Focusing on Sensationalism?

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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A few articles ago I talked about how I’ve grown to dislike all the “prophecy” talk, due mainly because there is so much sensationalism associated with it. Certainly prophetic discourse is very important. I’m not denying that. However, what I’ve grown tired of today is the same thing I grew tired of 40+ years ago when prophecy conferences occurred in earnest after the release of the book, The Late Great Planet Earth, by Hal Lindsey. Everywhere you looked, there were conferences, books, videos and more conferences, books and videos. The USA was filled with them and there were quite a number of go-to speakers at these conferences.

Of course, there are plenty of new voices today in prophetic circles hawking talking prophecy or things they believe connect to prophecy. I recently received an article from a substack I subscribe to and the very first part of it said this:

…I want to thank my faithful core supporters for making it possible for me to reach thousands upon thousands of people in more than 100 different countries with this sort of information each month. When you purchase my books or subscribe to this newsletter, you are supporting work that is changing lives. I hear from people that live in nations all over the planet that have been touched by my work, and it is only because of you that this is possible.

One recent article talked about being on the verge of WWIII (with obligatory exclamation points included). Yet, by the end of the article, the same author said we could be months away from that occurring. Okay, so why the explosively urgent title?

The focus of too many Christians is on prophecy only and has become all consuming for many (which is as bad as Christians who never think about, study or discuss prophetic discourse). Seems folks fail to understand the dire need to continue sharing the Gospel (Matthew 28) with the lost. Yes, that happens but it almost seems an after the fact rather than strongly built into the message itself.

Again, please understand what I’m saying. Prophecy is important if for no other reason than it is included in God’s Word. However, when I see so many seemingly building their Christian lives and ministries around prophetic discourse, it tends to weary me a bit. Did Jesus do that? Did Paul? Did the other apostles? They included aspects of prophecy in their teachings, but it was not their constant overriding theme.

Jesus said in Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” He emphasized the Christian’s job to share the Gospel with the entire world, free of charge, making disciples and baptizing them in Matthew 28.

It’s not as though these folks in prophetic circles are accurate prognosticators of upcoming future events, are they? I lived through that years ago with people actually pronouncing when the Rapture would happen or when the Tribulation would start. Those “prophecies” were never fulfilled. Remember Harold Camping?[1] He has the dubious title of “false prophet” because of his failed insistence that the Rapture was going to occur May 21, 1988. When it didn’t, he revised his prediction to September 1994.

Fortunately for Harold Camping, he seemed to fully repent of his erroneous prognosticating prior to his death. Think of the people who blindly followed him and quit their jobs to stand on the street corners handing out flyers warning of the coming end. As Pastor Pablo mentions in the linked video below,[2] another guy wrote a book, which sold over 4 million copies, claiming the Rapture would occur in 1988. Interestingly enough, he was so sure of himself that he essentially stated something to the effect that unless the Bible is wrong, he was right. Think of that level of hubris for just a moment.

Yet, the hype is definitely here again. Oh, maybe people are not pointing to a specific date, but I hear a lot of “the Rapture will occur at the next Jewish feast” or “it’s so close!” or something similar. It’s a bit mindboggling when I see these people come together in a video conference and just go on and on about all the events happening or said to be happening soon throughout the world.

Beyond this, prophecy “experts” are constantly discussing ongoing wars in the Middle East that may turn into Scriptural fulfillment. The problem? The focus is on the event not what God is still doing to save souls. It’s like a bunch of people standing around watching the roulette wheel. What number is it going to land on? Place your bets. Write a book about it.

But consider the Old Testament prophets who first told Israel what God was saying but could not accurately pinpoint when the things they were foretelling would occur. God did not provide the dates to them.

Unlike prophets of the Old Testament who were never paid and often were tormented, ridiculed and persecuted (sometimes to their deaths), today’s prophecy seers are honored, given book deals, made speakers at every prophecy conference and sometimes idolized.

False prophets like Balaam received remuneration for their foretelling. True prophets then simply foretold God’s words to people and it usually came with heavy emphasis on repentance and getting right with God. Jesus Himself never set dates or pinpointed when things would occur. He simply foretold of signs for those living at the times He was referring to signs so they would have some overall sense of what might be unfolding. But even then it was difficult to pinpoint when the events would occur. While we can look back and note when things were fulfilled, we cannot do that today until after they happen. Unfortunately, there is a realm of people within Christendom who seem to constantly be trying to figure things out before they occur.

A reader sent me a link to a sermon from Pastor Pablo and his Serpent and Doves Podcast[2], as noted above. In the video, Pastor Pablo presents his views on how the Church is failing today. By the way, his message was part of another prophecy conference, but that conference appears to be far more balanced biblically because of the emphasis on the need for Christians to be evangelists. He spends time highlighting some of the deceptive notions that have become resident within the Church itself over the past several decades. We’ve had the “Seeker Sensitive” movement, which has morphed into several other offshoots. We have NAR. We have faithful denominations, Christian universities/colleges and other institutions embracing non-biblical doctrines for the sake of “feelz” and so it goes.

Pablo noted that all of this occurred because Satan actually joined (infiltrated) the Church, in order to tear the Church apart from the inside. He tried to destroy it through massive persecution against Christians in the first several centuries, but that didn’t work. Now he sends his followers into Christian denominations, colleges and universities, who gain control over (as pastors, teachers, CEOs etc.), to destroy those institutions. It is working in a big way as we are seeing.

Because of this, many Christians today have lowered their view of Christ and the Church, watering down the Gospel and embracing doctrines of demons. Many don’t even realize it because of their lack of study of God’s Word. They have also become inordinately swept up in prophecy over nearly every other area of doctrine and theology in Scripture because prophecy is often sensational. By its very nature, it points to the supernatural, not natural.

Not only that, but as Pastor Pablo notes, Christians spend way too much time arguing and even separating from one another over minor issues. Paul tells us this should not be (1 Corinthians 1; 3; 6; etc.). These issues include the Rapture, the Tribulation, whether apostasia mean “falling away” or “catching away” and other issues. Christians too often express the idea, “see it my way or we cannot be brothers/sisters!” This is so terribly ridiculous but it has become reality because of Satan’s “can’t beat them? Join them” mentality.

As an aside, this, by the way, is exactly what has been happening within the political realm in the United States and throughout the world. People who hate the USA have infiltrated the US Congress and many ABC agencies within the Federal Government, gained power and use it to purposefully destroy the Constitution and this nation’s biblical moorings. Russian defectors warned Americans of this 40 to 60 years ago.

People today – both within and without the Church – are so opposed to anyone who does not agree with them that the vitriol directed toward opponents is constant and visceral. What would have been unheard of to utter to someone in public is now the new normal. There is no relief in that exercised passion because people refuse to find common ground. This applies to politics as well as prophecy.

Satan is succeeding in bringing that vitriol to the surface and keeping it there, using it as a wedge to separate people from one another. I’m sure you’ve noticed the political divide between the Left and the Right. Both sides breathe out unrequited anger and vitriol. There appears to be no relief from it.

Pastor Pablo notes that Christians seem less concerned about spreading the Gospel. It has taken a back seat. Instead, they are caught up in defending their side, their beliefs, their political persuasion and they do so by stalwartly opposing the very unsaved people we are tasked with witnessing to, evangelizing and baptizing in the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Something needs to happen to wake many Christians up. I cannot help but wonder if anything will open eyes?

Let me repeat: prophetic discourse is worthwhile to study, contemplate and discuss with others. However, when the whole subject becomes all consuming for an individual Christian or when it becomes solely sensationalized, something is seriously wrong. Though I believe the Bible teaches a PreTrib Rapture, I cannot beyond doubt prove it, nor can those who believe in a MidTrib, PreWrath or PostTrib Rapture prove beyond doubt their opinion on the matter.

There is absolutely nothing more important than telling people who are on their way to hell that there is a far superior alternative. That alternative is to share LIFE, with those who are perishing. It is relatively easy to get caught up in the attitude that dislikes or even resents those who are illegally here in the USA, isn’t it? Go on any social media and you’ll find passion on both sides of the issue.

I tend to be a bit of a legalist. It is the way I’m wired. That applies to all the people illegally walking into this country and simply being let loose in society while being given thousands of dollars each month. I’m wondering though if the reason God has allowed all this to occur (what globalists mean for bad, God means for good), is to bring the lost of this world to us in order that we might be missionaries in our own nation? It seems a possibility.

Though I’ve grown frustrated with the increase of crime, the amount of taxpayer dollars that goes to supporting those people illegally here and the overall burden to the financial system that occurs because of this, God can still use it for His good. God loves the lost so much is He willing to bring them to America so that Christians don’t have to raise support to travel and live in other nations to bring the Gospel to the lost there?

I certainly support the Constitution and the USA, but in the end, my citizenship is in heaven. This world is passing away. The Lord is going to physically return to this earth as Judge. The seven years leading up to that will be horrendous for this world.

All of this is to say why it is so important to understand why we should constantly remember the way God has previously blessed us so that we ponder and treasure those times He has responded to our prayers. It will be the constant remembering of those “stones of remembrance”[3] that will provide the faith needed to get through the days ahead.

Last night I woke up at about 5:00 am. My mind started swimming like it often does. I was overwhelmed with my own thoughts and worries. Eventually, I simply started repeating Scripture to myself and I also began remembering the times the Lord has responded to my prayers.

Satan likes to inject thoughts into our heads to cause serious doubt. He wants us off-balance and controlled by worry. At 5:00 I was amazed at how many of my thoughts were attempting to make me feel guilty about this or that. As I began to repeat Isaiah 41:10 and Psalm 145:17-20, the worry and anxiety began to vanish. I eventually went back to sleep.

I agree with Pastor Pablo. The Church is losing its power and efficacy because we are focused too much on the wrong things. If we aren’t trying to embrace the world, we are pursuing sensationalism. People are dying all around us. Where are the believers? Attending too many prophecy conferences? Standing in line waiting for an author to autograph their latest book?

Brothers and sisters, as Pastor Pablo says, let’s not hunker down. Let’s continue getting out and sharing the Gospel with those who desperately need it.

[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Harold-Camping-family-radio.html

[2] https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/independentweekender/name/salem-kirban-obituary?id=22516187

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrR88vQfZvM

[4] https://studygrowknowblog.com/2024/07/31/stones-of-remembrance/

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective