Will the NIV Be THE ANTICHRIST BIBLE?
Introduction:
1. The New York International Bible Society holds a copyright on
the New International Version.
2. The New York Bible Society began December 4, 1809 at 34
Greenwich St. in New York City. It later became the International
Bible Society.
3. The NIV was made available October 1978 after 10 years work by
100 transdenominational scholars.
4. Plans for the NIV were started as far back as 1956, just 4
years after the RSV came out. In 1968 the work began after 12
years delay.
5. We ask this question in view of:
I. ITS INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE
1. Out of his 108 translations and versions Satan seems to
now have one that will best serve his purpose.
2. It is similar to the account in Matthew 26:59-61 where
many false witnesses came to no avail--
"Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council,
sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
"But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet
found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,
"And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple
of God, and to build it in three days."
In the NIV Satan may have just the right mixture of truth
and error to serve his purpose.
3. International acceptance was the aim--
Aiming at "Universal Acceptance"
One of the aims of the sponsors was "to establish universal
acceptance by creating an ecclesiastical team of 100 scholars who
hold a high view of Scripture as set forth in the Belgic
Confession and the Westminster Confession of Faith." These
scholars were drawn from quite a wide field, including the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wisconsin Lutheran
Seminary, Oral Roberts University, Westminster Theological
Seminary, the Mennonite Brethren Theological Seminary, Nazarene
Theological Seminary, Moody Bible Institute, Central Baptist
Seminary, Toronto, Tarthlesville Wesleyan College, and many more.
One of the commendations of "church leaders" quoted in the
promotional brochure reads - "I have read the New International
Version and found that it preserves the dignity of the KJV and
has the accuracy of the RSV and the New American Standard Bible
along with the free-flowing readability of the Living Bible." -
Taken from the Trinitarian Bible Society Quarterly Record.
The battle for the Bible market continues to rage and it has
taken on a universal impact.
4. International acceptance is being witnesses--
"The New International Version Bible is now widely accepted
in the United States and in other English-speaking countries
around the world. We have also produced a Spanish version of the
NIV New Testament. NIV Bibles, New Testaments and portions are
available from the Bible Society in a variety of sizes and styles
for use by churches, organizations and individuals who will use
them in evangelism." - International Bible Sunday Poster,
11/6/83.
5. Bolstered by the NIV Scofield and NIV Thompson Chain
Study Bible and the critical timing, as an NIV study Bible
advertisement states, "It was only a question of time...and the
time is now...In less than eight years, the New International
Version has become the most popular--and best selling--modern-
English translation of the Bible, with more than 59 million
copies sold. Since its first appearance in 1978, the NIV has been
enthusiastically welcomed by pastors, teachers, students and lay
people for the clarity as well as the accuracy of its
translation."
II. ITS INFERIOR UNDERLYING TEXT
1. "Our faith in God's inerrant, inspired Word led to our
sponsorship of the NIV."--Ibid.
2. With advertisement statements lauding the NIV for
reliability, accuracy, masterpiece of evangelical scholarship,
etc., they obviously do not believe in the infallible, inerrant,
inspired, preserved Word in English, the King James Version.
3. The International Bible Society translators meant the
Westcott & Hort Text.
"Readers familiar with one or other of the older versions
will notice two classes of significant changes, firstly the
changes resulting from the acceptance of variations in the Greek
text, and secondly those changes which affect only the English
rendering. In a very large number of instances the Greek readings
adopted in the text or margin of the English Revised Version of
1881 and the American Standard Version of 1901 have found a place
in the New International Bible. The text underlying those
revisions was cast in the same mould as that of Westcott and
Hort."--The NIV, Trinitarian Bible Society.
"Since the New International Version, like all other modern
Bible versions, is based upon the corrupted Westcott-Hort Text,
the significance of this event is that it marks another step in
Satan's program to produce confusion concerning the reliability
of the Word of God." --Foundation
III. ITS INFAMOUS ATTACK UPON GOD
1. It is irreverent toward God. "Thee" and "Thou" are
removed and referred to as "archaisms."
2. Along with all versions based on the Westcott and Hort
Text the deity of Christ is under attack.
3. God's name is removed from the NIV.
"'Lord' removed 33 times
'Jesus' removed 30 times
'Christ' removed 46 times
'God' removed 32 times"
--Bible Betrayal, William A. DeJonge
Conclusion:
1. We may well be witnessing the rise of the antichrist,
tribulation, false prophet Bible.
2. One thing is sure, The NIV is NOT the Word of God.
3. If the NIV sales should surpass the KJV sales it will not
change a thing.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but by words shall not
pass away." Matthew 24:35
4. It will only reveal the depth of apostasy the religious
world has reached.
--By Raymond Blanton