False Prophecy Predictions: I have encountered some teachers who have made false predictions on the end-times and have not been held accountable. What should I do about this?

Yeshua the Messiah prophesies in His Olivet Discourse, “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many” (Matthew 24:11). This has obviously been going on for a very, very long time and will certainly not stop anytime soon. Church history is full of figures over several millennia who have made predictions on the end-times and the return of the Lord that have not come to pass. What we may experience today about certain people claiming that “Date X” is the time that Yeshua will return, or that any number of events will take place—and then they do not occur—is not something that is new. We should not be surprised when a prediction is made that does not come to pass.

The Torah tells us quite clearly, “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:22). This means that if someone makes a false prophecy prediction—and insists that this is something that God has revealed—that we should no longer listen to this person about anything. This proves that the so-called “prophet” or “man of insight” was not speaking in the authority of God, and at best was speaking in his own authority. We have the responsibility to avoid people who have made false prophecy predictions. While they can be forgiven of their error, they should not be allowed to be in a position expositing upon the Scriptures as those who make false prophecy predictions are likely to do so again, if not repeatedly.

posted 16 October, 2006

Final Generation: Do you believe we are the final generation?

It is commonly asserted among many Messianic Believers, and for that matter many evangelical Christians also, that our generation living today is the “final generation.” This is often based on the following statement by Yeshua delivered during His Olivet Discourse on the end-times:

“Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34; cf. Mark 13:30; Luke 21:32).

A common claim that is made—especially in some distinct Messianic circles—is that the “final generation” started in 1967 with the recapturing of the Old City of Jerusalem by Israeli forces. Given that the Exodus generation died out in forty years (Numbers 32:13; Psalm 95:10), it is assumed that within a period of about forty years that the end-times and Second Coming must be upon us. Today in 2007, this has spurred on a great deal of end-time speculation and prognostication, with many claiming that the world as we know it is coming to an end at breakneck speed. Certain teachers have taken advantage of the paranoia, and have capitalized upon it in more ways than just drawing attention to themselves.

Interestingly enough, there are three major interpretations of Yeshua’s words that exist:

1.  The Lord says “this generation will not pass away,” and is referring to the generation that lived during the time that He declared these words. Preterists who believe that the “end-times” actually took place during the First Century, and consider the antichrist of Revelation to be Nero Caesar, are the most common advocates of this view.

2.  The Lord says “this generation will not pass away,” and is speaking of a future group of people that will be those who will witnesses all of the events prior to His return. While it is easy to associate “this generation” with those who have witnessed the rebirth of Israel in the Middle East, there is no Scriptural indication to specifically pinpoint when “this generation” actually began. Yeshua’s two-verse parable of the fig tree is hardly enough to equate the reestablishment of Israel as being the catalyst that began the final generation (Matthew 24:32-33; Mark 13:28-29; Luke 21:29-30), especially when Israel in Scripture is associated with the olive tree.

3.  When the Lord refers to what the Greek records as hē genea autē (h genea auth), which in most Bibles is rendered as “this generation,” He is referring to something else. As should be noted, genea has a variety of possible renderings, including “race, stock, family” and “a race, generation” (LS).[a] Yeshua’s words need not be interpreted regarding a specific “generation” that He either spoke to in the past, or is speaking to in the future, but rather an ethnic group of people that will have survived long enough into the future to be present to experience the end-times.

Of the three options considered, the editor is convinced that the third—that Yeshua is actually referring to “this race will not pass away”—is most valid. The Ryrie Study Bible actually confirms these conclusions, remarking, “No one living when Jesus spoke these words lived to see ‘all these things’ come to pass. However, the Greek word can mean ‘race’ or ‘family,’ which makes good sense here; i.e., the Jewish race will be preserved, in spite of terrible persecution, until the Lord comes.”[b]

While many Messianics today believe that they are the “final generation,” it seems very unlikely that Yeshua will be able to return soon given the current theological state of the Messianic movement in 2007. For a movement that often believes it has the answers to “change the world” (especially with a message of Torah restoration)—yet still largely does not even have a basic theology about God (among other things)—much is going to have to improve. Likewise, if today’s Messianic movement truly did believe it were living in the “final generation,” then we would see far more attention dedicated to not only spreading the good news and seeing that people repent of their sins, but we would also be preparing people physically—and more importantly psychologically—for the effects of the Great Tribulation.

It seems that the arguments in favor of us living in the “final generation” are delivered more to draw attention to various “prophetic” ministries and sell products, than realistically developing a well reasoned eschatology. We should not try to force God’s hand regarding the fulfillment of prophecy, but rather do all that we can do to provide for a sustainable future for the Messianic community. We should be about the Lord’s work truly equipping Messianic Believers for the challenges of today, so that they can be prepared for the challenges of tomorrow—which may include the Great Tribulation. But in order to be more prepared, there is an entire array of theological issues that needs to be considered that most of the Messianic movement since 1967 has avoided (and whether these issues have been avoided purposefully or not is hard to determine). If anything, it is time for us to no longer avoid these issues.

For a further discussion of this and related issues, consult the editor’s article “Are We Really Ready for the End-Times?”

NOTES

posted 05 September, 2007

Fire Baptism: Can you tell me what it means to be “baptized by fire”?

John the Immerser (or “Baptist”) is the one who references the baptism or immersion by fire in his statements about the coming of the Messiah. His words pertaining to this immersion appear in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke:

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Matthew 3:11).

“John answered and said to them all, ‘As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’” (Luke 3:16).

Many, particularly among Pentecostals and charismatics, will stop reading the text as quoted above, and automatically assume that “fire baptism” or “fire immersion” is something that is a good thing. A great number of songs, for example, have been composed from the point of view of “the Spirit surrounding us in your fire.” This, however, is not a theologically correct statement to make. In context with John’s entire statement, he is actually describing two different baptisms or immersions: some will receive the Holy Spirit, and others will receive fire. Continuing, John says the following:

“His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:12).

“His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17).

Those who are the chaff are taken out and burned. In this context, “fire baptism” is by no means something good or something to be pursued. An immersion by fire speaks of God’s judgment upon unrepentant sinners.

For a further examination of this issue, consult G.W. Bromiley’s article in ISBE, “Baptism of Fire,” 1:426.

posted 26 September, 2006

$21.00 including U.S. shipping & handling