Thread: The Metaphor of the Donkey and the Carrot Stick
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The Metaphor of the Donkey and the Carrot Stick
Posted : 2 Nov, 2013 08:05 AM
The Metaphor of the Donkey and the Carrot Stick
In this metaphor, the driver of a cart pulled by a donkey dangles a carrot
in front of the donkey. The donkey, not being too intelligent,
thinks that if he walks faster toward the carrot, that he can finally catch up to it
and have the pleasure of eating it. But in reality, the donkey can never go faster than
the carrot in front of him - because the carrot being out there for him to ran faster
and finally overtake and eat is an illusion. The donkey doesn't know that it is his own
movement that propels the carrot out in front of him, and no matter how fast
he runs, the carrot will always be out there away from him. He will never reach it,
but he is being deceived in this process by the driver so he pulls the cart for the driver.
In the theology called dispensationalism, separation theology, postponement theology,
Christian Zionism or the Rapture Cult, the pre-tribulation rapture of the dispensationalist capital C
Church is the carrot held out in front of the "donkey," who is being deceived because he
is not too intelligent. The pre-trib rapture of the church is an illusion in the minds of the deceived and
not a realty of scritpure. That is, in scripture the time when Christ appears is always at the end, not at a beginning of a dispensationalist type tribulation, whose length is not necessarily defined by
scripture, though some time spans are mentioned.
The carrot of the pre-trib rapture is the lure to get the "donkey" moving, that is, to believe in the
theology which is really about things other than escaping off planet earth before things get really bad.
The "donkey" in running after the carrot of escaping before the dispensationalist tribulation period is being
deceived into following another Jesus and another Gospel. Just the postulate of dispensationalism that God now has two peoples, all physical Israel and the capital C Church represents another Jesus and another Gospel. Christ himself is the way, the truth and the life, and when you clearly reject a part of his truth, and yet claim to be in Christ, you are in another Jesus and in another Gospel. It doesn't matter how contemporary theology defines the Gospel, it remains what it is in scripture.
In John 10: 16 Christ says "...and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." There are also some texts in which Paul says there is one Body of Christ, or one saved group, one group of the elect (see: Romans 12: 5, I Corinthians 10: 17, I Corinthians 12: 12, Galatians 3: 28,especially, and Ephesians 2: 15, as well as Ephesians 4: 4. To believe that God now has two peoples, as dispensationalism teaches, physical Israel and the church, is to reject a basic and clear part of the Gospel, making the doctrine that God now has two saved peoples, two groups of the elect, and two chosen peoples, or really in dispensationalism two groups but one chosen people is to teach another Jesus and another Gospel (II Corinthians 11: 4, Galatians 1:6-9).
The debate over the meaning of the capital C Church is an endless one - partly because it is an argument between dispensationalism and the use of ekklesia in scripture. And part of the reason it is endless is because the theology has re-defined the meaning of words. For example, if one teaches that the dispensationalist pre-trib rapture is not in scripture, the dispensationalist will assume you mean that you are saying Christ will not return. If you teach that physical Israel was changed by the Lord, or transformed into that spiritual house of I Peter 2: 5, the Israel of God of Galatians 6: 16, the dispensationalist will assume you mean that everyone of physical Israel was transformed and argue against that. In fact, all physical Israel was not transformed, but only that remnant of Romans 11: 5, and those who rejected Christ were broken off. But the prophecy of II Kings 21: 13, etc was fulfilled in that remnant of physical Israel who were transformed.
The "donkey" can decide that he is not going to run after the carrot - the pre-trib rapture - any longer. But in the process of running after it so long, and being so conditioned to accept all the teachings of the theology of dispensationalism, the "donkey" still believes there is only the capital C Church and all physical Israel. But the "donkey" does not accept the distinction between physical Israel and Israel born again in Christ, because, being a "donkey," he follows a literal "hermeneutic," from Hermes, and so for him "Israel" must always mean only the Jews, who, for him must always remain the chosen people. He is still following another Jesus and another Gospel.
Your OP illustrates the extraordinary errors of these teachings. As you said, it is another Jesus and another Gospel. So, when do we get to stop embracing all of these folks as "brothers and sisters" in Christ? Why must we continue the lie that accepting and promoting abject heresy is "o.k."?
It may be that the Father will be pleased to reveal the truth to some of the "donkeys" who are still caught up in these heresies but until that time, they are NOT to be counted with the saints of God.
Paul makes a somewhat brief and often overlooked comment in I Corinthians 11: 19:
"For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."
Paul is saying that in order that those who are approved, that is, have come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2: 4, II Timothy 3: 7), to be elevated, by contrast, there must be others who follow heresies. Manifest is from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Number 5313, hupsoma, "from 5312, to elevate, exalt, lift up."
I suspected that the new Bible versions would try to diminish or confuse this teaching in some way.
"Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine." New Revised Standard
"For there must be also factions among you, that they that are approved may be made manifest among you." American Standard Version
"For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you." New King James
" No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God�s approval." New International Version
We think now that the English word manifest means to become clearly evident. But Strong's says it means to exalt or lift up, something different in a subtle way from just becoming clearly evident, which the NIV embraces.
But the new versions translated Strong's number 139, hairesis in a way that does not indicate this is heresy, but only divisions
or factions. Strong's says hairesis means to take for oneself,, to prefer, to choose, a sect. The translation of hairesis as heresy in the Geneva Bible and in the King James and as sects in the Tyndale Bible is stronger, clearer and follows the thought of Paul more closely than do "factions" or "differences," and differences does not necessarily suggest false doctrines. The Tyndale says " For there must be sects among you that they which are perfect among you might be known." The implication is that those in sects are not approved by God.
Paul is saying that there must be those who do not have the truth among us in order for those who do have the truth and are approved are lifted up. To use words that are ambiguous and do not clearly say those who are not approved are in lies and that manifest means something less than lifted up is to diminish Paul's message.
That is exactly right, brother. I love this verse. I've discussed here on the forum before a while back. Thank you for pointing out how the truth of this verse is being diluted by the modern translations.
"For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."
Conversely, when someone teaches heresy, it is evidence that they are UNapproved. This is an important point.
Jesus tells us that the elect will KNOW the truth. They will believe the truth. They will love the truth. These are all marks of Election. Why is it that some do not believe the truth? Because they are NOT of God -- John 8
The pre-trib rapture fairy tale is a very bad doctrine and is almost as bad as the very Satanic Preterist view which teaches that Matthew 24 and 25 and all of Revelation took place by AD70.
WE ARE ALL EAGERLY WAITING FOR OUR ETERNAL RENDEZVOUS WITH JESUS!
�
I Peter 1:13: �Therefore, prepare your minds for ACTION, and set your hope *FULLY* on the grace to be given YOU when Jesus Christ is *REVEALED*.
I Cor 1:7: �YOU do not lack any spiritual gift as YOU eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be *REVEALED*.�
Now the pre-tribbers claim that this glorious *REVEALING or *REVELATION* of Jesus will be *CONCEALED* BEFORE the beginning of the Great Tribulation.� However, every other time the Word *REVEALED* {Greek-Apocalipsis} is used related to resurrection events it refers to the glorious REVEALING of Jesus on the *LAST DAY* of the Great Tribulation {See 2 Thess 1:7-10 & Luke 17:26-31}. And *CONCEALED* is the exact opposite of *REVEALED* and *APPEARED* according to every dictionary!�
Titus 2:13: �*WE* wait for the *BLESSED HOPE*�the glorious *APPEARING* of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. �Hebrews 9:28 �Jesus will *APPEAR* a 2nd time {And not a 3rd TIME!} to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him!��Colossians 1:2; 3:4: �To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ.... When Christ, who is your life **APPEARS**, then you also will **APPEAR** with Him in glory.� I John 3:2,3: �When Jesus *APPEARS*, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who
has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure!!�
Matthew 24:29,30: Jesus says, �IMMEDIATELY AFTER the distress of those days {The Great Tribulation} the sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will *APPEAR in the sky and the nations will *SEE* the Son of Man COMING on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory!!�
I John 2:28: �Dear children, continue in Him, so that when He *APPEARS* WE may be confident and unashamed before Him at His COMING!� {See 2 Thess 1:7-10; I Tim 6:14; Heb 9:28 & Col 3:4}� 2 Tim 4:8: Paul said, There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on THAT DAY�and not only to me, but to *ALL who have longed for His *APPEARING*!!� I Peter 5:4: �When the Chief Shepherd **APPEARS**, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away!�
2 Thess 1:1,6-10:� �To the *CHURCH* of the Thessalonians�God is just; He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.� This will happen *WHEN* the Lord Jesus is *REVEALED* {See I Peter 1:13} from heaven in blazing fire�.� He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.� They will be punished with everlasting *DESTRUCTION* and shut out from the presence of the Lord *ON THE DAY HE COMES* to be glorified in His holy people!!�
A meeting at an appointed place and time is called a RENDEZVOUS. We have a RENDEZVOUS with eternity at the glorious *APPEARING and *REVEALING of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ *IMMEDIATELY AFTER the Great Tribulation.
