Friday, November 14, 2025
The question must be asked: “What, or who, is your final authority?” That’s a valid question because we live in these end-times when many Christian, non-Christian, conservative, liberal, independent, Republican and Democrat, Socialist and Communist voices all vie for authority. And narrowing down that list of voices to professing Christians reveals an equal diversity of thoughts and beliefs about the Holy Bible and Jesus Christ which form true Christian beliefs. Unfortunately, however, there are myriad unbiblical thoughts and beliefs about God and His Christ that lead many professing Christians away from the truth rather than closer to it.
So, the question must become very personal. “What, or who, is your final authority?” Is it the authoritative word of God as delivered in its best English forms of KJV or NKJV of the Bible? Or is it the myriad narratives and commentaries written by men and women who, themselves, spin the gospel of Jesus Christ to a degree that best suits the ear-tickling traditions of men that make the word of God of no effect, Mark 7:13? Jesus, taking Peter to task personally ask him. “But who do you say that I am?”, and “Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” (Mark 8:29). Peter understood that by him confessing to Jesus, “You are the Christ”, that that confession left absolutely no room for another to be an equal and final word of authority. For Jesus said “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). Amen.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the final and highest authority for all truth in heaven and on earth. Yet, in these last 100 years there have risen many men and women who assert their teachings and authority above Jesus Christ, especially for the return of Christ and the resurrection rapture of His elect saints. And I refuse to argue with those who have the word of God and yet hold to and teach the utter heresy of the Dispensational pre-trib rapture which is found nowhere in the whole of Scripture. And it was Jesus who said, “And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” (Mark 6:11). The message of a pre-trib rapture tickles the ears of those receptive of another gospel, a gospel that spares them from the “narrow gate and difficult path” (Matt. 7:13–14). Mere men and women are not given the authority to change what God has established by His word of authority. But because many illegally take that authority they deceive multitudes.
I say that to say this: each of us must make a decision, “What, or who, is our final authority?” Will you believe and prepare in the testimony of Jesus Christ that leads His elect through the seven-year tribulation of the end-times and into His place of safety and provision for the last 1,260 days of great tribulation, Rev. 12:6, 14, being “counted worthy to escape all these things” (Luke 21:36), as were Noah and Lot? Or will we believe voices of mere men and women who contradict the testimony of Jesus Christ for an easier way to heaven, and in the process gain a tremendous earthly following for themselves? The choice is entirely ours, but we must choose. My prayer is that you and I will decide to believe and prepare in the testimony of Jesus Christ who said that He gathers His elect “Immediately after the tribulation” (Matt. 24:29–31).
Pastors and teachers of the Dispensational pre-trib rapture narrative say it’s a “secret rapture”. Now, I call your attention to consider that foolishness. The rapture is God’s act of redemption and salvation for His own special people. In the whole of Scripture there isn’t a single example of God acting in “secret” for the redemption and salvation of His people. No, quite the opposite! God did not act in secret when He, in Noah’s day, destroyed the world with a Flood, but saved Noah and his righteous family. God did not act in secret when He, in Lot’s day, rained down fire and brimstone on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, but saved Lot and his family out of that destruction. And before God divorced Israel for repeated rebellion and backsliding, Jer. 3:8, He did not act in secret when He fought for Israel when she was obedient. And God did not act in secret when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to Earth for the redemption and salvation of all who would believe His Son. Yet, thousands of pastors and teachers touting the pre-trib rapture want us to believe that when it comes to the epitome of God’s redemption and salvation of His own special people that He will do it in secret?! Friends, that notion contradicts the very nature and character of Almighty God in Christ Jesus as recorded throughout the entirety of the Scriptures!
All of what I’m writing is very important for people who love Jesus Christ enough to actually study and research God’s word for themselves and not be led by the nose by pastors and teachers who must protect themselves by the traditions of men. Yes, in many cases their literal credentials are at stake: “Preach the pre-trib rapture or lose your credentials”. But what’s coming on the near horizon is what Jesus warned saying, “when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ [Antichrist] spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (Matt. 24:15). That day is not far off but much closer than many believe. Here, I offer you this biblically accurate 29-minute video by Scriptures Illustrator where the characters are all AI, but the message is clear and true that the person of the Antichrist will deceive multitudes who do not know the truth of God’s word.
My second book “ON EAGLES’ WINGS” explains in detail how to know Christ and find God’s Bozrah sheepfold of safety and place of provision for the last 1,260 days of the great tribulation.
Marlin J. Yoder
