I was a little hurt by the response to my last commentary. It wasn't that people disagreed with me. I knew that would be the case. It was the idea that many were offended. And, all I did was express an opinion. 

Time is something I don't have anymore. I've been getting home from my new job around 9 or 10 each night. I've also been working Saturdays. If I haven't answered your email, that's why. That also explains why I haven't been posting daily commentary or visiting our discussion board. 

Perhaps the question most asked about my last commentary is what I meant by "logic tests." What I meant is applying the rules of logic to the pre-tribulation doctrine arguments. Where the arguments fail is in their premises. They have yet to be established.

For example, where does Scripture say the tribulation period and the 70th week are the same thing? It's true, according to Jesus, the 70th week contains the tribulation period. But, that doesn't make it the tribulation period. Nevertheless, the pre-tribulation arguments call the 70th week the tribulation period to prove the tribulation is for Israel and not the church.

Another argument points to Revelation 3 :10. Although the passage was addressed to a single church that existed two thousand years ago, it is applied to represent all Christians on earth today. When I look at the other arguments, I find the same thing. The premises have yet to be established. That means the premises that lead to a pre-trib conclusion are speculations. This is not the way to sound doctrine. And, that's why I've never placed my faith in the pre-trib view.

That being said, that doesn't mean the pre-tribulation doctrine isn't right. It still could prove true. It only means it doesn't stand the test of logic. Until we know for certain, it should continue to be questioned. And, because I expressed this opinion, some were offended. I call this the Stephen effect.

As you know, Stephen is reported as the first Christian martyr. Since Stephen had a Greek name, it is believed his ministry was directed at the Greek educated Jews. We find the account of his stoning beginning in Acts chapter six. Here the word wisdom is used twice in reference to Stephen. In 1 Corinthians 1:22 , we find the Apostle Paul telling us the Greeks seek after wisdom  And, it is further believed Stephen's debaters were Greek educated Jews. That's because they were from the Synagogue of the Freedmen. Adding these things together, it is reasonable to assume Stephen was debating as the Greeks -- using the rules of logic. And, when his debaters logic failed them, instead of accepting defeat, they became offended. The result was Stephen's debaters spreading false accusations and Stephen's stoning.

The strange thing is, this isn't the first time we find a Greek connection to persecution. As you know, Stephen wasn't really the first to die -- Jesus was. And, in the Gospel of John we find Jesus giving a strange reply upon receiving some news from His disciples. We read:

Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast; these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified" ( John 12: 20-23 New American Standard Bible). 

Why would Jesus reply this way? This is what I think: There has never been a better debater than Jesus. Imagine what it would be like to enter into a debate with God. But, that's exactly what Jesus' Temple debaters were doing. And, naturally, they were always losing. Unfortunately, there was no way they were willing to accept defeat. So, they became offended. This ultimately lead to Jesus' crucifixion.

The fact is, every time an unbeliever opens the Bible they enter into a debate with God. And, if as the Greeks, they believe in logic and finding truth, the Bible presents them with a dilemma. Either they must accept it as the word of God, or they must destroy it.

It's the Stephen effect.