By
Pastor Mike Taylor
19
“And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were
dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according
to their doings I judged them.
20 And
when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned
my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of
the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land.
21 But
I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned
among the heathen, whither they went.
22 Therefore
say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not
this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's
sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23 And
I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen,
which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall
know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall
be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:19-23)
We
live in an age of miracles. Who would have dreamed the advancements
that have been created in a short, by comparison of the last 125
year, to the history of mankind. But science has made great advances
in medicine on understanding genetic codes, some good, and some not
so good. As it was in the days of Noah, mankind has mastered many
secrets to life, but have done things that God destroyed the whole
earth because of doing things against His Creation. Man attempts to
merge DNA's of humans and animals in test tubes is an abomination
before God. To create artificial intelligence and make man a hybrid
of machine and humanity. Then man has been able to manipulate weather
such as using HAARP but creates havoc using such devices to control
the elements.
Then
we see the advances in space travel and I remember the news coverage
when we first landed a manned space craft on the moon. Man expects in
the future to travel to distant stars, to Mars and other planets
outside our atmosphere. It appears there is nothing that mankind
cannot do....to a point, that God will allow. Mankind has limits that
are in the bounds of time, which we cannot control. We see the past
and learn from history, but we cannot see the future and make any
type of predictions, as we can only guess.
ISRAEL,
A MODERN DAY MIRACLE
Take
for example the restoration of Israel as a modern day democracy after
almost 2000 years of being destroyed as a nation on earth. No one
would have believed 150 years ago OR even 80 years that Israel would
ever come back to her native country as we have seen in the last 70
years. Israel was virtually uprooted in 702 BC by Sargon II who
conquered the northern half of the nation we now know as Israel and
carted the people to distant lands, scattering them to the four winds
and placed other people conquered into the land to prevent an
uprising and rebellion of nations they conquered and overran. It is
how the Samaritans came to be in the northern half of the once great
nation of Israel in the days of Jesus. Likewise, the southern half of
Israel, know as Judah was taken captive by the Kingdom of Babylon and
finally returned after 70 years of exile. But in 70AD Jerusalem was
destroyed and the Temple burned and the nation of Israel was no more
when in 135 AD the city was sown with salt and plowed under and the
national name was changed to Palestine by the Roman Empire after the
name of the Philistines in Gaza area.
Still
the prophets wrote confidently by Holy Spirit moving them to write,
that in the last days, Israel would again be reborn in her own land.
Once again the Hebrew people would inhabit real estate from which
they were displaced, seemingly forever.
"And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country." (Ezekiel 34:13)
Writing
of the Gog Magog invasion, God inspired Ezekiel to prophesy;
"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them." (Ezekiel 38:8)
In
this passage, we find a time frame in Ezekiel's prophecy that would
come to pass as he said “after many days, in the latter years”.
They would be brought forth from all the nations that they had
wandered to and be brought to the ancestral lands to a land who had
always been laid waste for near 2000 years. A place when Mark Twain
visited called it the most desolate place he had ever seen on earth.
Nothing grew and there were no trees, but only desert and barren
hills.
For
more than 2,500 years, this prophecy of Ezekiel remained dormant.
Israel was destroyed by Sargon and never again existed as an
independent nation. Until, on May 14, 1948, when the survivors
of the Holocaust were 'brought forth' under the banner of 'never
again' to the 'mountains of Israel' -- which 'had always been waste'
as the nation of 'Israel'.
During
the time before Israel became a nation again, they petitioned Great
Britain to allow them a homeland in the African country of Uganda, as
they would have settled for any country, but that is not what the
prophets wrote and not what God had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
that Israel and the Jewish people would inhabit again the mountains
of Israel and that is exactly what happened.
I say
all that about how Israel in a brevity of statements how Israel is
now a nation again, to say this.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE
OF THE TRIBULATION?
Understanding the purpose of
the Tribulation in relationship to Israel would go a long way to
helping us to understand whether the Church of the Living God will be
raptured before the tribulation, out of it, or after it.
Let us go back to the
prophet Daniel and explore a little more of the vision given to the
prophet and how history would unfold. Daniel foretold
the rise and fall of three great empires and the rise, fall and
revival of the last great world empire -- that of Rome.
"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9:24)
The
main points of the prophecy given to Daniel fall into these
categories:
A.
'Weeks' refer to 'weeks of years' – 70/ 7 year periods equalling
490 years using the Hebrew 'shabua' or 'heptad' the way we use the
Greek 'decade' in our culture to divide years into groups of ten
years each.
B.
The angel specifically said this period was for Daniel's people
(Jews) and Daniel's holy city (Jerusalem).
C.
Within this time frame six things will be accomplished; 1) finish
the transgression, 2) make an end of sin, 3) make reconcilation for
sin, 4) bring in everlasting righteousness, 5) seal up the vision
and prophecy and 6) anoint the Most Holy.
All
of these points are clearly directed at Israel, as the Church had not
been formed yet. Point 1-3 in numeral category C above have already
been accomplished and were settled for the church at the cross of
Calvary by our Lord and Savior. Points 4-6 occur at the end of the
Tribulation, with the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom and the
rule of the King of kings, Jesus Christ.
The
first 69 weeks or 483 years (70x7=490 years) concluded with Jesus
riding in on a donkey to to loud proclaims of “Hosanna
to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord; Hosanna in the highest
”
and the people proclaiming Jesus as King. A few days later and Jesus
would be crucified, as as the text in Daniel says:
“And
after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy
the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a
flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.”
(Daniel 9:26)
Thus,
the prophecy was put on pause, as the points 4-6 could not be
completed because the Temple was destroyed in 70AD. At that time, God
turned His attention to building a people who were not His people,
the Church of the Living God. Daniel is told that the 70th
week will open when the “Anti-Christ” confirms a covenant between
Israel and the many or nations of the world.
“And
he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the
midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to
cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it
desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be
poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)
Daniel
indicates in the passages noted above, that the Tribulation period is
for Israel's national redemption. That theme is picked up by the
prophet Zechariah:
“The
burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord,
which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the
earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
2 Behold,
I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round
about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against
Jerusalem.
3 And
in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people:
all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all
the people of the earth be gathered together against it.”
(Zechariah 12:1-3)
Zechariah
goes into great detail in chapter 12-14 of the redemption of Israel
and is further proven in Revelation chapter 4 all the way through to
chapter 20.
Jeremiah
states further, that this is the time of Jacob's trouble:
7 “Alas!
for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time
of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
8 For
it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts,
that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy
bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
9 But
they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king,
whom I will raise up unto them.” (Jeremiah 30:7-9)
"For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (Jeremiah 30:11)
THOSE THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH.
There is also a second group that go through the Tribulation, right along with Israel:
"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." (Revelation 3:10)
Remember me telling you in times past, that the phrase “Keep thee from” is found in the original Greek in the word “EK” or meaning to keep from the hour, to separate those from the time and space. To bring them out of, not through an event. In this case, Jesus is talking about the coming Tribulation that will try “them that dwell upon the earth”. And the Church is not part of the Tribulation, as Jesus will take us “out of” His coming wrath poured out.
Note
the phrase, 'them that dwell upon the earth'. We find it six
other times; in Revelation 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, and 17;8.
These
are the individuals that gloat over the death of God's two witnesses
found in chapter 11 of Revelation. And those who are pronounced to
endure the final three trumpets which are to come written in chp. 8
of this same book of your Bible. These “dwellers on the earth”
are the people who are deceived by the beast rising up from the sea,
make an image of the first beast, and worship the beast which all
speaks of the Anti-Christ:
6 “And
he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name,
and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
7 And
it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome
them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and
nations.
8 And
all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not
written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of
the world.” (Revelation 13:6-8)
Those
who dwell upon the earth will gaze in wonder at the scarlet beast:
7 “And
the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee
the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which
hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The
beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the
bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the
earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life
from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that
was, and is not, and yet is.” (Revelation 17:7-8)
These
are the people, those that dwell upon the earth, who do NOT have
their names written down in the Book of Life and will take the mark
of the beast.
In
contrast to these earth dwellers, Jesus says of the Church in His
prayer at Gethsemane;
14
“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them,
because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 I
pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that
thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
Jesus
is praying at the time for His apostles, and all who the Father would
give Him. It is a blanket prayer for all the saints of God down
through time from the time of the cross. Clearly,
since the Tribulation period is the time of Jacob's Trouble, was
pronounced upon Daniel's people and Daniel's city, and its purpose is
to accomplish for Daniel's people in the last days the same thing
accomplished for the Church at the Cross, the Tribulation period is
for the Jews. As
I have spoken of many times in the past, the two group of people
found during the tribulation as noted above are the Jewish people,
the nation of Israel, and those who are rebellious against God known
as the “dwellers upon the earth” . Israel will be refined as
silver is refined in the furnace, as Malachi tells us:
2 “But
who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he
appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
3 And
he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify
the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may
offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
4 Then
shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord,
as in the days of old, and as in former years.” (Malachi 3:2-4)
Just
as clearly, according to Jesus, it is also to judge the earth
dwellers whose names are not written in the Book of Life.
14 “And
I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like
unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his
hand a sharp sickle.
15 And
another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him
that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time
is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
18 And
another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and
cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying,
Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of
the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
19 And
the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine
of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of
God.
20 And
the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the
winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand
and six hundred furlongs.” (Revelation 14:14-20)
If
there is a purpose for the Church in the Tribulation Period, there is
no express mention of that purpose in Scripture, although Scripture
is clear regarding both Jews and 'earth-dwellers'. And the
'earth dwellers' can't be the Church, since their names are not
written in the Book of Life.
Paul
tells us through God's Holy Spirit that we are not appointed to the
wrath that is befallen those who dwell upon the earth, that starts in
chp. 6 of Revelation.
9
“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we
had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living
and true God;
10 And
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even
Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1st
Thessalonians 1:9-10)
But
what wrath to come? To those who will be delivered unto hell fire for
their rejection of Jesus Christ as personal Savior. The wrath of God
will fall on all earth dwellers in the Tribulation that have rejected
the only propitiation or substitute for the wrath we deserve, which
is death. Again in Romans chapter 8, Paul confirms that we are not
part of God's fury, as the wrath of God is fallen on those who are
condemned.
“There
is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For
the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.
3 For
what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That
the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4)
Now
lets look at 1st Thessalonians of Paul has further to say:
3 For
when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh
upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not
escape.
5 Ye
are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are
not of the night, nor of darkness.
8 But
let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of
faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ,” (1st Thessalonians 5:1-9)
Notice
in verse 3 "For when THEY shall say, Peace and safety; then
sudden destruction cometh upon THEM, as travail upon a woman with
child; and THEY shall not escape." (Note the pronouns 'they' and
'them')
Then we read in verse 5: "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: WE are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let US not sleep, as do others; but let US watch and be sober." (Note the change -- 'they'- 'them' become 'we'- 'us')
Then in verse 7, Paul tells us the difference in “we,us” in verse 5, by differentiating between those that sleep and are drunk:
"For THEY that sleep sleep in the night; and THEY that be drunken are drunken in the night."
And finally, tells us that we must be vigilant "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."
There
is a clear distinction between Jewish people who are alive during
this time, and earth dwellers who are also going through the
Tribulation, and “US” the Church, but let me make a point here.
Look
at verse 8 above. It refers to the “hope of salvation”. What does
that mean?
Salvation
from what?
My
salvation comes with an iron-clad guarantee, signed in Blood. I
don't 'hope' for salvation -- I am saved now.
17” For
the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if
it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the
gospel of God?
19 Wherefore
let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping
of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
(1st Peter 4:17-19)
The
church is being judged now. We are saved by the Blood of Jesus and
have salvation from eternal punishment that is found in hell and the
Lake of Fire.
.But
salvation from the 'wrath to come' is indicated by the context and
consistent with the doctrine that says,
"I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them from my hand." (John 10:28)
And
the 'wrath to come' is the Tribulation period - the time of Jacob's
Trouble. The Church is not needing judgment as we have already been
judged righteous clothed with the righteousness of Jesus our Lord,
and that not of our own.
The
argument for a pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church is consistent
with Scripture. Keep in mind that the salient point is not so
much 'when' as it is "Who" is coming.
ARE
YOU READY?
Do
you know who is coming? Are you ready to meet Him? Will you be
clothed with His righteousness, or found wanting by being clothed
with your own? Yours cannot stand in front of a Holy God who will not
allow sin into His presence. There is only one Way back to God our
Father and to be forgiven of all of our short comings in breaking the
Laws of God, for if you have sinned in one point, you have sinned in
them all. One sin is just as great as the other in God's eyes. What
must you do to be forgiven and be able to escape what is coming?
The
Remedy is found in One Name that is above every name. Jesus Christ is
that Name...He stands at the door of any sinner's heart and knocks to
be allowed entrance. He won't force His way in, but will accept your
invitation to make Him Lord of your life.
16 “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.
17 For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
18 He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)
8 But
what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy
heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 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.
10 For
with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation.
Who will you be identified
with in the coming time of the return of Jesus Christ for His
Church...will you be that church, the bride of Christ, or will you
simply be a sin filled “earth dweller” that has to go through the
most horrific time known to God's world. Jesus is coming. Now is the
season of making that decision for Jesus Christ and get on the ark of
safety, which is the Son of God. Do it today, as the time of that
closing window of opportunity is closing fast.
This is pastor Mike Taylor,
praying you enter into a relationship by the blood of Jesus Christ,
with Almighty God. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a
listening ear. Email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net,God bless you all,
TILL
WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.
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