Pentagon Report Exposes China Menace

By Bob Maginnis
BobMaginnis.com



A new Pentagon report indicates China’s sustained military investments are destabilizing and exposes the Marxist giant’s global ambitions. The free world had better wake up to the security threat posed by this hegemonic menace.

Last week the Pentagon issued its annual report to Congress, which warns, “China’s rise as a major international actor is likely to stand out as a defining feature of the strategic landscape of the early 21st century.”

But the report “mischaracterizes and minimizes that threat,” according to Steve Mosher, a social scientist who worked in China and is author of numerous books on the country. The report “does a disservice to the truth,” Mosher said.

The truth about China’s emerging global threat becomes obvious when Beijing’s intentions, behavior and military modernization are properly exposed.

First, China’s intentions are global and offensive. Constantine Menges wrote in China: The Gathering Threat, “In the traditional Chinese view, the world needs a hegemon — or dominant state — to prevent disorder. The Communist Chinese regime believes China should be that hegemon.”

That view was echoed in 2010 by Liu Mingfu, a Chinese senior colonel and author of The China Dream. Liu said “China’s big goal in the 21st century is to become world No. 1, the top power,” Reuters reported. The Pentagon’s report stops short of that forecast but admits the regime “anticipates becoming a world-class economic and military power by 2050.”

China’s latest defense White Paper provides evidence of its global ambitions. The paper, according to the Pentagon report, introduces the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to new global missions intended to grow China’s influence, such as international peacekeeping efforts, counter-piracy operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

These other-than-war operations are made possible by China’s new investments in large amphibious ships, a hospital ship, long-range transport aircraft and improved logistics. Such assets extend China’s global influence and provide the PLA important expeditionary know-how and capabilities for future operations.

China’s global ambitions are also evidenced by its increased liaison with foreign militaries and increased joint exercises. Last year, China expanded relations to 150 different militaries, which reflects an effort to collect information and build partnerships.

Beijing’s foreign outreach includes more joint exercises. In 2010, the PLA participated in 32 joint exercises — up from eight in 2009 — to increase its influence, enhance ties with partner states, and provide opportunities to improve capabilities and gain operational insights from more advanced militaries.

China’s White Paper also announces the regime’s “active defense” security strategy, which pretends to focus on defense and promises to attack only if attacked. But Mosher says China’s use of the term “active defense” is just a euphemism for the PLA’s “determination to strike first in the event of a crisis.” He concludes “active defense” is “not defensive at all, but is a strategy of offense and expansion.”

Second, China’s behavior has become aggressive, and given its global ambitions, we can expect more bullying across all domains — land, sea, air, space and cyberspace.

China is aggressive with Taiwan, a breakaway Chinese democratic republic. Beijing intends to deter Taiwan independence through intimidation such as the massing of 1,200 short-range ballistic missiles opposite the island or through a threatened preemptive attack.

China aggressively responds to maritime boundary disputes with Japan over the East China Sea and numerous countries in the South China Sea. Beijing claims both seas, and since 2005 it has harassed foreign vessels, including American ships using those seaways.

Beijing is very aggressive in cyberspace. In 2010, American and ally computer systems were the target of many intrusions that appeared to originate in China, according to the Pentagon. Those breaches were aimed at stealing military-related data and the PLA’s cyber units are prepared to “constrain an adversary’s actions” and “serve as a force multiplier.”

Third, the Pentagon’s report provides sobering details regarding China’s technological gap-closing developments that are providing the regime the capacity to conduct high-intensity, global operations.

The report states China developed an anti-access ballistic missile to prevent American aircraft carriers from coming to Taiwan’s defense. The “carrier-killer” missile could also be used globally against America’s 11 carriers. The weapon is known as the DF-21D and has a range exceeding 940 miles.

China is developing a fighter aircraft that incorporates stealth attributes for long-range missions against well-protected targets — read American military facilities. A Chinese proto-type, the J-20, was tested earlier this year, but the Pentagon does not expect it to achieve “effective operational capability prior to 2018.” China has approximately 2,300 operational combat aircraft and another 1,450 older fighters, bombers and trainers.

The Communist regime is developing a global expeditionary capability. Specifically, Beijing is developing airborne early-warning and control system aircraft that, combined with aerial-refueling programs, will enable the regime to extend its naval air capabilities globally.

The PLA has numerous expeditionary forces, such as three airborne divisions armed with modern equipment. But China’s most important expeditionary tool is the aircraft carrier. Beijing recently sea-tested a refurbished Russian carrier, and the Pentagon reports, “China could begin construction of a fully indigenous carrier … which could achieve operational capability after 2015.”

The carrier is the latest addition to China’s modern 274-ship blue-water navy, which includes at least 60 submarines. China continues to produce a new class of global-capable nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines armed with the atomic-tipped JL-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile with an estimated range of 4,600 miles.

China deploys a growing satellite network. Last year, China conducted a “record” 15 space launches to expand its space-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, navigation and communications constellations. It is also weaponizing space.

In 2007, China successfully tested a direct-ascent anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon against a weather satellite. It continues to develop and refine this system as well as other kinetic and directed-energy technologies for ASAT missions.

Finally, China is growing its strategic missile program backed by a developing anti-ballistic missile system. The Pentagon expects China to invest considerable resources to maintain its nuclear arsenal, which Beijing claims will never be used unless it is first attacked by atomic weapons.

But that view disputes a 2005 statement by Gen. Zhu Chenghu, a dean at China’s National Defense University, who said that if the U.S. used conventional arms on Chinese territory, "We will have to respond with nuclear weapons," according to the New York Times.

The Pentagon reports China added 25 new multi-warhead road-mobile, solid propellant intercontinental-range ballistic missiles to its arsenal in 2010. Beijing’s growing nuclear arsenal is kept safe in deep underground bunkers connected by 3,000 miles of tunnels, a complex that until this report was kept secret.

The Pentagon also for the first time affirmed China is developing a nationwide missile defense system. Reportedly Beijing’s nonexplosive, high-speed interceptors can hit missiles at heights of up to 50 miles. “In January 2010, China successfully intercepted a ballistic missile at mid-course, using a ground-based missile,” according to the Pentagon.

China’s hegemonic intentions, aggressive behavior and sobering militarization demonstrate an emerging, dangerous new global threat. The U.S. and its allies must prevent China from becoming a global hegemon that would use that position to push its Marxist ideology.


Related Links

---

China's First Aircraft Carrier Completes Maiden Sea Trial - RTT News
China provides smoking gun against itself in cyberattacks - FCW.com
China Masking Huge Military Buildup - BPB (Bob Maginnis)
Lawmakers criticize defense cuts after report on China's military buildup - The Hill
Why Are Media Ignoring Rising Threat Of China? - Investor's Business Daily (Phyllis Schlafly)

---

Israel Bolsters Red Sea Naval Fleet

By Ryan Jones
Israel Today



Israel confirmed on Tuesday that it has deployed an additional two warships to the Red Sea to boost patrols along Israel's maritime border with Egypt.

The decision was made following the publication of intelligence reports that suggested an ongoing terrorist threat emanating from the Egyptian Sinai.

Israel has since bolstered all of its forces in and around the Red Sea resort town of Eilat anticipating a sequel to the deadly three-pronged terrorist assault on southern Israel earlier this month.

In that attack, Palestinian terrorists from Gaza used the Sinai to infiltrate deep into southern Israel, attacking private cars and public buses just miles north of Eilat.

The Israeli naval redeployment may also be a response to Iran's decision to dispatch its 15th Fleet to the Red Sea.

The Iranian government said it was sending the warships to the area to "convey a message of peace and friendship to all countries."


Related Links

---

Iran sending sub, warship to Red Sea - UPI
Israel Dispatches Two Warships to Red Sea - Christian Broadcasting Network
IDF beefing up defenses in south after intelligence warnings of terror attack - Ha'aretz
Israeli sends extra warships to patrol Red Sea - Reuters
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Calls for Expulsion of Israeli Ambassador - ABNA.ir

---

The Beginning and the Ending: Creation Maligned

By Dr. David R. Reagan
Lamb & Lion Ministries



Regarding the origins of our planet and life, the Bible plainly reveals that both were created by God in six days about 6,000 years ago.

Christendom seemed to have no problem with this revelation until the 19th Century. Scientists before that time — even the man acknowledged to be the greatest scientist in history, Sir Isaac Newton — believed the biblical story and affirmed it in their writings.

The Attack of Science

But in the 19th Century, scientists began to challenge the biblical story, reaching its culmination with Darwin's Theory of Evolution which was proposed in 1859 in his book, On the Origin of Species. [1]

As the 20th Century began, the Bible was on the defensive, and the battle came to a climax with the Scopes Trial in 1925 when William Jennings Bryan tried to defend the biblical view while Clarence Darrow mocked and scoffed. [2]

The Christian Response

In response to the relentless attacks of scientists, Christian theologians scrambled to try to make the biblical story line up with the claim of the scientists that the universe was billions of years old and that all life had evolved haphazardly from a single source.

This was accomplished primarily in one of two ways, or a combination of both.

First, was the Day-Age Theory that converted each day of the Genesis creation week into a million or more years.

The second was the Gap Theory. According to this idea, there is a gap of millions or billions of years between the first two verses of Genesis.

There are different versions of the Gap Theory, but all versions postulate that God's original creation was most likely corrupted by the rebellion and fall of Satan. Then millions or billions of years later, God decided to bring order out of the chaos by re-creating the earth and its heavens. Some who subscribe to the Gap Theory believe that the re-creation process took only 6 literal days. But most would contend that each of the days were actually millions of years.

They thus combine the Gap Theory with the Day-Age Theory and end up with a creation process that took place over a time span of billions of years.

The Situation Today

Today, the Gap Theory, or some version of it, is held by most Christians — even Evangelicals. Many believe that God intervened at some point and created Man.

But many, if not most believe in Theistic Evolution. In other words, they believe God created all life, but that it emerged over a long period of time through a process of guided evolution.

When challenged to simply believe the creation story in the Bible, they often respond with scoffing.

Personal Experiences

I experienced this early in the history of this ministry when I was speaking to the combined adult Sunday School classes of a church in Oklahoma. I just happened to mention in passing that we should accept the Genesis story of creation to mean what it says — namely, that God created the universe and life supernaturally in six literal days some 6,000 years ago. That off-the-hand remark prompted an explosion! A man jumped to his feet and started yelling. "I can't believe that you believe such nonsense," he shouted. He then added, "It's ignorant people like you who make Christians look like fools!" At that point, he stomped out of the room.

Here's another example of what I'm talking about. In 2009 we aired a series of television programs with Dr. Jobe Martin who has a great ministry that focuses on the Creation-Evolution conflict. [3] In one of those programs, he told why he believes the Genesis story of creation means exactly what it says.

In response, I received a letter from a Christian who watched the program via satellite in Latvia, one of the former Russian Baltic Republics. He wrote:

Is the cause of Christ really advanced by having on your show a wild-eyed fanatic who cannot comprehend the concept of proof? Possibly we are not talking about the same Creator? My Lord cannot lie, thus, He cannot create an old-looking earth to deceive the modern man... Satan's best troops in the battle to stymie Christianity are the Young Earth advocates. There are hundreds of reasons that speak of earth's age, but the wellmeaning fools refuse to learn some science before they argue against it... Dear sir, preach what you will but not in the name of Christianity. Do not make my Lord a deceiver and Christians an uneducated lot.

And lest you think these are isolated examples, let me point out that a group of Evangelicals have formed an organization called BioLogos whose purpose is to convince Christians that "the process of evolution is a tenable biblical position, and... is the best Christian apologetic to defend Genesis 1-3 against its critics." [4]

This group has actually taken the position that if Christians do not accept the theory of evolution, the Church will soon die off, because it will be rejected as "an insignificant cult." [5]

The relevance of this issue was demonstrated recently on the cover of Christianity Today magazine, published in June 2011. [6]

This is a magazine founded in 1956 by Billy Graham to espouse and defend biblical truths. But in recent years, it has become increasingly liberal, while still claiming to be Evangelical.

The magazine's cover featured a drawing of Adam as a Neanderthal looking person, and the lead article presented him as being most likely a mythical person. The article is also a shameless apologetic for Theistic Evolution.

In the next part of this series on the beginning and the ending of the Bible, I'll look at how people scoff at the Creation account and then answer these skeptics.


Endnotes

---

[1] Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species (London: John Murray Publisher, 1859).
[2] Dr. David Menton, "The Scopes 'Monkey Trial' — 80 Years Later," www.answersingenesis.org/docs2005/0711scopes.asp. It should be noted that Bryan did not believe in a young earth. He took the Day-Age position, arguing that each day of creation represented millions of years.
[3] Jobe Martin's outstanding book about his conversion from Evolution to Creationism is titled, The Evolution of a Creationist. It can be obtained from Lamb & Lion Ministries for $15 plus the cost of shipping. To order, call 972-736-3567.
[4] The BioLogos Forum, About The BioLogos Foundation, http://biologos.org/about.
[5] Lawrence Ford, "Confronting Evolutionary Ideas," www.icr.org/article/confronting-evolutionary-ideas, 2011.
[6] Richard N. Ostling, "The Search for the Historical Adam," www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/june/historicaladam.html, June 3, 2011.

---

UN Blessed Palestinian State Will Solve Nothing

By Dr. Chuck Missler
Koinonia House



The Palestinian Authority has prepared a chair for their intended seat at the United Nations – a blue chair embroidered with the words "Palestine's Right." The blue chair will be taken on an international tour as an effort to convince the world's countries that they should vote to recognize a Palestinian state this fall, regardless of what agreements the Palestinian Authority does or does not make with Israel.

An opinion piece in The Sydney Morning Herald on August 29 offers some carefully worded pro-Palestinian propaganda. Sonja Karkar writes:

"Israel's own unilateral move in declaring statehood after the UN's intention to partition historic Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state cannot be avoided. It underscores that Palestine was never a land without a people and that Israel's existence was imposed on Palestinians, robbing them of their homes and land and destroying their proud and millenniums-old society."

There have indeed been people in the Holy Land for millennia – a wide variety of people. Jews, Arabs, Syrians, nomadic herders have all had communities in the land for centuries. A variety of different powers, from the Romans to the Ottoman Turks, have controlled this part of the Middle East during the last two thousand years, but there has never been a Palestinian state run by "Palestinians."

There have been many societies in the Holy Land throughout the centuries, proud and otherwise. The people now called Palestinians sit on lands that prior to the Six Day War in 1967 were controlled by Egypt or Jordan. Karkar's portrayal of a single Palestinian people with a long proud history doesn't fit with the facts.

Now, after 44 years of butting heads and a perpetual impasse, the Palestinian Authority wants to circumvent negotiations with Israel. It seeks an end run around certain moves necessary to keep peace with the Jewish state – things like rejecting terrorism and recognizing the State of Israel. The PA is instead pushing to create a Palestinian state via an upcoming United Nations General Assembly vote in late September. A Security Council vote would be more binding, but the United States can veto decisions at the Security Council.

Disaster's in the Air

Some people expect a UN vote for a Palestinian state to settle the issue. That's not only naïve, but dangerous. Not only will there be no peace, but Israel anticipates immediate attacks on settlers in the West Bank if the vote goes through. The settlers are certain to fight back, causing the West Bank to explode in bloodshed. Israel security forces working in settlements are being armed with riot gear in advance of the September 20th debate on the issue.

Headed For Defeat?

Ron Prosor, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, told the Foreign Ministry last week that Israel simply does not have the support to oppose the General Assembly resolution. The Palestinians have the diplomatic upper hand, and they only need a majority of votes – just 51 percent – to gain recognition.

Besides encouraging violence however, the General Assembly's vote will almost certainly fail to create a peaceable two-state solution. Israel will not give up its settlers or East Jerusalem just to please the United Nations. Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza will not suddenly affirm the existence of Israel and treat their neighbor with respect. When Israel moved settlers out of Gaza in 2005, the immediate result was an increase in rocket attacks over the border onto Israel. Without any true cooperation or peace agreements, the result of a Palestinian state created by vote is unrest and destruction.

Both Israel and the United States have urged the Palestinian Authority to return to the negotiating table. Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas has said the PA would agree once again to negotiate if Israel stops building settlements and uses the 1967 borders as the basis for negotiations. Neither of these things are likely to happen.

US President Barack Obama recognizes that "initiatives through the UN will not bring about the two-state solution and enduring peace, which both the parties and the US seek." The US will discourage the declaration of a Palestinian state, but the General Assembly can still vote however it chooses.


Related Links

---

Israeli army arms Jewish settlers in preparation for Palestinian unrest - Telegraph.co.uk
Jordan Continues Attempt to Persuade PA to Abandon UN Bid - Arutz Sheva
Palestinian 'UN seat' to tour Europe - AFP
'PA UN state bid more dangerous than threats from Hamas' - Jerusalem Post
Will Psalm 83 Precede Ezekiel 38? - BPB (Jack Kelley)

---

An Interpretation of Matthew 24-25 (Part 38)

By Dr. Thomas Ice
Pre-Trib Research Center

“For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves, and entrusted his possessions to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey. Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents. In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more. But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the ground, and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. And the one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me; see, I have gained five more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things, enter into the joy of your master.’ The one also who had received the two talents came up and said, ‘Master, you entrusted to me two talents; see, I have gained two more talents.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed. ‘And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground; see, you have what is yours.’ But his master answered and said to him, ‘You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed. ‘Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest. ‘Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.’ For to everyone who has shall more be given, and he shall have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away. And cast out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:14–30).

The second section of Matthew 25 is one of the most well-known parables of Jesus. The parable of the faithful and unfaithful stewards continues lessons for the nation of Israel in light of Christ’s return, which was noted in Matthew 24. This parable is often preached on today without notation of its context relating to Israel and Christ’s return. When we examine parallel accounts of this parable (Mark 13:34 and Luke 19:11–27) they both are also in the context of the second coming and judgment. The account in Matthew contains the most extensive version.

The Parable of the Talents

In keeping with previous parables in Christ’s Discourse, this one deals with the issue of faithfulness. How will a true son of the kingdom act during the time of his master’s absence? Will he be faithful to his lord or will he be a worthless servant? The servants were evaluated for how they dispensed their responsibilities during the absence of their master. Upon the return of the master, those servants that were faithful in the execution of their duties were rewarded with greater responsibility and wealth during the future reign of the king. “So here the heirs of the kingdom will receive greater blessing, while the ones who do not inherit it will be shut off from even an opportunity for entrance,” notes Dr. Toussaint. “Those who do receive rewards will be rewarded according to their faithfulness and not the measure of their work.” [1]

This parable relates to Israel’s accountability before God for their stewardship that will occur in conjunction with Christ's second coming. Dr. Toussaint tells us:

The last three parables give practical instructions in the light of the King’s coming to judge and to reign. The principle which underlies each is the same one which was given in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:16–21). The fruit of faithfulness and preparedness would indicate the character of those living in the days before His coming. In each parable, character is manifested by works. This thought forms the key to the following passage which deals with the judgment of the nations (Matthew 25:31–46). [2]

Thus, we see that the parables of the ten virgins (25:1–13) and the talents (25:14–30) deal with Israel’s faithfulness in light of her responsibility, while the remainder of Matthew 25 (31–46) deals with Messiah’s judgments of the nations, which will relate to how they treat the Jewish remnant during the tribulation. In both instances, Israel and the nations, there will be a mixed response. Some will be prepared and faithful, while others (most likely most) will not.

Dispensational Truth Pictured

In this parable Jesus portrays Himself as the Master of a house who is set to embark on a journey and He gives various responsibilities to His servants. This parable contains all of the basic elements dispensationalists [3] teach are related to the testing of the various ages within God’s plan for history. [4]

A leading spokesman for dispensationalism is Charles Ryrie, who notes that The Oxford English Dictionary defines a theological dispensation as “a stage in a progressive revelation, expressly adapted to the needs of a particular nation or period of time . . . also, the age or period during which a system has prevailed.” [5] The English word “dispensation” translates the Greek noun oikonomía, often rendered “administration” in modern translations. The verb oikonoméô refers to a manager of a household. [6] “In the New Testament,” notes Ryrie, “dispensation means to manage or administer the affairs of a household, as, for example, in the Lord’s story of the unfaithful steward in Luke 16:1-13.” [7]

The Greek word oikonomía is a compound of oíkos meaning “house” and nómos meaning “law.” Taken together “the central idea in the word dispensation is that of managing or administering the affairs of a household.” [8]

The various forms of the word dispensation appears in the New Testament twenty times. The verb oikonoméô is used once in Luke 16:2, where it is translated “to be a steward.” The noun oikonómos appears ten times (Luke 12:42; 16:1, 3, 8; Rom. 16:23; 1 Cor. 4:1, 2; Gal. 4:2; Titus 1:7; 1 Pet. 4:10), and is usually translated “steward” or “manager” (but “treasurer” in Rom. 16:23). The noun oikonomía is used nine times (Luke 16:2, 3, 4; 1 Cor. 9:17; Eph. 1:10; 3:2, 9; Col. 1:25; 1 Tim. 1:4). In these instances it is translated variously (“stewardship,” “dispensation,” “administration,” “job,” “commission”). [9]

Dr. Ryrie formulates the following description and definition of dispensationalism:

Dispensationalism views the world as a household run by God. In this household-world God is dispensing or administering its affairs according to His own will and in various stages of revelation in the process of time. These various stages mark off the distinguishably different economies in the outworking of His total purpose, and these different economies constitute the dispensations. The understanding of God’s differing economies is essential to a proper interpretation of His revelation within those various economies. [10]

Dr. Ryrie notes the following characteristics of a dispensation as viewed by dispensationalist:

• two parties are always involved
• specific responsibilities
• accountability as well as responsibility
• a change may be made at any time unfaithfulness is found in the existing administration
• God is the one to whom men are responsible
• faithfulness is required of the subordinate party
• a stewardship may end at any time
• dispensations are connected with the mysteries of God
• dispensations and ages are connected ideas
• there are at least three dispensation (likely seven). [11]

When we compare the dispensations with the specific characteristics of this parable we note the following: Each dispensation begins with a responsibility given to the steward. In this parable the stewards are the slaves (25:14) and their responsibility is faithful stewardship (25:19). While this parable pictures some who were faithful, each dispensation within God’s plan ends in failure, as depicted by the unfaithful servant (25:18, 26). Thus, each age ends in judgment, as God holds his stewards responsible for their actions, which is see in the unfaithful slave who is cast “into outer darkness” (25:30).

The scenario in this parable provides a paradigm for how God manages human history based upon His revelation (the Bible). In spite of Satan and the unbelieving world, God knows what He is doing throughout history. He is in control and even though we currently live in a time when God is allowing mankind to go their own way and do their own thing, judgment day is coming when He will hold mankind accountable for their stewardship towards God.


Endnotes

---

[1] Stanley D. Toussaint, Behold The King: A Study of Matthew (Portland: Multnomah Press, 1980), p. 287.
[2] Toussaint, Behold The King, p. 288.
[3] For an explanation of what we mean by dispensationalism see the chapter “What is
Dispensationalism?” in Mark Hitchcock and Thomas Ice, The Truth Behind Left Behind: A Biblical View of the End Times (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, 2004), pp. 178–90.
[4] See our chart on “The Dispensations” in Tim LaHaye and Thomas Ice, Charting The End Times: A Visual Guide to Understanding Bible Prophecy (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2001), pp. 81–83.
[5] Charles C. Ryrie, What Is Dispensationalism? (Pamphlet published by Dallas Theological Seminary, [1980], 1986), p. 1.
[6] Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, a translation and adaptation by William F. Arndt & F. Wilbur Gingrich (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1957), p. 562.
[7] Ryrie, What Is Dispensationalism? p. 1.
[8] Charles C. Ryrie, Dispensationalism (Chicago: Moody Press, [1966], 1995). p.25.
[9] Ryrie, Dispensationalism, p.25.
[10] Ryrie, Dispensationalism, p. 29.
[11] Ryrie, Dispensationalism, pp. 26-27.

---

The Beginning and the Ending: Spiritualization of the Bible

By Dr. David R. Reagan
Lamb & Lion Ministries



This article is one I have been ruminating about for some time. It was about three years ago when the Lord laid the title on my heart. I began praying about it and searching the Scriptures and turning it over and over in my mind.

Finally, the message began to burn in my heart for a release, and so I decided to pull it together for presentation at our annual Bible conference.

I consider it to be a personal testimony about my faith. As such, you may not agree with what I have to say, but I hope you will respect it, even as I respect those fellow believers who would disagree with me.

Introduction

Let's get started by taking a look at the words that begin and end the Bible.

The Bible begins with these words:

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

The Bible ends with these words:

"He [Jesus] who testifies to these things says, 'Yes, I am coming quickly.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).

The Bible begins with a revelation. The Bible ends with a promise.

Do you believe these words? Do you really believe them without reservation?

If you do, then you are an exception to the norm, for the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of professing Christians — both Catholic and Protestant, including even Evangelicals — do not accept the plain sense meaning of these verses.

The reason is that the beginning and ending of the Bible are the two most abused areas of God's Word. That's because they have been spiritualized into meaninglessness.

The Abuse of Spiritualization

For those of you who may not be familiar with the term, spiritualization, let me explain that it means to argue that the plain sense meaning of Scripture is not its true meaning.

Let me give you a classic example of spiritualization taken from the writings of a theologian by the name of Loraine Boettner. It has to do with his interpretation of Zechariah 14:1-9.

That passage says that in the end times Jerusalem will be surrounded by enemy forces and will be ready to fall to them when the Lord will suddenly return to the Mount of Olives. When His feet touch the Mount, it will split down the middle. The Lord will then speak a supernatural word that will instantly destroy all the enemy forces. And on that day, the Lord will become King over all the earth.

In his commentary on this passage, Boettner completely spiritualized it. [1]

He argued that the Mount of Olives stands for the human heart. The enemy forces symbolize the evil in this world that surrounds and attacks the heart. The Lord's return represents what happens when a person accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Thus, when Jesus comes into a person's heart, their heart (the Mount of Olives) splits in contrition, and all the evil influences in the person's life are defeated, and Jesus becomes king of that person's heart.

That's what I call an exercise in imagination!

Personal Experience

I personally know a lot about spiritualization because I grew up in a church that specialized in this perversion of Scripture. Let me give you an example, and once again, it relates to Zechariah 14, verses 1-9.

I discovered that passage when I was 12 years old, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I read it, because all the preachers I had ever heard had been hard core Amillennialists — people who do not believe that Jesus will ever return to this earth to reign for a thousand years. Over and over I had heard these preachers proclaim, "There is not one verse in the Bible that even implies that Jesus will ever put His feet on this earth again."

Well, here was a passage that did more than imply. It said point blank that the Messiah will return to the Mount of Olives and that when His feet touch ground, the mountain will split in half!

So, in fear and trembling, I went to my pastor, showed him the passage, and asked what it meant. He studied it a long time, and then he stuck his finger in my face and said, "Son, I don't know what this passage means, but I will guarantee you one thing, it doesn't mean what it says."

Why People Spiritualize

People love to spiritualize the Scriptures because when they do so, they can make the Bible say whatever they please, and in the process they get to play God.

Most professing Christians today are members of churches whose leaders use spiritualization to play fast and loose with the beginning and ending of the Bible. The preaching and teaching they hear is based upon spiritualization, and it converts the opening chapters of the Bible into a mythical story, and the ending of the Bible into mythical promises.

In the next part of this series on the beginning and the ending of the Bible, I'll look at how people spiritualize the Creation account.


Endnotes

---

[1] Loraine Boettner, The Millennium (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing Co., 1957).

---

The Crown of Righteousness

By Jack Kinsella
The Omega Letter



In many churches, those members who study Bible prophecy are relegated to the 'lunatic fringe' - politely - and sometimes not so politely - dismissed out-of-hand for wasting their time trying to "divine the future".

Not so. Christians that study prophecy are not trying to “divine the future” – they are earning the “Crown of Righteousness” promised to all those that love His appearing. (2 Timothy 4:8)

The Bible says that there are other rewards, or crowns, set aside for those that dedicate themselves to Christ in a number of different theological disciplines.

The Judgment Seat of Christ is the place where all of the deeds that individuals have done after they have become Christians are revealed and examined to determine whether they be good works or whether they be bad.

Let me emphasize that the word "bad" refers not to sin, but to deeds that are worthless according to His purpose. Whether or not they were sin is irrelevant – all sin is forgiven at the Cross - but every deed has consequences.

The Bema Seat evaluation, therefore, is based upon whether the works that have been done are worthwhile or whether they are worthless.

The Greek word translated as the 'judgment seat' of Christ is the Greek word 'bema'. During the Greek Olympics of Paul's day, the judge would sit on the 'Bema Seat' situated along the finish line. His judgment was to determine who won the gold, who won the silver, who won the bronze, who came in fourth, fifth, etc.

Note that the only ones judged at the Bema Seat are those who cross the finish line.

The Bema Seat is reserved for believers - those who successfully completed the 'race' and specifically to determine their running order and to award their prizes. Unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne.

Scripture teaches that after these works are judged, rewards will be given if the works are worthy. There will be no rewards if the works were unworthy - but that is not the same thing as being condemned.

"If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire." (1st Corinthians 3:15)

Salvation is based on whether or not you trust that Jesus Christ made full payment for your sins, as He promised He would. While we will stand before the Judge as judicially 'righteous' - that righteousness is Christ's alone.

But it is freely offered to whosoever will accept it by faith.

Once we stand before the Bema Seat, our rewards are determined - not our punishment. Our punishment, although richly deserved, has already been borne by our Savior. Now, we are judged according to our works on behalf of the kingdom.

There are those who argue, "You know, I don't think we ought to talk about our rewards. We ought to serve the Lord just because we love Him."

I agree. We ought to serve Him because we love Him, but we have every right and reason in the world to strive to earn our rewards.

Our rewards are based on our works – but not our salvation.

“If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.” (2 Corinthians 3:14)

First, let's look at the different crowns available to the believer. There is the 'incorruptible crown' - what one might term a crown of self-denial. 1st Corinthians 9:24-27 teaches:

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

Not everybody will receive the crown of self-denial. Each of us is gifted with certain strengths according to some predetermined purpose of God. In other words, some things are harder for some than they are for others - according to God's purposes - not our own.

We are judged according to how hard we try.

"Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." (1st Corinthians 12:4-7)

There is also the Crown of Rejoicing - the 'Soul Winner's Crown'.

"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord." Note that Paul is addressing people as a 'crown'. He is saying to those whom Paul has led to Christ, "You are my joy now and you will be my crown by and by." (Philippians 4:1)

"For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?"

Translated literally, it reads, "are not even you, in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ when we stand before Him?"

"One of these days," the Apostle says, "we are all going to stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, and when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, you Philippians, and you Thessalonians, are all going to be elements of my crown."

It is difficult for us to think of people in terms of a crown, but Paul emphasizes that the Philippians and the Thessalonians, among others, are the crown which he expects as an award to him at the Judgment Seat of Christ."

James 1:12 identifies the 'Crown of Life':

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him."

Notice the word "temptation." That is a broad word. Sometimes it means a solicitation to evil - that is, you are tempted to commit murder, or you are tempted to commit adultery. It is a solicitation to evil. Sometimes it is a reference to a test that God permits you to go through as a kind of 'refinement by fire'.

The Lord Himself also speaks of the Crown of Life reward, promising: "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."

'Faithful unto death' is not a condition of salvation - salvation comes by grace through faith in the efficacy of Jesus' sacrifice for sin at the Cross. Keep in mind that the only ones that will stand before the Bema Seat are ALREADY saved by grace.

The Crown of Endurance won't be given to every believer - the Scriptures say of even those who receive NO crowns, as previously noted, "he shall suffer loss: but HE HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire."

There is the Crown of Glory - the crown of the 'undershepherd' or the 'pastor's crown'.

"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1st Peter 5:1-4)

Not every pastor or undershepherd will receive this crown, either. There are those who will fail the test of ‘willing service’ or those who set themselves up as 'lords over God's heritage' instead of being examples to their flocks, or those who fail to feed their charges with God's Word.

Finally, there is the Crown of Righteousness.

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." (2nd Timothy 1:8)

Those who study prophecy, those who dedicate themselves as watchmen on the wall, ready to give the warning of His soon appearing, will receive the Crown of Righteousness from the Righteous Judge at the Bema Seat.

Literally, the Crown of Righteousness means 'a crown for doing right.' Paul is saying, "I have loved the appearing of the Lord. Because I have loved the appearing of the Lord, I have fought a good fight; I have finished the course; I have kept the faith."

Note what Paul did NOT say. He did NOT say, "If you keep the faith, you will receive the Crown of Righteousness." Instead, he says, "If you love His appearing, you will."

Personally, I am not certain that I will receive the crown of self denial. I am not too sure that I keep my body under control enough to deserve this reward.

I am not too sure I will win the soulwinner's crown, although it is one I really, really hope to earn.

I am not sure that I will get the Crown of Glory - as an undershepherd, I have many shortcomings.

I pray for the Crown of Life for enduring life's trials - but I am not certain that I have endured them with the long-suffering love of Christ as I should.

So I am not sure about that one, either.

But I am hopeful of the Crown of Righteousness - it is the easiest one to get. My righteousness is not my own, but that of Christ's, and my love of His soon appearing is an all-consuming passion.

The point to it all is this: We will all one day stand before the Bema Seat - but the Bema Seat is where we are judged for our rewards.

Whether or not I receive all - or even any - of the rewards that are available to me as a believer, I have the certain assurance that, even if I suffer loss, I will still enter heaven, even if it is 'as if by fire'.

And so will all those who have trusted Jesus for their salvation.

“Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's."

"And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's." (2 Corinthians 3:22,23)

Related Links

---

Ready for the Judgment Seat of Christ! - BPB (Ron J. Bigalke Jr.)
The Doctrine of Rewards: The Judgment Seat (Bema) of Christ - Bible.org (J. Hampton Keathley, III)
What is the Judgment Seat of Christ / Bema Seat of Christ? - GotQuestions.org
What is the purpose of the Judgement Seat of Christ? - Grace to You (John MacArthur)
The Future Destiny of the Universal Church - BPB (Arnold Fruchtenbaum)

---