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BLIND OR REFUSING TO SEE?
Greetings Watchers!
Last week I wrote the commentary below in response to what I
considered to be a fraudulent use of Paul’s teaching to the Thessalonians by
Bill Koenig. One which is written that totally misleads his readers into
thinking that Paul’s teaching offers no hope of details concerning the rapture
to Christians, or anyone else for that matter, because the Lord will come as a
thief in the night for the church.
In this article, I cut and pasted this portion of his article,
and then posed the question, “Who is Mr. Koenig speaking to?”
After that, I ask you to open your Bibles, and read the text of
Paul’s teaching for yourself, and I insert in parenthesis, who the “We” and
“Them” are in his correspondence. When Paul uses the word’s, “We”, or “you
brethren”, he’s obviously addressing those to whom he is speaking. He is
speaking to the Thessalonian Converts to Christ, or as we are known today,
Christians.
And, when Paul uses the term, “Them” in these passages, it’s
obvious that “Them” are those that are not Christian converts, but some other
group.
The portion of Paul’s teaching that Mr. Koenig uses is taken by
him (Mr. Koenig) totally out of context to the entire thought that Paul is
making, and is used to make the point that Mr. Koenig is trying to make, namely,
that we can’t know any details of Christ’s return for the church because Paul
taught the Thessalonians that Christ would come as a thief in the night.
(So we ask, “for whom will Christ return like a thief in the
night?” The church? The Jews? Everybody? We look forward to a clarification
from Mr. Koenig about this).
I received many positive comments from you watchers about this
commentary, and a few negative. The negative responses centered on me being a
little rough on Mr. Koenig. And my response to that is simply, I’m sorry I had
to be a little rough, but it was for the Love of the Word and the anger that I
felt at it’s misuse to promote an agenda decidedly out of context compared with
that of the author – Paul.
One of our fellow Watchers, a long time student of the word,
sent the commentary along to Mr. Koenig and received the following reply: (I
post both her letter and Mr. Koenig’s response)
Hi Brother
Sal,
I thought your commentary - The Blind Leading the Blind - was very good.
I was curious to see if Bill would consider it or respond to it. I forwarded
it to him and below is what he replied.
Just thought you would like to know.
God Bless,
J.
PS: I also forwarded it to Van Impe. Wonder if he will respond?
-----Original Message-----
From: Koenig's International News [mailto:bill@watch.org]
Sent: Tuesday, January 08, 2002 4:36 PM
To: J
Subject: Re: FW: CHN COMMENTARY - THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
J.,
The following doesn't warrant a response. He took things out of
context, he didn't provide all of my commentary or mention
previous ones. Plus he tried to put words in my mouth. He is also
grandstanding.
Blessings to you in Christ.
Bill
Why am I bringing this all to light to all of you Watchers?
That’s a fair question, and I want to answer it for you.
Each of you Watchers, over 1,100 of you at present, are learning
the end time message of the Apostle Paul from this Ministry. I have been
teaching it for 6 years on the Internet, and have influenced many, many people
with the truth of his message.
Yesterday I sent you the letters that were written by Dr. Terry,
a PhD teacher and 45 year Eschatologist who once believed, as many of us, what
the Gurus of End Time prophecy have taught us for years. But history has
changed that belief.
The work that I have spent 22 years preparing and teaching, of
which I ask of you not to believe, but to study and then see for yourself by
watching if it is the truth of the matter, speaks for itself on the stage of
history. This has left the current prophecy gurus grasping at childish excuses
for their lack of study and understanding. This behavior hardly befits those
called to lead God’s flocks to the peace of His truth.
My agenda is Paul’s agenda – Teach the Church about the End
Times, what it is that God told Paul about those times. I have stated countless
times over the years in all of my commentaries that I have no ulterior motives.
It’s no secret that I make my living teaching, and I don’t think that is any
different than any of you. We all work to earn a living. God chose me for this
work, and He supplies my listeners, and they supply my living. And, I am
humbled that He chose me for His work.
But, I don’t have to cut the top of my head off and leave my
brains at the door of the Church before I go inside. God is not looking for
zombies! If He were, then He never would have chosen Paul to bring us this
message! Many times I have told you that you can’t get this understanding by
osmosis. You must study it! The reason is that we are 2,000 + years removed
from Paul, and his message has been, and is being, slaughtered and passed along
in a manner that has caused much confusion over the years, and I’m trying to do
something about that!
Now, I consider you folks to be the congregation in my “church”.
Although this is a Bible School, I consider it my “church”, or body of people
that are seeking the truth of Paul’s message, and I feel a great responsibility
to follow the commandment of Paul to warn my Brothers and Sisters in Christ
about the times in which we live. History is providing the evidence as to our
place in biblical time to those with an eye or an ear to study His word.
Why does the evidence position us in the End Times? Simply
because what Paul told us to watch for is happening in our time, and that means
that the message of our reward, the Rapture, which comes in the beginning of the
end times, is about to occur, and the warning sign that God has prepared (and
revealed to Paul) will happen at a specific “set time” prophesied by Jesus.
THAT sign is what we need to watch for.
Paul taught that the Dead in Christ shall rise first, and God
foreshadowed that on a set time, or feast of the Jews called First Fruits and
cast that shadow into the future of the Church for all of us to see on the day
that He set on their calendar, as the “set time” for it to occur.
The prophecy Guru’s of today, Mr. Koenig included, want you to
believe differently. Their interpretation of Paul has Christ’s Church in the
“darkness” understanding Jesus to come for THEM as a thief in the night. A true
study of Paul’s teaching is devastating to the modern guru’s version, but
because of TRADITION, the church continues to be mislead in this understanding.
You deserve to hear God’s word “properly divided” as God
intended. We all do, Mr. Koenig’s congregation included. This Ministry offers
a clear observation of the Apostle Paul’s teaching. If we are wrong, gurus like
Bill Koenig, ought to be able to set us straight for the benefit of every
Christian seeking the truth. We invite him (along with all the gurus) to join
us in properly dividing God’s word.
But, Mr. Koenig says that our commentary doesn’t deserve a
response. That is an insult to everyone of you. Your study and seeking after
scriptural truth deserves a response! Does he forget that we are all God’s
children and are in this battle together?
Mr. Koenig says that I’m taking his words out of context. and
putting words in his mouth. There is only one way to rectify that
misunderstanding. Tell us, Bill, the context you relate to Paul’s teaching,
which we have misrepresented. We will copy every word of your response to our
watchers list so that your position on this important and timely teaching may be
vindicated.
Mr. Koenig also says that I am grandstanding. What does that
mean? We will be happy to answer for our representation of Paul’s teaching.
There is only one thing that we can do to get the answers that we
deserve from this Guru that commands the listener ship that he has.
We have to insist that he does respond to the disparages that
exist between our two interpretations of what Paul taught about The Lord’s
coming, not for our own egos, but for the benefit of our congregations. After
all, we get our message from the same Bible he uses to get his message. Both of
us can be wrong, but we can’t both be right about this!
By claiming that our teaching deserves no response (and this
dismissal was not to me personally, but worse, to a thoughtful Christian woman
seeking answers, which she brought before Mr. Koenig out of respect for his
position), Mr. Koenig appears to be allowing his ego to stand in the way of his
God-given position of Shepard. We humbly remind him of the woes God has
promised to those Shepard’s remiss in their responsibility.
So, there is only one thing left for us to do, and that is to
write to Mr. Koenig and request a response.
Here is the suggestion of the Watcher who got the “no response”
response from Mr. Koenig:
Hi Sal,
Excellent
commentary (as Usual!!) I sent this on to "Bill" too! I hope you don't mind.
I had a thought---if everyone on your mailing list would forward your material
on to the "Bill's" and the Van Impe's etc. (anyone who is preaching and
missing the truth of prophecy and the end times) that if we all did this it
would be massive enough to cause an awakening to at least wonder why so many are
sending these. I think Dr. Terry "hit the nail on the head" concerning the
resistance. Each and every reason is very evident in our churches today. Many
will not listen or awake, but if 1100 of us would all attack at once, the same
targets, perhaps Gideon would win again. (Maybe you will only need 300 of the
1100).
God Bless you as
you labor for Him,
J
It’s up to
each of you to follow your consciences, but I like this idea. All you have to
do is click on his address and forward this to him, or write and ask him to
respond to what Dr. Terry had to say, and why he believes otherwise. Challenge
him, in love, and for the love of the Word, to be daring and stand up for what
he thinks, and by that, enlighten all of us, his readers and ours, so we can all
learn. Isn’t that what’s it’s all about – seeking the truth of the matter?
Bill
Koenig’s email is:
bill@watch.org
Thank you
for listening and God bless.
Humbly,
Your Brother in Christ
Brother Sal
PS CC your notes to Mr. Koenig
to
BrotherSal@chn-net.com
THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND
Greetings Watchers!
Today I
have a bone to pick with Bill Koenig! You know the famous Guru Bill Koenig of
Koenig’s International News.
Now, I
don’t usually pay much attention to what other people teach about end time
prophecy because you and I know what I teach, and I don’t have much time or
energy to bother with what others are saying. But today is different!
Most of
you know that all I teach about the Church is from the teachings of the Apostle
Paul. So, when anyone takes Paul out of context and makes a mockery of his
teaching, it makes me angrier than a wounded tiger.
This is
a perfect example of the blind leading the blind, and I’d like to help
straighten it out.
Here is
a direct quote from Koenig’s text today that was sent to me by a concerned
Watcher:
KOENIG'S
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
News
Watch: The New Year-Bill Koenig
The New
Year-Looking Ahead
January
6, 2002
“Mixed
emotions might be appropriate for this moment. There is so much for which to be
thankful in this world, and yet, at the same time, there is also so much
heaviness.
Many
significant variables are in play right now. I sincerely believe that no one
knows how this year of 2002 is going to play out. We can sense the times and the
seasons in the Spirit, but we don't know the details.
"But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto
you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in
the night." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 KJV)
As in
previous years, a lot of "tickle the ears" personal prophecies are appearing.
Last year, we observed that many of these prophecies circulated, and a very
large majority of them turned out to be way off base. You might consider noting
this year's prophecies, writing them down, or printing them, and setting them
aside for later review.”
Good
idea Bill, I wish you would have written ours down, you would have seen that we
were 100% correct in everything we said, in fact, we’ve been right for the past
21 years which is when we first wrote our story. And what is true is that we
can know the details! But, it takes study – you can’t just phone it in. And
another thing that is true is that most of the fantasy predictions came form
those who call themselves Gurus. The truth doesn’t come to you by osmosis – you
have to crack a book!
Now, I
wouldn’t be upset with Bill but for the fact that I have sent countless
teachings and articles to help him along with his understanding, but it seems it
all fell on deaf ears.
Now,
here is my bone – from the context of what you just read, especially the Paul
quote, who is Mr. Koenig speaking to?
Surely
he cannot be speaking to the Church, because that quote form Paul to the
Thessalonians is out of context! That teaching doesn’t end at verse 2, it goes
on to say the following:
Verse
3(same Bible – KJV): For when THEY (the Jews and non Church members) shall say
Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon THEM (the Jews and non
Church members), as travail upon a woman with child; and THEY (the Jews and non
Church members) shall not escape.
Verse 4: BUT YE, BRETHREN (Fellow Church members), are NOT IN DARKNESS, that
that day should overtake YOU AS A THIEF. (No, you will see it coming, because I
told you what to look for)
Verse
5: For YE (Fellow Church members) are all the children of the light, and the
children of the day; WE (fellow Church members) are not of the night or of the
darkness.
Verse
6: Therefore let US (fellow Church members) not sleep, as do others (the Jews
and non Church members); but let US (Fellow Church members) WATCH and be sober.
Paul
says WATCH! Watch for what? Guru Koenig is telling you in his teaching that
there is nothing to watch for because in his version, Christ is coming like a
thief in the night and you can’t know the day or the hour, and that is Pure
Camel Spit, because that’s not what it says!
And,
even to the casual reader, let alone the ardent student, Paul is teaching that
there is something to watch for if you are a Christian, who he is addressing in
this chapter.
And,
since chapter 5 begins with the word BUT, it’s obvious that it’s a continuation
of the thought expressed just before Paul speaks those words. So, lets go back
and put this in the real context to see what Paul is telling these Thessalonian
converts.
Chapter
4, verse 13 – you should have your Bibles open, lest you think that I too would
make up such a story.
“But I
would not have you be ignorant, brethren (fellow Church members) concerning them
which are asleep, that ye (fellow Church members) sorrow not, even as others
(the Jews and non Church members) which have no hope.
Verse
14: For if we (fellow Church members) believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Verse
15: For this we say unto you (fellow Church members) by the word of the Lord,
that we (fellow Church members) which are alive and remain unto the coming of
the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (God isn’t going to wait till
we all die before he comes back)
Verse
16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice
of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: (40 days ahead of the rapture) check it out yourself Bill
http://www.chn-net.com/watcher/teachings/bible_school/rapture_series_orientation.html
Verse
17: Then we (fellow Church members) which are alive and remain shall be caught
up together with them (the dead IN CHRIST that rose) to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Verse
18: Wherefore comfort one another with these words (fellow Church members).
Now
Chapter 5: But of the times and seasons, brethren (fellow Church members), ye
have not need that I write unto you. (about this)
Verse
2: For yourselves (fellow Church members) know that the day of the Lord so
cometh as a thief in the night. Back to verse 3 . .
The
context is the Rapture! The catching away, the gathering together, being caught
up! Now, if the context is the Rapture, and Paul wants you to watch for it as
he states in Verse 6, then there must be something to watch for!
Now,
skip down to verse 14. Now we exhort you brethren (fellow Church members), WARN
them that are unruly, comfort the feeble minded (Like Gurus leading us astray)!
Now,
Paul has been extremely clear in his teaching here. Then he follows it up with
after you watch and see it, warn them and then finally in verse 16, Rejoice
evermore!
There is
only one thing that is indicated by this passage in Paul’s teaching. He’s
teaching a Rapture of the Church and there is something to watch for and when
you see it, you are to Warn and then rejoice that you know about it.
Yet, Mr.
Koenig tries his best to leads us to believe that there is only doom and gloom
on the horizon. I wonder if it’s because like so many of the Gurus of today he
has an agenda of his own, or maybe he truly just doesn’t know.
Well
what a shame and tragedy for the Christian world! I can’t believe that the
Church of today is so sound asleep that they would give someone so misguided the
time of day let alone raise him to the stature he commands in the Christian
world.
Bill, if
you happen to read this, I would love to debate you on this or any other part of
Paul’s teaching on the Rapture. But, I must advise you, you’d better be packing
heavier than your are now!
Gurus of
the world, move over, because there’s a new Guru in town, and it’s
Ascension/Rapture, and that’s straight out of the mouth of the Apostle Paul!
Get out of his way!
Now, I
didn’t mean this to be to rough on Mr Koenig, this is written in the spirit of
love for the Word, but his commentary is leading you astray and someone has to
tell him and tell him bluntly. Paul was a blunt talking preacher, and he never
would have stood for it, so I won’t either! And that goes for any of the
blinded Gurus out there who mislead the Christian world for their own agendas.
Thanks for listening and God
bless.
Humbly,
Your brother in Christ
Brother Sal
"The Prophecy of Daniel The Book of Revelation
The Rapture of the Church and the Mideast Today"
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