THE SAD CONSEQUENCES OF THE "ANY MOMENT" COMING OF CHRIST THEORY

By Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

September 20, 2010

The “Any Moment” Rapture Theory And its Sad Consequences

The following is a reprint of an article that appeared in the LA Times concerning the disappearance of a group of people in California this past week (Sept. 18-19, 2010) who believed in the “any moment” coming of Christ.

“The group was known for previous forays into desert and mountain areas, apparently related to a belief in an imminent biblical "rapture," in which believers would be transported to heaven. When found, group members, including children, called Chicas "their leader" and "an inspiration."

The following is a quote from AP News about the same event:

PALMDALE, California -- The leader of a breakaway religious sect was hospitalized Sunday for a mental evaluation after she and members of her group went missing and left behind evidence that they were awaiting the Rapture or some catastrophic event.

The group of El Salvadoran immigrants described as "cult-like" by sheriff's officials, was led by Chicas, a 32-year-old woman from Palmdale in northeast Los Angeles county, sheriff's Captain Mike Parker said.

Members left behind cell phones, identifications, deeds to property, and letters indicating they were awaiting the Rapture, which some Christians believe is an event during which they will be gathered together in the air and reunited with Christ.

Before you condemn this deluded woman preacher and her deceived follower’s exam your own self. Many of you believe what this woman believed. She bought into the “any moment” coming of Christ theory and she like 1000’s of others picked a date for it. Maybe she learned this from Scofield or Larkin or LaHaye or some other extreme dispensationalist.

This is nothing new. In the days of Paul there were false teachers and seducing spirits teaching people that Christ’s coming to gather the church was “at hand”.  Paul straightens out this false belief in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 where he plainly says that the day of Christ which is Christ’s coming and our gathering together unto him IS NOT AT HAND. He plainly says that before Christ comes to gather the church unto himself there must FIRST be a falling away which is a major apostasy; and then the revelation of the son of perdition who is the anti christ and him sitting in the temple of God in Jerusalem saying he is God. Paul says that until these events happen no one can say that Christ’s coming is at hand. He also says that if you believe his coming is at hand you are deceived.

This woman in California was deceived. She was either deceived by someone who taught her this false doctrine or by a seducing spirit, but either way she was deceived. This is tragic for there was no reason for her to be deceived. If she would have read 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 carefully and believed it meant what it said and said what it meant, she would have never embarrassed herself by the stupid thing she and her family and others did.

Some people laugh at this story, but to me it is sad for if she would have believed what Paul said she would have never made such a fool of herself. This shows us once again the bad affect that false doctrine has on people. We are mentally, spiritually and even physically affected by the doctrines we believe. Sound doctrine has a good and wholesome affect on people. False doctrine has a bad affect on people. The false doctrine of the “any moment” coming of Christ has caused tremendous trouble and sorrow throughout the history of the church as it did in Thessalonica (2 Thess. 2:2). If you doubt this statement is true take the time to read this long history of people, like this woman in California who set dates for Christ’s coming believing he could come at any moment.

See http://www.bible.ca/pre-date-setters.htm