A
SIGN OF THE TIMES
by Brooks Alden
page
2
There is another piece of doctrine that is growing leaps
and bounds in the Israel Movement and has such a foothold
that it has captured a high percentage of our spiritual
leaders, men and women who crisscross the Israel nations
to enlighten Israel groups. And they have been most successful
in getting their message across. Fortunately, the doctrine
has not made any great impact in Christendom as a whole
and one cannot help but wonder why the Israel Truth Movement
has become such a fertile field. This doctrine has become
known as “The Doctrine of Universal Reconciliation”
or simply “Universalism.” If you haven’t
heard of it, don’t worry, a few years ago, most of
us didn’t. Basically it is a doctrine that states
that no matter how wicked one is or no matter how atheistic,
everyone one, including the devil himself, will ultimately
be saved. All it is going to take is up to 49,000 years
of searing in the lake of fire to refine the wicked and
disbeliever to bring him or her into line with Christ. It’s
kind of a take off on purgatory. The purpose of this article
is not to get into the pros and cons of the doctrine, only
to suggest it is not one that was embraced by the fathers
of our faith and that its rapid spreading is indicative
of a tolerance to, as the Apostle Paul states, a different
gospel. Those who want to understand more could read the
article in our June 2002 issue.
One might ask, why now? Why are we witnessing the growth
of so much new or previously discarded doctrine over the
past century or so, doctrine that has splintered Christendom
in such divisive ways, things like the Rapture, Futurism,
conflicting Sabbaths and so on. Why this splintering in
the doctrine of the Israel Truth Movement, a movement once
so similar that if you knew one organization, you knew them
all? Of course, we know the sad answer, we are falling prey
to the “falling away” prophesied by the Apostle
Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2: 3. I suppose we have to ask ourselves,
When did this falling away begin?
On one occasion in the past, I examined the prophecy of
Daniel 12 (TKC May 2001) and I realized what a wonderful
lesson it is on how God makes use of all three methods of
measuring time, that is Solar, Lunar and Solar-Lunar (Prophetic)
times. To see the terminal point of 1817-1825 AD on God’s
calendar when the measurement of 6000 years of Lunar time
is applied can only be appreciated as one realizes it marked
the rapid advance of travel and knowledge, both good and
evil, as prophesied in Daniel 12: 4. Yet, considering the
onset of the lukewarm Church of Laodicea mentioned in Revelation
ties into this dating as well, it marks the beginning of
the “falling away,” a period that has seen the
acceptance of futurism, the rapture, a different Sabbath
for many, splintering of the faith, a different Jesus, universalism,
and on and on and on.
It’s intriguing to note how applying 6000 prophetic
years brings us to the pivotal period of 1909 to 1917, a
period during which the consummation of the ages is indicated
in the Great Pyramid, the period of intensified judgment
beginning with the Great War of 1914, the liberation of
Jerusalem, the end of the thrones of the Babylonian succession,
etc. Then the 6000 solar years bringing us to the pivotal
period of 1996 to 2005, marking the transfer of the Stony
of Destiny, the scattering of the power of true Israel,
the double fulfillment of the prophecy of Amos 1: 1 with
911 and perhaps the final judgment. Yet the 180 years (a
half of a time) from the beginning of the falling away has
been a time of great joy for the enemies of Christendom
as the watering down has truly brought the Church of Laodecia
into full bloom. It would be well for all of us to review
Revelation 3: 14-21. “And to the angel of the church
of Laodiceans write, “These things says the Amen,
the faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation
of God: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor
hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because
you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit
you out of My mouth….. Behold, I stand at the door
and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him and he with Me.
To him that overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne ….” I think it is not enough for us to
just go with the flow and tolerate being “neither
hot nor cold” as we listen to false doctrine being
promulgated. As for me, I shall forthwith try to be hot,
to stand up for the Faith of our Fathers and do what I can
to not let false doctrine enter the chambers, whether in
a small group discussion, a one on one conversation or a
large meeting. How about you? Remember, we have no better
counsel than that given us by the Apostle Paul when he said
“cut off their opportunity to speak.” How critical
it is to stop false doctrine entering any further into our
Israel Truth Movement, indeed, into Christendom as a whole.
