I have likely listened to 90% of Art Katz' sermons. Trust me when I say, Art was not only NOT "pre-tribber", but Art held to the thought that most who embraced such a theological eschatology did so (consciously or sub-consciously) because they couldn't stand to embrace the possibility that God would call us into any form of suffering for His Glory's sake. Art would regularly make it clear that such a thought was a signal of the modern (especially the American) church's comfort mentality and even spiritual immaturity. I'm not saying this to "start a debate", but just stating clearly where Art stood on the issue. When I got truly born again, I didn't immediately check into Bible College (I graduated from that years later and spent years having to again "unlearn" many watered down confusing traditions of men I was attempted to be "re-trained" with there!). I was born into the Kingdom as I surrendered in a prison cell facing 20 years for the 2nd degree felony of Organized Crime under the RICO racketeering act invented for the prosecution of the mafia. My initial "Kingdom Education & Theological Schooling" consisted primarily of being in a solitary cell, locked up alone, fasting, and reading scripture and praying every waking hour. Being quickly baptized with His Spirit (w/ no one laying on any hands, nor trying to force me to fall over), I just was primarily taught by the Spirit through the Word. It never even crossed my mind the idea of some "pre-trib" rapture where we escape all suffering, testing, and persecution. When I was first introduced to such an idea, I thought "where do they get/see that in scripture?" Their response was usually: "God wouldn't allow His saints to have to endure such things". Really? I already got Voice of the Martyrs periodical and wondered "where then was God for these saints in these people's estimation and understanding of suffering and persecution?" When they showed me the 1 or 2 scriptures taken alone out of entire context by which they hinged their entire eschatology, I thought "wow, what shoestrings to hang upon!!" I'm not being contentious or proud, so hear my heart, but just entirely honest with you. I had seen a "post-trib" eschatology (at least a mid-trib could be somewhat of a supportable position, but to escape all suffering and persecution at the end of all things entirely?) even in the types and shadows of the OT prophets, the sayings/teachings/parables of Christ, the epistles, and Revelation. In fact, when I looked back and saw that I was soveriegnly saved from death miraculously over a dozen times before I was even born again (gun put to my head and the trigger pulled as the gun jammed, overdosed on drugs many times, horrible head-on car-wrecks that should have killed me, jumped in several street-fights by a whole crowd of young men and beaten profusely even with a tire-tool once in the head, etc., etc.), I knew I was saved purely by the Grace of God and that if I was called one day to suffer or die for Christ's name sake, then it was a glorious gift the Father granted me to suffer for His name sake. If not, then my very life was to be a living sacrifice day by day for the Glory of Christ. I have stumbled many times along that course, but He has picked me up and carried me forward by His grace. The pre-trib stance to me is a foreign mystery to what I see in scripture, what I know in the calling of "taking up our cross and following Jesus", and what I know/see in my own salvation and life in Christ experiences in this world. Especially in the particular gifting which the Holy Spirit saw fit to use me in the Body, I neither see it, nor see how we could hold to such teaching if we are taught merely by scripture, and not by men & their books of doctrine. Oh church, do not spend all your time on this earth reading the books of men and lining up with them, but read and line up your thoughts and hearts with the Word of God! Don't read Calvin and Tulip, and the Five Pillars of Calvinism! Nor read Armenias & Finney's doctrinal writings! Read the Word of God! Fast, Pray, ask the Father for the Holy Spirit to help you see, and read God's Word. Then your understanding will be based on the Words of God, and not the doctrines and traditions of men! May the Grace of Christ, the Soverign love of the Father, and the "seeing" which can only be through the Power of the Holy Spirit be yours in abundance as you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, Blessings and peace, Jeff Marshall |