WE NEED MINISTERS THAT SPEAK GOD'S TRUTH

 

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By Pastor Mike Taylor

“ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (2^nd Timonty 4:1-5)

In the opening passage, Paul warned Timothy to preach the word of God, not turning to right or to the left from what God's Word said. But to use it to rebuke, exhort and teach sound doctrine. He also warned what we are experiencing today, in that the maninstream religions, from Roman Catholic (which always has strayed) to now infecting Protestant churches with fables of men. Those who sit in the pew on any given Sunday morning want a “new modern” religion that will make them feel good, entertain them, and not face what they really need, and that is repentance from their sins and turn to Jesus Christ as Personal Savior and the only remedy for their God forsaken immorality, and sinful lives.

We as born again Christians, lament how the church of this modern era has grown cold and preaches a watered down version of salvation through faith, applying God's mercy and grace to the broken and contrite heart that sees their lost condition and realizes that without God and the Lord Jesus Christ, they are doomed for a devil's hell. But the Laodecian Age of the church has come to pass, just as Jesus warned us in Revelation 3:

“14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 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 3:14-17)

I spoke of this very thing in a past sermon and this is but a follow up of that message when I spoke of how this age has become nothing but lukewarm, water down Christianity and anything else pagan.

FRAUDS IN THE PULPITS

You need not look any further than your local TV evangelist found on TBN, or the mega churches that have thousands of members in huge facilities of brick and mortar to the tune of Creflo Dollar, or Joel Olsteen, or T.D. Jakes that preach another Gospel. I watched Joel Olsteen one Sunday morning and the man didn't even have a Bible in his hands, He never quoted scripture, but gave a pep talk about this being the “best years of your life” AND as he spoke, passed around the plate for tithes and offerings....when you understand the modern religions today, they are about money, about personal ambition of this being your best life, and forgetting we must be getting our houses in order for the next life, as this life will pass away shortly. You may have riches in this life, but to be your focus and neglect the next one, will leave you wanting at the judgment of God.

What I see, my reader, is this nation....and the world...needs the old time religion that most of us were brought up in. God fearing, hell and damnation, fire and brimstone, and Jesus is the only Way to heaven kind of sermons that makes the sinner tremble with Holy Spirit conviction that they can't stay in their seats, but shake holding onto the back of the pew, sweating profusely from conviction of their sins and their understanding that they are LOST, DOOMED, unless they let go of that pew and come down to the altar to repent in “sack cloth and ashes” so to speak.

People, we are in the time of the end of this age, and the world is going to hell all around us. Our job and the job of the sold out man of God is to preach the un-adultered truth and not what “itching ears” want to hear. We need men that made this country what was from the founding of this nation. We need  “God fearing preachers” that will pound the pulpit and say what must be said from God's Word to convict the lost souls who are under their charge!!

THE NATIONAL BLACK ROBE REGIMENT

In our national history there were men who preached God's Word with conviction. They were called the “Black Robe Regiment.” What does that mean and who were they?

“The Black Robed Regiment was the name that the British placed on the courageous and patriotic American clergy during the Founding Era (a backhanded reference to the black robes they wore). [1] Significantly, the British blamed the Black Robed Regiment for American Independence, [2] and rightfully so, for modern historians have documented that:

“There is not a right asserted in the Declaration of Independence which had not been discussed by the New England clergy before 1763. [3]”

It is strange to today’s generation to think that the rights listed in the Declaration of Independence were nothing more than a listing of sermon topics that had been preached from the pulpit in the two decades leading up to the American Revolution, but such was the case.” (from the National Black Robe Regiment)”

These men were fearless. They were not politically correct under British rule. They spoke the truth that gave the revolutionaries the vision, the strength and the guts to go out and win out freedom from tyranny.

“But it was not just the British who saw the American pulpit as largely responsible for American independence and government, our own leaders agreed. For example, John Adams rejoiced that “the pulpits have thundered”] and specifically identified several ministers as being among the “characters the most conspicuous, the most ardent, and influential” in the “awakening and a revival of American principles and feelings” that led to American independence.”

But as Paul admonished Timothy in the above opening verses:

“ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. “ (2^nd Timothy 4:5)

As Paul wrote to Timothy, I admonish YOU to pound the pulpit and let the words thunder from your lips of the coming judgment of God and the salvation from wrath of our Lord Jesus Christ, that was purchased by His own blood on Calvary's cross.

That is the minister of God's duty, his call for the spreading of the Gospel. Will the world hate you because you speak the truth? Inside the church it may not be so evident even though you might offend the rebellious member, but outside, each of us will experience the world's revulsion of God's Truth and Satan hates for anyone to speak the truth found in your Bible.

18 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.

22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.

23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.” (John 15:18-23)

SPIRITUAL WARFARE ON AMERICAN SOIL

Folks, we are living in a spiritual war not unlike the Revolutionary war. We are being taken for fools by the men who are in power today, be they in Washington DC or foreign governments across the Big Pond. In the recent past, I was thankful that the people of America rose up and would not elect a satanic inspired liberal in that election, but voted their conscience and vote for the principles that made this country great...WE envisioned “Make America Great Again”....but we kept watch and see if this man we elected followed through with all he promised. God put him in office, and no amount of liberal hand wringing, or under handed tricks will thwart God's Will. He followed God and our Constitution and had the wisdom of Solomon that is God inspired. That was 4 years of economic growth and “making America great again”. Now we have a mentally challenged, liberal socialist in office who doesn't know beans from taters, but imposes “dictator” type executive orders, such as did Obummer. But let us not stop there, rise up and claim this country for God, each minister and each Christian.

Our Spiritual war goes even further than what our founding fathers brought to this country and those ministers of past time of our country, pounded this truth home.

“As a body of men, the clergy were pre-eminent in their attachment to liberty. The pulpits of the land rang with the notes of freedom. [6] The American Quarterly Register [MAGAZINE], 1833

If Christian ministers had not preached and prayed, there might have been no revolution as yet – or had it broken out, it might have been crushed. [7] Bibliotheca Sacra [BRITISH PERIODICAL], 1856”

“The ministers of the Revolution were, like their Puritan predecessors, bold and fearless in the cause of their country. No class of men contributed more to carry forward the Revolution and to achieve our independence than did the ministers. . . . [B]y their prayers, patriotic sermons, and services [they] rendered the highest assistance to the civil government, the army, and the country. [8] B. F. Morris, HISTORIAN, 1864”. (National Black Robed Regiment)

AN AMERICAN REVIVAL DREAM

What would happen if we had fearless, sold out men of God who preached the unvarnished truth of Jesus being the only way back to the Father? What if these same men preached against the immorality, the sinfulness of this present age and would not back down from anyone, be they the IRS, or any government agency and it spread from coast to coast? My estimation, you would see a revival that would rival anything we have ever seen in American history, even from the Revolutionary War's men speaking truth to power in their pulpits in the churches of that era. But is our country now swirling down the drain? Is it too late....Is it God's will that we fall?

I am speaking of what ifs, folks, as the tide may be too hard to turn back, but I can dream and pray it comes to pass. . Our God Jehovah, YHWH, the Living God told us what would happen if this was even possible in this end of days.

14 “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.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.”( 2^nd Chronicles 7:14-15)

Who is to say that this could not be possible. Yes, I know that the American countryside has become a cesspool in the major cities and like a cancer, it is spreading...But if what I am saying was even possible, and the American public rose up, and the pastors of this nation got fearless and demanded change in the spiritual realm of this country, you would see a change to gather the last straws of wheat that God will usher into His Kingdom. Note the parable of the seed sower.

25 “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:25-30)

God could use YOU to spread His message and gather that last straw and seed of the final wheat into the kingdom of God. Pastors of this nation, are you listening?

9 “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.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; 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^nd Peter 3:9-12)

Is God holding off sending His Son for the church of the Living God because He desires to save even that last soul who will come to Him? If the ministers of this nation would take a look at their calling, and put God first in everything they say from the Pulpit, we would see a move of God that would rival the ministers of our historical past, as God would use pastors of today, even as He used these men of our historical past to bring that last soul into the ark of safety which is Jesus Christ our Lord.

My plea to every ordained minister, and those who are following Jesus footsteps is to become fearless. To approach anyone, and everyone you may think needs to hear God's Word. Do not preach to their itching ears, but to their heart and minds. Tell them the truth of coming judgment, the wrath of God and this world being burned up in the coming Tribulation and salvation from Jesus Christ, as the only way to enter God's Kingdom. .

WE may not have much time, either you or me. WE must be about our Father's business and spread the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God, but also warn that the time of Tribulation is fast approaching, and those tares that Jesus spoke of will be gathered and thrown into the fire. Note the passage that spoke of what happens to those who are the “tares” or weeds that grown among God's wheat, which are His chosen body and His bride..

30 “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. “( Matthew 13:30)

What does the Lord mean “bind them in bundles to burn them”?

11 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

(Revelation 20:11-15)

This is the ultimate fate of those who are considered “weeds or tares” that are gathered to the Great White Throne judgment of God. They either heard the Word of God and refused it, or have taken the mark of the coming Beast power.

I may not be wearing a black robe right now, but I call on every man and woman who professes Jesus Christ to share that story with your family, your friends, even your enemies in a spirit of Godly love. How much time we have to the work of God may be drawing to a close very soon.

Those that are found without Jesus Christ, when He breaks through the clouds and cries “come up hither” will experience what they could have avoided by believing on the Name of Jesus Christ and giving over their life as Lord and Master to Him. I speak of a literal Hell on earth that will wipe this planet nearly totally clean of all human life that Jesus said would be the greatest trial that humanity has every experienced.

21 “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened”

( Matthew 24:21-22)(the elect is Israel, my emphasis)

That is why we need “pastors that preach God's Word with conviction” because the tribulation and the great tribulation is going to be so horrific, that no words can explain the reality of this awful time, when God's wrath and the satanic ambition of the Anti-Christ to destroy all who believe in Jesus during those last 7 years of man's rule upon the earth. I calculate 80% or more of those living among the nations being destroyed in 7 short years...think of it...8 billion people x 80% or 6.4 billion people destroyed in the worst possible ways. Think of the carnage...think of the smell and wild animals roaming to eat dead carcasses. Can it be any more gruesome to think on such a thing?

CLARION CALL TO ACTION

Will you take the challenge? Will you heed the call? Will you preach only God's Word to those in your church and those who you are charged to leading spiritually? Or will you continue to “tickle their itching ears” ...You will either be rewarded for doing God's will and preaching the Truth, or be found condemned for being a spiritual fraud that was in religion for his own gain. Be not one of those who will give an account either in the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ and loose your reward for service, or be found as a tare of the ministry and stand before the Great White Throne judgment to give account of your perverting the Truth of God Word and cast into a lake of fire burning with fire and brimstone. Are you afraid of offending someone with God's Truth?

Note what God our Lord Jesus Christ said of the parable of the seed sower when we speak the truth in the coming tribulation and can even be applied now:

18 “ Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (Matthew 13:18-21)

But let us cast the seed of the Truth of God's Word found in no other but Jesus Christ our Lord. We are responsible to no other but to ourselves and God. If we neglect our calling and do not spread the seed of Truth, then brother, you will be found judged of not speaking truth. Put on those righteous robes on and thunder the Word of God to the salvation of men's souls.

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)

and again, believe and confess to God:

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.

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

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you take the challenge and spread the REAL Good News of the Coming Kingdom of God. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com ,  God bless you all,

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET

ISRAEL REGATHERED, A SIGN OF THE COMING TRIBULATION

 

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 ago that Israel would ever come back to her native country as we have seen in the last 73 years. Israel was virtually uprooted in 702 BC by Sargon II, the Assyrian 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 the 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 their 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 Nebachadnezzer, King of Assyria and Babylon 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(x) 7 year periods equals 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 reconciliation 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 70^th 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 6 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. They are "earth dwellers, and not the church:

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also WILL KEEP THEE FROM (my emphasis) 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, (tribulation saints, my emphasis) 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)

(The woman is false Christianity, maybe called Chrislam rides a beast who can only be Satanic and indwells a man on earth, the Anti-Christ.)

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. We see now, people being pressured to take this "vaccine". Is it the "mark of the beast"? No, but it is a precursor to the real deal to make those living in this time, to do what the "one world government" will tell them to do, to their eternal doom. I believe this "vaccine, which is not really a vaccine", is  biological weapon to reduce the population of the earth to manageable numbers "to save the planet". 

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.

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:14-17)

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.

16 And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

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)

Remember what Jesus said, when He spoke of the parable of the fig tree. He said that THIS generation will not pass until all things be fulfilled....note in Psalm 90, a generation is said to be 70 years, and 80 years by strength, then we fly away. How old is Israel right now? she is 73 years old.....How much longer will Jesus tarry before the end of this age and this generation?

CHURCH IN THE TRIBULATION??

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.” (1^st 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 1^st Thessalonians of Paul has further to say:

“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,” (1^st 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'. It speaks of two groups of people)

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 and I pray, you are also.

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?

18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

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.” (1^st Peter 4:17-19)

The church is being judged now. If you be a Christian person, you are 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.

6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

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.

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

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 told us how terrible that time will be:

21 "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (Matthew 24:21-22)

Many will die in the coming Tribulation. If you be so unfortunate to see this time, it might be even your eternal demise.

 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 ,pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, God bless you all,

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.