Why Did Pastor Chuck Predict the Rapture?: The Mark Series pt 55 (
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มี.ค. 2021
- I've had a number of people asking me about when pastor Chuck Smith predicted the rapture. It's an uncomfortable topic for a Calvary Chapel pastor, which I am, and for someone who looks up to and deeply appreciates pastor Chuck, as I do. This is because Chuck Smith is the founder of Calvary Chapel and I can say that his ministry has had a big, positive impact in my own life. But I think we should talk about it for a few specific reasons.
1) It did happen.
2) It has not been publicly dealt with, to my knowledge. In fact, it appears as though it has been denied.
3) My own ministry has led many people to Calvary Chapels and I feel obligated to talk about this because it's a significant issue in our past and I owe it to those who are or will attend Calvary Chapel churches because of my influence.
4) It wasn't just mentioned in one message. Pastor Chuck predicted it in multiple books and over the course of years.
5) It's based on a misinterpretation of Scripture which is still common among pastors today. It just so happens that this passage of Scripture is the one we are covering today in our verse by verse study in the Gospel of Mark.
6) Many pastors, in my own movement as well as beyond, have gotten in the habit of playing fast and loose with predictions related to the rapture, the tribulation and the second coming and I think that if we look honestly about mistakes of the past we can be warned not to fall into the same mistakes in the future. And if my own understanding is correct, we can expect to see a great deal of reckless prophetic speculation in the years to come. We would do well to be prepared for it.
I really should have mentioned that in Mark 11 the fig tree being cursed is thought by some to specially represent Israel. Here is my response to that. The fig tree there is used to make an example that relates to Israel or the Temple but I don’t think that’s because fig trees in general represent Israel (see my survey of its usage in the Old Testament from the video). Also, the context in Mark 13 shows Jesus is using the budding of the fig tree to refer to the two signs He mentions and not using fig trees in general as a representation of the nation Israel existing. In addition to this, the parallel passage in Luke shows that Jesus said “the fig tree and all the trees”. In other words, even if a fig tree might specially represent Israel in some cases it didn’t in this passage because all the trees aren’t fig trees.
This is part 55 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 13:28-30.
Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture.
See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. • The Gospel of Mark Ser...
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If you notice a video glitch just before the 10 minute mark it's because the stream cut out for a moment. All that happened at that time was me reading a quote from "End Times" Pg. 35, where pastor Chuck Smith wrote the following as an alternative possible fulfillment of his understanding of the generation prophecy.
“However, it is possible that Jesus is dating the beginning of the generation from 1967 when Jerusalem was again under Israeli control for the first time since 587 B.C. We don’t know for sure which year actually makes the beginning of the last generation.”
We can learn a few things from this but I think what I'd want to point out the most is that he was convinced of his view but not dogmatic about it. He not only said he could be wrong, he also said this 1967 date was another possibility instead of his preferred 1948 date. Although, as I shared in the video, I think both dates are based on misinterpreting the fig tree to be a symbol of something happening nationally to Israel instead of taking it's budding showing that summer is near as an analogy for seeing the 2 signs Jesus specifically mentioned and knowing that His coming is near.
Thank you for clarifying and providing what was said. That helps a lot.
Jesus Christ would not disclose the date of his return, maybe we should stop trying to predict it.
I can't believe you did this. Your a total arse and I don't even like Chuck Smith. This is discord.
Thanks for sharing about a different view of the fig tree.
I suppose it could point to both? May be? The Bible is full of parallels. Either way, we need to be open and not adhere to closely to any speculation. We can be sure on one thing: Yeshua is coming back for His bride.
As a former Jehovah witness I appreciate how you are able to question and say that your pastor is wrong and go into details about why and how. If this was done by a current member of Jehovah witnesses, this person would loose all of his friends and family under the false label of an apostate when really he, just as you are doing now, is only teaching the word of God and following the scripture of iron sharpened iron. It really says a lot about your character and the church you attend.
Glad you learned to think on your own and got freed from a restricted religion
Just like Islam, all cults like JW are alike.
That is why I know christianity is true, we are encouraged to question and it stands up to scrutiny.
The publishings of the pointless arithmetic tricks of Chuck Smith showed that he ignored the words of Jesus in Acts 1:7
Iron sharpening iron.
Is that what you call it?
Tens of thousands of loosely connected congregations who can't even agree on basic theology.
Where's God's spirit in all of this?
If the holy spirit was involved in this equation there wouldn't be so much conflict among interpretations.
The confusion ALONE tells me These are just interpretations of men.
My husband and I were a young couple with two small children and convinced the Lord would rapture the church in the early 80s, not because we were told this, it just felt right. All our friends would sit around talking about it with such excitement . 40 years later we still sit with our friends and talk about how His coming could be any day. So with great excitement, we will continue looking for His return.
Amen!
Amen
As we all should!
This is a high stakes game, billions r going to hell, frankly most of us dont really understand it. but its good that u r enjoying the game. Only a party pooper would not have fun at the judgement of the billions in perpetual fire or what ever nasty place it is. Its not as if we r connected in any way to any of these losers is it. I hope nobody ruins the party by raising that point - we just need to be be so grateful we are not so screwed as they r.
@@gtolose So are you more like the Pharisee, or the Publican?
When someone predicts a date for the rapture, I immediately mark my calendar as a date the rapture WILL NOT be happening.
@Dik Burns Cool bro
😂
I Thessalonians 4 bro.... Read it.
It’s weird how evangelicals rightly call out Joseph Smith and the JWs, but give a pass to Darby and Scofield. They were all false teachers and heretics.
If someone predicts the rapture will happen today and they do it every day, eventually they will be right! :)
As a new believer in 1979, Chuck Smith was a huge influence in my walk with the Lord. He was on the radio in Cleveland, Ohio. I thank God for the strong foundation his teaching gave me. He wasn’t inerrant, he was a man. Thank you for how you dealt with this error without tearing down all the good he did.
What station was he on. I’m originally from Lake Co., Ohio
@@craigbathurst1185 neither my husband nor myself can remember what station. But it was an AM station and he was on at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Sorry, I can’t remember more.
The 1st time I ever heard of Jesus Christ was at a Calvary Chapel that my babysitter took me to. I love that lady! :)
So glad Pastor Chuck was wrong. I didn't get saved until 1986. I would've been Left Behind. 😳
I wasn't even born that year! Thank God he was wrong haha.
There's a possibility you could of become a Tribulation Saint , depending on how much Light ,Bible, Gospel you already knew before the Rapture. But GOD Be praised you Got Saved ... The LORD is Longsuffering
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@Augustuty Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@longstreet2740 Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
As a Calvary guy myself, I’m truly grateful that you addressed this. It’s important that we don’t shy away from addressing past mistakes because then we miss out on the chance to learn from them. Well done Mike Winger. Very balanced, fair and gracious video.
I want to go to a Calvary chapel here in my hometown, but I heard about some controversies about SA and am hesitating. Any advice?
I go to Calvary Chapel and I love it. I am a fairly new Christian in a way. I grew up in a Christian home then walked away and converted to Mormonism and left in August. Now I go to Calvary Chapel and am very grateful for the friends I had from young adults from Calvary Chapel who helped me leave Mormonism I also had friends from TikTok (we started a zoom bible study during quarantine) who also helped me to leave Mormonism. In October I had made the decision to get baptized. Everyone at Calvary has been amazing when my mom got sick. Just really wanted to share this.
I had a huge revelation watching a JW cartoon… they literally were the same as we were in so many ways.
What a cool story!
Awesome. I love Calvary chapels and respect Chuck Smith so much! This was one example of when I can disagree with a great pastor without having to disregard all of his teachings. Bible first. ❤️
Yes, wars and rumors of war and etc. are not signs of the harpazo, they are signs of when Jesus comes and his feet touch ground. The harpazo happens before that "Day of the Lord", because we are not appointed to the Wrath of God. So in a way, they are signs of the rapture.
Pastor Chuck interpreted Scripture on his own personal interpretation... thank God I became Catholic Christian.
@Martin Ramsbottom because people can repent and grow even pastors. Fortunately this is known and in our Calvary church our pastor discussed this and our congregation is aware. It can be viewed as a reason to remember not to worship men but always focus on Jesus.
@Martin Ramsbottom maybe an over enthusiastic prophet and wishful thinking. Thank God that the law came by Moses but truth and grace come by Jesus Christ. I really think Mike should have just dealt with the teaching and left Chuck Smith out of it but this is Mike's immaturity on display. If he should happen to live long enough he'll understand this.
@Martin Ramsbottom jesus says that in that we take scripture seriously. When is the last time you studied Galatians? The law only applies to those who aren't in Christ and it still is useful for practical reasons but in Christ we have a new covenant. The law was our school master leading us to Christ and the cross and his death burial and resurrection. We are now free of the law of sin and death. This is all milk of the word of God. The just shall live by faith. Do a study of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews and you get who are the just and how they live and live in faith.
I'm a Calvary guy and am so glad that you took this on, Mike. Proud of you and thank you!
I was among the earliest "Jesus Freaks" when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1970. Went to the original Calvary Chapel when it was in what is now the Maranatha Village Book Store. Pastor Chuck baptized me in Newport Dunes, and performed my marriage...in the original little church. I went all through the tent years, then into the new church. I remember quite well Pastor Chuck's teachings on the Rapture. I seem to recall he said it would be "by" 1981, not specifically in 1981, but that is of no consequence.
I had counted upon the Rapture for those years, but as it turns out, God has placed me where I am in this time and place for a reason. God has prepared me for many decades now for the road that lays ahead. I don't hold Pastor Chuck in any light but the utmost love and respect. I look forward to seeing him again when we all finally go "home".
Thanks, Mike. I was aware of Chuck Smith's prediction. I respect your candor in light of your affiliation. Blessings.
This is why I respect Mike Winger... He lovingly calls out error when he see's it, even if the person he is calling out is a well respected leader.😀😀😀
R-E-S-P-E-C-T (in Aretha voice)
As a strong supporter of the channel I think time and effort could have been placed elsewhere. Why bring up and beat this dead horse? Pastor Smith is dead, he was apparently a good man that made a wrong prediction (I have yet to have someone plainly show me biblically where this is a sin, much less a serious one) and lastly it was almost 40 years ago. Do we not have more pressing issues? 90% of Christians slip in the back row at the First Church of Laodecia, totally dead, and we are telling believers to chill out about the rapture? I'd say we need a vitamin B shot more than a tranquilizer.
@@bassmanjr100 Every issue is an issue. Are you protecting the Calvary Chapel denomination over truth? Why is it ok to call out Ellen G. White for her false prophecies within Seventh-Day Adventist church and not Chuck Smith?
A false prophet is a false prophet. No need in saying it was a mistake. It was a false prophecy, not a false prediction.
@@EdgeOfEntropy17 what makes it a prediction as opposed to a prophesy is chuck never claimed to have heard from God
I had a teacher say that we need to live like Jesus is coming tomorrow and plan like he might not come back for 60 years. I don't know when Jesus will return.....but it is someone's last day here on earth. We need to share Jesus.
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
Will you stop trolling??
"Overzealous eschatology": there was quite a bit of it around in 1981.
In June of that year I'd travelled to my home town and called to see a a friend. While we were sitting talking there was a knock on the door and a young guy was standing there. He said that God had told him to come and talk to us, and shared about the impending return of Jesus, and invited us to a meeting the following night.
On June 18, 1981 I was born again (along with my friend). Maybe in a sense we were scared into the kingdom, I don't know, but I do know that my life was changed forever, and give thanks for that young man who knocked on that door 41 years ago.
Well done, Pastor Mike. Great reminder to us all that “ when the plain sense of Scripture makes good sense, seek no other sense lest you get nonsense.”
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@ThetennisDr How come you say the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over again? Are you trolling? I don't care if you have 5000 videos or none!
@@ThetennisDr Honest people don't put out false prophecies or predictions
You've got my respect Mike. I'm from Calvary Chapel and I think you've said it fairly. Don't worry I won't unsubscribe to your channel nor leave Calvary. Good job. 😉
Good stuff, Mike. much appreciated. I shared the pulpit with pastor chuck in 1983 at Cal State Fullerton. It was such an honor to get to meet with him and share preaching duties that day. You have been so honest, and straight talking here. Well done. I'm not a Calvary Chapel guy, but have always appreciated the movement. I preach right now in Scotland in a non denominational church. I really appreciate your channel, brother.
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@ThetennisDr Well Mike Winger said to let him know if he has erred. Have you brought it to his attention?
@@ThetennisDrRead his books. That's what Mike is quoting here. If you knew anything about Mike Winger you'd know that he doesn't say anything without checking it out first. He quoted directly from Chuck Smith's books.
I'll
Spent a lot of time at Calvary, in my heart I consider myself a Calvary guy also. I’ve been helped so much through Chuck Smith’s teaching, but we all make mistakes and need to be careful to own up and be honest about those mistakes. It’s amazing how much more respect, we Garner from leaning into humility and honesty concerning mistaken doctoral positions we may have taken in the past. It is not a bad time to be a “Berean”, even looking at the teachings of our own home church.
In the essentials, unity, in non essentials, liberty, in all things, charity.
God bless you for your integrity and prioritizing the Word, brother! Your ministry is truly a blessing for many!
Thank you, Mike. I SO appreciate your ministry! I just saw ‘Jesus Revolution’ and listened to an interview Greg Laurie did with Pastor Chuck Smith a year before Chuck died. I’m not a youngster anymore, I was 29 when I came to the Lord in 1980 (you do the math) and I listened to Pastor Chuck from Calvary Chapel on the radio. Absolutely loved it. I will never unsubscribe to your channel because you teach Truth! Even at my age I am learning to think Biblically because of you. Can’t wait to meet you someday! God Bless you!
Hi Mike, I was saved in a Calvary church. I know God could have saved me in a jail cell, a bar, or even in my shower, but for whatever reason, he worked through an obedient Pastor and fellow servants.
I've watched so much good fruit in my Calvary church through the years and I still appreciate this video. Not just because of the content but how it is presented in love (you can find plenty of bitter hatred towards Calvary online).
Just like we look in the mirror and fix our hair, we need to look at ourselves and make adjustments.
It's a balancing act to make adjustments versus becomong an abomination to God. Too many people become false witnesses speaking half-truths and create divisions among believers. In our local Calvary church, a large group of Calvanists created a division and left. It was so sad for me, many people I called friends left without saying goodbye.
Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
Mike, I’ve just been studying with you, a short while. About a month. You’re a real blessing! I’ve learned so much already. I’m an old lady, been saved 36 years. I’ve read straight through the Bible 3 times and studied most of the books individually.
I love your style and attention to detail. I’ve been binging your videos.
Thank you so very much! This particular video is very important!
Like Rose Shoemaker, I recently started watching your videos and they are truly a blessing. I was saved in 1980 (yep, I’m old too). In all my years of study from John MacArthur, Pat Robertson, Max Lucado, Chuck Swindoll, and numerous pastors and Sunday school teachers I have found your teaching to be the most thorough, compelling, enlightening and inspiring of them all. Thank you!
I'm a year late to this party. In 1995, I was utterly lost and drifting aimlessly. Some guy I briefly dated invited me to go to church with him---he went to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. I figured it was worth a shot, even though I was agnostic and had no spiritual background. I'll always remember the moment that Chuck Smith started talking on the Book of John. His way of making it simple, his piercing eyes, and his warm smile drew me in so that I listened and heard. God spoke to me that day and I was saved eternally. Praise the Lord for using the nitwit I dated and the flawed but also godly human, Chuck Smith. I'm forever grateful!
It takes a deeply humble man to put Jesus and His teachings before friends, church family or the "perception" people may have of Calvary based on this video. My hope is, that is what God's children will see & hear when they watch this message. I believe you did the right thing and if Pastor Chuck is as lovely as you say, then your community already knows his heart and your intentions. KEEP IT UP, BUTTER CUP!!🙏❤😊
I am a member from Calvary Chapel in Cape Town South Africa, really enjoy your teachings and you haven't lost me. God Bless, keep on teaching until He returns.
It's happening anytime now BUT none should put a date on it.
Be sober, vigilant and ready.
Mathew 24: 36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.....this is known as dispensationalism in what you say~
I am a 15 month only believer and God helped me find chuck smith and mike winger and between the two of them and Jack Hibbs I have been on a healthy diet of the word every since :) thank you Lord for taking care of me!!
❤❤❤
I am 62 and was heavily involved in Calvary Fellowship (a Calvary in Seattle). Until now, I did not know about this prediction. However, I clearly remember Chuck speaking at our church (it might have been just before ore just after 1981) and explicitly saying "I cannot see the world going on past the 80s ". I went to this church from 1976 until 1990. Thanks for your boldness and kindness.
This is why I don’t recommend any church to anyone, I just direct people to scripture, and lead them to pray for direction to find a church.
You should know to steer Christians from certain churches. Don't let them waste time and energy church shopping and possibly getting caught up in a horrible church.
Many Christians need to repent of the gospel of signs. Repent.
@@lkae4 totally agreed!
Excellent comment.
let's not through the baby out ...
Yeah, me too. Especially these days!
I listened to Pastor Chuck for years. I learned so much about scripture. I got saved in 1979 and listened to his teachings for years. I'm 72 now and still listen to many Calvary Chapel pastors. I never remember him saying that , I just found listening to you.
My story is the exact same as yours. Born again 1979 and I'm 72. It's always good to depend solely on scripture and be good Bereans. I still attend a Calvary and we still study verse by verse but we always need good exegesis to properly interpret the scriptures. God bless 🙌
Your experience is similar to mine, meeting Pastor Chuck in 20001. I wish this was not brought up. Mike Winger is looking to stir it up recently. He’s restless to expose someone for something, what? I’m in a very well known CC, recently deeply involved in controversy. I’m praying Mike will keep his nose in more profitable, uplifting words. And look for real threats.
@@CharMinsky I don't know how many times I have to say this but the Apostle Paul called out people by NAME. Judgement starts at the House of God.......
I like Pastor Chuck's teaching on the Book of Genesis.......
@@CharMinsky. Since he’s going through the Scripture that was used for Pastor Chuck’s prediction, and because some preachers are still doing the same today, it’s totally appropriate to address this, as he gets questioned about it, being a Calvary guy. He was extremely gracious about it, if you listened to the video. We shouldn’t put pastors on a pedestal, but understand they are human & will make mistakes. We can still love & honor them, as Mike did here.
I was born-again in 1983 at the tail end of the Jesus movement (connected to Calvary Chapel). I was radically on fire for Jesus, witnessing often and people coming to Christ, It was exciting and powerful. Most people I knew were expecting the Rapture in 1987. I sensed something amiss but took the position that I didn't know. A few decades later, a long story of challenges and backsliding... now I am on fire again, praise God to His glory!
Either way, there's a mission to love people and share the good news of the Gospel. I'm excited knowing I'll see Jesus soon whenever He calls me home. Are you ready? Please, if you don't have a relationship with God, get on your knees and ask Him (Jesus) to come into your life. Welcome home
I was part of the Jesus movement in the early 70's. It was awesome. I remember hearing about Calvary Chapel church where they didn't use an organ but someone would play a folk guitar. It was a place where you could go and it didn't matter how you were dressed. I absolutely loved that! I also listened to Chuck Smith on the radio everyday. I praise God for Chuck Smith and his ministry.
Ive been at my Calvary Chapel for 32 years. Thank you again for being so brave to discuss this. It is very important that our errors be corrected. I've never seen in print or heard that he taught that. Thank you!
This really blessed me, Mike. Been a Calvary guy for 10 years since I got saved at 19. Loved hearing this perspective.
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
I can’t even imagine all the research and time you’ve spent on bringing the truth clearly to us ..
Thank you for your love of the truth snd your dedication in presenting it to us!!!!
Mike I appreciate you a Charismatic able to call out Charismatic issues.
50 years of Benny Hinn did me in with Word of Faith.
I was a part of the Calvary Chapel start as an ex-hippie Jesus convert back in 1975. Their music was amazing.
I don't know what happened but all that sensical, love based, ministry disappeared in my life as I watched CBN, TBN and Daystar. I found the Charismatic movement had gone sour.
I now consider myself an ex-charismatic. I love my local Baptist church.
Mike, I don't go to a Calvary Chapel church, but I seriously respect you for speaking about such an uncomfortable and personal topic, and for doing so in such a measured way.
I’m so glad my wife and I have been Bible thinking geeks alongside you Mike, her rebukes toward me have been so gentle and kind and thoughtful 😂😂😂
Sincerely though, our household appreciates your ministry and the impact your obedience is having on the church!
Lord bless you Pastor Mike!
Calvary gal here. Appreciate your honesty about this passage. I'm studying it right now with my women's group and found myself disagreeing with some of the things in the study book. My study brought me to where you landed. Your research high will help me to articulate my concerns when we meet next week.
Hello Pastor Mike. I appreciate you talking about this issue with Pastor Chuck. I have always been annoyed by Christians dodging questions. I had a radio show for 4 years. No subject was off the table for me, and I would talk about the subjects everyone else was afraid to talk about. Still to this day, I feel to many Christians are afraid to talk about issues, or admit they were or might be wrong.
Thanks for addressing these things. I wish yalls group and other groups like the ones i grew up in would be honest and honestly admit the false eschatology "we were wrong" etc i wish founders/leaders would do like you and own what they have promoted rather than try to sweep these things under the rug and act like nothing happened...
I didn't know you were a Calvary Chapel pastor. I've been going to our Calvary Chapel church in the DFW ar since 2005! I haven't listened to the whole video, but I'm looking forward to it! God Bless you brother 🙏
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@ThetennisDr Will you quit trolling??
Thank you for the time you spend teaching us and setting the record straight. I first listened to you when you read the report about Ravi Zacariah (spelling?). I was very grateful for your sincere reporting about it.
I love love love this video!!! Your Bible teaching is so spot on! I appreciate how you are open and honest about everything. And diligently search the scripture to find the truth! I was going into freshman year of high school in Summer of 1988. We were hearing that Jesus would be returning in September. I remember being at church camp and a young lady went forward to receive Christ. But then got up and said “if he doesn’t come back this year, I’m going back to my life of sin.” So sad! I, of course, was hoping it didn’t happen because I was looking forward to high school. I’m 48, now, and still serving Jesus and longing for his return, while trying to lead others to faith in Him. Thank you so much for your solid Bible teaching!
Mike..I can talk all day about how much I love the way you teach, explain things, & how gracious you are..but something I love about you that sounds so strange is the way you speak! Haha. You have such a soothing voice and some of your gestures that are so unique to who you are..makes it even easier to listen to you! Lol I hope this doesn't sound strange! I don't know why but I have noticed that the way that someone speaks is something that brings me back to a channel & you definitely have that factor! 🙈 I hope this is taken as a compliment but not a creepy one haha lol 😆 thank you for this video. I've enjoyed the mark series so much and your hard work is soooo appreciated..Also, I agree with your statement at the beginning of the video..I've been searching for a new church home and have been looking into the closest calvary chapel to me (which is 45 minutes away)..I am excited to attend! I appreciate your channel, as it's been a huge influence on my life. Please, never ever think you aren't making a difference. Your ministry has helped me with my relationship with the Lord, immensely. Just one person being led closer to Christ is enough to celebrate! Love you, my brother in Christ!!
I agree! I love his teaching, but sometimes I come here just to listen to his calming voice. It's like sitting at a coffee shop with a comforting friend.
I thank God Chuck was wrong because I wasn’t saved in 1981. I appreciate you addressing this issue, Mike.
I've been wondering why there had been no talk about that prediction for a couple years now and today I found this video. Thank you for this. My wife is aJW and you even touched on their prophecies. Wow!
We’ve gone to Calvary Chapel for 20 years. We’ve been taught that earthquakes and wars are signs. Listening to you teaching on this end time subject gives sound reason as to why they are not and what the true signs are. Thank you for being willing to share this. We continue to subscribe to your channel. We look forward to your teaching every week. God bless you!
I hear you. I am also long in Calvary Chapel, a PK and Bible school graduate, BUT I don't think the proper context was given. Chuck Smith had a stage before he was the solid man we came to know in his later years. He did meetings with Catherine Coleman and had more than just prophecies like this going on around him. For his last decades he warned about people who would predict a time for Christ's coming. He had learned the hard way. These books were no longer published, and he put out different books on the same topics that did NOT include any unfounded prophecies. I don't think CC is overall sloppy in its prophecy today because Chuck Smith cleaned it up in later decades. And I'm happy for it.
Kathryn Kuhlman.
I really appreciate you taking this on. I attend CCCM and take no offense. You’re thoughtful and hold up the words of our pastors to the Scripture as we all should. Keep up the good work.
Pastor Mike, I've been watching you for a month or so now. The Ravi story was what started me listening to you, just looking on TH-cam one day. I hear wisdom in your teaching and careful handling of God's Word and I appreciate it so very much. The Church needs your teaching, verse by verse as you do so well. I teach Sunday School and have gleaned so much from your teaching that I have been able to pass on. I have told many friends to catch your messages online. These are dark days we are in and we need to know our Bibles and be able to tell others why we believe what we believe, otherwise, they won't want it. I think of I Timothy 4:12. You appear to be young but you are very wise and I believe listen to the Holy Spirit when you speak. May God Bless you in your ministry.
I serve elsewhere now, but this video touches on one of the reasons why I was comfortable looking outside of Calvary Chapel for ministry opportunities. Some CC's can get very divisive over strict interpretations of prophecy and over focus on it. The one time this issue with Chuck Smith was brought up it was quickly swept under the rug. Thanks for dealing with it so well. Still lots of great things in Calvary Chapels though, so I don't meant my comment to dissuade others from going to one (in fact in most towns that would be my pick) but even there we should be good bereans.
The publishings of the pointless arithmetic tricks of Chuck Smith showed that he ignored the words of Jesus in Acts 1:7
@@Moremover Will you stop trolling??
I wouldn't go to Calvary Chapel because of the "Moses--style" Pastoral leadership.......
This was actually another scholarly review of the olivet discourse with interesting focus on ‘this generation’ related passages. Really nice work Mike.
A highly interesting interpretation I read a few years ago was that the Greek phrase translated "this generation" was meant in the sense of "this race of gospel rejecting Jews" would still be around at the time of the rapture. In other words the Greek word translated "generation" can also mean "race" in certain contexts. Jesus may have meant "this race of gospel rejecting Jews who were also the ones who had murdered Zechariah will still be here at the end of history."
@@budekins542 Thanks but the English word ‘race’ was something that birthed in the 16th century at the dawn of European colonialism hence Greek word is better represented by older word other than ‘race’.
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@ThetennisDr Will you quit trolling??
Hey Mike,
My wife and I go to CC just outside of Sacramento. I've been listening to Pastor Chuck since I was saved in 1983 at a Billy Graham crusade. I've always loved Pastor Chuck's teaching and I'm very grateful for your courage for taking on this tough topic. Thanks for your boldness Mike. And yes, we still love you! 😉
Thanks Mike for all your hard work and for educating everyone for free here on youtube. You have helped me a great deal. Keep up the great
work.
Thank you so much, Pastor Mike, for this teaching! I have always struggled with those passages regarding "this generation" and I was never satisfied with the explanations. Your sober handling of The Word and exegesis makes sense to me. Gives me motivation to dig into it more myself. 👍😊
Hey Pastor Mike, thank you for this in-depth study. My late husband was a CC pastor, and I’ve fellowshipped more than 20 years with CC, and I think you make a valid case of how we at CC have gotten “too excited” and perhaps less thoughtful as we should have been to search the Scriptures regarding the rapture and end times. I totally appreciate your ministry and listen weekly. God bless you abundantly!
You obviously have never studied with Chuck Missler. I can't believe how many people that go to calvary chapels have never even heard of him. He the most thorough bible teacher still around and he's with the Lord now. He knew about Chuck Smiths mistake but was mature enough to deal with the issue and love his friend. This is wrong of Mike in how he dealt with this and it's showing in the comments.
@@psalmkydland9070 Where does Mike say anything uncharitable about Chuck Smith? I think he handled this very graciously. And I was a Calvary Chapel member for years, and still a big fan.
@@amybee40 gracious gossip, even if it's true, is still gossip. Sorry people can't see the wrong in this. Lack of maturity all the way around even on my part.
@@psalmkydland9070 Your assessment is absolutely erroneous, and falsely defines gossip. I am not sure if the intent behind your comment was purposefully disparaging or you truly do not understand the meaning of gossip; either way I believe it needs to be corrected, because your misunderstanding can easily turn into a false accusation against another. Or cause confusion for you in your own life regarding when to speak and when to keep silent regarding error and doctrinal issues.
Firstly, Mike stated the reason he is doing this; it is an issue for many people who are writing his ministry and a stumblingblock for others. He thoroughly explained why he is speaking about this false prediction and the amount of people who are effected by it. Mike is not sharing someones personal information or spreading private information rather this is regarding doctrine and biblical truth. Scripture clearly calls us to address these things always, and never tells us to pretend they didn't happen especially if it is effecting Christian's and confusing them. This is a very important issue and I believe it is beneficial for those who are confused regarding his prediction and even for Chucks character to be preserved. Mike stated he is not a false prophet and rightly preserves the reputation of a brother while still correcting his error. Chuck made these public predictions and publically they need to be corrected.
The Hebrew word translated “gossip” in the Old Testament is defined as “one who reveals secrets, one who goes about as a talebearer or scandal-monger.” A gossiper is a person who has privileged information about people and proceeds to reveal that information to those who have no business knowing it. Gossip is distinguished from sharing information in two ways:
1.) Intent. Gossipers often have the goal of building themselves up by making others look bad and exalting themselves as some kind of repositories of knowledge.
2. The type of information shared. Gossipers speak of the faults and failings of others, or reveal potentially embarrassing or shameful details regarding the lives of others without their knowledge or approval. Even if they mean no harm, it is still gossip.
@@charissa6648 I don't care about his reason, it's wrong in the way he did it. He did not have to go bring the person of Chuck into it. It's gossip
Brave - and badly needed Mike. I need to pull my Chuck Smith books from the dusty shelf and take better care of them! I might be able to fund my retirement after all. lol Glad you pointed out the dif between prophecy and prediction. We don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. If someone miscalculates or mis-speaks because of his own misinterpretation of a verse - there is no need to throw away everything else that person has accomplished in his lifetime. However, it's a whole different matter when these false prophets say "God told me" or "God showed me" - That's time to worry! Smith never said God gave him "inside information". He didn't put words into God's mouth like all these false prophets are doing. He simply leaned too heavily on his own understanding. Too bad he didn't own up to it. There's no shame in misunderstanding. But it's blasphemy to say "God said" - when He did not.
The publishings of the pointless arithmetic tricks of Chuck Smith showed that he ignored the words of Jesus in Acts 1:7
"God told me" is the motto of the charasmatic church
Thanks so much for your thoughtful video on this sensitive topic. My husband and I both appreciate how you have dealt with the whole issue and I have shared this video with others in the Calvary family who need this information. God bless you.
I really appreciate you bringing this up. When I was in Calvary I knew about it, but it wasn’t mentioned much. Mostly, “Yeah, that happened, it was embarrassing.”
Later when I took on a non-denominational church to pastor, a deacon opposed me as the new pastor, claiming I came from a cult, because of these end times predictions by Chuck. I wish at the time I would have had something like this to direct people to in order to clear up that issue more quickly. I still love Calvary and could see me being back in that family of Churches again someday.
The deacon also turned out to deny the gospel by faith alone and the Trinity. So his time at the church was short after I came.
@@sisterkerryann3463 wow, this is clearly fake. Lol
Thanks for the teaching Pastor Winger, and for the honesty here. It is admirable that you put the truth above all else and will tell it even when it isn't convenient. Kudos to you, sir!
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@ThetennisDr Do I need to report you???
Right On, Pastor Mike...the Lord has blessed you with a wonderful gift of teaching His Word, may you continue to be blessed with courage, discernment and wisdom,
...eyah
Chuck tapes! I haven't heard about those for many years. I graduated from Calvary Chapel Bible College as well and have fond memories of listening to Pastor Chuck read through whole Bible (sped up to 1.5 speed). Thanks for talking about this issue Mike!
Hey Mike, I have been watching and loving your teaching for years now. With the movie Jesus Revolution I was introduced to pastor Greg Laurie by Ruslan on his channel. I then came across pastor Chuck in my digging into Calvary chapel and their involvement in this movement and watched a vid pastor Greg did with Pastor Chuck about 9 years ago (I think). I was spiritually raised in an independent charismatic church and was looking for a church with those beliefs not hyper charismatic but with the holy spirit operating under the direction of the word. Calvary seemed to fit all I was hoping for. My old pastor and I were both raised roman catholic became saved went to fundamentalist Baptist churches then with the Lords prompting on to the church I attended. So I appreciate them all, catholic provided the belief in the trinity, Baptist the importance of the word, and the charismatic introduced me to the holy spirit. My church operated very much like a Calvary church so I'm very happy to find out that their are so many churches with the Spirit operating and a firm grounding in the word. (I've been gone quite a while). Thank you for addressing this prediction. Hiding it can only hurt and can lead people to believe that all that Pastor Chuck did should be thrown out. He made a mistake and was to zealous for something that cant be known I've seen many do this. We can learn from the flaws of our leaders as well as our own. I am glad to learn of all he did and will be seeking a Calvary chapel to attend. Men make mistakes and its ok God however doesn't and that's why we focus on Him. I've learned a lot about pastor Chuck recently and wish I had known about him sooner I do love all that God has done through him and this whole community. Your message keeps people from finding out and thinking something awful and untrue because they didn't know.
So so good, Mike. Strong finish there with the Isaiah passage!!🌿Thank you.
You're my favorite Pastor!! Thank you for being you❤
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
Mike.... I attend Calvary Chapel in Arizona. I have started watching your videos for awhile now and they have been a blessing to me aiding me with better understanding of scripture . I enjoyed your video today and feel that untruth... pushing things under the rug for whatever reason does more harm in this case Christianity than good. I respect your openness and honesty . God bless your ministry. I am so thankful that we have the internet so the Word is spread through you . Without it so many would not be blessed by your ministry. May God continue to bless you with strength and endurance as I know you must but so much work and sacrifice from time with family for your teachings .
Thank you for handling a sensitive subject in such a respectful manner. I agree with your interpretation of “this generation” (and everything I’ve heard from your great Bible teachings), but I keep watching because of your respectful and mature attitude. Thank you and I praise our Lord for your use of His gifts!!!
I love your love for the Lord, the Truth, and for your pastor back then. God bless you greatly, Brother Mike, in Jesus name, Amen.
Thank you Mike I believe we read out of context. I am glad you explained this issue. Thank you. I'm very grateful for your word.
I worked for a Calvary Chapel for several years, and attended a couple of others during the same period. This recklessness of which Mike is speaking isn't limited to the treatment of prophecy. Calvary Chapels operate as isolated autonomous bodies wherein the head pastors are accountable to no one. The particular church that I worked at acted more like a monarchy, with the head pastor's entire family having exclusive oversight of the various ministries, and the oldest son taking over when his dad retired. Churches were never meant to be little fiefdoms because absolute power has a tendency to corrupt absolutely. To his credit, the head pastor of one of the Calvarys I attended spoke about this danger in a sermon, and explained how, contrary to Calvary tradition, he had form a committee whose sole purpose was to hold him accountable and to whom he had given authority over him. Ironically, Calvary Chapels in general tend to have solid biblical teaching, but are completely blind to the cult of personality created by their organizational policies.
Thanks for telling the truth, calvary chapel pastors are Popes in their own right,not following scriptural accountability.
You would be surprised how many victims of abuse "calvary chapel" has created, as I am one of them. They didn't apologize to me either so I consider all these new age churches to be paganistic like the hippies that created them.
Now I'm a Presbyterian and we excommunicate our abusers and pedophiles, and publicly so no church can take them in without knowing. We also worship God according to how He commands in scripture with Psalms and Scripture songs instead of new age chanting so popular nowadays.
Thank you so much, Pr. Mike. That was really helpful. I was taught that those non-signs were signs, but I see and agree with what you correctly interpret as the actual signs (abomination of desolation and cosmic signs).
And I admire and applauded your desire to be honest about Calvary's & Pr. Chuck's mishandling of this prediction. It was respectful, honest, humble, and transparent. We can't hide our leaders' mistakes lest we ever up covering for gross sins like those of RZ and his ministry. Well done.
I’ve got so much respect for you sir. I pray God continues to guide you & thank you for your due diligence and respectful handling of scripture.
Praying that God will bless you, brother.
Thank you for your integrity and preaching the love of our Savior!
Really appreciated this teaching and your integrity here Pastor Mike. This a very insightful teaching and loved how you ended with the urgency of spreading the Gospel every moment of how lives no matter the age we live in. God bless you Pastor Mike!
I know that I am 18 months behind with this comment, but just recently started to listen to Mike Winger. I read both of those books 40+ years ago, and while Chuck Smiths “math” made sense to me ( 1948+40-7, etc ), it didn’t line up with what I thought other scripture taught. In the ensuing 40 years, it has always “tainted” my thinking about Calvary Chapel Churches, and I have never heard it being addressed. Thank you for courageously, graciously, and biblically addressing, both the Chuck Smith prediction, as well as how we should think about “signs & wonders, etc”. Bless you for your ministry, and for these videos! Keep up the good work.
Jesus Himself said, no one but the Father will know when He will return. Also bible clearly says, that people will say, He is coming and not to trust that. Never trust a man.
We need to be like the wise bridesmaid with a full lantern and looking up.
Jesus and apostle Paul also said that we who believe in him would not be surprised because we would see the times of his coming.
Chuck.never said that i have 5000 audios from him..not one time he said that.never... He wanted the rapturw to happen . he wanted jesus to come. But he always said no one knows the day or the hour of the rapture i have the audios to prove it. Not sure why this dude..is talking lies. Chuck was honest.
@@ThetennisDr Mike even quotes from a book Chuck wrote. Stop worshiping Chuck Smith. He was a sinner just like you and me and he jumped to conclusions based upon a faulty interpretation of scripture
I think the New Testament says no one knows the day or the hour except God Himself, paraphrasing. We can certainly know the season. 2 Thes 2:1-5. Verse 1 is the subject of these verses.
Paul is saying it won't happen until the falling away (mass apostacy) and the Anti-Christ is revealed. Those two things haven't happened yet. But that is mid-way through the 7 year tribulation period, when the Anti-Christ sits on the throne in the Temple in Jerusalem (which hasn't been built yet) claiming to be God.
If we take what Paul is clearly saying at face value, realizing that these two events are end-time tribulation period events, that puts the rapture somewhere between the mid-point of the tribulation period and Jesus' second coming at the end of the tribulation period.
Even then we won't literally know the day or hour but we will know it is very soon, at least within 3 1/2 years after the two events Paul mentions in 2 Thes 2:1-5 (all the verses). Some very good Bible teachers leave out verse 4 in talking about the rapture.
But frankly, for all of us. Our time may come any day. To be absent from our body is to be present with the Lord. If we pass away before the rapture, we will be with the Lord.
Really helpful teaching Mike. I have been navigating a lot of end times teachers' material lately. This really helps me to give it proper perspective. Thanks
Mike this is some of, if not the best "context" biblical exposition I have seen from anyone on the fig-tree and generations that brings great clarity to the issue. While I have never been a Calvary member I have had great respect for Chuck Smith and listened to him on the radio for years. I think you did this video in a very respectful way to Chuck. Very nice job of following your conscience on all of this as well.
Love your teaching and your humor. I don't have a CC near me now, but went to CC several years ago when I lived in Phoenix, AZ. Thank you for sharing. Thank you for dealing with this and you were very brave to do it.
I completely agree with your understanding of “this generation”. Thank you for presenting it in a way that is super easy to understand.
Thank you for digging into this! I always thought the "generation shall not pass" was reffering to the end times not the rapture, but I see what your talking about. This is a great reminder to never claim our understanding as undeniable truth
I was someone who got pulled in by Jesus because of prophecy interpretation! I realized that sharing the gospel is a priority over end time and prophecy calculations. People need to know Jesus!!
You're presentation of God's word is very revealing for me. I thank the Almighty for your commitment to teaching about God and his word and saving us through the preaching of his word.
The Lord Jesus Christ be praised.
Much love for Calvary Chapel. I came back to Christ in a CC fellowship, shortly after you graduated. Learned a lot about the CC structure & the heavy leanings on Pastor Chuck. Greg Laurie, Chuck Missler, JD Farag, et al. also had their beginnings with CC. I learned more about the Bible in those 2 yrs (there) than in all my previous life. Unfortunately, I was also disavowed from that same CC & escorted off premises by armed guards because I dared to Biblically "question" something shady that was happening (then) with the local leadership... & because I refused to comply with the personal life / financial "audit reports" that were demanded of me, as my being "reprimanded." That aside, CC is (to me) still a VERY strong church network to find one's church "home" in. God Bless, brother. Great teaching!
Thank you for this. In 50 years of going to church this is the only explanation that has ever made sense.
Our winters in Scotland are long, dark and cold. About this time every year I start to look for the crocus buds on the side of the roads, then come the daffodils. These are our signs that spring is round the corner. This is all I take this passage to mean: just as the ripening of the fig tree is a sign that summer is coming, so we are to watch for the signs heralding Christ's coming. Sometimes a fig tree is just a fig tree!
I am so grateful for posting this!! Our family left a church where the pastor was heavily influenced and often referenced Chuck Smith. This pastor was speaking scripture to suit his own wants from people. When CoVid hit, this pastor was predicting the end of the world. I’m so glad for your honesty!!
@MikeMinger
Thank you Pastor Mike, this helped me so much. I'm a Calvary Chapel guy and I have great respect for Pastor Chuck Smith and our Distinctives. This is great clarity and it's good to get all this out in the open. It would be wonderful to do a Pastors conference regarding all this and make all this clear for our CC Pastors and leaders. Thank you again blessings brother..
Jesus will come back when He comes back... just be ready.
In my Pentecostal congregation there were always people who prophesied that Jesus is coming very, very soon. From 1970 and forth. So I learned that “soon” is a meaningless word.
Me too!
That’s because they have been taught bad eschatology...
O he's coming for you sooner than you think. Jesus doesn't speak well about those who would say that their Lord delays his coming. Look it up mr bible know it all.
Soon is such a relative term. It is such because we do NOT know the hour or day that we leave this mortal coil and then it is way too late for so many. These days, I look on soon as anything over the next 20 or so years because it soon passes. Forty years ago I was looking at the year 2001 as being a long way off and yet it is just a short while ago that it passed.
@@psalmkydland9070 This is a very uncharitable comment
I started attending a Calvary Chapel in 2020 after listening to GRACE radio. I appreciate Chuck Smith so much for his expository teaching. Thank you bringing up this topic. Now I can explain it to others.
I love you Pastor Mike. Thank you for standing with truth. That's what makes it easy for me to follow you. I recently had a conversation with my brother and he said that when studying the Bible we have to be comfortable with unlearning certain practices and understandings concerning scripture. So thank you for your commitment to the interpretation of the Bible.
@mikewinger yoi did a great job with this video! If you lose "friends" over this, it's because they chose their feelongs over the truth! Keep preaching love your content! Praise God and thankful for you!
THANK YOU! @Mike Winger this is so solid. I appreciate you taking a risk to Honor the purity of God's Word
Just in case you lost a subscriber, I finally hit the subscribe button your channel brother Mike. I am 55 and grew up in the fervor of the Late Great Planet Earth and etc.. teaching on the end time. I have heard the Lord is going to return (and he might tomorrow but he hasn't so far) next Tuesday for 45 years. My own eschatological views have shifted not from reading people's books, but the Bible. I have slowly settled on the post trib, pre wrath position. Your teaching on this sometimes divisive topic is good and thoughtful, also well reasoned and most importantly uses a straightforward reading of Scripture. If you lose friends over it, they were not your friends to begin with. God bless
This was very good. I really enjoyed the way you broke everything down. You kept it to the point and reminded not to get all emotional and stay focused on the Lord and his word! Thank you.