years that immediately pre-
cede Christs physical return to the earth to establish His
millennial kingdom. Although popular and used by
many competent preachers, teachers, and theologians,
such a designation has no biblical justification.
7
A clear fact emerges from an examination of the word
tribulation as used in the Bible. In a prophetic context, it is
used to describe only the period of time that begins in
the middle of Daniels seventieth weeknever of the first
half of it. Based on that indisputable fact, to call the entire
seven-year time frame the tribulation period is to coin a
technical phrase and superimpose it upon the Scriptures,
reading into the biblical text that which it does not itself de-
clare.
8
It is admitted unreservedly that the phrase tribu-
lation period does not appear in the Bible. How-
ever, to accuse pretribulationists with the coining
of the phrase and superimposing it on the Scriptures
with no biblical justification is an argument that
will also turn against the pre-wrath view. For in-
stance, using Rosenthals logic, to coin a technical
phrase such as pre-wrath rapture would be super-
imposing a designation that the Bible does not use.
Rosenthal desires to designate the period covering
the three septet judgments and wrath of God as the
70
th
week of Daniel. Although the Bible does not
use the phrase tribulation period, its meaning is
indeed biblical; hence, it may be used widely as an
effective term in contrast to the unwieldiness of the
expression 70
th
week of Daniel that Rosenthal
prefers.
9
Furthermore, Rosenthals expression does
not occur in Scripture either. The reason that Rosen-
thal does not want to use the term tribulation pe-
riod is due to the fact that its usage will not support
his threefold division of Daniels seventieth week
into the beginning of sorrows, Great Tribula-
tion, and Day of the Lord.
In the Greek, O/i|i (thlipsis) is used in the first
half of the seventieth week. Then they will deliver
you to tribulation [0/i |iv, thlipsin], and will kill you,
and you will be hated by all nations on account of My
name (Matt 24:9). Obviously this 0/i|i (tribula-
tion) occurs in the first half, since it precedes the
abomination of desolation at the midpoint (24:15-
21). O/i |i is also used of the second half of the sev-
entieth week. For after all it is only just for God to
repay with affliction [0/i oooiv, thlibousin] those
who afflict [0/i|iv, thlipsin] you, and to give relief to
you who are afflicted [0/io:voi, thlibomenois] and
to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from
heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing
out retribution to those who do not know God and to
those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2
Thess 1:6-8).
The timing when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed
from heaven is certainly the second coming; this re-
turn of the Lord will bring the fulfillment of 2 Thes-
salonians 1:6, which would be chronologically prior
to the second coming. In other words, the 0/i|i
(thlipsis) is also within the second half of the seven-
tieth week. Both Matthew 24:9 and 1 Thessalonians
1:6-8 provide biblical support for the expression
tribulation period to describe the entire seven
years of the seventieth week of Daniel. Indeed, the
terms can be used synonymously. The only reason
DECEMBER 2008 19
PRE-WRATH RAPTURISM
It is admitted unreservedly that the phrase tribulation period does not
appear in the Bible. However, to accuse pretribulationists with the
coining of the phrase and superimposing it on the Scriptures with no
biblical justification is an argument that will also turn against the pre-
wrath view.
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20 M I D N I G H T C A L L
for not using them synonymously is to lend support
to the pre-wrath, threefold division of the same time
period.
THE LENGTH OF THE GREAT
TRIBULATION
It has already been demonstrated that Rosen-
thal does not believe that the entire seven years
of Daniels seventieth week should be regarded as
the tribulation period. Citing Matthew 24:21, 29
and Mark 13:19, 24, he wrote, Of the four times
the Lord spoke of tribulation in prophetic con-
text, He was speaking of the Great Tribulation,
which begins in the middle of Daniels seventieth
weekprecisely three and one-half years into
it.
10
The shortening of the Great Tribulation to less than
three and one-half years is one of the most important
truths to be grasped if the chronology of end-time
events is to be understood. It literally is the key that
reveals the sequence to Matthew 24-25 and the
chronology of the book of Revelation with the open-
ing of the seals, trumpets, and bowls.
11
Rosenthal agrees with the majority of pret-
ribulationists that the great tribulation should be
reserved for the second half of the seventieth
week. However, his contention with pretribula-
tionists is that the great tribulation begins in
the middle of the seventieth week, but it does
not run until the end of the seventieth week.
12
Rosenthals error is easily discerned when read-
ing Daniel 12:1. (Now at that time Michael, the
great prince who stands guard over the sons of your
people, will arise. And there will be a time of dis-
tress such as never occurred since there was a na-
tion until that time; and at that time your people,
everyone who is found written in the book, will be
rescued.) Daniels words are the same as Matthew
24:21, which clearly occurs at the midpoint of
the seventieth week.
Both Daniel 12:1 and Matthew 24:21 refer to
the time known as the great tribulation. Daniel
12:6-7 prophesies the length of this period. And
one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above
the waters of the river, How long will it be until
the end of these wonders? And I heard the man
dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the
river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward
heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it
would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as
soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy
people, all these events will be completed.
Furthermore, Revelation 12:14 (And the two
wings of the great eagle were given to the woman,
in order that she might fly into the wilderness to
her place, where she was nourished for a time and
times and half a time, from the presence of the ser-
pent.) prophesies of the same time as Daniel 12:7
and Matthew 24:21. Michael, the great prince who
stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise
with the heavenly angels to battle with Satan and
the fallen angels who will persecute Israel, the
woman. Those who flee into the wilderness will be
protected by God for time and times and half a
time.
The length of the period is qualified in Revela-
tion 12:6 as one thousand two hundred and sixty
days and in 13:5 as forty-two months. Therefore,
the great tribulation is the entire second half of
the seventieth week; the period of time and times
The length of the period is qualified in
Revelation 12:6 as one thousand two
hundred and sixty days and in 13:5 as forty-
two months. Therefore, the great tribulation is
the entire second half of the seventieth week;
the period of time and times and half a time
is 1,260 days, or 42 months, which is exactly
three and one-half years.
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and half a time is 1,260 days, or 42
months, which is exactly three and one-
half years. The time designated as the
great tribulation will be unprecedented
in its dreadfulness (Dan 12:1; Matt
24:21). If Christ did not return to the
earth, no life would have been saved; but
for the sake of the elect those days shall be
cut short by the second coming of Christ
(Matt 24:22).
THE SEAL JUDGMENTS
Both Rosenthal and Van Kampen gave at-
tention to the similarities between the
events of Matthew 24:5-9 and the first five
seals of Revelation 6:1-11. However, their
argument is that the first five seals (Rev 6:1-
11) are not the wrath of God, but that of man
through the Antichrist.
13
Rosenthal and Van Kampen
were correct in asserting that the seal judgments are
opened at the start of the tribulation. The difference
with pretribulationism is not primarily the chrono-
logical placement of the seal judgments after the
opening of the first seal, but the contention that the
first five seals are the wrath of man through An-
tichrist as opposed to all of the seal judgments oc-
curring as the wrath of God.
Rosenthal interpreted the first seal correctly as
describing the rise of the Antichrist. He rejected the
first seal as divine wrath since God alone must take
direct responsibility for a counterfeit religious sys-
tem and to attribute the emergence of the An-
tichrist to God is obviously preposterous.
14
It is not
the pretribulational belief that is unbiblical; rather, it
is the minimizing of Gods sovereignty by pre-wrath
rapturists that is unbiblical. The pre-wrath view is
part of the growing trend within the church that
cannot let God be sovereign. For instance, Isaiah
10:5-12 records the sovereignty of God in using an
evil nation, Assyria (the rod of My anger), to accom-
plish His purposes for Judah.
15
Judah was a godless
nation and would be plundered and trampled by As-
syria (10:6). However, even though God used As-
syria as the rod of His anger, He would still hold
them responsible for their wickedness. The Lord
will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of
Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness (10:12b). As-
syria was responsible for her arrogance and haughti-
ness, even though God used the nation as an evil
instrument to accomplish His purposes for Judah.
This is the same lesson the prophet Habakkuk
learned concerning Gods use of wicked Babylon to
punish Judah (Hab 1:122:20). It may appear para-
doxical to the mind of man that God is sovereign
and man is responsible, but it is not a problem in the
mind of God. The psalmist writes, For the wrath of
man shall praise Thee; with a remnant of wrath Thou
shalt gird thyself (Ps 76:10).
The Isaianic passage demonstrates there are oc-
currences when both God and evil are responsible
for historical actions. The book of Job also demon-
DECEMBER 2008 21
PRE-WRATH RAPTURISM
The difference with pretribulationism is not primarily the chronological
placement of the seal judgments after the opening of the first seal, but
the contention that the first five seals are the wrath of man through
Antichrist as opposed to all of the seal judgments occurring as the wrath
of God.
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22 M I D N I G H T C A L L
strates that God will allow evil to occur under His
sovereign control in order to accomplish His pur-
poses and to glorify Himself. A classic example of
the perfect balance of the sovereignty of God and the
responsibility of man in the Word of God is Acts
2:23. Peter said, Jesus was delivered over by the prede-
termined plan and foreknowledge of God, nailed to a
cross by the hands of godless men and put to death.
God predestined the death of Jesus, yet the wicked
men who put Him to death are responsible for their
actions. Likewise, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7 says the
Antichrist, the man of lawlessness, the son of perdition,
is restrained so that in his time he may be revealed. He
who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of
the way. The Restrainer withholds the Antichrist
from being revealed. Clearly, the restraint is within
Gods sovereign hands.
According to 2 Corinthians 12:7, God gave the
Apostle Paul a thorn in the flesh, as a means of keep-
ing the Apostle from exalting himself, due to the sur-
passing greatness of the revelations he had received.
God sent the thorn in the flesh as a messenger of Sa-
tan. In like manner, as God used evil in the previous
examples referenced, so will He use the Antichrist to
accomplish His purposes for Israel, tribulation
saints, and the unbelieving world. God is sovereign
over the affairs of humanity while holding individu-
als accountable for sinning of their own will. God
used the wicked as instruments of judgment upon
His people for His own end.
In Revelation 5:1, the Apostle John saw in the
right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written
inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. A
strong angel proclaims loudly, Who is worthy to open
the book and to break its seals? No one is found wor-
thy to open the book and to break its seals until the
Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David . .
. the Lamb that was slain comes forth. The Lamb was
found worthy to break the seals, which shows the
judgment comes from Him (5:5, 9; 6:1). When each
seal is broken, there is a description in Revelation 6
of the judgment to occur on earth, thereby indicat-
ing the successive nature of the judgments. The
judgment is from the sovereign Lord, even though
from mans perspective the seal judgments demon-
strate the depravity of man.
Nevertheless, both Rosenthal
16
and Van Kampen
17
argued that Gods wrath does not begin until after
the sixth seal. After the cosmic signs of Revelation
6:12-14, verses 15-17 provide the reaction of the
kings of the earth and the great men and the comman-
ders and the rich and the strong and every slave and
free man. They will cry to the mountains and to the
rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him
who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;
for the great day of their wrath has come; and who is
able to stand? A plain reading of Scripture here
should cause one to conclude that the great day of
Gods wrath has already come and is present during
the sixth seal.
Since pre-wrath rapturists do not believe Gods
wrath begins until the seventh seal, they must argue,
In Revelation 5:1, the Apostle John saw in the right hand of Him who sat
on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with
seven seals. A strong angel proclaims loudly, Who is worthy to open the
book and to break its seals? No one is found worthy to open the book
and to break its seals until the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the
Root of David . . . the Lamb that was slain comes forth.
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 22
the aorist tense [has come] is, generally speak-
ing, timeless.
18
Rosenthal wrote, . . . the phrase,
the great day of his wrath is come refers, not to a
past event, but to an event about to occur, and that
in concert with the opening of the seventh seal.
19
Following the sixth seal, Gods wrath is an event
that is on the threshold of happeninga future
event soon to occur.
20
The aorist, q/0:v (hlqen),
in 6:17 is in the indicative mood, which would
confirm the reality of the action (Gods wrath)
from the standpoint of the world leaders. However,
the reader does not need the perspective of the
world leaders in order to determine if Gods wrath
has occurred. The sealed book in Revelation 5 con-
tained Gods judgment, and the breaking of the
seals by Jesus Christ released the divine wrath.
The aorist is not timeless, as the pre-wrath view
requires; rather, the time of action is past. Non-in-
dicative moods may indicate the kind of action as
opposed to the time of action. Greek grammarians
Dana and Mantey stated, It has no essential tem-
poral significance, its time relations being found
only in the indicative, where it is used as past and
hence augmented. . . . The aorist signifies nothing
as to completeness, but simply presents the action
as attained. It states the fact of the action or event
without regard to its duration.
21
Robertson con-
curred, It is true that in the expression of past
time in the indicative and with all the other moods,
the aorist is the tense used as a matter of course. . .
.
22
Wallace acquiesced, In the indicative, the
aorist usually indicates past time with reference to
the time of speaking (thus, absolute time). . . .
Outside the indicative and participle, time is not a
feature of the aorist.
23
THE ELECT AND THE CHURCH
Another crucial argument for the pre-wrath rap-
ture is the contention that the elect in the Olivet Dis-
course (Matt 24:22, 24, 31) is the church. Pre-wrath
rapturists attempt desperately to prove that the
church will endure suffering during the tribulation,
and especially during the great tribulation. Van
Kampen wrote,
It will be the church in general that will fall away into
apostasy in the last days. It is the elect of God (the saints)
who will endure Antichrists persecution. That is precisely
why terms such as the elect and the saints are used in-
stead of the word church to describe the faithful who
will choose death over compromise!
24
In a desperate attempt to prove the church is in
view in the Olivet Discourse, Rosenthal contended,
Not once in the New Testament is Israel ever called
the elect.
25
This statement is full of inaccuracies.
First, the Gospels were written during the Mosaic
dispensation, so it would be natural for the Jews to
understand the words of Jesus concerning His com-
ing to mean the deliverance of Israel. Second, rj^B*
(qahal)one of the principal Hebrew words for
gathering or assemblywas used frequently in
the Old Testament to describe Israel. The natural
Jewish understanding of elect in the Olivet Dis-
course would be based on the use of rj^B* (qahal)
within the Old Testament dispensation. Despite
their transgressions, God will never cast away the
nation of Israel (Rom 11:1-6). There is always a
godly tenth (the remnant) that shall return and be
healed (Isa 6:10-13). This remnant is in view in Isa-
iah 65:7-16, and contrasted with the unbelieving
Jews of the nation. God called the godly remnant,
My chosen ones (65:9). In contrast to the unbeliev-
ers, who will not be allowed into the future millen-
nium, Gods chosen ones will be blessed in the earth
(65:17-25).
Third, context determines whether elect is refer-
ring to Israel, the church, or both. The elect in
Matthew 24 refers to the Jewish remnant of the
tribulation period, who will come to believe in Jesus
as Messiah and Savior. The context of Matthew 24
supports the conclusion that elect refers to the Jew-
DECEMBER 2008 23
PRE-WRATH RAPTURISM
Another crucial argument for the pre-wrath rapture is the contention that
the elect in the Olivet Discourse (Matt 24:22, 24, 31) is the church. Pre-
wrath rapturists attempt desperately to prove that the church will endure
suffering during the tribulation, and especially during the great tribulation.
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24 M I D N I G H T C A L L
ish remnant. Terms such as this gospel of
the kingdom (24:14), the holy place
(24:15), a Sabbath (24:20), and the Christ
(24:23-24) indicate that Israel as a nation
is in view. Once the Epistles are written,
elect will describe the church.
The Coming of Christ in
Matthew 24
Rosenthals interpretation of Matthew
24:29-31 is a peculiar one. Generally, the
coming of Christ with power and great glory
is understood to occur at the end of the
seven-year tribulation and preceding the establish-
ment of His millennial kingdom (25:31, 34). Rosen-
thal and Van Kampen interpreted the sign of the Son of
Man in Matthew 24:29 as manifested following the
cosmological signs of the sixth seal and the cosmolog-
ical signs preceding the Day of the Lord.
26
Such an in-
terpretation forces the sixth seal and the events of the
Olivet Discourse into an artificial mold created by the
pre-wrath rapturists.
27
Rosenthal interpreted the com-
ing of Christ in 24:30 as the rapture, which he believes
will occur before the opening of the seventh seal, af-
ter the Great Tribulation but long before the end of the
seventieth week.
28
What this means is there is only
one parousa of Christ and one Day of the Lord, both
occurring when Christ comes to rapture the faithful
and then begins his systematic destruction of the
wicked who remain (the Day of the Lord)!
29
Such an
interpretation denies the biblical teaching of Christ
coming for His church in the rapture to take them to
the Fathers house (John 14:2-3), and His coming with
His church to earth to deliver Israel and establish His
kingdom.
It would be an understatement to say pre-wrath rap-
turists also confuse the coming of Christ in Matthew
24:40-41 and Luke 17:20-37. Commenting on a classic
text of the second coming of Christ to earth to deliver
Israel, Rosenthal reinterpreted as follows:
. . . the Lord taught, For as the lightning, that lighteneth out
of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part un-
der heaven, so shall also the Son of man be in his day (Luke
17:24). The phrase in his dayis a clear reference to the Day of
the Lord. The point of the Lords teaching is clear. Noah en-
tered the ark, then the judgment beganon the same day.
For emphasis, the Lord gave another illustration of the same
truth: But the same day that Lot fled Sodom, it rained fire and
brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all(Luke 17:29).
. . . Deliverance of the righteous immediately precedes judgment
of the wicked.To postulate a period of time between rapture (de-
liverance) and wrath (judgment) is to contradict the Scriptures.
30
Rosenthal cited Luke 17:26-27 as proof of a same
day rapture associated with the Day of the Lord. The
problem is there is nothing in Scripture indicating judg-
ment began on the very day that Noah entered the ark.
According to Genesis 7:7 and 10, the flood waters did
not begin until seven days after Noah and his family en-
tered the ark. Even though Rosenthal wrote, Biblically,
no extended period of time can separate the two events of
rapture and wrath,
31
there is in reality an interval be-
tween the entering of the ark and the judgment. It needs
to be noted that much of the pre-wrath argument de-
pends on the absence of an interval, which cannot be
supported by Scripture.
Rosenthal also referred to the Lords deliverance of
Lot prior to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as
The pre-wrath also confuses those taken and those left in Matthew
24:40-41. Rosenthal reversed the teaching of Scripture to mean one will
be taken in the rapture and one will be left to experience the wrath of
God.
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 24
proof for no interval. Genesis 19:15-24 seems to suggest
that an interval did occur between Lots deliverance
from Sodom until he arrived in Zoar. (Hurry, escape
there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there.) Lot
left Sodom when morning dawned (19:15), but it was
not until the sun had risen over the earth (19:23) that the
LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire
from the LORD out of heaven (19:24).
The pre-wrath also confuses those taken and those
left in Matthew 24:40-41. Rosenthal reversed the teach-
ing of Scripture to mean one will be taken in the rapture
and one will be left to experience the wrath of God. In
the days of Noah and Lot, and the second coming of
Christ, one will be taken in judgment and one will be left
to enter the millennial kingdom (cf. Luke 17:34-37; Rev
19:17-18). The unbelievers in the days of Noah did not
understand until the flood came and took them all away
(Matt 24:39a). Matthew said the judgment would be
the same: so shall the coming of the Son of Man be
(24:39b).
The first half and the second half (a great tribulation)
of the tribulation will span a period of seven years of di-
vine wrath. The rapture will not only preclude the
church from Gods wrath during the last quarter of the
tribulation (what Rosenthal called the Day of the Lord),
but also from the entire seven years of divine wrath.
Furthermore, even if Rosenthal could prove the Day of
the Lord begins during the last quarter of the tribula-
tion, it still would not make the pre-wrath view correct,
since the entire seventieth week includes the divine
wrath. Once Christ, the one who is worthy to open the
book and to break its seals, breaks the sixth seal, even the
world leaders recognize the wrath of God. Indeed, if the
rapture is to be pre-wrath it must be pretribulational,
which of course, is the teaching of Scripture.
CONCLUSION
This brief examination of pre-wrath rapturism has
demonstrated that the essential characteristics of the
view are contrary to the true interpretation of Scrip-
ture, and should therefore be rejected as false.
ENDNOTES
1 Marvin J. Rosenthal, The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church (Nashville:
Thomas Nelson, 1990), 60.
2 Ibid., 103.
3 Ibid., 104-10.
4 Ibid., 110-11.
5 Ibid., 147.
6 Ibid., 61.
7 Ibid., 103.
8 Ibid., 105.
9 For promotional clarity, Rosenthals publisher even uses the expres-
sion Tribulation period twice on the back cover on his own book.
10 Rosenthal, Pre-Wrath Rapture, 105.
11 Ibid., 111-12.
12 Ibid., 109.
13 Ibid., 147-51; Van Kampen, Rapture Question, 139-52.
14 Ibid., 142.
15 It is not clear whether Judah was a reference to the northern
kingdom of Israel or the southern kingdom of Judah. H. C.
Leupold believed it was the northern kingdom (Exposition of Isa-
iah, 2 vols. [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1968-1971], 1:200-01). On the
other hand, Edward J. Young believed it was the southern king-
dom [The Book of Isaiah, 3 vols., The New International Commentary
on the Old Testament [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1965-1972], 1:359).
Since verse 12 refers to Gods work on Mount Zion and on
Jerusalem, it is most likely the southern kingdom of Judah that
was being addressed.
16 Ibid., 167.
17 Van Kampen, Rapture Question, 164.
18 Ibid., 153.
19 Rosenthal, Pre-Wrath Rapture, 167.
20 Van Kampen, Rapture Question, 154.
21 H. E. Dana and Julius R. Mantey, A Manual Grammar of the Greek
New Testament (New York: Macmillan, 1927), 193.
22 A. T. Robertson, A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light
of Historical Research (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1934), 831.
23 Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 1996), 555.
24 Van Kampen, Rapture Question, 81.
25 Marvin J. Rosenthal, The Great Tribulation, Zions Fire (May-June
1998): 9.
26 Rosenthal, Pre-Wrath Rapture, 153; Van Kampen, Rapture Question,
164.
27 Mal Couch, A Review of the Book The Rapture Question Answered
Plain and Simple, The Conservative Theological Journal 3 (Decem-
ber 1997): 243-45.
28 Rosenthal, Pre-Wrath Rapture, 153.
29 Van Kampen, Rapture Question, 100.
30 Rosenthal, Pre-Wrath Rapture, 140.
31 Ibid., 196.
DECEMBER 2008 25
PRE-WRATH RAPTURISM
MC
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 25
But now is made manifest, and
by the scriptures of the prophets,
according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations
for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever.
Amen (Romans 16:26-27).
M I S S I O N S U P D A T E
B y A r n o F r o e s e
T
he Apostle Paul concludes his letter to the
Romans with the above words. We note
that Gods plan of salvation is to be made
known to all nations, and is being accomplished
by the scriptures of the prophets. This reveals that
Gods plan of salvation for the world is not separate
from the prophets; rather, it is part of it. The
prophets have spoken, and we have the book au-
thored by Gods prophets. It is not a special section
of Holy Scripture, but it is part of it and cannot be
separated from it. The mistake often made is to
view prophecy as a subject that strictly deals with
things to come. While this is true, the prophetic
Word also speaks of the past and the present. It is
for that reason the Apostle Peter admonishes us:
We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a
light that shineth in a dark place, until the day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (2 Peter
1:19). Here we see the word of prophecy as an in-
separable part of the proclamation of the Gospel
of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:20 shows the perfect
unity between the apostles and the prophets: And
are built upon the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cor-
ner stone. That prophecy is part of the foundation
upon which the Church is being built.
We rejoice at the report by our mission-
ary John Ishmael in India, as he describes
the reaction of the invited pastors to the
prophecy conferences he was able to hold in
one of the most remote areas. The following
is his report:
REPORT OF SIKKIM
CONFERENCE
Sikkim was formerly an independent
county ruled by a king. But after the politi-
cal unrest in 1975, Sikkim became one of
the Indian states. The entire state is moun-
tainous, with some of the towns and villages
located at the height of 6,000 meters! The
worlds third highest mountain, Kanchen-
jungatowering 8,586 metersis on the
border of Sikkim and Nepal! The major por-
tion of the boundary of the state is shared
with Tibet in the north and the northwest;
the country of Bhutan in the southeast; In-
dia in the south; and the county of Nepal in
the west. The state is divided into 4 districts:
the North district with the capital of Man-
gan; the South with Namchi as the capital;
Gangtok for the East district; and Geyzing
as the capital of the West district.
26 M I D N I G H T C A L L
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 26
DECEMBER 2008 27
Missions Update
LANDSCAPE OF SIKKIM
The Lord opened the doors to organize
the very first Bible prophecy conference in
Sikkim in the capital city of Gangtok in
2006. As a result of this conference, the pas-
tors of Gangtok actively began to preach
and teach Bible prophecy in their own local
churches. The organizers, along with other
pastors, have seriously committed to take
the message of the Second Coming to the
nearby towns and villages; thus the fire was
kindled for Bible prophecy in these Hi-
malayan Mountains. Since the first confer-
ence, the organizers had been praying and
planning for a second conference at the
headquarters of another district, with a vi-
sion to cover all four districts with the con-
ferences. The pastors committed themselves
to take the message to smaller towns and
villages after the main conference at each of
the district headquarters. This is a visible
proof of their hunger for the prophetic
Word and the deep desire to spread this
message to others living in the inaccessible
high mountains! The seed that was sown
and the finances invested in the first confer-
ence were not in vain but brought thirty-
fold, sixty-fold and hundred-fold results! I
praise God for the one single individual
who sponsored the entire cost of the first
conference, and it is our prayer that the
Lord will bless him and reward him richly
for the tremendous blessing he brought
forth for these dear pastors.
Though the plan was on for the second
conference in Sikkim immediately after the
first conference, due to financial constraints
the conference became a reality only this
year. The arrangements began with prayer
mobilization in the local churches of Gang-
tok and Namchi. As the news came out for
the planned conference, the pastors in
Gangtok began calling their friends in Nam-
chi and the surrounding areas, encouraging
them to attend the conference and not miss
it at any cost. So excitement began to build
up among the pastors and leaders of Nam-
chi for the conference. Though we planned
the conference for only 100 delegates, many
more pastors began to register. It was im-
possible for the organizers to turn away
these pastors, who are very eager to learn
Bible prophecy. As we shared the situation
with one of our prayer partners, who was
also the main sponsor of the conference,
amazingly he stepped in to provide for the
expenses of the additional pastors. The orga-
nizers closed the registrations with 228 dele-
Registration A
copy of Midnight
Call is given to
each participant
Teaching Session
Section of the
Crowd
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 27
28 M I D N I G H T C A L L
gates, out of which 200 attended the confer-
ence each day.
The conference was held for two full
days in one of the largest towns of the Hi-
malayan state of Sikkim. Each day started
with praise & worship followed by devo-
tions.
I taught in four sessions covering vari-
ous aspects of the end time events. The
teachings were translated into the Nepali
language, the local language of Sikkim.
Many pastors heard the subject of Bible
prophecy for the first time, and they were
amazed at the truths recorded in the
Scriptures regarding the Second Coming
of Jesus. Some of the delegates recorded
the entire sessions, while others took
down notes. The eagerness of these pas-
tors to learn Bible prophecy shows the
great hunger they have for this important
subject, which is totally ignored and has
never been taught in these Himalayan
Mountains. The eagerness to learn and
the receptivity of these pastors for the
prophetic Word gave us the deep satisfac-
tion that all the time, effort, and money
we invested in this conference were not in
vain, but brought forth results beyond ex-
pectation. After my last session
on the second day, the organizer
led the closing session and chal-
lenged all the delegates to carry
forth this important message to
their own congregations and the
churches in the surrounding
towns and villages. It was amaz-
ing to see every delegate stand
to their feet and make a sincere
commitment to teach and
preach on Bible prophecy in
their ministries. What an excit-
ing way to end this conference.
It was with total satisfaction in
our hearts that we saw the Holy
Spirit at work in the hearts of
these pastors and leaders! We
deeply express our praise and
thanksgiving unto the Lord for
rewarding all our efforts in a fruitful man-
ner, and for the excellent return of all the
funds we invested into this conference.
I thank every one of you who prayed
for the conference, particularly the two
individuals who sponsored the entire con-
ference financially. Eternity will show the
results of your sacrificial investment. It is
my prayer the Lord will bless you and re-
ward you richly for your involvement in
reaching the pastors of Sikkim with your
prayers and finances.
As a follow up to this conference,
please pray for the pastors who will
carry forth these teachings to the people
in the villages and smaller towns of this
region. Please pray for the organizers,
as they want to plan two more confer-
ences in the Sikkim in the West and
North districts in the near future.
I close this report giving all praise and
Glory to the Lord for the marvelous
work He has done and is still doing in
Sikkim. Thank you, Lord, and thank
you to each one of you.
Sincerely in His Service,
John Ishmael
MCM I NTERNATI ONAL T H O M A S S U P P O R T MI DNI GHT CALL MI NI STRI ES
Mail to: Midnight Call Ministries, P.O. Box 280008, Columbia, S.C. 29228
rAfter prayerful consideration, I/we have decided
to support
(Name)___________________________________
ryearly rmonthly rone time $_______.
I understand that 100% of my donation will be forwarded
to the missionaries and/or project designated above.
Name:___________________________________________
Address:______________________________________
City:__________________________________________
State:__________________________Zip:____________
Credit Card:____________________________________
Exp:________________
Phone:___________________________
With credit card ready, call 800-845-2420
or fax: (803)755-6002
MC
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 28
MONEY: ENDS & TRENDS
$
For more perspectives and resources on world economic and financial trends of interest to Christians,
visit Wilfreds website http://www.eternalvalue.com for additional resources and subscribe to the free
newsletter Eternal Value Review: World Review and Market Monitor.
What Chances a Global Financial
Apocalypse Now? Part II
Global financial markets have ventured into turbulent waters as a worldwide
credit crisis has impacted virtually every nation in the world. There is real
fear that a global financial meltdown might yet ensue. A meltdown implies a
complete and terrorizing breakdown of markets and societies. Could this
happen? It certainly will during the Tribulation period.
B y W i l f r e d H a h n
H
owever, in Part I of this 2-
part series, we concluded:
Global financial apoca-
lypse, no. Not now. But what of
Americas role? As it was, this lat-
est global credit crisis actually
found its ground zero in the United
States. As such, fears of a major collapse
are even greater in North America. If so,
just what will happen to Americas eco-
nomic position in the world?
Americas Role in Global Collapse
There are least two other conclusions
we can settle upon that are of potential in-
terest to North Americans. For one,
America and other countries facing simi-
lar difficultiessuch as Britain, Spain,
and Australia, to name the major ones in
this groupcould very well face a long
phase of decline and financial hardship
even to the point of being eclipsed eco-
nomically by other nations in the world.
Even secular analysts can see the prospect
of that occurring eventually, if current
trends do not change. In fact, some well-
known analysts now take this position.
Therefore, though we can be sure that the
final collapse is not yet upon the world,
this offers no assurance for America and
other affected countries over the near-
term.
But what would happen to the world if
the financial systems of the afore-men-
tioned bloc of nations were actually to
collapse, as some observers fear? Isnt
DECEMBER 2008 29
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30 M I D N I G H T C A L L
B y W i l f r e d H a h n
MONEY: ENDS & TRENDS
$
America so large and economical influential
that such a development would spell certain
doom for the entire world in other words,
sure to trigger the prophesied, global eco-
nomic breakdown? Actually, whether the
United States may possess a manifest destiny
or not, financial troubles on this continent
do not necessarily mean that the entire
world must be fated for immediate collapse.
There are some persuasive arguments sup-
porting this view.
Even as little as a decade ago or so, it may
not have been defensible to think that if
Americas economy collapsed, the entire
world system would not also face a melt-
down. I certainly identified with that view at
the time. Since then, it can be argued that the
world power structure has changed signifi-
cantly, not the least evidence of which has
been the economic rise of Asia (China
specifically), the rebounds of Russia and
Brazil, and the increasingly financially pow-
erful oil- exporting states.
Significance of a Slumping U.S. to the
World
Then just how significant are the recent
economic troubles of America in relation to
the whole world? Of course, the answer will
depend upon whose perspective we adopt.
Americans may today exaggerate this link-
age due to the real-life impact and immedi-
acy of current financial troubles.
To illustrate this point, consider the coun-
try of Indonesia, which has the 4th largest
population in the world (227 million) as
compared to the U.S. population of 302 mil-
lion. Indonesia, according to 2008 estimates
of the International Monetary Fund (IMF),
has a gross domestic product (GDP) of $488
billion in equivalent U.S. dollar terms. The
U.S. economy, measured at $24,195 billion,
by comparison, is gigantic namely 29
times larger.
Back during the Asian crisis of 1997-
1998, an Indonesia citizen would have been
tempted to draw the same apocalyptic infer-
ence for the rest of the world as might an
American in present troubled times today.
Their country seemed to be in a literal melt-
down at that time. Many of its citizens suf-
fered even starved. Yet, even while
Indonesias economy contracted by more
than 20% between 1997 and 1998 (the stock
market collapsing over 70% in 15 months),
to conclude that the sky was falling upon the
whole world would have been incorrect. The
same perspective now applies in reverse,
though the comparative metrics of the illus-
tration are exaggerated.
Just how would God compare these two
crises? Was Indonesias crisis lesser because
this country only represented 0.8% of the
world economy (versus 23.5% for the U.S.
share)much less as a proportion of total
world wealthand was considered a geopo-
litical pipsqueak? Or, does God look upon
the number of individuals? As already ob-
served, the populations of these two coun-
tries are roughly in the same league.
The Bible clearly tells us that the Lord
cares for each and every soul individually,
and that everyone is importantwhether
rich or poor. Are not two sparrows sold for
a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the
ground apart from the will of your Father.
And even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth
more than many sparrows (Matthew 10:29-
31). If that is so, surely God places more im-
portance on people and their numbers rather
than the contrived power measurements of
Are not two
sparrows sold
for a penny?
Yet not one of
them will fall
to the ground
apart from the
will of your
Father. And
even the very
hairs of your
head are all
numbered. So
don't be
afraid; you are
worth more
than many
sparrows
(Matthew
10:29-31).
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 30
What Chances a Global Financial Apocalypse Now? Part II
B y W i l f r e d H a h n
mankind. Therefore, from this vantage
point, troubles unfolding in the United
States would be a small crisis in compara-
tive global terms, as God would see it. After
all, the United States accounts for only 4%
of the worlds population.
When the Bible says that the world will
be generally unaware of the coming days of
the Son of Man, eating and drinking, mar-
rying and giving in marriage (Matthew
24:38), this does not necessarily mean that
every tribe, nation and state will be experi-
encing the same levels of complacency.
But back to the realities of world money
and financial systems. Isnt the current U.S.
credit crisis so large that it is sure to trigger
the final world financial collapse?
It is likely too pessimistic to conclude
that the current U.S.-induced credit crisis
will sink the entire financial world. These
may be famous last words. However, for a
perspective on this question, consider these
financial measurements. Tabulating infor-
mation from various sources, the total
world-wide value of financial securities (de-
nominated in U.S. dollars) amounted to
$140.6 trillion at year-end 2007. In relative
terms, this value would be equivalent to 2.5
times the size of the annual world economy.
(These values do no include bank deposits
and other forms of money, and therefore ig-
nore some important aspects of the ques-
tion being considered.) Assuming that the
forecast losses of the current credit crises
prove the most apocalyptic analysts correct,
these would amount to no more than 2% of
the total world value of financial securities,
or 4.5% of annual economic output. These
are not inconsequential figures, as they are
indeed large.
Yet, some of the biggest banking busts in
the past have cost on the order of 10% to
20% of economic output (according to the
studies of the International Monetary
Fund). No doubt, such crises were terrible
and financially fatal for individuals and
companies, and the same will hold true
now. However, we can reasonably hazard
the guess that the current crisis is ulti-
mately survivable for the worlds financial
systems at least, for now.
But one day, to be sure, mankinds finan-
cial and trading systems will collapse.
When will that be?
Six More Premillennial Collapses
Prophesied
Scripture clearly states that a time of
wrath will come where God says that he
will bring down the pride of mankind.
Most understand that this will unfold in
the Tribulation period for the entirety of
mankind. However, as part of this unfold-
ing, there are possibly as many as six dif-
ferent judgments involving collapses or
wealth overturns, all of them yet to occur
in the future.
Isaiah sheds light on some of the differ-
ent manifestations of the day of the
Lord (referring to the Tribulation period,
or possibly just the second half).
The LORD Almighty has a day in store
for all the proud and lofty, for all that is
exalted (and they will be humbled), for all
the cedars of Lebanon, tall and lofty, and all
the oaks of Bashan, for all the towering
mountains and all the high hills, for every
lofty tower and every fortified wall, for
every trading ship and every stately vessel.
The arrogance of man will be brought low
and the pride of men humbled; the LORD
alone will be exalted in that day, and the
$
But back to
the realities of
world money
and financial
systems. Isnt
the current
U.S. credit
crisis so large
that it is sure
to trigger the
final world
financial
collapse?
DECEMBER 2008 31
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32 M I D N I G H T C A L L
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MONEY: ENDS & TRENDS
$
idols will totally disappear (Isaiah 2:12-
18).
Here we see that economies will be
brought low (symbolized by trees cedars
and oaks), trading systems (ships) as well
as individual nation states (mountains and
hills). (For a detailed explanation of the
symbolic meaning of tall trees and low-ly-
ing shrubs, see World Trend Watch Part
X: The Rise and Fall of Endtime Tyre
Midnight Call, January 2004.)
In any case, the day of the Lord,
whether the short or long day (i.e. 7-year
period or the last half of the Tribulation, re-
spectively), allows for a number of col-
lapses to take place. Here, in no particular
order, are the separate judgment categories
that all lie ahead as part of our premillen-
nial view, with brief explanations.
1. Wrath Upon Israel/Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is overcome while the rem-
nant escapes into the wilderness. While Is-
rael may be a rather tranquil area of the
world (relatively) in the first half of the
Tribulation following a covenant with the
Antichrist, anyone hoping to remain un-
scathed and safe from loss in the second
half will be disappointed.
2. Wrath Upon All Mankind.
This category includes judgments on in-
dividual nations as well as globalism itself.
Ultimately, this is completed at Armaged-
don and in a short period of time thereafter.
In this category we would include such
judgments as upon Edom. Not only does
God consume the whole earth (Zepha-
niah 3:8), but Israel also plays a role in ex-
acting judgment upon the nations and
peoples that have persecuted her (Micah
4:13, Jeremiah 30:11).
3. Wrath Upon the Great Whore.
Revelation 17 reveals that Mystery Baby-
lon, the Mother of Prostitutes, will be
burned by fire. Whatever wealth this reli-
gious entity represented, as part of the
grand ecumenical movement of religion
and money, she will come to naught. They
[the 10 kings] will bring her to ruin and
leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and
burn her with fire (Revelation 17:16).
4 & 5. Wrath and Judgment Upon
Mammon/Commercialism.
It is not generally well understood that
the judgments upon commercialism and
the man-made pride that derives from these
Babel-like systems take more than one
form. Actually, they appear to occur on
three separate levels. There is a remarkably
large amount of prophecy on these related
judgments, which we cannot even begin to
examine here. However, given the Bibles
heavy prophetic emphasis on this general
topiconly second in volume to the
prophetic material referring to future Israel
and her peopleswe are clearly alerted to
the importance of Gods plan in this area.
Consider that there are three stages in
the collapse of Babylon the Great, at least
one of these aligning with prophesied
judgment of a modern-day re-emergence of
ancient Tyrea global trade-based sys-
temthat Ezekiel and Isaiah foresaw. They
are clearly different aspects of the judgment
upon Mammon/Commercialism. For ex-
ample, in the case of Babylon the Great, its
wealth is [] never to be found again
(Revelation 18:21); while that of revived
Tyre is only never to be hoarded again, but
is to go to those who live before the
LORD (Isaiah 23:18). These are different
Revelation 17
reveals that
Mystery
Babylon, the
Mother of
Prostitutes,
will be burned
by fire.
Whatever
wealth this
religious entity
represented,
as part of the
grand
ecumenical
movement of
religion and
money, she
will come to
naught.
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What Chances a Global Financial Apocalypse Now? Part II
B y W i l f r e d H a h n
results, and therefore must refer to more
than one judgment. Also, events befalling
Babylon the Great must be separated into at
least three judgments. We note that death,
mourning and famine will overtake her in
one day (Revelation 18:8), while the sud-
den collapses and destruction of wealth are
said to occur in one hourthree separate
times involving three different groups of
people (Revenue 18:10, 17, 19). The fact
that some judgments occur in one hour,
and that the entire fall of Babylon the Great
occurs over one day, suggests that the
downfall cannot be reconciled in one event,
but rather multiple events.
At the end of all these wealth over-
turns, there is one more great and final
wealth overturn that occurs at the start of
the Millennium period and thereafter. We
therefore do not count this as one of the
six premillennial wealth overturns. It is
the great wealth transfer to Israel. Much
of the worlds riches that are not destroyed
in the Tribulation period flow to Zion.
Even here there are at least two types of
flows; that which apparently is seized as
part of the threshing of the nations that
rise against Israel is treated differently.
These are ill-gotten gains of the nations
(Micah 4:13, translated as illicit profits)
that go before the Lord. Other flows are
more in tribute or as a result of Israels
dealings with the rest of the world. For
example, Then you will look and be radi-
ant, your heart will throb and swell with
joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought
to you, to you the riches of the nations
will come (Isaiah 60:5). (See also Isaiah
60:11; 61:6; 66:12, Zechariah 14:14).
It is beyond the scope of this article to
document all the Scripture references and
details of each of these judgments. How-
ever, there may be yet one more pre-mil-
lennial wealth overturn to consider. This
one could be pre-tribulational.
Thoughts to Ponder
A seventh wealth overturn that could be
proposed, is actually the first in the se-
quence, and is the one most relevant to pre-
tribulational, pre-rapture Christians. The
rest are not though perhaps interesting to
study. I call it the Dispensational Disciplin-
ing. While this viewpoint may be considered
debatable, I would take the prophecy found
in James 5:1-8 as a support for this view. It
$
Then you will
look and be
radiant, your
heart will throb
and swell with
joy; the wealth
on the seas
will be brought
to you, to you
the riches of
the nations will
come (Isaiah
60:5).
DECEMBER 2008 33
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:55 AM Page 33
34 M I D N I G H T C A L L
B y W i l f r e d H a h n
MONEY: ENDS & TRENDS
$
seems to be directed to rich Christen-
domcorporately or individuallythat
also has become haughty and proud be-
cause of its wealth. It aligns with several
last-day conditions mentioned in the epis-
tles, and also fits with the picture of the
Laodicean church given in Revelation 3. It
is in need of nothing (Revelation 3:17).
That time is clearly here now. Christians
living in the high-income nations of the
world will therefore find it very challeng-
ing to stay separate and apart from this
general condition of idolatry.
Every other entity in the Bible that has
pridefully held itself out as in need of
nothing and self-sufficient was judged.
We are given many examples in the Bible
of the consequences of pride, arrogance
and mans reliance upon his tools and sys-
tems. Not only did God specifically punish
such an attitude, it seems that the conse-
quences of mankinds hubris and over-opti-
mism are even part of the natural laws of
economics. In this sense, the financial
troubles that are being experience by the
US and other nations are part of this gen-
eral paradigm.
Said Christ, In this world you will have
trouble (John 16:33). Right from the time
of Adam, hardships were pronounced for
man. "Cursed is the ground because of
you; through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life. It will produce
thorns and thistles for you, and you will
eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of
your brow (Genesis 3:17-19). It is in
that sensethe natural consequences of
past actions, in other wordsthat current
credit crises and economic troubles have
come.
In time, we can be sure that the entire
world, the nations and all individuals will
be judged. The greater part of these peo-
ples will yet face the wrath of the Day of
the Lord. And, in this regard, as Apostle
Peter understood, Their condemnation
has long been hanging over them, and
their destruction has not been sleeping (2
Peter 2:3).
In the same way it is with the Babylon-
ian systems described in Revelation 17-18.
God has remembered her crimes (Reve-
lation 18:5). As such, all the excesses, un-
repented injustices and inappropriate
affections of the past will eventually catch
up with both individuals and nations.
These consequences will have been hang-
ing over them for some time they have
not been sleeping, for God indeed remem-
bers unrepented crimes.
In conclusion, we can be sure that it will
not be until the second half of the Tribula-
tionthe terrible day of the Lord (Joel
2:31)where global systems begin to to-
tally break down and the final six of the
wealth overturns that we have contem-
plated will begin to occur. Up until that
time, systemic or geopolitical troubles of a
lesser typethough surely disastrous and
frightening for those involved, as they are
todaywill continue to unfold. In fact, it
is these types of crises that continue to
drive the world into higher states of global-
ism and globalization, and could play a
role in cementing the Antichrist as a global
problem solver at that future time.
In the meantime, our focus in these
matters is best directed to the possibility
of the seventh wealth overturnthe
Dispensational Disciplining. In that re-
spect, God in His goodness may very
well choose to discipline His people, in-
dividually or corporately, weaning them
off of the dependencies of earthly wealth
and reign before Jesus Christ returns.
We should be grateful if this would hap-
pen. We are therefore encouraged to
Keep your lives free from the love of
money and be content with what you
have, because God has said, Never will I
leave you; never will I forsake you (He-
brews 13:5).
Right from
the time of
Adam,
hardships
were
pronounced
for man.
"Cursed is
the ground
because of
you; through
painful toil
you will eat
of it all the
days of your
life. It will
produce
thorns and
thistles for
you, and you
will eat the
plants of the
field. By the
sweat of
your brow
(Genesis
3:17-19).
MC
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:56 AM Page 34
B y W i l f r e d H a h n
DECEMBER 2008 35
Italian archaeologists unveiled pho-
tos of an underground grotto that they
think ancient Romans revered as the place
where a wolf nursed Romes legendary
founder, Romulus, and his twin brother,
Remus.
A few feet from the grotto,
called Lupercale, the Emperor
Constantine built the Basilica of
St. Anastasia, where some believe
that Christmas was first cele-
brated on December 25.
Constantine ended the frequent
waves of anti-Christian persecu-
tions in the Roman empire by
making Christianity a lawful reli-
gion in 313. He played a key role
in unifying the beliefs and prac-
tices of the early followers of Jesus.
In 325, he convened the Council of Nicaea,
which fixed the the dates of important Christ-
ian festivals. It opted to mark Christmas, then
celebrated at varying dates, on December 25
to coincide with the Roman festival celebrating
the birth of the sun god, according to Andrea
Carandini, a professor of archaeology at
Romes La Sapienza University.
The Basilica of St. Anastasia was built as
soon as a year after the Nicaean Council.
The church was built to Christianize these
pagan places of worship, Carandini said. It
was normal to put a church near these places
to try to save them.
Although some experts have expressed
doubts, most archaeologists think that the
shrine fits the descriptions found in ancient
texts, and plans are being made to excavate
the structure further.
-The Associated Press, 22 December 2007
Christmas has become a global holiday.
Years ago when we toured Egypt, we were
surprised to hear at a bazaar over a loud
speaker, Im Dreaming of a White Christ-
mas. Today, Christmas is recognized as
the greatest holiday in the European world.
Strangely enough, the Bible is silent
about the date of Christs birth. More so,
no instructions, admonitions or examples
are given in Holy Scripture about this, the
greatest of all Christian holidays.
What we do know is that Jesus was
born in the town of Bethlehem, which now
is under Arab Palestinian dominion. He
would be the sin Savior, according to
prophecy: And she shall bring forth a son,
and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he
shall save his people from their sins. Now
all this was done, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the
prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be
with child, and shall bring forth a son, and
they shall call his name Emmanuel, which
being interpreted is, God with us. Then
Joseph being raised from sleep did as the
angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took
unto him his wife: And knew her not till
she had brought forth her firstborn son:
and he called his name JESUS (Matthew
1:21-25). 3362
I T A L Y
Christmas and the Pagan Shrine
I N D I A
Vicious Cycle Robs India of Financial Success
On Monday, India had a trillion-dollar
economy and a trillion-dollar stock mar-
ket. A day later, it had neither. The culprit: a vi-
cious cycle set off primarily by high international
oil prices that refuse to come down below the
$140 per barrel mark.
The Bombay Stock Exchange closed on
Monday with a total market capitalization of
about $1.02 trillion. On Tuesday, a fall of 500
points in the sensex and a gain of 32 paise for
the dollar against the rupee saw that figure drop
to $970 billion.
Similarly, the countrys GDP at current prices
for 2007-08, officially pegged at Rs 43,02,654
cr, translated into just over $1 trillion at Mon-
days exchange rate. With the dollar on Tues-
day breaching the 43-repee mark, the dollar
size of the economy is down to $996 billion.
The high oil prices have triggered a domino
effect that has ultimately robbed India of the tril-
lion-dollar tags. The impact was visible on the
countrys latest export-import data released by
the commerce ministry.
-Times of India, 2 July 2008, pg. 1
One of Asias two growing giants has
been dealt a blow by the surge in oil prices.
This is a shadow of things to come. Reve-
lation 18:19 proclaims: And they cast dust
on their heads, and cried, weeping and
wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city,
wherein were made rich all that had ships
in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in
one hour is she made desolate. 3355
E U
Plan to Extend EU Maternity Leave
The European Commission proposed to extend the minimum fully paid
maternity leave in the 27-nation bloc from 14 weeks to 18 and to give bet-
ter job protection to women taking or returning from such leave.
Longer maternity leave should make it easier for women to return to
work after giving birth, the Commission said.
The EU executive also proposed that self-employed women should get
the same maternity leave as salaried employees. 3382
-Financial Times, 5 October 2008, pg. 6
C H I N A
US Trade Taxes Challenged
China filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization against US anti-dump-
ing and anti-subsidy duties on imports of Chinese steel pipes, off-road tires and woven
sacks. It is the third case China has taken against the US and the second in the past year,
reflecting Beijings new-found assertiveness at the world trade body.
Under WTO procedures, the two sides have 60 days to consult on the issue, after which
China can request an independent dispute settlement panel. 3356
-Financial Times, 20 September 2008, pg. 7
US Secretary of
Commerce Carlos
M. Gutierrez an-
nounces the pre-
liminary decision
to apply a US anti-
subsidy law to im-
ports from China,
in Washington,
DC, 30 March 2007. This was the first time
countervailing duties were imposed on im-
ports from a non-market economy. It altered
a 23-year-old policy of not applying the
countervailing duty law to nonmarket econ-
omy countries.
DECEMBER 2008 37
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:56 AM Page 37
F R A N C E
President Sarkozy
Insists on Regulation
French president Nicolas Sarkozy,
whose country currently holds the ro-
tating EU presidency, called for an interna-
tional summit to tackle the global finance crisis
and its consequences, saying that capitalism
should be more regulated and less opaque.
Let us build a capitalism where ratings
agencies will be subject to controls and pun-
ished when necessary, where transparency of
transactions will replace opaqueness. The
opaqueness is such today that we have diffi-
culty understanding even what is happening,
Mr. Sarkozy said in a speech to the UN Gen-
eral Assembly, Reuters reports.
I am told We dont know who is responsi-
ble. Oh yeah? Well let me tell you that when
things were going well, we knew who got
bonuses. What a strange system, he also told
journalists, denouncing a crazy system which
has been our system for years.
Mr. Sarkozy hopes to see an international
meeting to discuss the crisis, the worst the
world has seen, he said, since the Great De-
pression.
Additionally, the French president sug-
gested a general overhaul of the financial sys-
tem should be considered, where capitalism
would be more regulated.
Let us rebuilt together a regulated capital-
ism, in which whole swaths of financial activity
are not left to the sole judgment of market op-
erators, in which banks do their job, which is to
finance economic development rather than
engage in speculation, he was reported as
saying by Deutsche Welle.
-euoberserver.com, 24 September 2008
Deregulation of financial institutions has
now been exposed as an error. One should
have learned from the deregulation of the air-
line industry, which resulted in most American
airlines filing for bankruptcy. Thus the door is
open for a new international regulatory com-
mission, and doubtless it will be dominated by
the European Union. Thus we see the decline
of capital socialism, with it being replaced by
social capitalism. 3368
C H I N A
Growing Opportunities for Wealth
Mainland China has about 415,000 people with $1m or
more in assets in addition to their main residence, accord-
ing to the latest annual World Wealth Report from Merrill
Lynch and the consultants Capgemini. That compares with
123,000 in India, 495,000 in the UK and 3m in the US.
38 M I D N I G H T C A L L
In April, the In-
dustrial & Com-
mercial Bank of China
[HSBC] launched pri-
vate banking services
on the mainland, saying
it would target cus-
tomers with net assets
of $10m or more with
$3m available for invest-
ment, who could deposit a minimum of $1m.
The bank estimated there would be more
than 16m such potential Chinese customers by
2011 with total assets of more than $6,200bn.
For Bank of China, taking a stake in the
Rothschild French private banking operations is
intended to provide it with more expertise for its
newly wealthy customers. The bank is the
countrys third-largest lender and the most inter-
national by virtue of its history as the official
foreign currency handler under the centrally-
planned economy of the communist era.
We remain a Chinese bank, said Min Zhu,
Bank of China vice-president for international fi-
nance. We dont want to be a global local bank.
We have the market and the growth in China
but we dont have the products, he said. Some
80 percent of savings in China are cashbased,
he added. In China individuals are looking for
investments and instructions so we want to
meet that demand.
However, the deal would also allow Bank of
China to channel Chinese money into France
and Europe.
China has been getting most of its technol-
ogy from Europethats the first wave. We see
a second wave in which a lot of European mid-
cap companies will be ready to sell after one or
two generations and will need Chinese co-oper-
ation, so there will be big demand in Europe,
said Mr. Zhu.
The Chinese people are ferocious savers,
said Robert Agnew of Matrix Services in a re-
cent report on Chinas investment management
industry. They save 40 percent of their incomes
and as a result there is at least $2,500bn saved
in bank accounts in China. In addition, I have
estimated there is an additional $1,200bn of
pooled capital being actively managed by insti-
tutional investors.
-Financial Times, 19 September 2008, pg. 18
In spite of many setbacks and scandals,
Chinas communist economy is expanding
more than 10 percent per annum. Sud-
denly, communism appears in a different
light. There is such a thing as a communist
capitalist. They are eager to invest glob-
ally, but in the end, China will be disap-
pointed, as all nations of the world. The
accumulation of riches contributes to the
deafening of spiritual ears and blinding of
spiritual eyes. Jesus asked these two ques-
tions: For what is a man profited, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul? or what shall a man give in ex-
change for his soul? (Matthew 16:26).
3358
DECEMBER 2008 41
Published as media reports have claimed
the existence of more than 700,000 Internet
sites for teenage witches, Generation Hex has
been described by its promoters as perfect for
personal study or as a gift for anyone interested
or involved in Wicca and a book that identifies
with the spiritual hunger of a generation seeking
truth, authenticity, and hope in a fragmented
world.
Burroughs says part of the goal with Genera-
tion Hex is awareness.
People tend to avoid stuff they don't under-
stand, he said during the chat. If you know
what Wicca is, maybe you won't be so scared to
strike up a conversation with someone wearing
a pentacle or pentagram.
Generation Hex was published early last month
by Harvest House Publishers and includes a
foreword written by Dr. Ron Rhodes, one of the
world's best-renowned scholars in the field of
apologetics as well as the author of over 40
books, many of them bestsellers.
-Christianpost.com, 21 September 2008
Wikipedia defines Wicca with the follow-
ing words: Wicca is a neopagan, nature-
based religion popularized in 1954 by Gerald
Gardner, a retired British civil servant, who at
the time called it Witchcraft and its adherents
the Wica. He said that the religion, of which
he was an initiate, was a modern survival of an
old witchcraft mystery religion that had ex-
isted in secret for hundreds of years, originat-
ing in the pre-Christian paganism of Europe.
The veracity of Gardner's statements cannot
be independently proven, however, and it is
possible that Wiccan theology began to be
compiled no earlier than the 1920s.
The Bible emphatically warns about the
later days with the following words: Now the
Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter
times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of dev-
ils (1 Timothy 4:1). While we believe that the
prognosis relating to the growth of this religion
is vastly exaggerated, we do confirm that the
occult is increasing rapidly, often in the form
and under the cover of evangelical Christianity.
For that reason, we as believers must particu-
larly heed the admonition of 1 Timothy
4:16: Take heed unto thyself, and unto the
doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this
thou shalt both save thyself, and them that
hear thee. 3386
(continued from page 40)
Countries under the South Asian Free Trade Area
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:56 AM Page 41
42 M I D N I G H T C A L L
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Christmas Sale Christmas Sale
Address letters for publication to: Letters to the Editor, Midnight Call, P.O. Box 280008,
Columbia, SC 29228. Include full name, address, and daytime phone number. Without name
and address, letters will be discarded unread. All material is subject to editing. Midnight Call
assumes all publishing rights on letters sent to the Editor.
E. G. White
Dear Editor,
Ive never written before, but
have received your Midnight Call
for years and enjoy reading it! You
are not afraid of attacks from peo-
ple. This one is not an attack, but
I need for you to answer me this
question. Are Christians under the
law to keep the Sabbath day holy?
I ask because I was brought up
Southern Baptist, but was not born
again until I was 30 years old in
January 1971.
I went to a Luis Palau Christian
Festival in Portland, Oregon on
August 23, 2008. When the festival
was over, a lady on a street corner
just outside was handing out books
entitled, World Crisis Foretold, by
E. G. White. I began to study it a
few days later and was horrified by
the teaching that anyone who wor-
ships on Sundays is going to hell.
Ive always believed that our right-
eousness is in Christ Jesus as born
again believers (Romans 8:3-4 and
Hebrews 8:10). Many people re-
ceived these books after the festi-
val. I dont think they were
distributed by Luis Palau, but they
took the opportunity for a big
crowd to receive them. I do not
know anything about E.G. White,
but was concerned. I was led to my
Lord Jesus by the law. It was my
schoolmaster, but after the Holy
Spirit, my Comforter, came in,
MC1208Good.qxd:MC0306 1A1B 12/1/08 8:56 AM Page 44
DECEMBER 2008 45
Destroyed Soul?
Dear Mr. Froese:
I take your magazine, and
like it. My question: Is Matthew
10:28 to be taken literally?
And fear not them which kill
the body, but are not able to kill
the soul: but rather fear him
which is able to destroy both
soul and body in hell. Most
evangelical believers do not
agree with this verse, and main-
tain that soul and body exist
forever in hell and are not ever
destroyed. Im inclined to take
the Bible literally and would
appreciate your comments.
-Shirley J. Kolberg, Englewood, CO
Answer: Man consists of spirit, soul,
and body. He is an eternal being. At
death, the body ceases to exist in its
present form, but will be resurrected.
Obviously, it will be in a non-earthly
form. The believer who receives the
glorified body is in the presence of
the Lord forever. The unbeliever is
going to be in the lake of fire, and
shall be tormented day and night
forever and ever. Is it a literal fire and
a literal body? Of course, but not an
earthly literal fire nor an earthly lit-
eral body; otherwise, the person
would be instantly incinerated. This
is evident from the record of Lazarus
and the rich man. Just differentiate
between earthly physical existence
and non-earthly physical existence.
What will it be like? Glory on the one
hand, and suffering on the other.
Happy Holidays
Dear Mr. Froese,
It is an offense to me when
people use the words Happy
Holidays instead of Merry
Christmas. Isnt it Christs
birthday? If we as Christians
dont stand up for keeping
Christ in Christmas, who
will? Should we as Christians
not lift up Christ during
Christmas? It seems that
every year, the traditional
Christmas is diminishing.
Some employers forbid greet-
ing customers with Merry
Christmas, and local govern-
ments take offense when a
nativity scene is placed on
public property. Where will it
all end? I for one will con-
tinue to use the politically in-
correct phrase.
-Patricia Voiles, Atlanta, IL
Answer: You should not be of-
fended. No one can take away
what you dont have. You dont
have Christmasits a traditional
holiday established by the Ro-
man Catholic Church. Christmas
is built on tradition and not on
the Bible; it has become the great
exhibition of materialism. As a
believer, you are a visible demon-
stration of Christ to the extent
you are willing to follow Him
risking rejection, enduring perse-
cution, even unto death.
There is a global Christmas
coming. People will give gifts one
to another, after the beast kills
the two witnesses. Revelation
11:10 says: And they that dwell
upon the earth shall rejoice over
them, and make merry, and shall
send gifts one to another; be-
cause these two prophets tor-
mented them that dwelt on the
earth. Note in particular the two
words, merry and gifts. That is
going to be a global Christmas
party.
God and Country
Dear Mr. Froese,
I am a subscriber to Mid-
night Call and have been for a
number of years.
I am always impressed with
the manner in which the Gospel
is presented, and find myself in
complete agreement with your
statements of faith.
In the August 2008 issue of
Midnight Call you addressed two
readers in the Letters To The
Editor section: the first titled
Election Fear, and the second
Christian War.
I was in agreement with your
replies to both readers, espe-
cially the second, wherein you
made the issue of America is
not a person, its a political iden-
tity under the auspices of Lu-
cifer.
It was great to have a man in
your capacity make the point
that America is no different
from any other nation.
I am a member of a funda-
mental Bible-believing church
whose statement of faith is iden-
tical to that of Midnight Call.
The problem is there is no
question that the dominant
view of the pastor and most
members is that the Republi-
can Party is on Gods side,
and anything else is obvi-
ously satanic.
In attempting to witness
for Christ, I am very often
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