Too much gloom and doom
I was rather disappointed with your October-November front page. There is enough doom and gloom in the secular media, so why did you have to add to this with dire warnings about lights going out, more lockdowns and food and fuel shortages?
In these troubled times, we should be emphasising a message of Christian hope, not adding to the despair so many feel. It’s true that without God, there is no hope, but the Gospel is good news, and many of us are praying and believing for revival.
Therefore I have to strongly disagree with the view of Dr Clifford Hill in his new book (Reviews, Oct-Nov 2021) that “It’s too late to pray for the welfare of the nation” because I don’t believe it is right to take verses from Ezekiel – which were aimed at the nation of Israel – and apply them to our nation today.
I will continue to do what the apostle suggested: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Finally, please can you tone down your anti-vax rhetoric, which I believe is unnecessary and unhelpful. Many of us have been pleased to take the anti-Covid vaccine, which I am told has saved thousands of lives.
Geoff Chapman
Creation Resources Trust
Yeovil, Somerset
Pre-tribulation rapture
Eldo Barkhuizen defends a post-tribulation rapture (Oct/Nov, In my own Words), but takes no account of Israel’s place in the Lord’s great plan.
The years determined for the great tribulation are referred to in Jeremiah 30:7 as a time of Jacob’s trouble; the Church was not present then and accordingly does not figure in this scenario.
I can find no scriptural evidence to support the claim that Yeshua (Jesus) will return just once – that is, after the great tribulation. But we are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 that he comes in the air to meet up with his saints. There is an equally clear reference to his return to earth, with his saints, to his people Israel in Matthew 24:30-31.
The end-time rapture will be instantaneous and covert “like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Conversely, the vivid earthly return of the Lord will be like “the lightning [that] comes from the east and flashes to the west” (Matthew 24:27).
Regarding God’s wrath, its unique severity – “such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” is surely confirmed in Matthew 24:21. And the saints referred to in Revelation 13:7 are revealed as the great tribulation martyrs from Revelation 7:13.
Finally, if all the living saints are consigned to the great tribulation, to suffer death upon remaining faithful, then wouldn’t they require resurrection rather than a rapture?
John Stone
Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex
Having spent 80 years studying the Holy Scriptures almost daily, nothing I have read invalidates the apostle Paul’s teaching of the imminent pre-tribulation rapture of born again believers.
However, I do think that those described in the Laodicean Church (Revelation 3:14-19) may pass through the great tribulation. Time will tell.
That J N Darby taught a new doctrine has always been fake news. He merely revived Paul’s rapture teaching.
Bertram Lewis
Worthing, West Sussex
Calling the Queen
Many have complained that the Queen hasn’t been called upon to proclaim days of national prayer as her late father did during WW2.
In fact, I have called her to prayer for the nation; I wrote to her on 17 August 2020 and she replied to me graciously within three days from Balmoral.
The Scriptures I sent were: Psalm 11:3: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (KJV)
2 Timothy 1:7: “God did not give us a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind.”
2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
I also wrote to her: “Therefore, your Majesty, I am asking you to follow the example of your beloved father, King George VI, who called the nation to prayer with repentance, as the Germans were well ahead with their invasion plans. Unlike Sir Winston Churchill, our current prime minister is an unbeliever, therefore he cannot call the nation to prayer, but he most certainly will agree that it is your duty to do so.”
Pearl A Coleman
Woking, Surrey
Leaving the building
I agree with Clifford Hill (Reviews, Oct-Nov 2021) that in the last days the Church will leave the ecclesia.
Many of us have already done so!
Rosalind Markby
London