Some say it will all pan out in the end, why does it matter?
2 Peter 3:16 tells us in the context of eschatology (end time) doctrine that those who don’t have it right, “twist the scriptures as they always do, unto their own destruction.” This accusation is substantial. It carries a lot of weight concerning the need to get it right. No matter what the view is the one view can use this statement to point a finger at the opposing view. Fact is, there can be only one right view.
How can you know you have the correct one? Peter does imply that study of the Word is necessary to not be unlearned. There is another issue surrounding this subject that needs consideration. That is the issue of deception. Jesus and Paul both tells us, “Let no man deceive you.” Matthew 24:4, Mark 13:5, Luke 21:8, 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Therefore because of these warnings we can know there is a great deception surrounding this end time issue. How do we keep from letting the door of deception open?
Paul tells us that it is God who allows the great delusion from the deceiver 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. The door to deception can be opened two ways. One ways is by not loving the truth, and the other is by loving pleasure. Being deceived is like marring a lie. Who do you love? It feels so right when it is happening. It’s difficult to embrace the hard things in life. Often we avoid persecution any way we can. Many become politically correct just to avoid making waves, even though they disagree.
The Pretrib view provides this open door for deception. Jesus promises us tribulation, “These things I tell you that, in Me, you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We go to great lengths to avoid it. Tribulation is the word that describes the trials that the saints must endure. It’s another word for trials. Jesus tells us that there is a time of great tribulation coming. The pretrib doctrine capitalizes the word Great in great tribulation, and lumps it together with God’s wrath and thus tells us it’s not for them. How convenient this is for the flesh! Don’t get me wrong, we are not assigned to wrath, but throughout scripture God has promised His protection… Psalms 91. A Psalms 91 experience or being protected in the clef of the rock through a storm is no picnic or stroll through the park. A young whippersnapper may find it amusing in the short term, but tribulation is just that. No flesh runs to it.
A Psalm 91 (post-trib) view does not have an open door to deception through the love of pleasure. It knows the bride must be purified through persecution and tribulation 2 Timothy 3:12. Both sides could point the finger and say the other is unlearned. The fact of the matter is that most who believe the pretrib doctrine don’t feel the need to study it. There is no reason, because they don’t plan on being here to experience it. They have been conditioned so.
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