GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

By Pastor Mike Taylor

7 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1^st John 4:7-10)

Most people agree that for salvation a Christian needs more than just a theoretical knowledge of God. Over the course of our lives, we increase our knowledge of Him through life's varied experiences. We also come to a greater understanding by studying God's Word. In both areas we can be snared by a major problem that traps many religious people in this world: emphasizing one of His attributes at the expense of others.

I have a Roman Catholic friend who lives in France, who is focused on this one attribute of God, that God is love, and since God is a loving God, all is good, and I fear that he believes that a loving God will not send anyone to a burning hell. He hasn't come right and said it that I can recall, but is definitely “hung up” on this one attribute and cannot see other attributes of the God we serve.

God is not one dimensional. Though we should study each of His attributes and think on them separately, we should not separate them from the complete personality that God is. Why? It distorts the model we are to imitate and grow into, and it can radically alter our expectations of what He will do. If He does not do what we expect, we are liable to become grieved because God "let us down."

For instance, the Bible emphasizes that God is merciful and full of grace. We are very thankful that God is a merciful and loving God, but God is much more than one or two dimensions of His character. We should not make the mistake besides all of the many attributes that are what our God is, we should not overlook the fact the God is also just. If we do, His mercy can become a justification for failure to overcome besetting sins. Neither God's mercy nor justice can be separated from all that He is. Both are harmoniously applied to each situation and person He judges.

SOME OF THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

God is also a God of compassion. Some see God as so compassionate that He disregards the causes of some horrible problems and trials we endure in this life. If God acted in such a manner, flaws with painful results would go uncorrected.

Make no mistake about it, God will discipline those He loves.

5 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” (Hebrews 12:5-8)

Some so erroneously believe that God created His creation and then just walked away. God is very much involved with the plan to redeem mankind and nothing escapes His gaze or His knowledge.

Still others construe God's sovereignty so that it is greatly diminished His goodness and portrays Him as rigid and inflexible. This kind of person lives with a guilt-ridden, fearful and discouraged life, thinking he will never please Him.

6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

But probably the most familiar of God's attributes is found in the scripture used to open this message in 1^st John 4:8 “God is love”. John states a fact, not a definition of God's essential nature. If John had declared that love is what God is, we would be forced to conclude that God is what love is. Literally, if God is love, then literally, love is God and we are forced to worship love as the only True God. This would mean that God and love are identical. Fortunately for mankind, the Bible reveals that God is a multidimensional personality and not only just love. If we eliminate the idea of God's complex personality, denying all of His other attributes, save one, the remaining attribute becomes God, and is a very subtle form of idolatry. This is NOT only what God the Father is, or our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE WHOLENESS OF GOD

The wholeness of God is a concept that we must come to understand, that God is more than one or two attributes. It's an important subject because some have become enslaved to words. We must give greater weight to meanings. The Bible speaks that God is love and light.

3 “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” (1^st John 1:3-5)

The Bible also speaks of our Jesus as being the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

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

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7)

We understand the words in the same sense as when we say of a man, "He is kindness itself." Of course, we do not suggest that kindness and the man are identical, and no one misunderstands our intention. Because any man is more than just kindness, even the best man. So it is even more so with a infinite God we serve.

The words "God is love" mean that love is an essential attribute of God. Love is something true of God, but it is not all of God. He has many other attributes. He is self-existent, eternal, merciful, full of grace, immutable, just, omnipotent, omniscient and many more things besides, but the greatest of all is God is Holy.. Because God is Holy and immutable, He always acts as God, and because He is a whole and perfect personality, He never suspends one of His attributes to exercise another.

God is not man, with all of his imperfections. God is truth and never acts out of irritation, resentment, suddenly moody, or acts on a whim. He always acts in light of all the facts. King David declared in the Psalms:

7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” (Psalm 19:7-11)

David also proclaimed further in another chapter in the Psalms :

5 “Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;

7 He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.” (Psalm 105:5,7)

The beauty, harmony, balance and providence evident throughout the earth are witnesses of the wisdom, unity, harmony, and yes, the love in which He always acts.

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God proclaims:

23  “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)

HOW DO WE COME TO KNOW GOD AND HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:1-3)

So how important is it to know God? As mentioned here, eternal life is knowing God.

It implies an intimate relationship with God that matures over a lifetime. Each party knows each other well, as familiarly as marriage partners.

1 “Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (Hosea 6:1-3)

So what of our God? Can we know Him. Yes, through His only begotten Son, can we come to know a loving, but fearfully powerful God?

6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” (Romans 5:6-10)

God loved us so much, that He sent His only Son, to die in our place....

“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, God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but 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) “caps my emphasis”

The question was, “how can we come to know God?” The Apostle John gave a quick and concise way we can know God and know Him intimately...through His Son..

 “Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” (1^st John 2:23)

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:1-9)

GOD IS JUST AND WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE

With all the attributes spoke briefly about an all power God, and our soon coming King, God is not some grandfatherly type living in the sky who is nothing but love, love, love. Although He embodies this attributes, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

8 “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:8-10)

One might wonder why fear is included. It is because fear represents the specific attitude required to make the best use of  God's law and bring the sinner to conviction through the Holy Spirit. Know this, reader. We don't come to God because we love God..we come to Him because we love ourselves. Love for Him comes later when we realize what He has done for us. As a small boy, I didn't come to God out of love, but realizing that I needed a Savior to cleanse me of my sins...I knew Jesus died on a old rugged cross, so that I might live forever. Falling in love with God came later, when I studied how much He loved me first, before I knew how to love Him.

10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11, There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12, They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Roman 3:10-12)

There is an element of fear to realize that we are in rebellion against God because of our sinful nature. Fear brings Godly conviction and I've seen men shake uncontrollably with the power of God upon them, as they are under God's conviction of their sins. The choice of life or death, darkness or light, eternity in heaven or in hell, drives those under this conviction to a Godly realization of their vulnerability to a Holy God who will judge them, even though He loves them. Paul speaks of this along with the Apostle Peter:

5 “But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? (Roman 3:5-6)

And Peter wrote:

5 “Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1^st Peter 4:5-6)

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 In addition, remember that wisdom is a right application of knowledge and understanding. If fear is not present, we will not even start to build towards  faith, hope, and love. Godly fear gets us jump-started, gets us going to do what is right.

GOD IS LONG SUFFERING, BUT....

Although God is a loving God, He is patient and not willing that any of His creation perish.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward,not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2^nd Peter 3:9)

But even a long suffering King of the Universe, patience does eventually run out. We have many instances found in your Bible of a long suffering God. Like when God gave the inhabitants in Canaan 400 years to change and repent, but sent Israel into the Promise Land and commanded them during their Exodus to destroy them:

“These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth.

2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:

3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place” (Deuteronomy 12:2-3)

Just showing the fear of God and what God has done to bring His wrath on unrepentant mankind should give anyone pause and have reverence, and a Godly fear of an Almighty God who when He has finally run out of patience, will utterly destroy those who are in rebellion against Him. I know this will upset my Catholic friend who I debate on a local forum, but God is not only a God of love, He is also a God of judgment in His righteous indignation. But let us speak of the coming wrath that God will unleash on mankind in the near future.

THE WRATH OF A LOVING GOD

23 “ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

29 For our God is a consuming fire.” (my emphasis)

There is a huge amount of verses in your Bible that speaks of the attributes of a Holy God. Yes, God is love, but He is also greatly to be feared. God will pass judgment on the whole of mankind and destroy all rebellion on this earth what is called the coming Tribulation. The final book of your Bible speaks of the wrath of God. You know that God of love? Although He is not willing any should perish, God gives you a choice. It's called your own freewill. God does not coerce anyone into loving Him or obeying Him...He gives us a choice of heaven or hell. He doesn't send anybody to hell...you do.

John sees the ultimate fate of all who refuse the free offer of grace and mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ:

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)

Eternal separation from a Holy God, devoid of all love, joy, peace, happiness, comfort and being a part of a Holy Family for all eternity, now that is what I deem a literal hell, besides the physical torment.

GOD IS LOVE, YES, BUT HE IS SO MUCH MORE

We admire good qualities in others and wish we had them. But we realize that the same people who have these good qualities lack others. Our God, though, has every good quality to the ultimate degree, and every attribute works in perfect and faithful harmony.

Studying God in His wholeness should teach us humility, caution in speech and action and a deep reverence of Him. Too often God's superiority overwhelms us when we compare it to our own state. Though we are imperfect and limited in this life, we should not undervalue our current level of growth. Don't allow God's incomparable perfection to derail your progress. Growth in godly character and personality is our calling—we are to be like Him!

Human life is a beginning: God made us in His image and is transforming us into the image of His Son. This process requires our cooperation in striving to "put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Colossians 3:10). This is His will. And in bringing us to His perfection, He reveals His whole nature so we can know it and allow Him to reproduce it in us.

To my friend, the Catholic online, God is love, that is true...BUT our God is a consuming FIRE. May we possess a Godly fear and reverence and not reject so great a salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is calling all of mankind to repent, but some will not. The coming Tribulation is where God will deal with all who have failed to repent of their sins and call upon the only NAME that is above every name in true repentance of their sinful deeds, and that is Jesus Christ, the ONLY begotten Son of 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.

12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

I have often told my congregation that each of us were born for one purpose, besides living our own lives, but given a choice of what each of us will do with the God/Man, Jesus Christ. Will each of us submit our own pride in a humble and a contrite heart, knowing that we can't save ourselves, or let demonic pride cause us to reject a Holy God who stepped out of glory for one purpose and that was to save you, and me?

God calls each of us sometime during our lives. What will your answer be?

6 “Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart........

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” (Hebrews 4:6-7, 12-14)

Our God is love, but a Consuming Fire. Don't make that eternal mistake of ignoring the calling of God's Holy Spirit for the salvation of your soul through the only Way back to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying you know the REAL God in Spirit and in Truth. 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

The Signs Scream with Both Peril and Hope

 - By Jonathan Brentner -

In 1893, Norwegian Expressionist artist Edward Munch painted what has come to be known as The Scream. Munch originally called his work The Scream of Nature.

 

According to Munch, the inspiration for the work came while on a walk at sunset. As the setting sun turned the sky to red, he sensed an "infinite scream passing through nature." Historians speculate that a volcano eruption may have turned the heavens into such a daunting red hue.

 

In Romans 8:22-23, Paul wrote about a different sound emanating from nature, "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies."

 

Nature groans in pain and so do believers as we wait in eager anticipation of the completion of our salvation when Jesus comes to take us home.

 

For those paying attention, world events scream with great danger for those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. For those who trust Him, we await the sound of the trumpet and shout of an archangel.

 

The Screams of Impending Peril

 

If the Christ-rejecting world were to be granted a glimpse into what is coming for them during the tribulation, their faces would resemble the scene Edward Munch painted. For now, they remain oblivious to the signs of their impending peril we know as the Day of the Lord.

 

They cannot see how the signs of the approaching tribulation scream for all to see. Instead, they see their lives continuing for the indefinite future with the hope of future generations.

 

Have you heard of China's surveillance system? China uses technology to monitor all the choices of many of its people (they have yet to implement it everywhere). Based on such things as the places people visit, social media activity, who they e-mail, and what they buy, they receive a numerical grade. China recently used scores from this system to prevent over one and a half million of its people from purchasing airline tickets.

 

It gets worse. According to a recent report, a company in Silicon Valley is preparing just such a system for the United States. How would they use it? A news report last week stated that bureaucrats in the HHS (Health and Human Services Department) are considering employing a similar system to assign a social score for all those seeking to purchase guns in the US. I pray we never see such a system here, but I know it will happen after the rapture.

 

These systems scream Revelation 13 for all who are paying attention. Verses 16-18 describe the antichrist using just such a system to control people's buying and selling worldwide during the tribulation.

 

The Bible also tells us that during the tribulation the antichrist will kill millions of believers and Jews. Currently, Satan is preparing the world to readily accept this scenario.

 

Jeff Klinzman, a former adjunct English professor at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, made this comment on social media regarding Evangelical Christians: "Kill them all and bury them deep in the ground." Not surprisingly, he identifies with the fascist group Antifa. Every day, the left grows more intolerant of those who hold to biblical values.

 

Anti-Semitism also grows worse by the day. We see this throughout the world. In New York City, we see attacks against Rabbis on almost a daily basis. In the United States Congress, Anti-Semitism continues to rapidly grow along with hatred for Israel; it's not difficult to imagine this demonic spirit someday seizing total control of these elected officials in the United States.

 

It's so easy to see how those with such little regard for human life, as demonstrated by their avid support of abortion, would engage in the killing of those they regard as detractors to their fond beliefs.

 

The Day of the Lord, as described in Isaiah 24 and in Revelation 6-16, is rapidly approaching. The two recent developments I mention above show how Satan is relentlessly shaping the world for the arrival of his man, the antichrist.

 

I could list many more signs of impending peril for those who reject the Savior, but it's time now for some good news!

 

The Shout of Hope

 

For those of us in Christ, we wait for the shout of the archangel and the blaring of the trumpet, not the scream of a world experiencing the terrors of socialism and the devastation of God's wrath. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 tells us, "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first."

 

I grieve for those believers who remain asleep despite the screaming of the signs all around them. Some receive deceiving messages from pastors who deny the biblical relevance of Israel's modern-day restoration, and they believe the church has replaced Israel or that Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament promises for Israel. Other saints remain caught up in the things of this life and do not notice the telltale signs of a world ready to explode.

 

We know there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). Paul promises that all those who are justified will be glorified (Rom. 8:30). It's an unbroken chain; once God applies Jesus' righteousness to your account (see 2 Cor. 5:21), your salvation is a done deal because, just as in the beginning, its completion does not depend on you. You cannot miss out on the rapture. (See my other post: Will Jesus Leave Us Behind?) If you are truly "in Christ," Jesus will not leave you behind when He returns for us.

 

If that is the case, "what's the big deal about being ready?" you might ask. It matters in terms of urgency. They pray for those unwilling to listen, support ministries and missionaries that proclaim the Gospel, and encourage other believers to remain strong in these perilous last days.

 

In addition, the Bible speaks of a special reward for believers who recognize the time and eagerly wait for Jesus' appearing (2 Tim. 4:8). I believe the Lord will celebrate the faith of those still holding on to His promise of coming to take them back to His Father's house in heaven (John 14:2-3). But ready or not, no true follower of Jesus will remain earthbound when He comes for us. We will all meet Jesus in the air.

 

The hour is exceedingly late; Jesus is coming soon for His church. I believe many who are reading this post will be alive to hear the cry of the archangel and the trumpet of God. This is also the hope of my wife Ruth and me.

 

For the unsuspecting world, sudden destruction will soon follow the rapture (1 Thess. 5:3). Many will come to faith in Jesus during this time of wrath upon the earth (Rev. 7:9-12). The majority of those left behind, however, will persist in their sins, refusing the forgiveness the Savior offers to them (Rev. 9:20-21). Despite screams of terror that they will surely hear at this time, they will persist in their wickedness. Sadly, their agony will continue after death; their shrieks of pain will never end.

 

This is why we pray. This is why we warn others about the urgency of the times in which we live.

 

This is also why we look at the clouds, wondering when we will meet our Savior there along with loved ones who already have gone to be with Him.

 

GOD'S JUDGMENT IS COMING

BY PASTOR MIKE TAYLOR

24 “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:24-27)

There is a central theme found throughout the Bible, and that is God's judgment. It is a single pinpoint of truth that God gives man a certain amount of time to come to repentance of his sinful nature and turn to Him, for when each of us die, we are judged according to whether we have turned to the only Way to receive forgiveness of our sins through Christ Jesus for the propitiation of what we all deserve, and that is death.

JUDGEMENT STARTS AT CREATION

This universe was born as a place of judgment, as the very creation of God was a matter of judgment, and nothing in this universe will escape the judgment of God. Mankind was God's greatest achievement in the construction of our world, when He made him on the sixth day of God's work to form the earth and the heavens that surround us. Even though man is the supreme creation of God, he too, will be judged at the end of time of this age.

Judgement was born out of light. As God saw that light and pronounced it as very good. :

3 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” (Genesis 1:3-5)

Throughout scripture, God used light and darkness as metaphors of good and evil. So it is fitting that He uses light and darkness as the beginning of His judgment.

God, having judged light as to be “very good” God exercised a different kind of judgment to separate the light from darkness by creating the sun, the moon and the stars. If not, then our world would be nothing but shades of gray.

Mankind likes to use these “shades of gray” to explain our moral compromises, our depravity and to color our own failures at morality. Men say that it isn't just “black and white, but the area is a 'gray area” But truth is either black or white, evil or good, there is no such thing as a gray area. It's like there is no such thing as cold, but the absence of heat. There is no such thing as darkness, but the absence of light. And there is no such thing as evil, but the absence of good. Without God, creation would fall into chaos.

As men try to make up their own rules, apart from God's Word, there will come a time when our actions will be judged by the Father of Lights, who sees what is truth and what is a lie. He sees what is good and what is evil. We can't hide anything from God, and when the time appointed as the verse of the opening passage says “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” each man and woman will be judged either in light, or in darkness. Note that each man and woman has an appointed time with something each of us fear, and that is death.

All men will eventually die, and if the Lord tarries, you reading this will also die, just as I will. The time and the event are already pre-determined, and there is no way that any of us can escape it, should our human existence play out, this side of the rapture of the Church.

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Jesus used another metaphor, as the Bible is full of them, but the one I want to focus on now, is the term Jesus used of “Born Again” to describe our salvation process. When the time comes, we are transferred from this life, to the next life into the light of His glorious presence. We will be surrounded by light and it is not perceived as a pleasant experience by all. Why do I say that?

Think of it like this. When we were conceived in our mother's womb, we grew to a full term baby in a secure environment. We were surrounded with everything we needed. Food from our mother through our umbilical cord and warmth of her body surrounding us. Our world is peace and tranquility, until our own comfortable existence is violently shaken. Our world collapses around us and we are expelled out of our comfort zone. We are grabbed with cold, hard steel forceps by our head and yanked out of our world and placed in a cold metal tray, and discover pain as somebody smacks us on our behind and we discover pain for the first time. The blinding light hurts our eyes, only slightly less than the silver nitrate they force into our eyes. We are in a moment of terror, as we were not prepared for what is to follow.

Of course, this in the perspective of the infant we used to be, but having tasted life, the womb would become an unbearable prison if left in that environment. So being “born again” is a perfect metaphor of being transitioned from this life into the next life, that will be eternal.



Each human on this earth, dreads the concept of leaving this life, and to some, not knowing what awaits on the other side of death, it should be doubly disturbing. We, who have accepted Jesus as our personal Savior, know that the life we will live in eternity is incomparable to this life, as it was the life in the womb. But we all fear the end of our mortal life, because this existence is all we know. But we have faith and assurance, that even though we don't know how and what will be shown to us in that eternal state of heavenly bliss, our fleshly bodies of this life, still fights to live as long as it can. But a soon to “born again” believer in Jesus Christ should welcome the day, because we know it will be beyond anything our finite minds can comprehend.

9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1^st Corinthians 2:9-11)

To the unbeliever, who does not know Christ Jesus, the idea of death must be terrifying, as they have only this life in their own deceived minds. Oh, I get the atheist who doesn't believe in heaven, hell, or even a God in heaven, but in the back of their mind, that void they have in their soul that only Jesus can fulfill is trying to find something to fill that void, and in the end, they are left hopelessly lost. So the transition of this life, to the eternal abode they will inhabit in eternity is a transition to nowhere, but to eternal torment. I read an article of a tombstone that was read in a cemetery that stated “Here lies an atheist. All dressed up with no place to go”...course, that is not exactly true, but if they got a glimpse of their destination, they would do everything in their power to avoid it and proclaim Jesus as their Savior. But their pride of mankind finds it hard to submit to a Higher Power.

SIN UNTO SALVATION

The scripture says that judgment comes to all men by appointment. Something they cannot escape. For a follower of Jesus Christ, judgment comes in two parts. Hebrews 9:27 says “AS it is appointed....” but the next verse completes the thought.


Let us look at it in context:
“"And as it is appointed unto men ONCE to die, but after this the judgement, so Christ was ONCE offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Hmmm.. “sin unto salvation” that doesn't sound like the Second Advent of Jesus Christ at the end of the Tribulation, as Jesus will come in judgment with a sharp two-edged sword that proceeds out of His mouth, encompassed by ten thousands of His saints, to judge the earth and destroy the anti-christ, his army and all rebellion, now does it?


Logically, if you sit and meditate on that portion of scripture, it can only refer to Jesus coming for His saints of the Church Age and removing them from this planet in what is commonly referred to as the HARPAZO translated from the Greek, as Rapture. That is the ONLY 'second coming unto salvation' alluded to by Scripture. The dead in Christ are raised from the dead, we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, from mortal to immortal and we all go to meet the Lord in the air.


AND THEN WHAT??


Paul outlines what will happen to all those who meet Jesus in the air, in what is called the Beam Judgment Seat of Christ. As Paul said:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." (2nd Corinthians 5:10)


A lot of people get hung up on Grace VS. Works in many denominations....Catholic are very focused on works found in their traditions, and Jehovah Witness, Seventh Day Adventist, and Mormons to mention a few, are confused about Grace through Faith and cannot distinguish what is required for salvation. As I've pointed out many times, works are a by-product of our salvation. We do good for the Kingdom of God, because we Love Jesus, love our ABBA Father....and our works are a sign of our salvation, not the production of salvation. Don't be misled by those who preach a works based salvation, as there is NOTHING you and I can do to earn that gift, that grace, that mercy given freely by God because of our repentance and our faith in the finished work Jesus paid on the “old rugged cross”.


 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Note one proceeds the other....mercy, faith through grace proceeds our good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do...Grace =works, not works= salvation. The latter is the cart before the horse, so to speak.


But getting back to our judgment standing before our Lord Jesus Christ. Each of us will give an account of what we have done for Jesus. This is where our works are relevant:


10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1^st Corinthians 3:10-15)

This is the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ, so called because this is not a judgment of either being saved or damned, but a rewards ceremony of works done in the Name of Jesus Christ and for His Kingdom. Whether we are saved or not, is judged on this earth, as it takes place now. As we are being judged now. The Church will be found in His righteousness, because they have repented of their sins, embraced Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives, and have fought everyday to live for Christ, even though imperfectly, they are being sanctified for this moment. Note those who work for the Lord God will receive rewards, but what of the man who is saved, but doesn't do anything to receive a reward? The verse says “but HE himself, shall be saved; yet so as by fire”....some translate it as “though through the fire”....the only thing that saved the man (or woman) is Christ Jesus who paid for their sins with His own blood...they received salvation by faith, but that's all they did...but in itself, it is enough for salvation, just being with Jesus is reward enough, but for those who have worked for Him, He will make rulers of nations in the Millennium.



As a Christian believer that is being judged on earth now, you are securely saved as if you were already in heaven standing before our Savior. If you are lost, it is not the case that you WILL be lost. Because you are LOST NOW.



The point is, it has nothing to do with being “good or bad”. It has to do with believing in one's own “righteousness and the ability to save yourself” (Which you can't) or trusting in the righteousness of Jesus Christ to clothe you with His righteousness and that not of your own.



(for those who are scratching their head and wondering what this means, let me make it simple for you. If you are trusting in being good to get to heaven, you aren't going there) Work based religions, take note.
That is what the “second coming unto salvation refers to” . . . the gathering of the saints to the Bema Seat for judgment.



This is another reason why the Bible supports a pre-tribulation Rapture. The Bema Seat judgment MUST take place AFTER the Rapture. We cannot be judged for our lives when they end. The influence of a man's life lives on after him.



How could the lives of the Apostle John, John the Baptist, or even Paul and the other apostles be adequately judged for their rewards in the first century, when their lives ended? The influence of their lives are still being calculated of how they affected the Church as a whole to receive just rewards. That is also why the Great White Throne Judgment is reserved until the final hours of time known to mankind, before the new heavens and new earth.



THE GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT & SECOND CHANCE?

But let me touch on something that some, I believe teach erroneously at this time. I have read and listened to ministers who promote the idea of a “second chance” for salvation at the 2^nd resurrection of those who have died without Christ, or have never had a chance to make a decision for Christ...that would include those in the Dark Ages that didn't have a bible, or a hidden tribe of Africans, or South Americans who are so backward in their life, they never heard of the name “Jesus”....what is God to do with them? God is sovereign, and I'm not going to speculate what God has plans for those who did not hear of His Son, BUT the point is there is a belief that God gives a second chance to these individuals...they base this on TWO verses found in Revelation....

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. (Revelation 20:12-13)

The belief goes something like this...those who are judged out of the books at the Great White Throne are given time to know Christ, to come to repentance, before sentencing is passed...that is what I call a “second chance” at salvation . Does the Bible support such a belief? No, I find nowhere the lost who reject Jesus Christ, and even those who have never heard His Name, being given a “second chance”...

Now I'm not God and God is sovereign, but according to His Word and the opening verses.... “men die ONCE, then after this the judgment”. Reading the verses in Revelation gives me a picture of judgment and those whose name are NOT found in the Book of Life are cast into the Lake of Fire along with the Anti-Christ and the False Prophet who are already there. Satan will be cast along with his demons at their appointed time.... but from what I read, there is NO SECOND chance, as anyone in their right mind, would believe in Jesus as the Son of God, given the choice of a literal hell, or heaven...No, my friend, if you are looking for a second chance, you play Russian Roulette with your soul. Best to make a decision for Christ Jesus now, while the invitation is open.

To me, that gives those who don't witness to others, that those who are saved are predetermined to be saved or lost and there is nothing anybody can do about it.....That belief is on the same level as TULIP of Calvinism, which is not scriptural. Men are being judged in this life now...best to get on board of the ark of salvation, known as Jesus Christ .

LET US SUMMARIZE, THE QUICK AND THE DEAD

There are two distinct judgement of those who die, either in Christ Jesus at the Bema Seat of Christ, or those who die without payment for their sins to be found at the Great White Throne Judgment of God Almighty.
Paul writes to Timothy.

“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.” (2^nd Timothy 4:1-2)

Can you see the two judgements here? One is for the “quick” the other is for the “dead”. One takes place at His appearing and the other takes place at “His Kingdom”. The Quick are the saved. The dead are the lost. The Quick are judged at the Bema Seat, and the dead are judged at the Great White Throne Judgment.

5” But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:5-6).

This is the end of the 1^st Resurrection, as Jesus was the beginning of that resurrection, and those raised to life now are part of that resurrection....Those who are lost are left dead for a 1000 years, until final judgment which is the second resurrection of the damned.. Those raised to receive final judgment will be changed to immortal, but cast into the lake of Fire to be tormented for all eternity.

Those who are saved will have rewards handed out to them, in the form of crowns. Those saved will receive a special crown of righteousness reserved on that day:

8 “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” (2^nd Timothy 4:8)

I've mentioned there are numerous crowns of those who work for the Lord, but we will not list each and every one here, as I've covered that in past messages about those crowns for them that overcome this world, through Jesus Christ.



Here's two points I want you to see, in closing this message out. As reading about the 24 elders, the second we remove the doctrine of the rapture from the narrative, it becomes too complicated and doesn't make any sense. The sequence falls apart and other scriptures don't support that narrative, but conflicts with them.
Also, absent from Eternal Security in Christ Jesus, what does 1^st Corinthians 3:15 that we just got through referencing above (“yet he himself shall be saved as through the fire”) mean? If you discount both doctrines, then the Bible gets way too complicated for a non-believer to figure out. Absent the pre-Trib Rapture, the judgment of the "quick at His appearing" (2nd Timothy 4:8) doesn't make much sense either.
Which means you have to come up with a whole new timeline for events, or else make everything symbolic, and allegorize away the one that already exist...Which gives rise to the question “Then why give one?” Because the Scriptures most assurely do give a timeline of events.

One final point, if Jesus comes back to raise those in the light of Jesus to life immortal and destroys all rebellion on earth, as there is no in between, then who goes into the Millennium as mortals at the end of the Tribulations??...as I've mentioned before, there is no one left to be mortal to repopulate the earth...I've said it before and I figured it was worth mentioning once again..



THE FOCUS IS JUDGEMENT OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS



The focus of this message is on judgment, which separates light from darkness, separates the wheat from the tares, the saved from the lost, and the Church from the judgment that is due upon those who dwell upon the earth.

“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.
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:10-11)



If you read through the Bible, especially Revelation, there is a sequence of events that the rest of the Bible supports. First comes the “catching away of the Church” when Jesus steps out of eternity into our time and causes all who believe in Him, will be “born Again” into immortal bodies for all eternity. And Trumpets with His voice “come up hither”. Swiftly, we are taken to a great banquet, which is the Marriage supper of the Lamb and our joining with our Savior into the family of God. It is what the saints will be doing preceding and encompassing the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation. That is the type of judgment that began the bible in Genesis 1:4-- God creates the light, judges the light, separates the light from darkeness...or in this case, good from evil.

ON the earth, the four horse of the apocalypse ride to begin the wrath of God whereas the men of earth cry for the rocks of the cliffs to hide them.

“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;
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:
For the great day of His wrath has come, and who will be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)

WE are the light, clothed with the righteousness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, but on the earth, judgment has come upon the darkness and the sequence of events grow more and more destructive as you read. Everything you read is nothing but heartache, misery, and death in these chapters depicting this hour of God's fierce judgment where He pours out His wrath from the cup of His indignation in its full strength.



Then we see the return of our Lord Jesus Christ in Chp. 19 of this prophetic book and the saints riding upon horses, clothes with linen, “white and clean”, as sign of the saints. Darkness is finally judged in this hour and the destruction is complete. All rebellion on this earth is extinguished. Men who survived the onslaught of the Anti-Christ and escaped, most like as Chp. 12 of the book reveals, to a place of safety to be nourished for 1260 days.

“ And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.” (Revelation 12:6)

...as we have studied in the past, this woman is Israel, and those who believe the prophesies and escape, most likely as in 70AD to the Jordanian desert and the rock fortress of Petra.

Then straight away, after judgment is passed on the darkness of this world, the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ in the Millennium begins, and the world is made as it was in the time of the Garden of Eden...PERFECT.

To be otherwise in the timeline, would require those who disbelieve to twist the scriptures into a pretzel to make their preconceived notions fit to some degree. If the timeline is any other translation or interpretation, the true meaning of what Paul wrote in 1^st Thessalonians 4:18 would have no meaning. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words”..because there would be no comfort and ..it would come from some other unfortunate mistranslation.



Do not doubt, my friend, judgment is coming on this universe, this planet, and mankind that inhabits the nations. The whole point of this message is where will you be when judgment finally comes in wave after wave? Will you be standing before Christ Jesus for rewards, or standing before the Great White Throne to receive your death penalty? Will you still be in darkness, or in the light of God? Will you experience joy and happiness that no one can express till it happens, or will you be in anguish, and in torment where the fire is never quenched and the worm dieth not? My plea to those who read this message ...LOOK TO JESUS...the Author and Finisher of our faith....believe, and thou shalt be saved from darkness.

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)

23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through

the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:23-25

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.” (Romans 10:8-10)

Make that decision today for Jesus Christ and be numbered of those in the light, and not in the darkness....because “judgment is coming”.

This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying for the salvation of your soul. If you have need for prayer, counseling, or just listening ear, email me at “pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, ...”  God bless you all..

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET