William Sanford LaSor (1912–1991) was a Semitic scholar and professor emeritus in Old Testament Theology at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. A Presbyterian, he served as Navy chaplain in WW2, earned six degrees (ranging from chemistry to Oriental languages, literature, and theology), and learned 20 languages. He was early interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls and wrote several books about them, as well as works on biblical Hebrew and Greek. This study on Armaggedon was his final book. From: The Truth About Armageddon: What the Bible Says About the End Times (San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1982) On Eschatology (p. 16) Studies in Christian eschatology often begin with the New Testament. The Old Testament is then used as a sort of religious attic where all sorts of relics from the past are found. From time to time, Christian scholars poke around in this attic, hoping to find something that will be useful for their purposes. In most cases this has amounted to “proof-texting,”—taking passages partially or entirely removed from context to prove doctrines that are found (or believed to be found) in the New Testament. This method ignores historical developments. The New Testament writers were Jews, except for Luke, and he was greatly influenced by Jewish ideas of Paul. Every presentation of a doctrinal concept, whether by Jesus or by any of his followers, had to be capable of scriptural support—which means support of the Old Testament. Jesus made it clear that he did not come “to abolish the law and the prophets” but rather to “fulfill” them. On the Rapture (p. 131) God has never spared his people. The righteous have always been called upon to suffer. Our paradigms in Scripture are Job, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah, and Jesus. The Christian Church has no scriptural right to ask for special privileges for which our Lord did not ask. Paul, who rejoiced in his sufferings [Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 7:4], exhorted believers to continue in the faith, “saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” [Acts 14:22]. “In the world you have tribulation,” Jesus told his disciples; “but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world” [John 16:33]. The wrath of God, which will be part of the end-time Tribulation, is not poured out on the people of God, “for God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” [1 Thess. 5:9].

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