Changes To The NARWatch Israel Core Team

26/9/2020

Since last week or so, Michael Nissim, who has partnered with me in NARWatch Israel for the last couple of years has left the core team. What this means is that I alone am now responsible for editorial and content decisions.

What this doesn't mean is that Michael will not be posting stuff on NARWatch Israel or that I won't be putting up any of his content. Far from it. If the overall content is good and fits the mandate I don't mind putting up stuff even where I might disagree with some of the positions taken, though I would include a statement to that effect.

This is not a breach in our friendship, but a change in the way we work together. It just gives me the freedom to express myself through NARWatch on those subjects we disagree on where they touch on discernment issues without treading on Michael's toes or anyone writing in wondering if he has changed his views or whatever.

Michael has done a lot of good work in making Hebrew speakers aware of the horrors that have been lurking in our midst undetected and exposing to the Hebrew speaking Body the false apostles and false prophets who have sown so much destruction and false teachings into the Body and who have caused incalculable damage to the cause of Christ. We very much expect that Michael will continue to do that as and when he is able and we look forward to continuing to work with him in this amended working arrangement.

Below are Michael's own words on the matter:

Dear NARWatch supporters,

I’ve been part of NARWatch for a few years. I’ve maintained the Hebrew NARWatch (found here: http://narwatch-israel.blogspot.com/) and wrote most of the articles on it; and I’ve done practically all the videos on the NARWatch YouTube channel up to this point — a few of these addressed to Hebrew speakers. In fact, I’ve had the privilege of producing what is probably the first discernment video ever produced in Hebrew, “Good Company”.

But now I’m leaving NARWatch. Andy, the founder of NARWatch, wishes to express his views on subjects he and I do not agree on. Andy holds to the PreWrath view of the timing of the rapture, while I hold to PreTrib (I’m also “Once Saved Always Saved” while Andy isn’t, though this has been less of an issue). Up to now I’ve tried to prevent Andy from expressing himself regarding PreWrath on the NARWatch website and public forums, because being part of NARWatch, I felt it misrepresented me. To be clear, I think it’s ok for anyone to express their own views on their own blogs or under their own names. It’s only that I didn’t want NARWatch to link to websites or promote views we didn’t both agree on. Andy, however, thinks the timing of the rapture and other issues we disagree on are important to address from an anti-NAR or discernment context as well. Therefore we’re parting ways as far as the discernment work is concerned: Andy will continue NARWatch while I’m backing off for now. I’d like to state that even if I don’t fully agree with the necessity of this move, I take it as from the Lord.

In addition, and without giving too much detail, Andy has some ministry associations which I have a growing difference with. Perhaps stepping back can prevent future tensions.

That said, it’s important for me to state that Andy is a good friend to me. He takes me out every week for cheaper grocery shopping outside of town (since I don’t have a car) where we also discuss discernment issues over a coffee break. That way I get my family’s shopping for the week and save on food expenses. Andy has also bailed us out of some sticky situations with his car on a number of occasions - medical emergencies, flooded streets etc. Andy and I will most probably continue exchanging information and ideas, and he expressed his willingness to publish anti-NAR materials that I might produce on his NARWatch websites and video channel. We still see eye to eye on many scriptural issues.

Andy has greatly served the body here in israel in being the first one to identify the NAR and fully comprehend the danger of it for the Israeli congregations. May God bless Andy’s work and all of you who support what we’re doing.

Blessings in Yeshua,
Michael Nissim,
Elder at Nahariya Messianic Congregation

6 Comments

Vaishu Varghese

12/10/2020 07:47:16

Sorry if I'm being blunt but I believe the pre-trib rapture is a doctrine of the devil. It wouldn't matter if it didn't involve the issue of denying Christ when the time comes but that's PRECISELY the issue at stake and that's why pre-trib rapture makes for dangerous doctrine. And while I don't think pre-tribbers are insincere Christians for thinking that they will be removed prior to the great Tribulation (which they wrongly interpret as the Wrath of God), I do think they are ignorant for assuming that they will be excused from persecution at all. It clearly shows they do not know what tribulation/ persecution is or its importance in a believer's life. Was Christ a liar when He said "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)??? Was He uttering empty words? If that verse is not true in our lives, then Christ was a liar. But if Christ is not a liar and if that verse is still not true in our lives, then WE are liars. We are clearly not living for Christ then.

I also hold to a pre-wrath rapture and even I dread the coming tribulation. The only Hope I have is Christ and knowing that we can ask Him for help, so that we can endure to the end, like He commands us to do in Revelation. That is my only Hope, else I know that with my pitiful strength, I would fall away faster than anyone else. It terrifies me to think that I may reach a point of denying Christ in those days of tribulation. I pray I would never ever deny Him, even to the point of death.

I'm glad believers can still be friends while holding such greatly opposing views but for me, it's something that goes beyond that. I find it hard to stick with pre-trib believers because they tend to have a skewed interpretation of much of the Scriptures because of their view. And wrong interpretation of the Bible makes me furious! Maybe I'm a weak Christian but it is difficult for me to continue with pre-tribbers for such reasons. I simply keep away.

May God bless you guys for what you do for His Kingdom. I hope Mr Nissim will one day come to see the lie that is called pre-trib rapture.

NARWatch Israel

12/10/2020 08:21:51

I can certainly understand your frustration. I am constantly baffled as to why otherwise sincere believers who also happen to be pretribulational theorists, can trash 1800 years of what the Church almost unamimously agreed -that the Church would endure the Tribulation, -for a theory cooked up by some cult group in the 1830's, founded on an allegorical system of interpretation, popularised by a convicted swindler who inserted it into the text of the Bible, admitted by it's own senior scholars to be "based on inference" having no explicit text to support it, and which has changed its whole foundation about three times.

Nevertheless, not all pretribulational theorists have a "get out of persecution free" mentality, some have a sober mind about being persecuted for the faith.

However, I would say that overall the doctrine has contributed to the lamentable state of the Church today. Human nature being what it is, it has been mostly accepted with a "Thank heavens we don't have to go through all that nasty tribulation by the Antichrist", which has also unconsciously morphed to "Thank goodness we won't be here when the persecution kicks off." It has also reduced much prophetic study to an academic matter with no practical relevance. After all, why study Revelation at all, or the Olivet Discourse, or 1&2 Thessalonians, if we're not going to be there? What need does the Church have of such things?

I tremble at this, because these parts of Scripture are our basic instruction manual for what to do during that terrible period. They have specific application for believers in those times. We neglect them or render them irrelevant at our peril.

I pray daily for friends and acquaintances in regard to these matters. May God have mercy on His Church and wake us all up!

Vaishu Varghese

12/10/2020 08:51:03

You have spoken rightly. May God wake up His church indeed! May God awaken our hearts and minds and may we all come to see the truth before it is too late.

Vaishu Varghese

2/12/2020 18:20:33

Hello brother Andy! Greetings in Christ.

I've been reading and re-reading the Scriptures with regard to the matter of the "rapture" and the end days.

First off, I want to apologise to brother Nissim for speaking harshly for his holding to the pre-trib rapture theory. Because I've gained a little more understanding in the matter and realise I spoke prematurely then.

Next, if you would permit, I would explain why I don't disagree with the pre-trib rapture theory (although I do not believe it is entirely correct).

A few weeks ago, I began to wonder if "rising to meet the Lord in the air" and the first resurrection weren't the same thing. Eventually I became convinced it was. Currently I hold that view- that what is known as rapture in the church is actually the biblical "first resurrection".
Of course believing the "rapture" is the first resurrection leads to the next question as to what happens to the faithful church if we are on earth till the last day when Christ comes. And as I read Scripture, I found the answer to this from examples in a lot of places. Unexpected books like the Psalms, Job, the Songs of Solomon, Proverbs, the Acts of the Apostles etc all provided evidence of a "hiding" of the faithful in the last days. This is further corroborated by the woman in Revelation 12 who is given wings and flees to the wilderness "into her place" (Rev 12:14) and is supernaturally nourished by God.
So it became clear to me- God HIDES us in the time His wrath falls on earth. We are not taken away to heaven, He "hides" us ON EARTH.
As seen in Noah (hidden in the Ark), Lot (hidden in Zoar), the Israelites in Egypt (hidden in Goshen). No OT or NT example shows evidence of a removal to heaven, the faithful are removed or separated by God to a place ON EARTH. I believe Peter being imprisoned for 6 days and David who "left his sheep in the wilderness with a keeper" when he went to his brothers and came upon Goliath are ALSO examples that God will keep us safe (either in closed chambers or the mountains in the wilderness) when His wrath falls on earth.

BUT. My understanding on this is, even so, not complete. It has to do with the timing of all these examples. Noah was hidden in the ark for FULL 7 DAYS before the flood came. Lot, on the other hand, was taken out of Sodom in the early morning hours ON THE DAY of judgement. Peter was rescued from Herod the NIGHT BEFORE the 7th day, when he was to be taken to be tried and killed. The Israelites were in Goshen from the beginning of the plagues but they still had to go thru the 1st three plagues, before God separated Goshen from the rest of Egypt in the 4th plague (Exo 8:22) and kept them safe thereafter from the remaining plagues.

Since the TIMING of God removing His people from judgement VARIES in these examples and since Noah was hidden for all 7 days in the ark before the flood came, it may be that there is a pre-trib removal of some of the faithful by God. It may also be that pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath and post-trib raptures are all true. It could be that God saves His people at different times in the last days. Some He may "hide" pre-trib while others may get "hidden" at other times during the Great Tribulation. But no matter what, Christ hides the faithful ON EARTH. I believe there is no removal to heaven at any point of time.

I continue to read the Bible on this particular matter. I know now that I cannot be dogmatic about which rapture theory is true. But yes, even though I cannot be certain about the timing of our being 'taken away', I do believe that there is no 'taking away' to heaven till Christ comes again.

God bless you and everyone in NARwatch Israel.

Etty Koster link

10/12/2020 00:00:20

In May 2019 I read a good book explaining pre-wrath by dr. Alan Kurschner "Antichrist Before the Day of the Lord". All the pieces of the puzzle fell into place in a very short time. It made the Bible and all the prophecies so much more understandable. I have even translated the shorter version of the book into the Dutch language. I am glad I found some fellow pre-wrathers 😊.
Shalom to all of you!
Etty

Justin

13/12/2020 18:02:57

I am new to this site, and have only read a few posts so far, but I wanted to commend the both of you for your amicable, open, and respectful way of handling a doctrinal disagreement. It is a testament to your faith and an encouragement to see such transparency in the handling of a disagreement in a Biblical manner.

I do believe that a plain reading of the scripture clearly points to a pre-wrath rapture, and that pre-trib leads to a false complacency that can clearly be seen throughout the church. Michael, I would encourage you to prayerfully consider this issue again and read through the relevant scriptures carefully - God is faithful if we humbly seek his Wisdom.

God bless,
Justin

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