The Gary DeMar Podcast

Christianity is a future-oriented worldview. Who inherits what we leave behind? How does our view of the future affect our attitude towards the future? God is the Author of the past, the present, and the future. He owns everything, including time. Does it matter if we live fearfully or hopefully? Very much so, as Gary points out in this important talk from several years ago.

Gary discusses Dwight Wilson's 1977 book, Armageddon Now. As a premillennialist himself, Wilson was able to clearly see the many mistaken prophecies of his own tradition, especially with the World Wars. Wilson maintains that it was the view of a predicted Jewish persecution prior to the Second Coming that led to a "hands off" policy when it came to speaking out against anti-Semitism.

The Dispensational system has a horrific future in store for Jewish people living in Israel. It teaches that the Jews will go through another holocaust, one that won't even compare to World War 2. Proponents of the system often use the Replacement Theology card as a way to cover up their bad exegetical work, especially the inevitable future Jewish holocaust problem.

Gary answers the perennial charge of "replacement theology," a phrase that is designed to end debate by those who teach that the church and Israel are distinct and separate. Israel was the original "church in the wilderness" and the modern Christian church—made of believers from ALL the nations—is what the Bible was predicting throughout the Old Testament and proclaiming in the New Testament.

Gary discusses a new article by Greg Laurie that makes the (same old) argument that modern events "could be" fulfilling biblical prophecies. As Gary makes clear, writers and pastors like Laurie ignore the actual events and actual countries in the Bible that are actual fulfillments of the ancient prophecies in order to make them fit our own day. This is not how exegesis or hermeneutics should be done.

It is vital that Christians understand this issue and don't fall into the political traps being laid everywhere both in the Middle East and the media's evaluation of modern Israel. What is happening in Gaza right now is not a fulfillment of biblical prophecy and doesn't get us any closer to "the end." It is a political war being fought for political reasons. The resources mentioned in this episode and many more are available here: https://store.americanvision.org/collections/all/eschatology

Gary discusses an article from the Christianity and Civilization series about politics, Christians, and activism. It's amazing how despite the times, not much has changed and the arguments, strategies, and solutions are still the same. We need to now our history in order to understand our present and how to change the future. Get Christianity and Civilization here: https://store.americanvision.org/products/the-complete-christianity-and-civilization

Gary discusses the recent ousting of Speaker McCarthy and what political writer Jason Whitlock calls the "Gaetzful 8." Whitlock compares the 8 to Gideon's 300 and the idea of the remnant. Pastors are also (slowly) beginning to wake up and get vocal. All good things, but we must always be mindful of history, as Gary is quick to point out. Read Jason Whitlock's article here: https://www.theblaze.com/fearless/oped/whitlock-the-gaetzful-eight-provide-a-blueprint-for-how-we-fight-the-global-elite

Gary discusses a speech given by Pastor Jack Hibbs to the Family Research Council about the state of the culture. While much of what Pastor Hibbs says is true and good, his eschatology and "last days" teaching is counterproductive, and even contrary, to his larger message. He wants Christians and the Church to get involved and be salt and light in a tasteless and dark world, yet he also teaches that much of the cultural darkness is an indication that Jesus' return is near.

Gary highlights a few recent news articles that are actually encouraging. Most major news stories are negative and stories that do not support the mainstream narrative are usually buried. Never fear though, Gary has done the searching and the researching so you can be encouraged too.