False Prophets Because we are still here. As the end of 1999 came a new millennium closed in upon us. We began hearing the false prophets of doom declaring the end of the world was upon us. Was it? Many people you know personally were predicting the end of the world and bad times upon us. People stored water and food. They purchased Y2k survival kits. However, WE ARE STILL HERE!
KINGDOM TRUTHS
By Pastor Delbert Young
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here sermon notes
(sorry no audio or video)
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here sermon notes
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 18:20-22, Isaiah 9:15-15, Matthew 7:15-16,
John 13:34-35, 1 Timothy 4:1-11
Winston Churchill once said, “I always avoid prophesying beforehand because it is much better to prophesy after the event has already taken place.” This is not what we are doing here. What I will share here, I preached way before it would have been popular. We are not prophesying after the fact.
I don’t know what we will learn today, but I am certain of one thing. The one thing is we will question any cataclysmic “END TIME PROPHECY” we hear from today on.
WE ARE STILL HERE!
As the new millennium began to close in upon us, we began hearing the “prophets of doom” declaring the end of the world was upon us. Many people you know personally were predicting the end of the world and bad times upon us. People stored water and food. They purchased Y2k survival kits. They prepared for nuclear war and fallout. I said early in 1999 that little if anything would happen. I preached it and put it on the web on March 7, 1999, in a message called, “Y2k Should Be Why Worry.” As we did see, nothing happened. WE ARE STILL HERE!
I went online to check out some Y2K survival kits. The prices ranged somewhat, but I found them from $40.00 to $249.99.
NO TIME IN RECORDED HISTORY WHEN SUCH DOOM WAS PREDICTED
I cannot remember a time when so much doom was predicted from every corner. If it wasn’t the church falsely promising it, it was the media. If the Lord did not come, rapture the church, and judge the world then Y2k would surely get us. It wasn’t Russia so it must be America. If it wasn’t bad water, it would be no gasoline. People were actually disappointed when nothing happened.
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
DE’JA’ VU ALL OVER AGAIN!
Is the idea of the End is near a recent phenomenon? Far from it. Indeed, Chicken Littles have cried doom since ancient times. The truth is from the beginning of recorded history, man has falsely prophesied the end. In my office, I have more than 300 failed doom prophecies given since the time of Christ. There is nothing really new or different. Sometimes someone will come up with something a little unique or different, but the “end of the world” is always their final theme.
DOOM CRYING IS NOTHING NEW (BC) AND NOT A “CHRISTIAN THING”
(633 BC) From the beginning of time, man has incorrectly predicted the end of the world. It takes but a little study of history to find how back in our calendar BC years there were many false “end time” forecasts. One of the first records was concerning ancient Rome. Romulus, the mythological founder of Rome (633 BC), supposedly predicted the date Rome would be destroyed and the end of the world. Rome is still here and WE ARE STILL HERE! And it is déjà vu all over again!
There is a connection between “end of the world” predictions and “mythology.” Actually, there is no difference.
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
EASY PREY
We are not all this concerned about what was predicted in BC. It is important to know the end of the world predictions were happening before Christ. It is not a “Christian” thing. “Christians” do not have the market cornered on “end of the world” false prophecies. Yet “Christians” are easy prey and victimized by Doomers. For example, the Y2k thing was not a “Christian” thing, but it seemed the Christians were the ones who talked of it the most. Instead of teaching the “New Commandment” Jesus gave to us, we came up with a message of Doom and hate for sinners.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Every year, nearly every month, someone comes up with a new date for the rapture, the tribulation, the antichrist, the temple, the end of the world, and on and on. It really is, as Yogi said, déjà vu all over again! People you love and people I love were tremendously deceived by this stuff. It angers me we cannot stop the false prophets from deceiving God’s people.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY
The purpose of today’s lesson is to seize the moment and take advantage of this event. As did Jesus, so we will attempt to do. The Lord would see a man sowing seed and use the event for teaching. He would watch a fisherman cast a net and he would use the event for instruction. He would observe a woman adding leaven to her dough and use it for education. We have observed many false prophecies over the last several months. Let’s seize the event and use it for instruction.
I want to give you information that will help you personally develop faith in the presence of the kingdom of God. Also, I want to give you some ammunition for your discussions with those anxious for the Lord to come and judge mankind. I am not desiring you to “rub their noses in it,” but yet this is a wonderful opportunity to preach the kingdom of God.
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
AMAZING TOLERANCE TO FALSE PROPHETS AND TEACHERS
One of the most amazing brainsick facts I learned in preparing this study is how tolerant we are of false prophets. It is absolutely amazing how quickly we forgive or overlook a lying false prophet, but often never forgive someone who said something that hurt our feelings. We want to stone the person who hurt our feelings, but anxiously await, with open arms, the next book or tape or television program from the deceiving false prophet. The Lord God and the Lord Jesus had absolutely no tolerance for a false prophet.
As we will soon see, these false prophets cause God’s people to err and to be destroyed (Isa 9:15, 16). There is a deceit of some sort in their hearts (Jer 14:14). This means they want something from those they deceive and they use false prophecies to get it. The apostle Paul said these produce doctrines of devils (1Ti 4:1). They work from a desire to control and to keep in bondage those who will listen to them. We find this is a constant. Paul said, They must be silenced. They are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach – and that for the sake of dishonest gain (Tit 1:10-11).
No accountability
There is simply no accountability. People are allowed to spew off at the mouth anything and it seems unlearned Christians gobble up what these regurgitate. The Lord says these should be judged and even die (Deu 18:20). These often are “bastards” (Deu 23:2; Zec 9:6; Heb 12:8) having no father in the Lord who can correct them. In the scriptures, it was the parents’ responsibility to stop the false prophet even if it meant death (Zec 13:3).
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
Serious
A false prophecy is a very serious matter to the Lord. We ask, “How do we know who is telling the truth and who is telling a lie?” Honestly, it is not difficult. We are given much instruction in the scriptures concerning this. The Lord God said, When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him (Deu 18:22). The Lord Jesus made it very clear concerning this. He said, Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Mat 7:15-16).
GOOD FALSE PROPHETS AND BAD FALSE PROPHETS
Another point I noticed is that “Christians” tend to separate false prophets. We have basically two categories for false prophets. Those categories are good false prophets and bad false prophets. I have a problem with this. Let me ask, when a person writes the Lord is going to rapture the church in 1981, or another says the rapture will be on September 12, 1988, and it does not happen, are those people good prophets and teachers or a bad prophet and teachers? This has happened and we continue to permit them to spew on national television.
Yet, another person said they heard from God that Armageddon would happen in 1995. It did not happen. Now, was this prophet a good prophet or a bad prophet? Let me take it a little bit deeper. One of the prophets is literally willing to die for what he believed he heard and the other two did not so much as give an apology for being false. Which one is the good and which is the bad, or what is the difference?
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
Results
Here are the results from the above-mentioned good or bad prophets. Hal Lindsey wrote in his book “The Late, Great Planet Earth” that the rapture would happen in 1981. It did not. Edgar Whisenant wrote in his book “88 Reasons The Rapture Is In ’88′” that the rapture would happen September 11-13. Whisenant went so far as to say, and I quote, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong, and I say that unequivocally.” Both Lindsey and Whisenant continue to write books.
Lindsey was on national television on 1/6/99. Lindsey and Whisenant are seen as “good false prophets.” We tolerate them. Neither so much as apologized for being in error. They simply adjust their false prophecies. On the other hand, David Koresh said Armageddon would come in 1955. His prophecy was false also, but he was willing to die for his prophecy. The church condemned Koresh and his cult. Koresh is seen as a bad false prophet. By no means am I defending Koresh. My point is why does the body of Christ permit one and condemn the other? Where do we draw the line and call these people into accountability?
SCRIPTURE READING
Deuteronomy 18:20-22
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
Isiah 9:15-16
15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Zechariah 13:3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
Matthew 7:15-16
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1 Timothy 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Titus 1:10-11
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.
11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach – and that for the sake of dishonest gain. (NIV)
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
TICKET TO FLY
Another amazing matter throughout my study was to see the attitude of the “Doomers” seems “I’ve got a ticket to ride or fly and everyone else, who does not believe like me has a ticket to burn in eternal hellfire, HA HA!” It does not seem to bother them the least. It is like as long as I have my ticket to fly, billions can burn and I will laugh at them as I go up. This spirit is prevalent with the Doomers today.
I once heard a very popular preacher with one of the largest ministries in America say he hoped the Lord would give him a little “hang time” at the rapture. This way he could wave at some people as he went up. He also said the 1998, then it was 1999 was the year of Jubilee and the Lord would come. There is something wrong with this spirit. I am reminded of the story in Luke 9:51-56. People today know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.
CONTROLLING SPIRIT ACCOMPANIES THE DOOMERS
As we will see, there is a controlling manipulating spirit accompanying the Doomers. Illustrations I will use familiar to us will be Charles Manson, Jim Jones, David Koresh, etc. It is deadly. The Lord said the false prophets “destroy” people. How true! Today Doomers must use fear and control to keep their audiences and financial support. They must frighten their audiences to sell their tapes, and books, send money, etc. It is déjà vu all over again!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
INDECENCY OF FALSE PROPHETS
One of the most appalling things to me was how indecent the false prophets were and are. When they saw they had obviously given a false prophecy, instead of apologizing and offering a refund, they simply made another false prophecy. They do not have the decency to ask forgiveness.
To accomplish anything other than boring us to sleep, I will need to “time warp” through millennia. I will skip literally hundreds of recorded failed false prophecies about the end of the world, the rapture, the antichrist, the temple in Jerusalem, Armageddon, the coming of the Lord, etc. However, using the analogy of a stuffed turkey at Thanksgiving, I will stuff us so full of false, lying prophecies they will be coming out of our mouths, ears, and rears. I want us to become nauseous at the next “end of the world” or “rapture” or “Armageddon” prediction we hear. I want you to be able to say to yourself and to those you speak with WE ARE STILL HERE, WE ARE GOING TO BE HERE, and what you are telling me is DE’JA’ VU’ALL OVER AGAIN!
AD DOOMERS
I have in my office study today three hundred and fifteen (315) recorded failed end time predictions recorded up to this present date. That’s right, three hundred and fifteen. I am not talking about someone who got excited in church and said the end is at hand and the Lord is coming soon. I am talking about intelligent men and women, so-called leaders in the church who recorded their predictions through media or books or their writings. They have all failed. I will say it again. They have all failed. Not one of the 315 have materialized. Now tell me, what kind of witness is this to the world?
Naturally, we will not look at all 315 in this lesson. We will not even be able to look at all I have in these notes. All 315 are available. One place you can find them is the place I found them. It was on the web at a site called “Is it the end of the world again?”. The owner of the site is not a believer, or at least doesn’t seem to be. Neither does he have any “kingdom” theology. He simply is distraught with people predicting the end of the world and he is seemingly overwrought with dumb Christians. (I suppose it is a he?)
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
In this lesson…
we will look at some failed AD end-of-the-world prophecies. Let’s begin with one before the first century had completed. Again, the title of our message is “We Are Still Here or déjà vu all over again!
(93 AD)
Saint Clement I predicted the end of the world in 93AD. He did believe his prophecy to the point he became a martyr. He taught the Lord would come in 93 AD. Clement was drowned for his belief in Christ. I wonder about today’s Doomist. Would Van Impe, Hagee, or Copeland die for their “end time” predictions? People can be extremely sincere, but sincerely wrong. Clement I is gone. It is now 2000 AD and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(100 AD)
Saint Ignatius was fed to lions. He too predicted the soon coming of Jesus. Ignatius has been dead now for 1900 years and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(156 AD)
One of the first “Christian” cults began around 156 AD. Montanus called himself a prophet in Phrygia, now part of Turkey. About 156, Montanus appeared in a small village, fell into a trance, and began prophesying in what he claimed was the voice of the Holy Spirit. With two young women, Prisca and Maximilla, he traveled teaching his doctrine throughout Asia Minor. Montanism held the Holy Spirit (or Paraclete) appeared through Montanus and his associates. Montanists taught Christ’s second coming was imminent. He also taught the New Jerusalem was going to come descend out of heaven and land in Turkey (sound familiar? Heard something like this before? It’s déjà vu all over again!). The sect is gone, but WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(397 AD)
St. Martin of Tours said, “There is no doubt that the antichrist has already been born. Firmly established already a mature man in his early years, he will, after reaching maturity, achieve supreme power”
(500 AD)
About 221 AD Sextus Julius decided God was on a 6000-year schedule. By then the antichrist and Armageddon teachings had begun. Sextus Julius decided if a day is to the Lord a thousand years (2Pe 3:8), then it stood to reason if the Lord created the earth in 6 days, he would destroy it after 6 days or 6000 years. According to Sextus, the year of destruction was to be 500 AD. Others since have picked up his teaching. The year came and the year went and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(Friday, March 25, 970 (AD)
A group of astronomers decided the announcement of the birth of Christ to Mary, the crucifixion, the day Adam was created, Isaac was offered as a sacrifice, and the nation of Israel crossed the Red sea all coincided. They then determined this would be the day for Jesus to come back. Friday, March 25, 970 came and went and WE ARE STILL HERE!
I trust we realize I am skipping much. I am simply attempting to show false predictions of the end of the world, the Lord’s coming, and even predictions of antichrist and Armageddon have been going on since time began and Christ ascended.
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(Midnight December 31, 999 AD)
Upside-down they had 666. Can you imagine what it must have been like? Think of all the Y2k and false apocalyptic predictions we had on December 31, 1999. And we claim to be intelligent and literate. These people lived in ignorant bliss. Few could read. All could only listen to the Doomers and so they did. They were certain it was the end. Farmers did not plant their fields. Land and houses were sold and given to the church, which, by the way, did not return them after nothing happened. The churches were full. Indulgences were sold. Those doing penitence flogged themselves and crawled to be certain they had paid their debts for sin. Midnight December 31, 999 came and went and WE ARE STILL HERE!
I am certain we have the message by now. I am running out of time and energy to pursue this, so I will jump about 500 years. Again, remember I am skipping hundreds of failed false predictions.
(Pentecost, 1528 AD)
Hans Hut decided this would be the day for the Lord to come. He gathered 144,000 “saints” together for the event. Hans Hut and his 144,000 experienced nothing that day except a waste of time, and WE ARE STILL HERE! And it is déjà vu all over again!
(London, 1656 AD)
It was decided Noah’s Flood occurred in 1,656 BC. Therefore, it stood to reason the next destruction would come in 1,656 AD. Naturally, the year came and the year went and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1665 – 1666 AD)
It was the time of the Bubonic Plague (Black Plague). Surely this was the end and just look at the date! Undoubtedly this was it! The Christians rejoiced to see the sores and boils on those damned sinners. This was until they, the Christians, got them too. Come to find out, it was flea bites causing the problem and not God. The Plague came and went and WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(1809 AD)
I gotta give you this one. A fortune-teller named Mary Bateman found an innovative way to determine the end of the world. It was not by divine inspiration or astrological signs or even by an out-of-the-body experience. Mary had a (not a little lamb), but a magic chicken. This chicken could pop out prophetic eggs. An egg came out and written on the egg was the message to Mary the end of the world was about to happen. It caused a “stir” and people began to “scramble” to Mary’s house for a word from the prophetic chicken. One day Mary was caught shoving an egg the wrong way up the chicken. Mary was later hung (not for this, she poisoned a man), but WE ARE STILL HERE!
(England, 1814 AD)
Joanna Southcott convinced people she was a prophetess, an exorcist, a healer, and the wife of Jesus Christ. Her message was the end of the world. Joanna literally sold people a “ticket to paradise” for 21 shillings. The ticket guaranteed the holder salvation, but space was limited to 144,000. Mary was 65 when she announced she was with child. You guessed it. It was the child of Jesus Christ. Her followers brought gifts just as did the magi, but after months, no signs of pregnancy showed. Mary died. An autopsy was performed and guess what? There was no pregnancy. Mary was hung and her prophetic chicken is dead, but WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1829 AD)
It was in times of magic chickens and pregnant women with the baby of Jesus and tickets to paradise that John Darby, Edward Irving, and Henry Drummond put their heads together. They arrived at a new concept called the Pre-Trib Rapture. Margaret McDonald prophesied the church would be removed before a great tribulation would soon come upon the entire earth. Darby taught this stuff all over. Margaret McDonald also prophesied Robert Owen, a great man was the antichrist. Owen was a social reformer and is recorded in history as a great person and obviously not the antichrist. However, today the church continues to base its doctrine on these false predictions. Margaret, John, Edward, and Henry are dead and WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(1836 AD John Wesley)
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, discovered through mathematic methodology “the time, times and half a time” from Revelation 12:14 meant Jesus would be returning in 1836.
(Anytime between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844 AD)
William Miller spent eight years studying scripture. He was convinced Jesus would return and rapture the saints between the dates of March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844. Miller was not a very educated person, non-the-less he was able to persuade about 50,000 people this doctrine. Newspapers reported people selling or giving away all their possessions. The farmers did not harvest their crops or plant new crops. The people continued in prayer and told their neighbors and friends who did not embrace Miller’s teaching they were going to hell.
The Millerites began doing some creative tricks. They would climb into trees and upon roofs and attempt to time their jumps to the time of Christ’s return. Without saying, there were many injuries and deaths related to the practice. When nothing happened the Boston newspaper’s headlines read, “WHAT! – NOT GONE UP YET? – WE THOUGHT YOU’D GONE UP! – AREN’T YOU GOING UP SOON? – WIFE DIDN’T GO UP AND LEAVE YOU BEHIND TO BURN, DID SHE?” The Millerites jumped out of trees, but WE ARE STILL HERE!
(October 22, 1844 AD)
Well, we see the stupidity of Christians. See if this sounds familiar. Miller (above) discovered he had made a minor mistake in his calculations. The absolute date would be October 22, 1844. What happened was absolutely amazing to me. I can hardly believe it, but then, yes I can. On the morning of October 22, 1844, tens of thousands of Millerites gathered together waiting to be caught away. They waited through lunch and through the night. When day dawned the next morning everyone was still there and today WE ARE STILL HERE! This is one of the most amazing stories. How can people continue to be so dumb?
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(1863 AD)
In 1863 the cult called The Seventh Day Adventists began to rock. Many of the Millerites became Adventists. They learned not to declare an exact date, but their doctrine is “soon, real soon.” Soon has been 137 years now and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1874 AD 1881 AD 1914 AD 1918 AD)
This was the beginning of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Charles Taze Russell announced that 1874 would be the year the world would end. When the year ended and the world continued to revolve, Russell said Jesus did come back. He was invisible. 1874 came and there was no end and WE ARE STILL HERE!
Russell preached he would never die and continued to make predictions of the unveiling of the Lord. He began the pyramid numeric system and came up with the date Jesus would become visible in 1881. Well, guess what? Jesus still did not unveil himself. Not to be labeled a false prophet, Russell gave it one more shot. 1914 would be the date. WWI did break out and the Jehovah’s Witnesses rejoiced because millions of people were being killed, but still no Jesus. Russell would give it one more attempt. The real date Jesus would make himself visible would be 1918. Russell never got to see this date because he died. The war passed and other people rejoiced at its ending. Jesus did not become visible and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(April 22, 1959)
The Branch Davidian was actually founded in the 1930s. We only know of the 1993 story, but there is more. In 1959 they came up with a teaching saying the faithful must be slaughtered, then resurrected and carried away to heaven. They taught Armageddon. They set the date of April 22, 1959, as the day the Lord would come and slaughter mankind. These false prophets were able to gather live TV cameras for the broadcast, but nothing happened. WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(JUNE 1967 AD)
This was the “Six Day War.” Israel defeated the Egyptian army in six days. This was supposed to be a great sign because it meant the Jews controlled Jerusalem. According to Dispensationalist, the temple would be rebuilt immediately which would bring on the rapture, antichrist, Armageddon, and the end of the world. The reconstruction of the temple never happened.
(1969 AD)
Charles Manson began a cult named “The Family.” He combined Beatle music and Dispensationalism and racism to predict the end of the world. His teaching was that high-profile people must be numbered and the blame be placed on blacks. This would begin a race war (his Armageddon) from which he would become the savior. Manson is in prison and WE ARE STILL HERE!
We have a tendency to say something like, “But these were mental cases, no one would listen to them.” This is not true. Even today Charles Manson has a following even though he is sentenced to life in prison. We could say all the previous ones and those I have not listed were mental. What is so different about those and the ones we hear today and consider?
(1975 AD)
Heaven’s Gate was first the “Human Individual Metamorphosis” or “HIM” cult. Herff Applewhite, a former music teacher, opera singer, and homosexual, decided he and others were aliens coming to Earth 2000 years earlier in a huge spaceship, leaving their bodies to inhabit those of historical figures, like Jesus and the Buddha. The reason they came to Earth was to help the Earthlings. Soon, according to their doctrine, the earth would be destroyed, but people could avoid this by moving to a higher plane. Once this plane was achieved, they would be taken to safety by a spaceship. They went about teaching their doctrine and actually found over a thousand devoted ones who also decided they too were aliens. They gathered together in a field and awaited their long-anticipated ride to heaven. Of course, nothing happened. The group, for a time, fell apart, and WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(1975-1979 AD)
Herbert W. Armstrong of the World Wide Church of God, not to be confused with other Church of God churches, found through a complicated numbering system (too complex to attempt to explain here, if interested go to for details), the world would end in the last half of the 1970’s. Again, any calendar prediction is futile. When people attempt to predict the end of the world or anything of the sort according to the calendar, smile at them, nod, and get your money back. Armstrong is dead and buried, the world did not end, and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(November 18, 1978 AD)
Jim Jones had an initial message of inter-racial harmony, but his message changed into a message of Doomsday. It was because of the Doomsday teaching nearly 1,000 people of the People’s Temple church moved to Jamestown, Guyana. Jones said the world would be judged and they must move to Guyana to avoid the Apocalypse. They did and their end of the world did come on November 18, 1978, when 919 people committed suicide by drinking poisoned Kool-Aid. Jones is dead and buried and WE ARE STILL HERE!
The Doomsday teaching always seems to attract and then control and then destroy people. We have seen destruction in lives from jumping out of trees to selling or giving away possessions to suicide. We will see the Jim Jones of our time employ doomsday teaching along with the Solar Temple in Canada and David Koresh in Texas. It is employed today by preachers to control their people with fear of impending doom. There is nothing good about Doomsday teaching.
(1979 AD)
Reginald Dunlop published a book titled “FLEE TO THE MOUNTAINS! — GOD’S MESSAGE FOR SURVIVAL — NO TIME TO SPARE! –IMMINENT END TIME DESTRUCTION!!!” There was no retraction when nothing happened. And WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(1980 AD)
Hal Lindsey said, “This man (antichrist) is alive today – alive and waiting to come forth.”
(Sometime in the 1980’s)
Jeane Dixon, a psychic predictor, forecasted in the 1980’s a comet would strike Earth. Jeane Dixon died in 1997 and WE ARE STILL HERE Earth and everything!
(1981 AD)
Chuck Smith wrote a book titled “Future Survival” which predicted the 1981 coming of Jesus. Chuck Smith is a Pastor in California today. One wonders why they are not required to reimburse people their money with interest and mailing expenses when they teach heresy.
(December 31, 1981 AD)
Hal Lindsey, declared by Paul Crouch to be the “end time guru,” wrote a book titled, “The Late, Great Planet Earth.” In his book, Lindsey said the Rapture would happen no later than 1981. Lindsey was hung up on the year 1948 because the “fig tree” had blossomed and everyone knew the fig tree was the nation of Israel.
The great tribulation must come within 40 years because it was a Biblical generation. Because there would be a seven-year tribulation, the rapture must happen by the end of 1981. Lindsey was able to employ his ability to make the events of Revelation’s seals, vials, and trumpets into nuclear warfare. He was able to use some technical information to mislead readers into believing him. Of course, nothing happened in 1981 or 1888.
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
Amazing
What is amazing about Lindsey is he continues to write books and have television programs and appearances and people continue to buy his books and listen to him. I am amazed in two ways. First people do it, and second, he does not have the decency to stop making his false prophecies. What does not amaze me is WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1982 AD)
Pat Robertson, we forget, predicted in 1982 that the Soviet Union would invade Israel. The invasion would be the beginning of the nuclear war called Armageddon and the end of the Earth. Two billion people would die. Of course, nothing happened. Pat Robertson simply ran for President in 1988. Guess what, WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1985 AD)
Lester Sumrall wrote a book titled, “I Predict 1985” which of course, stated without doubt the end of the world would come in 1985. He later published a new book titled, “I Predict 2000.” As of today Lester, WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1988 AD)
Colin Deal published “Christ Returns by 1988: 101 Reasons Why.” The message given is apparent, but no truth to it even if there were 101 reasons all 101 reasons were wrong.
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(September 11-13, 1988 AD)
Edgar Whisenant, a retired NASA engineer, published his book, “88 Reasons The Rapture Is In ’88′” which taught the obvious. Whisenant used his mathematical abilities learned at NASA to predict the exact date for the return of Jesus which would be September 11-13, 1988. Whisenant said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong, and I say that unequivocally.”
These are the kinds of things that make Christians look dumb, but then maybe… well, if I have been recording the acts of “Christians” we are dumb. We are dumb to do this stuff and we are dumb to allow it to be done. Anyway, WE ARE STILL HERE!
(September 11-12, 1988 AD)
The Trinity Broadcasting Network was so certain the rapture would happen it canceled its regular programming showing instead videos to instruct the left behind unbelievers. All of the Dispensational gurus who had visited the program had declared this day to be the day. Nothing happened and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1989 AD)
Edgar Whisenant published his new book titled, “89 Reasons The Rapture Is In ’89.” Go figure! He had said, “Only if the Bible is in error am I wrong, and I say that unequivocally.” He was obviously wrong (or the Bible is wrong) and he has the insolence to, without blinking, write another book saying the same dumb thing to happen one year later which did not happen either! What is wrong with “Christians”? It doesn’t matter how many times he predicts it or when WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(1990)
Dave Hunt said, “Somewhere, at this very moment, on planet Earth, the antichrist is almost certainly alive – biding his time, awaiting his cue. Already a mature man, he is probably active in politics, perhaps even an admired world leader whose name is almost daily on everyone’s lips”
(January 1991)
The Persian Gulf War began giving the false prophet gurus more ammunition to forecast the end of the world and Armageddon. However, it wasn’t and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1992 AD)
Dorothy Miller published her book titled, “Watch and Be Ready: Nineteen Ninety-Two Millions Disappear.” It was the year the “last trump” was to sound and Jesus would come and rapture the church. WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1993 AD)
Benny Hinn prophesied that 1993 would be the year of the rapture of the church. Hinn also said two years after the rapture, God would destroy the homosexuals. Well, homosexuals are still here and WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(April 19, 1993 AD)
David Koresh resided at a piece of property named “Ranch Apocalypse.” We remember the story. Koresh and the Branch Davidian sect were stock-piling weapons and there were reports of child abuse. Koresh had been preaching the imminent end of the world for years. He set the date at 1995. The invasion of the FBI speeded the date and the Branch Davidian Armageddon came. Today there are surviving members of the Branch Davidian who believe Koresh will be resurrected. They have even set dates. Until then, WE ARE STILL HERE!
(Thursday, June 9, 1994)
Pastor John Hinkle of Christ Church said God had spoken to him and on June 9, 1994, he would remove all evil from the world. UMMM, did I miss something? All I know is WE ARE STILL HERE!
(October 1994 AD)
Solar Temple, taught a mythology Doomsday mixing Christianity with New Age, astrology, and UFOs. 52 people were found burned, poisoned, suffocated, stabbed, and shot in Canada and in Switzerland. This is another prime example of preaching doom to control. This control destroys.
(February 24, 1997)
It was decided the signing of the Israeli and Palestinian Peace Accord (signed in 1993) was the first day of the 1260 days Revelation 11:3 speaks of as the days of the witnesses. Armageddon was to begin after those days passed. They are still waiting and WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(March 23-26, 1997 AD)
The Heaven’s Gate leader, Marshall Herff Applewhite, though not raptured in 1975 by a spaceship, did not slow down. He preached immortality but had a problem when Ti, his female leader died of cancer. Applewhite simply said she had left her earthly body and went to a higher plane. The group began attracting some computer literature and began doing websites.
They also used the web to preach their spaceship alien doctrine. Applewhite continued to speak about the soon doom of Earth. It was at this time the Hale-Bopp comet came through. Applewhite said there was a spaceship trailing the comet. They made a final videotape to send out to their friends and families, put the tapes in the mail, ate some poisoned apple sauce, and the 39 people laid down waiting to be beamed up. They were not and WE ARE STILL HERE!
(October 1997)
Kenneth Hagin, renowned faith teacher and leader of the “faith camp,” said the End would come in October 1997 and would begin in St. Louis, Missouri. Faith or no faith or wrong faith, WE ARE STILL HERE!
(May 31, 1998 AD)
Bible Code finder Peter Hader cracked the New Testament Bible code encrypted for two millennia. He called his code B-Code and even after May 31, 1998, came and went, but we stayed, Hader said his code was still genuine. And WE ARE STILL HERE!
(1999 AD)
Jack Van Impe has been talking about the rapture, tribulation, Armageddon, millennium, and stuff for a while, and has made himself a very wealthy man doing his prediction of doom. In 1990, Van Impe produced a video named “A.D. 2000…The End?” According to Impe, the rapture would happen in 1992 and Armageddon would happen seven years later of course, in 1999. He sold it for a mere $24.95 plus shipping and handling naturally. Jack is still on television selling his books, videos, and garbage and WE ARE STILL HERE!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
(1999-2000)
Jerry Falwell said the antichrist was alive and making plans to take over. Falwell went on to say the antichrist was a Jew! He had to apologize for his statement. Until then WE ARE STILL HERE! And it is déjà vu all over again!
(August 6, 1999)
The Branch Davidians said David Koresh would rise from the dead to judge the sins of all people. I haven’t seen David, or heard from him. Have you? And, you got it, WE ARE STILL HERE!
Why do we separate David Koresh from say Jerry Falwell or a Jack Van Impe? Is it because one has a television program and another does not? At least one is willing to die for their beliefs and I am not certain Jack is willing. I know David was willing. The truth is they are all false prophets spewing out garbage that damaged or damaged lives every day. It was this filth Jesus despised. Why don’t we?
(September 9, 1999)
As was the year June 6, 666, and September 9, 999, so was 9-9-99. The computers were to go berserk with all those 9’s. However, the way it came up on my computer was 09-09-99 and nothing happened and WE ARE STILL HERE!
We can’t go without mentioning Rod Parsley and Kenneth Copeland and Jerry Sevel and Hagee who have told us and purposefully led us to believe Jesus may be here tomorrow. They say you may not have the opportunity to finish your next breath. They cause us to believe the end is upon us and Armageddon and tribulation and all sorts of hell are just around the corner. It’s déjà vu all over again! If all this is “just around the corner” it’s been a huge corner! I have heard all the garbage I can handle. I have spent the last several days and many hours studying and “wading knee-deep through” the absolute dung proceeding out of the mouths of so-called church leaders and prophets.
Why?
So, I want to spit. Yet, “believers” continue to listen and fear and wonder if perhaps they are correct. Why? Do we learn anything from history? They have activated every formula, jumped out of every tree, checked out every chicken’s egg, and looked at every spaceship. They have added, multiplied, divided, and subtracted every pyramid number system.
These false prophets have exhausted every calendar and every feast from the flood until the Persian Gulf War. Please, discontinue being frightened and enjoy the kingdom of abundance Jesus came to give (Joh 10:10) It “ain’t gonna happen.” We Are Still Here and It’s Da’ja’ vu all over again!
False Prophets Because We Are Still Here
Other Related Sermons:
Son of Man Said do not go Running off after them – video audio notes Luke 17:20-37
Kingdom Truth sermon series videos notes
Preachers True and False – sermon video audio notes
Dealing With False Teachers Audio
Also see:
“Montanism,” Microsoft® Encarta® 98 Encyclopedia. © 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.