jJesus is coming.....repent now

 

JESUS IS COMING...REPENT

 

Jesus is Coming Soon! - By Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2023/01/by-pastor-mike-taylor-19-and-i.html   19 “And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them. 20 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land. 21 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.” (Ezekiel 36:19-23)   We live in an age of miracles. Who would have dreamed the advancements that have been created in a short, by comparison of the last 125 year, to the history of mankind. But science has made great advances in medicine on understanding genetic codes, some good, and some not so good. As it was in the days of Noah, mankind has mastered many secrets to life, but have done things that God destroyed the whole earth because of doing things against His Creation. Man attempts to merge DNA's of humans and animals in test tubes is an abomination before God. To create artificial intelligence and make man a hybrid of machine and humanity. Then man has been able to manipulate weather such as using HAARP but creates havoc using such devices to control the elements.   Then we see the advances in space travel and I remember the news coverage when we first landed a manned space craft on the moon. Man expects in the future to travel to distant stars, to Mars and other planets outside our atmosphere. It appears there is nothing that mankind cannot do....to a point, that God will allow. Mankind has limits that are in the bounds of time, which we cannot control. We see the past and learn from history, but we cannot see the future and make any type of predictions, as we can only guess.   ISRAEL, A MODERN DAY MIRACLE   Take for example the restoration of Israel as a modern day democracy after almost 2000 years of being destroyed as a nation on earth. No one would have believed 150 years ago OR even 80 years that Israel would ever come back to her native country as we have seen in the last 74 years. Israel was virtually uprooted in 702 BC by Sargon II who conquered the northern half of the nation we now know as Israel and carted the people to distant lands, scattering them to the four winds and placed other people conquered into the land to prevent an uprising and rebellion of nations they conquered and overran. It is how the Samaritans came to be in the northern half of the once great nation of Israel in the days of Jesus. Likewise, the southern half of Israel, know as Judah was taken captive by the Kingdom of Babylon and finally returned after 70 years of exile. But in 70AD Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple burned and the nation of Israel was no more when in 135 AD the city was sown with salt and plowed under and the national name was changed to Palestine by the Roman Empire after the name of the Philistines in Gaza area.     Still the prophets wrote confidently by Holy Spirit moving them to write, that in the last days, Israel would again be reborn in her own land. Once again the Hebrew people would inhabit real estate from which they were displaced, seemingly forever.   "And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country." (Ezekiel 34:13)    Writing of the Gog Magog invasion, God inspired Ezekiel to prophesy;   "After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them." (Ezekiel 38:8)   In this passage, we find a time frame in Ezekiel's prophecy that would come to pass as he said “after many days, in the latter years”. They would be brought forth from all the nations that they had wandered to and be brought to the ancestral lands to a land who had always been laid waste for near 2000 years. A place when Mark Twain visited called it the most desolate place he had ever seen on earth. Nothing grew and there were no trees, but only desert and barren hills.   For more than 2,500 years, this prophecy of Ezekiel remained dormant. Israel was destroyed by Sargon and never again existed as an independent nation. Until, on May 14, 1948, when the survivors of the Holocaust were 'brought forth' under the banner of 'never again' to the 'mountains of Israel' -- which 'had always been waste' as the nation of 'Israel'.   During the time before Israel became a nation again, they petitioned Great Britain to allow them a homeland in the African country of Uganda, as they would have settled for any country, but that is not what the prophets wrote and not what God had promised Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that Israel and the Jewish people would inhabit again the mountains of Israel and that is exactly what happened.   I say all that about how Israel in a brevity of statements how Israel is now a nation again, to say this.     WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE TRIBULATION?   Understanding the purpose of the Tribulation in relationship to Israel would go a long way to helping us to understand whether the Church of the Living God will be raptured before the tribulation, out of it, or after it.  .   Let us go back to the prophet Daniel and explore a little more of the vision given to the prophet and how history would unfold. Daniel foretold the rise and fall of three great empires and the rise, fall and revival of the last great world empire -- that of Rome.   "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9:24)   The main points of the prophecy given to Daniel fall into these categories: A. 'Weeks' refer to 'weeks of years' – 70/ 7 year periods equaling 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 70th week will open when the “Anti-Christ” confirms a covenant between Israel and the many or nations of the world.   “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Daniel 9:27)   Daniel indicates in the passages noted above, that the Tribulation period is for Israel's national redemption. That theme is picked up by the prophet Zechariah:    “The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.” (Zechariah 12:1-3)     Zechariah goes into great detail in chapter 12-14 of the redemption of Israel and is further proven in Revelation chapter 4 all the way through to chapter 20.   Jeremiah states further, that this is the time of Jacob's trouble: 7 “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” (Jeremiah 30:7-9) "For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (Jeremiah 30:11)   THOSE THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH.   There is also a second group that go through the Tribulation, right along with Israel:   "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Revelation 3:10)   Remember me telling you in times past, that the phrase “Keep thee from” is found in the original Greek in the word “EK” or meaning to keep from the hour, to separate those from the time and space. To bring them out of, not through an event. In this case, Jesus is talking about the coming Tribulation that will try “them that dwell upon the earth”. And the Church is not part of the Tribulation, as Jesus will take us “out of” His coming wrath poured out.   Note the phrase, 'them that dwell upon the earth'. We find it six other times; in Revelation 6:10, 8:13, 11:10, 13:8, and 17;8.   These are the individuals that gloat over the death of God's two witnesses found in chapter 11 of Revelation. And those who are pronounced to endure the final three trumpets which are to come written in chp. 8 of this same book of your Bible. These “dwellers on the earth” are the people who are deceived by the beast rising up from the sea, make an image of the first beast, and worship the beast which all speaks of the Anti-Christ:   6 “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:6-8) Those who dwell upon the earth will gaze in wonder at the scarlet beast:   7 “And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Revelation 17:7-8)   These are the people, those that dwell upon the earth, who do NOT have their names written down in the Book of Life and will take the mark of the beast.   In contrast to these earth dwellers, Jesus says of the Church in His prayer at Gethsemane; 14 “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 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)   If there is a purpose for the Church in the Tribulation Period, there is no express mention of that purpose in Scripture, although Scripture is clear regarding both Jews and 'earth-dwellers'. And the 'earth dwellers' can't be the Church, since their names are not written in the Book of Life. Paul tells us through God's Holy Spirit that we are not appointed to the wrath that is befallen those who dwell upon the earth, that starts in chp. 6 of Revelation.   9 “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1st Thessalonians 1:9-10) But what wrath to come? To those who will be delivered unto hell fire for their rejection of Jesus Christ as personal Savior. The wrath of God will fall on all earth dwellers in the Tribulation that have rejected the only propitiation or substitute for the wrath we deserve, which is death. Again in Romans chapter 8, Paul confirms that we are not part of God's fury, as the wrath of God is fallen on those who are condemned.   “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1-4) Now lets look at 1st Thessalonians of Paul has further to say:    “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)   Notice in verse 3 "For when THEY shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon THEM, as travail upon a woman with child; and THEY shall not escape." (Note the pronouns 'they' and 'them')   Then we read in verse 5: "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: WE are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let US not sleep, as do others; but let US watch and be sober." (Note the change -- 'they'- 'them' become 'we'- 'us')   Then in verse 7, Paul tells us the difference in “we,us” in verse 5, by differentiating between those that sleep and are drunk:   "For THEY that sleep sleep in the night; and THEY that be drunken are drunken in the night."   And finally, tells us that we must be vigilant "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."   There is a clear distinction between Jewish people who are alive during this time, and earth dwellers who are also going through the Tribulation, and “US” the Church, but let me make a point here.   Look at verse 8 above. It refers to the “hope of salvation”. What does that mean? Salvation from what?   My salvation comes with an iron-clad guarantee, signed in Blood. I don't 'hope' for salvation -- I am saved now.   17” For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 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.” (1st Peter 4:17-19)   The church is being judged now. We are saved by the Blood of Jesus and have salvation from eternal punishment that is found in hell and the Lake of Fire.   .But salvation from the 'wrath to come' is indicated by the context and consistent with the doctrine that says,   "I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them from my hand." (John 10:28)   And the 'wrath to come' is the Tribulation period - the time of Jacob's Trouble. The Church is not needing judgment as we have already been judged righteous clothed with the righteousness of Jesus our Lord, and that not of our own.   The argument for a pre-tribulation Rapture of the Church is consistent with Scripture. Keep in mind that the salient point is not so much 'when' as it is "Who" is coming.   ARE YOU READY?   Do you know who is coming? Are you ready to meet Him? Will you be clothed with His righteousness, or found wanting by being clothed with your own? Yours cannot stand in front of a Holy God who will not allow sin into His presence. There is only one Way back to God our Father and to be forgiven of all of our short comings in breaking the Laws of God, for if you have sinned in one point, you have sinned in them all. One sin is just as great as the other in God's eyes. What must you do to be forgiven and be able to escape what is coming?   The Remedy is found in One Name that is above every name. Jesus Christ is that Name...He stands at the door of any sinner's heart and knocks to be allowed entrance. He won't force His way in, but will accept your invitation to make Him Lord of your life.   16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18)   8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 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 is coming. Now is the season of making that decision for Jesus Christ and get on the ark of safety, which is the Son of God. Do it today, as the time of that closing window of opportunity is closing fast.   This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying you enter into a relationship by the blood of Jesus Christ, with Almighty God. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear. Email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net  or visit me online amat pastormiketaylor@blogspot.com ....God bless you all, TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.

The coming Anti-christ and the tribulation

BY PASTOR MIKE TAYLOR

15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

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 24:15-22)

As the hour approaches for the start of the Tribulation and the end of this present age, I have many Christians that email me and wonder “Are we in the Tribulation now, or can it get any worse that what we see already at the present?”....Some come to the erroneous conclusion that we are in the first part of the Tribulation, as the world is going stark raving mad. Environmental disasters of earthquakes, volcano eruptions, drought leading to famine in third world countries, when ISIS was beheading Christians in the Middle East, and nuclear threats from Iran and North Korea, and now even China and Russia, leave many wondering if we are indeed, in the first years of the coming Tribulation. Are we?
The Lord God gave us definite signs of when the beginning of the Tribulation would start, and although I would agree that we are bumping right up to the time the Bible calls Jacob's trouble, we have not crossed that red line that says we are in the Tribulation just yet. Why do I say that?



THE PURPOSE OF THE COMING TRIBULATION



The Tribulation has a primary, secondary purpose and even a third reason for the time. From the perspective of Israel the Tribulation has a primary purpose. From the prophet Daniel, that primary purpose is six fold:

"Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people [Daniel and the Jews] and upon thy holy city, [Jerusalem] to (1) finish the transgression, and to (2) make an end of sins, and to (3) make reconciliation for iniquity, and to (4) bring in everlasting righteousness, and to (5) seal up the vision and prophecy, and to (6) anoint the most Holy." (Daniel 9:24)

That primary purpose had been going on from the rebuilding of the Temple after the Babylonian exile and ancient Israel's return to her own land for 483 years, when Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey.

 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” (Zechariah 9:9)

Thus Jesus fulfilled the prophecy in the 483^rd year of the Prophecy and if Israel would have accepted their Messiah, then the Kingdom of God would have come upon the earth at that time, but that was not God's plan. Several days later, Jesus would be tried, convicted in a Sanhedrin court, sentenced by a Roman governor and crucified on a cross for the sole reason of being the Messiah they did not want to accept. Their image of their “political Savior” was a King David type, not this lowly carpenter who wanted to save them from their sins. They didn't need a Savior, (in their deceived thinking) as they had the law of Moses, which they didn't realize could not save them from being separated from God the Father for all eternity. They knew of the timing of the coming Messiah, and here He was standing right in front of them, but they didn't like His spiritual message of repentance.

When Jesus died on that cross, the time period of 490 years that Gabriel told Daniel would be required to fulfill that prophecy, stopped and has been on hold now for nearly 2000 years. That leaves a final 7 years (490-483=7 years) of the prophecy to the nation of Israel on hold. God will complete His promise to the Jewish people in the near future.

But for the Church that was born at Pentecost because of the blood sacrifice Jesus paid, points 1-4 of the above verse was accomplished at the cross. The last two points of 5-6 are yet to be fulfilled, but neither of them apply to the Church anyway. The prophecy is for the Jewish people and of Jerusalem with a rebuilt Temple standing on the Temple Mount and the anointing of the Messiah taking place at the 2^nd Coming of Jesus to reign and rule for a Millennium.

The primary purpose of the Tribulation, therefore, is to effect the national redemption of the Jews.

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)

Israel will be refined through much persecution, until they recognize their Messiah that their forefathers rejected in 33 AD and they still do today.

There is a secondary purpose as outlined in Revelation chp. 9:

"Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (Revelation 9:21)

In reading the whole of chapters 6- 9 of this apocalyptic book, gives you the reason for the coming Tribulation. God is putting down all rebellion upon the earth, known as the “nations” who will not repent of their sinful lives, or give God any glory. But those who love their unrighteousness and sinful practices will not repent even in the face of this horrific judgment that is being poured out on them, and it only gets worse, much worse.

This secondary purpose is to purge this earth of unrepentant, rebellious mankind that rejects Christ as Lord of their lives. God will nearly wipe this planet clean of all human life. By definition, to be a Christian, one must repent of one's sins. So the Church has no purpose in God's judgment against these “unrepentant, lawless” sinners.

There is also a third reason for the Tribulation. It is to allow Satan full and free reign over the earth and its inhabitants. Among the many purposes of Heaven outlined in God's Word is the trial of Satan. At the conclusion of the Tribulation, there will no doubt remaining among the angels and the inhabitants of God's realm, (the saints of God) to the depth of Satan's guilt or the severity of the forthcoming punishment. This was prophesied in Isaiah what would become of Lucifer, now known as Satan (the adversary) when he was cast out of heaven when he proclaimed his infamous “I wills” to be like the Most High God....

"Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?" (Isaiah 14:15-17)

HARPAZO OF THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD

The doctrine of imminency teaches that Jesus could come at any moment and “snatch by force” His redeemed bride which is HARPAZO in the Greek that Paul spoke of in 1^st Corinthians and 1^st Thessalonians

15 “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 (HARPAZO) 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.” (1^st Thessalonians 4:15-18)

What is the dictionary definition of what Paul wrote above of the HARPAZO, or being “caught up” in English..

1) to seize, carry off by force

2) to seize on, claim for one' s self eagerly

3) to snatch out or away

The fulfillment of this passage could come at any moment, from the day of Paul until the starting point of the Tribulation. How do I know that it is confined to that period of time? Glad you asked. Because the Bible expressly promises us that the Tribulation will not start until Satan has total control over this earth.

In order for Satan to have total control (and therefore no excuse) the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and His ministry of identifying and restraining evil must be removed.
Jesus promises that the Holy Spirit would indwell within me until He returns, as I am neither of the “house of Israel” or part of the Christ rejecting Gentile nations and have no part in the coming Tribulation, but the scripture says that the coming Anti-Christ will overcome the “saints” during the tribulation.

“And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

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 13:7-8)


If the Holy Spirit must be 'taken out of the way' BEFORE the Antichrist can be revealed, which is the only logical way to interpret what Paul wrote in 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-9,

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,”

So if God is withdrawing the work of the Holy spirit, that would leave me comfortless, if as a Christian I am found to be still present during the time known as Jacob's Trouble, the Tribulation. If God has left me alone just when I need Him the most, then Jesus broke His Word, and we know Jesus cannot lie.

16 “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)

No matter how I try to read the above verses otherwise, I cannot be present during this time. Until the Holy Spirit is “taken out of the way” then that Wicked cannot be revealed, which is the Anti-Christ.

This may be confusing to some, but let us identify the players in the preceding verses listed above in 2^nd Thessalonians 2:7-9. The “mystery of iniquity” or the spirit of the Anti-Christ (1st John 4:3) "He who letteth". First, "he" is a personal pronoun, so this isn't a 'thing' to be taken out of the way, but a 'Him'. 'To let' is an old English phrase that signifies indwelling, as in the phrase, "Room to Let."

When the verse speaks of “that Wicked” it is also a personal pronoun and in context, refers to the one whom Jesus will destroy at His Second Coming.

So in modern everyday English, the meaning of the passage says “the Anti-Christ won't be revealed until the Holy Spirit's presence is taken out of the way”...So the point of the passage that should not be any bone of contention, is that if the Holy Spirit is removed, and we have God's Holy Spirit within us, and Jesus will NOT leave us alone without comfort, then if the Holy Spirit is leaving, then so shall God's Church. Every born again believer on this planet will be removed at the very same instant as God's Holy Spirit. Since Satan cannot overcome God, and God is dwelling in me, then the Anti-Christ can't overcome me if I were still on the earth.

I cannot picture a situation in which I would lose the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence while I am still alive on this earth. It is unthinkable.

THE CHURCH REMOVED

So now that I hope you can see that the Church will be removed prior to the Anti-Christ being revealed and we will not be subject to God's Wrath. Now some say that the first part of the Tribulation is promoted by Satan and evil men. Many try to say that God's wrath is not revealed until the 6^th seal is opened, as the righteousness indignation of God's judgment is finally revealed..is that true? I ask you. Who is opening the seals of the “title deed to this earth” by removing all rebellion on the planet? From the first seal until the last, the author of this judgment is Jesus Christ the Lord. He is causing events to happen. He is using men to enact judgment on other lawless men, just as He used Babylon and Assyria as the iron rod of judgment on Israel for their lawless behavior and rejecting the laws of God. So here God is doing the same thing by using men to bring about the beginning of His wrath indirectly, but will show His indignation directly in subsequent seals of judgment. In chapter 6, the men of earth know who is causing the problems and the evil that befalls them, and they cry out:

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:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)

LET US ANAZLYZE THIS COMING TRIBULATION.

Where do we get seven years of tribulation? Some ask me that question and assert that there is no basis for it...

Daniel says that Antichrist rules for one 'week' -- or seven years.

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 9:27)

I've even had some deceived notions that this above verse is speaking of Jesus causing a covenant to be broken in mid-week, but clearly it is speaking of an abomination of desolation that only happened one other time with Antiochus Epiphanes when he desecrated the Holy Temple and spawned the Maccabean revolt.

The first three and one half years are a period of false peace for Israel. Because of confirming a covenant with Israel, the coming Anti-Christ will reveal himself by enforcing a pre-existence covenant that is possibly the Oslo Accord from the earth 1990s or the Abrahamic Covenants during Trump's administration. The last three and one half years are a period of intense persecution and Great Tribulation for the Jewish people. It is the remaining 7 years left to fulfill the prophecy given by Gabriel to Daniel, that has been on hold for the Age of Grace that we have been living in for almost 2000 years now.

No matter how novel an interpretation one may develop to argue against the seven year period, Daniel also identifies it as a period of 2520 days, divided into two periods of 1260 days each. The first part is the Tribulation that causes a false peace for Israel, but is surrounded by unrest and war around the globe. The last 1260 days are known as the Great Tribulation, when the AC is revealed as the abomination that causeth desolation, and Israel will know they have made a pact deal with the devil. They will run for their very lives, but many will not believe the prophecy and will not escape into the wilderness, just as it was in 70 AD when those who believed fled to the mountain fortress in Petra, in the Jordanian wilderness. (see chp. 12 of Revelation v. 14-17)
Now to those who make a wishful thinking by asking the specific question “why cannot Christ's coming for His elect occur during the first half of the tribulation?” Scripture outlines a season (of tribulation) for the purpose of judgment that is to last seven years.



As mentioned, the tribulation is the not the time for the Church's redemption, it is Israel's time. The purpose in general is the refinement of Israel as silver is refined in the fiery furnace for purification, and the removal of rebellion and the judgment of the lost. The Church is being judged now in this Age of Grace. Those who have God's earnest deposit of His Holy Spirit residing within their own spirit have a guarantee of redemption and glorification when Jesus comes for His bride, His Church. The Church of the Living God is neither under judgment or in need of redemption. She has already been redeemed, and judged righteous by the blood of the Lamb, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

To not believe the above redemption of our bodies at the rapture of the Church is to believe that Jesus' sacrifice in His own blood on a Roman cross was not good enough to save us to the uttermost. It is to believe in a type of Catholic purgatory that Jesus did NOT pay it all once for all time.



WHAT IF WE DO HAVE TO SUFFER SOME OF THE TRIBULATION?

Some hypothesize, and it's pure speculation, that if there is not a removal of the Bride of Christ before the Tribulation starts, could it not cause some to turn away from their faith, as was talked about in the gospels. They say, “won't there be some suffering on the part of Christians?”...”and if so, we are causing those to become discouraged and fall away”.
I agree that we shall not escape all suffering, as that has been part of the human condition since man was created. There is persecution and modern day martyrdom in such places as the Middle East, Communist China, and Central Africa. This is not an ancient concept, but continues to this day by evil men.
There is a major difference between the sufferings of men at the hand of other evil men, by one phrase ...”The Wrath of God”. Tribulation saints differ from the Bride of Christ saved during the Age of Grace, or the Church Age. Those saved during this horrific seven years will have their metal tested as like no other period of time memorial. Evil is rampant. Satan seeks to destroy all mankind, but in the process gain worship for himself, and attempts to destroy all of the nation of Israel to make God out a liar. And I must point out again a major distinction between the saints of the Church age, and the Tribulation saints by God's Holy Word:
Of the Church Age saints, John writes:

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1st John 4:4)

During the Tribulation, it is the saints that are overcome:

"And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." (Revelation 13:7)

The same Apostle John wrote both verses. Is it not 'pure speculation' to assume that the differences in status are irrelevant? Two set of saints are not the same. The church Age is the Bride, the Tribulation saints will be the guest at the ceremony as they are in martyrdom.

A final question that has been kicked around on Christian forums I host, that is “if the pre-tribulation rapture of the church is true, how does that give God any glory. Wouldn't it be more glory to Him, if Christ appears amidst the persecution of His saints and rescues them from the Anti-Christ and Satan?” I am reminded of a verse that Jesus spoke to the Apostle Thomas, you now, doubting Thomas?

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." (John 20:29)

Paul speaks of this very thing in Romans 8, which if we are saved by grace through faith, when Christ actually appears, how much faith will be necessary when you see Him in all His glory?

24 “For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:24-25)

As bad as it seems, and my friend, it will get exponentially worse, from chp. 6 of Revelation till chp. 19 when the Saints of God come back on white horse clothed in linen, white and clean following the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings..Jesus our God and Savior..

11 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” (Revelation 19:11-15)

Jesus has come, rebellion has been put down. The saints rule the earth along with our Lord Jesus, and the Millennium starts and returns the earth to what it came from, perfection.

But of this writing, the antichrist has not yet been revealed. The peace treaty has not yet been confirmed. Temple worship has not yet been restored. All these are events that take place BEFORE the Great Tribulation begins. It is that termination of sacrifice that begins the Great Tribulation.

The antichrist can't cause the sacrifice to cease until AFTER it has begun. That can't happen until the Jews possess the Temple Mount. The antichrist cannot take his seat in the Temple of God, causing Israel to reject him, which kicks off the Great Tribulation, until AFTER there is a Temple to sit in.
None of this has happened, but make no mistake, it could happen almost overnight. These events noted just in the preceding two paragraphs are totally INDEPENDENT of the rapture of the Church. None of them exist because we are not in the Tribulation just yet, but it's right over the near horizon and is looming larger and larger with each passing day. We are indeed close, but we are not quite there yet...Reader take warning. I urge you to believe on the only begotten Son of God, slain from the foundation of the earth, and miss this coming Tribulation, by grace through faith.

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)

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying to see you standing in front of our Lord Jesus, when we all receive the rewards done in our body for service...If you should need prayer, counseling, or just a friendly listening ear, contact me at www,realteam1999,  or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com, for more biblical messages straight from your Bible...God bless you all..

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET

 

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

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying to see you standing in front of our Lord Jesus, when we all receive the rewards done in our body for service...If you should need prayer, counseling, or just a friendly listening ear, contact me at www,realteam1999@sbcglobbal.net,  or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com, for more biblical messages straight from your Bible...God bless you all..

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET