Gates of the City

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A brief note from the author…

Unfortunately, when scriptures are given only as references in books, most people rarely take the time to look them up. Sure, when a point being asserted crosses ones long-held opinion, some references might actually get checked out. But sometimes when beliefs are so ingrained, it is too easy to automatically judge the other’s perspective to be wrong, without even bothering to examine the foundation of scripture provided whereupon the author’s statement was asserted. Others are either so confident, or indifferent, they simply dismissively quit reading the article and casually move on to the next point of interest, or without any examination simply toss a book aside deeming it unworthy of their time. It is truly the shame of the Church how far removed many believers are today, having forsaken that noble Berean spirit whereby they once prayerfully searched the scriptures to see if the things being stated to them were true, (Acts 17:10, 11).

But those who do authenticate a writer’s words with the scriptures referenced are well aware of the increased work and additional time that must be spent to responsibly prove the author’s message. Therefore, it is my practice to include all scripture referenced in my writing; except for the one I mentioned above, to help make my point.

To me, the labor of any Christian author should be like the labor of one who strings pearls to make a necklace to grace the neck of the one who chooses to wear it. That said, what I have written here can hardly be considered worthy to be the string whereby such priceless oracles are to be joined, seeing they were given to holy men of God. Men, who like the oyster, were often required to endure severe trials before the grace of God brought forth those glorious pearls of truth for the benefit of those who would receive them. Nevertheless, I assure you that this book is a labor of both my love and obedience to my Lord Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 3:19 – The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has He established the heavens. ²⁰ By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. ²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: rather keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²² For they shall be life unto your soul, and grace to your neck. ²³ Then shall you walk in your way safely, and your foot shall not stumble.

Therefore, it is my earnest recommendation that the reader would make a resolve to read through all the verses in their entirety. After all, these pearls are God’s words and their inclusions are here for your benefit, so please take advantage of them.   

Perhaps you have heard one of the versions about Thomas Edison’s attitude while working on the creation of a practical light bulb or a new battery.  Success wasn’t immediate for him, not in the slightest, as he and his team of researchers conducted what seemed to be an endless series of unsuccessful experiments. At one point a co-worker, visitor, or a reporter expressed frustration or sympathy to Edison regarding the growing accumulation of seemingly futile experiments. Edison countered saying, “I have not failed once. Rather, I have succeeded in proving that all those ways will not work.” Such is the labor in proving all things; some things will be proven to work, and others proven not to.

The same holds true with Christian theology, for what is indeed true must agree with the whole of scripture or it cannot be the truth. Therefore, it is not that which was once persuasively preached to you from selected texts of scripture, that others embrace as truth that deserves the allegiance of your faith, rather that alone which cannot be shaken by the whole of God’s word. For while we must preach proven truth, we must also prove what is preached unto us, otherwise just like Edison’s failed light bulbs and batteries, our message will neither truly illuminate, nor have sufficient power to help the hearer, or our faith will only be a believism, and not true faith. For proving things is the only way to gain understanding of them.

I Thessalonians 5:21 – Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

I John 4:1 – Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ² Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: ³ And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

The thoughts which I share with you in this book are the results of decades of prayerful study and reflection, the which I believe God rewarded me with measurable clarity. For due to the severity of the times and the endless volumes of endtimes theologies being preached, I have patiently sought the Lord that I might understand certain passages concerning prophetic end time events, and the key players therein refer to. My earnest desire as a husband and father is to obey the exhortation to “prove all things” that I might faithfully lead my family in the things of God, and hopefully teach them to “hold fast to that which is good,” and live and walk in sound doctrine. At times, what was being exposed as false was unsettling, and obligated me to make definite adjustments to both my personal life and theology.

Therefore, be forewarned, these things may very well require certain life modifications of you as well, or perhaps, it all may even provoke you to anger.  For sadly, sharing these convictions have more than once provoked even some of my own family members and close friends to anger over the implications.

To start, I would like to prepare some by stating that the conclusions of my studies will be found to be very different from predominant beliefs held by many who have unquestioningly embraced the viewpoint of the admittedly fictional “Left Behind” series, which became very popular, even among non-Christians. The seemingly endless series of books was truly astonishing, perhaps even somewhat of a craze that frequently even made news headlines, with the public impatiently waiting for the next release, ready to ingest each of the “16 best-selling” fictional “Christian novels” written by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. If only people were that hungry and eager for God’s word, how much wiser they would be. For think about it for a minute, it’s a “Christian Novel,” that alone to me seems to affirm what the Apostle Paul wrote under the unction of the Holy Spirit, that in the latter times men would not be able to endure sound doctrine, but instead they would eagerly swallow mere fables, or the fictional stories of men of the likes of these, as if it were the very truth of God.

1st Timothy 4:3 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having their itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

I have become persuaded that many of these popular Christian “fables” will ultimately be found to have served as deceitful milestones in the religious journey of many so-called believers, as they subtly validate and cause the naïve to embrace the false doctrines of devils designed to hinder true faith. For it never ceases to amaze me how easily people can be steered away from the truth, from spiritual reality, which alone provides the hearer with saving faith, and lured into trusting what is presented to them an admitted fiction simply because they are told it is “based upon the Bible.”

Before getting too deep into things, let’s revisit the idea of Mark Twain’s quote of how “It is easier to fool someone than it is to convince them they have been fooled.” This has been proven over and over again, for the greatest hindrance to people accepting the truth is an already established belief, or a presupposition that prejudices them against it, which hinders their openness to properly consider the matter. I therefore encourage everyone to pause and pray, and place their beliefs upon the altar of God where I assure you they will be safe, that you might be able to continue with sincere and prayerful humility and continue with an openness to consider the things yet to be presented. For just because the following thoughts may be different from what you’ve always heard from your parents or pastor, that doesn’t make them automatically wrong. Truth must be proven with a thorough examination and cross-examination of scripture, and with much prayer. For just because one’s beliefs may align with certain passages doesn’t mean they necessarily agree with the whole of scripture. But again, do not just believe me either, but return to the Lord in prayer and pray for His wisdom and understanding in all this as well.

Hopefully, even if we fail to come to a mutual consensus, you will have found me to be honest and thorough in my presentation, as I have truly labored in the following chapters to establish a clear scriptural foundation for my position concerning end-time events, which even now appear to be cresting our horizon. To start, let me share upfront that it is not my belief that there will ever be the realization of a unified one world government, under one leader, which many these days would call the “antichrist.”

I know I definitely lost some readers right there: but I would hope if that is you, that you would please stop and take note of exactly what I did and did not say. I am not saying that I fail to recognize the Luciferian globalist plan that has been in the works for hundreds, if not thousands of years, which clearly has been rapidly gaining both ground and momentum towards a New World Order. Regardless, I just don’t see God permitting it to reach the fruition these various end-time fables are projecting; reaching the height and extent that Satan and the globalists’ desire or intend. For God has never needed the wicked to achieve in their exploits to prove the hearts of men: for He has accomplished more than men know through the victory of the cross, and thereby continues to do even more through those who humbly embrace it.

I know that many reacted to my comment about there never being “a unified one world government under one leader which many these days would call the antichrist,” for I have many times seen eyes rolling before me in disbelief. The first question I am usually asked is “What about the son of perdition who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God?” Well, please be patient, for though the antichrist is not the focus of my book, I have addressed that verse in the following chapter. For recognizing the strategy of the adversary, I understand the necessity of providing scriptural explanations for those who may stumble at my comments regarding these popular theories concerning the “antichrist” which is still successfully being commercialized by so many writers and preachers nowadays.

For that reason, it is my intention throughout this book to openly set forth for your examination those biblical and historical points that have brought me to my present persuasion. Let it be here duly noted that I fully expect many readers will be shaken both theologically and emotionally by my positions, which in some points are sharply different from what is being widely preached and accepted. But I assure you that my beliefs are not new, nor the result of some revelation, nor what I have cleverly figured out, nor from some vivid dream I had. Rather, these are actually views that have been held by many of the early church fathers, as well as by many great scholars and men of God throughout the centuries. Yet regardless, I know some readers will still nonetheless hastily dismiss and abandon this book, if not out of disagreement, out of the mere labor alone of considering all these things in the light of scripture and history. But I pray you will be among those who recognize that a shaking of your theology is healthy: for what stands will be proven to rest on a solid foundation. But I must share with you that much of what is being embraced nowadays, by many non-Catholics professing to be followers of Jesus Christ, has in fact only become fashionable to believe within the last hundred or so years. Those willing to invest minimal research will discover that this theology now being widely accepted by believers is in discord with what was understood, believed, and therefore taught by many scholarly protestant believers just a hundred years ago.

However, there were two bible scholars that have influenced the direction of thought of many American preachers within the last hundred years, perhaps more than the rest, which are American theologians Cyrus I. Scofield and Dr. Frank C. Thompson. Both these men labors were reproduced in study bibles; having their notes and references printed within. The problem lies not with these two scholars of God’s word, but with the ease wherewith the adversary has been able to use their labors to his own advantage. Nor are these the only men that have study bibles with their notes and thoughts in them, as there are several study bibles available by several contemporary preachers still living today. However, though the scriptures are indeed the infallible Word of God, one must remember that the notes of all these men are not.

That is not to imply that these men were not inspired, or that their notes are unworthy of our consideration, as since the time of the first publication of my book, I have been chided for doing what was deemed to be taboo, and as making an attack upon these men. But, I have done no such thing, I have merely addressed their fallibility, as well as the cunningness of the adversary to utilize their works in such a way as to exploit those points in which their speculation misses the mark of the truth to direct the slothful away from it. For I am not denying that these were seasoned men of God who willingly allowed other students of God’s word to prayerfully consider the path of their thoughts which they put forth for open scrutiny, for I too am doing nothing more than the same here. For no one can deny that the works of both Cyrus Scofield and Dr. Frank Thompson are evidence that they prayerfully studied the scriptures to show themselves approved unto God. However, once more I caution, that their notes and suggestions must not be allowed to be elevated to the place of being worthy of one’s blind and unchallenged acceptance as inerrant truth.

Nonetheless, many seminaries, and therefore preachers, use both the Scofield and Thompson’s reference bibles as reliable guides for both the teaching and learning of theology. Therefore, among normal laymen believers, Scofield and Thompson’s scriptural cross-references with their notes and implications, have become widely accepted and trusted to be as reliably sacred as the rest of the printed text on the pages of their study bibles, that is, the scriptures themselves. For if Scofield or Thompson linked certain New Testament passages to Old Testament passages, then it must be correct, right? After all it is printed right there in black and white in their study bible. 

That is why we must prove all things the best we can, for God rewards the diligent seeker and not those who lazily trust in other men’s labor to get by. Those who have study to show themselves approved by rightly dividing (and applying) the Word of God have not just learned a theology, with the memorization of all its proposed scriptural support, rather through their diligent, prayerful study of God’s word, coupled with their obedience to it, have often been the most rewarded of the Holy Spirit and given an understanding that often excels their teachers.

Psalm 119:98 – You Lord through Your commandments have made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. ⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers: for Your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.

Now please, do not think that I consider my position on all points to be completely unshakable, for certainly some of you may very well find them to be nothing more than a square three-legged table, if that. However, if you discover some of these points do in fact have a measure of credibility, then regardless of what you have always believed or been taught by whoever, scripture obligates you to re-examine, pray, and prove all things; that you may hold fast to that which may yet be waiting to be found by you and confirmed as sound and solid doctrine. So once again, I encourage a thorough reading of all scripture provided, and even taking further pursuit of them in their full context in your own bibles.