I am deeply concerned and grieved that some of our nation’s most prominent Christian leaders just can’t get it right when it comes to issues of Bible prophecy or Israel. Equally troubling is the fact that eschatology has vanished from our pulpits some 15 – 20 years ago because it is “divisive,” “confusing,” and might drive away today’s “seekers.” I cannot figure out why the message that “the King is coming” doesn’t fit in to today’s “feel good” theology.

The Bible says in II Thessalonians that there will be a great “falling away” from sound doctrine in the last days.  Perhaps that explains the surge of the trendy theology called “Preterism” which teaches that all or most of prophecy is history. It took place in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. The Tribulation was the persecution of the saints. Nero was the antichrist most likely, though he died in 68 AD by suicide.

There are Full and Partial Preterists. A Partial Preterist would consider a Full Preterist heretical, for a Full Preterist teaches that Jesus even returned in 70 AD, although only “in spirit.”  But all Preterists believe there is no future antichrist, Tribulation, Millennium, or role for national Israel present orfuture. They do believe in the Second Coming of Christ and the resurrection of believers, but not in a Rapture.

The theology came along in the 1600’s but wasn’t made trendy until 20thCentury teachers like Ken Gentry, R.C. Sproul, Gary DeMar, and “The Bible Answerman” Hank Hanegraaff started heralding it. Hanegraaff clearly never met a Dispensationalist he didn’t address in a demeaning manner. He uses his powerful international radio microphone to denounce Tim Lahaye, Hal Lindsey, and many more, on a weekly basis.

Hank or his guests weekly plead the cause of the persecuted and “occupied” Palestinians with distorted Scripture and historical revisionism, yet his books and radio show make him one of the most powerful men in the forefront of Christianity.

But even more respected is Rick Warren, the man trying to give us all “purpose” while at the same time telling his readers to stay away from Bible prophecy. While I know that many have grown from the whole “purpose-driven phenomenon,” I am grieved that this powerful Christian leader says on pages 285-286 of his book, “The Purpose Driven Life,” that Jesus told his disciples, “The details of my return are none of your business.”Rick, give us chapter and verse for that!  We are to focus on our “mission” which isn’t Bible prophecy. We are to preach the gospel to every nation and then the end will come says Rick, but that happens in the Tribulation. He suggests that prophecy is a “diversion of the devil” and then implies that those who do not focus on the work God has planned for us—from which prophecy diverts us—is not fit for the Kingdom of God.

He doesn’t get it that two thirds of the Bible is prophecy and that Jesus tells us to “watch and pray” for His return. In Matthew 16, He chastises the Pharisees for knowing the signs of the weather but not the signs of the times. Rick robs of us our “blessed hope” and our “purpose” could in no way have anything to do with sounding an alarm to the lateness of the hour which would fit into Rick’s evangelistic plan. Bible prophecy and evangelism fit like a hand in a glove!

The misunderstanding or abuse of prophecy goes all the way to the top. Many of us campaigned for George W. Bush praying that by his second term he would be reached by men with sound theology to better shape his Middle Eastgoals. But he remains blinded by his Replacement Theology background—that is, the Church is the new Israel so we can pressure Israel to carve up her land until the cows come home and there will be no consequences. Most of his staff falls into the same camp, but they all put America at risk. If they only had been taught sound eschatology, this might not be the case. I am not a Bush-basher so I urge you to pray for our president.

I conclude that you can have an international platform, sell millions of books, and even rise to high political office with little consequences if you have indifference towards prophecy or skewed eschatological theology, and have Israel not much more relevant than the Canary Islands.

The bottom line is this: Millions of prophecy books including “The Late-Great Planet Earth” and the “Left Behind” series have won untold numbers for Eternity.  The hour is much too late to have these theologies torn apart and ridiculed when we need to use such teachings to win the lost while we have time!

How convenient of the enemy to blur the sound theology behind true Dispensationalist teaching and get people wondering if all prophecy is history, the Church is Israel, and we are deluded if we think our “purpose” is to believe sound prophecy teaching when that is but a diversion.

I’m frustrated and I wonder if God isn’t weeping.

(Jan Markell is founder/director of Olive Tree Ministries. For more information, her e-mail alerts, or to sign up for her print newsletter, visit her Web site, www.olivetreeviews.org.)

The “religious left” has always troubled me. They seem to be focused on things that are unscriptural and unspiritual. Their world view is hardly that of the conservative, Bible-believing Christian. In the early days of my ministry I would now and then minister in these churches—at least those bold enough to invite a pro-Bible prophecy, pro-Israel speaker. I give that remnant credit! However, there were never more than two or three in attendance at my classes even though the church membership was in the thousands. Conclusion: I was not tracking with these people who wanted to hear about poverty, the environment, a Palestinian state, and human rights! And it finally dawned on me that I was but spinning my wheels. They didn’t have the eyes to see or ears to hear the truth. Members of these denominations are not bad people. They are misled by ministers of the Gospel who sadly misinterpret Scripture.

Now “The Institute on Religion and Democracy” which monitors activity in Mainline Protestant denominations, reports that human rights criticisms among these denominations are out of balance. They find that between 2000 and 2003, 31% of these criticisms were directed at the U.S. and 37% were directed at Israel. No mention of the colossal abuse of humanity in parts of Africa, including Sudan, and the vast abuses in the Islamic world. But two of the world’s shining examples of democracy, both rooted in Judeo-Christian principles, were singled out as big bad bullies by the Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Earlier this year the Presbyterian Church USA voted to divest all economic interest in Israel and the Episcopal Church may follow next. So, let’s economically strangle America’s biggest ally in the Middle East and so weaken her that she could be of little productive use in America’s war on terror.

On October 3, 2004, over 50,000 evangelical churches observed the “International Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem Day.” Earlier this fall the World and National Council of Churches had a “Day of Prayer for Peace”. They quoted PA spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi on a PA Web site speaking about Middle East peace, a subject matter about which she hasn’t got a clue. There was no mention that on that same PA Web site was footage of two PA TV programs showing official religious leaders openly calling for the genocide of Jews.

Visit the Web sites of the World and National Council of Churches which the above-mentioned denominations are members of, but if you’re a Bible-believing Christian you may be prompted to laugh or cry. Weeping is more appropriate. You will search in vain for references to Jesus, Christ, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, or salvation. What you will find is article after article protesting Israel’s security fence that has reduced suicide attacks by over 80%. Articles and positions discuss environmental issues, the Iraq war, health care, the needs of ex-offenders, the Geneva Convention, refugees, migrant labor, women’s rights, and a plea to understand Native American culture. The NCC has a page describing their boycott of a pickle factory! How about boycotting an abortion factory? Ecumenism is the real god of the leaders of the NCC and WCC and again, the people are left spiritually starving.

These outfits are angered that President Bush would make a suggestion that his actions are often guided by his faith. I often wonder what those criticizing this would prefer the president be guided by?

These are the very denominations that believe in “Replacement Theology”—that the Church is the new Israel. Modern-day Israel has no more relevance than the Canary Islands. When you embrace this false teaching, you also end up with “replacement reality.” In other words, reality gets totally skewed. This is all a part of that “end-time” falling away the Bible predicts and the rampant apostasy of the latter days. Is it any wonder that attendance in these churches is plunging and as a result, and their income as well?  I’m sure it’s tough for God to bless denominations that are skewed in their world view and theology like this. Following the pattern of Genesis 12:3, there should be some literal “cursing” going on.

Pray for these denominations, however. God’s grace is gracious enough to open the eyes of some who may be questioning some of this. The human condition in me would rather write them off as hopelessly blind but the Bible tells us not to give up and to keep pursuing righteousness, believing that some who seem so very lost can still turn from their unbiblical ways and see truth. Anger should not be directed at the sheep being led astray who would likely receive the truth if their leaders would ever teach and preach it.

(Jan Markell is founder and director of Olive Tree Ministries. For more information or to learn of similar false theologies, visit her Web site,www.olivetreeviews.org. Sign up for her free newsletter at the Web site as well as email alerts.)