Before we can fully understand the Revelation that John records, we must go back and see what Daniel and others wrote about the end-time events that are summed up in the Book of Revelation. We shall begin with the Book of Daniel . When one understands the Book of Daniel all other scriptures pertaining to the end times, including Revelation, are made clear.
A brief introduction to the Book of Daniel opens with the beginning of the Babylonian captivity where Daniel remains there for all of the seventy years of captivity. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, ordered all the young Jewish males of royal families and nobility to be trained to serve the king as counselors. Daniel along with three of his companians Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego), were between the ages of twelve and sixteen when they were taken into captivity. They were taught the Chaldean language as well as Aramaic as well as the customs of their captors. Their training took place in the first three years of their captivity. They were given their Babylonian names and at the ages of fifteen through nineteen they became advisors to the king. When these four gave the king advice he found it to be ten times better than all the magicians, wise men, counselors, sorcerers and astrologers combined. (Dan.1:20)
It is in chapter two of the Book of Daniel that we get our first view of the end. Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and no one could interpret it. Although the king threatens the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and wise men of the kingdom with a brutal death (cut to pieces) if they were unable to discern the dream and give it an interpretation. The king ordered all the wise men (advisors) to be put to death including Daniel and his three companions. The king felt an urgency because the Babylonian gods were limited to a short time or season for the interpretation of the dreams. Daniel and his three companions sought God's mercy to reveal the dream, along with its interpretation, to them. In a night vision God reveals the dream and its meaning to Daniel.
Daniel goes before the king and when asked if he can tell the dream and its interpretation, he responded by saying, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days." (Dan.2:27,28). As Daniel makes known the king's dream he describes a large statue which begins with a head of gold, followed by a chest and arms of silver, then a belly and thighs of bronze, with the final parts of the statue being legs of iron and feet made of partially iron and clay. From the head down the metals get progressively harder. From soft gold down to very hard iron.
These four metals of the statue represent four kingdoms with each kingdom becoming stronger than the previous one. A fifth kingdom of iron and clay toes will be a revision of the fourth kingdom or a group of ten leaders. As each kingdom rises to power it will possesses a stronger military force than the preceeding kingdom until the final kingdom, which will possess weapons of mass destruction. Mankind has gone from the weak weapons of swords and spears to smart bombs, guided missiles, thermonuclear devices and others capable of rendering all living creatures extinct. It will be during this time of the threat of annihilation that the last kingdom will rise which will spawn the anti-christ.
The first kingdom (head of gold) was the Babylonian Empire which was in power during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. The second kingdom (chest and arms of silver) was the Medo-Persian Empire. The third kingdom (belly and thighs of bronze) was the Grecian Empire. The fourth kingdom (legs of iron) was the Roman Empire. With the fifth and final kingdom of man (feet of iron and clay) being the strongest. It will supersede all other kingdoms of man. From this kingdom shall come the ten toes or to say ten kings or rulers. By being part iron and part clay they will not mix, thus the kingdom shall be divided. This will be the last kingdom of man before the Stone, not cut out by hands, will come and crush the kingdoms of man. "Jesus said to them,'Have you never read in the scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone?'"(Matt.21:42). These ten toes or rulers will attempt to adhere one to another through mingling "with the seed of man," but will fail. This "seed of man" is human effort attempting to rule the world through diplomacy and treaties that are designed to bring world peace. These are the very tactics that the anti-christ will use in deceiving Israel to enter a seven-year peace treaty. I believe that we are very close to witnessing this historical event.
We must understand the symbolisms of this statue in order to fully understand the Book of Revelation and the end times. In fact, without a thorough knowledge of Daniel, one would be hard pressed to fully comprehend the symbolisms found in the Book of Revelation. For this reason we must understand these ten toes. It will be from these that the anti-christ will rise to power.
Through Nebuchadnezzar's statue we see the history of mankind from 600 B.C. down through the present day and to the end of the history of mankind. We are extremely close to seeing these end-time events unfold before our very eyes. So, look up for your redemption draws nigh. Jesus,our Redeemer,is about to come back to earth and crush all the kingdoms of man (the statue) and establish His kingdom on earth for a thousand years. Without the Book of Daniel we cannot discern the world events that lead us to know the season of Jesus' return. For this reason we must look at Daniel's dreams and visions.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.11
Having seen the twenty-four elders around the throne of God, John now notices that there are seven Spirits also around the throne as well. The number seven, meaning complete or finished, shows us that the fulness of the Holy Spirit is present with God. John sees the vastness of heaven as a sea of glass. He then gazes upon four living creatures who appear to be “full of eyes.” These represent the universal watchfulness from God’s throne, that these eyes see towards God and towards His creation. They are ever seeing. Nothing can be hidden from them. Thus, God sees all and knows all. These seven creatures symbolize the four divisions of the tribes of Israel around the earthly tabernacle.
The “lion” represents Judah which occuppied the land along the east side of the tabernacle along with Issachar and Zebulun. The lion represents government administration. It is God who sets kings and governmental leaders. The lion also is the king of the beast. This signifies God’s dominion and authority. The lion shows that He who sits on the throne is the ruler of all and that His dominion is absolute and complete.
The “calf”, i.e. ox, bullock or heifer, was the emblem of Ephraim who occupied the land west of the tabernacle along with Manasseh and Benjamin. It represents firmness, endurance and strength, meaning He who sits upon the throne is firm, strong, and has stability.
The third creature was like the face of a man. This was the standard of Reuben who shared the land to the south of the tabernacle with the tribes of Simeon and Gad. “Face of man” denotes intelligence which is what distinguishes man from all other creations. He who sits upon the throne conducts His government with intelligence and wisdom.
The “flying eagle” is the emblem of Dan to the north of the tabernacle along with Asher and Naphtali. The eagle is known for its speed, power and ability to soar to great elevations. This shows that He who sits on the throne carries out His government and judgements quickly. His will is executed swiftly. He rules with power and is high and lifted up. The eagle also shows God’s protection of His own. “You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bare you on eagle’s wings and brought you to Myself.” (Ex.19:4). “Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.”(Ps.17:8). “As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him.”(Deut.32:11,12).
Each of these creatures have six wings. Isaiah in his writings (Is.6:2) saw the seraphim which had six wings. Two wings covered their face denoting profound reverence for God. Two wings covered their feet, their lower parts, which denoted great modesty. And two wings with which to fly showing their quickness in executing the command of God.
These creatures cry out continually, “Holy, holy, holy—,” meaning separate from all others, completely pure. The first thing John encounters in heaven is the holiness of God which is expected of all who call themselves by His name. “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”(Lev.11:44).Even the twenty-four elders recognize God’s supremeness as they cast their crowns at His feet as though saying, “Our crowns are meaningless, for you alone reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” He is worthy of all our praise and worship. The highest praise that we can offer Him is living lives that represent His holiness, righteousness and purity to a world in rebellion, sin and darkness.
John gets his first glimpse of heaven and beholds the total holiness of God and His throne. This sets the stage for John to receive the complete Revelation. He had to fully understand God’s omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience before he could comprehend what he was about to receive, the conclusion of the history of man.
Friday, September 3, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.10
Having finished with our look at the seven churches of Revelation, let's now turn to chapter four of the Book of Revelation. Please read chapter four before continuing on with this study.
John indeed was a highly favored man in that he not only receives the Revelation of Jesus, but that he also gets to see Him in His glory. He receives the revelation of the things that Daniel saw centuries before,i.e., the conclusion of the history of mankind. The Book of Revelation is the continuation and fulfillment of the visions of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great statue is now down to the base of the statue, that being the feet of clay and iron. John now sees the rest of the king's dream and its fulfillment.
Having received the letters for the seven churches where Jesus is speaking to the believers, John is now ready to literally be transferred into the future to see the end times in which we now live. Before showing John what is to befall the world at the end, Jesus addresses the churches. Before judgement can begin in the world, it first must begin in the church (I Peter 4:17) so that the bride may be not just ready for the tribulation to come but made ready for the appearing of the Bridegroom. The church must be equipped for the Great Tribulation in order to persevere to the end (Matt.24:13). For this purpose Jesus gives John the Revelation of the conclusion of mankind.
After addressing the issues confronting the end-time church. Jesus now gives John his first glimpse of heaven beginning in chapter four of the Revelation. This glimpse of heaven begins with the words, "After these things." After seeing the condition of the churches, John was then permitted to see the future of the churches. He sees a door in heaven (not to heaven) which is the door to the heavenly tabernacle where God sets on His throne. John is addressed by a mighty voice that beckons him to come up to heaven and enter the door. He is then caught up in the Spirit to the very throne of God where "One" sits. Only "One"? where's the triune Godhead?
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! "(Duet.6:4). "I and My Father are one"(John 1o:30). "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these three are one" (I John 5:7). The Holy Spirit and the Son are in God, who is but one God. The Holy Spirit and the Son are sent out from God.
I will not elaborate on the trinity or the description of heaven that John saw for to write a thorough exposition of these verses, as well as all the others to be covered in this study, would take volumes. I want to stick to the thesis of this Bible study which is proving that the church will go through the majority of the Great Tribulation and thus equipping the saints to persevere to the end. Though I must elaborate on verse four of chapter four in order for us to understand who is being referred to throughout the Book of Revelation when the twenty-four elders are mentioned.
The twenty-four elders are the representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel (the old covenant) and the twelve apostles (the new covenant). These represent the Old and New Testament saints, those before Christ and those after Him. This concept is represented in the construction of the New Jerusalem. "Also she had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and twelve angels (i.e. "messengers" Rev.1:20) at the gates, and names written of them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (Rev.21:12, parenthesis added). "Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev.21:14). Paul had a revelation of this concept when he wrote that the household of God is, "...Built on the foundation of the apostles (new covenant) and prophets (old covenant), Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone,( this Cornerstone, Jesus, became the Bridge between the Old and New Covenants), in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you are also being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit"(Eph.2:20-22, parenthesis added). As Paul was referring to the temple of God on earth, he was patterning it after the New Jerusalem, "...Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev.21:2). As we build our temples (our bodies) upon the teachings of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the Cornerstone, or to say the chief part or center of our lives, we become the holy temple and dwelling place of God, in the Spirit, on the earth. Because of the significance of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles they are represented in heaven sitting on thrones, a sign of royalty, and crowns upon their heads, signifying positions of authority.
John indeed was a highly favored man in that he not only receives the Revelation of Jesus, but that he also gets to see Him in His glory. He receives the revelation of the things that Daniel saw centuries before,i.e., the conclusion of the history of mankind. The Book of Revelation is the continuation and fulfillment of the visions of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great statue is now down to the base of the statue, that being the feet of clay and iron. John now sees the rest of the king's dream and its fulfillment.
Having received the letters for the seven churches where Jesus is speaking to the believers, John is now ready to literally be transferred into the future to see the end times in which we now live. Before showing John what is to befall the world at the end, Jesus addresses the churches. Before judgement can begin in the world, it first must begin in the church (I Peter 4:17) so that the bride may be not just ready for the tribulation to come but made ready for the appearing of the Bridegroom. The church must be equipped for the Great Tribulation in order to persevere to the end (Matt.24:13). For this purpose Jesus gives John the Revelation of the conclusion of mankind.
After addressing the issues confronting the end-time church. Jesus now gives John his first glimpse of heaven beginning in chapter four of the Revelation. This glimpse of heaven begins with the words, "After these things." After seeing the condition of the churches, John was then permitted to see the future of the churches. He sees a door in heaven (not to heaven) which is the door to the heavenly tabernacle where God sets on His throne. John is addressed by a mighty voice that beckons him to come up to heaven and enter the door. He is then caught up in the Spirit to the very throne of God where "One" sits. Only "One"? where's the triune Godhead?
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! "(Duet.6:4). "I and My Father are one"(John 1o:30). "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost and these three are one" (I John 5:7). The Holy Spirit and the Son are in God, who is but one God. The Holy Spirit and the Son are sent out from God.
I will not elaborate on the trinity or the description of heaven that John saw for to write a thorough exposition of these verses, as well as all the others to be covered in this study, would take volumes. I want to stick to the thesis of this Bible study which is proving that the church will go through the majority of the Great Tribulation and thus equipping the saints to persevere to the end. Though I must elaborate on verse four of chapter four in order for us to understand who is being referred to throughout the Book of Revelation when the twenty-four elders are mentioned.
The twenty-four elders are the representatives of the twelve tribes of Israel (the old covenant) and the twelve apostles (the new covenant). These represent the Old and New Testament saints, those before Christ and those after Him. This concept is represented in the construction of the New Jerusalem. "Also she had a great and high wall, with twelve gates, and twelve angels (i.e. "messengers" Rev.1:20) at the gates, and names written of them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel" (Rev.21:12, parenthesis added). "Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev.21:14). Paul had a revelation of this concept when he wrote that the household of God is, "...Built on the foundation of the apostles (new covenant) and prophets (old covenant), Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone,( this Cornerstone, Jesus, became the Bridge between the Old and New Covenants), in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you are also being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit"(Eph.2:20-22, parenthesis added). As Paul was referring to the temple of God on earth, he was patterning it after the New Jerusalem, "...Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" (Rev.21:2). As we build our temples (our bodies) upon the teachings of the apostles and prophets with Jesus as the Cornerstone, or to say the chief part or center of our lives, we become the holy temple and dwelling place of God, in the Spirit, on the earth. Because of the significance of the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles they are represented in heaven sitting on thrones, a sign of royalty, and crowns upon their heads, signifying positions of authority.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.9
With our having looked at the seven churches of Revelation, just what will the end-time church look like just prior to the tribulation? It will be like the Ephesian church in that it will have lost its first love. Jesus will no longer have the number one spot in the hearts of the average church attendee. Most of the pulpits will have had lost the true lamp stands (preachers bearing the light of Jesus) and will have the new age ministers of the people-friendly compromise standing in their place ministering their agendas and programs.
The pre-tribulation church will be a compromising church like the church at Pergamos. A church where each of its members will be encouraged to live the life that they feel comfortable with without regard for the demands of the Word of God for holiness. Each will be allowed to formulate their own doctrines and plans of salvation as long as it is loosely supported by scripture. This church will see nothing wrong with sexual immorality or fornication. The church's stance will be that as long as a person doesn't feel any condemnation then the lifestyle in which they are indulging in isn't sin regardless if the scriptures condemn it.
Like the church in Thyatira, the pre-tribulation church will be a corrupt church. Again, sexual immorality is listed in the Thyatira church and sexual immorality will prevail (as it is prevailing right now) in the end-time church. All one must do is read the reports of the fallen ministers world-wide to see the validity of this sin in the church. Also, this end-time church will be allowing false prophets and teachers to fill her pulpits. Many ministers and parishioners alike will be lead astray by false "words" of prophecy. The church toward the beginning of the tribulation will have a strong Jezebel spirit (spirit of manipulation) prevailing in it whether operating in the pulpit or pew it will be a stronghold in the end-time church.
Just as the church in Sardis was near a total spiritual death so will be the pre-tribulation church. Although the church appears to be alive and well on the outside, inside it is spiritually dead. For many of the churches the Spirit has long since departed. The church possesses a form of godliness but it denies the power that transforms and brings spiritual life. Its a church that has become lukewarm and complacent, just like the Laodicean church. She will be blind to her wretched spiritual condition. But once the persecutions and trials begin to afflict the end-time church she will be like the churches of Smyrna and Philidelphia.
The church will become a strong overcoming church. She will be the remnant church that Daniel spoke of when he said that the saints would be doing exploits in the midst of persecution and trials. This church will not compromise the Word. It will not be filled with a spirit of fear but will have a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind (II Tim.1:7), a church flowing in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22,23) and the manifestations of the Spirit (I Cor.12:8-10). It is persecution and tribulation that will purge the church and cause her to become the glorious church without spot or wrinkle, made ready as a chaste bride ready for the Bridegroom to come and take her to His home.
The church cannot be raptured until she has been purged, cleansed and made a virgin, pure and innocent. This is what the tribulation will achieve, it will test and prove the saints for bridal acceptance.
As we look at the church today, as a whole, I believe we can honesty conclude that we are in the last of the last days. Let's get ready to meet our Bridegroom!
The pre-tribulation church will be a compromising church like the church at Pergamos. A church where each of its members will be encouraged to live the life that they feel comfortable with without regard for the demands of the Word of God for holiness. Each will be allowed to formulate their own doctrines and plans of salvation as long as it is loosely supported by scripture. This church will see nothing wrong with sexual immorality or fornication. The church's stance will be that as long as a person doesn't feel any condemnation then the lifestyle in which they are indulging in isn't sin regardless if the scriptures condemn it.
Like the church in Thyatira, the pre-tribulation church will be a corrupt church. Again, sexual immorality is listed in the Thyatira church and sexual immorality will prevail (as it is prevailing right now) in the end-time church. All one must do is read the reports of the fallen ministers world-wide to see the validity of this sin in the church. Also, this end-time church will be allowing false prophets and teachers to fill her pulpits. Many ministers and parishioners alike will be lead astray by false "words" of prophecy. The church toward the beginning of the tribulation will have a strong Jezebel spirit (spirit of manipulation) prevailing in it whether operating in the pulpit or pew it will be a stronghold in the end-time church.
Just as the church in Sardis was near a total spiritual death so will be the pre-tribulation church. Although the church appears to be alive and well on the outside, inside it is spiritually dead. For many of the churches the Spirit has long since departed. The church possesses a form of godliness but it denies the power that transforms and brings spiritual life. Its a church that has become lukewarm and complacent, just like the Laodicean church. She will be blind to her wretched spiritual condition. But once the persecutions and trials begin to afflict the end-time church she will be like the churches of Smyrna and Philidelphia.
The church will become a strong overcoming church. She will be the remnant church that Daniel spoke of when he said that the saints would be doing exploits in the midst of persecution and trials. This church will not compromise the Word. It will not be filled with a spirit of fear but will have a spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind (II Tim.1:7), a church flowing in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22,23) and the manifestations of the Spirit (I Cor.12:8-10). It is persecution and tribulation that will purge the church and cause her to become the glorious church without spot or wrinkle, made ready as a chaste bride ready for the Bridegroom to come and take her to His home.
The church cannot be raptured until she has been purged, cleansed and made a virgin, pure and innocent. This is what the tribulation will achieve, it will test and prove the saints for bridal acceptance.
As we look at the church today, as a whole, I believe we can honesty conclude that we are in the last of the last days. Let's get ready to meet our Bridegroom!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.8
Jesus concludes His letters to the churches by addressing His last letter to the church of the Laodiceans, the lukewarm church (Rev.3:14-22). Verses fourteen through twenty-two of chapter three are probably the most used and preached scriptures from the Book of Revelation. To this church Jesus has no cause to commend them. Viewed from the outside this church appeared prosperous and powerful, but Jesus looks at the heart of those in this church.
Jesus begins by accusing them of being neither hot nor cold. As to say that they were neither heathens nor Christians. Neither good or evil. Neither lead away by false doctrine nor thoroughly addicted to that which is true. They were listless and indifferent and seemed to care little whether heathenism or Christianity prevailed. Though they felt little zeal either for the salvation of their own souls or that of others, yet they had such a general conviction of the truth and importance of Christianity that they could not readily give it up. They had become complacent. They had not fallen from belief in Jesus to an icy opposition to Him, nor have they become inflamed with heretical zeal. They were just drifting along spiritually, not being driven by a love for Christ.
We could, without a doubt, write volumes comparing the Laodiceans to the modern church. The end-time church, for the most part, has fallen into such a spiritual stupor that it makes the church of the Laodiceans appear to be ablaze for Jesus. It is as though the church today has found a balance between being a heathen and a Christian. The church has learned how to walk the fence between Christianity and worldliness without falling totally into one or the other. From the outside the church appears prosperous and powerful while all the time it has in reality no resemblance to the true church that Jesus birthed on Calvary's hill. The church today isn't in love with the absolute truths found in God's Word. They are easily lead astray because of their lack of the knowledge of God's Word. It seems that nearly every "Christian" has their own plan of salvation worked out based on "their" understanding of a few scriptures generally out of context. They seem to care less about social trends, whether they are sinful or not, as long as they don't interfere with their lives. As long as they are unencumbered in their pursuit of life they could care less if heathenism or Christianity controls the world around them.
They appear to have no joy in their salvation nor could they care less about the salvation of others. They have a que-sera-sera attitude about spiritual things. They can take them or leave them. Just drifting through life. Just putting in their time with little or no concern about spiritual things. They believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Saviour and that's all that matters to them. They ignore the pleas and the demands for holiness found in God's Word. They plan on getting into eternity with God by pleading ignorance of His Word, just by the skin of their teeth (and we all know that there's no skin on our teeth). Today the church is looking for fire insurance that cost little or nothing at all. We want just enough religion to escape hell with as little requirements as possible. Thus we now have "people friendly" churches full of friendly deceived people racing head long towards a Satan's hell while all the time believing they are saved.
The lukewarm church! No zeal for God! No zeal for lost souls! No fire of the Holy Ghost burning in their hearts! No love for the scriptures! No real love one for the other! Indifferent! Complacent! Spiritually dead! Lukewarm!!
But Jesus says that He wishes that we were either hot or cold. He wishes that the church today would be decided, adopt some part or the other and be in earnest attachment to it. Like the Laodeceans, the church today is too good for hell and yet too evil for heaven. Anything would be better than this condition. Where love is professed, but where it doesn't exist. Where vows have been assumed which are not fulfilled. I believe Jesus is saying here that it is easier to deal with a cold sinner than a lukewarm, insincere hypocrite.
The church today is divided over such issues as abortion, gay marriages, ordaining homosexuals, holiness, righteousness, purity, etc., etc. We even have so called ministers fighting for the myth of separation of church and state by taking legal actions against churches and ministers who get involved in or try to influence the political arena. We claim to be Christians while supporting political candidates and parties that support abortions, gay rights and gay marriages and want to silence the evangelical messages of the truth.
The "church" has become so worldly that it cannot be distinguished from the world. We have lost our savor as the salt of the earth (Matt.5:13). We no longer resemble the church that was established on the Day of Pentecost; that is, one full of fire and power. We have cooled off in our spirits and have accepted the watered down compromised gospel of today. We are, at best, lukewarm.
I truly do believe that God is about to bring judgment to His house (I Peter 4:17-18). It will come in the form of persecutions, trial and temptations. Many in our pulpits, and pews alike, have succumbed to the temptations of lust, perversion and fraud revealing what is in the hearts of those who compromised holiness. As God turns up the fire of His jealous anger toward the church, the treasures of the heart will be revealed. It is much like when bad things happen to good people. Man judges us by our external appearances and attitudes, God judges our hearts. It is when bad things come our way that our hearts are revealed. God allows bad things to come into our lives so that we can see what He sees, our hearts. It would be like someone insulting us, or intimating us, and we become angry and hostile. God allowed this so that we may see what is in our heart. We may think that we have conquered our violent temper but when placed in the right situation we become violently angry. This allows us to see what God wants us to surrender in order for Him to be able to use us for His purposes. If we do not conquer the sin in our hearts then He will spew us out--cast us off.
Lukewarmness (hypocrisy) makes Jesus sick at His stomach. The undedicated, indifferent, uncommitted "Christian" will be cast out of Jesus' presence with great disgust. The end time church is about to undergo an extreme makeover. Once the church has been exposed to the refiners fire and the fuller's soap (Mal.3:2-3) of persecution (God's judgment) then what will remain will be the glorious church without spot or wrinkle. This will be God's way of purging His church. All of this is designed to equip the saints for the Great Tribulation and the great end-time harvest of souls.
The church today thinks that it is spiritually rich and has no need of anything else. No revelation knowledge. No fresh outpourings of the Holy Ghost. No intervention by God. No need to prepare for tribulation because they think they will be raptured prior to the Great Tribulation. And yet, like the Laodicean church, God sees the church today as being "---wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."(Rev.3:17). The Laodicean church saw themselves as being in a safe state, perfectly sure of final salvation because they had begun well and had laid the right foundation. They rested in what they had already received and seemed to think that once they were in grace that they would remain in grace no matter what. They didn't even realize their own state, but thought that outward prosperity and religious activity was synonymous with spiritual success. Yet, Jesus saw them differently.
He sees the church today as He did the Laodicean church of John's day. The church, for the most part, is wretched, meaning afflicted as slaves--slaves to this world and its mindset. The church thinks like the world and conducts itself as the world conducts its business. We have become so worldly that we don't recognize how far we have fallen from holiness and righteousness. We are miserable in the state that we are in, meaning that we are to be pitied. We don't even realize that the Spirit has departed from most of our churches, which leaves us poor, spiritually. We have become rich, successful and growing and yet we are in spiritual poverty. We are poor in power, righteousness, holiness, purity and influence. All of this because we have become spiritually blind. We are unable to see our miserable condition. We see ourselves as everything the church is to be while Jesus sees us as naked, not clothed in righteousness and purity. Not adorned as a bride for her wedding. And as with the Laodicean church, Jesus counsels the church today,"---to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich---" (spiritually).
May I interject a personal note here? I do not want you to believe that I think that all churches fall into the categories as the seven churches of Revelation. I believe that there are many churches who are still pursuing God and His will for their lives and the life of the church. I believe that there are many ministers who are called and set by God who are right in the center of His will. To these churches and ministers I say, "Bless you! Keep up the good work!" Most of these churches and ministers are in obscurity but God is about to bring them to the forefront.
Jesus is verbalizing here in verse 18, "O fallen and deceived souls, hear Me. Your case is not hopeless. Come back to Me and receive of Me, without cost, without price, faith that shall stand in every trial. Pure. Just like gold that has had the fire applied and the dross removed. A pure religion. A pure relationship with God the Father. A faith that has been tried and tested by fire and approved of by Me. I'll clothe you in the garments of holiness and purity to cover the nakedness of your spiritual poverty. Pray, therefore, that you may receive the enlightening influence of My Spirit that you may be convinced of your true state and see where your help lies."
Jesus stands ready to come to His lukewarm church and revive her. But first He must purge her with fire. He must chasten her for He cannot and will not tolerate self-righteousness. Where we compare ourselves one to the other and not to the Word of God and declare ourselves okay, righteous. He is sick to His stomach of people professing Him and not following Him. Those claiming heaven when the church is probably the closest they will ever get to heaven. Jesus demands honesty. He wants us to look within ourselves and measure our Christianity by His Word. Jesus is raising up a remnant in these last days who are totally dead to themselves and alive in Christ. He is preparing a Bride. He is about to cast off all the religious flirts and come back to marry a Glorious Bride without spot or wrinkle. Those who are zealous and have repented of their lukewarm state (vs.19).
Although verse twenty has often been used as an evangelism tool to win the lost to Jesus, it isn't spoken to sinners but to the lukewarm believers. Jesus is declaring here that He is patiently standing at the door of the lukewarm church--the lukewarm believers heart. He knocks with mercy, grace, reproofs, exhortations and even judgments to encourage "believers" to repent and turn back to Him. He lifts up His voice loud and strong through His Word, His Spirit and His servants, the preachers, beckoning the lukewarm believer to let Him back into his heart.
When we first come to Jesus in repentance He enters our hearts, but once inside He begins to reveal His requirements for the death of the flesh, a life of holiness and our being set apart for His will and glory. This is where we begin to cool off in our "new-born" feeling and leave Jesus standing in the foyer of our lives not wanting Him to roam the rooms of our hearts and lives. Being rejected as Lord of our lives, He departs and begins knocking at the door of our lukewarm hearts desiring to be invited back into our hearts and lives. It's in our hearts where He can manifest Himself, heal our broken relationship with the Father, pardon all our iniquities, commune with us and feed us the Bread of Life.
Jesus concludes this final letter by admonishing the church to rise above the lukewarmness and the complacency that it had fallen into and He would grant it a place in eternity with Himself on His throne. There is but one throne in eternity and Jesus is offering to the worst church of all, the lukewarm church, the reward of sharing it with Himself. This church of complacency. This church with a profession but no experience. This church of lukewarmness. This church of the greatest sin is offered the greatest reward to be heirs and joint heirs to Jesus' throne. Jesus is telling the lukewarm church of the Laodiceans, as well as the end-time complacent church, that just as He overcame this world and the power of the tempter and received a throne in eternity, that those who overcome the same and their lukewarm complacency shall receive the same reward, His throne.
Jesus begins by accusing them of being neither hot nor cold. As to say that they were neither heathens nor Christians. Neither good or evil. Neither lead away by false doctrine nor thoroughly addicted to that which is true. They were listless and indifferent and seemed to care little whether heathenism or Christianity prevailed. Though they felt little zeal either for the salvation of their own souls or that of others, yet they had such a general conviction of the truth and importance of Christianity that they could not readily give it up. They had become complacent. They had not fallen from belief in Jesus to an icy opposition to Him, nor have they become inflamed with heretical zeal. They were just drifting along spiritually, not being driven by a love for Christ.
We could, without a doubt, write volumes comparing the Laodiceans to the modern church. The end-time church, for the most part, has fallen into such a spiritual stupor that it makes the church of the Laodiceans appear to be ablaze for Jesus. It is as though the church today has found a balance between being a heathen and a Christian. The church has learned how to walk the fence between Christianity and worldliness without falling totally into one or the other. From the outside the church appears prosperous and powerful while all the time it has in reality no resemblance to the true church that Jesus birthed on Calvary's hill. The church today isn't in love with the absolute truths found in God's Word. They are easily lead astray because of their lack of the knowledge of God's Word. It seems that nearly every "Christian" has their own plan of salvation worked out based on "their" understanding of a few scriptures generally out of context. They seem to care less about social trends, whether they are sinful or not, as long as they don't interfere with their lives. As long as they are unencumbered in their pursuit of life they could care less if heathenism or Christianity controls the world around them.
They appear to have no joy in their salvation nor could they care less about the salvation of others. They have a que-sera-sera attitude about spiritual things. They can take them or leave them. Just drifting through life. Just putting in their time with little or no concern about spiritual things. They believe that Jesus is the Son of God and Saviour and that's all that matters to them. They ignore the pleas and the demands for holiness found in God's Word. They plan on getting into eternity with God by pleading ignorance of His Word, just by the skin of their teeth (and we all know that there's no skin on our teeth). Today the church is looking for fire insurance that cost little or nothing at all. We want just enough religion to escape hell with as little requirements as possible. Thus we now have "people friendly" churches full of friendly deceived people racing head long towards a Satan's hell while all the time believing they are saved.
The lukewarm church! No zeal for God! No zeal for lost souls! No fire of the Holy Ghost burning in their hearts! No love for the scriptures! No real love one for the other! Indifferent! Complacent! Spiritually dead! Lukewarm!!
But Jesus says that He wishes that we were either hot or cold. He wishes that the church today would be decided, adopt some part or the other and be in earnest attachment to it. Like the Laodeceans, the church today is too good for hell and yet too evil for heaven. Anything would be better than this condition. Where love is professed, but where it doesn't exist. Where vows have been assumed which are not fulfilled. I believe Jesus is saying here that it is easier to deal with a cold sinner than a lukewarm, insincere hypocrite.
The church today is divided over such issues as abortion, gay marriages, ordaining homosexuals, holiness, righteousness, purity, etc., etc. We even have so called ministers fighting for the myth of separation of church and state by taking legal actions against churches and ministers who get involved in or try to influence the political arena. We claim to be Christians while supporting political candidates and parties that support abortions, gay rights and gay marriages and want to silence the evangelical messages of the truth.
The "church" has become so worldly that it cannot be distinguished from the world. We have lost our savor as the salt of the earth (Matt.5:13). We no longer resemble the church that was established on the Day of Pentecost; that is, one full of fire and power. We have cooled off in our spirits and have accepted the watered down compromised gospel of today. We are, at best, lukewarm.
I truly do believe that God is about to bring judgment to His house (I Peter 4:17-18). It will come in the form of persecutions, trial and temptations. Many in our pulpits, and pews alike, have succumbed to the temptations of lust, perversion and fraud revealing what is in the hearts of those who compromised holiness. As God turns up the fire of His jealous anger toward the church, the treasures of the heart will be revealed. It is much like when bad things happen to good people. Man judges us by our external appearances and attitudes, God judges our hearts. It is when bad things come our way that our hearts are revealed. God allows bad things to come into our lives so that we can see what He sees, our hearts. It would be like someone insulting us, or intimating us, and we become angry and hostile. God allowed this so that we may see what is in our heart. We may think that we have conquered our violent temper but when placed in the right situation we become violently angry. This allows us to see what God wants us to surrender in order for Him to be able to use us for His purposes. If we do not conquer the sin in our hearts then He will spew us out--cast us off.
Lukewarmness (hypocrisy) makes Jesus sick at His stomach. The undedicated, indifferent, uncommitted "Christian" will be cast out of Jesus' presence with great disgust. The end time church is about to undergo an extreme makeover. Once the church has been exposed to the refiners fire and the fuller's soap (Mal.3:2-3) of persecution (God's judgment) then what will remain will be the glorious church without spot or wrinkle. This will be God's way of purging His church. All of this is designed to equip the saints for the Great Tribulation and the great end-time harvest of souls.
The church today thinks that it is spiritually rich and has no need of anything else. No revelation knowledge. No fresh outpourings of the Holy Ghost. No intervention by God. No need to prepare for tribulation because they think they will be raptured prior to the Great Tribulation. And yet, like the Laodicean church, God sees the church today as being "---wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."(Rev.3:17). The Laodicean church saw themselves as being in a safe state, perfectly sure of final salvation because they had begun well and had laid the right foundation. They rested in what they had already received and seemed to think that once they were in grace that they would remain in grace no matter what. They didn't even realize their own state, but thought that outward prosperity and religious activity was synonymous with spiritual success. Yet, Jesus saw them differently.
He sees the church today as He did the Laodicean church of John's day. The church, for the most part, is wretched, meaning afflicted as slaves--slaves to this world and its mindset. The church thinks like the world and conducts itself as the world conducts its business. We have become so worldly that we don't recognize how far we have fallen from holiness and righteousness. We are miserable in the state that we are in, meaning that we are to be pitied. We don't even realize that the Spirit has departed from most of our churches, which leaves us poor, spiritually. We have become rich, successful and growing and yet we are in spiritual poverty. We are poor in power, righteousness, holiness, purity and influence. All of this because we have become spiritually blind. We are unable to see our miserable condition. We see ourselves as everything the church is to be while Jesus sees us as naked, not clothed in righteousness and purity. Not adorned as a bride for her wedding. And as with the Laodicean church, Jesus counsels the church today,"---to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich---" (spiritually).
May I interject a personal note here? I do not want you to believe that I think that all churches fall into the categories as the seven churches of Revelation. I believe that there are many churches who are still pursuing God and His will for their lives and the life of the church. I believe that there are many ministers who are called and set by God who are right in the center of His will. To these churches and ministers I say, "Bless you! Keep up the good work!" Most of these churches and ministers are in obscurity but God is about to bring them to the forefront.
Jesus is verbalizing here in verse 18, "O fallen and deceived souls, hear Me. Your case is not hopeless. Come back to Me and receive of Me, without cost, without price, faith that shall stand in every trial. Pure. Just like gold that has had the fire applied and the dross removed. A pure religion. A pure relationship with God the Father. A faith that has been tried and tested by fire and approved of by Me. I'll clothe you in the garments of holiness and purity to cover the nakedness of your spiritual poverty. Pray, therefore, that you may receive the enlightening influence of My Spirit that you may be convinced of your true state and see where your help lies."
Jesus stands ready to come to His lukewarm church and revive her. But first He must purge her with fire. He must chasten her for He cannot and will not tolerate self-righteousness. Where we compare ourselves one to the other and not to the Word of God and declare ourselves okay, righteous. He is sick to His stomach of people professing Him and not following Him. Those claiming heaven when the church is probably the closest they will ever get to heaven. Jesus demands honesty. He wants us to look within ourselves and measure our Christianity by His Word. Jesus is raising up a remnant in these last days who are totally dead to themselves and alive in Christ. He is preparing a Bride. He is about to cast off all the religious flirts and come back to marry a Glorious Bride without spot or wrinkle. Those who are zealous and have repented of their lukewarm state (vs.19).
Although verse twenty has often been used as an evangelism tool to win the lost to Jesus, it isn't spoken to sinners but to the lukewarm believers. Jesus is declaring here that He is patiently standing at the door of the lukewarm church--the lukewarm believers heart. He knocks with mercy, grace, reproofs, exhortations and even judgments to encourage "believers" to repent and turn back to Him. He lifts up His voice loud and strong through His Word, His Spirit and His servants, the preachers, beckoning the lukewarm believer to let Him back into his heart.
When we first come to Jesus in repentance He enters our hearts, but once inside He begins to reveal His requirements for the death of the flesh, a life of holiness and our being set apart for His will and glory. This is where we begin to cool off in our "new-born" feeling and leave Jesus standing in the foyer of our lives not wanting Him to roam the rooms of our hearts and lives. Being rejected as Lord of our lives, He departs and begins knocking at the door of our lukewarm hearts desiring to be invited back into our hearts and lives. It's in our hearts where He can manifest Himself, heal our broken relationship with the Father, pardon all our iniquities, commune with us and feed us the Bread of Life.
Jesus concludes this final letter by admonishing the church to rise above the lukewarmness and the complacency that it had fallen into and He would grant it a place in eternity with Himself on His throne. There is but one throne in eternity and Jesus is offering to the worst church of all, the lukewarm church, the reward of sharing it with Himself. This church of complacency. This church with a profession but no experience. This church of lukewarmness. This church of the greatest sin is offered the greatest reward to be heirs and joint heirs to Jesus' throne. Jesus is telling the lukewarm church of the Laodiceans, as well as the end-time complacent church, that just as He overcame this world and the power of the tempter and received a throne in eternity, that those who overcome the same and their lukewarm complacency shall receive the same reward, His throne.
Friday, August 6, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.7
This week we will be looking at the faithful church of Philadelphia (Rev.3:7-13). This letter is to the end-time church that will be found faithful to God and walking in brotherly love. This remnant church will be found walking in the power of God that overcomes this world. God will open doors to this church in order to proclaim and diffuse His word. Even the adversaries of God and the church will not be able to stop this faithful church. Jesus is saying here that He guarantees the faithful end-time church will have ample opportunity to testify of Him. Even though this church will lack political power and may be few in number, ("---for you have little strength---" vs.8),it will still be doing great exploits (Dan.11:32). This church will be obedient to the Word of God and will not deny His name by lifestyles that deny His deity or lordship of their lives.
To the first century Philadelphian church Jesus compares the disingenuous Jews to the synagogue of Satan, those who possessed a profession of faith without possessing the walk of faith. This was the religious Jew not the Jew who knew Jehovah intimately. Jesus tells this church that these hypocrites would soon come to worship with the true church because they would see God's favor on the church. Some of those who would not acknowledge Jesus as Saviour would soon bow the knee to confess Him as Messiah. Because of God's presence, favor and glory being among these christian believers, many would have to admit that this was a true move of God and worthy of acceptance. They would recognize God's love for these followers of Jesus Christ.
The end-time Philadelphian faithful church will experience much of the same things. There will be many who profess to be Christians while all the time they have no relationship with Jesus. It will be those having a form of godliness while dening the power thereof. These will have great pride in their religion and denominations. These are the ones who "---are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness"(Matt.23:27,28). But even many of these will come to worship God with the faithful remnant church.
As the church enters the Great Tribulation and the true christian faith is labeled religiously incorrect, there will be many who will rise up against the true church, most of which will be the religiously correct churches. Just as Jesus and His followers were hated by the religious Jews, so it will be in the last days church. The church will be made out to be a stumbling block to world peace and prosperity. The church will be called hate-mongers, bigots, narrow-minded, haters of peace, etc., (wait, this is already being done). All of the world's woes will be blamed on the true church, there will be an outcry from humanity to silence the church. To kill a christian will be seen as an act of heroism. Just as Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was seen as a hero by the Jewish leadership for his persecution of the followers of Jesus before his conversion, so it will be in the last days. The "christians", along with other religionists, will persecute the true church believing themselves to be doing God's will. The political systems of the world will applaud this attempt to silence the church, or at least they will look the other way while the true church is being persecuted.
Yet in the midst of all this persecution and hatred toward the faithful church there shall come a great harvest of souls. God will be showing great favor to His church and working signs, wonders and miracles through this true church. Because of His glory being beheld (Is.60:1-4), many will come to Jesus for salvation. Many who thought themselves to be a christian but weren't will come into a father-child relationship with Jehovah through Jesus Christ. The church's greatest hour is yet before her.
Verse ten of chapter three pertains to the church going through the Tribulation that shall come upon the world, but Jesus gives the church a promise of His protection. Because the true church has, with patience, kept the words of Jesus, even while enduring trial, testing and persecution, He will give them His strength to persevere to the end. We must understand that the Great Tribulation is designed, among other things, to test and prove the true followers of Jesus. As the end-time events of disasters, earthquakes, famines, persecutions, etc., come upon the world it will be a means by which God will separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares. Only those who have their total trust in God will survive. The true character of people will be seen. It will be the strength and faith of the Christians that will cause many to believe. The true follower of Christ will be seen as a pillar of strength while the world is full of chaos. Those who have been taught and believe that the Christians are to be raptured before the Great Tirbulation begins will be among the many that will "fall away" from the faith (II Thes.2:3). They will see Christianity as a hoax, a lie, because they were told that, as Christians, they would not have to endure the Tribulation. Pre-trib rapture implies that the Bride, the church, is better than the Groom, Jesus. She doesn't have to be tested as Jesus was in the wilderness, as well as in the Garden of Gethsemane. She doesn't have to suffer to prove her love for the Groom as Jesus proved His love for the Bride through His suffering. Pre-trib theology suggests that the church is too privileged and spoiled to have to suffer. But when we see the Anti-Christ come to power and the judgement of God begin, only those who have been equipped with the full counsel of God's Word will persevere to the end. These are the ones that will be doing great exploits, signs, miracles and wonders.
All we must do (according to verse 11) is to hold fast to the sound doctrine of God's Word. The Word of God in us and our faith in God is what will cause us to stand as pillars of strength while the world is being shaken by God (Heb.12:25-29). As we overcome this world and the temptation to quit while going through the Tribulation, He will grant us to become as the pillars of the temple. The pillars in the Jewish temple were highly ornamented to give the temple beauty. As overcomers, the saints shall be adorned with robes of righteousness, crowns of life and a new name making them to appear as the pillars of the temple. Part of the priests' garments was a nameplate on their foreheads with "Kodesh-Laihovah" written on it meaning "Holiness unto the Lord." We, as a royal priesthood, shall bare the name "Holiness unto the Lord" upon us as well as "New Jerusalem." This labels the saint as belonging to the Holy One of New Jerusalem. Like the title,"Jesus of Nazareth" or "Joseph of Arimathea," we shall be called by a new name indicating to whom we belong as well as our home, New Jerusalem.
What a reward! By holding fast to the Word of God and persevering to the end, the saint of God shall receive eternity with the Light of the world in a New Jerusalem. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."(Rom.8:18)
To the first century Philadelphian church Jesus compares the disingenuous Jews to the synagogue of Satan, those who possessed a profession of faith without possessing the walk of faith. This was the religious Jew not the Jew who knew Jehovah intimately. Jesus tells this church that these hypocrites would soon come to worship with the true church because they would see God's favor on the church. Some of those who would not acknowledge Jesus as Saviour would soon bow the knee to confess Him as Messiah. Because of God's presence, favor and glory being among these christian believers, many would have to admit that this was a true move of God and worthy of acceptance. They would recognize God's love for these followers of Jesus Christ.
The end-time Philadelphian faithful church will experience much of the same things. There will be many who profess to be Christians while all the time they have no relationship with Jesus. It will be those having a form of godliness while dening the power thereof. These will have great pride in their religion and denominations. These are the ones who "---are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness"(Matt.23:27,28). But even many of these will come to worship God with the faithful remnant church.
As the church enters the Great Tribulation and the true christian faith is labeled religiously incorrect, there will be many who will rise up against the true church, most of which will be the religiously correct churches. Just as Jesus and His followers were hated by the religious Jews, so it will be in the last days church. The church will be made out to be a stumbling block to world peace and prosperity. The church will be called hate-mongers, bigots, narrow-minded, haters of peace, etc., (wait, this is already being done). All of the world's woes will be blamed on the true church, there will be an outcry from humanity to silence the church. To kill a christian will be seen as an act of heroism. Just as Saul of Tarsus (Paul) was seen as a hero by the Jewish leadership for his persecution of the followers of Jesus before his conversion, so it will be in the last days. The "christians", along with other religionists, will persecute the true church believing themselves to be doing God's will. The political systems of the world will applaud this attempt to silence the church, or at least they will look the other way while the true church is being persecuted.
Yet in the midst of all this persecution and hatred toward the faithful church there shall come a great harvest of souls. God will be showing great favor to His church and working signs, wonders and miracles through this true church. Because of His glory being beheld (Is.60:1-4), many will come to Jesus for salvation. Many who thought themselves to be a christian but weren't will come into a father-child relationship with Jehovah through Jesus Christ. The church's greatest hour is yet before her.
Verse ten of chapter three pertains to the church going through the Tribulation that shall come upon the world, but Jesus gives the church a promise of His protection. Because the true church has, with patience, kept the words of Jesus, even while enduring trial, testing and persecution, He will give them His strength to persevere to the end. We must understand that the Great Tribulation is designed, among other things, to test and prove the true followers of Jesus. As the end-time events of disasters, earthquakes, famines, persecutions, etc., come upon the world it will be a means by which God will separate the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares. Only those who have their total trust in God will survive. The true character of people will be seen. It will be the strength and faith of the Christians that will cause many to believe. The true follower of Christ will be seen as a pillar of strength while the world is full of chaos. Those who have been taught and believe that the Christians are to be raptured before the Great Tirbulation begins will be among the many that will "fall away" from the faith (II Thes.2:3). They will see Christianity as a hoax, a lie, because they were told that, as Christians, they would not have to endure the Tribulation. Pre-trib rapture implies that the Bride, the church, is better than the Groom, Jesus. She doesn't have to be tested as Jesus was in the wilderness, as well as in the Garden of Gethsemane. She doesn't have to suffer to prove her love for the Groom as Jesus proved His love for the Bride through His suffering. Pre-trib theology suggests that the church is too privileged and spoiled to have to suffer. But when we see the Anti-Christ come to power and the judgement of God begin, only those who have been equipped with the full counsel of God's Word will persevere to the end. These are the ones that will be doing great exploits, signs, miracles and wonders.
All we must do (according to verse 11) is to hold fast to the sound doctrine of God's Word. The Word of God in us and our faith in God is what will cause us to stand as pillars of strength while the world is being shaken by God (Heb.12:25-29). As we overcome this world and the temptation to quit while going through the Tribulation, He will grant us to become as the pillars of the temple. The pillars in the Jewish temple were highly ornamented to give the temple beauty. As overcomers, the saints shall be adorned with robes of righteousness, crowns of life and a new name making them to appear as the pillars of the temple. Part of the priests' garments was a nameplate on their foreheads with "Kodesh-Laihovah" written on it meaning "Holiness unto the Lord." We, as a royal priesthood, shall bare the name "Holiness unto the Lord" upon us as well as "New Jerusalem." This labels the saint as belonging to the Holy One of New Jerusalem. Like the title,"Jesus of Nazareth" or "Joseph of Arimathea," we shall be called by a new name indicating to whom we belong as well as our home, New Jerusalem.
What a reward! By holding fast to the Word of God and persevering to the end, the saint of God shall receive eternity with the Light of the world in a New Jerusalem. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."(Rom.8:18)
Friday, July 30, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.6
The end-time church that is revealed to us next is the church of Sardis, the dead church (Rev.3:1-6). Sardis is the picture of the church that has maintained its profession without possession and its reputation with no works to support it. It possesses a great tradition but its present task is unfinished. A few faithful souls are in it, to them the Lord comes with a challenge.
As we read verses one through six we find something missing that was given to the churches prior to Sardis --this letter does not start out with pleasantries. This is a dying church and Jesus goes straight to the problem in an attempt to resuscitate it. Along with the church of the Laodiceans, this church receives the most blame brought against it from Jesus. He begins this letter with His accusation against the church. "You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." He is saying here to the church, "You have the reputation of being Christians and are thought to be alive in Me and spiritual things, but you are spiritually dead. You do not have the life that I give to souls. You have not walked consistantly with Me before man. You have not been steady in your lifestyle of Christlikeness. You have grieved My Spirit and I have withdrawn from you most of My light and power. You're not dead yet, but you are dying."
As I read these scriptures I must ask myself, "Am I more dead than alive, spiritually?" We all should ask ourselves this question in order to examine our relationship with God. I believe it is very easy for us to fall into a state of complacency and not even realize it. We need to make sure that Jesus is in complete control of our lives 24/7. It is easy to claim Jesus as our Saviour and to go through the motions of serving Him while all along we have grieved the Holy Spirit and He has departed. We may have a form of godliness but we deny the power of God that changes lives inside out. Unfortunately, this is the state of the church today, the end-time church.
In most churches today the Holy Spirit is no longer in charge. Man has his programs, plans, agendas and the best of the business minds to run the church. He is so busy having church that he is failing to be the church. Man has lost the power over sin, flesh and the world. He has lost his love for one-another, for the lost and for God and His Word. Man no longer fears God but treats Him as a "Big Sugar Daddy." Man serves God as long as He serves him. Man claims to be alive in Christ while all along he is dead in his treaspasses.
Should we get quiet before the throne of God we just may hear Him crying out to the church today as He did in verse two to the church at Sardis, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die." Jesus is saying to His end-time church, "You have lost ground by carelessness, inattention and complacency. Wake up! And stay awake! Strengthen your convictions and desire for Holy things, your zeal and love for God. These attributes are barely noticeable and are becoming weaker to the point of dying completely." I have often wondered how a born-again person full of His Spirit can be a participant in things that are known to be sinful and yet feel no conviction for his actions. If one is participating in known sin and feels no conviction or remorse then his claim of being a christian would be somewhat questionable. Our works are not "perfect before God," they do not measure up to His standards. Man may view us as being saintly while God looks upon us with disdain.
The church today, as with Sardis, needs to repent at once for departing from our zeal and love for God. If we do not wake up from our complacant slumber then He will come upon us as a theif. Just as a theif comes unexpectantly, so Jesus will come to His church. He will come in judgement and cut us off from His abundant life. He is sounding the alarm through His 5-fold ministers that we must make ourselves ready for His soon return. We will either repent or be cast off and blotted out of His book of life.(Ex.32:32,33;Deut.29:20;Ps.69:28;Ps.109:13;Ps.139:16;Rev.3:5;Rev.22:19). No one can claim ignorance when he stands before God if he has heard the messages delivered by God through His preachers or even if he owns a Bible or has access to the truth but has denied it. Yet, as with the church at Sardis, God will have a holy remnant of people in His church who have not given in to this world. Those who have deliberately chosen holiness as a lifestyle. Those who walk in purity now will receive white raiment to wear for eternity. Only the righteous and pure will have their names remain in the Book of Life (vs.5).
Jesus concludes this letter by giving the church the promise that He will confess the overcomer's name before His Father and angels. He who overcomes this world and its sin shall be represented by Jesus on judgement day, He will be our Advocate(I John2:1). If we have confessed Him before man by living a life that reflects His holy presence while on this earth, then we can rest assured that He will confess us as His own before the Father. But if while professing His name on earth , yet not walking in His holiness and reflecting His image before man, He will deny us before the Father(Luke12:8,9). This is the warning of Jesus to the end-time Sardis church.
As we read verses one through six we find something missing that was given to the churches prior to Sardis --this letter does not start out with pleasantries. This is a dying church and Jesus goes straight to the problem in an attempt to resuscitate it. Along with the church of the Laodiceans, this church receives the most blame brought against it from Jesus. He begins this letter with His accusation against the church. "You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead." He is saying here to the church, "You have the reputation of being Christians and are thought to be alive in Me and spiritual things, but you are spiritually dead. You do not have the life that I give to souls. You have not walked consistantly with Me before man. You have not been steady in your lifestyle of Christlikeness. You have grieved My Spirit and I have withdrawn from you most of My light and power. You're not dead yet, but you are dying."
As I read these scriptures I must ask myself, "Am I more dead than alive, spiritually?" We all should ask ourselves this question in order to examine our relationship with God. I believe it is very easy for us to fall into a state of complacency and not even realize it. We need to make sure that Jesus is in complete control of our lives 24/7. It is easy to claim Jesus as our Saviour and to go through the motions of serving Him while all along we have grieved the Holy Spirit and He has departed. We may have a form of godliness but we deny the power of God that changes lives inside out. Unfortunately, this is the state of the church today, the end-time church.
In most churches today the Holy Spirit is no longer in charge. Man has his programs, plans, agendas and the best of the business minds to run the church. He is so busy having church that he is failing to be the church. Man has lost the power over sin, flesh and the world. He has lost his love for one-another, for the lost and for God and His Word. Man no longer fears God but treats Him as a "Big Sugar Daddy." Man serves God as long as He serves him. Man claims to be alive in Christ while all along he is dead in his treaspasses.
Should we get quiet before the throne of God we just may hear Him crying out to the church today as He did in verse two to the church at Sardis, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die." Jesus is saying to His end-time church, "You have lost ground by carelessness, inattention and complacency. Wake up! And stay awake! Strengthen your convictions and desire for Holy things, your zeal and love for God. These attributes are barely noticeable and are becoming weaker to the point of dying completely." I have often wondered how a born-again person full of His Spirit can be a participant in things that are known to be sinful and yet feel no conviction for his actions. If one is participating in known sin and feels no conviction or remorse then his claim of being a christian would be somewhat questionable. Our works are not "perfect before God," they do not measure up to His standards. Man may view us as being saintly while God looks upon us with disdain.
The church today, as with Sardis, needs to repent at once for departing from our zeal and love for God. If we do not wake up from our complacant slumber then He will come upon us as a theif. Just as a theif comes unexpectantly, so Jesus will come to His church. He will come in judgement and cut us off from His abundant life. He is sounding the alarm through His 5-fold ministers that we must make ourselves ready for His soon return. We will either repent or be cast off and blotted out of His book of life.(Ex.32:32,33;Deut.29:20;Ps.69:28;Ps.109:13;Ps.139:16;Rev.3:5;Rev.22:19). No one can claim ignorance when he stands before God if he has heard the messages delivered by God through His preachers or even if he owns a Bible or has access to the truth but has denied it. Yet, as with the church at Sardis, God will have a holy remnant of people in His church who have not given in to this world. Those who have deliberately chosen holiness as a lifestyle. Those who walk in purity now will receive white raiment to wear for eternity. Only the righteous and pure will have their names remain in the Book of Life (vs.5).
Jesus concludes this letter by giving the church the promise that He will confess the overcomer's name before His Father and angels. He who overcomes this world and its sin shall be represented by Jesus on judgement day, He will be our Advocate(I John2:1). If we have confessed Him before man by living a life that reflects His holy presence while on this earth, then we can rest assured that He will confess us as His own before the Father. But if while professing His name on earth , yet not walking in His holiness and reflecting His image before man, He will deny us before the Father(Luke12:8,9). This is the warning of Jesus to the end-time Sardis church.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.5
The next church in our study of the end times, that is reflected in the church today, is the church of Thyatira, the corrupt church (Rev.2:18-29). Jesus, as with the other letters to the churches, begins by pointing out the commendable things about this church. He acknowledges that they do have a love for God and each other. He lifts them up by referring to their faith in Jesus for salvation resulting in good works such as aiding the poor. They persevered while under persecutions and afflictions and continued in good works. Jesus recognizes that they have not only retained what they had received at first but they also grew in grace, faith and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Yet with all this good they had issues in their ranks that needed to be addressed; namely, they allowed a woman with a Jezebel spirit, who called herself a prophetess, to teach in their services. This resulted in the people of the church being lead into spiritual adultery and a lackadaisical attitude toward sin.
As the church enters the last of the last days she too will have many good works for which she is to be commended. However, this end-time church shall also have in it a spirit of Jezebel. As Jesus uses the name Jezebel He is referring to a spirit of manipulation. He gives it the name Jezebel because she was the ideal personification of a person controlled by a spirit of manipulation to be found in scripture. So when the name Jezebel is used when referring to someone it means that the person's character is likened to that of Jezebel, a manipulator.
Jezebel was an idol worshipper who induced her weak husband, Ahab, into her idol worship. She manipulated him to establish idol worship throughout his kingdom instead of the worship of the true God Jehovah. The name Jezebel implies one that is highly persuasive, gifted and artful. He is characterized as being determined and firm in the accomplishments of his purpose. One with a Jezebel spirit will even proudly flaunt his power to manipulate. The name here in verse twenty of chapter two is applied to a person who is capable of exerting a wide and persuasive influence over others. He is one who has talents of a high order. One who is a thorough advocate of error. He is unscrupulous in the means by which he employs for accomplishing his end. He has his way at any cost.
This was the condition of the church at Thyatira. There was a woman there who corrupted the true religion and harassed the followers of Christ in that city. And so it is in the end time church. Those under the influence of a Jezebel spirit, a spirit of manipulation (found in both male and female), will rise to positions of power and influence in the church. Whether they be found in the pulpit or the pew, they will corrupt the church. They will replace the gospel with a watered-down compromise version of the truth. They will replace the emphasis of prayer and the leading of the Spirit with programs and the plans of man. They, like Saul of Tarsus before his conversion, will believe themselves to be doing the will of God while all along they are deceived and deceiving others.
This Jezebel of Thyatira went so far as to call herself a prophetess. She actually thought that she was speaking on behalf of God to reveal His plan, purpose, will and design for His people, while all along she was deceived. She was instructing others in an erroneous understanding of Biblical truths. She manipulated the servants of God, His ministers, in order to pervert their religion. She promoted a spirit of the religion of man instead of the true religion of Christ.
The true religion of the Bible has nearly disappeared from our churches in these last days. It has been replaced by the humanistic religion of the world's mindset. The modern religion does not call for repentance. It flaunts its right to determine right from wrong based on man's intelligence, emotions and feelings. There are no absolutes. The Bible is open to whatever interpretation the one reading it determines. Even when in error one will persuade others that they have no right to tell them they are wrong.
This spirit of manipulation is not only in the church today, but it is growing. We have many self-appointed prophets, prophetesses, apostles, teachers, bishops, etc. Our televisions are full of "ministers" with big titles and full of the spirit of Jezebel. I heard one recently call herself Bishop, Apostle, Prophetess, Pastor, Doctor, Reverend so and so. I thought this woman needed a reality check. How could one address an envelope to her, for that BIG donation, when a standard envelope would not be large enough to print her titles on? Plus, how can one person fill all these offices and titles? I believe someone has a pride issue.
I often admonish people that if they are going to seek any of the nine manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit they should seek the gift of discernment. The followers of Christ need to discern what spirit is speaking when someone is preaching, teaching or giving a word of prophecy, wisdom or knowledge. Many false prophets, teachers, preachers, etc., have been sown into the church, the weeds with the wheat (Matt.13), the goats with the sheep (Matt.25). The only way of not being deceived is by the gift of discernment, knowledge of the scriptures and a father-child relationship with God, through prayer. Remember, there will be a great falling away from the truth in the end times and for this to happen there must be a deception that so resembles the true church that even the very elect may be deceived (Mark 13:22).
But even those who are controlled by the spirit of Jezebel have the mercy and grace of God extended to them. Even the false prophetess of Thyatira, as well as Jezebel of the Old Testament, were given a season of time in which they could repent. With Jezebel of the Old Testament, God sent a prophet to pronounce a severe judgement upon her and Ahab. Ahab showed tokens of repentance so God put off the punishment which also spared Jezebel temporarily. Thus, God gave Jezebel a space of time to repent, but instead of repenting she seduced even her sons into the same sin. She had no remorse for her actions. She was content to continue in her manipulative ways and her relentless attack upon those who stood for truth. She refused to see her wrong and to repent. Her punishment was declared in verses twenty-two and twenty- three. "Indeed I will cast her into a sick bed---I will kill her children." Ahaziah, one of Jezebel's sons, followed his mother's teachings. He fell from a terrace and became bedridden in great pain. Jezebel's other sons, along with her husband Ahab and his seventy sons, were slain by God's hand.
And so it will be to the Thyatira end-time church. God will bring His judgements and expose the spirit of manipulation and the sins of the church. Those who have been lead away from truth by the spirit of manipulation into spiritual adultery will pay a price. For these reason I believe many in the church today are afflicted, diseased, suffering and being tortured in their souls. They have followed the deceived and no longer follow truth. The Lord searches the innermost being and heart of man and He allows punishment to come to those who break His laws of purity. If our hearts are set on Him then we shall receive the rewards of power and the morning star. To those who overcome shall power be given to confute, confound and conquer the false doctrines and the powers of darkness. We become the rod of iron, Jesus' scepter, the instrument He uses for destroying false doctrines, false teachings and false teachers by exposing them.
As end-time overcomers we will destroy, pull down and break to pieces the works of the devil. We will operate in the same power that was given unto Jesus by the Father(Matt.28:18). This power is given only to the overcoming church. The one who will cast out the Jezebel spirit and sin. We then shall receive the Morning Star. Jesus said, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star" (Rev.22:16). We get to be with Jesus for eternity. Aren't you glad to be living in the most exciting times for the church---the end times?
As the church enters the last of the last days she too will have many good works for which she is to be commended. However, this end-time church shall also have in it a spirit of Jezebel. As Jesus uses the name Jezebel He is referring to a spirit of manipulation. He gives it the name Jezebel because she was the ideal personification of a person controlled by a spirit of manipulation to be found in scripture. So when the name Jezebel is used when referring to someone it means that the person's character is likened to that of Jezebel, a manipulator.
Jezebel was an idol worshipper who induced her weak husband, Ahab, into her idol worship. She manipulated him to establish idol worship throughout his kingdom instead of the worship of the true God Jehovah. The name Jezebel implies one that is highly persuasive, gifted and artful. He is characterized as being determined and firm in the accomplishments of his purpose. One with a Jezebel spirit will even proudly flaunt his power to manipulate. The name here in verse twenty of chapter two is applied to a person who is capable of exerting a wide and persuasive influence over others. He is one who has talents of a high order. One who is a thorough advocate of error. He is unscrupulous in the means by which he employs for accomplishing his end. He has his way at any cost.
This was the condition of the church at Thyatira. There was a woman there who corrupted the true religion and harassed the followers of Christ in that city. And so it is in the end time church. Those under the influence of a Jezebel spirit, a spirit of manipulation (found in both male and female), will rise to positions of power and influence in the church. Whether they be found in the pulpit or the pew, they will corrupt the church. They will replace the gospel with a watered-down compromise version of the truth. They will replace the emphasis of prayer and the leading of the Spirit with programs and the plans of man. They, like Saul of Tarsus before his conversion, will believe themselves to be doing the will of God while all along they are deceived and deceiving others.
This Jezebel of Thyatira went so far as to call herself a prophetess. She actually thought that she was speaking on behalf of God to reveal His plan, purpose, will and design for His people, while all along she was deceived. She was instructing others in an erroneous understanding of Biblical truths. She manipulated the servants of God, His ministers, in order to pervert their religion. She promoted a spirit of the religion of man instead of the true religion of Christ.
The true religion of the Bible has nearly disappeared from our churches in these last days. It has been replaced by the humanistic religion of the world's mindset. The modern religion does not call for repentance. It flaunts its right to determine right from wrong based on man's intelligence, emotions and feelings. There are no absolutes. The Bible is open to whatever interpretation the one reading it determines. Even when in error one will persuade others that they have no right to tell them they are wrong.
This spirit of manipulation is not only in the church today, but it is growing. We have many self-appointed prophets, prophetesses, apostles, teachers, bishops, etc. Our televisions are full of "ministers" with big titles and full of the spirit of Jezebel. I heard one recently call herself Bishop, Apostle, Prophetess, Pastor, Doctor, Reverend so and so. I thought this woman needed a reality check. How could one address an envelope to her, for that BIG donation, when a standard envelope would not be large enough to print her titles on? Plus, how can one person fill all these offices and titles? I believe someone has a pride issue.
I often admonish people that if they are going to seek any of the nine manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit they should seek the gift of discernment. The followers of Christ need to discern what spirit is speaking when someone is preaching, teaching or giving a word of prophecy, wisdom or knowledge. Many false prophets, teachers, preachers, etc., have been sown into the church, the weeds with the wheat (Matt.13), the goats with the sheep (Matt.25). The only way of not being deceived is by the gift of discernment, knowledge of the scriptures and a father-child relationship with God, through prayer. Remember, there will be a great falling away from the truth in the end times and for this to happen there must be a deception that so resembles the true church that even the very elect may be deceived (Mark 13:22).
But even those who are controlled by the spirit of Jezebel have the mercy and grace of God extended to them. Even the false prophetess of Thyatira, as well as Jezebel of the Old Testament, were given a season of time in which they could repent. With Jezebel of the Old Testament, God sent a prophet to pronounce a severe judgement upon her and Ahab. Ahab showed tokens of repentance so God put off the punishment which also spared Jezebel temporarily. Thus, God gave Jezebel a space of time to repent, but instead of repenting she seduced even her sons into the same sin. She had no remorse for her actions. She was content to continue in her manipulative ways and her relentless attack upon those who stood for truth. She refused to see her wrong and to repent. Her punishment was declared in verses twenty-two and twenty- three. "Indeed I will cast her into a sick bed---I will kill her children." Ahaziah, one of Jezebel's sons, followed his mother's teachings. He fell from a terrace and became bedridden in great pain. Jezebel's other sons, along with her husband Ahab and his seventy sons, were slain by God's hand.
And so it will be to the Thyatira end-time church. God will bring His judgements and expose the spirit of manipulation and the sins of the church. Those who have been lead away from truth by the spirit of manipulation into spiritual adultery will pay a price. For these reason I believe many in the church today are afflicted, diseased, suffering and being tortured in their souls. They have followed the deceived and no longer follow truth. The Lord searches the innermost being and heart of man and He allows punishment to come to those who break His laws of purity. If our hearts are set on Him then we shall receive the rewards of power and the morning star. To those who overcome shall power be given to confute, confound and conquer the false doctrines and the powers of darkness. We become the rod of iron, Jesus' scepter, the instrument He uses for destroying false doctrines, false teachings and false teachers by exposing them.
As end-time overcomers we will destroy, pull down and break to pieces the works of the devil. We will operate in the same power that was given unto Jesus by the Father(Matt.28:18). This power is given only to the overcoming church. The one who will cast out the Jezebel spirit and sin. We then shall receive the Morning Star. Jesus said, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star" (Rev.22:16). We get to be with Jesus for eternity. Aren't you glad to be living in the most exciting times for the church---the end times?
Saturday, July 10, 2010
End Time Study--Pt.4
Before getting into our study for this week I feel compelled to admonish you to get your finances in order. Our economy is about to implode and only those who have prepared will survive the fallout from the economic storm that is coming.
Now, on to our study of the seven churches of the Book of Revelation. The next example of the end-time church is the church at Pergamos, the compromising church (Rev.2:12-17). This church was surrounded by sin and the powers of darkness. There were temples erected there to honor Zeus, Athena, Dionysas, and Asklepios (the god of healing, called the god of Pergamos). The liberal and laxidaical beliefs of the Nicolaitans flourished there as well. The place was so full of paganism and idol worship that Jesus calls it the place where Satan's throne was and where Satan himself dwelled. Any place where Satan dwells, where sin abounds, where idol worship flourishes, is Satan's throne where he is king.
Does this not describe the world setting in which today's church is existing? The church (the body of Christ) is surrounded by sin and the powers of darkness. Just as it was in the days of Noah so it is in these last days. Violence, evil, wickedness and sin abound worldwide. No place is immune. Mankind, as a whole, has become worshippers of idols. We worship sports, leisure, recreation, pleasure, success, etc., etc.(II Tim.3:1-5). Some have made idols out of their churches, denominations, and even their ministers. We erect temples that glorify man's achievements and programs and call them christian churches. We have in the midst of most churches those who are liberal and laxidaical when it comes to moral issues (Nicolaitans). Truly the church at Pergamos is a picture of the end-time church of today.
Jesus seems to be upset by the fact that the church allowed people to serve in it while they held to the doctrine of Balaam. This was a people, though believing upon Jesus as the Christ, still wanted the things of the world. (To better understand who Balaam was and his "doctrine", read Numbers chapters 22,24,and 31). Being like Balaam means you want to serve God yet you want the pleasures and successes of the world around you. Balaam was influenced by his surroundings. He wanted the honor, fame, wealth and power that had been offered to him. Yet, he feared God. So he devised a plan whereby he could obey God by blessing Israel and yet receive what Balak offered him if he would have cursed Israel. Balak was simply afraid of Israel and wanted them cursed so he and his kingdom would not be destroyed. Balaam, while blessing Israel, gave Balak a plan that would result in God's anger being stirred up against Israel, which would ultimately bring them into subjection to Balak, thus sparing him and his kingdom.
So the doctrine of Balaam is where a preacher or minister in the church attempts to promote the cause of God by using an unholy partnership with the ungodly and the worldly, thus producing in the church a lifestyle of the world through the pleasing of the flesh. It's using worldly means to accomplish godly results. This would be like a church that is built upon the marketing and business plans of the world. It may be large and prosperous but is it holy? Some churches use the world's music, dress, language and Hollywood approach to influence their communities in order to attract them to their churches. This is the doctrine of Balaam. Mingling the world with the church. While society is doing all it can to separate the church from the state, it seems the church is doing all it can to marry the church to the state or, to say, the world. The church seems willing to compromise in the areas of holiness, righteousness and doctrinal purity in order to be people friendly. The message in today's modern church seems to be, "Whatever you deem right for you, do it. After all who am I to tell you that you are wrong or, worse still, committing sin?" This is the mindset of the doctrine of Balaam. You can have your cake and eat it too. You can go to heaven without giving up the world and the lust of the flesh. This the Pergamos end-time church.
Because the church at Pergamos did not take a strong stand against loose morals in the church, worldliness, idolatry and fornication were abundant in the church. There were no restraints to prevent a person from doing their own thing, in or out of the church. Jesus is announcing to this church that He hates anything that allows men to be taught to do their own thing which is what a compromising church does whether directly or indirectly. Jesus knew that when worldly things are allowed in the church they tend to rub off on the saints. Have you ever considered that when a person takes a good shower and puts on brand new clothes then goes outside and rolls in the mud, the mud does not become clean. Just the opposite occurs, the clean person becomes dirty. So it is with the church. It can be full of clean saints but when the mud of worldliness is allowed in, and embraced, the clean becomes defiled (I Cor.5:5-7). This desensitizes the church or dulls its sin conscience. We soon learn to live with sin instead of rebuking it because we are taught not to offend anyone.
The sin found in Pergamos, the end-time church, is that of allowing human understanding and feelings to dictate the standards of the church instead of the Word of God. The Word of God is the plumb line by which everything is to be measured, especially in the church. To this church Jesus says, Turn right now!! I'm coming soon to judge you. I will fight against those who uphold or tolerate the doctrine of humanism in My church that I died for."
The church today, for the most part, is living out the conditions found in the churches of Pergamos. By this we can realize that we truly are in the last of the last days. But the true church will be purged and cleansed from her whoredoms with this world by the Word of God. We shall see a return to purity and boldness to not only declare the absolute truth of God's Word, but also to live it. The churches finest hour is quickly approaching!!!
If you are enjoying this study of the end times, please let us know. E-mail us at bljames1947.yahoo.com or simply add a comment to this blog.
Now, on to our study of the seven churches of the Book of Revelation. The next example of the end-time church is the church at Pergamos, the compromising church (Rev.2:12-17). This church was surrounded by sin and the powers of darkness. There were temples erected there to honor Zeus, Athena, Dionysas, and Asklepios (the god of healing, called the god of Pergamos). The liberal and laxidaical beliefs of the Nicolaitans flourished there as well. The place was so full of paganism and idol worship that Jesus calls it the place where Satan's throne was and where Satan himself dwelled. Any place where Satan dwells, where sin abounds, where idol worship flourishes, is Satan's throne where he is king.
Does this not describe the world setting in which today's church is existing? The church (the body of Christ) is surrounded by sin and the powers of darkness. Just as it was in the days of Noah so it is in these last days. Violence, evil, wickedness and sin abound worldwide. No place is immune. Mankind, as a whole, has become worshippers of idols. We worship sports, leisure, recreation, pleasure, success, etc., etc.(II Tim.3:1-5). Some have made idols out of their churches, denominations, and even their ministers. We erect temples that glorify man's achievements and programs and call them christian churches. We have in the midst of most churches those who are liberal and laxidaical when it comes to moral issues (Nicolaitans). Truly the church at Pergamos is a picture of the end-time church of today.
Jesus seems to be upset by the fact that the church allowed people to serve in it while they held to the doctrine of Balaam. This was a people, though believing upon Jesus as the Christ, still wanted the things of the world. (To better understand who Balaam was and his "doctrine", read Numbers chapters 22,24,and 31). Being like Balaam means you want to serve God yet you want the pleasures and successes of the world around you. Balaam was influenced by his surroundings. He wanted the honor, fame, wealth and power that had been offered to him. Yet, he feared God. So he devised a plan whereby he could obey God by blessing Israel and yet receive what Balak offered him if he would have cursed Israel. Balak was simply afraid of Israel and wanted them cursed so he and his kingdom would not be destroyed. Balaam, while blessing Israel, gave Balak a plan that would result in God's anger being stirred up against Israel, which would ultimately bring them into subjection to Balak, thus sparing him and his kingdom.
So the doctrine of Balaam is where a preacher or minister in the church attempts to promote the cause of God by using an unholy partnership with the ungodly and the worldly, thus producing in the church a lifestyle of the world through the pleasing of the flesh. It's using worldly means to accomplish godly results. This would be like a church that is built upon the marketing and business plans of the world. It may be large and prosperous but is it holy? Some churches use the world's music, dress, language and Hollywood approach to influence their communities in order to attract them to their churches. This is the doctrine of Balaam. Mingling the world with the church. While society is doing all it can to separate the church from the state, it seems the church is doing all it can to marry the church to the state or, to say, the world. The church seems willing to compromise in the areas of holiness, righteousness and doctrinal purity in order to be people friendly. The message in today's modern church seems to be, "Whatever you deem right for you, do it. After all who am I to tell you that you are wrong or, worse still, committing sin?" This is the mindset of the doctrine of Balaam. You can have your cake and eat it too. You can go to heaven without giving up the world and the lust of the flesh. This the Pergamos end-time church.
Because the church at Pergamos did not take a strong stand against loose morals in the church, worldliness, idolatry and fornication were abundant in the church. There were no restraints to prevent a person from doing their own thing, in or out of the church. Jesus is announcing to this church that He hates anything that allows men to be taught to do their own thing which is what a compromising church does whether directly or indirectly. Jesus knew that when worldly things are allowed in the church they tend to rub off on the saints. Have you ever considered that when a person takes a good shower and puts on brand new clothes then goes outside and rolls in the mud, the mud does not become clean. Just the opposite occurs, the clean person becomes dirty. So it is with the church. It can be full of clean saints but when the mud of worldliness is allowed in, and embraced, the clean becomes defiled (I Cor.5:5-7). This desensitizes the church or dulls its sin conscience. We soon learn to live with sin instead of rebuking it because we are taught not to offend anyone.
The sin found in Pergamos, the end-time church, is that of allowing human understanding and feelings to dictate the standards of the church instead of the Word of God. The Word of God is the plumb line by which everything is to be measured, especially in the church. To this church Jesus says, Turn right now!! I'm coming soon to judge you. I will fight against those who uphold or tolerate the doctrine of humanism in My church that I died for."
The church today, for the most part, is living out the conditions found in the churches of Pergamos. By this we can realize that we truly are in the last of the last days. But the true church will be purged and cleansed from her whoredoms with this world by the Word of God. We shall see a return to purity and boldness to not only declare the absolute truth of God's Word, but also to live it. The churches finest hour is quickly approaching!!!
If you are enjoying this study of the end times, please let us know. E-mail us at bljames1947.yahoo.com or simply add a comment to this blog.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
End Time Study--Pt. 3
Let us continue our look at the seven churches of Revelation. The next letter to the churches with its message to the end-time church is written to the church of Smyrna (Rev.2:8-11). This church was in a region that was very hostile toward Christianity. Many martyrs would die here. The majority of the believers here were from the lower classes of people. They were poor by the world's standards but were rich in grace. Christianity held on here better than any where else in Asia. This church is the only church that survived among the seven churches of Asia. They may have been economically poor, and even persecuted, yet they had a strong faith. As it was then, so it is always, when it cost something to serve Him it proves our love for Him and strengthens our faith.
It would appear that today's church is largely prosperious economically, yet it is poor in spirit, holiness and righteousness. But as the church enters a time of persecution, tribulation and judgement, I believe we will see a call for and a return to holiness and a right relationship with God. Peter expressed this mindset in his first letter in chapter four verses sixteen through nineteen which states, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end to those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." When persecution comes to the church in the U.S., as it has already come in some other nations of the world, will we bring glory to the Lord by our faith or will we dishonor Him by our murmuring and complaining? Rest assured judgement is coming to the church. In fact I believe that it has already begun. God has already begun to expose the hidden sins of the church. It is as though God is drawing an imaginary line in the sand of time to see where the church will stand when sin is exposed. God is allowing ministers and their families to be sifted by the enemy that they may see what He sees--their hearts. Ministers are being exposed as adulterers, fornicators, frauds and thieves, not only that they may have the opportunity to repent and be restored, but also to see how the church will react to the sins of the ministers. Unfortunatly, for the most part, churches are failing miserably. Ministers can stand in their pulpits one Sunday and confess adultery, fraud, divorce, or any other sin, and be right back in their pulpits the next Sunday. The ministers have disregarded what the Bible says about sin and the congregations have lost their sin consciousness.
Many ministers no longer speak out against sin because they want the congregation to be programmed to overlook, or at best, excuse sin so that when the minister's sins are revealed the people will overlook them. The money keeps coming in. The requests for speaking engagements continue pouring in. The numbers increase as people realize that this minister is just "one of the guys;" he is just like them. Everyone is happy! Yet all the while God is grieved as His ministers and His people fail the test of loyalty to God and His Word. Judgement will reveal the phony ministers and the compromising congregations.
We are not only ill-equipped for the suffering of the end times but we have bought into the doctrine that we will be raptured before anything bad begins to happen. The church will go through the majority of the Great Tribulaton, but the true church will at the same time be like the church of Smyrna. It will be full of faith while being persecuted. God is bringing judgement to His church to test us. The hard times that await us will prove our faith. If our faith is in man or the things of this world, it will fail. If we are trusting in religion, denominations, the doctrines of man,the traditions of man or programs of man we will fail. Suffering for Christ is a privilege. If standing up for the gospel's sake brings persecution to us, then so be it. We will not be ashamed of the gospel. After all Jesus has already said here in this letter that the believers will be persecuted, put in prison and go through tribulation, yet if they remain faithful a crown of life awaits them. The church is growing up and maturing through the chastening rod of trials and persecutions that she may be ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. A glorious church refined by fire(ICor.3:9-15).
One other observation in this letter deserves our attention for the subject matter of our study, that being verse ten of chapter two which says, "---and you will have tribulation ten days---." These are prophetic days like the days spoken of in the Book of Daniel. Prophetic days stand for years. With this knowledge we understand that this verse means that the end-time church will endure ten years (ten days) of tribulation. This would imply that the church will begin to experience persecution at an accelerated rate three years before the Great Tribulation even begins. There is coming a time in the very near future when being called a Christian will expose you to excessive abuse. All of this will be setting the stage for the anti-christ to rise to power.
Historically, the churches of Asia suffered grievious affliction for ten years while under the reign of Diocletian. One Hebrew meaning of the number ten is frequency. For a decade the Christians of Asia frequently suffered persecution and abuse. And so it will be with the end-time church. For a decade the true church will suffer persecution and abuse with these ending at the last trumpet of God and the church being gathered in the clouds. Thus we see another Hebrew meaning for the number ten, that being completeness in divine order or fulness of time. God has a plan and He is working His plan. When the fulness of time is complete, according to God's plan and timetable, God will gather the saints of all the ages and then pour out His wrath upon the earth. But if the true church continues in faith and overcomes the trials of this life, she will not only receive a crown of life, she will "not be hurt by the second death," the lake of fire(Rev.20:14,15). Let's be overcomers.
It would appear that today's church is largely prosperious economically, yet it is poor in spirit, holiness and righteousness. But as the church enters a time of persecution, tribulation and judgement, I believe we will see a call for and a return to holiness and a right relationship with God. Peter expressed this mindset in his first letter in chapter four verses sixteen through nineteen which states, "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end to those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator." When persecution comes to the church in the U.S., as it has already come in some other nations of the world, will we bring glory to the Lord by our faith or will we dishonor Him by our murmuring and complaining? Rest assured judgement is coming to the church. In fact I believe that it has already begun. God has already begun to expose the hidden sins of the church. It is as though God is drawing an imaginary line in the sand of time to see where the church will stand when sin is exposed. God is allowing ministers and their families to be sifted by the enemy that they may see what He sees--their hearts. Ministers are being exposed as adulterers, fornicators, frauds and thieves, not only that they may have the opportunity to repent and be restored, but also to see how the church will react to the sins of the ministers. Unfortunatly, for the most part, churches are failing miserably. Ministers can stand in their pulpits one Sunday and confess adultery, fraud, divorce, or any other sin, and be right back in their pulpits the next Sunday. The ministers have disregarded what the Bible says about sin and the congregations have lost their sin consciousness.
Many ministers no longer speak out against sin because they want the congregation to be programmed to overlook, or at best, excuse sin so that when the minister's sins are revealed the people will overlook them. The money keeps coming in. The requests for speaking engagements continue pouring in. The numbers increase as people realize that this minister is just "one of the guys;" he is just like them. Everyone is happy! Yet all the while God is grieved as His ministers and His people fail the test of loyalty to God and His Word. Judgement will reveal the phony ministers and the compromising congregations.
We are not only ill-equipped for the suffering of the end times but we have bought into the doctrine that we will be raptured before anything bad begins to happen. The church will go through the majority of the Great Tribulaton, but the true church will at the same time be like the church of Smyrna. It will be full of faith while being persecuted. God is bringing judgement to His church to test us. The hard times that await us will prove our faith. If our faith is in man or the things of this world, it will fail. If we are trusting in religion, denominations, the doctrines of man,the traditions of man or programs of man we will fail. Suffering for Christ is a privilege. If standing up for the gospel's sake brings persecution to us, then so be it. We will not be ashamed of the gospel. After all Jesus has already said here in this letter that the believers will be persecuted, put in prison and go through tribulation, yet if they remain faithful a crown of life awaits them. The church is growing up and maturing through the chastening rod of trials and persecutions that she may be ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. A glorious church refined by fire(ICor.3:9-15).
One other observation in this letter deserves our attention for the subject matter of our study, that being verse ten of chapter two which says, "---and you will have tribulation ten days---." These are prophetic days like the days spoken of in the Book of Daniel. Prophetic days stand for years. With this knowledge we understand that this verse means that the end-time church will endure ten years (ten days) of tribulation. This would imply that the church will begin to experience persecution at an accelerated rate three years before the Great Tribulation even begins. There is coming a time in the very near future when being called a Christian will expose you to excessive abuse. All of this will be setting the stage for the anti-christ to rise to power.
Historically, the churches of Asia suffered grievious affliction for ten years while under the reign of Diocletian. One Hebrew meaning of the number ten is frequency. For a decade the Christians of Asia frequently suffered persecution and abuse. And so it will be with the end-time church. For a decade the true church will suffer persecution and abuse with these ending at the last trumpet of God and the church being gathered in the clouds. Thus we see another Hebrew meaning for the number ten, that being completeness in divine order or fulness of time. God has a plan and He is working His plan. When the fulness of time is complete, according to God's plan and timetable, God will gather the saints of all the ages and then pour out His wrath upon the earth. But if the true church continues in faith and overcomes the trials of this life, she will not only receive a crown of life, she will "not be hurt by the second death," the lake of fire(Rev.20:14,15). Let's be overcomers.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Rescue the Perishing
On Monday, May 31,2010, I received a vision from God that I believe is important enough to warrant interrupting our study of the end times to present it to you. I was awakened at 5:00AM and could not return to sleep. It was at this time that I saw the vision. I saw a young father standing along a street with his family. His six children were lined up beside him with his lovely wife at the end of the line. His children ranged in age from sixteen down to eight years of age. This family appeared to be a clean-cut, church going, normal all-American family except the entire family was nude. As I passed by, the father called to me saying, "Sir, for a dollar you can have sex with one of my children or for ten dollars you can have all of us, including my wife and myself, for one hour for your sexual pleasures. We are starving. We will do anything for food." I then got out of bed and headed for my living room. As I walked down the hall I began to cry and by the time I reached my living room I was crying harder than I have cried in years. I cried this way for over two hours as I prayed unto God for clarity on what I had seen.
I asked God if what I was seeing was real. He put it in my spirit that what I saw was real and that it would soon come to pass. He said that there is coming an economic crash "very soon" accompanied by a great famine. Parents will become so desperate to feed their children and to survive themselves that they will be willing to do anything for food. I said, "Lord, this can't be. What parent would do such a vile thing?" Then I was reminded of some current news stories where parents were trying to sell their children for sex on the Internet. A mother offered her six year old daughter. Another mother offered herself and her ten year old daughter for sex. A teen girl offered her younger sister to a group of boys for money and they raped the younger sister. Parents offer their children for money that they might support their addictions. Child abuse is rampant. Priest abusing young boys is on the rise. Ministers having sex with teenage girls is on the rise. This is becoming "normal." This isn't new. In chapter nineteen of the Book of Genesis we see where Lot was willing to give his two virgin daughters to a lustful gang of sodomites in order to save his male visitors. There seems to be a mindset that children are dispensable. We abandon them in divorce. We father them out of wedlock and walk away. We sacrifice them to this world because we are too busy to give them quality time. And worst of all, we murder them in the womb because they are an inconvenience. So it isn't beyond belief that as the economy crashes and food will be next to impossible to buy, parents will do the unthinkable. Desperate times call for desperate actions.
I was lead to read II Kings 6:24-29 and Rev.6:6. God said that this will soon take place here in the U.S. as well as the rest of the world. Jer.19:9 prophesied that we will become so desperate that we will even eat the flesh of other people. Eze.5:10 and Zec. 11:9 also refer to this being done. God showed me that this will all take place before the Great Tribulation. It will be this economic crash, as well the great famine and upheaval in the world, that will set the stage for the rise of the anti-christ. Man will be ready for a saviour. A man that promises change for the better. Man will do the unthinkable. Desperate times call for desperate actions.
God then began to show me the role of the true church in these desperate times. The church will be experiencing a time of miraculous provision. We are no longer to send out evangelistic teams, but Rescue Teams. We are to rescue the perishing!! God is going to give the true church equipping centers (cities of refuge) where we will equip the saints to go forth and gather the harvest of souls in these last days. We will lead the family I saw in my vision, as well as a great multitude of others, to Christ and then we will bring them in to are "cities of refuge" where we will feed them, clothe them and shelter them. We are to offer them the love of Christ then show them the love of Christ. We will prove to them Phil.4:19 and Matt.6:25-34 by the supernatural supply of God. We will have warehouses full of food and clothes. We will have shelters for all who come to Christ. We may have to acquire a taste for manna and water from a rock, but God will supply every need. Like the widow of Zarephath, our meal and oil (food) will not run out.
Then God spoke something into my heart that goes against all that I had been taught about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and sheltering the homeless. "We are NOT the world's guardian but its salvation!" The church has for years been pouring monies and work into countries and people that will never accept Jesus as their saviour, while all along we are ignoring those suffering in the shadow of the steeple. We are to meet the needs of the saints first and foremost. While we are giving our time and money to those who will never serve God, those that we are to rescue are perishing. "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."(Matt.7:6) We need discernment of the Spirit in these last days like never before. The very people we reach out to may be the very ones sent to destroy us. We must be lead by the Spirit as to whom we are to feed, clothe and shelter otherwise we may be using the goods for the body of Christ wastefully. Read Matt.25:34-46. As you read this you will see that Jesus is referring to saints (brethren) when He is speaking of feeding,clothing,etc. We are to take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ that are in need. James 2:15-16 tells us the same thing. In Acts 4 we see where the saints sold everything they had in order to see to it that there were no needs among the saints.
The meaning of this vision is very simply this, we are to rescue the perishing! We are to meet the needs of the saints by storing up food, clothing and preparing shelter. No more church as usual! Any church that does not have God's heart for the perishing in these last days will have His Spirit removed and Icabod written over it. We are to go into the highways and byways and compel whosoever to come to Jesus. If they accept the invitation to receive Jesus as their Saviour, then we are to rescue them not only from hell but from their plight.
I asked God if what I was seeing was real. He put it in my spirit that what I saw was real and that it would soon come to pass. He said that there is coming an economic crash "very soon" accompanied by a great famine. Parents will become so desperate to feed their children and to survive themselves that they will be willing to do anything for food. I said, "Lord, this can't be. What parent would do such a vile thing?" Then I was reminded of some current news stories where parents were trying to sell their children for sex on the Internet. A mother offered her six year old daughter. Another mother offered herself and her ten year old daughter for sex. A teen girl offered her younger sister to a group of boys for money and they raped the younger sister. Parents offer their children for money that they might support their addictions. Child abuse is rampant. Priest abusing young boys is on the rise. Ministers having sex with teenage girls is on the rise. This is becoming "normal." This isn't new. In chapter nineteen of the Book of Genesis we see where Lot was willing to give his two virgin daughters to a lustful gang of sodomites in order to save his male visitors. There seems to be a mindset that children are dispensable. We abandon them in divorce. We father them out of wedlock and walk away. We sacrifice them to this world because we are too busy to give them quality time. And worst of all, we murder them in the womb because they are an inconvenience. So it isn't beyond belief that as the economy crashes and food will be next to impossible to buy, parents will do the unthinkable. Desperate times call for desperate actions.
I was lead to read II Kings 6:24-29 and Rev.6:6. God said that this will soon take place here in the U.S. as well as the rest of the world. Jer.19:9 prophesied that we will become so desperate that we will even eat the flesh of other people. Eze.5:10 and Zec. 11:9 also refer to this being done. God showed me that this will all take place before the Great Tribulation. It will be this economic crash, as well the great famine and upheaval in the world, that will set the stage for the rise of the anti-christ. Man will be ready for a saviour. A man that promises change for the better. Man will do the unthinkable. Desperate times call for desperate actions.
God then began to show me the role of the true church in these desperate times. The church will be experiencing a time of miraculous provision. We are no longer to send out evangelistic teams, but Rescue Teams. We are to rescue the perishing!! God is going to give the true church equipping centers (cities of refuge) where we will equip the saints to go forth and gather the harvest of souls in these last days. We will lead the family I saw in my vision, as well as a great multitude of others, to Christ and then we will bring them in to are "cities of refuge" where we will feed them, clothe them and shelter them. We are to offer them the love of Christ then show them the love of Christ. We will prove to them Phil.4:19 and Matt.6:25-34 by the supernatural supply of God. We will have warehouses full of food and clothes. We will have shelters for all who come to Christ. We may have to acquire a taste for manna and water from a rock, but God will supply every need. Like the widow of Zarephath, our meal and oil (food) will not run out.
Then God spoke something into my heart that goes against all that I had been taught about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and sheltering the homeless. "We are NOT the world's guardian but its salvation!" The church has for years been pouring monies and work into countries and people that will never accept Jesus as their saviour, while all along we are ignoring those suffering in the shadow of the steeple. We are to meet the needs of the saints first and foremost. While we are giving our time and money to those who will never serve God, those that we are to rescue are perishing. "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."(Matt.7:6) We need discernment of the Spirit in these last days like never before. The very people we reach out to may be the very ones sent to destroy us. We must be lead by the Spirit as to whom we are to feed, clothe and shelter otherwise we may be using the goods for the body of Christ wastefully. Read Matt.25:34-46. As you read this you will see that Jesus is referring to saints (brethren) when He is speaking of feeding,clothing,etc. We are to take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ that are in need. James 2:15-16 tells us the same thing. In Acts 4 we see where the saints sold everything they had in order to see to it that there were no needs among the saints.
The meaning of this vision is very simply this, we are to rescue the perishing! We are to meet the needs of the saints by storing up food, clothing and preparing shelter. No more church as usual! Any church that does not have God's heart for the perishing in these last days will have His Spirit removed and Icabod written over it. We are to go into the highways and byways and compel whosoever to come to Jesus. If they accept the invitation to receive Jesus as their Saviour, then we are to rescue them not only from hell but from their plight.
Friday, June 4, 2010
End Time Study-Pt. 2
Truly if we are in the last of last days we must look at the church to see if she is prepared for the end-time events. Look at your own church , is it ready for the end-time events and harvest? Is the church at large equipped to answer the world's questions as end-time events are now unfolding? Do we know and understand the seasons and signs of the last days? I believe the seven churches of the Book of Revelation, among other things, are a picture of the end-time churches. This is why the end-time prophetic book begins by describing the churches. Yes, it is true that these were actual church regions in John's day, but they also hold the key to what the end-time church will look like. Most prophecy is given not just for the present time of the prophet, but also for the near and far future, thus it is recorded in our Bibles. If it were just for a one time event then it would not have been recorded for us today, except maybe for an example or historical significance.
We will begin our scriptural look at the end times by examining the churches of Revelation chapters two and three. Followed by dovetailing scriptures from Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, Matthew and others, in order to bring us into the current knowledge that God is revealing to His church.
Jesus begins His letters to the churches in chapter two verses one through seven with His letter to the church at Ephesus. As in all seven letters, this one is addressed to "the angel of the church." The term angel means the messenger or person sent or set by God to preside over His church. The Greek word used here is equivalent to the Hebrew "Sheliach Tsibbur" which means the messenger of the temple whose duties were to read, pray and teach in the synagogue. Today these letters would be addressed to the Senior Pastor or Minister of the church.
Jesus makes it clear in this verse that it is He who holds the true ministers of His Word in His right hand or, to say, by His power. He walks in the midst of the true churches of Jesus Christ, the candlesticks. Those churches bearing His light are those that He upholds in His right hand, or power. Unfortunately, today many ministers and churches are functioning without the light of Jesus. Many churches have become social bless me clubs while all the time believing that they are the true church. Yet, Ichabod (the Spirit has departed) has not only been written over the church but has labeled its minister. This will be the condition of some churches in the end time.
Some churches in the end times, like the church at Ephesus, will be known for their good works, labor and patience. They will not grow weary in well doing. They will be clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. They will be applauded by their communities for all their good works. They will be known as a church that opposes error in doctrine and never given to compromising the Word of God. They will have the reputation of being a church that will not tolerate evil and wicked people in their midst. They will not drop the standards of holiness. Plus, they will have great knowledge of the Word.
Because of their knowledge of the scriptures they test those claiming to be apostles. They know if the messages spoken are truly from God or merely a fabrication of the one delivering it. If the messengers do not measure up to the Word's requirements for his office and message, he is cast out as a liar. This is a church that rejects worldly music, immodest dress and lifestyles, false doctrine and anything forbidden by scripture. They have all the appearances of a New Testament church.
Like the church of Ephesus in verse three, the end-time church will be known as a church that perseveres through trials, persecutions and continues in good works. They will withstand the attempts of the false teachers to pull them away from the truth. Even though they will be keeping the faith, they will be found guilty of one thing by Jesus; namely, they have lost their first love.
An entire generation had elapsed since the founding of the church at Ephesus. With the passing of the first Ephesian converts came the inevitable cooling of spiritual zeal. The victories that the pioneers had won were taken for granted by the next generation of the church. They remained religious but had become unloving, self-righteous and proud. The church had become void of spiritual life. It did not retain its strong passion and affection for God which is present in a church that is in love with Jesus. But they had quit, forsaken, remitted, let down and lost their first love.
What is first love? It is much like the love between a man and a woman when they realize that they want to spend the rest of their lives together. This is first love. They act upon it and get married. But if they do not build upon their first love experience it will begin to grow cold and stagnate, especially during hard times. So it is with our first love experience with Jesus, our Bridegroom, we come to Him and we fall in love with Him; but if we do not build upon that first love experience, our love will grow cold and stagnate. We may continue going through the motions of being in love. We will testify of our love for Jesus. We will sing the songs of praise and worship. We will do all the things that a good bride is to do and all the while our love has grown cold, complacent and indifferent.
Our first love has another facet about it. When we have a first for anything or anyone it means that they are of the greatest value to us. Nothing else compares. No one else compares. The Ephesians had lost their first love for Jesus. Jesus was no longer their top priority. No matter how religious they appeared they no longer had the relationship with Jesus that they once had. The cares of life and the persecution of the saints had taken their toll. They were losing sight of the soon return of Jesus as decades past. They began to lose their relationship with God., through Jesus, and they did not even realize it.
Does this not happen in the church today? We too have persevered through trials and persecutions and have continued in good works. Yet our relationship with the Father, through Jesus, has turned into a religious lifestyle not the father-child relationship that it once was. The church today has become unloving, self-righteous and proud just like the Ephesian church. We have, for the most part, lost our zeal for spiritual things, holiness, righteousness, fear of God, and a strong passion and desire for a father-child relationship with God. In essence, we have lost our first love for Jesus. He is no longer our top priority. No longer does He occupy the number one spot in our hearts, desires and passions. We love Him for what He can give us or what He can do for us but not for who He is.
If the church is going to endure to the end of the tribulation, she must rediscover her first love experience. We must place supreme value on our relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. We must have our total affections and trust set upon Him. To fall in love all over again with Jesus and to rekindle the passion for His presence will sustain us through every circumstance of life and equip us for His appearing. We then can expect to "eat from the tree of life."(v.7)
We will begin our scriptural look at the end times by examining the churches of Revelation chapters two and three. Followed by dovetailing scriptures from Ezekiel, Daniel, Revelation, Matthew and others, in order to bring us into the current knowledge that God is revealing to His church.
Jesus begins His letters to the churches in chapter two verses one through seven with His letter to the church at Ephesus. As in all seven letters, this one is addressed to "the angel of the church." The term angel means the messenger or person sent or set by God to preside over His church. The Greek word used here is equivalent to the Hebrew "Sheliach Tsibbur" which means the messenger of the temple whose duties were to read, pray and teach in the synagogue. Today these letters would be addressed to the Senior Pastor or Minister of the church.
Jesus makes it clear in this verse that it is He who holds the true ministers of His Word in His right hand or, to say, by His power. He walks in the midst of the true churches of Jesus Christ, the candlesticks. Those churches bearing His light are those that He upholds in His right hand, or power. Unfortunately, today many ministers and churches are functioning without the light of Jesus. Many churches have become social bless me clubs while all the time believing that they are the true church. Yet, Ichabod (the Spirit has departed) has not only been written over the church but has labeled its minister. This will be the condition of some churches in the end time.
Some churches in the end times, like the church at Ephesus, will be known for their good works, labor and patience. They will not grow weary in well doing. They will be clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. They will be applauded by their communities for all their good works. They will be known as a church that opposes error in doctrine and never given to compromising the Word of God. They will have the reputation of being a church that will not tolerate evil and wicked people in their midst. They will not drop the standards of holiness. Plus, they will have great knowledge of the Word.
Because of their knowledge of the scriptures they test those claiming to be apostles. They know if the messages spoken are truly from God or merely a fabrication of the one delivering it. If the messengers do not measure up to the Word's requirements for his office and message, he is cast out as a liar. This is a church that rejects worldly music, immodest dress and lifestyles, false doctrine and anything forbidden by scripture. They have all the appearances of a New Testament church.
Like the church of Ephesus in verse three, the end-time church will be known as a church that perseveres through trials, persecutions and continues in good works. They will withstand the attempts of the false teachers to pull them away from the truth. Even though they will be keeping the faith, they will be found guilty of one thing by Jesus; namely, they have lost their first love.
An entire generation had elapsed since the founding of the church at Ephesus. With the passing of the first Ephesian converts came the inevitable cooling of spiritual zeal. The victories that the pioneers had won were taken for granted by the next generation of the church. They remained religious but had become unloving, self-righteous and proud. The church had become void of spiritual life. It did not retain its strong passion and affection for God which is present in a church that is in love with Jesus. But they had quit, forsaken, remitted, let down and lost their first love.
What is first love? It is much like the love between a man and a woman when they realize that they want to spend the rest of their lives together. This is first love. They act upon it and get married. But if they do not build upon their first love experience it will begin to grow cold and stagnate, especially during hard times. So it is with our first love experience with Jesus, our Bridegroom, we come to Him and we fall in love with Him; but if we do not build upon that first love experience, our love will grow cold and stagnate. We may continue going through the motions of being in love. We will testify of our love for Jesus. We will sing the songs of praise and worship. We will do all the things that a good bride is to do and all the while our love has grown cold, complacent and indifferent.
Our first love has another facet about it. When we have a first for anything or anyone it means that they are of the greatest value to us. Nothing else compares. No one else compares. The Ephesians had lost their first love for Jesus. Jesus was no longer their top priority. No matter how religious they appeared they no longer had the relationship with Jesus that they once had. The cares of life and the persecution of the saints had taken their toll. They were losing sight of the soon return of Jesus as decades past. They began to lose their relationship with God., through Jesus, and they did not even realize it.
Does this not happen in the church today? We too have persevered through trials and persecutions and have continued in good works. Yet our relationship with the Father, through Jesus, has turned into a religious lifestyle not the father-child relationship that it once was. The church today has become unloving, self-righteous and proud just like the Ephesian church. We have, for the most part, lost our zeal for spiritual things, holiness, righteousness, fear of God, and a strong passion and desire for a father-child relationship with God. In essence, we have lost our first love for Jesus. He is no longer our top priority. No longer does He occupy the number one spot in our hearts, desires and passions. We love Him for what He can give us or what He can do for us but not for who He is.
If the church is going to endure to the end of the tribulation, she must rediscover her first love experience. We must place supreme value on our relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. We must have our total affections and trust set upon Him. To fall in love all over again with Jesus and to rekindle the passion for His presence will sustain us through every circumstance of life and equip us for His appearing. We then can expect to "eat from the tree of life."(v.7)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
End Time Study-Pt. I
Jesus said, "Behold, I come quickly---; And, behold, I come quickly---; surely I come quickly---" (Rev. 22:7,12,20). I believe Jesus wanted His followers to understand that He is coming quickly. He even promised His followers in John 14:1-3, before His death and subsequent resurrection and ascension, that He would go away and prepare a place for them. And if He would go then He would return for them so that they could forever be with Him. Even the angels promised those who witnessed the ascension of Jesus that, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Throughout the New Testament and even in portions of the Old Testament we find scriptures dealing with the end times, the rapture or the gathering of the saints and the return of Jesus. Yet no one knows the day or the hour that He will return. But throughout scripture God has given us clues as to when the season of the return of Christ will be.
Many have given their predictions as to exactly when Jesus would return, and they have all been wrong. We must understand all the scriptures pertaining to Jesus' return, as well as all the predicted events of the end time occurring, before we can draw any concrete conclusions as to when the season of His return will be.
Although no man knows the day or hour of Jesus' return, the Bible makes it very clear that that day will not take the saints by surprise (I Thes. 5:1-11). God wants to equip the saints with the knowledge they need to be prepared for what is about to break loose in the earth and the heavenlies.
Some of the events that must take place during the generation that will witness the return of Jesus are Israel, the Jews, would gather to their homeland and would become a nation again. This occurred on May 15,1948. Also, the temple is to be rebuilt in Jerusalem where the sacrifices will be offered up again. It has been reported that the Sanhedrin have reformed in Israel and are currently looking for direct descendants from the tribe of Levi in order to train them as priests to do the daily sacrifices. There are also reports of them doing a worldwide search for a red heifer whose sacrifice is needed for the dedication and purification of a temple. These events are some of the events that must happen to Israel, in one generation, before Jesus' return. Another event leading up to the return of Jesus is found in II Peter 3:3, 4, that being, "in the last days there will be those, who walking in their own lust, will scoff and mockingly proclaim, 'where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" I believe that even those within the confines of most churches are now, if not saying this are at least, believing it. This is easily substantiated by simply observing the lifestyles of the average church attendee today. Do their lifestyles reflect holiness and righteousness? Are they more earthly focused than eternally focused? Do they bear a burden for the lost? Do they make the effort to clothe the naked and feed the hungry? If the answer is no to these questions, then sadly we must say, we are not looking for or hastening the coming of the Lord.
Another sign or event to be fulfilled before Jesus returns is the characteristics and lifestyles of the people toward the end of the history of mankind. The Modern Language Bible states it this way, "But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, avaricious, boasters, haughty, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, irreverent, without natural affection, relentless, slanderers, uncontrolled, brutal, with no love for the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. While retaining a form of piety, they are strangers to its power." (II Tim.3:1-5). I believe we all would agree that these scriptures are definitely being fulfilled worldwide.
If there was ever evidence of end-time scriptures being fulfilled, it is the fulfillment of II Tim. 4:3, 4 that is taking place today. Paul warns us here, "For there is going to come a time when people won't listen to the truth, but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. They won't listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas." (TLB). Many of our mega churches today are evidence of people going where their ears are being tickled or hearing the things that make them feel good about themselves. People do not want to hear anyone pointing out sins that they may be comfortably living in. And God forbid if a minister would call them to repentance. Instead our churches must be people friendly and, by all means, nothing should ever be said that may cause embarrassment or discomfort to the attendees. Everyone, regardless of their lifestyles, are to be made to feel welcomed, received, blessed and saved because after all they are in "our" church. I stand amazed at the arrogance of people today. Even when I quote nothing but scriptures, they still disagree with what I say when pointing out their shortcomings. They are determined to follow their own misguided ideas. It's as though everyone has their own plan of salvation all worked out and no one can tell them that they are wrong.
Then there are the signs spoken by Jesus recorded in Matthew twenty-four. He says in the end times there shall be wars and rumors of wars(v.6); famine, pestilences and earthquakes(v.7); christians will be hated(v.9); we shall betray one another and hate one another(v.10); false teachers and preachers shall arise(v.11); and sin will abound, lawlessness will prevail and the love of many will wax cold(v.12). I would dare say that each of these signs are prevalent in our world today.
II Thes. 2:3 tells us that before Jesus comes back there must first be a great falling away from the faith and the anti-Christ must be revealed . The falling away has and is occurring and it will be magnified during the Great Tribulation. And the anti-Christ will not be revealed until the mid-point of the Tribulation.
All of these things must occur before Jesus returns. Are we close? I say definitely, factually and scripturally--YES! We shall look at these signs and events more in depth as we look at the end time scriptures further to prove that we are in the last of the last days. But for now I must reiterate that no man knows the day or the hour of our Lord's return, but the body of Christ shall know the season of His return. We are not the children of darkness, so the day of His return will not surprise us like a thief in the night. God is increasing revelation knowledge about the end times as never before in order to prepare His people to be able to persevere to the end. Even Jesus told us in Matthew twenty-four to observe the fig tree. He stated that just as we can tell by the tenderness of the branches and the budding of leaves that summer is near, so it will be before He returns. We will know the season by the signs and events foretold in scripture.
Daniel tells us that in the last days, during the Great Tribulation, "---that the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many." (Dan.11:32, 33). The true church, those who understand the seasons, signs, events and scriptures dealing with the end times, will be strong and will be able to instruct the masses as to what is occurring in the world around them. I believe this wisdom of the end-time events along with the exploits of the believers is what will cause many to believe upon Jesus Christ as the Messiah, a great harvest of souls as it were.
So we must be wise pertaining to the end times. This wisdom will be brought about by increased knowledge (Dan.12:4) from God. The world will be asking questions about the events occurring in the world and the church will have the answers. Nothing will take us by surprise. We must realize that the words of John in Rev. 1:3, "---for the time is near," is upon this generation and we must make ready for "the Bridegroom cometh."(Matt. 25:6)
Many have given their predictions as to exactly when Jesus would return, and they have all been wrong. We must understand all the scriptures pertaining to Jesus' return, as well as all the predicted events of the end time occurring, before we can draw any concrete conclusions as to when the season of His return will be.
Although no man knows the day or hour of Jesus' return, the Bible makes it very clear that that day will not take the saints by surprise (I Thes. 5:1-11). God wants to equip the saints with the knowledge they need to be prepared for what is about to break loose in the earth and the heavenlies.
Some of the events that must take place during the generation that will witness the return of Jesus are Israel, the Jews, would gather to their homeland and would become a nation again. This occurred on May 15,1948. Also, the temple is to be rebuilt in Jerusalem where the sacrifices will be offered up again. It has been reported that the Sanhedrin have reformed in Israel and are currently looking for direct descendants from the tribe of Levi in order to train them as priests to do the daily sacrifices. There are also reports of them doing a worldwide search for a red heifer whose sacrifice is needed for the dedication and purification of a temple. These events are some of the events that must happen to Israel, in one generation, before Jesus' return. Another event leading up to the return of Jesus is found in II Peter 3:3, 4, that being, "in the last days there will be those, who walking in their own lust, will scoff and mockingly proclaim, 'where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.'" I believe that even those within the confines of most churches are now, if not saying this are at least, believing it. This is easily substantiated by simply observing the lifestyles of the average church attendee today. Do their lifestyles reflect holiness and righteousness? Are they more earthly focused than eternally focused? Do they bear a burden for the lost? Do they make the effort to clothe the naked and feed the hungry? If the answer is no to these questions, then sadly we must say, we are not looking for or hastening the coming of the Lord.
Another sign or event to be fulfilled before Jesus returns is the characteristics and lifestyles of the people toward the end of the history of mankind. The Modern Language Bible states it this way, "But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of themselves, avaricious, boasters, haughty, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, irreverent, without natural affection, relentless, slanderers, uncontrolled, brutal, with no love for the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. While retaining a form of piety, they are strangers to its power." (II Tim.3:1-5). I believe we all would agree that these scriptures are definitely being fulfilled worldwide.
If there was ever evidence of end-time scriptures being fulfilled, it is the fulfillment of II Tim. 4:3, 4 that is taking place today. Paul warns us here, "For there is going to come a time when people won't listen to the truth, but will go around looking for teachers who will tell them just what they want to hear. They won't listen to what the Bible says but will blithely follow their own misguided ideas." (TLB). Many of our mega churches today are evidence of people going where their ears are being tickled or hearing the things that make them feel good about themselves. People do not want to hear anyone pointing out sins that they may be comfortably living in. And God forbid if a minister would call them to repentance. Instead our churches must be people friendly and, by all means, nothing should ever be said that may cause embarrassment or discomfort to the attendees. Everyone, regardless of their lifestyles, are to be made to feel welcomed, received, blessed and saved because after all they are in "our" church. I stand amazed at the arrogance of people today. Even when I quote nothing but scriptures, they still disagree with what I say when pointing out their shortcomings. They are determined to follow their own misguided ideas. It's as though everyone has their own plan of salvation all worked out and no one can tell them that they are wrong.
Then there are the signs spoken by Jesus recorded in Matthew twenty-four. He says in the end times there shall be wars and rumors of wars(v.6); famine, pestilences and earthquakes(v.7); christians will be hated(v.9); we shall betray one another and hate one another(v.10); false teachers and preachers shall arise(v.11); and sin will abound, lawlessness will prevail and the love of many will wax cold(v.12). I would dare say that each of these signs are prevalent in our world today.
II Thes. 2:3 tells us that before Jesus comes back there must first be a great falling away from the faith and the anti-Christ must be revealed . The falling away has and is occurring and it will be magnified during the Great Tribulation. And the anti-Christ will not be revealed until the mid-point of the Tribulation.
All of these things must occur before Jesus returns. Are we close? I say definitely, factually and scripturally--YES! We shall look at these signs and events more in depth as we look at the end time scriptures further to prove that we are in the last of the last days. But for now I must reiterate that no man knows the day or the hour of our Lord's return, but the body of Christ shall know the season of His return. We are not the children of darkness, so the day of His return will not surprise us like a thief in the night. God is increasing revelation knowledge about the end times as never before in order to prepare His people to be able to persevere to the end. Even Jesus told us in Matthew twenty-four to observe the fig tree. He stated that just as we can tell by the tenderness of the branches and the budding of leaves that summer is near, so it will be before He returns. We will know the season by the signs and events foretold in scripture.
Daniel tells us that in the last days, during the Great Tribulation, "---that the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And those of the people who understand shall instruct many." (Dan.11:32, 33). The true church, those who understand the seasons, signs, events and scriptures dealing with the end times, will be strong and will be able to instruct the masses as to what is occurring in the world around them. I believe this wisdom of the end-time events along with the exploits of the believers is what will cause many to believe upon Jesus Christ as the Messiah, a great harvest of souls as it were.
So we must be wise pertaining to the end times. This wisdom will be brought about by increased knowledge (Dan.12:4) from God. The world will be asking questions about the events occurring in the world and the church will have the answers. Nothing will take us by surprise. We must realize that the words of John in Rev. 1:3, "---for the time is near," is upon this generation and we must make ready for "the Bridegroom cometh."(Matt. 25:6)
Friday, May 14, 2010
Why doesn't God use me?
Have you ever asked yourself the question,"Why doesn't God use me?" Do you feel that you are destined to be used of God? If so, why aren't you being used? I admonish you to ask yourself another question, "Is there anything in my life that is defiling me?" I was asking God why He isn't using me on the level that He called me to and I heard that voice within tell me that I was defiled. It was as if God spoke into my heart,"I cannot use you until that which defiles you is removed." To say the least this surprised me. I thought everything between me and God was right on. His Holy Spirit then began to reveal to me the things that are defiling me. Needless to say I had some serious repenting to do which lead to a sense of freedom that I have not felt for a long time. In fact God has been using me since this prayer time to speak into other people's lives and to minister to people at a new level.
If you have been called to minister at any level, from cleaning the church, to counseling, to teaching, to preaching to thousands, and yet it seems that you simply can not obtain the call on your life, you may be defiled; if so rest assured,"...Your sin will find you out."(Num.32:23) Jesus put it this way,"For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light."(Luke 8:17) Our secrets, our defilements, will be made known. Over the last few decades God has been using the media and other means to expose the defilement in the pulpits of America. Judgement has begun in the house of God.(I Peter 4:17)
I know that we are in the last of the last days. The true believers will be blamed for most of the world's problems and will be treated as criminals. As such we will be under constant surveillance. What we watch on T.V. is already being monitored to rate shows. Our computer use is monitored. This is how they catch child porn users. If we have any defilements it will be made known to discredit us. In this,the end times, God is looking for a people who are seeking Him, His kingdom, His righteousness; not defiling themselves; pure and holy; above reproach. God will no longer entrust His ministry to those who are defiled. He is ready for harvest! The defiled can not be used for harvest because the "whosoever will" that God wants to save are looking for the Truth--Jesus. The Jesus that changes lives. If we are defiled, they will not see the Jesus they need. Our defilements destroy our ministry, our testimony, and the witness we had to the "whosoever will" who has been listening to and watching us.
As God was revealing my defilements, He showed me just how we get defiled. He gave me Psalm 101:2-4. He had me focus on verse three, "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes." David, a man after God's heart, set before his eyes a young woman bathing; he began to lust for her which led to adultry, murder and the death of a child. Samson set before his eyes Delilah and lost his ability to be used of God. Herod set before his eyes the daughter of Herodias and it caused him to behead John the Baptist. Just what do we set before our eyes that defiles us? God showed me four areas that Satan uses to defile us thus rendering us unsuitable for God's use.
The first of these is television. What do we watch in the hidden place of our homes? If we watch programs that show violence, this defiles us. We may have outbursts of anger. We may develop a get-even mentality. If we set before us programs that use profanity, this defiles us. In the heat of the moment we too may use profanity because our minds have absorbed this and it will express itself through us. This destroys our witness to the "whosoever will." If we set before us programs containing sex and seduction, this defiles us. This produces lust, an improper attitude toward sex, a means to manipulate the opposite sex, an attitude that says our spouses do not measure up; and it encourages multiple partners. Remember our T.V. program selection is being monitored and can be used to expose our sins that will destroy our witness.
The second means that Satan uses to defile us is our misuse of our computers. What do we click on? Porn? This defiles us. Our computer activity is also monitored. If we are viewing anything that defiles it will be revealed.
The third thing used by Satan to defile us are movies. What movies do we set before us that defiles us? It ceases to amaze me how professing christians can come up with so many lame reasons that it is okay to go to movies that show nudity, sex, violence and use profanity, especially God's name in vain, while all along they are being desensitized to accept the world's ways. They pay big bucks to Hollywood so they can keep on producing more defilement. Most will say ,"I am free to do whatever as long as it does not convict me." For those of this ill-informed mindset may I suggest that you read I Cor.8:3-13. This pertains to more than our eating meats, it applies to every aspect of our lives. "But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak."(vs.9) Remember we are being watched by non-believers, new converts (the weak), christians (who will lose confidence in our ability to lead), and Big Brother who will use everything they can to destroy our witness.
The fourth, but I'm sure not the last, thing that Satan sets before us that defiles us is our thoughts. What do we meditate on? If our thoughts are not pure, then they will defile us. If we are envious, jealous, covetous, lusting, etc. in our minds --we are defiled.
"To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure: But even their mind and conscience are DEFILED, they profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and DISQUALIFIED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK."(Titus 1:15,16)When we set wicked things before our eyes, we become defiled and disqualified to be used by God. The Message Bible states,"They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words." What are your actions (your language,what you watch on T.V., movies and on the computer) saying to those around you and more importantly to God?
We are the end-time church. We will suffer persecution. We will be followed and monitored. God is looking for laborers for the harvest. But He cannot and will not use the defiled. Are you still asking,"Why doesn't God use me?" Are you called out, gifted, talented, annointed, destined, yet there you sit? Be sure of this, "your sin will find you out," "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light." The very reason that you may not be where God wants to use you may be because you are defiling yourself, rendering yourself unusable.You may think that it is all hidden thus not hurting anyone but God sees and He will expose the defilements for all to see. Nothing in secret will stay hidden.
What can you do to make yourself usable? Start by repenting for allowing the enemy of your soul to set before you that which is considered wicked in God's sight.Pray Psalm 139:23,24, and be sincere. Then follow Paul's advice in Romans 12:1,2, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Make up your mind that you "will set nothing wicked before my (your) eyes."
If you have been called to minister at any level, from cleaning the church, to counseling, to teaching, to preaching to thousands, and yet it seems that you simply can not obtain the call on your life, you may be defiled; if so rest assured,"...Your sin will find you out."(Num.32:23) Jesus put it this way,"For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light."(Luke 8:17) Our secrets, our defilements, will be made known. Over the last few decades God has been using the media and other means to expose the defilement in the pulpits of America. Judgement has begun in the house of God.(I Peter 4:17)
I know that we are in the last of the last days. The true believers will be blamed for most of the world's problems and will be treated as criminals. As such we will be under constant surveillance. What we watch on T.V. is already being monitored to rate shows. Our computer use is monitored. This is how they catch child porn users. If we have any defilements it will be made known to discredit us. In this,the end times, God is looking for a people who are seeking Him, His kingdom, His righteousness; not defiling themselves; pure and holy; above reproach. God will no longer entrust His ministry to those who are defiled. He is ready for harvest! The defiled can not be used for harvest because the "whosoever will" that God wants to save are looking for the Truth--Jesus. The Jesus that changes lives. If we are defiled, they will not see the Jesus they need. Our defilements destroy our ministry, our testimony, and the witness we had to the "whosoever will" who has been listening to and watching us.
As God was revealing my defilements, He showed me just how we get defiled. He gave me Psalm 101:2-4. He had me focus on verse three, "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes." David, a man after God's heart, set before his eyes a young woman bathing; he began to lust for her which led to adultry, murder and the death of a child. Samson set before his eyes Delilah and lost his ability to be used of God. Herod set before his eyes the daughter of Herodias and it caused him to behead John the Baptist. Just what do we set before our eyes that defiles us? God showed me four areas that Satan uses to defile us thus rendering us unsuitable for God's use.
The first of these is television. What do we watch in the hidden place of our homes? If we watch programs that show violence, this defiles us. We may have outbursts of anger. We may develop a get-even mentality. If we set before us programs that use profanity, this defiles us. In the heat of the moment we too may use profanity because our minds have absorbed this and it will express itself through us. This destroys our witness to the "whosoever will." If we set before us programs containing sex and seduction, this defiles us. This produces lust, an improper attitude toward sex, a means to manipulate the opposite sex, an attitude that says our spouses do not measure up; and it encourages multiple partners. Remember our T.V. program selection is being monitored and can be used to expose our sins that will destroy our witness.
The second means that Satan uses to defile us is our misuse of our computers. What do we click on? Porn? This defiles us. Our computer activity is also monitored. If we are viewing anything that defiles it will be revealed.
The third thing used by Satan to defile us are movies. What movies do we set before us that defiles us? It ceases to amaze me how professing christians can come up with so many lame reasons that it is okay to go to movies that show nudity, sex, violence and use profanity, especially God's name in vain, while all along they are being desensitized to accept the world's ways. They pay big bucks to Hollywood so they can keep on producing more defilement. Most will say ,"I am free to do whatever as long as it does not convict me." For those of this ill-informed mindset may I suggest that you read I Cor.8:3-13. This pertains to more than our eating meats, it applies to every aspect of our lives. "But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak."(vs.9) Remember we are being watched by non-believers, new converts (the weak), christians (who will lose confidence in our ability to lead), and Big Brother who will use everything they can to destroy our witness.
The fourth, but I'm sure not the last, thing that Satan sets before us that defiles us is our thoughts. What do we meditate on? If our thoughts are not pure, then they will defile us. If we are envious, jealous, covetous, lusting, etc. in our minds --we are defiled.
"To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure: But even their mind and conscience are DEFILED, they profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and DISQUALIFIED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK."(Titus 1:15,16)When we set wicked things before our eyes, we become defiled and disqualified to be used by God. The Message Bible states,"They say they know God, but their actions speak louder than their words." What are your actions (your language,what you watch on T.V., movies and on the computer) saying to those around you and more importantly to God?
We are the end-time church. We will suffer persecution. We will be followed and monitored. God is looking for laborers for the harvest. But He cannot and will not use the defiled. Are you still asking,"Why doesn't God use me?" Are you called out, gifted, talented, annointed, destined, yet there you sit? Be sure of this, "your sin will find you out," "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light." The very reason that you may not be where God wants to use you may be because you are defiling yourself, rendering yourself unusable.You may think that it is all hidden thus not hurting anyone but God sees and He will expose the defilements for all to see. Nothing in secret will stay hidden.
What can you do to make yourself usable? Start by repenting for allowing the enemy of your soul to set before you that which is considered wicked in God's sight.Pray Psalm 139:23,24, and be sincere. Then follow Paul's advice in Romans 12:1,2, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Make up your mind that you "will set nothing wicked before my (your) eyes."
Friday, May 7, 2010
Women Are Awesome
In honor of Mother's Day, I would like to deviate from our endtime focus and share with you an excerpt about women from my book,"Nothing But The Blood--How Christ's Passion Reversd the Curses of Sin."
When God decided to create a helpmate for man, Adam, He did not form her from the dust of the ground as He had done in creating man. He brought her forth from something already created and living, man. When God created Adam, man, He created him both male and female. “So God Created man (singular) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; (singular) male and female created he them. (plural)” (Gen. 1:27, emphasis added) “Male and female created he them; (plural) and blessed them, (plural) and called their (plural) name Adam, (singular, man) in the day when they (plural) were created.” (Gen. 5:2, emphasis added) Eve was already created in Adam; she just had not been “birthed” yet. God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and He then performed a cesarean section on him and woman, Eve, was “birthed.” (Gen. 2:21-25) From the side of the first Adam God “birthed” woman and brought into being that which would allow Him to have a people that He could have a Father-child relationship with.
When Adam “birthed” Eve she was to be a helpmate to him. Just what is a “helpmate” or “helpmeet?” Its definition is simply a helper or partner. But help to do what or partner to what? Man was destined by God to “…be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:…” (Gen. 1:28) In order for man to multiply he needed a partner, a helper. This was one task he could not do alone, thus came Eve “…the mother of all living…” (Gen. 3:20), to make him complete for the task of multiplying and filling the earth. But man was also to have dominion “…over every living thing that moveth upon the earth…” (Gen. 1:28, emphasis added). Man was to take the lead in all things, especially in maintaining the Father-child relationship with Jehovah.
Man was created to follow God. He was to be the spiritual leader of the family, the high priest of his home. He brings strength, security, supply and spiritual relationship to the family. His helpmate brings emotion, balance and guidance to the family. Women have the most important and privileged position on earth. They are “helpmates.” How many of you know that woman can make man do just about anything. Ask Sampson about his Delilah or King Ahab about his Jezebel or John the Baptist about the daughter of Herodias. Though man has dominion, woman can so easily conquer him. God has given woman this ability to guide man. She can either use it for good or for evil. She is the rudder on the ship called man. She can steer him toward a Father-child relationship with Jehovah or she can steer him away from God for her own selfish desires. The old quote “Behind every successful man is a good woman,” is oh so true. Who do most young boys turn to when they have a question about life – mom. Why? Because she guides, encourages and steers him toward high and lofty goals.
So a helpmate is one who steers her husband and family towards God. She encourages them to be in such a close relationship with God that He can use them for what He purposed for their lives before the foundation of the earth. A godly woman can be so mightily used of God to mold godly character, to instruct, to guide, to encourage her mate to reach all his potential for God. When a woman is in her rightful place of helpmate, she will receive a mate who will love her “as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Eph. 5:25) When a man is in a right relationship with God, his wife receives a husband who will lay down his life, his self will and desires in order to show her the Father’s unconditional love. She has a mate that she can trust and know that he will always be faithful to her because of his love for God. This meets the most common needs of a woman; i.e., security, a feeling of safety, confidence in who she is and in her relationship with her husband. When a wife is supporting and encouraging (not nagging) her husband in his walk with God, their life together will be long, loving, peaceful and will produce a family after God’s heart.
This was God’s intention for woman, not a subservient position, but a partnership to make one complete person following God’s plan for their lives. A husband and wife in love with and flowing in their godly roles will cause the devils to tremble. When mom and dad are in unity, there will be unity in the home. This is one of the worst enemies Satan has – a unified body of believers. This is why Satan has attacked women so violently. He wants them independent, have no need of man, use their God-given powers to manipulate man towards evil. If you don’t believe this, all you have to do is watch anything on television and you’ll see the appeal to one of man’s strongest appetites – sex. Satan is devouring our men, including our ministers and other Christian leaders, through the manipulating power of a sensual woman. It’s time for men to rise up and become the warriors God intended them to be. They should fight for their wives, not fight with them. Men should be so in love with God and His word that there is no weapon that the enemy can form against him that will prosper.
God had originally planned for man and woman to be one in every area of life, especially in their Father-child relationship with Jehovah. Eve was to help Adam be all that God wanted him to be. Together they were to be fruitful and multiply. They were to subdue the earth and have dominion over it. They were to fill the earth with their seed being in relationship with Jehovah. But the first Adam failed when his helpmate steered him in the wrong direction, that being disobedience to the Father.
But now we have the second Adam, Jesus, who has finished the blood sacrifice making a way for a new, pure, helpmate to be “birthed.” One made in the image of God Jehovah -- pure, holy, glorious without spot or wrinkle or blemish or any such thing. One who would be a helpmate to her mate the second Adam, Jesus. One who would be fruitful and multiply His seed and replenish the earth with His offspring. Jesus had a cesarean section and the womb of His heart opened up and spilled out the birth fluids of blood and water and He “birthed” a bride, a church. One that was just like Himself, bone of His bones, flesh of His flesh, spirit of His Spirit, one unified body born perfect. One can see this in Ephesians 5:25-27.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Emphasis added) Here Paul commands the husbands to love their wives, just as Jesus loves His wife, His bride, the church. He died to give birth to her. He sanctified her, set her apart to be His, to bring forth His seed, to fill the earth with His children. He keeps her holy, pure and clean, undefiled by this sinful world by His living word and Spirit so that when the Bridegroom comes to receive His bride, the church, she will be glorious, without spot, or wrinkle or any such thing, holy without blemish.
He did not birth a harlot. One who goes whoring after her lovers of worldliness. One who would be an adulteress and cheat on him. One who would only love Him when she can see Him. One who would only love Him for His wealth. One who would love Him only in the good times. One who would love Him only for the goose bumps He makes her feel at times. One who would love Him only for His gifts or abilities to do miracles. One Who Loves Him Period! No Questions Asked! Unconditionally! His Forever No Matter What!!!
His blood sacrifice made the way for her birth, and He sealed her with the water of the Holy Spirit. “…after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."” (Eph. 1:13) He put His engagement ring of the Holy Spirit on her, His mark of ownership. Is it any wonder that the church is admonished to “…be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18b) It’s His seal of ownership. We belong to a Holy King. He has gone to prepare a place for us; and He is coming back for His beautiful, holy, pure, undefiled, unblemished and spot-free bride to take her to the place He has prepared. There to ever be with her Holy Husband. (John 14:1-3) By Him giving the Holy Spirit is proof that the atonement for sin was complete, that a bride had been “birthed,” and that He is coming back for her soon.
I want to wish all of our mothers a very happy and blessed Mothers Day!! Remember, you have the great task of keeping us men on a highway called holy. WOMEN--YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!
When God decided to create a helpmate for man, Adam, He did not form her from the dust of the ground as He had done in creating man. He brought her forth from something already created and living, man. When God created Adam, man, He created him both male and female. “So God Created man (singular) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; (singular) male and female created he them. (plural)” (Gen. 1:27, emphasis added) “Male and female created he them; (plural) and blessed them, (plural) and called their (plural) name Adam, (singular, man) in the day when they (plural) were created.” (Gen. 5:2, emphasis added) Eve was already created in Adam; she just had not been “birthed” yet. God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and He then performed a cesarean section on him and woman, Eve, was “birthed.” (Gen. 2:21-25) From the side of the first Adam God “birthed” woman and brought into being that which would allow Him to have a people that He could have a Father-child relationship with.
When Adam “birthed” Eve she was to be a helpmate to him. Just what is a “helpmate” or “helpmeet?” Its definition is simply a helper or partner. But help to do what or partner to what? Man was destined by God to “…be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:…” (Gen. 1:28) In order for man to multiply he needed a partner, a helper. This was one task he could not do alone, thus came Eve “…the mother of all living…” (Gen. 3:20), to make him complete for the task of multiplying and filling the earth. But man was also to have dominion “…over every living thing that moveth upon the earth…” (Gen. 1:28, emphasis added). Man was to take the lead in all things, especially in maintaining the Father-child relationship with Jehovah.
Man was created to follow God. He was to be the spiritual leader of the family, the high priest of his home. He brings strength, security, supply and spiritual relationship to the family. His helpmate brings emotion, balance and guidance to the family. Women have the most important and privileged position on earth. They are “helpmates.” How many of you know that woman can make man do just about anything. Ask Sampson about his Delilah or King Ahab about his Jezebel or John the Baptist about the daughter of Herodias. Though man has dominion, woman can so easily conquer him. God has given woman this ability to guide man. She can either use it for good or for evil. She is the rudder on the ship called man. She can steer him toward a Father-child relationship with Jehovah or she can steer him away from God for her own selfish desires. The old quote “Behind every successful man is a good woman,” is oh so true. Who do most young boys turn to when they have a question about life – mom. Why? Because she guides, encourages and steers him toward high and lofty goals.
So a helpmate is one who steers her husband and family towards God. She encourages them to be in such a close relationship with God that He can use them for what He purposed for their lives before the foundation of the earth. A godly woman can be so mightily used of God to mold godly character, to instruct, to guide, to encourage her mate to reach all his potential for God. When a woman is in her rightful place of helpmate, she will receive a mate who will love her “as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” (Eph. 5:25) When a man is in a right relationship with God, his wife receives a husband who will lay down his life, his self will and desires in order to show her the Father’s unconditional love. She has a mate that she can trust and know that he will always be faithful to her because of his love for God. This meets the most common needs of a woman; i.e., security, a feeling of safety, confidence in who she is and in her relationship with her husband. When a wife is supporting and encouraging (not nagging) her husband in his walk with God, their life together will be long, loving, peaceful and will produce a family after God’s heart.
This was God’s intention for woman, not a subservient position, but a partnership to make one complete person following God’s plan for their lives. A husband and wife in love with and flowing in their godly roles will cause the devils to tremble. When mom and dad are in unity, there will be unity in the home. This is one of the worst enemies Satan has – a unified body of believers. This is why Satan has attacked women so violently. He wants them independent, have no need of man, use their God-given powers to manipulate man towards evil. If you don’t believe this, all you have to do is watch anything on television and you’ll see the appeal to one of man’s strongest appetites – sex. Satan is devouring our men, including our ministers and other Christian leaders, through the manipulating power of a sensual woman. It’s time for men to rise up and become the warriors God intended them to be. They should fight for their wives, not fight with them. Men should be so in love with God and His word that there is no weapon that the enemy can form against him that will prosper.
God had originally planned for man and woman to be one in every area of life, especially in their Father-child relationship with Jehovah. Eve was to help Adam be all that God wanted him to be. Together they were to be fruitful and multiply. They were to subdue the earth and have dominion over it. They were to fill the earth with their seed being in relationship with Jehovah. But the first Adam failed when his helpmate steered him in the wrong direction, that being disobedience to the Father.
But now we have the second Adam, Jesus, who has finished the blood sacrifice making a way for a new, pure, helpmate to be “birthed.” One made in the image of God Jehovah -- pure, holy, glorious without spot or wrinkle or blemish or any such thing. One who would be a helpmate to her mate the second Adam, Jesus. One who would be fruitful and multiply His seed and replenish the earth with His offspring. Jesus had a cesarean section and the womb of His heart opened up and spilled out the birth fluids of blood and water and He “birthed” a bride, a church. One that was just like Himself, bone of His bones, flesh of His flesh, spirit of His Spirit, one unified body born perfect. One can see this in Ephesians 5:25-27.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Emphasis added) Here Paul commands the husbands to love their wives, just as Jesus loves His wife, His bride, the church. He died to give birth to her. He sanctified her, set her apart to be His, to bring forth His seed, to fill the earth with His children. He keeps her holy, pure and clean, undefiled by this sinful world by His living word and Spirit so that when the Bridegroom comes to receive His bride, the church, she will be glorious, without spot, or wrinkle or any such thing, holy without blemish.
He did not birth a harlot. One who goes whoring after her lovers of worldliness. One who would be an adulteress and cheat on him. One who would only love Him when she can see Him. One who would only love Him for His wealth. One who would love Him only in the good times. One who would love Him only for the goose bumps He makes her feel at times. One who would love Him only for His gifts or abilities to do miracles. One Who Loves Him Period! No Questions Asked! Unconditionally! His Forever No Matter What!!!
His blood sacrifice made the way for her birth, and He sealed her with the water of the Holy Spirit. “…after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."” (Eph. 1:13) He put His engagement ring of the Holy Spirit on her, His mark of ownership. Is it any wonder that the church is admonished to “…be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph. 5:18b) It’s His seal of ownership. We belong to a Holy King. He has gone to prepare a place for us; and He is coming back for His beautiful, holy, pure, undefiled, unblemished and spot-free bride to take her to the place He has prepared. There to ever be with her Holy Husband. (John 14:1-3) By Him giving the Holy Spirit is proof that the atonement for sin was complete, that a bride had been “birthed,” and that He is coming back for her soon.
I want to wish all of our mothers a very happy and blessed Mothers Day!! Remember, you have the great task of keeping us men on a highway called holy. WOMEN--YOU ARE AWESOME!!!!!!
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