By Pastor Mike Taylor
“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)
“So will I send
upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave
thee: and pestilence and blood shall pass through
thee; and I will bring the sword upon
thee. I the Lord have spoken it.
(Ezekiel 5:17)
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 Ancient
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
Kingdom. Jerusalem 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:
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 chose 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?
WHAT
HAPPENED TO THEM, COULD HAPPEN TO US.
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 Biden's “build back better”..For my part, I'll keep my God
given freedoms and you can keep your “build back better” as they
have no hope in them as they came from a Leftist, progressive (Communist) ideology. 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? Many believed that ISIS had been
defeated, but they are on our news broadcast lately.
THE TRAGEDY IN AFGHANISTAN
Reports
of a suicide bomber who killed 13 of our military and wounded many
more flash across our TV screens.....then see that the Taliban has
taken over the country in 11 days, when we were “supposed” to be
withdrawing. We left 8 billion dollars worth of weaponry that fell
into their hands....black hawk helicopters, humvees, automatic
weapons and ammo. I saw a list on Facebook of the amount of military weapons we left behind and it is appalling....Why was the people not removed and the weapons
removed before we even tried to leave the country.....I read where
75,000 Taliban defeated 300,000 soldiers of the Afghan “army”...did
they defect or run like scared wimps?
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 their perverted idea of what a “god” is and
who is actually the true God of the universe are a force to be
reckoned with. Our citizens of the USA are in great danger still in
the country , and the Afghan people are trying to escape, even
hanging onto planes taking off, falling to their death.
Then we have plans to bring Afghan refugees to our country of the USA, those who believe in Sharia law and are Muslim themselves, an anathema to our way of life and our Constitution of freedom of worship. Or was this planned from the beginning, to leave military hardware behind and bring Afghan refugees to this country? Makes me wonder who is actually behind this debacle of the fall of Afghanistan into the hands of the Taliban and ISIS......could this be OBAMA 2.0 and the man is advising his former Vice President.? I saw a video of Obama boasting he could coach anyone with a bug in their ear to tell them what to say....is that was happening with Biden??
I watch and wonder why did anyone vote for Joe Biden as he is clearly not coherent enough even to make a reasonable speech without a senior moment of total confusion.
Then we have our southern border that is as porous as a sieve and many are coming across bringing criminals, rapists, drug dealers, and sex trafficking to our land....what is to stop a terrorist either of ISIS or the Taliban from coming across the same border and bringing mayhem to this land as it did in 9/11 and the Twin Towers of New York?
We
see past attacks are 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.
DO
YOU FEEL SAFE?
Does
anyone at a large shopping mall, theater, baseball game, or anywhere
a large number of people gather feel safe with this the threat of
Islam rising again to our shores and causing 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 He
allowing such terrorism to come to our lands? Many fear that the
defeat of the USA after 20 years in that country by the Taliban will
bring repercussions to this land. Even our allies don't trust us to
make correct choices, since this demented present POTUS is in office
and can't even speak coherently....Is judgment coming to our shores
again? Now I read where China is planning an invasion of Taiwan, or North Korea invading South Korea. Or how about Iran, Turkey, Russia and their confederates planning the invasion of Israel? Is Ezekiel 38-39 close at hand? They fear us not, for Biden has made us weak in military might.
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.
These nations see us as weak in military might that was not present
when our last POTUS was in power. Many believed then not to mess with
Trump or the USA. It kept them at bay knowing the full power of the
US military would exact huge consequences on their countries, but no
more right now. 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 immigrants to America have
killed and have plotted to kill citizens of this country. 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. America believes 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. Islam should not
be allowed in this country as their goal is to destroy our liberty
and make us slaves. 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. Just look an example
of Chicago. Murder is growing exponentially and now, since the “mayor
Lightfoot” mandates the Covid-19 vaccine, the whole department of
law enforcement threaten to walk off the job and leave the criminals
to whatever enters their minds.
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!! IS Islam, Russian or China
the instruments of judgment on this country???
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 guilty of messing 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 them that are
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.
2 I
will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God;
in him will I trust.
3 Surely
he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the
noisome pestilence.
4 He
shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou
trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou
shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that
flieth by day;
6 Nor
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction
that wasteth at noonday.
7 A
thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;
but it shall not come nigh thee.”(Psalm 91:1-7)
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. But if you are living
a sinful life, you can claim not of this promise.
“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 who see the carnage in Afghanistan and
other Muslims countries, 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 or other countries that wallow in sin. 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 areas 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
will remove His chosen people, the Bride of Christ, the church of the
Living God before His wrath falls on a sinful and rebellious
world.
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)
The sins of this world
even further more in the USA are clear signs that we are living in
the last days of man's rule upon this earth.
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.
23“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 in the
Middle East of Iran, or Afghanistan or any other Muslim country that
has 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 pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, God bless you
all.
TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET
