What most believers do not know is that Charles Spurgeon believed that the Rapture and Resurrection would happen at the same time following the Great Tribulation. That the judgement seat of Christ would happen and Satan would be bond for a thousand years He also believed that Jesus would then literally set up his kingdom on earth and rule for a thousand years. He believed that a second resurrection would occur after the thousand-year reign for the unrighteous dead. This would be followed by the great white throne judgement of God and then there would be a new heaven and a new earth.

During Spurgeon’s day there was another preacher that people today believe was a knowledgeable man on prophecy. His name was John Darby. It is amazing to me that the Baptist organization would accept his teachings over Charles Spurgeon. Charles did not care for the teachings of Darby and if he were alive today would be preaching in direct opposition to him. He did it back then and he would continue to do it today. What I am referring to is the belief that the Rapture and Resurrection would occur before the tribulation. How could anyone believe that Darby had a greater understanding than what CH Spurgeon did? Spurgeon was not ignorant when it came to prophetic teachings and took them just as serious as his teachings on grace because he wanted his listeners to know the truth. However his main focus was on the cross of Christ and Salvation because he felt that it was more important than prophecy, however he did include prophecy teachings in his preaching and teaching. He did not reject end-time prophecy or think that it was wrong to be enlightened by it.

• Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle and contemporary of Darby published criticism of Darby and Brethrenism. His main criticism was that Darby and the Plymouth Brethren rejected the vicarious purpose of Christ's obedience as well as imputed righteousness. He viewed these of such importance and so central to the gospel that it led him to this statement about the rest of their belief. "With the deadly heresies entertained and taught by the Plymouth Brethren, in relation to some of the most momentous of all the doctrines of the gospel, and to which I have adverted at some length, I feel assured that my readers will not be surprised at any other views, however unscriptural and pernicious they may be, which the Darbyites have embraced and zealously seek to propagate"

Another thing that Charles Spurgeon rejected about John Darby was his teachings on dispensationalism. This belief teaches that the Jews are under a different covenant than the one we have to day and do not need to be saved through the preaching of the Gospel the same as the Gentiles. He believed that when Jesus came back he would rule over them in Jerusalem but they would be saved by their own covenant with him. At that time dispensationalism taught that Israel would not go back to the land of Palestine until Jesus returned at Armageddon. Charles Spurgeon disagreed with their teaching and said that he believed that the Jews would return to the land of Palestine before Jesus came back. He was right and John Darby was wrong. Charles also taught that the Jews had to be saved through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that many would be born-again before Jesus came back. Clarence Larkin came along after Darby and improved upon his theory of dispensationalism by including that 144,000 Jews would be saved during the tribulation but the rest would not accept Jesus until he comes back. Charles Spurgeon would have rejected this as well.

This issue may not seem to be important to some but it is very important to me and those that are trying to reach the Jews with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What I would like to point out is that most churches believe John Darby and Clarence Larkin over Charles Spurgeon. Charles Spurgeon in our day couldn’t be licensed or perform any duties in any church such as Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Methodist, etc because he didn’t believe that the Rapture would occur before the Tribulation. There were many more great men of God in his day and before that did not accept that and wouldn’t accept it to this very day. Why does it matter? There are over 13million Jews in the world today that need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The modern day teaching of pretribulation rapture and the teachings on dispensationalism prevent a very large number of Christians from even praying that the Jews will be saved. It is interesting to note that many evangelicals are supportive to Israel because they want to be blessed by doing so, but they are only interested in blessing Israel in material ways, not spiritual. Their salvation is very important and Satan has thrown up a smoke screen to keep Christians from seeking God for Israel’s salvation. The Scriptures teach us that it is our responsibility to reach Israel with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The churches in America are so dug into dispensation teachings that they would not allow Spurgeon or any other great man of God to pastor or preach in any of their churches. I am amazed at that. In fact many churches will run off members that do not agree with it or peer-pressure a person until they are afraid of not being accepted unless they do. We do not realize how anti-Semitic this is.

John Hagee will tell you that to preach the Gospel to the Jews is a waste of time. Yet if you were to tell people such as Jews for Jesus or other Jews that have been born again you would soon realize how ridiculous this is. Their souls are as important as any Gentile and we should realize it. It took me a long time to realize why people like John Hagee and others could be so hard when it comes to the Jews and salvation? Now I realize that they are defending what they were taught in Bible College being taught dispensation teachings. They don’t want to lose their license. By the way John Hagee does have a great concern when it comes to protecting the lives of the Jews and I appreciate what he is doing with defending Israel. But it is very important that while we protect the sinner that we provide the Gospel for their souls as well and not teach against it. The teaching of pre-tribulation Rapture leaves the Jews out of the Rapture because most will be saved during the Tribulation period itself and the Bible is clear on this. But they will have to receive the Gospel from us, the Gentiles. There are only two Resurrections in Scripture; one when Jesus comes back and the other at the end of the millenium for the unrighteous dead. The Rapture and Resurrection occur at the same time in the same moment. If we miss the Rapture there will be no eternal life because we won’t be changed. To leave the Jews out of this and to say that God prefers us over them is anti-Semitic and a sin.

The reason that I am telling the Church about all of these things is not to be critical of others but to open the eyes of Church to do what God has called us to do. It is try to get others to pray for the salvation of Israel whether their pastors do or not. If the pastor wants to pray for the salvation of Israel that is more than great but if he opposes it we need to do what we know is right in our hearts and not worry about it. I would like to encourage everyone especially Baptist to search their hearts and ask themselves whether they believe John Darby or CH Spurgeon when it comes to Biblical truth. God Bless You.

Your brother in Christ
Tommie Spurgeon