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THE CULTING OF CHRISTIANITY

 

The Occult Roots of

The Rapture Cult – Part XIV

 

 

 

 

 

The faded fingerprints of Satan have now been found on Christian era documents down through the ages, and the esoteric teachings of those who taught that salvation was based on knowledge (the "gnosis" in the Greek) instead of faith, have been discerned to have impacted even the Holy Bible. Even though many fine scholars have concluded the work of the "church fathers" who opposed the Gnostics indicates the LORD's true doctrine was with them, we have surmised a secondary, more subtle influence also impacted early Christianity.

 

The Egyptian channel for the dissemination of the Gospel was neutralized quickly, through the activities of the Spirit of Antichrist, which was peculiarly identified with the Sethian Gnostics. However, the more conservative of the early Christians who fought the onslaught of Occultism, were also impacted – albeit in a slower, more sophisticated way.

 

What is particularly revealing is how it is predominantly the early Christian writers who opposed the Gnostics, who are usually cited by modern Rapture Cult communicators as having known of, or taught the pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine. For example, Rapture Cult liar Chuck Missler speaks for many who are equally deceived, when he dismisses the lengthy research into the dissemination of the doctrine.

 

"This idea [pre-trib] is not a new idea. There's a myth going around that this is all a recent invention. You can find these ideas in The Epistle of Barnabus, which is in the first century…Irenaeus, in his Against Heresies, Hippolytus, in the 2^nd century, Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho…" (Steeling the Mind Of America – Rapture: Who What, When, Where and How, Chuck Missler, 1996, Compass International).

 

What the dishonest deceivers in the Rapture Cult never acknowledge is how the figures they routinely name as "Rapturists" were largely quoting Occult works that did propose the Rapture doctrine, in order to put forth a Scripturally centered reproof of the Gnostics. Unfortunately, the evidence submitted in the present work shows the avalanche of Gnostic thought gradually penetrated the thinking of even the most dedicated clerics early in the Christian era.

 

Furthermore, the warm welcome given to pseudepigraphical materials exhibited by Rapture Cult pastors and teachers in recent times is a powerful indictment of just how far the great falling away has progressed. As previously noted, the embrace of known forgeries penned by dishonest theorists (such as Pseudo Ephraem), is strikingly similar to the eclectic Gnosticism found in antiquity.

 

In fact, as honest researchers have repeatedly exposed, we now know the ungodly practice of citing historical figures who supposedly taught Rapture Cult doctrine centuries ago (as a way of legitimatizing the doctrine) occurred from the very beginning of the "Christianized" version of the Sethian Rapture Cult. In this regard, research into the progression associated with the dissemination of the doctrine in the 19^th century clearly shows the early proponents of "Christian" pre-trib committed the very same type of dishonest historical revisionism we see today.

 

Just as Irenaeus and Ephraem the Syrian opposed the blasphemy of the Sethian Occultists in the first few centuries of the Christian era, a forceful Christian named Samuel P Tregelles (1813-1875) exposed the Rapture Cult dishonesty in the 19^th century, as the Sethian apostasy was re-introduced as a "Christian" doctrine. Further, eerily anticipating modern Cult tactics, Tregelles (and others) lamented how the Rapture Cult was willing to twist ancient writer's work, by trying to show the Protestant Reformers taught the pre-tribulation Rapture doctrine!

 

Writing in 1880, a writer named William Reid quoted Tregelle's even earlier exasperation at the dishonesty in the Rapture Cult:

 

"Not only have bad and heterodox tracts been written, but there have emanated from Dublin [John Darby's home], professed extracts from the writings of the Reformers and others, in which the liberty has been taken of altering their words and doctrines, so as to suit the taste and theology of the reviser" (Five Letters, pp 22, 28, 29, William Reid, Plymouth Brethrenism Unveiled and Refuted, 1880, cited in The Rapture Plot, Dave MacPherson, page 145, emphasis mine).

 

Tregelles went on to describe in some detail, the very same practice which we now see in Cult circles: an abundance of citations from ancient sources, with subtle shifts in words, and out of context statements, which seek to prove pre-trib was embraced in Christian thought for the last two thousand years.

 

"There is no intimation given of such changes having been made; all appears under some known and venerable name; so that the doctrines are ascribed to some ancient writer, which really are those of some modern [Rapturist]" (Five Letters, 1880, cited in MacPherson, page 145).

 

From the beginning, the Rapture Cult has relied on this type of deception and subtlety, demonstrating a slithery ability which enabled the Cult to defer scrutiny on the grounds of Christian unity. Indeed, in previous efforts we've shown the shrewd cunning of the Rapture Cult, including its unique ability to function like a Spiritual virus, replicating itself within existing religious structures.

 

Just as the ubiquitous Gnostics spread their poison among existing Christian groups shortly after Christ's ascension, once the theme of "Seth" evacuating his flock in anticipation of the Great Tribulation had been successfully integrated into the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Satanic doctrine's proponents used the same tactics of infiltration. However, a few hardy Christian souls braved the scorn of the "believers" who excoriated them for issuing warnings the roaring lion was now in the sanctuary, seeking whom he may devour.

 

For instance, in 1872, one Thomas Croskery of Ireland wrote of the Rapture Cult's pernicious efforts to infiltrate existing churches.

 

"The zealous and aggressive sect known as the Plymouth brethren [the denomination transformed into the Rapture Cult through John Nelson Darby]…represents among existing denominations a system of pure ecclesiastical communism…The aim of the Brethren is to gather churches out of churches, to disintegrate all existing bodies by opening a door in each, not for the exit of the faithless and false-hearted, but the pious and the good; and, accordingly, they prowl unceasingly round all our churches, seeking to reap where they have not sown…."

 

"There never was anything so frightful as the spirit of their controversies: they exceed all the worst men of the Churches in their calm way of saying the most malignant things" (The Princeton Review, Thomas Croskery, Jan 1872, pp 48-77, cited in MacPherson, the Rapture Plot).

 

This process of infiltration paid dividends as the Rapture Cult carefully came to political power through the penetration of existing religious structures in Europe. As the power of the Cult grew, it jumped the Atlantic seeking greener pastures in the Americas. Indeed, a voluminous paper trail exists showing the progress of the Spirit of Antichrist which now sits comfortably in the temple of God. 

 

A case in point was the original premier prophecy conference in North America, which was comprised of devout Christians from the USA and Canada. The Niagara Bible Conference ignored British warnings about the subtle tactics of the Cult, and allowed the new "Christianized" Gnostic originated pre-tribulationist doctrine to be presented at their annual events in the late 1800's.

 

Stressing the centrality of Christ as a way of putting aside their differences with the mainstream denominations, the Rapture Cult eventually came to positions of prominence in American seminaries, print periodicals, and prophecy meetings. The contemporary nonsense espoused by cultists who say "we shouldn't be divided over non-essentials" was the very methodology used in the 19^th century.

 

After infiltrating the Niagara Bible Conference with the novel doctrine, the Spirit occupying the Rapture Cult sought to consolidate their gains. Just after the turn of the 20^th century, the Cult moved to produce their own prophecy conference called the Sea Cliff Bible Conference and, unlike the naiveté exhibited by the Niagara Bible Conference leadership (Luke 16:8), they refused to allow any non-pretribulationists to participate. With a lack of support, The Niagara Conference folded, and the Cult onslaught expanded, as they tightened their consensus based grip on Bible prophecy in America.

 

Those who sought to show the dubious nature of the doctrine soon saw their ministries failing, their books reaching fewer individuals among the Christian populace, and their congregations waning. In previous work, this writer has documented cases of students kicked out of Bible schools for even expressing doubts concerning the Rapture doctrine, and as well as pastors and writers denied ministry opportunities for which they were well qualified. I've also shown multiple examples of Rapture Cult forces exerting pressure in media circles to deny access to anyone challenging the doctrinal apostasy.

 

By the 21^st century, Cult pastor-writers like the late Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel triumphantly stated the success of any ministry clearly depended on favorably responding to the Rapture doctrine.

 

"…your view of the rapture will have a significant impact on the success of your ministry" (Doctrinal Distinctives, Chuck Smith, page 73).

 

 

-- James Lloyd

 

 

 

Next: The Racism In The Rapture Cult Was Anticipated In The Sethian Gnostics

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