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Watchdog Alert: Spiritual Awakening, Biden, And More
Political Leaders Pray for Biden
From Crosswalk – Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, prompting prayers from leaders across the political spectrum.
Baptize California Movement
From Crosswalk – A pastor in California claims the U.S. is on the verge of a spiritual awakening, with plans for a massive baptism event.
Brazilian Evangelicals and Politics
From Christianity Today – Evangelical supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro continue to back him despite accusations of an assassination plot.
Decline of Christianity in the U.S.
From Pew Research – Pew Research study suggests that the decline of Christianity in the U.S. has slowed and may have stabilized at around 62% of the population.
G3 Ministries Controversy
From Christianity Today – Pastor Josh Buice resigned after his church uncovered divisive online behavior, leading to the cancellation of an upcoming conference.
Rethinking The Rapture: More Questions
According to the standard Evangelical/Dispensational Rapture doctrine, the Rapture occurs before the apocalyptic events of the Book of Revelation begin to unfold.
So why is the Rapture not explicitly mentioned in Revelation, not even once?
Why would the most shocking, impactful, and monumental event (supposedly) in the Bible and in human history; an event that miraculously and suddenly removes millions of people from the earth triggering the beginning of a worldwide apocalypse, not be mentioned at all in the book of the Bible called the Apocalypse?
Yes, I’m aware of the interpretations of Revelation 4:1-2, where John is called up to heaven, supposedly being a symbolic reference to the Rapture. I’m not buying it though. That kind of handling of the Word is a perfect example of reading a preconceived notion into scripture rather than letting scripture speak for itself.
To speculate that Revelation 4:1, where John heard a voice that said, “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter…” is referring to the Rapture seems to me a weak, almost desperate, argument. And the same for the ‘missing church’ argument that claims the absence of the Greek word for ‘church’, ekklesia, after Revelation chapter 3 implies a Rapture occurs somewhere between chapter 3 and 4.
The Rapture is not mentioned at all in the Book of Revelation. Why?
More to come in this ongoing series, “Rethinking The Rapture”.
Expect Some Discomfort And Controversy Here
Churchianity and the theological status quo should be scrutinized by all people of faith regularly. That is exactly how we got the Reformation.
Is there a New Reformation brewing? It seems so. There is a difference between truth and tradition.
Man-made Christian creeds and doctrines are no longer being blindly accepted as biblical truth just because the Protestant clergy or the Catholic Papacy say so.
The nature of God, heaven, hell, sin, the apocalypse, predestination or free-will, the Rapture, the origins of the universe – all of these ideas and more need solid reexamination to see if the commonly accepted doctrines of men used to explain them measure up to the message of scripture.
The Bible Rebel blog is a resource for those seeking original and curated content, including news and commentary, covering faith, biblical studies and interpretation, and the intersection of politics, culture, and the Bible.
Our Mission
- To monitor current news and events related to faith and culture.
- To provide an alternative viewpoint to the world’s pervasive climate of darkness, nihilism, and hopelessness for those seeking truth, light, and purpose.
- To examine and question the assumptions of religious tradition and provide a resource for information and inspiration for people of faith who have become dissatisfied with an increasingly lifeless and empty ‘churchianity’.
- To present the Biblical truths which reveal God’s nature and purposes and proclaim the lifechanging, world-altering, radical message of Yeshua the Messiah – Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.
At Bible Rebel, this is our one and only creed:
Our living God is a loving God and the Bible is His revealed word and will.
Our hope and eternal salvation relies entirely on the work of God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
So, expect some controversial viewpoints and uncomfortable ideas in some of the coming content from Bible Rebel.
You can find all of the current Bible 101 episodes and One-Minute Mini Messages here on our YouTube Channel, and you can subscribe to our YouTube channel here.
Give us a follow on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and subscribe to our monthly newsletter
One Minute Video Mini Message: Hierarchy
God. Family. Community.
Watchdog Alert: Latest From Israel
Israel Intensifies Gaza Bombardment Amid Trump’s Visit – USA Today
Israeli military strikes killed at least 50 Palestinians in Gaza, escalating the conflict as former U.S. President Donald Trump visits the Middle East. Reports suggest Hamas military leader Mohammad Sinwar may have been killed in an airstrike, though confirmation is pending. Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad fired rockets toward Israel, prompting further military responses.
Israel’s Druze Leaders Call for Protection of Syrian Kin – AOL
Leaders of Israel’s Druze minority are urging the Israeli military to continue defending Druze communities in Syria following deadly clashes with Islamist militants. The Druze, who have strong ties to Israel, argue that protecting their Syrian counterparts is both a moral duty and a strategic necessity for Israel.
Hamas Welcomes U.S.-Israel Rift After Hostage Release – Newsweek
Hamas officials see potential in growing tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The group recently released the last known American hostage in Gaza, a move seen as a political gesture ahead of Trump’s Middle East trip. Hamas hopes this shift could lead to negotiations to end the war.
Rethinking The Rapture: Questions
In the Left Behind series, the Rapture is depicted as the sudden disappearance of all true Christian believers, leaving behind their clothes, possessions, and even prosthetic devices. This event is based on biblical passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, where believers are “caught up together…to meet the Lord in the air”.
The immediate aftermath is chaos—planes crash as pilots vanish, cars swerve off roads, and families are torn apart. Governments and media scramble to explain the mass disappearances, with theories ranging from natural disasters to extraterrestrial intervention.
The two main ‘proof texts’ for this interpretation of what is called ‘the Rapture’ are 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 and Matthew 24:40-42.
Matthew 24:40-42 “Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”
Questions
Now, let’s ask some questions about the presumed meaning of these verses:
Would the people who heard the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 24 have understood that he was referring to a future Rapture of the Church? The context would definitely suggest that they would not have understood his words to mean a future Rapture. Read the chapter and consider the general topic Jesus was discussing and who he was teaching at that time.
Similarly, would the 1st Century Thessalonians and other Christians, Greeks, and Jews of that place and time have understood Paul’s words in his first epistle to the Thessalonians to be describing a ‘secret Rapture’ as described in a 20th Century fiction novel? What in their experience, religious teaching, or worldview would have given them a basis to picture such an event?
Or did Paul know that those who read his teachings in Thessalonians would understand something entirely different than a suctioning up of believers to be secretly carried away somewhere for seven years while the world goes to hell in a handbasket?
We’ll be taking up each of those questions in order in coming installments of this series on ‘Rethinking The Rapture’.
Satanism And Witchcraft In America
Satan has been defeated. The resurrected, ascended, and returning Son of God is victorious.
But while we await the final execution of the serpent, he runs loose for a time, all pissed off, still doing his best to steal, kill, and destroy those created in the image of the Most High God.
Satan knows he’s toast, but he will continue to deceive and seduce people into bending the knee to him. Some of those people are foolishly ignorant and think it’s a game, but some know exactly what they’re doing and, like their master, they hate God.
A quick AI request for news and stats on Satanism and witchcraft in America returned the following results:
- Witchcraft and Paganism Growth: The number of Americans identifying as witches has risen dramatically. Estimates suggest 1 to 1.5 million people practice Wicca or paganism, surpassing the 1.4 million members of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. From Newsweek
- Global Witchcraft Beliefs: A massive study found that 40% of people worldwide believe in witchcraft, translating to about 1 billion people across 95 countries. From Science Alert
- Decline in Christianity: Younger generations are increasingly turning to alternative spiritual practices, including astrology, tarot, and Wicca, as they move away from traditional Christianity. From Newsweek
- Rise of Witchcraft Among Millennials: Millennials are embracing witchcraft and occult practices as a form of spiritual freedom. Social media has played a significant role in popularizing these beliefs. From Newsweek
- Academic Studies on Witchcraft: Research from American University highlights that witchcraft beliefs cut across socio-demographic groups, with education and economic security influencing belief levels. From Science Alert
- Cultural Shifts: The “witch aesthetic” has gained popularity, with celebrities and activists embracing elements of witchcraft in their personal and public lives. From Newsweek
Government Welfare Isn’t Christian Charity
Jesus taught that the distribution system for aid to the poor and hungry consists of the intentional, voluntary acts of individual believers and private communities of faith (churches, synagogues, etc.) giving their time and resources.
He did not teach that government bureaucracies or political entities are God’s conduit for providing charity. Instead, Jesus taught that you are to give your money and time to the less fortunate—it is your personal responsibility to do so.
God does not intend for the government or politicians to use tax revenue as a proxy or substitute for Christian giving.
The current gimmick of saying, “You’re not very Christian,” that some are using to smear their fellow citizens for supporting or voting for politicians who seek to rein in profligate, bloated welfare spending is dishonest and shameful.
Government programs aren’t Christians—individuals are. Government tax revenues are not for the same purposes as the contents of a church collection plate, so labeling government spending priorities as non-Christian is a non sequitur.
A New Reformation?
Churchianity and the theological status quo should be scrutinized by all people of faith regularly. That is exactly how we got the Reformation.
Is there a New Reformation brewing? It seems so. There is a difference between truth and tradition.
Man-made Christian creeds and doctrines are no longer being blindly accepted as biblical truth just because the Protestant clergy or the Catholic Papacy say so.
The nature of God, heaven, hell, sin, the apocalypse, predestination or free-will, the Rapture, the origins of the universe – all of these ideas and more need solid reexamination to see if the commonly accepted doctrines of men used to explain them measure up to the message of scripture.
The Bible Rebel blog is a resource for those seeking original and curated content, including news and commentary, covering faith, biblical studies and interpretation, and the intersection of politics, culture, and the Bible.
Our Mission
- To monitor current news and events related to faith and culture.
- To provide an alternative viewpoint to the world’s pervasive climate of darkness, nihilism, and hopelessness for those seeking truth, light, and purpose.
- To examine and question the assumptions of religious tradition and provide a resource for information and inspiration for people of faith who have become dissatisfied with an increasingly lifeless and empty ‘churchianity’.
- To present the Biblical truths which reveal God’s nature and purposes and proclaim the lifechanging, world-altering, radical message of Yeshua the Messiah – Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.
At Bible Rebel, this is our one and only creed:
Our living God is a loving God and the Bible is His revealed word and will.
Our hope and eternal salvation relies entirely on the work of God’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
So, expect some controversial viewpoints and uncomfortable ideas in some of the coming content from Bible Rebel.
You can find all of the current Bible 101 episodes and One-Minute Mini Messages here on our YouTube Channel, and you can subscribe to our YouTube channel here.
Give us a follow on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and subscribe to our monthly newsletter here.