A CRITICAL REVIEW and Correction to Johnson C Philip's and Saneesh Cherian's “GETTING CLOSER TO 666”
What is “Getting Closer to 666” all about?
In
their book, the authors are stating that “the rise of the Antichrist and the
imposition of 666 seal would be the most spectacular event after rapture.” By
referring to the modern scientific advancements and technologies (smart cards,
human-machine communication, micro-chip implants, embryology, cloning,
injection guns, sensors etc.) which are seen by the authors as making the way
for the Antichrist, they are “comforting” the believers that they would be
“raptured before the arrival of the most terrible time in human history.”
Unbiblical Teachings and Erroneous Method of Interpretation in “Getting Closer to 666”
1.
“Rapture precedes the rise of the Antichrist” is an unbiblical doctrine
This
can be proved from the following biblical teachings and may be stated in a
syllogism:
Statement 1: The
rapture is part of the day of the Lord.
Statement 2: The
coming of the Antichrist and the rebellion precede (come before) the day of the
Lord.
Conclusion: The
coming of the Antichrist and the rebellion precede the rapture of the church.
In other words, the rapture is after the coming of the Antichrist.
If
it can be shown from the Scripture that statement 1 and 2 are true, then the
concluding statement is true.
Þ Scriptural
proofs for statement 1 (the rapture is part of the day of the Lord)
1 Thessalonians
5:2-6: “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “There is
peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains
come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4But you
are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5For
you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or
of the darkness. 6So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us
keep awake and be sober.”
·
Paul is referring to the Day of the Lord. The
warning of verse 6 to be alert and sober implies that believers must wait with
expectation the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord comes like a thief to both
believers and unbelievers, but it does not surprise believers like a thief[1]. Therefore, the rapture is
part of the Day of the Lord (verse 4).
2 Thessalonians
1:5-10: “This is evidence of the righteous
judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which
you are also suffering— 6since indeed God considers it just to repay
with affliction those who afflict you, 7and to grant relief to
you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed
from heaven with his mighty angels 8in flaming fire, inflicting
vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the
gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9They will suffer the punishment of
eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory
of his might, 10when he comes on that day to be glorified in his
saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our
testimony to you was believed.”
·
In this passage, Paul tells us about the revelation of
Jesus Christ (verse 7), that is, his coming “on that day” (verse 10) “with his
mighty angels in flaming fire” (verse 7, 8).
·
It is stated in verse 7, that “when Lord Jesus is
revealed”, the afflicted believers will be granted relief. This confirms that
the church is still on earth and still being afflicted up to the point of
Christ’s revelation[2].
·
It is also clear from verses 6, 8-10, that Christ’s
revelation means immediate and eternal destruction for those afflicting God’s
people.
Another
proof that the rapture of the church is part of that day of the Lord is 2
Peter 3: 4, 9-13: “4They will say, “Where
is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all
things are continuing as they were from the beginning of
creation.”.............9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his
promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that
any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But
the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass
away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and
the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed........... 11Since
all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be
in lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening
the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on
fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13But
according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth
in which righteousness dwells.”
·
Peter is defining the hope of the church in this
passage. That is the “promise of his coming” (verse 4). The scoffers are
mocking the promise of his coming.
·
Peter is saying (in verse 9) that the Lord will full
“his promise.” That shall happen when the “day of the Lord will come like a
thief.”
· In verses 11 and 12, the believers are reminded that they are “waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God”. This implies that the rapture of the church (for which the people of God is waiting for and hastening) is part of the day of the Lord.
Þ Scriptural
proofs for statement 2 (the coming of the Antichrist and the rebellion precede
the day of the Lord)
2 Thessalonians
2:1-3: “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being
gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2not to be
quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a
letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has
come. 3Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will
not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of
lawlessness is revealed”
Þ Paul is declaring that “the rebellion” and the revealing of the man of lawlessness will occur first and then only the day of the Lord will come. This means that the final anti-christ and tribulation period has to precede the coming of the day of the Lord.
Þ
Conclusion:
It has been proved from the Scripture that the
rapture of the church (our hope) is part of the Day of the Lord. It has also
been proved that the Day of the Lord should be preceded by the coming of the
Antichrist. Therefore, “the rebellion” and the coming of the Antichrist precede
the rapture of the church. That is, the rapture of the church is
POST-TRIBULATIONAL in its timing.
2.
Interpreting the book of Revelation based on “newspaper headlines” and
“technological advancement” is hermeneutically unwarranted
What is the principle that we should follow in interpreting Scriptures? It
is the principle of “Scripture interprets Scripture.” This also means, instead
of first comparing the images with the world of modern scientific technology
and warfare, the symbols and figures that John saw and wrote in the book of Revelation
should be understood by a contextual comparison within that book itself and the
rest of the Scriptures. This will result in a non-speculative, objective and
God-glorifying interpretation of the book of Revelation.
Þ “the
mark of the beast”
Revelation 13:16-18: “Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and
poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead,
17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that
is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.”
Some interpreters see in the mark of the beast the “intelligent identity
cards”, implanted chips, and so on. But using “Scripture interprets Scripture”
principle will lead us into other conclusion.
The
mark of the beast (Rev. 13:16) on the right hand or the forehead of unbelievers
is the opposite of the “seal” in Rev. 7:3-8, which is the “name written on
foreheads of true believers (Rev. 14:1; see also Rev. 22:4; 3:12). Since the
seal or name on the true believer is invisible, so also is the “mark” on the
unbeliever. That the two are parallel in being spiritual in nature and are
intended to be compared is evident from the immediately following mention of
God and Christ’s name “written on the foreheads” of the saints (14:1).[3] Therefore,
to say that the seal on the forehead of the believers is spiritual and
invisible while the mark on the foreheads of the unbelievers is literal and
physical is inconsistent.
The
seal and the divine name on believers connote God’s ownership and spiritual
protection of them. Those who have believed in Jesus have been identified with
him and are protected by the power of his name against ultimate deception.
Mark
of the beast on unbelievers signifies that they belongs to the devil. Those who
are not trusting in Christ are identified with the beast, are under devil’s
power, and are unable to avoid deception by the beast. This identification with
the beast gives them temporary prosperity in this life (”buy” and “sell”). The
mark may also connote that the followers of Christ and the beast both are
stamped with the image (i.e., character) of their respective leaders.[4]
Þ “souls
of men”
Revelation
18:12, 13: “The merchandise of
gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and
purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of
ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron,
and marble, 13And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and
frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and
sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.”
Does
trading the “souls of men” find their fulfillment in the modern scientific
procedures of cloning and DNA technology? Interpreting Scripture with Scripture
demands that we have to first compare this term (“souls of men”) with other
passages in the Scripture. The list of products in Revelation 18:12, 13 are based
partly on Ezekiel 27:7-25. The term used is “bodies and souls of humans” which
can also be translated “bodies, even the souls of humans.”
That
the phrase refers to slaves is confirmed by Ezekiel 27:13 where among
the various trade goods “souls of humans” are mentioned and refer to slaves.
Ezekiel 27:12, 13: “Tarshish dealt with thee by reason of the abundance of
all substance; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they furnished thy markets. 13Javan,
Tubal, and Meshech, they were thy traffickers: they bartered with thee the
persons of men, and vessels of bronze.” (Darby’s Translation)
That
is why English Standard Version rightly translates Revelation 18:13 as “……. horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human
souls.”
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