Saturday, September 17, 2016

THE SWORD OF ISLAM


by pastor Mike Taylor





“Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD. 

    9, And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.10, Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” (Ezekiel 11:8-10)

“So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight." (Isaiah 66:4)


The Bible is full of lessons written for us today. The Bible is our handbook for living and what was recorded by the Holy Spirit direction upon prophets of old, speaks of what happened to them, will happen also to us. It speaks to us in our time, as the Bible is eternal. Here we see judgments that came upon Israel because of their not following the God of the Universe. They wandered away from the true God, which their father's knew and fell into idolatry, sins of the flesh, and the love of their brethren became cold with their sins rising to the nostrils of God as a foul odor. Their sins surely found them out, when God's wrath fell upon them. Prophet after prophet came to them to warn them of their sins and it's folly to ignore God and His commandments. 

What did God eventually do to these people because of their lawlessness and sinful ways? A little history lesson here. First came the downfall of the northern Kingdom of Israel. The Assyrian captivity or (Assyrian exile) in the period in the history ofAncient Israel and Judah during which several thousand Israelites of ancient Samaria were resettled as captives by Assyria. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian monarchs, Tiglath-Pileser III (Pul) and Shalmaneser V. The later Assyrian rulers Sargon II and his son and successor, Sennacherib, were responsible for finishing the twenty-year demise of Israel's northern ten-tribe kingdom, although they did not overtake the Southern KingdomJerusalem was besieged, but not taken. The tribes exiled by Assyria later became known as the Ten Lost Tribes in 722 B.C. And no one has been able to pin point where these Ten Tribes migrated to, as the Assyrian Empire dispersed them into every corner of their land. And then Israel was no more as the Northern Kingdom was conquered by the sword of a pagan people who worshiped idols as they did, but God used them to bring judgment on His people for their refusal to follow the ways of God that they knew, but rejected.

According to 2nd Chronicles, Chapter 30, there is evidence that at least some people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel were not exiled. These were invited by kingHezekiah to keep the Passover in a feast at Jerusalem with the Judean population. (The holiday was set one month forward from its original date.) Hezekiah sent his posts to spread the word among the remnant of the Northern kingdom; the posts were mocked during their visit to the country of Ephraim, Manasseh and Zebulun. However, some people of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. In a later part of the chapter, even people from the Tribe of Issachar and the strangers that "came out from the land of Israel" were said to take part in the passover event. Biblical scholars such as Umberto Cassuto  claimed that Hezekiah might have annexed these territories, in which inhabitants of the Kingdom of Israel remained, into his own kingdom. 




SOUTHERN KINGDOM OF JUDAH IGNORES GOD'S WRATH

 Following the righteous rule of King Hezekiah, there came evil kings that fell into more idolatry just as their sister state of Israel to the north in Samaria had practiced and God sent prophets such as Jeremiah to warn them repeatedly of their coming destruction. Jeremiah complained to God about how an evil and wicked people can prosper, a people without scruples who take advantage of others and circumstances for their own gain.  Jeremiah could not understand a maelstrom of turbulent events that swirled all around him and the destruction that always comes when a nation is unraveling. Sound like anybody we know today? Think America!!

 

Again, God sent a pagan king to bring judgment on a people who had forsaken Him...He used King Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon to bring a sword upon the land and destroy the temple of God, carry away it's riches, and enslave the people of those he left alive and did not destroy utterly. 

 “And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the LORD, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:

Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.” (Jeremiah 44:29-30)


History and archaeological records prove that Assyria destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Babylon with King Nebuchadnezzer destroyed Judah and enslaved the Hebrew people for 70 years for their wicked ways. 


This is a short recap of what is known by historians and theological students of the Bible. The evidence is without dispute that God passed judgment and His wrath upon the people that He choose to be His people above all nations, but when they fell into idolatry, God used men of other nations, men of pagan practices to enact judgment on a godless nation that knew better, but squandered the blessings of God and were judged and virtually destroyed or enslaved. So what? What does that have to do with us today?



THE SWORD OF ISLAM

I look around at our nation. A nation blessed like no other nation upon this earth has ever been blessed. We came from a source of blessing that made this countries foundation built upon the Word of God and His Ten Commandments. The Constitution was written, in part, to codify biblical precepts into law. There are no significant conflicts between the Bible and the Constitution. We have not been perfect, much as Israel was never perfect, but we have done what they have done in Ancient times. We have turned away from the true God of the Bible and instead of believing “In God We Trust” we trust in ourselves, in our own abilities. We don't need God, at least as a Federal and State Governments and their leaders have driven home the unconstitutional claim of “separation of church and state”...as it's not found in the Constitution or any other founding document that shaped this land we call the USA, our home, but a great number of people stand by and believe what this government spews as law. The present administration has moved us farther down the road in the name of “hope and change”..For my part, you I'll keep my God given freedoms and you can keep your “change” as they have no hope in them. Europe is farther down the road to destruction of their population that even we are, as we haven't seen the carnage displayed on your TV's of what's going on in every European nation that has a Muslim population and is now being overrun by “refugees”. At least not yet to that extent, but we're getting there. The latest mass shootings prove it.

 So what do we have in common with the Europeans? God has been removed from our courts, our schools, our institutions of law, and their halls of higher learning. I have feared for this country for a long time and events that are playing out right now, prove that the fear I had was justified. Now I am just resigned that judgment is beginning on America and I'm not sure that anything can hold it back. Nobody, not even a political candidate for the POTUS can stop what is coming. But one of them can hasten it and it's eventual disaster. Many use the verses that call for repentance:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II (Chronicles 7:14)

 So how has that worked out for us? After 9/11, the churches were stuffed, with people crying out to God for protection and His helping hand. How long did that last? 6 months? At the most, it was a short lived repentance by a people who caught their collective breath and went back to the same old life they had had before, but became more and more wicked as time went by. 

 God is a merciful and loving God and not willing that any should perish, but I believe there is a time in our lives, when God says, “Enough”. 


“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)...


Yes, God is longsuffering, but when reading this verse, you have to read the next passage to get what God is talking about here. 

 “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; (translated: judgment) in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 

11, Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 

12, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:10-12)


God is talking about judgment, about making a reckoning of lawless behavior and unrepentant sin. As God has used pagan nations to enact judgment upon a lawless and godless nation that has turned their back on Him for the sins of the flesh and idolatry. Would it be too far a stretch to say, that God is doing the same thing right now, beginning with a pagan theocracy that worships a false god, for control of the world known as Islam and their jihad? 


Now Islam is not a nation in of itself, but it's 1.5 billion believers in a false god with anyone professing Islam being radicalized to kill those around him that don't bow to his perverted idea of what a “god” is and who is actually the true God of the universe are a force to be reckoned with. Note the latest mass killing of the “infidels” by one man who was born as a citizen in the USA to Afghan immigrants, one known as Omar Mateen. The gunman who went on a shooting rampage at a popular gay nightclub in Orlando shot nearly all of his victims in the first stages of the assault, then was utterly “cool and calm” while he talked by phone to law enforcement officials about further carnage, claimed allegiance to the Islamic State and praised the Boston Marathon bombers . This was an American citizen born here and raised just as you and I have been in a free country, but became radicalized because of the error of their religious thinking.


Now I don't condone or give a pass to anyone who kills another human being or acts like that are done by so called “pseudo-churches” such as Westboro Baptist church that protest with hateful words every chance they get, but look who the man was targeting. This was a gay bar where homosexuals and other members of the LBGT community were gathering to engage in revelry and hooking up with members of their own sex. Other attacks were mostly on the West Coast of California, or liberal outpost of New England like New York and Massachusetts. Note that the carnage is growing larger and stronger, as time passes by exponentially as our national sin grows. I wondered to myself, just how many attacks have been perpetrated by Islamic adherents on innocent individuals, so I went to this site:

 http://thereligionofpeace.com/attacks/american-attacks.aspx


In the report it will show that crimes have 74 individual acts of terrorism starting as far back as 1972. The totals are those that of the 74 attacks that had fatalities, 3560 people have died with the largest total at 9/11, with many more maimed and wounded into the thousands. Of those killed, only one Muslim was killed in a revenge shooting for the many dead left by Islamic terrorist. Islamophobia is not evident in the body count, but the carnage is due to American tolerance to the extreme and being politically correct to our own hurt.


Does anyone at a large shopping mall, theater, baseball game, or anywhere a large number of people gather feel safe with this amount of carnage around them? Yes, I know that is their intent to bring terror and chaos to our lives, but could there be more of another reason? Is it even conceivable that God is using the “sword of Islam” to bring judgment in it's infancy upon a nation that has turned it's back on Him? If it is true, and God only knows, it will get only worse. Why? Because our government with it's head in the sand mentality are allowing refugees into our country that cannot be vetted to where they came from. Our southern border is a leaking sieve that immigrants pour through and no one can be sure if ISIS fighters, Al Qaeda or other Islamic terrorist are using our own democracy and our own stupidity to bring us harm and causing enough chaos that our system of government will implode from within. But these terrorist will not get away without repercussions of judgment on themselves for the barbaric lack of reverence for the sanctity of human life just as ancient Assyria and Babylon were judged, but God knows and is allowing such terrorism to come to our land.


CAN ISLAM PRIME THE USA FOR CONQUEST?


Understand, if we are weakened to the point of not being able to repel an enemy invasion because of our government's inability to protect us, is it conceivable that a foreign nation, much like Assyria or Babylon could walk right in and overpower what is left of this nation? I think of Russia or China who need more room for their bulging populations. I believe such a scenario could be in the future of those who see the wrath of God beginning, but do not wake up and turn their lives around. 


The article I gave URL address to, has this to say about Muslims that live in this country. 

“As the Muslim population increases in the United States, so too will the number of Islamic terror attacks.  This is because the pool from which the radicals recruit grows bigger.  Studies show that between 5 - 25% of Muslims in America believe that violence in defense of Islam is justified.  The number of potential terrorists therefore grows proportionately with the overall number, even if only a small minority actually plot terror.

Immigrants to America have killed and have plotted to kill.  However, the real threat comes from successive generations of Muslims living in the West, which have proven to be more radical and more dangerous than their parents.  Muslim immigration thus means that more Americans will eventually die.”(What Makes Islam so Different?)  


Unfortunately, I have to agree with the author. The threat grows larger and more pronounced as days rush onward to the coming Tribulation.


Remember me saying that the Bible gives lessons and instructions to us in our day of what God expects from each of us? Know that our God does not change, and these words were not written just for them, but FOR US...today, our time and our departure from the Words of God:


7, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you; 

8, Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations. 

9,And I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.” (Ezekiel 5:7-9)


What abominations? Let's number a few of them. Sins like homosexuality, same sex marriage, abortions of millions of babies, idolatry to anything and everything that we worship that neither speak, or can hear. Growing atheism, agnostics, Satanist, and crime against other men as murder statistics soar, removing God, who made this country great from every annals of our thinking or social beliefs. 


God begins judgment with the actions of men and using them as His instruments of judgment on a people who knew better. WE KNEW BETTER!!

But alas, as a nation, look how far we have fallen. You and I do not know how much more carnage we will see. I pray you are not a victim covorting around with sins of this world in a gay bar, or defrauding your neighbor in business, or stealing his wife, or living a life of an unbeliever, atheist, or agnostic, as if any of the attacks are pointed at sinful living, then you have a target on your back, and God will NOT protect you.


I call on those who truly believe the Word of God to hold promises and articles of faith close to your heart. When troubles are all around me, I proclaim Psalm 91, which is just one of the promises from God to protect that that right up against His altar and doing His will. 

 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

Notice that you are in the shadow of the Almighty, doing His will as humanly possible in this life and having faith in His provisions of safety and protection. Note that nothing can come upon you unless your Father in Heaven allows it, and if you're His child, it will be for your growth in Him to do His will or to teach you. He does nothing for your hurt, but for your ultimate good. 


“For we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called, according to His purpose”. Romans 8:28


Just these two promises out of many that God gives in His Word, shows that a born again believer has nothing to fear, as long as he stays close to God. 



YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET!!


Those of this nation's citizens that see what is going on in the news..all the attacks, all the senseless killing, and the state of terror that is starting to grip those, especially in larger Metropolitan cesspools of sinful living are becoming more and more complacent and adjusting to the new “norm”. It's not normal what is happening in this country. It's not only Islam, but it's the latest carnage on your news hour broadcast. It's everywhere as far as the eye can see. There are few Oasis of calm and righteous living in this country and it's dwindling fast. The “modern church” is no answer, and has no solution to this problem, as they have left their first love...much as Jesus warned of the last portion of this Church age, known as the Laodecian Church. America is the embodiment of that cry from Jesus as He prophesied to John in Revelation 3:


“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 

16, So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

17, Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Revelation 3:15-17)


But God has made a promise to those who profess the Name of His Son, Jesus Christ and have made our confidence, our faith, and our worship placed upon Him, and Him alone:


“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 

11, Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:10-11)


God's wrath is coming, real wrath. Not the wrath of man, which God may be using to try and get our attention. Or He may be executing judgment on those He knows will never accept His free gift of salvation....only God knows. 


A much quoted verse that says we will not receive any of this coming wrath. When I say we, I mean born again believers by the blood and water of repentance and the cross of Jesus Christ. It doesn't apply as a blanket for everyone:
“For we are not appointed to wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.”(1st Thessalonians 5:9)


That's a comfort, as to do so God will have to physically, spiritually remove us clean out of the way, as God's wrath will be 100% covering all the earth...

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

17, Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

18, Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1st Thessalonians 4:16-18)


In all my days of ministry, I have never seen a time like this, that is lining up with God's Word. I only know that it's going to get worse from here. We will see many horrible deeds by men, but I cling to God's promises of safety and protection. I put complete faith in God removing His chosen Church, born from the foundation of the world, to be removed from this earth at the beginning of the coming Tribulation. Keep your wits about you, your bible in your hand, your staff in the other hand, and your sandals upon your feet, because when God says move out, we will move out to a better place. 


“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)


“for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2nd Timothy 1:12b)


Can you who read this, say with confidence that you know in whom you believe?

Do you believe in other men, yourself, or your tenacity to survive painful events...let me assure you, when it gets bad, really bad, and the whole world around you is sinking into a big sink hole, who will you turn to? Who will you hold onto for protection and guidance when the whole world is going to a literal hell on earth? There will be no one there for you. 


It's coming folks. You don't believe it? Then disbelieve at your own peril...you'll remember these words when you think back, “Why didn't I listen? Why didn't I follow the call given and give my life to Jesus Christ before this world around me is imploding and I'm forever in peril of my life?”


It's not too late, yet!!....There is still time, as you are alive and reading this and a huge amount of people haven't suddenly disappeared. But when that is in the news, then buddy, you're on your own....You'll either save your life for a short time, but spend eternity in a devil's hell, or believe what I'm about to quote and reap life everlasting, but you'll likely die a martyr for your belief in Christ. 

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. 

Why do you need God's only begotten Son? Because you're a sinner, just as I am..only difference, I'm a forgiven sinner and maybe you're not. 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 

24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

25, Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (substitution) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:23-25)


Friend, the sword of Islam is rampaging right now on anyone they can send to hell by whatever means that they have at their disposal...that's men being evil to other men. It may be God using their evil ways to enact judgment on a godless nation. But make no mistake about it...this evil world will only get worse and worse, and when God pours out His judgment on you and all that are around you, you'll pray your had made those verses quoted above a part of your heart and spirit. Don't wait...time is growing very short and the door of opportunity will suddenly shut and you will live a terrifying existence known as the Tribulation, or the Great Tribulation. Find out what that means and make that decision that you don't want to see any of it...because Jesus is the only Answer to this world of sin. 

“Jesus saitheth unto him, 'I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh to the Father, but by Me.” (John 14:6)


“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9)


Admit you're a sinner, repent of those sins and put your trust in Jesus as the author of your salvation. It's so easy, a babe can do it. But it takes guts and becoming humble to believe something that is so simple, and free for the asking. Take that act of faith and believe on Jesus right now....as the judgment of God is just beginning with the “Sword of Islam”. 


This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying that I have introduced you to the only hope you have in this life for the next one coming, Jesus Christ, my Lord. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net God bless you all. 


              TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET


Comments

Thomas Hatt
06/23/2016 5:58pm
Thank you, Brother Mike!

That is a great word in due season! I've had that very same message upon my heart for awhile now, and I have to agree with you!

Keep up the excellent preaching of the pure Word of God! Thank you!

Thomas Hatt,
Nova Scotia, Canada
Reply
Jeff
06/23/2016 6:02pm
Great article pastor Mike!
Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Reply
Pat Baunsgard
06/24/2016 9:08am
Please Pastor Mike, Help us oldsters to understand is this is a good thing or a bad thing, with the British voters out of the European Union, and how if any thing how it fits into Prophesy
Reply
mike pentycofe
07/10/2016 9:25am
Regarding Great Britans exit from the European Union ; This was spoken of by Herbert Armstrong back in 1956 , believe it or not . MR. Armstrong spoke of the implications that this would have on the European Union as well as the worlds economy.In the book of Revelation John speaks of the 7heads and 10 horns Rev:17vs.3 ,7 ,9 there are 7 kings,5 are fallen ,and one is ,and the other is not yet.In 1956 when Herbert Armstrong wrote about Britans exit from the UE. the kingdom refered to as the the one is not yet is the final kingdom often called the revised roman empire. The coming anti -christ will rise to power from within this revised roman empire Right now the EU has about 28 individual nations . But out of this coalition of nations it will trim itself down to 10 nations. In which Germany has been plotting to basically take charge of this coalition of nations due to their economic might. Germany started both world wars! John refers to these 10 horns as 10 kings. in REV17;12They will receive their power and kingdom 1 hour with the beast .This coalitio0n of kingdoms will have one mind and give their power and strength to the beast So the kingdoms of past history representing the image of a roman soldier in the dream of Nebuchadnezzar"s are the final copulation of these past kingdoms into one world system , one world government, as well as one world religion. Studying the book of Daniel might make this a little easier to understand and put it all together a little more clearly. mike pentycofe
Reply
07/10/2016 9:41am
I am not a proponent of the last HW Armstrong's teaching, as he got a lot of things wrong, but there a some things he got right. He was just a man, and men make mistakes. But Mike, your observation of the coming Revised Roman Empire could be found in Germany as the instigator of this empire spoken of in Daniel....knowing that they started 2 World Wars because of their quest for power, it would make sense that they would be in the thick of the coming Beast power...how, and in what form? We don't know, or do we know where the coming AC will come....many believe he will be Middle Eastern or Turkish, called the Assyrian, but with the world being such a melting pot of nationalities, I don't think we can know for sure, until the peace treaty is signed with Israel for 7 years...but I don't believe we will be here to witness it.....Funny that you should bring HWA, as he was not a believer in the Pre-Trib rapture...God bless,
YBIC,
Pastor MIke
mike pentycofe
07/10/2016 11:05am
Pastor Mike, just to let you know I to am not a fan of HW. Armstrong. As you said though he did get some things right . But anyone who argues against the pre-tribulation rapture has not truly studied the scripture. Scripture will only line up to a pre-trib rapture ! Gerald Flurry has made some statements that I cant agree with , but he does have some of it right ! mike pentycofe
Pat Baunsgard
06/24/2016 9:11am
Paster Mike, Is this a good thing or bad thing with the British voters out of the European Union?
Does it fit into Prophesy
Reply
06/29/2016 7:26pm
Pat,
this has implications concerning prophecy of the ten toes of Daniel's image and the forming of the revived Roman Empire and the coming of the Anti-Christ...How will it play out? WE have to stay watching, as God knows, but we can only be watchers and know the end if near....God bless,
YBIC,
Pastor Mike
Reply
mike pentycofe
06/27/2016 8:48pm
Pastor Mike ,beloved brother in Christ, Once again your message is spot on ! What really amazes me is that the unsuspecting world thinks it has all the time in the world . They seem to be oblivious to the events taking place around them ! But we must remember that they are spiritually blinded by the god of this world. I read a testimony of a Baptist preacher that died on the table and was taken into the 3rd Heaven. He had an angel as a guide . While there he saw people walking through a tunnel. He asked the angel who these people were . The angel told him these were born again believers who walking through the gates of Heaven. Then the angel gave this Baptist preacher a stunning revelation , he said 1 out of a 1000 would walk through the gates of Heaven. When ever I read a testimony like this I discern it by the power of the Holy Spirit. If I do the math it is staggering the small remnent that will be saved. With that being said , every soul that we can reach by the power of the Holy Spirit ,it precious before God. In these final moments of the age of grace we must endure afflictions , and proclaim the word of God in Spirit and in truth. I to stand on the promises of God in Psalm 91. Praise the mighty name of JESUS , Amen and Amen !!! your co-laborer and brother in Christ . mike pentycofe
Reply
06/29/2016 7:31pm
Yes, it will be a remnant of mankind. Jesus said the gate to destruction is wide and the way is wide, but the way of life is narrow and narrow is the gate that leads to life, and few that find it. Satan is working hard to deceive mankind, but in the end, his destruction is assured and those who put their faith in Jesus Christ..in the end...WIN. Praise God,
YBIC,
Pastor MIke
Reply

DOES GOD ALLOW SELF DEFENSE?

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by Pastor Mike Taylor


Exodus 22:2-3  2 "If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed.   3 "If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed.”

Ezekiel 33:1-6

Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.”


There has been a discussion at church over what the parameters for using lethal force during the commission of a crime by an evil intruder into our quiet lives. Many are of the mind that it is wrong to kill in every instance and that God does not give us the right to use deadly force to stop a would be assassin from taking your life, or the life of those around you, including your own family members. Those who are opposed to using weapons for self defense are what are called “pacifist” and are against every instance of harming another human being, even to their own demise. I had a member tell me that if an intruder came and broke into her home, she would allow the intruder to do whatever he was there to do, either to steal, rape, or even murder and she called it martyrdom...really?

Now there is a difference between killing someone in self defense and murder and this has caused a lot of a difference of opinions and strong emotions from various members, but emotions should not drive our convictions, but we look to the handbook for our daily living and our moral compass, our Bible. What does the Bible say about killing someone, even in self defense? Let us look at several passages that will give us hopefully, a clearer picture of the instructions given to us from a Holy God.

Self-defense is defined as "protecting oneself from injury at the hand of others." Self-defense is not about taking vengeance. Self-defense is not about punishing criminals. Self-defense involves preserving one's own health and life when it is threatened by the actions of others. When we speak about using potentially lethal force in self-defense, we're talking about using weapons to protect ourselves and others, even if the weapons used could kill the attacker. Now some people would wonder, and maybe you are one of them, of why would a Christian even consider the subject of using lethal force to protect one's life? First we have to look, as Christians, what the Bible says about harming another, because in this society we live in, with it's 300 million people who possess in the neighborhood of 250 million guns of different sizes and calibers that law abiding people possess and criminals use in the commission of a crime against other men. We want to know how to apply the Bible to something our society was built upon, and that is the 2nd Amendment and the right to bear arms.

“''A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'' (US Constitution, 2nd Amendment, ratified December 15th, 1791)

Firearms in this country are as much a part of our heritage as baseball, apple pie, and Chevrolet. Problem is that there are forces within our country that are attempting to eradicate the common citizen from owning or possessing firearms because of mass killings at the hands of evil men whose only wish is to cause murder, mayhem, and terror at the expense of others. And when your ability to protect yourself and your family is taken away, then the only ones who will have guns are the criminally insane or the terrorist who wishes to destroy this country.

Sadly, many people don't have a clue what the Bible says about use of deadly force and when it is allowed and when it is not...so let's start in the Old Testament and work our way into the New Testament and see what God has to say about the Biblical application of what is known as “self defense”. We live in a time where the aftermath of mass killings such as Sandy Hook, San Bernadino, and Orlando, and current possibilities of economic and societal collapse, with increasing levels of crime have people buying guns and ammunition in large quantities for self protection. What does the Bible say about that? What does the Bible say about so-called "assault weapons"? 




OUR OBLIGATION TO PRESERVE LIFE


The bible is clear that we are to preserve life, the lives of those around us, and our own life as well. Every life is precious to God and God does not take killing another human being lightly, but He makes a distinction when self defense is warranted. 1st Corinthians 6:19-20

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”


As a Christian, you were bought with a high price, the price of the blood shed by our Lord Jesus Christ. In essence, God owns your body. Not only are we to take care of our bodies and the life contained, we have an obligation to preserve the body and life of other people. Psalm 82:3-5 even cites an obligation to protect those who are in danger: 

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”


And how do we accomplish delivering those around us from danger, if we stand idly by and allow murder and destruction to happen without taking some type of action? Especially when we have the means of self protection of those lives around us, and our own.

Note the the verses at the beginning of this message found in Ezekiel chapter 33. 

If you know danger is coming to others, and you deliberately fail to warn the others of the danger, you are guilty of harming the victims. This is not to say that you can make people heed your warning. The surrounding verses also say that if the people refuse to heed the warning of the watchmen, the watchman is not guilty if they are harmed. I have warned those in my church and I warn those who read this message, we are in dangerous times and we must take warning to protect those who are defenseless and unable to protect themselves. 

We also see in Deuteronomy, that if you fail to protect or guard the lives of others, you are held accountable. The Mosaic law gives examples of failure to put a railing on a flat roof and if someone falls off and kills themselves you are guilty of their death. (Deuteronomy 22:8). It speaks of if an ox gores someone that he is injured, then you are guilty of negligence and if he dies, then you are to be put to death. (Exodus 21:29-31) These passage speak forcefully in no uncertain terms that you must protect your life, and the lives of others. I will go even a little further. If you have the means to prevent an attack by someone determined to take innocent lives and do nothing, then you are guilty of their death. God will hold you accountable, be you a layman or pastor of any church that has people under their charge, even during church services. Again, I am reminded of those poor folks in a black church in North Carolina that were in Bible study when an assailant came in and destroyed 9 innocent lives. What if any one of them had a weapon concealed on their person? Could they have stopped this criminal act? Yes, they could have. What if they had just locked the doors while they were inside? They wouldn't have needed to take lethal action against anybody, but for the simple act of locking and securing an entrance to their church. 


THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF BLOODSHED


Genesis 9:5-6   5 And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; At the hand of every beast will I require it. And at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man's brother, will I require the life of man.  

6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: For in the image of God made he man.”


God considers the blood to be precious. In our culture, with all the video games, TV shows, and movies about killing someone else and the blood that is spilled, is no big deal to many, but to God, it is a big deal. Why? Because the life of the man is found in his blood. 

If a man was killed, the man or beast who caused the death must pay with his/its own life. God says here, "I will require the life of man." Killing or bloodshed was not always wrong. But when it was wrong, the penalty was ultimate.

We learn here that there is sanctity to spilled blood. Why? Two reasons:

1) Life is precious, and as mentioned, the life is in the blood. When blood is shed, something precious is lost. You might not think blood is precious. We tend to consider blood to be just a "bodily fluid". It is, however, precious to God.

  
2). An attack on man is an attack on the image of God. At a trivial level, you're messing with sculptures in God's art studio. In God's view of bloodshed, it is not merely a physiological event, but it is an assault on the divine image. Why is murder punishable by death? It says, "For in the image of God made He man.

 OLD TESTAMENT PASSAGES OF LETHAL FORCE AND SELF DEFENSE. 


We all should be familiar with the Ten Commandments and the command “Thou shalt not kill”...but the Hebrew word here is better translated, “thou shalt not murder”. Murder is wrong in a fit a rage, or emotions. Premeditated murder with forethought is wrong in every instance. But not all killing of a man is wrong in certain instances, such as spoken of in Leviticus 24:16-17

Those who blaspheme God, or murders another are condemned. But not all killing is prohibited, as the mentioned verse testifies. 

In Exodus, Deuteronomy, and Numbers, there are passages that speak of accidental killings without malice, and that person was to go to “sanctuary cities” to escape the avenger of blood that could take revenge on the life of the one who was killed accidentally. This person was to stay in the city until the high priest died and then could return to his own land, but if caught outside the city walls before this happened, and was caught by the avenger of blood, then his life would be taken from him. (By the way, this is a beautiful picture of Christ's work—Christ, the city of refuge in whom we must remain hidden! And Christ is the high priest whose death takes our guilt and sets us free.) 

We should see that killing someone out of 1) hatred, 2) negligence, or 3) sheer accident were subject to capital punishment. In the case of sheer accident without negligence, God established a network of cities of refuge which made merciful provision to spare the life of the killer. This is one side of the coin when speaking of killing another, but let us look at the flip side of this same coin. With that important background, let's look at passages speaking about victims of crime. 

Note the first verse that opened this message in Exodus 22. What does the Word of God mean when speaking of striking a thief at night and it is permissible, but if the “sun is risen” it is not permissible? Picture a thief who has broken into your home. It's dark and you're not sure if he's there to steal, or something worse. You don't know if he has a gun, knife, or some other form of deadly weapon and you don't know if he will stop at being a thief, but deal harshly with his victims by imposing kidnapping, rape, or even murder upon those he wishes to violate their sense of security. The Bible says that it is permissible to strike such an intruder, even if he dies and you will not be held accountable. Because it is happening at night. But, …..there's that word....if the intruder attempts to steal during the daytime, you are aware if he has a weapon or not. To kill for the sake of property is not permissible, because he has no weapon. Big difference here is threat to life with deadly force from an intruder is granted to defend yourself with a counter measure of deadly force, but not so with loss of property. But again, if the thief has a weapon that would cause harm, injury or even death to the victims, lethal force and the protection of your family or those around you that are in danger, then self defense with lethal force is permitted, even in the day time. 

 Mathew Henry writes “...if it was in the day-time that the thief was killed, he that killed him must be accountable for it, unless it was in the necessary defense of his own life. ... We ought to be tender of the lives even of bad men; the magistrate must afford us redress, and we must not avenge ourselves." 


There are more passage that affirm the use of lethal force found in Nehemiah when families, not law enforcement worked on the wall of Jerusalem with tool in one hand and their sword girded about them for self defense of those around them who hated them and wished to destroy their work and their lives. And again in Esther, when the Jews were allowed by King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) to defend themselves from those who would kill them. Esther chapter 9:

 Esther 9:1-2,5 ...the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.  

2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people.... 

5 Thus the Jews defeated all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, with slaughter and destruction”

In this passage, the Jews were given legal sanction to defend their lives, not in war time, or law enforcement scenario, but in daily living by the use of their major weapon, the sword. Today, our sword is a gun as our weapon.

PASSAGE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Lethal force and the use of self defensive measures is not confined to just the Old Testament, but into the New Testament as well. 

Luke 22:35-39 And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing."  

36Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.  

37 "For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end."  

38 So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."  

39 Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.” 


Jesus had his disciples arm themselves against robbers and bad men who might attack them as they walked to their missions to reach others for the Kingdom of God. Some make the error that Jesus was a “pacifist”. The Bible speaks of many instances when Jesus railed against the religious authorities for the “traditions of men”. Jesus challenged them at every turn about their hypocrisy and failure to follow the spiritual intent of the law. Remember, this was a Jewish man, fully man, and fully God that used a whip to drive the money changers out of the temple in righteous indignation. No, Jesus was not a pacifist, but a realist that knew His enemy, but when it came time, Jesus submitted Himself to unlawful accusation and crucifixion, because that was His mission. It was a mission that the apostles did NOT understand, until Jesus was resurrected. Remember what Peter did to the servant of the High Priest, by cutting off his ear? Luke 22, 

 49 “When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

 50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

 51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.”

In another Gospel account of this same event, Peter is rebuked by Jesus when He told Peter to put away his sword by saying in Matthew 26:

 51 “And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear.

 52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

 53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

 54 But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?”


Peter was not being rebuked for self defense, but for not realizing that this was the Divine mission that Jesus was on. Peter did not understand, or any of the disciples until Jesus had been risen from the dead and appeared to them. To use this passage as a means of Jesus being against self defense, is to ignore the other passages where He had them arm themselves, for whatever reason for their own self defense. Jesus didn't need Peter to interfere, even as our Lord was rebuked by Peter for Jesus saying that He would be killed by the Jewish authorities and Jesus turned and spoke to Peter, “Get thee behind me Satan, thou are an offense to me.” Because even here, Peter did not understand the Divine mission Jesus was going to complete for the salvation of mankind. 


In these passages, you get a sense that Jesus is saying, "Though we have a right to employ our swords in defense of this unrighteous arrest, we are intentionally putting aside our lawful right, and I am allowing myself to be taken without resistance." See how this is expressed: "Lord shall we strike with the sword?" "No more of this." "This is your hour, and the power of darkness." "Put up your sword... or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father... all this was done that the Scriptures...might be fulfilled." "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup...?"

Why Christ tells Peter to put up the sword:


  1. Christ is willingly laying down His life, though He has the right to use sword and angelic legions to deliver Himself from this unjust arrest (Luke 22:51, John 18:11).
  2. Those who are quick to resort to violence will die by violence (Matt 26:52). The Lord hates the one who "loves violence" (Psalm 11:5).
The sword is not always the appropriate response, especially in persecution for Christ. But in the case to prevent murder, lethal force and self defense are warranted.

But let me be frank, my brethren, there is a difference between martyrdom and murder. If one is asked to deny Christ upon pain of death, then their death would be martyrdom. But to die at the hands of evil men for no other reason that for terror or the sick idea of causing death and destruction to helpless victims, is MURDER and those who are entrusted to our care, whether they be the parents of the children, the kinsman of those being in danger of their lives, the life of your neighbor, or being entrusted with the safety of your own congregation as the shepherd of the local flock, it is your duty, it is your right under God's Word to preserve life in whatever you can do. I am reminded of several instances in recent days of innocent men and women in a theater, or a madman in San Bernadino that killed fellow workers, or even killing of students at Sandy Hook. If by chance anyone of them had a CCW permit and had a weapon to stop the gunman in his tracks, I wonder, how many lives could have been saved? What about the evil man the entered the Orlando nightclub and took his time to murder 50 people who cowered under furniture while the gunman calmly reloaded. During those times, what if someone had wounded the man who had the semi-auto rifle or pistols and put him out of commission? Would it have been right in God's eyes? Yes, no one wants to think about taking another one's life, or inflicting harm, and if forced to make that decision, I would want to injure the perpetrator to stop his evil deed and spare their life, if at all possible. 


The world grows darker and more evil as the days of the coming Tribulation will plunge mankind into being completely sold out to evil in every second of their lives. As we approach that hour, men will grow worse and worse and many will die because of evil men and their Satanic influence to commit heinous crimes. NO where in the Bible are we to take punitive measures against another person, without exhausting every measure to defuse a situation and prevent harm to any living soul. Possession of weapons is never discouraged in Scripture, but let's look at two verses from the Psalms:

 Psalm 144:1 Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:

 Psalm 18:34 He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze

Skill and ability to use weapons here, whether literal and/or metaphorical, is positively portrayed in these verses.

Understand my brethren, that there is coming a day when those who wish to impose tyranny over men, will attempt to disarm them, so that they can conquer them. It has happened many times in the past during Hitler's reign of terror, communist Russia and China did likewise. But as we approach the return of Jesus Christ for His Bride, the Church, we may have to face situations where self defense is our only choice, and a wise man or woman takes precautions and ask for God's protection from the evil as it grows. I'm a firm believer in claiming Psalm 91 and God's protection, but I am also a firm believer that God uses men to protect other men from evil in the land. We are not to harm another person, if at all possible and to preserve life if it can be done. Random violence is never condoned in scripture and God hates a violent man who spills blood needlessly. May we look to the Rock of our Salvation for guidance and know when to take action for self defense, as clearly the Bible supports such action...


WE LIVE IN A FALLEN WORLD


This world is becoming more evil as the hour of God's wrath approaches. Paul the apostle warned us that it would be so in 2nd Timothy 3:2-5

“For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, braggarts, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 

3, Without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of those who are good, 

4, Betrayers, reckless, egotistical, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 

5, Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Paul is describing a time where evil abounds. We are living in that time where men will do unspeakable unholy, cruel, and sinful acts against other men and women AND their children. As Christians, we have a promise from God that when things get really bad, and I mean really bad, leading up to the time of the coming Tribulation, God will protect those that are His. Psalm 91:

“A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 

8, Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 

9, Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 

10, There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.”


Now some will use this passage to say that we can sit on our laurels and God will protect us, in all cases. Yes, God is able to do just that, but if that is what we must do to just sit on our laurels, then why do we go to a doctor when we're sick? God gave us the tools to act on our behalf with His guidance and faith in His ability to do so. We go to a doctor out of self defense against diseases and medications to promote the bodies ability to heal, but God does the work using these tools. 


Knowing that God is with us during this dark days that lie ahead of us, He also gave us the tools to stand in the gap for others, be it our family, or our neighbor. He also gave us the common sense to act upon those instances where we can make a difference in another person's life, either to protect it, or to save it. To do otherwise in both examples is to tempt the Lord they God, in my personal opinion. 


ARE YOU PROTECTED?


In all cases, protect life with all that you possess and God will provide the means to escape and survive, being a child of His. But my question to those who read this message, can you say that God is your protection? Could the people that were slaughtered in Orlando's Gay Bar say the same thing? No, because they had no protection except themselves and were in a gun free zone. Sadly, many died because of the lack of that protection from God, or the ability to protect themselves. With evil all around us, if you are caught in such a predicament and you are faced with an assailant that takes your life, where will you spend eternity? 

Have you thought about becoming a victim by chance and circumstance? Nobody likes to think that they could be murdered by an insane individual or a terrorist, but friend in an unsaved condition where you rely on only yourself and you can't call on God, because you have cast Him out of your life, what will become of you after you die? Will you spend eternity in the Glory of God found in our Savior, Jesus Christ, or will you spend eternity separated from God and all it's glory of hope, love, joy, happiness and anything good? Will you become a statistic of the barbarism that will overtake this world when people who proclaimed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior suddenly vanish from this earth? It is coming, my friend. 

Again, this world will only get more evil as time passes, and when a newsflash comes across your TV screen about a disappearance of millions of people without explanation that makes any sense, you will know that the danger to your life just got exponentially greater than you can even perceive. Until that time, my friend, take God at His Word and know that whether in life or in death, you will be found in Jesus Christ and will live forever!!..How you say?

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

God sent not His Son to condemn the world, but the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you stay safe in the face of any danger. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org for more biblical instruction in these end of days. God bless you all.





          TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET


Comments

Jerry C
07/07/2016 10:41am
Reminds me of the saying:

A democracy is a lamb and two wolves deciding on what to eat for lunch. A republic is a lamb and two wolves deciding on what to eat for lunch, but the lamb is armed.

The Colt 45 was called the Peacemaker for a very good reason and I am greatly our founding fathers included the 2nd Amendment.
Reply
Ort
07/07/2016 1:10pm
I carry my Glock and for a good reason. Being born again doesn't mean that I have to allow anyone who wishes to take my life from me without a struggle. To think that God hates self defense is foolish.
Do I go looking for trouble? Of course not. But May God help the one who is foolish enough to think I am an easy target.
Reply
07/07/2016 2:16pm
A comment emailed to me from a sister in Christ:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Pastor Mike!!!
THANK YOU for creating this article because it is important for Christians to know you can defend yourself. Jesus would never want us to just stand by and let someone hurt or kill us! We must flee if possible, or fight back. I know I personally would rather die standing, than live crawling.
We are seeing many in high places that wish to totally dictate to us where, when and what. I'm proud to be an American who is well armed and not afraid to defend my life if necessary. My children are the same way.
We hope it never comes to that ... but if it should, I'm ready as is the other 200 million gun owners!
God bless and thank you again! I have forwarded this to several people who have asked that question.
Linda
Reply
Sultana Butt
07/07/2016 11:34pm
Thank you for taking the trouble to warn us in these last days which are so dangerous and helping people to realize that their lives could be lost and they may go into a Christless eternity.
Reply
Skywatcher57
07/08/2016 12:18pm
THAT was an EXCELLENT word, Pastor Mike! At one time, I thought I was the only one preaching such a message! "Well done, thou faifthful servant"! I will be passing it along, if you don't mind.

God bless you, for your faithfulness! Keep up the great work!!!
Reply
07/08/2016 2:01pm
Brother,
absolutely....it is why this website exist, to spread the message far and wide...pass it along..God bless,
YBIC,
Pastor Mike
Reply
Gerald
07/08/2016 7:31pm
Bro. Mike. I was given a two volume book entitled "Bringing Back the Black Robed Regiment A call for Preachers Who Will Fight, by Dan Fisher a Baptist minister, Tate Publishing. It is a story of the ministers of the Gospel who had to take up arms and fight the British for our independence. It is an inspiring book. One preacher left the ministry because of the guilt he had in killing the enemy.

I have been told that when I received the Lord Jesus as my Savior that His blood has covered my past, present and future sins and if I have to take a life to save mine and my wife's then His blood still covers it. One of my favorite Gospel songs is "It is well with my soul" and particularly the third verse. The third verse says "My sin - oh the bliss of this glorious thought-my sin not in part but the whole has been nailed to His cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, praise the Lord oh my soul." So much truth in one verse.

The Scripture that troubles me the most is Romans 13:1-2 "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." I have thought for seven and one-half years that we the people may have to defend ourselves against this government. It is oppressive, dictatorial and tyrannical and we may yet have to defend ourselves against it.

I don't know if the oath that a person takes going into the military is the same as the one I had to give when I went in in 1952, but it said to defend the Constitution and t he country against enemies both foreign and domestic. Romans 13:1-2 does not leave a person any "wiggle room" unless there are other scriptures that explain it better. I can't see submitting to the shoving of Islam down our throats.

Very good article Pastor. I thank you for it.
Reply
Skywatcher57
07/09/2016 4:43am
Brother Gerald, that was an excellent post, however, you stopped short of the quantifying verse, 3: "For rulers are NOT a terror to good works, but to the evil..."

**Rom. 13 is referring to the leadership of godly or righteous rulers! There is no need to fear them or to uprise against them.** Conversely, if they are not godly or righteous, then there is a need to rise up to take them down. Scripture must always be read in context, my brother, otherwise, we have unnecessary anguish and confusion.
Reply
Gerald Hadley
07/09/2016 1:13pm
My brother, the reason I feel that there is "no wiggle room" in Romans 13:1-2 is that God sometimes raises up rulers, kings or presidents to bring about judgment on the people to make them turn to Him. When Obama first declared his intention to run for president, I could see through him and I started spending more time in prayer asking the Lord to keep him from winning the presidency and yet he won. I firmly feel that God is using Obama to punish this nation for the rebellion against Him, for national support for the LGBT movement, for the 50 million plus abortions, for gay marriages, and the list goes on. If we rise up in rebellion to overthrow Obama then wouldn't we be interfering with God's plans?
Just my thoughts and I appreciate yours. In fact, your thoughts give me more peace of mind than mine. 
Dave
07/09/2016 5:18am
Great article Mike. I got in an argument with a friend on this very subject and tried to explain that God allows self defense and the taking of a life in certain circumstances. He replied thou shalt not kill and I replied that was changed from thou shalt murder. He will be enlightened by this article. Since I carry a firearm I have tried to find out what my duties to other people might be as far as protecting them if the need arises. I am now no longer questioning what those duties are. I just hope I have what it takes and pray I am never put in a situation to take a life but it is all in God's hands anyway and in him I trust.
Reply
07/09/2016 7:48am
a great comment on us defending our freedom. Not actually about personal defense, but national defense and I thought it good to post for all to read...thank you brother
===================================================
Turn the Table

What did Jesus do when he saw the lawlessness taking place against his followers? He fashioned him a whip made to his own specifications went into the temple overturned the tables and
put that whip to good use.

It is time for all of us to do the unexpected by lashing out at Obama with very serious vitriol that gets the attention of our elected and the media. We must stand and protest so loud the
elected feel threatened with firing this November for allowing Obama to get away with his pushing his communist ideology on America while they sat back and furnished him the funding.
Obama must feel the heat from the citizenry or else he has planned to put the peddle to the metal in the destruction of this country in his last six months He must fear we the people so much
he rethinks his plan to step up the violence and division he now has planned.

Obama, Valerie Jarrett and George Soros are stepping up their efforts in Obama's last six months to unravel any stability that might exist in American society. Since day one his mission
has been to destroy this country and anyone with any sense at all realizes this. Creating division in the populace is a favorite trick of the devil. A nation divided cannot stand is what God's
word teaches us so Satan using the human agency has his Imps of which Obama and the others named above are going about his business.

Folks, we have to be honest with ourselves about this; our elected have sit back and allowed him to get away with it but it has reached a fever pitch now and very soon will spike into blacks
killing individual Americans at random. That's the way it works when lawlessness abounds from the highest echelon of Government Power then trickles down into the streets of America. The
people we sent to Washington have not represented our interest and everyone of you know that is true so why are you bent on being loyal to these people?

There are things they can do for instance to put a halt to the militant Black Lives Matter movement that George Soros funds. They can tell these groups something they can't ignore such as
their actions demands extra funding for law enforcement and the money to pay for it is coming out of their social welfare programs meaning they either stop or go to Soros and demand he
make up the difference in what they are losing.

Just a few things to prove the point of why all incumbents must be fired in November to take back our country.

1. They prove their incompetence it by allowing terrorism by both Muslims and black militant groups flourish.
2. The FBI and other government agencies allow the likes of Louie Farrakhan go public telling blacks to kill white people and nothing is done about it. I thought inciting murder would be a
capital offense but maybe I am wrong. I do know we have too many real idiots on the benches of the courts put there by Democrats. One example of a statement after she made a ruling:
Rosemary Barkett—Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals__The defendant is a good man, except that he sometimes kills people. No comment on the victims.
3. Our elected sit back and let Obama bring potential Islamic terrorists from Syria into America knowing full-well there is no way to vet these people to know whether or not they are terrorist
or part of ISIS.
4. George Soros funds the Black Lives Matter militant group and nothing is done about it.
5. There is over 21 known Islamic terrorist training sites in America today and nothing is done about it.
6. The Muslim Brotherhood the umbrella Islamic terrorist supporting organization that use front groups like CAIR and others in America is manning high positions in our intelligence agencies
and nothing is done about it.

I could go on and on but the point is why do we act like stupid idiots and keep reelecting these same people that are allowing these things to take place? Join me in calling a spade a spade
and let us all use our power guaranteed us by the Declaration of Independence. In particular, these parts:
• Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed.
• Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.
• When a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off
such Government.
Shuck the shackles of Political Correctness and be the free American citizen our founding fathers intended by speaking out calling Obama what he is a "communist". Shout it from the

rooftops because if you don't these last six months he has left are going to be hell in America with his intent to declare Martial Law
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07/09/2016 2:25pm
A reply to the above sent to me in an email...I must share..thank you, Mike P.
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Brothers in Christ , I to feel the anger and injustice that abounds I n this country. At one time we were the greatest nation this world had ever seen ! How the mighty have fallen ! But the sad fact that we must acknowledge is that this country is too far gone to be pulled from the fire. The United States will suffer God’s wrath and judgment ! Our elected officials are the worst scum the devil has put into positions of great power and authority. The stage is being set ,for humanity and its downfall ! The kind of events taking place are just the beginning of what’s to come ! When they say peace , then comes sudden destruction ! The leaders of this country have forsaken the constitution , and to their own shame they have totally disregarded the Word of God altogether. Satan has spiritually blinded most of humanity, or to put it in the words of Psalm 91 they have been taken by the snare of the fowler . Humanity has been consumed by their own greed. They have turned their ears from the truth and been turned unto fables. This process began many years ago. Only a very small remnant will be saved ! Evil will begin to run more and more rampant as the days go by. We can warn the masses , but are they listening ? I wish we could turn things around, but here is where the worlds free choice comes into play. But with that being said all we can do is to continue to proclaim the Word of God to those around us. I guess if there is a bright side to any of this it is that there will a great multitude saved out of the great tribulation . Even so it will not be crowded in Heaven. But I think God is looking at quality rather than quantity ! So let us run our race , finish our course , and keep the faith ! Amen and Amen mike p.
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07/09/2016 2:59pm
Brethren,
a rebuttal to the above view...of course, until Jesus come we must stand against evil in all forms. We cannot throw up our hands and say it is inevitable and do nothing but sit on laurels...but thank you, Larry for your point of view..
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Hey,
Thank you for your posts, however I disagree with this one. In my opinion, it's far too late to change things. Because of false ministers teaching the law was done away and the people loving it so, God is punishing to get our attention and repentance.

Isaiah 30:9-13
9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the LORD;
10 Who say to the seers, "Do not see," and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy to us right things; speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.
11 Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us."
12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel: "Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perversity, and rely on them,
13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you like a breach ready to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
(NKJ)

No logic could put Obama in twice and probably a third by Hillary. God wants us to turn around, but I'm afraid it wont happen. Also, God installs governments according to His will. King Nebuchadnezzar became full of pride and God brought him down, but notice what Daniel says.

Dan 2:20-21
20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings and raises up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
(NKJ)

Dan 4:24-27
24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.
27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity."
(NKJ)

Dan 5:21
21 "Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
(NKJ)

God chose Saul, David and other kings, not Samuel.

1 Sam 9:17
17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said to him, "There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people."
(NKJ)

1 Sam 16:1
1 Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons."
(NKJ)

The Apostle Paul also confirms God chooses authorities!

Romans 13:1
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
(NKJ)

I'm sorry, I wish it would turn around, but day by day we're closer to Jesus return and the Kingdom of God. Hallelujah! Praise God!
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07/09/2016 7:25pm
the comments via email just keep coming, and I'll keep posting them if they don't wish to comment on the website....thanks Crystal for you insight...God bless,
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Pastor Mike I live about 30 minutes from Dallas. My mom and I were talking about 2 months ago or maybe whenever that Ferguson stuff was happening and both of us agreed that it would be a matter of time before it happened here so I am not shocked by any means and I won't be shocked either if this continues to be a weekly occurrence abroad the US that President Obama won't impose martial law and delaying or stopping the elections from happening. It is amazing to me though how people are oblivious to what is going on. Just living their lives as normal not noticing at all or maybe noticing not caring enough to see what is coming ahead. Of course, there is no need for worry for us but I sometimes wonder if I am one of the few like you that wants just scream,"People! Don't you see what is happening here?" You almost just want to laugh and cry at the same time on how ridiculous people are? I just needed to email you and vent. This is just so crazy. Come Lord ,Jesus Come!!! Your friend, Crystal😁
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07/09/2016 7:54am
Another great comment sent to me via email....this has brought out some strong feelings about the subject, thank you, sister
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EXCELLENT teaching, Mike! Very well written. Will share with many!

My husband insisted I go to a concealed carry training class many years ago and so I have had a permit all these years but to date I do not carry. Only recently have I become comfortable with keeping the guns in the house loaded. That was a huge step for me. I know it is said that they're no good unless they're loaded but for many women that's difficult! I finally arrived just in the past year at that point. The problem with women carrying is WHERE to carry. It is foolhardy to carry it in your purse -it should always be on your person which is easier for a man. But I'm coming to the place I realize I do need to start carrying because I simply feel too vulnerable otherwise. The Lord will help me with the next step too.

Thank you for your great work! Very practical and helpful.

Blessings!
Helen
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Ort
07/09/2016 2:12pm
Hi Helen. As a woman I also carry. I agree that a purse is not a place to carry, because if your purse is stolen........we all know the ramifications.
I carry a Glock 42. It's a .380 caliber 6 shot single stack and my holster is a Kydex molded holster made for that particular gun. It's so concealable, I have no problem in the summer wearing a t-shirt and jeans while I carry. I also recently started carrying "hot" so I don't have to waste precious time after drawing to rack the slide.
Please carry! One day it will save your life. God bless. 
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07/10/2016 4:54pm
A comment via email from a brother in Christ...and my answer below..God bless you, Gerald,
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Bro. Mike, you really had the responses to your article on self defense. I posted an article and there was one response to it and I responded to that response. My concern is the wording of Romans 13:1-2. I guess what I would like to know is at what point could I know when the government is trying to destroy me and if I am free to fight back. Like I mentioned in my post and my response to the reply to it, I feel that God allows the election of a wicked president in order to execute His judgment on the people for their sins It would be good if you would address Romans 13:1-2 in another article in the future. I have thought many times that we may have to defend ourselves against this president and we still may have to. Hillary Clinton says that she is going after the Second Amendment. If she is elected and does somehow get rid of it by executive order (which she can't do legally) and then confiscates all guns except for criminals, then I foresee no more elections in this country. Will be just like Germany under Hitler If she is elected I hope Jesus comes and gets us before she is sworn in.
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07/10/2016 5:03pm
Gerald,
God has set up rulers for our good, to a point. That is IF THEY do not go against the laws of God. Remember what Peter told the ruling authorities in Acts 5:28-29,
" Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
v. 29, Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men."

In all things we submit to the authorities, as long as they do not conflict with the Word of God. If an executive order by any POTUS tells us to do something unlawful in God's Law, then we are not obligated to obey it. So was it in the days of Ahab, the King of Israel. He was an unjust and wicked ruler influenced by an even more wicked queen, Jezebel. Elijah did not submit to their commands but stood against it to their faces. We must also take a stand for righteousness, no matter what the ruling authorities say.

You suggestion that I address Romans 13 in light of the lawless times we live in, is something I will pray about and seek God's direction in putting together a message...Thank you for your continued support and friendship...God bless you, brother,
Pastor Mike
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Gerald
07/10/2016 7:20pm
Bro. Mike those three paragraphs cleared up a lot for me in connection with the interpretation of Rom. 13:1-2. What this POTUS is doing in making the public submit to the transgenders gives us every right to resist. I would not want my wife or daughter to go into a ladies room and there waiting in one of the stalls would be a rapist or molester who just might be there to kill someone. There is a lot that he is doing that we as Christians should resist and it seems that we would be doing it alone as we have a congress that seems to be afraid of him and they sit on their hands and do nothing. They have allowed him free rein to rule as a dictator by executive order. Every one of them needs to be replaced.
07/11/2016 9:10am
A question from a brother in Christ over this issue...
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Pastor Mike,

I share your anger for the lawlessness that is so openly expressed against the will of the people in this country. A question that continues to loom in my mind is the issue of personal protection. I expect that any day now, our political overlords will make it illegal or overly burdensome to protect ourselves. In your understanding of the scripture, are we allowed to maintain a reasonable level of personal security when the government acts violently against the people? Is this a “render unto Caesar issue,” or do we retain a God-given right to protection?

I understand that all decisions and actions carry repercussions regardless of whether they pass the righteousness test or not. What I really want to know is whether I am in conflict with His word when I defy Caesar on this issue.

God Bless You Brother Mike,
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07/11/2016 9:26am
Brother,
I had a similar question noted above this one, but you go a little further when the authorities may come to our homes and confiscate legally owned firearms during marshal law...will it happen? I don't know, but God is in control. If that happens then we have lost all of our freedoms. I don't advocate violent revolt against unjust laws.

We don't know how much we will have to suffer before Jesus comes back for His Church, (true born again believers in Him) , but as mentioned, we must obey God rather than men. God gives us the right to self defense, but not to unwarranted violence and blood shed. I hope I made that clear in the message posted on the subject.

If an oppressive government, no a dictatorship should arise in this country, whether under Obama or someone else, it is our Constitution right to attempt to throw off such government.

Many in my family believe we are on the verge of Civil War in this country between races, and between law abiding and lawlessness of a run away government of tyranny. I believe you should protect your life if someone is trying to harm you, but when a dictatorship steps on your God given freedoms and attempts to force you to comply, then we will have to submit ourselves to God, as to actively fight against the powers that be will get many people hurt, or killed.

Personally, I don't see this nation crossing that line until there is no "Restrainer" abiding on this earth. That comes in the Tribulation, and I could be wrong about how much lawlessness in government tyranny will be coming while the church is here, but if it does, then as a Church, we must band together and support one another and pray Psalm 91 over our families and our fellow brothers...we may even have to go underground away from prying eyes and ears....but that is something we will have to wait and see, but know that God is control and I pray Romans 8:28 "All things work together for good to those who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.". We stay sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, resist violence, but resist tyranny while our Republic still stands...God bless you,
YBIC,
Pastor Mike
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