ARE WE “LEFT
BEHIND”
IN OUR
UNDERSTANDING?
By Gerry Pratt
ARE WE “LEFT BEHIND” IN OUR UNDERSTANDING?
Copyright 2001
By Gerry Pratt
Are We “Left Behind” In Our Understanding? Published by:
PEPCO PUBLISHING CO
623 W. Illinois
ENID, OK. 73701
All rights reserved. No part of this
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Gerry Pratt
623 W. Illinois
Enid, Ok. 73701
(580) 237-3306
http://homestead.juno.com/bloodboughtchild/Home.html
e-mail - bloodboughtchild@juno.com
3.
ARE WE “LEFT
BEHIND” IN OUR
UNDERSTANDING?
So much is being put out, today, about the second
coming of Christ and the events that will lead up to that
time.
A. A movie now confirms what has been taught,
by many, for many years.
1. The movie is called, “Left Behind”........ an
exciting dramatic portrayal of a popularly
held and widespread doctrine which has
been labeled, “premillenialism”.
a. This movie has had a great impact on
the religious and the non-religious
world, alike.
1.) Just how accurately does this
movie portray events preceding
the second coming of Christ?
Let us address the doctrine that this movie is based upon
and some issues which arise from our study.
4.
I. The second coming of Christ.....how, when, where,
and what will precede it and/or accompany it.
A. The movie “Left Behind” is based upon a fairly
modern concept of “premillenialism”.
1. This doctrine has surfaced within the last
one hundred years and has gained
widespread acceptance in the religious
world.
2. The movie does not attempt to portray the
complete doctrine, but does portray part of
this doctrine....namely, “The Antichrist”,
“The Rapture”.
B. Premillenialism presents a concept which rests
upon several premises and lends itself to a
fairly universal scenario.......do understand,
there are slight “adjustments” made from one
group to another, but the basic scenario is
universal.
1. Christ came to earth, the first time, to set
up a kingdom.
a. Because the Jews rejected Him, Jesus
set up a temporary institution....the
Church...instead.
1.) It is important to note that this
doctrine specifically and
adamantly states that the
Church and the Kingdom....ARE
NOT ONE ANDTHE SAME!
5.
2. Premillenialism also proposes that Christ
will be returning.....VERY SOON....
IMMINENTLY!
a. Those professing this doctrine point to
signs that are mentioned in scripture,
as their proof of this belief.
3. The first major sign of Christ’s coming is
the “rapture”.
a. During the “rapture”, all those who
are righteous will be literally taken up
from the face of the Earth.
1.) The disobedient...the sinful...the
wicked....will be left behind.
4. Next, there will come the “anti-Christ”.
a. This will be a monstrous being which
will have his literal head cut off, but
will have it re-attached and shall exert
power over all the earth.
1.) During his reign there will be an
order put out that every person
will have a mark....666...put on
his/her forehead.
a.) The penalty for not
following this decree, would
be death.
5. This period of time will also be known as
the “great tribulation”.
6.
a. It is at this time that the nation of
Israel will come under great
persecution which will eventually lead
to war.
6. That brings us to “the battle of
Armageddon”.
a. This battle will be fought in the valley
of Megiddo....a very fertile valley in
north western Israel.
1.) All the nations of the world will
either fight against Israel in this
battle, or else they will remain
neutral......nobody will fight on
the side of Israel.
2.) This battle will be fought with
bow and arrow; horses; swords;
and basically all form of ancient
weapons and devices.
3.) In this battle, the blood will flow
so freely, that it shall come up to
the height of the horses’ bridles.
4.) Just as the Jews are about to be
defeated, Jesus Christ comes
riding in on a white charger.
a.) Together with His angels, He
defeats the enemies of Israel.
8. This, then, brings us to the setting up of the
Kingdom which will last for one thousand
years.
7.
a. Christ, of course, is to be the King in
this Kingdom.
b. He will sit on the literal “throne of
David”.
c. The Temple will have been rebuilt and
the throne of David will be placed in
the temple.
9. At the end of this thousand year reign,
there will be a skirmish between Gog and
Magog and Christ. (Gog and Magog are
names for Russia).
a. Christ will win this skirmish
hands-down and with no effort.
10. Then we will have the judgment.
11. Then the Earth will be destroyed.
II. Let us take a look at these doctrines and scenarios in
the light of what God’s Word has to say:
A. Premillenialism presupposes that Christ did not
set up His Kingdom at His first coming because
the Jews rejected Him.
1. This leaves a couple of glaring questions.
a. Can they reject Him again?
b. Is their will more powerful than His
will?
c. If His purpose was to set up a kingdom
and He didn’t follow
through....wouldn’t this label Him a
failure?
8.
Matt. 19:26 - 26But Jesus looked at them and said to
them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all
things are possible.”
B. Premillenialism also presupposes that Christ is
coming very soon.....all the signs point to this as
fact.
1. The signs of today are no more revealing
than the signs of past generations....
actually, in many ways they are far less
notable.....for example.
a. Wars and rumors of wars.....During
World wars I and II.....More nations
were involved in wars and rumors of
wars than at any other period
of history.
1.) More people were killed and
more property damaged than
ever before.
2.) These wars encompassed more
land mass and sea space than at
any other time in history.
** There is no war or combination of wars, today, that
come close to equaling World War I or World War
II.
9.
b. Earthquakes, volcanoes, floods,
disease, famine, and pestilence are
more notable today than at any other
time in history....this is patently false.
1.) On August 27, 1883, the island of
Krakatau (located in what is
now, Indonesia) exploded.
a.) The complete island was
blown over 5,000 feet into
the air.
b.) The eruption created a
crater that was 960 feet
deep.....into the ocean floor.
c.) Tsunamis (tidal waves), up
to 130 feet in height, circled
the globe four times.
d.) 36,000 people were killed by
this event.
2.) In the Autumn of 1918, the
“Spanish Flu” showed up in the
war trenches of France.
a.) It was brought home to
America.....and by mid 1919,
22,000,000 people had died
throughout the world.
10.
3.) During what was known as the
“Middle Ages”, two thirds of the
known world’s population was
destroyed by the bubonic (or
black) plague.
4.) A Cholera epidemic started in
India and traveled halfway
around the world between the
years 1826-1834.
a.) In the summer of 1831
cholera killed at least
100,000 people......IN
THE COUNTRY OF
HUNGRY, ALONE!
5.) We have famine after famine
recorded in the Bible and in
History book, alike.
a.) These famines lasted
upwards to seven years, in
the case of Egypt....in
Joseph’s time.
** Would anyone be bold enough to say that the signs
of today could be singled out as significant, in the
light of these past calamities?
C. Now we come to the main theme of the movie,
“Left Behind”......the “rapture”.....an old
theme...The Gaither’s had a song about it, in
the ‘70s.
11.
1. Would it surprise you if I told you that the
word, “rapture” ....never appears in the
Bible?
a. According to the Bible, the taking of
people will accompany the final
judgment....Not the scenario that has
been invented by men.
John 5:28-29 - 28“Do not marvel at this; for the hour
is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear
His voice 29“and come forth—those who have done
good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have
done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
I Thess. 4:13-17 - 13But I do not want you to be
ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen
asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even
so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that
we who are alive and remain until the coming of the
Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with
a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the
trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
12.
1.) As we understand the scripture,
here is the order of rising:
a.) Dead in Christ.
b.) Live, in Christ.
c.) Those dead and alive outside
of Christ.
NOTE: The rapidity of these three groups fulfilling
this passage of scripture, can be as quick as,
“the twinkling of an eye”.
** At this time, ALL PEOPLE, WILL RISE TO FACE
THE JUDGMENT.........so the order that’s found in
the scriptures continues..........
c.) Both the dead and those that
are alive which....ARE NOT
IN CHRIST....shall also rise!
(see John 5:28-29)
2. The two risings are what the confused
world understands as the “rapture” and
have made it fit into their own,
private, man-made, scenario.
D. The scenario now presupposes that a being
called, “The Anti-Christ” comes on the scene.
1. He is also referred to by these same people
as being one-and-the-same as.........”The
Beast”.
a. Only in this man made doctrine does
“The Anti-Christ” equal “The Beast”.
1.) Both are mentioned in separate
and unconnected settings.
13.
** Referring to “The Anti-Christ” (the only place in
the Bible where the word “anti-Christ” appears......
({I John 2:18,22; 4:3,7;II John 7} {In the
plural...anti-Antichrists....I John 2:18}).......
THE WORDS, “ANTI-CHRIST” ARE FOUND IN NO
OTHER PLACE THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE!!!!!!
1. In every passage, the anti-Christ is spoken
of as HAVING ALREADY COME.....2,000
YEARS AGO!
2. In all of the passages which refer to
“anti-christ”, he is not referred to as one
super individual.......but to the contrary,
scripture speaks of, “many anti-christs”.
3. To my best understanding, there can be
no tie between “The Beast” of Revelation
and a so-called “Anti-Christ” who takes
over the world’s government in the 21st
century or beyond.
1Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a
beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and
ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his
heads a blasphemous name. 2Now the beast which I saw
was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear,
and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave
him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3And I
saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded,
and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world
marveled and followed the beast.
14.
4So they worshipped the dragon who gave authority to
the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying, “Who
is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5And he was given a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for
forty-two months. 6Then he opened his mouth in
blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His
tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7It was
granted to him to make war with the saints and to
overcome them. And authority was given him over
every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8All who dwell on the
earth will worship him, whose names have not been
written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. 9If anyone has an ear, let him
hear. 10He who leads into captivity shall go into
captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed
with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the
saints. 11Then I saw another beast coming up out of the
earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like
a dragon. 12And he exercises all the authority of the
first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and
those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed. 13He performs great signs,
so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on
the earth in the sight of men. 14And he deceives those
who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was
granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who
dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who
was wounded by the sword and lived.
15.
15He was granted power to give breath to the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak
and cause as many as would not worship the image of
the beast to be killed. 16He causes all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark
on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17and that no
one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the
name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18Here is
wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the
number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His
number is 666.
a. There are some important facts that
should be noted, concerning: 1.) The
book of Revelation, in general....and....
2.) This chapter, in particular.
___________________________
1. If the book of Revelation is literal
.....in the next chapter, we find a
literal lamb, sitting on literal Mt.
Zion (which is in literal
Jerusalem).
a.) This becomes a real
problem, because the
Mosque of Omar is still on
top of Mt. Zion, at this point
in time.
16.
2.) If the book of Revelation is to be
understood in purely a literal sense...
we should be looking for all kinds of
literal monsters, beasts, dragons, and
the like.....taking an active role.
3.) If the book of Revelation is
literal...we will have angels
pouring out bowls from heaven
onto the Earth.
4.) Isn’t it interesting that in no
place in this chapter....or, in this
book, for that matter......is “The
Beast” called, “The Antichrist”?
a.) The presupposition is made
that “The Beast” and “The
Antichrist” are one-and-the
same.......the Bible doesn’t
make that connection....men
do.
5.) Also, please note that the number
666 is the “number of a man”.
a.) I would challenge those who
think that they understand
this prophecy to explain this
statement.
17.
E. It should also be noted that the literal under-
standing of this particular passage concerning
the battle of Armageddon, (which is supposedly
to be fought sometime in the very near future)
......will be fought entirely with ancient and
totally outdated weapons?
1. Or is this perhaps, a battle that has already
taken place?
2. Is this a figurative battle using figurative
weaponry that has already been mentioned
in Eph. 6:13-18?
13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having
done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having girded
your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of
righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the
preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking
the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench
all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17And take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which
is the word of God; 18praying always with all prayer
and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and supplication for all the
saints
F. The next major presupposition is the setting up
of a thousand year kingdom of Christ.....here on
this ball of dirt and rock that we call “Earth”.
18.
1. Let us just take a look at some scripture
and see how this goes together.
Mark 9:1 - 1And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to
you that there are some standing here who will not taste
death till they see the kingdom of God present with
power.”
Daniel 2:44 - 44“And in the days of these kings the
God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never
be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other
people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these
kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Luke 1:32-33 - 32“He will be great, and will be called
the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David. 33“And He will reign
over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom
there will be no end.”
Mark 15:2 - 2Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the
King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is
as you say.”
John 18:36-37 - 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is
not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My
servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to
the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”
19.
37Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For
this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come
into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
2. What can we deduce from these passages?
a. His Kingdom is FOREVER (which is
a lot longer than 1,000 years).
b. He came to Earth for this purpose....
either He succeeded or He failed.
1.) In John 18:37, Jesus says that He
was, then....King.
c. His Kingdom is not an Earthly tract of
land......His Kingdom is a spiritual
Kingdom.
Luke 17:20-21 - 20Now when He was asked by the
Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He
answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not
come with observation; 21“nor will they say, ‘See here!’
or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God IS
WITHIN YOU.”
G. Gog and Magog are next to be discussed.
1. God and Magog are the names that Bible-
scholars would associate with what is
present day, Russia.
20.
a. This was a very popular part of
premillenialist thought during the
period of the, former, Soviet Union.
1.) The Soviet Union has collapsed
and they are a threat to nobody.
a.) For them to have any
impact, at all, they would
have to be “reinvented”......
to come back to life, again...
with exactly the same goals,
beliefs, and intentions.........
just one more complication
in this very involved,
man-made doctrine.
H. According to the premillenialists, the final
judgment will take place on this physical globe
that we fondly call, the Earth.
1. This contradicts the impression that we get
from a thorough and complete reading of
the Scriptures.
Rev. 20:11 - 11Then I saw a great white throne and
Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the
heaven fled away. And there was found NO PLACE FOR
THEM.
21.
I Peter 3:10-12 - 10But the day of the Lord will come
as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass
away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with
fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it
will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things
will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to
be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and
hastening the coming of the day of God, because of
which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and
the elements will melt with
fervent heat?
II Thess. 1:7-10 - 7and to give you who are troubled
rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from
heaven with His mighty angels, 8in flaming fire taking
vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those
who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9These shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power, 10when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in
His saints and to be admired among all those who
believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
22.
Matt. 13:36-43 - 36Then Jesus sent the multitude away
and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him,
saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the
field.” 37He answered and said to them: “He who sows
the good seed is the Son of Man. 8“The field is the
world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but
the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39“The enemy
who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of
the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40“Therefore as
the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will
be at the end of this age. 41“The Son of Man will send
out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom
all things that offend, and those who practice
lawlessness, 42“and will cast them into the furnace of
fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
43“Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the
kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let
him hear!
a. Does anyone get the impression that
there will a bunch of people sitting
around on stools as the judgment of
God takes place on this physical earth?
23.
I. We now address the final point...will the earth
be destroyed last (after the judgment), or will
it be destroyed first...before the final judgment?
1. The same passages which opt for a final
judgment taking place in heaven, also
show us, quite clearly, that this Earth will
be destroyed...BEFORE THE FINAL
JUDGEMENT.
a. It needs to be understood that every-
thing will happen so suddenly, that if
anyone could be a neutral observer
(which would be impossible), they
would be hard pressed to declare
which came first........nor would any-
body even care!
CONCLUSION:
So.....What does all of this add up to......what does it all
mean?
A. It means that the doctrines of men cannot stand
up to the truth of God’s Word.
B. It means that people want a thriller more than
they want the truth.
C. It means that we need to study the Word of
God, deeply and make sure that what we
believe and trust in.......is really the truth.
What else can we understand?
24.
D. It is not so much when or how He will
return....it is essential that we are prepared for
His return.
1. That we would be spiritually right with
God.
2. That we have had the blood of Jesus Christ
wash away our sins (Acts 22:16).
3. That we would not be taken....completely
by surprise.....as the world will be.....but
that we have our “house in order”....that
we be prepared for His coming.
_____________________
When Christ comes again, it is to judge the living and
the dead.......there will be no second chances for
anybody....all shall stand before the judgment bar.
II Tim. 4:1 - 1I charge you therefore before God and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the
dead at His appearing and His kingdom.
II Thess. 1:7-10 - 7and to give you who are troubled
rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from
heaven with His mighty angels, 8in flaming fire taking
vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those
who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
25.
9These shall be punished with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power, 10when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in
His saints and to be admired among all those who
believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
A. No matter when He returns, the real and
most pertinent question is this:......are you
ready?
Matt. 25:1-13 - 1“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be
likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went
out to meet the bridegroom. 2“Now five of them were
wise, and five were foolish. 3“Those who were foolish
took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4“but the
wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5“But
while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered
and slept. 6“And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold,
the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7“Then
all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8“And
the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
9“But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should
not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those
who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10“And while they
went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were
ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door
was shut.
26.
11“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,
‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12“But he answered and said,
‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
13“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor
the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The premillenialist scenario makes a good movie, but a
very bad commentary on the Word of God.
A. The real truth of the matter is this:
1. Much of what we read as futuristic....was
indeed....futuristic to John, the Apostle...as
he penned the words of the book of
Revelation, approximately 2,000 years ago.
a. What was futuristic to John, however,
could well be past and fulfilled in our
day and age.
If one would search the history of the world between
the time of John and the present, one would see that
there was a time when no man could “buy or sell, save
he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the
number of his name.”
A. If this is the case, “The Beast” is a thing of the
past...not a thing of the future.
27.
Rev. 13:18 - “Here is wisdom. let him THAT HAS
UNDERSTANDING....COUNT...”
In the Roman language, some of their letters also
doubled as numbers (I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100,
D=500, M=1,000). If we use the letters that have
numerical values, we can determine the number of a
man. Ex. Gerald Pratt would have a number of 50
because there is only one letter that has a numerical
value (the “l” in Gerald).
The Pope’s name in Latin is “Vicarius Filii Dei”
which can be translated, “The stand in for the Son of
God”. This is the name that Popes, down through the
ages have used. Let us count the number of this man.
V = 5
I = 1
C = 100
A = No numeric equivalent
R = “ “ “ “ “
I = 1
U = 5 (The “U” in the Roman language doubled as
a “V”)
S = No numeric equivalent
____
Total 112
28.
F = No numeric equivalent
I = 1
L = 50
I = 1
I = 1
____
Total 53
D = 500
E = No numeric equivalent
I = 1
____
Total 501
Thus we have three numbers: 112
53
501
and when we add them up........666 This is the number
of a man.....The Pope....read the history of the “Holy
Roman Empire” and you can understand what I am
saying.
If this has challenged your thinking, do not simply
dismiss it. Ask questions of the one who gave this
booklet to you, or you can call or e-mail me:
Gerry Pratt
623 W. Illinois
Enid, Oklahoma 73701
29.
bloodboughtchild@juno.com
580 234-6697
580 237-3306
580 402-4433 (cell phone)
http://www.forministry.com/73702CCONE
Thank you for considering these facts.
