Thursday, November 25, 2021

CHURCH OF LAODECIA, END TIME-LUKE-WARM CHURCH

 


By Pastor Mike Taylor

“ But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;

46, The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47, And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” (Luke 12:45-47)


Since the turn of the millennium, the world has witnessed a virtual meltdown of biblical Christianity. While many are saying Christianity is experiencing a great revival and even a “new reformation,” this could be further from the truth, as I will attempt to explore in this message.

In one word, Christianity is being “redefined”. Scores of pastors have chosen to abandon the Bible in favor of postmodernism (that is, what they view as progressive and culturally relevant). There is no other way to describe what has happened. Those who love God and believe the Bible is His Word cannot believe what has happened. Light has turned into darkness. What was once believed to be true is now proclaimed to be a lie. Those who once claimed to be followers of Jesus and the Bible are now following men and their philosophies.

I had a sister in Christ write me and ask me when the latter day rain of the Holy Spirit will be coming. There are many in the main stream religions that preach an increase in Christianity to such an extent that the world will be getting better and better, so much that we will transform the world into the Kingdom of God, but without the King present. Sadly, I had to correct her and let her know that the revival that she speaks of is of the Kingdom Now, or Dominionism and supported by Preterist that believe Bible prophesy has all been fulfilled. Her awaiting a great revival will not come until the Church of the Living God is forcefully removed from this planet. Then the spread of the Gospel will be spread to the whole world on the efforts of the 144,000 evangelist from the 12 tribes of Israel. Millions will be saved and millions will die for their faith. This is the only revival this world will see and it begins in the Tribulation. They that embrace a Kingdom Now theology await the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ, but in the meantime, they seek a Utopian world view that proclaims the strength and power of the Church and men, and not the Lord of Glory. We will usher in, according to their heresy, the Kingdom of God on our own efforts. Not God's, but theirs. Then and only then in their minds, will Jesus come to set up His kingdom. Is that true? Does the Bible support such a belief, or has the modern day churches gone completely mad?

THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR FIRST LOVE!

Rather than reaching out to the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ, pastors and Bible teachers are abandoning the Bible in order to embrace the world. They look for ways to market what they call Christianity by incorporating sensual gimmicks that are supposed to attract the masses. Hymn books are tossed out of churches from the pews. Pews have been replaced by soft theater seats with credit card terminals. Being comfortable while attending church is the standard. Don’t mention sin or that Jesus shed His blood on the Cross because that would be offensive. The apostle Paul warned of such a time that we now live in, and sadly, this world is not going to get better, it's going to get progressively worse.


“Know this also, that in 
the last days perilous times shall come;

2, For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, braggarts, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

    3. Without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, despisers of those who are good,

    4, Betrayers, reckless, egotistical, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;

    5, Having an outward appearance of godliness, but denying the power of 
    true godliness. But as for you, turn away from all these.” (II Timothy 3:1-5)

I could ask: What happened to the God of the Bible who created all things according to the book of Genesis? When did creation become a religious Babylonian myth and the theory of evolution become the science that proves that an explosion plus time and chance is the formula for the origin of all life?

It appears that science has replaced The God of the Bible, as men look to logic and reasoning that leaves our Creator alienated in their lives and this has spread to even “Protestant churches”, especially to the Emergent Churches that have attempted to redefine Biblical Christianity. They have left their first love and preach a New Age theology that is anathema to Biblical Christianity. There are many symptoms of this heresy in today's churches.

Have we been Hindu'ed and now think that Yoga is a Christian exercise? Or what about getting closer to Jesus by humming mantras, “getting centered,” or practicing eastern mystical contemplative prayers that will send you off to Nirvana? Have Christians lost their minds and been seduced by demons?

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2, Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3,  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” (1st Timothy 4:1-3)


I could point to the madness that fills “Charismatic” Churches that promote emotional experiences that leaves one in doubt about their origins. Are they of God, or the human's emotional attempt to redefine what is of God and what is not of God?

For example, what about getting drunk in the “Spirit” or barking like a dog because of the “transferrable anointing”? Where is that kind of behavior found in Scriptures? Are Christians being prepared for a great revival, or are they being seduced by another spirit?

Then there is the trend that embraces “ecumenical madness.” The term Protestant is thrown to the ash heap of history, as many say that the term has no relevance to the “modern” churches of today. Church leaders claim there is no difference between the Pentecostal Jesus and the Eucharistic Christ worshiped and adored in a Roman Catholic monstrance. Or for many today, Jesus is nothing more than the Cosmic Christ that sees all is one and one is all. This “Jesus” is the universal Jesus of the New Age. If you don’t believe in this “Cosmic Christ” created by your own imagination, you are often deemed a heretic or at least old-fashioned.

I am appalled when I see Charismatic churches led by the likes of Kenneth Copeland, or Kenneth Hagin that promote returning to the “mother church”. I saw a video where the present Roman Catholic pope was speaking to the churches led by the fore mentioned ministers. They propose coming home to the “one true church” of course the Roman Catholic Church and all it's history of evil and extra biblical practices.

Theirs is the bridge that provides a connection for the gap that once existed between Roman Catholics and the separated brethren. Some are calling for the Second Pentecost claiming that the world will turn to Christ and establish the Kingdom of God here on earth without the presence of the King. But that is not what the apostle Paul when warning about the signs of His coming and the Day of the Lord:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first (apostasy or rapture), and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4).

In this passage, the term apostasy or the falling away has a dual meaning, either departing from the truth of scripture, or the removal of the church from point A to point B. The “falling away” (Greek 
apostasia) has commonly been transliterated as “the apostasy” (the definite article in the Greek indicates Paul had already told them about it), and then assumed to apply to the final great religious apostasy at the end of the age. The context, however, as well as the etymology of the word itself, makes this interpretation unlikely. In this precise form it is used nowhere else in the New Testament, so its meaning must be defined by its context here. It is derived from two Greek words, apo(meaning “away from”) and stasis (meaning “standing”). It thus could properly be rendered “standing away” instead of “falling away.” I believe it is a term that means both. One will precede another. A falling away from Biblical truth and then the snatching away of the Bride of Christ before the Tribulation begins and the Anti-Christ revealed. This is a direct reference to the removal of God's Church as the revealing of Jesus in the clouds to gather His Bride before the Tribulation starts.


IS THE CHURCH IMPROVING, OR IMPLODING?

Look around my reader. Has the church gotten better, or has true Christianity fallen from the faith once delivered by the apostles? Has the church grown in grace and in truth, or has the “Purpose Driven Church” replaced grace and faith found in our Lord Jesus Christ with a counterfeit and false doctrine?

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2nd Peter 2:20-21)


ISRAEL, THE KEY TO END TIME PROPHECY

The cardinal sign of the end of this age is Israel no longer has a significant place in Scripture to those who are in error. Jews are a problem to the new emerging church. Replacement theology has ignored the Israel of the Bible and replaced God’s chosen people with the church that is about to establish the kingdom of God here on earth. In other words, Christianity has been reformed and those who refuse to accept this are considered uneducated morons (and are standing in the way of world peace). By extension they unwittingly, or with cunning, make way for the coming One World Religion and it's false prophet to be the anti-thesis of John the Baptist and making way for the appearing of the Anti-Christ. I have preached that there is only one man on earth who can lead the world to a false religion that draws it's power from Satan. I don't believe I need to identify his office, as details presented will point to the man. Denominations such as Lutheran and Presbyterian, and the United Methodist, just to name a few, have joined the Roman Catholic Church who have always been Jew-haters and persecuted them relentlessly, calling them “Christ killers”....not understanding that we ALL had a hand in the death of Christ, as Jesus died for all sinners, of “whom I am chief” according the Paul the Apostle:

14“And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
15, This 
is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” (!st Timothy 1:14:15)


Those who are offended by Israel, encourage their anti-semitism by such programs as “Christ at the Checkpoint”, or “Boycott, Divest and Sanction” of Israel. This travesty of justice and Biblical heresy known as BDS is a global campaign attempting to increase economic and political pressure on Israel to comply with the stated goals of the movement: the end of Israel's occupation and colonization of Palestinian land and the Golan Heights, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and respect for the right of return of Palestinian refugees.


They abandon the clear teachings of the Bible, that God is not done with Israel, but only set her aside, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in, then all Israel will be saved. They attempt to jab a stick into the eye of a Holy God, who proclaims Israel “the apple of His eye”. Thus it is a sign of the end of the age and the apostasy that grows within the ranks of modern day followers of the heresy that has been promoted by none other than the Roman Catholic church for nigh 1700+ years and especially in the hey day of her power to rule the people of Europe.

“ I will bless those who bless thee, and curse him who curseth thee, and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. (Zechariah 2:8) (speaking of Israel, my explanation)

Those who curse Israel, whether they be atheist, agnostic, humanist, or even the Roman Catholic Church and her deceived daughters in the Protestant Churches, mess with fire and judgment that will discipline them in justice and in truth and receive judgment and many stripes from a Living God that holds Israel beloved. It is not for only the sake of the fathers, but for His Holy Name, that does not go back on His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.


BIBLE PROPHESY IS IRRELEVANT IN THEIR VIEW

Bible prophecy and the warnings about apostasy are totally relegated to a museum. A one-world religion for peace is in the making, and the Pope and the environment is the man to do it. The postmodern mindset has hijacked true biblical Christianity and made God into a god of their own imagination. The Word of God has been degraded into a myth.

The focus of modern day churches is about growth, money and power. They have taken their lessons from the “mother church” and embraced apostasy.

Have you noticed the church-growth emphasis that has swept the world and confirms what I speak of? Purpose-driven megachurches that market fun and entertainment are growing exponentially. The churches that stress the Bible and salvation by Jesus Christ alone are dying and on the way out. The big get bigger and the small are getting smaller. It appears that Bible-believing Christianity is on the verge of becoming next to extinct.


 RISE OF A ONE WORLD CHURCH-GROWTH

I have spoken of this coming one world church that begins with “climate change” and the U.N. Charter that promotes Sustainable Development. The goal is to make the world equal in resource, wealth and equality in all aspects of human endeavors. But the real goal of this to dominate the earth in a New World Order that enslaves men to the elites who seek to depopulate the earth to a sustainable level. People may not understand their sinister goals yet, and may never this side of the Tribulation. But to sustain the planet and the worship of “mother earth”, they propose a population of 500 million. That would do away with over 6 billion people in a world wide extermination effort. It may have already begun in third world countries such as Africa, where vaccines have led to sterilization and even death of the young, as well as the old and in their minds, the useless. It may be happening here with this 'COVID VACCINE' that is killing more people than the virus does.



Take warning reader, when this comes to pass and if you are so unfortunate to see this take hold of the world, then you may have just missed the most important event that man has ever witnessed, 2nd only to the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus and that is the beginning of the Tribulation and the Church changed in the twinkling of an eye.

“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53, For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54, So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1st Corinthians 15:51-54)


This is what I believe the church will experience. Note the last word in verse 54? The word is “victory”. That is what Jesus Christ will give His Bride. Victory over death, hell and the grave. We will be transported to a “marriage feast” of the Lamb of God. It is not about “escape” as some detractors from the doctrine of the rapture of the Church proclaim, but ultimate victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

10“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11, Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:10-11)


WARNING TO ALL MINISTERS WHO PREACH

Have you stopped preaching the doctrines of the bible in favor a user friendly version that doesn't offend those who attend your church? Do you preach Jesus and Him crucified? Do you preach His resurrection and base your ministry on nothing but Jesus death and resurrection? Do you stay away from anything that speaks of sin and the separation of men from God, known as the Lake of Fire?

Biblical Christianity is not a feel good religion. It does not tickle your ears..it warns those who are lost in their sins.

3“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4, And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2nd Timothy 4:3-4)


Each of us are watchmen on the wall. If you stand behind a pulpit or preach to a congregation in whatever media you use, you have a responsibility to warn those who are in danger of hell fire and all that it represents. God does not send anyone to hell, as it is a decision that each of us must make, but the Word of God must start with men and women who are commissioned by God to take the Word of Truth to those who are in their sins.

6"If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned at the bottom of the sea.
7, How terrible it will be for the world because it causes people to sin! Temptations to sin are bound to happen, but how terrible it will be for that person who causes someone to sin!” (Matthew 18:6-7) (International Standard Version)


“"When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman,

    3, when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people,

    4, then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his 
    own head.

    5, He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life.

    6, But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes 
    any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman"s hand." (Ezekiel 33:2-6)

These verses could be applied to those who are in danger of enemy forces, and those who are in danger of hell and separation from God without  hope of any reprieve. Satan is our enemy and only Jesus is our salvation from the penalty of sin.

Whether a minister believes he is a watchman or not, he is commissioned by God to spread the Gospel to the lost. He is to preach the penalty of sin. He is to abandon a feel good “gospel”, prosperity gospel, or a social speech of humanism and being just a “good citizen”. This won't save anyone. It will not warn those who are walking the wide road and gate to destruction, but will only placate them that they are OK...they are not OK, as they do not have Jesus in their hearts. It is a minister's job to take the message of salvation to his congregation, his community and the rest of the world. 


14“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 
15, And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:14-15)

Each of us who proclaim the Gospel, have a duty to God to speak the truth of God's Word..not pulling any punches when God speaks that without Jesus Christ, you will die in your sins!
 
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.” (Hebrews 12:24-29)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the world is dying and is drowning in sin. It is the job of the church, and it's ministers to throw the world a life-line. His Name is Jesus Christ. To avoid offending your congregation with sermons dealing with sin, death, hell, and victory through the atoning blood of Jesus the Messiah, is a dereliction of our calling by who we ultimately serve, God our Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ. 


1“I charge 
you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 
2, preach the word! Be ready in season 
and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 
3, For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, 
because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 
4,  and they will turn 
their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 
5, But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry.” (2nd Timothy 4:1-5)

I beseech you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, preach the Word, and don't be found guilty of providing fables for itching ears. God will judge.


“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)

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

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)


This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God will provide someone to teach you the grace of God through Jesus Christ out Lord. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com
, or visit me online at www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com.  God bless you all, 

                            
TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.


Monday, November 15, 2021

DANIEL AND REVELATION REVEALS THE COMING FALSE PROPHET AND ANTI-CHRIST, PART 2

 



by Pastor Mike Taylor


43, “And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
44, And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. “ (Daniel 2:43-44)

11,“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12, Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
13, But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. “ (Daniel 12:11-13)

5,“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6, And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
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 17:5-8)

This is part 2 of a series dealing what is coming upon the earth in the form of the false prophet supporting the coming Anti-Christ. A class of people may not approve of the message, but history shows what has been and what will be according to your Bible...Daniel and Revelation prophesy what is written.


As we studied the end of Daniel's book in chapter 10-12 in our last message, we explored the possible rise again of the “Holy” Roman Empire after it's defeat in 1798 and the Pope was imprisoned coinciding with the Catholic Church's influence over the whole earth dwindled and she changed her leopard spots and instead of a wolf, began to project the image of being harmless as a lamb. But times are changing in these final days of man's rule upon the earth and I believe the connection between Daniel and Revelation points to a resurgence of the political power wielded by Rome during the Dark Ages. Remember me speaking of the Catholic church has asked all religions to return to the "mother church"? They have been pushing to unite all religions...taking the 1st and 2nd most populated religion called Chrislam...Now I read where this has happened in Abu Dhabi on the Arabian peninsula and has buildings for Islam, Judaism and apostate Catholicism..each believe that they worship the same God...they do not. Allah is in my personal opinion a re-invention of demonic power...maybe even Satan himself. This is JUST the beginning of bringing to pass, a one world religion. See it here...


Mosque, Synagogue and Church Being Built Together in Abu Dhabi (newsweek.com)

DANIEL'S INTERPRETATION REVISITED


In Daniel chapter 2, Daniel is given the interpretation of King Nebachadnezzer's dream of a golden idol and the true God in heaven reveals the kingdoms that will arise after Mystery Babylon is replaced as the world power. Then at the end of the book, Gabriel the ark angel reveals the future of these kingdoms, their rise and their fall. Daniel was astonished and said:


“ And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.“ (Daniel 12:8-10).

It was not for Daniel to know, as the future was forward some 500+ years before part of the vision was fulfilled, but another 2000 years to come to our time...our time of the end, when the prophecy is set to be completed.


The two books of prophecy in Daniel and Revelation have given many scholars trouble understanding and the average Joe on the street steers clear of prophecy to his detriment, as “ the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of the prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10b)


Let us now examine certain aspects of Daniel and the book of Revelation to show how they are forever connected with one another, as they speak of the same events in different ways.

In Daniel 2:43, the Word of God says that the seed of men will mingle:

“And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.”


The great obscurity of this verse is partially cleared by a reference to 
Jeremiah 31:27-28:


27 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.

28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord.”


To my understanding, this is the political power that governs the world being mingled with “apostate religions” that I have coined the title “Chrislam” or the joining of all religions into a one world religion, with Islam and apostate Christianity at its center. They will be loosely connected for nothing else but political and religious power upon the earth.



Daniel appears to be contrasting what man is endeavouring to accomplish by his own efforts with that which the God of heaven will carry out :

44 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”(Daniel 2:44)


IN the past, man has formed his plans for uniting the discordant parts of this empire, by encouraging marriages between the royal families that rule the various component kingdoms. The allusion in this verse is to matrimonial alliances contracted between the Ptolemies and the Seleucidae :


6 “And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement: but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand, nor his arm: but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.” And in another chapter in Daniel:

17 “He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him”. (Daniel 11:6Daniel 11:17),


This did not, however, succeed in producing permanent harmony or union between them. Each kingdom fell until the Roman Empire became the strongest, “like iron that breaks” until they imploded from within and the kingdom was given over to Papal rule instead of pagan rule, which is a contradiction in terms, as both were just the flip side of the same coin. We discussed this in our last message, but let us move on when the truth is revealed in Revelation when it was obscure in Daniel's time.

REVELATION, REVEALING PROPHECY IN JESUS CHRIST



The testimony of Christ, a testimony of the most solemn character, is to be borne to the world. All through the book of Revelation there are the most precious, elevating promises, and there are also warnings of the most fearfully solemn import. Will not those who profess to have a knowledge of the truth read the testimony given to John by Christ? Here there is no guesswork, no scientific deception. Here are the truths that concern our present and future welfare.

 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 
3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:1-3)


Beginning with chapter 1 of Revelation with the description of the One who stood among the seven golden candle sticks, with seven stars in His hand that represented the seven Asian Churches at the time, and the future which represents the time period of the Christian Church until the return of Christ. Thus there are three applications that can be made.

-The first is the literal letter to the literal Church

    -the second is the application showing the time period of the Christian Church until the return of Christ,

    -and lastly certain aspects we find in these messages apply to the condition of our own Christian experience. 

    This is a vision that was given to John by Jesus Christ Himself, as He spoke to John as the sound of a trumpet. Each successive period of church history shows that down through the ages, the church of Jesus Christ has had 7 periods in church history that Jesus reveals to John with the last being the church of the end times, the Laodecian Church of luke warm believers that have fallen into apostasy and will be cast headlong into the Tribulation.


    COME UP HITHER

    The book of Revelation makes a defined shift after chapter 3 leading into chapter 4, as John is called by the sound of trumpet calling:

      “
    After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show you things which must be hereafter.
    2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 
    3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.” (Revelation 4:1-3)


    This is a different vision given to John and they run concurrently, as God reveals the opening of the 7 seals of judgment upon the earth. Notice one of the first thing John sees after the description of “One who sat upon the throne” is 24 elders sitting on their respective thrones. Many people have tried to imply and to interpret who these elders are. First let us look at their descriptions:

     “
    And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.” (Revelation 4:4)

     Note that they are clothed in white raiment which stands for righteousness which is defined in chp. 19 of Revelation in describing the bride of Christ, and the armies who come back with Jesus to reign and rule. So they are clothed with the righteousness of Christ and a crown of victory. They have been in warfare with sin and overcome. (sin is only upon this earth) They are seen in heaven before the sequence of the seals begins and have been redeemed from among men. They have crowns of gold on their heads, which represents rewards for service. This is none other than the crown of life or crown of righteousness that the Lord gives to those that have endured temptation and have fought the good fight of faith, finishing their course and have overcome. 

  • Since they can't be angels, as angels are in service to those of the redeemed, the Church, then the vision shows redeemed mortal men saved by the blood of the Lamb. They have received rewards, they are seated, as they have received victory over their struggles with evil. The rewards of service to God Almighty comes only in one time period..the Bema Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards for things done for Christ in this life. They are a multiple of the number 12, as the number 12 is the divine sign of government. The only explanation is that this is the Church, redeemed from the earth and taken to heaven just before the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth.

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.”(1st Corinthians 3:10-15)

Another false doctrine spewed by the Gnostic Church of the dark ages, was this passage spoke of “purgatory”, which was nothing but a scam to gather riches in giving out prayers of indulgences to “so-called” pray these folks out of torments for minimal sins, (Venial Sins). This is what Paul spoke of as a reward ceremony for work done for the Kingdom of God and built upon the solid Rock, which is the foundation of the church, Jesus Christ. All work done for ourselves, will be burned up, BUT those done for Christ that have produced results will command a reward for service....even if a man's or woman's works are all burned up, save Jesus Christ in his heart, as a deposit of future glorification, he will received a reward of righteousness, and eternal life, even passing through the fire of revealing what sort of work it is.

But I point to a passage that says those who have that deposit of God's Holy Spirit will NOT be subject to what is coming upon the earth.


Remember what Jesus said in chapter 3 of this book:

“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)

  • The original Greek tells us that Jesus is saying we will be taken out of this time period, not through as some erroneously believe. Because the phrase “will keep thee from, is the Greek word 'EK” which I have preached many times, which literally means “to be taken out by force from the time and place of the event” What event is Jesus speaking of...yes, the coming Tribulation that will engulf the whole world.

  • Then in Chapter 6 of this Revelation, it is reveals the plagues that come upon the earth, starting with the four horseman of the Apocalypse.

    As Daniel saw in vision the rise of a great beast out of the sea and described in terrible ferocity, so too does Revelation speak of this beast that comes, but first God describes him as a rider on a white horse, with a bow in his hands.

    And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:2)

    The man has a bow, but no arrows. He rides a white horse, which is a false sign of purity and righteousness. He goes to conquer, but with words of flattery, words of deceit, and political power given to him by other nations as their supreme leader. He has a crown, but unlike the King of kings, his crown is a crown of conquest and victory, much like the victor's crown of leaves given to Roman athletes in the Colosseum.

    We are reintroduced to this man, which is described as a beast power, ridden and controlled by a “harlot woman” in chapter 17 noted in the opening verses of this message:

    6, “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
    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 17:5-8)


I've spoken of this in past messages, that the woman is a harlot. In scripture, the sign of a harlot woman is a sign of a religious organization that has prostituted itself to false gods, and doctrines of demons and devils. Greek 
porne - Meaning “prostitute,” “harlot.” Porne probably goes back to a word meaning “to sell” or “to export for sale” such things as slaves. In Greece prostitutes were usually purchased slaves. The Old Testament prophets often compare apostate Israel, which repeatedly went “a whoring” after heathen gods, (Ezekiel 23:30; Isaiah 23:17; Ezekiel 16:15) with an adulterous woman. Concerning mystical Babylon as a harlot (Revelation 19:2) For Old Testament passages whose thought or wording is similar to that of chapter 17, see Isaiah 47:1; Jeremiah 25:12; 50:1; Ezekiel 26:13.

She has slain millions upon million of the innocent down through the ages and is drunk with their blood.

She has a sign of her habitation of sitteth upon many waters. Exercising power over many “peoples” and “nations.” (see verse 15) The form of the verb in Greek presents the “great whore” as in power at the time and as continuing to exercise power. As the ancient city of Babylon was situated upon the literal waters of the Euphrates (see Jeremiah 50:12, 38) and dwelt figuratively “upon many waters” or peoples, (Jeremiah 51:12-13; cf. Isaiah 8:7-8; 14:6; Jeremiah 50:23) so modern Babylon is represented as sitting upon or oppressing the peoples of earth.


12 “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.(Revelation 16:12-15)

This whore in but a metamorphosis of ancient Babylon who received power from the imploding Roman Empire and instead of Caesar became the leader of a pagan religion. But look again at the end of verse 8 of the above passage in chapter 17: “the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”


Who have we revealed as the persecutor and tormentor of millions of non-compliant Christians and Jews throughout the Dark Ages? Who has robes of scarlet and purple, pearls and costly jewels? Who was defeated in 1798 by France and “that was, and is not, yet is” ?

There is only one institution that fulfills every aspect of this description that seeks a return of her former glory and sadly, my Catholic friends, it is the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy headed by the Pope of Rome. I take no pleasure in warning of this “religion”,but even as much as I would warn of Islam and it's “religion”, because people follow a creation, and institution, a man-made parallel to worshiping God in vain and both, if a person is not careful, will lead those people to hell. Both proclaim a different way to God instead of the true way through Jesus Christ. This present “Pope” has clearly stated that there are alternative ways to heaven. “Just be good” is what he says giving a pass to atheist (denying that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life) or not taking a stand on Romans 1 that God calls homosexuality an abomination, but says “who am I to judge?” He even gives a pass to Muslims who “worship” a false god saying “we all worship the same God” (NO, we do not), and any other aberration to the Truth of God's Word. Thus the head of this “religion” denies that Jesus is the Only Way back to God the Father.

Jesus calls this institution, “a beast” which represents kingdoms or political powers. (Daniel 7:3-7, 17; 8:3, 5, 20-21; cf. Revelation 12:3; 13:1) The color of this beast no doubt representing a sinful kingdom, not just sinful but one that thought to change the law of God.

25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints (Tribulation saints, my explanation) of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.” (Daniel 7:25)


The names of blasphemy with which it is covered indicate that it stands in opposition to God. Accordingly, the beast itself may be identified as Satan working through those political agencies in all ages that have submitted to her control.

In certain respects this beast resembles the great red dragon of Revelation 12:3, and in others the leopard like beast of Revelation 13:1-2 . The context makes the latter relationship appear to be closer. The chief difference between the beast of chapter 13 and that of chapter 17 is that in the former, which is identified with the papacy, no distinction is made between the religious and the political aspects of Papal power, whereas in the latter the two are distinct. The beast representing political power and the woman a religious power.


ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT AND ONE WORLD RELIGION


I have covered this before, but for this message, I will briefly touch on it again. The United Nations coupled with the USA and the rest of the world are pushing for a complete and total control of every aspect of human life and endeavor by the year 2030. Agenda 21 introduced in the 1990's has morphed into 'SUBSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT” and their aim is a one world government. Stage right, the pope in Rome advocating the implementation of this nefarious scheme for complete control of planet earth. And it is reported that he has commanded that this be taught in every parish that he controls through his priest. Some will scoff, but coupled with the foolish notion of “climate change” the earth dwellers are being primed for tyranny and a one world government. What better way to unite the world, than to unite them in the same religious authority. “Which was, and is not, but is” and will rise again. She has inherited and proclaimed the abominations of ancient Babylon:

  1. Seduction. By seducing the kings of the earth into illicit union with her, in order to further her own sinister designs.

  2. Oppressive despotism. By sitting upon “many waters” and oppressing the people of earth. '

  3. Contributing to human delinquency. By making the people of earth except for the saints, drunk with the wine of her political policy thus causing them to become her accomplices in her evil plot. By her fornication, she “did corrupt the earth” (Revelation 19:2)

  4. Drunkeness. By being “drunken with the blood of the saints, who had offended her by refusing to drink of her evil potion of error or to submit to her ambition to rule the earth.

  5. Murder and attempted murder. By plotting the murder of God's people, the “woman” of chapter 12. This political/religious organization has been anti-semitic from her inception and has attempted to destroy the Jewish nation, even through Nazi Germany of which she was in bed with.



Note in the verses, that she rides the beast and controls him though from the beast perspective, reluctantly. She guides it's policy. The beast representing political power and the “harlot woman” the spiritual power of the last days found in the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation. But who controls this beast of Revelation...the Catholic church is but a tool of the supreme deceiver who will arise out of the bottomless pit. But when the “beast” is done with the uniting the known world through apostate religion, he, the Anti-Christ, will destroy her....why? Because the Anti-Christ which is possessed of Satan will both desire worship, as Satan has from the time of his fall from heaven when pride entered into him and he became corrupted.

When the beast exists again as “the eighth,” “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.” Remember the analogy of the sixth pope stepping down to take the helm of the European Union and then taking it up again from the seventh who will become the false prophet, until the beast “will burn her (this false religion) with fire and eat her flesh”. (For a refresher course, if you have not read part 1. then see my blog and read how the 8th pope comes into existence.)

A very similar statement is made in Revelation 13:3, 8 on the world's attitude toward the beast of that chapter when its deadly wound is healed:

All the world wondered after the beast … 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.”

If chapter 13 refers to the same event as Revelation 17:8, it means the statement “his deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:3) is equivalent to the expression “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit.” (Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:3, 7) In a similar way the words “did live” (Revelation 13:14) would be equivalent to the expressions “yet is” and “he is the eighth.” (Revelation 17:8, 11) The wounding of the head, (Revelation 13:3) the going “into captivity” and “the wound by a sword” (Revelation 13:10, 14) would have their counterpart in the implied descent of the “beast” into the “bottomless pit.” (Revelation 17:8) And “death” (Revelation 13:3) would be equivalent to the “bottomless pit” phase of the experience of the beast. The similarities noted here tend to identify the seventh head of the beast as the Papal head. If there be any doubt, then I invite you to take these scriptures passages and read them for yourself and then decide who the description fits and who is pandering to the whole religious world telling them to “Come home to the mother church” .

DANIEL AND REVELATION IN PARALLEL

My reader, the book of Daniel was a prophecy of what was to come upon the earth, but history has proven it to be correct. Daniel was not given the details of how this would come to pass, so it was hidden from view until the events actually happened.

Revelation in comparison is written to “reveal” what Daniel wrote when that prophecy was given to him by the angel Gabriel from our ABBA Father God in heaven. Jesus came to flesh out the events and they are not obscure if you study them closely and compare them to other prophets in your bible...History is fast becoming completed in our modern times and all we wait for it the signs that point to the coming of a one world government and the installing of it's one world religion...already, the world is promoting a cashless society in different parts of the world into digital cash to monitor every transaction on earth. For one reason, and one reason only is control of the masses of the earth. That is what the coming Anti-Christ will demand, utter and complete control.

I'm a firm proponent that the church, the true Church of Jesus Christ, washed in His precious blood which is not an institution, a building, (but members of His own body as individuals one at a time upon receiving grace and mercy through faith in the atonement paid for on Calvary's cross), will never see the actual in the flesh Anti-Christ, but if we see the stage being set for his revealing, how much closer is the Lord Jesus coming for His people, the Bride of Christ? That much closer everyday. The signs are all around us, from the Middle East, to Israel, to the USA, to the United Nations, and yes, even to this pope.


6 “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

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:

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2nd Thessalonians 2:6-12)



I pray for family members who have been seduced into this false religion who have come full circle from a Christian home, into atheism, then the occult, Wiccan, and finally becoming an agnostic only to succumb to the Satanic lie disguised as the “rock that Jesus would build His Church on”...that Rock is Christ, not some religious organization headed by a “vicar of Christ”, but try telling that to a convinced and converted Catholic. (the strongest kind that are blindly convinced of their piety by being members of this cult). If you have come out of this harlot church, then praise God for His mercy. If you see yourself in any of this, or still being influenced by the idolatrous doctrines spewed by your priest, your bishop, or even this pope or any pope, then I pray you will look behind the curtain that hides their abominations by looking at their history and their hypocrisy...I pray for my family members daily that their lives are sold out to the real Jesus, not the Catholic Jesus who they insult with their false doctrines and blasphemy.

Remember my friend, the Catholic church is not the way of salvation....Jesus is the way:

“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh to the Father, but by Me..” (John 14:6)

“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;

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 know I have briefly described what will be coming upon this earth, when Jesus comes for His bride, as a thief in the night, but if you will see what I speak of and believe in your heart the two passages above and repent of the way you have lived, even if it a moral life, but devoid of Jesus Christ as Savior...then you WON'T see any of the horrific fulfillment of prophecy that Daniel and Revelation paint a most hellish time on this earth, that Jesus said:

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

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

I pray earnestly that you will make that decision for Jesus Christ and become a child of God with a deposit of His Holy Spirit which is the guarantee of our future glorification, even as Jesus was glorified, which Romans describes our future family with ABBA Father as the head of the Family of God.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:16-19)

And what if we are heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ? What has Jesus got that we will share in?? Everything that is pure, righteous and holy....we will be immortal and live for eternity in the presence of our God, and our Lord and Savior. The opposite is even truer....those who reject the calling of God's Holy Spirit will experience torment instead of joy, peace, love, holiness, and life, instead they will be given eternal death.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” (Luke 13:27-28)


9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” (2nd Peter 3:9-11)





This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying you escape the apostasy that will fill the earth in the coming Tribulation. If you need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at 
pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com, . God bless all.


TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET