Greg Laurie tries to comfort his audience with a Russian Magog message
Greg Laurie continues to teach the same consistent message about Russia. In this recent video, he assures his listeners that Russia is the infamous ‘Magog’ in the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecy.
But is Greg Laurie correct? Is he a source we should trust on this subject? Well, some might consider it admirable that his message is very consistent. But, is consistency enough to earn our trust?
Since the 1970s, Greg Laurie has held the same view. Russia is the evil nation that will lead a collection of evil nations. And together, those nations will surround and invade Israel. Those events will lead to an early departure by the Church.
Or so says, the theory of Greg Laurie.
The Gog and Magog invasion, found in the Book of Ezekiel, has long been one of the most anticipated prophetic events in the scriptures. When Greg Laurie began to form his Bible prophecy points of view, this prophecy was one of many that intrigued hungry audiences around the world. And Greg and many young Bible teachers like him formed a strong alliance of their own. This alliance of well-meaning, eager preachers of Bible prophecy, set out on world evangelism tours. These evangelism tours focused on Jesus Christ and knowing Him. Obviously, that was the correct focus.
Their secondary message was also important. “God’s patience with this sinful world is drawing to a close. The end is near! Get right with God or get left behind!”
Greg Laurie ran hard and effectively but with the wrong message
I believe we are in the last days. As does Greg and many of his close friends in the ministry. But, thanks to the Lord’s insistence, I began to listen to God’s voice and see what had been plainly written in the scriptures. As Christians, we know that only God can be trusted. Fine men and women have led people down the wrong path. But faithful Bible students need to have their own relationship with the Lord. Our study time needs to be led by the Holy Spirit, not some famous preacher.
Search the scriptures. Take in the entire chapter and book and avoid taking one verse and building poorly constructed interpretations of prophetic events.
In the video below, as is often the case, Greg takes a verse, makes a point, and then comes to a conclusion. Then he will grab another verse, and make another point. And another conclusion is made. On and on the puzzle pieces are taken out of context and connected into the jigsaw that they were told is the correct biblical point of view.
Sadly, one of the most damaging parts of Greg’s message is intended to bring great comfort. The Lord encouraged believers to avoid fear and doubt in troubled times. Jesus said, “When you see these things, look up, for your redemption draws near.”
Those are encouraging words. And they will be words of comfort shared in secret– among humble believers.
But Greg and scores of preachers like him have led tens of thousands, or even millions of believers to conclude there is little reason to worry. Greg Laurie has assured his listeners that when things begin to get rough, we will be raptured away and miss the bad stuff.
Greg’s huge mistake
That is a huge mistake and if Greg lives to see those days, he will understand. As will so many others.
We need to prepare ourselves for what is coming. There will not be an easy ride out of here. Some will die peacefully in their sleep. That’s an easy ride out for many. But the Church will go into the tribulation and many will go out as martyrs for the Lord.
Or…their faith will prove to have been set on a weak foundation. Many will fall away, having trusted in the easy ride out.
Below is the video I referenced.
Watch the video, then compare the scriptures below and see for yourself how he cherry-picked some verses and created a scenario that doesn’t fit the biblical narrative.
To be clear, I am not accusing Greg of some evil intention to mislead God’s people. He has a good heart and has the right intentions. But as a preacher, teacher, and pastor, he should have seen his own errors and been willing to correct them.
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings.
2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another, everyone will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you.
5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.
Rumors of wars
6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
7 Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.
9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other,
11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,
13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Abomination of desolation
15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—
16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house.
18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.
19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.
24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
I have told you
25 See, I have told you ahead of time.
26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.
27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
29 “Immediately after the distress of those days
“ ‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
The sign of the Son of Man
30 “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth c will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.
31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
32 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.
33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.
34 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
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