Saturday, July 14, 2012



 Question 4 - Pre-Trib's THIRD CHANCE 
From its very beginnings, Dispensationalism, also called, "Pre-Trib," has confronted criticism for promoting the view that people on earth will have a, "Second Chance," after Jesus comes. In spite of this, Pre-Trib has become pretty much the prevailing view within Christianity. Some Pre-Trib Promoters have taken this second chance to another level. They have an extended view that adds a very vexing Ponderable Question! Actually, it is so non-Biblical that it's hardly worth taking the time to address it, but some very popular Pre-Trib Preachers promote the view with enthusiasm. They claim there'll be some who are, "Left Behind" that will not only have 7 years to get saved, they'll have an additional thousand years to decide. All Pre-Tribbers say that when Jesus sets up His Kingdom here on Earth, He will especially reward those who had been kind to the Jews during the Tribulation, and punish those who treated the Jews badly during this time. These, "Third Chance" Pre-Trib Promoters teach that when Jesus pronounces Judgment on those who treated the Jews with kindness during the Tribulation, His Judgment is not directed at individual persons who were kind to the Jews, His Judgment is directed at whole nations. And, when Jesus pronounces condemnation on those who treated the Jews badly during the Tribulation, again, His Judgment is not directed at individuals, but rather whole nations. Each nation will be Judged based on the leaders of that nation. We recognize that some of the Preachers and Teachers holding this view are sincere and honest, thus we want to be respectful and not harsh in explaining their view. But we also must also be truthful, so with this in mind, let's look at some things these Pre-Trib Promoters have overlooked.

These Pre-Trib Promoters are teaching a view that says a person can be unsaved and wicked when Jesus comes to set up a Millennial Kingdom, but because the leaders of the wicked person's nation were kind to the Jews during the Tribulation, he, in his unsaved, wicked condition, will remain alive and enter the Jewish Earthly Millennial Kingdom, thus that person will have a, "Third Chance" to get saved. One need only to think about this view for a moment, and common sense should seriously question it and reject it outright! And what do, "Third Chance" Pre-Trib promoters give as proof for their teaching?, Again, in fairness to the honest and sincere Pre-Tribbers holding this view, we'll give these, "Third Chance" promoters a moment of credibility. Jesus said He will, "gather ALL Nations," then He said something that could make it appear the, "Third Chance" promoters could be correct. However, we must say now that Bible evidence is overwhelmingly to the contrary:

Gather the Nations
"When the Son of Man shall come in His Glory, and all the Holy Angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the Throne of His Glory. And before Him shall be gathered ALL of the Nations; and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats" (Matt.25:32)! Again, giving the honest Pre-Tribbers the benefit of a doubt, Jesus said, He shall separate them (them seems to be referring to nations, not persons) one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats." Will Jesus judge whole Nations at this time, or individual persons within these Nations? A quick surface reading might indicate whole nations, but, everything it being thus is totally contrary to everything else the Bible teaches about salvation. From our study, it appears that most Pre-Trib Promoters see this separation process as person by person, thus only the saved people from all Nations enter the Kingdom. We can quickly see the obvious Pondered Question here for Pre-Tribbers promoting the, "third chance." There would be unsaved, even extremely evil people entering God's Kingdom. This cannot happen for several reasons. Let's look at just a few:

Certain Bad People Included - Certain Good People Excluded
To believe the Third Chance Theory would be to believe that certain good persons could be members of a bad Nation, but, these good persons risked their very lives to protect the Jews, yet still be condemned to Hell when Jesus separates the Sheep and Goat Nations. Such persons would be sent to, "Everlasting Fire prepared for the Devil and his angels" (Matt.25:41). Again, to be respectful to, "Third Chance Pre-Trib Promoters, we suggest these Promoters will say that Jesus would make exceptions for such persons. But there is more Bible evidence denying a Third Chance, and evidence that no wicked person will enter God's Millennial Kingdom. Let's look:

"Let Him that is Unjust, Let Him Unjust Still"
This eliminates any possibility of any Second Chance  or Third Chance after Jesus Comes. John was shown that, just before Jesus, "Comes Quickly" (Rev.22:12), He will make the following declaration: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; he that is filthy, let him be filthy still" (Rev.22:11). If this proclamation is made just before Jesus comes to take His people to Heaven, can there be any Second or Third Chance to get saved after He comes? 

"My Reward is With Me"
Jesus revealed to John that, when He, "Comes Quickly," He will bring with Him the Rewards for every man. "Behold I come Quickly, and My reward is with Me to give to every man according as his work shall be" (Rev.22:12). The words, "I come quickly" can mean nothing other than Jesus is speaking of the very next time He comes to earth, and that coming will be to take His people; His Church, back to the place He has prepared for them (See Jn.14:1-3). Thus, according to Jesus, when He comes, He will, "Reward EVERY man according as his works shall be." If it were true that, for seven years after Jesus, "Comes Quickly," there will be a 7 Year Tribulation during which time all of those, "Left Behind" will be deciding their fate, and thus what their rewards will be, and if it were true that, for a thousand years after the Tribulation, people will again be deciding their rewards, John certainly didn't relay that message to us! John understood perfectly, and relayed exactly what Jesus said. 

"But the Righteous into Life Eternal"
A pillar Prophecy that Pre-Trib says is proof of a Millennial Kingdom here on this earth is Christ's Parable/Prophecy about the Sheep and the Goats. In it Jesus said He would separate the Sheep and the Goats and then told the fate of each group. "And these (the Goats) shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous (the Sheep) into Life Eternal" (Matt.25:46). Pre-Trib says the Sheep are those treating the Jews kindly during the Tribulation and the Goats are those treating the Jews badly. If this is Pre-Trib's position, they have no choice but to admit that every gentile entering the Millennial Kingdom has, "Life Eternal." The problem that Third Chance Pre-Trib promoters have is too obvious. If wicked people enter the Millennial Kingdom because they happened to be members of a Nation treating the Jews kindly during the Tribulation, these wicked people would be granted, "Life Eternal." It should be clear that there'll be no Third Chance for lost people after Jesus Comes Quickly. But, there is one more Bible fact that denies any Second or Third Chance:

"Done it to the Least of These My Brethren"
We have a Blogsite about Pre-Trib's version of the Sheep and the Goats, and the problems Pre-Trib has fitting the Rapture, the Tribulation, the Jews, and a Millennial Kingdom here on earth into that parable. See, "The Sheep and the Goats."  Pre-Trib adds a third group to the Sheep and the Goats in Christ's Parable/Prophecy. Pre-Trib takes a very strong stand against anything that remotely resembling, "Salvation by Works," yet, this is exactly what Pre-Trib claims will happen to all of the "Sheep," Jesus spoke about here. Are they saying, "Be nice to a Jew during the Tribulation, and you'll be granted Life Eternal!" To answer this Question, and to see Pre-Trib's position on the Sheep and Goats, see
"The Sheep and the Goats." 
 
Conclusion
A careful examination into all of the Bible Prophecies shows clearly that no Second or Third Chance will be available after Jesus, "Comes Quickly and His Reward is with Him to give to Every man." And, if we accept that, just before Jesus, "Comes Quickly," He will proclaim, "Let him that is unjust be unjust still...let him that is filthy be filthy still," and we build our doctrines and Theories around this, all Bible Prophecies will fit together perfectly. Let's continue to pray for, "God's Spirit to guide us into all truth, and show us things to come" (Jn.16:13)! This Author is praying for you, Dear Reader, as you continue to study His Word. Accept no one except the Holy Spirit as your Guide!!

Thank you SO much, Dear Reader, for your time and interest!
Your Brother in Christ
Walter C. Martin Jr.

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Check Our Other Websites:

Pre-Tribulation Rapture
Post-Tribulation Second Coming of Jesus
Will We Eat Pigs During the Millennium?

Planet Earth WILL be Destroyed After the 1000 Years!
New Jerusalem - How BIG is It?
Great White Throne Judgment Seat - When and Where
Christ's Kingdom - Millennial or EVERLASTING?

 Hell Fire
Is God Torturing People Now
Did Jesus Suffer ALL of Your Hell?
The Rich Man and Lazarus?
Death
The Dead - Dead or Alive - What is Death?
Did Jesus Die YOUR Death for You?
Will Satan Ever Die - Bible Says "YES!"
Testing Our Doctrine About Death
The Dead Stand Before Great White Throne Judgment Seat

 The Gnostics Attack the Sabbath
Were Gnostics Really Christian?
Were Gnostics Satan's Implants into the Church?
Is Gnosticism Alive and Well in Today's Churches
Church is Israel - Israel is Church
Is the Church Israel and Israel the Church?
Is the Bride of Jesus the 144 Thousand?
Did Jesus Offer the Jews a Millennial Kingdom in His Ministry?
Will New Jerusalem Sit in Israel? How Big is It?
Christ's REAL EVERLASTING Kingdom is for ALL Believers!

The Sabbath
Is it a Sin to Observe the Sabbath?
Is There a Connection Between the Rapture and the Sabbath?
Will the Sabbath Be Observed By God's People During the Tribulation?
Who REALLY Changed the Sabbath in Early Christianity?
Un-Answered and Un-Answerable Sabbath Questions For Popular Preachers
How to Test Your Doctrine Concerning the Sabbath

Heaven
Marriage in Heaven - Millennial Kingdom?
Strange Animal/Demons the Millennium?
Why Jesus Hasn't Come to Take Us To Heaven?
Teachers of Anomia (Law Annulling)
Good Ministers Teaching Against God's 10 Commandments?
Teaching of Anomia - The Reason Jesus Hasn't Come Yet?
Pre-Trib Rapture and Sabbath
Pre-Trib Rapture and the Sabbath?

Walter C. Martin Jr.
Everlasting Gospel Ministries

These are just a few of the questions we examine in our Websites.
Thank you, Dear Reader,  for checking them. Please feel free to give us your comments and feedback if you look at our Sites.  If you send us your questions or comments, we will try to answer and add your question to these Websites. We will Not give your name or E-Mail address to ANY ONE or ANY Church Group or Denomination! Nor will we send you ANY annoying E-Mails!! It is NOT our purpose to get you to withdraw from your present Church, but to invite you to present things you learn here to your Pastor and Friends.
Let's pray that God will continue sending His Holy Spirit to guide as we prepare for Jesus to come. Thank You!
Your Brother in Christ!
Walter C. Martin Jr
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