Thursday, May 3, 2018

THE FOUR HORSEMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE




First and foremost, I just have to say that the word "apocalypse" is overused in the mainstream media. It can define anything from the government of the United States of America having to shut down because of funding approval, or having to close your favorite big box store-or worse, your morning coffee shop! (No judgment here; I drink about 5 cups of coffee a day, decaf of course.)
 
This word has become an emotional expression to use when something happens; and we feel it will alter life as we know it. Other terms such as Armageddon, the Antichrist, and even today's article title is used in oh so many colorful ways!
 
I wonder as I am writing this if the average person really understands this word in the biblical sense. Let's see what this word actually means.
 
Apocalypse - an uncovering, a disclosure of knowledge or revelation. Source:  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse  
 
A bigger concern is the Christian. I call myself a Christian, and I have believed and received the gift of salvation in the sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ and His grace, imparted to me when I first put my faith in Him.
 
My favorite book in the Bible as a new Christian was John. It did not take me long to venture into the other books of John, and finally the book of Revelation. I was sixteen years old. I was told by friends, neighbors and other Christians that no one understands or ever will understand the book of Revelation. Someone also told me it should not have been included in the Bible at all. Pity that!
 
I am so glad I did not believe any of those bad reports on the book of Revelation. This book is one of the most important books in the Bible to me and to the entire world today. We are quickly approaching the events described therein, written down long ago. I feel they are at our doorstep!
 
Do you know what the book of Revelation is really all about?
 
The answer is very simplistic. It's astounding to me that some of the most educated people in the world stumble over it. But I am a simple person; and if I can understand it, anyone can that really wants to.
 
Of course, I'm going to make you wait a bit for the answer.
 
Let's start today with an opening scene in Heaven, in the book that uncovers these things and reveals them to us: Revelation.
 
The apostle John was on the island of Patmos in the year AD 95 as a prisoner before he receives the revelation.
 
"After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, 'Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.' Immediately, I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald" (Revelation 4:1-3).
 
John is now in heaven. He was called to:
 
A) come up here, to the throne of God;
B) behold with his own eyes the things that must take place in the future.
 
Now, he sees the expanse of the heavenly realm - things and creatures he has never seen before. He identifies God the Father in the verses above as the one who sits on the throne. He also sees Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who was slain. As a scroll is handed from God with seals upon it, a search is started with great lamenting to find someone worthy to take the scroll and open the seals. Finally, only one is found, the only one who is worthy to do this.
 
"And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
 
"Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying:
 
"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open the seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation'" (Revelation 5:6-9).
 
God's judgment is in the scroll, and it is sealed up-sealed up tight. These are no ordinary seals; each one when broken has irreversible actions that will be set in motion associated with them. John observes that the scroll has seven seals.
 
Jesus opens the seals, beginning with the first one; thus, God's judgment begins with the four horses and their riders.
 
Breaking of seal number one and release of the first horseman: The Antichrist
 
"Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, 'Come and see.' And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer" (Revelation 6:1-2).
 
I've heard people ask if this was Jesus on the white horse. This is not Jesus; this is the Antichrist. But he will fool many into thinking that he is Jesus Christ. (Notice that Jesus, the Lamb, is the one who is opening the seals of the scroll.) He (the Antichrist) is given a crown, symbolic of his newly acquired rulership or authority; and now he is going out to conquer. God gives him this authority.
 
Also, notice he has a bow, but no quiver with arrows loaded inside. This symbolizes his limitations and the constraints that are placed upon him by God. He only gets this crown for seven years. When the time is up, that will be the end of him and his kingdom.
 
This seven-year period was prophesied long ago in the book of Daniel, sometimes referred to as the seventy weeks of years, or seventy sevens of Daniel. I believe when the four horses of the apocalypse leave heaven and head for earth, this will commence the final week, also interpreted as the final seven years. See Daniel 9:24.
 
After three-and-a-half years, the Antichrist has complete control over the new Jewish temple in Jerusalem and continues with his blasphemy against God. He persecutes and overcomes those who have believed in Jesus Christ and have not taken his mark on their right hand or forehead.
 
"He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time" (Daniel 7:25).
 
Breaking of seal number 2 and release of the second horseman: War, Violence and Killing
 
"When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, 'Come and see.' Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword" (Revelation 6:3-4).
 
Peace will be removed by this horseman; and with it comes war, violence and killing. This horse is red - symbolic of worldwide bloodshed - and his sword is great, which means many will die.
 
Breaking of seal number 3 and the release of the third horseman: Famine and Want
 
"When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, 'Come and see.' So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, 'A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine'" (Revelation 6:5-6).
 
This horse follows the war horse-and running rampant with war is shortage of food and supplies. There will be such great famine and want that a loaf or two of wheat bread will cost a full day's wage. Hyperinflation will be felt worldwide. I think the oil and wine warning is there, as it is a mainstay for living in just about every country and diet, even amongst the poorest populations. In this judgment, it could be that mercy is extended so that oil and wine are spared.
 
Breaking of seal number 4 and release of the fourth horseman: Death and Hades
 
"When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, 'Come and see.' So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth" (Revelation 6:7-8).
 
This is massive worldwide destruction. I site this horseman in my article, "The End Times Landscape." Approximately 1.875 billion people die at the release of this horse if it were to happen right now. This seems to me to be the most devastating of all the horsemen.
 
God begins His Judgment of the earth starting with these four horsemen. But why is God judging the earth at this point in the future?
 
God has one Son, only one. He sent Him, the perfect God-man to be the substitute for our sins and to take the sin of the world upon himself. He arose from the grave in victory to give us eternal life with himself and God; restoring our broken fellowship with God that sin had once separated.
 
A response to what Jesus did for us is required, to believe or refuse Him.
 
What is the book of Revelation really all about?
 
It's about one last chance to believe in Jesus Christ.
 
One last chance to believe for the Jewish nation that missed their Messiah the first time.
 
One last chance for the person who maybe even warmed a church pew or two in their lifetime, but was never really motivated to need a Savior. But now here they are, living in hell on earth during the tribulation. This person knew a few real Christians, and they have all of a sudden gone missing-millions of them at the same time! This is your last chance; you need the Savior now!
 
Last chance for the one who loves their life of sin and now sees what the consequences will be for all eternity. The Antichrist wants you to take his mark! Say no! Time to repent and turn to Jesus Christ!
 
One last chance for the person who finds themselves living during this time - and they are not going to miss Jesus Christ again - no matter what. They read the left-behind letter! They are reading the Bible and meeting with other tribulation saints trying to survive without having taken the mark of the beast. They are so thankful we left extra food in the pantry. I hope you like black beans and brown rice if you're at my house. My husband and I have prayed for you!
 
The book of Revelation is a kindness. It lets you know what is coming if you choose to reject God's only begotten Son as Savior and Lord. It is foretelling of a time when God will carry out His divine judgment and display these things in full living color-giving the earth a woodshed experience, as if He were to ask them "are you sure you want to reject my only begotten Son?"
 
"And they said to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?'" (Revelation 6:16).
 
God is giving the Jew and the Gentile unbelievers one more chance to change their final answer.
 
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-18)

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

THE COMING "SNATCHING AWAY" OF THE CHURCH




by pastor Mike Taylor

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.


16 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." 1st  Thessalonians 4:15-17)


I will start with the witness of our Lord and Savior's apostle to the Gentiles and taught personally by revelation of Jesus Christ glorified. I had been reading in 1st  and 2nd Thessalonians this last weekend, and was just so swept away with Paul's testimony towards this Church that he founded in the name of Jesus. There is much controversy about what Paul was speaking of and it's timing. I will in this sermon address those controversies of factions of the religious community that read, what I feel, is not what Jesus, or Paul, John or Daniel was speaking of when it comes to these last days and the appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I get every now and then nay sayers to the concept of the church being removed out of the way and relying on works of the Torah, or relying on sacred names, which are works that cannot save us. Or they miss the plain word that this world will be receiving God's Divine Wrath upon a sinful world that is in full rebellion to His Holy Ways .  The only substitution for redemption of the breaking of God's Commandments, is in the blood sacrifice of His Only Son, Jesus Christ, which they reject.

Let us first go to 1st Thessalonians and read what Paul instructed this early church on what was coming, and was not only for their ears, but was written down for our admonition in these last days. 

As is typical for Paul in his letters, he greets them in love in his opening lines to each of the brethren written to. But in reading on down we come to the first hint that Paul was speaking of a coming event that is yet to transpire. In verse 9, he begins his first nugget of a truth that I have always embraced:
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)

Paul is writing to the church members and Revelation had not even been written yet by John as they are about 30 years apart. Paul speaks of wrath? What wrath from Who? Wrath from Almighty God is his reference point.

You can find many examples of God's wrath to come, even starting in the Old Testament concerning what is coming:

4  "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5  The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6  He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries." (Psalms 110:4-6)

Paul speaks of it in Hebrews (I believe Paul is the unmentioned author) concerning the wrath of God,
26  "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29  For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:26-29)


Of course, we can get a feel of God's wrath when we go to Revelation, but this book is not the only place that speaks of God's wrath, but we get the intensity and fierceness of what is coming:


13  "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
14  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:" (Revelation 6:13-16)

Understand one thing my reader, the coming time of tribulation is divine judgment on a world devoid of love for one another, and committing untold sinful acts in complete rebellion to God's Law and authority, and who have whole-hardheartedly rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only payment for their sinful condition. Do we not understand that God will destroy up to 4/5 of all mankind in horrific environmental catastrophes and what only be assigned extraordinary Divine occurrences not known to man in modern times and can only be attributed to Almighty God? Let us guesstimate the carnage that will be inflicted on this world, if all of us were still on this planet and none of us were removed. Right now we are approaching or have eclipsed the 7 billion mark of humanity on this planet. If we somehow envision the destruction of 4/5 of all mankind, that would be 5.6 billion people dying a horrible death leaving a little more than 1 billion people left. God warned that He will punish the inhabitants of the earth.

19  "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
20  Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21  For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.” (Isaiah 26:19-21)

(A clear passage in v. 19-20 of divine intervention and removal of His people before He slays mankind on earth. This is but one of numerous verses that speak of God removing His people out of the way before His judgment and wrath falls)



Oh, I hear the naysayers who say that the last trump in the opening verses are the same trump that the 7th angel blows in Revelation, but fail to understand that Paul was speaking of a last trump associated with the Feast of Trumpets. For a detailed summary of my position on this gross error by some churches today, go to my blog and read “Confusion over End-time Events”. In it the conflict over these trumpets will be explained as they are not the same, but are two separate events with 30 years between passages.


Paul steps it up a bit in the next chapter of 1st Thessalonians :
1  "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
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.
4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
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)


How much more clear can Paul say it? Do you think that the coming of the Lord when He comes to rule on this planet for 1000 years will be proceeded in secret? Do you think He will come when they expect it not? Paul talks of sudden destruction, as woman in child labor will not escape the pain or the delivery of the baby. What fits this scenario, a sudden, without warning snatching away of children of light, to the horror of the children of darkness...OR would it be more plausible for them to be going about business as usual in the very run-up to the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ in the clouds of glory with great power (probably proceeded by a great appearance of fire and light, I hypothesize). With almost 6 billion people being consumed, dead bodies all around, animals eating the corpses of those slain, and the carnage of divine retribution in 7 short years, with the majority in the last half of this time period. Would it be business as usual? Let us examine the signs of His final appearing, shall we? Will it be business as usual? I think you know the answer!

6 " And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.
7  The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.
8  And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood;
9  And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed." (Revelation 8:6-9, 12)

Moving on down,
12  "And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise."

Reading on down the horror that is unleashed by this fourth angel till we get to the fifth angel:

1
"And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
3  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads." (Revelation 9:1-4)

More pain and suffering/death when the sixth angel sounds his trumpet:


13  "And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
14  Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
15  And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men."
(Revelation 9:13-15)


Then to the end of the chapter 9, descriptions of a most detailed description of what will befall rebellious mankind. Until, the seventh angel sounds his trumpet to unleash the final assault upon earth to turn them to repentance, but God knows that they will not.

Does this sound like Jesus coming back to this earth as a thief? Will not men know that they are under divine retribution? Will the world that is present be nearly extinguished of all life from what it was prior to the beginning of the opening of the 1st Seal, as found in Revelation 6:1? Will men be going about business as usual? Men's hearts will be failing them from fear, over what is coming upon the earth as recorded in Luke :
25 'And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:25-26)



Sheer terror will reign supreme. Does this sound like business as usual? Naysayers, ask yourselves, does this sound like as in the time of day of Noah (Matthew 24:37), or does it sound like there is another time period prior to these events that addresses this more realistically and prophetically? Think on that a bit, as I return to Paul addressing the Thessalonians in 2nd Thessalonians.

THE DAY OF THE LORD



Here the church at Thessalonica was troubled, as false prophets had entered into their midst and were preaching that the “Day of the Lord” had already happened. I call them “Ancient Preterist” who believed that all things had been fulfilled, and we were just waiting for Jesus to come back, except this church at Thessalonica understood the Day of the Lord, as judgment and wrath, not a sign of joy.

Paul admonished them:
4  "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
5  Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
6  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2nd Thessalonians 1:4-10)

Paul re-teaches them what he had already told them concerning the coming “Day of the Lord”.

Why were they fearful? They believed that they had missed the coming of the Lord for His Church and were found wanting and not fit to be removed from the earth and were waiting for the judgment from God, which would mean they missed the greatest event in all of man-kind, next the crucifixion and resurrection of their Lord and ours, Jesus the Messiah. The removal, the snatching of the Church was being taught even in 1
st century, but squashed by a “theocracy” that called themselves the “church of God” on earth, but were for power on earth, so the doctrine was hidden until modern times, as it was written for us, not them. Paul explains:

1  "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" (2nd Thessalonians 2:1-3)



Paul explains that this MUST happen first before the Great Day of the Lord, and His judgment upon earth. John reveals in Revelation that this man is revealed by a number:
16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. "(Revelation 13:16-18)

This is what Paul spoke of, and what John through the Revelation of Jesus Christ shared with us. He spoke again of this man. Going back to Paul, as he continues in chapter 2 of 2nd Thessalonians,

4  "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but hy pleasure in unrighteousness." (2nd Thessalonians 2:4-12)




THE RUNNER UP TO THE ANTI-CHRIST

No where in history after this time period has a man stood in the temple and claimed to be a god. Only once in the history of the nation of Israel had a man stood in the temple and claimed to be a god, and it was many centuries before this verse was penned by Paul. What he is telling us, is that prophecy has duality, or will repeat itself in our time, and remember, these verses were written for us in modern end times, not just of the church Paul and John wrote them to. Who was that man who stood in the temple and a fore runner of the modern Abomination who causeth Desolation, as Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24:15? His name was Antiochus Epiphanies, and he made a statue of Zeus, with his face and put it in the Holy of Holys in the Temple of Jerusalem and proclaimed all must worship it on pain of death. He also sacrificed pigs on the altars of God, which were considered unclean. So this man defiled the temple that led to the Maccabean War and the observance of Hanukkah, or cleansing of the temple. As Jesus prophesied, and as John and Paul revealed, it will happen again.


Let's look at verse 7 of this last passage. We, as watchmen on the wall, have hammered this home many, many times. Students, who is “o
nly HE who now letteth will let, until HE be taken out of the way.”? If you said the Holy Spirit, you receive an A+, as by interpretation in context, it is the only thing that is holding back Satan the devil, having full sway on this earth and attempting full destruction of mankind, along with receiving worship for himself. God will allow Satan complete ability to destroy mankind and allow men to follow their unrighteous ways. I like theNIV's interpretation of this same passage...let's look at it:

(
2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7 NIV), 6 "And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time
7: for the secret power of lawlessness is already at work: but the ONE who now holds it back will continue to do so till HE is taken out of the way.” (emphasis mine).

For me, this is a strong argument that the church has been removed out of the way, BEFORE the man of perdition, whose name equals 666, is revealed and stands in the temple of God, claiming to be God. God the Holy Spirit dwells each individual that belongs to Him and if the Holy Spirit is being withdrawn, then those He indwells will be leaving as well. Note that Jesus said that He would never leave us or forsake us, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20,hence He sent His Holy Spirit, as counselor, comforter, and guider of our walk with our Lord and Savior. If God's Holy Spirit is removed, based on the clear Word of our Lord, who cannot lie, we will be removed as well.


Daniel chapter 9, and the Abomination that Causeth Desolation

26  "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.
27  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 9:26-27)

I read where a national organized religion that split apart in the 80s, called the World Wide Church of God, interpreted that passage not to be the Anti-Christ, but the Messiah. Still in existence are splinter organizations who still adhere to this argument, in their attempt to discredit the concept that there will actually be an Anti-Christ, or argue against a 7 year tribulation. They are proponents of post-tribulation second coming and are anticipating, (no relishing) the idea of being slain in the Tribulation. When I read that explanation, I was aghast. I went to a website of theirs and pulled this text:

The most abused verse on the subject of the end times is Daniel 9:27, and it is a linchpin in the Pre-tribulation Rapture theory: 'Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; but in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.'Unlike the Protestants, we believe that "he" in this verse refers to Messiah, not Antichrist, for the main subject of this section is Messiah. Richard Ritenbaugh, Prophecy Watch."


True, the beginning of the passage deals with Jesus Christ, but He did not cease the sacrifices in the temple. It continue unabated until 70 AD when the Temple was leveled to the ground by Roman soldiers of Tiberius. Then they go onto to say that:
"In Isaiah 28:15, we protestants and "a covenant with death," say that the Antichrist makes a peace treaty for one week—seven years—with the Jews. But this makes no sense! Why would the Beast "destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary" (Daniel 9:26), and "then . . . confirm a covenant . . . for one week"

In this analogy, they deny the clear implication of Daniel's 70 week prophecy that was interrupted when Messiah was cut off in year 483 of the prophecy. That leaves the last 7 years that must be completed for Israel to be saved and receive their Messiah. Obviously, they don't understand the time-line of history, or duality of prophecy. I think anyone, including this afore mentioned minister, is blinded by their ideology of a failed organization that proposed that the second return of Jesus Christ would be in 1972, hence many members of this denomination sold all they had, took no social security, or started living in caves. I recall the cry of “flee in 73” as their mantra. Did it happen? No, much like Harold Camping's failed prophecy, false prophets are all within the camp of the religious and doomed to their predictions of when or how Jesus will return. Now is Mr. Ritenbaugh a false prophet? I am not singling him out, but it is a mindset of many post tribbers that this promise of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is suspect and that we all are all full of hogwash is rampant in this denomination and others just to be fair.



Others in this camp, propose that when Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven to receive His church, that we will be changed. Yes, but then they propose that we turn right around or make a sharp U-turn and come right back down to do battle with the enemies of God. They site Zechariah chapter 14, when Jesus' feet touch the Mount of Olives. I asked one minister I know, “are we going up to just saddle up?” coming with Jesus on horses, dressed in linen, white and clean as Revelation chapter 19 shows? He had no answer. And what about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb? He proposed it was poetic or an allegory....say what? This same minister pooh-poohs the Jewish wedding feast. Needless to say, we are not in agreement.

Let's examine scripturally what Daniel was referring to and that a vast majority of theologians that are scripturally sound embrace. I take this from an online website to organize the thought process of examining this passage, which I totally agree with:

Here are the Sixty nine (7 + 62) "WEEKS" that have already Happened....
"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be SEVEN WEEKS , and THREESCORE and TWO WEEKS: the street shall be built  again, and the wall, even in troublous times."( Daniel 9:25)

"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)  

(note the caps of Prince, and prince, my emphasis. Two different “princes”. Prince of Glory, and prince of this world)

Here is the ONE "WEEK" that Remains
“ 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)

Since God said he would deal with the Jews as a NATION for SEVENTY "WEEKS" and He promised to regather them nationally in the future in preparation for His Coming, then, God plans to deal with the NATION Israel in the future for ONE "WEEK" before He returns.  To say that ONE WEEK of Daniel 9:27 has already happened (since God says He will regather Israel as a NATION) is to say there will be 71 WEEKS.  To say that the week WILL NOT happen in the future is to say there are less than SEVENTY "WEEKS."

Since we already know (from the 69 weeks that HAVE happened) that a "WEEK" is SEVEN YEARS, then, God must have a future dealing with the NATION Israel for SEVEN years.”

As I have said many times, Israel is the door to end time prophecy and Jerusalem is the key to that door. The Seventieth Week of Daniel's prophecy is future and deals with ISRAEL solely for their unbelief and to finish transgressions. Israel will embrace, finally, their Messiah and proclaim, “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord”(Matthew 23:39.)


Our Father and our Lord and Savior will purify Israel as silver is refined in the fire.

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:
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.
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)



When Jesus spoke in Matthew 24, concerning the Abomination that Causeth Desolation, His message was pointed straight at Israel. I envision that they are only ones who will remain..(.if any Gentiles, they will be minor in comparison) when Jesus returns for divine judgment and take possession of His creation by the sword of His mouth, by speaking only the Words. He will destroy all rebellion, which by my belief will be mainly unrepentant Gentiles, because the only ones who will listen to the 144,000 Evangelist from the 12 tribes of Israel, will be of the nation of Israel proper, or those scattered over the earth. Yes, some Gentiles will, but the focus is on restoring Israel. . How many will be blinded to the truth and take the mark of the Beast is conjecture on my part, but is is prophesied that God will send them a strong delusion...a lie........
8  "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."(2nd Thessalonians 2:8-12)

Note that if you are still here, then God will send you a strong delusion, A LIE, that you will believe because you want to. Your mind will have no protection, as the Holy Spirit is GONE, VANISHED, right along with His Church. Satan will have full sway, full unimpeded powers to deceive the human mind. Each of those left will embrace the false god of this world, known as the Anti-Christ, no matter what another religion might feed you. So as a watchman on the wall, I have given you witness of four of the major figures in your bible, John, Paul, Daniel, and the Master, Jesus our Messiah. I report, you decide. Understand, that I am not preaching to scare you, but to warn you. There is coming a day when salvation will be mostly for the Jewish people, as the Church Age has suddenly ended for you, and you have been caught flat footed. You were not ready, and Jesus has come, as He said He would. Won't you make yourself ready. Wanna know how?




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)
Then while we have little time left, witness to all you know...


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;
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.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” (Romans 10:8-11)


Email me after reading John 3:16 then all of the Gospel of John, just who this man Jesus was, and IS....the great I AM, that I AM...Jehovah God. Repent for today is the day of salvation.

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God's salvation in your life and heart. If you have need for counseling, prayer of needs, or just a friendly listening ear, send me an email to 
realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com, God bless you all,


 Till we meet at Jesus feet.