Have We Been Left Behind? (Part 3 of 3)

The Tribulation

Is The Rapture A Real Event, Part 1

A Church Without Light, Part 2

There are questions, relevant and rhetorical that ought to be asked before this article is casted aside. Whether we accept the thesis that we are in the midst of the tribulation period or not, we ought to come to a conclusion and/or consensus as to the status of the church as we know it today.   In most studies, the church is often used as a marker to signify when the tribulation period began. The flourishing denominational church of today is a divided body and the scripture teaches us that a divided body will not stand.  So, do we accept this divided body as the true church or do we condemn all churches except one denomination?  This division goes deeper than denominations, it exist within the local church on an individual level.  As earthly people, we are not prepared to accept certain conclusions on spiritual matters that causes us to question our indoctrinated view of worship and salvation.  Why?  It is easier to believe that Christ is coming back for his divided church, rather than believe that Christ has already called for his church before it became a divided body and we are in the midst of the tribulation.  If there is any truth in this, then the parable of the ten virgins  is validated and amplified.  Five went in with the bridegroom and five went into the village and the surrounding area pretending to be members of the bridal party in search of oil.  In reality, the bridal party had already left.  Those that were selected went in with him to the 'award ceremony' and are preparing to return with him as His Holy angels.

A study of the history of the Christian Church is revealing and thought provoking.  All church historians have stated that the Christian Church survived the Roman persecution and continued to exist afterwards.  The church lived as one church with one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:5), common doctrines, and very closed rituals throughout the whole world for about five centuries. Durning that time denominations or sects did not exist in the Christian Church. Churches were named after big cities.  In Revelation 1-3, Jesus referred to the churches by the name of the city in which they were located.  The division of the churches took place in year 451 AD in the Chalcedon Council.  What took place during that council is researchable and should be important to all believers.  Did Christ suddenly appear and call for his church? At the end of this meeting, a sharp division occurred among the churches. 

It is the question of salvation that bothers most when a discussion of this type proceeds.  If the church is with Christ, and the tribulation have begun, is salvation still possible?   A study of Revelation seems to indicate that John saw many different 'saved' groups.  One of these groups are mention in Revelation 7:13-15:  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. John did not know the answer to the question when it was first presented, but he knew that the one asking the question knew.  By allowing the elder to speak, John chooses to be enlightened.  The operative words for this discussion are, "These are they which came out of great tribulation".

The tribulation is a period of time when God will finish His discipline of Israel and pour out his wrath on the unbelieving world.  The church, the bride of Christ is made up of all who believed and  trusted in the works of the cross as a pathway to salvation, will not be present during the tribulation.  The Church or saints is a special group, they are being recruited to judge the world.  1 Corinthians 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?  The church will be removed from the earth in an event known as the rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53). The church is saved from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Throughout Scripture, the tribulation is referred to by other names such as the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6-9; Joel 1:15; 2:1-31; 3:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2); trouble or tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30; Zephaniah 1:1); the great tribulation, which refers to the more intense second half of the tribulation period (Matthew 24:21); time or day of trouble (Daniel 12:1; Zephaniah 1:15); time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7).

In order to understand the tribulation that is to befall this earth, an understanding of Daniel 9:24-27 is necessary.  A problem might accrue with the acceptance  of the modern day interpretation of this passage when we seek to impose a timeline on the beginning and ending of the tribulation.  Once a timeline is imposed words such as pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation and post-tribulation are used to validate the discussion.  This often leaves the hearer or reader in a confused state.  Daniel speaks of 70 weeks that have been declared against “your people.” Daniel's people are the Jews, the nation of Israel, and Daniel 9:24 speaks of a period of time that God has given “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.   Seventy weeks are often interpreted as seventy weeks of years. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology (future things/events), have the above understanding of Daniel's 70 sevens.  Yet, we must be careful that in the attempt to impose a timeline on the prophecies of God we do not detract from the prophecy.  

It is also a common trick of the Devil,  if the emphasis can be shifted from the prophecy to the time and place of the prophecy the message can be easily manipulated and rendered invalid.  This holds true with the creation, when the pious prelates learn to count  the years from the creation to the birth of Christ, they were able to state the biblical age of the earth.  This became a point of contention between science and the Bible as the dates did not agree. A generation filled with the knowledge of good and evil, (the knowledge of the world) were forced to choose between the teaching of their pastor or the teaching of their science teacher.   Translating the time elements into years give mankind the ability to predict and project when the events of the prophecy will take place, rather than acknowledging that they will take place or is taking place.  It is possible that to acknowledge time constants within the Holy Scripture as, 'a period of time that God has ordained' is a more effective means of transmitting the knowledge of God. 

The Bible says that in the end times Jesus Christ will be rejected of that generation. Already in the world today in 2015 we're seeing many people reject Jesus Christ. Ethnic groups are clamouring for their own God, this in itself is a form of rejection.   The alternate lifestyle agenda is being advanced and those who disagree are being intimidated into silence.  The social media has become a breeding ground for hate and division. In nearly every Hollywood movie today, the name of Jesus Christ suffers from trivialization to  blaspheme. Increasingly, churches are becoming entertainment centers instead of preaching the Word of God. Instead of singing the old hymns of the faith, churches today have emotional experiences and call it praise worship.  Ministers of God are becoming more concern with the 'planting of a seed' rather than preaching the gospel of the kingdom, preachers are preaching messages of prosperity, favor and earthly blessings, none of this has a place or purpose in the design of the coming Kingdom.  

As we near the End Times, hostility toward Christianity will intensify. Jesus foretold that Christians will be killed, thinking they're doing God a favor (John 16:2). Jesus said that many will betray and hate one another (Matthew 24:10), and due to unpunished evil (iniquity) the love of many will wax cold (Matthew 24:12). Already today we are seeing legalized same-sex marriage, legalized abortion and legalized pornography in America. Sodom and Gomorrah weren't this rebellious!   Now the scoffer and detractors will say, "this is nothing new", it is true the persecution of the Christians began under the Roman Empire, and it is also true that the Roman Empire called for a cessation of persecution.  It is the widespread intensification of hostility towards Christians that should concern us. 

if we chronologically follow the events projected in Revelation, in chapters 1-3, Jesus message to the representative churches ends with his rebuke of an apostate church.  Revelation 3:15-16  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  In Revelation 4:1, John is caught up, which is indicative of the true church being caught up into Heaven.  What proceeded after that event, was John’s view of Heaven and a view of the earth from Heaven.  Immediately, John witnessed a silent God, whose objective was the pouring out of his stored up wrath upon the earth.  John also saw Jesus as a “Lamb, standing as if it had been slain”.  A reminder of the price he had paid.  The works of the cross were the only thing standing between man and an angry God.  The angry God concept does not coincide with our newly created God, who is constantly giving out blessings.

John also saw the bride of Christ, the Lamb’s wife safe in Heaven from the wrath of God. Revelation 21:9  And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Revelation 22:17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 

Jesus said it would be  just as in Noah's day when only eight people boarded the ark. Luke 17:25-26, “But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.”   The reading of this verse can be narrowed and can be said to be indicative of the time that Jesus was on earth.    I prefer to accept the expanded view that Jesus was referencing the time of his return after the tribulation.  Luke 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  Framing the question in this manner seems to indicate he is referencing a point in time after the church has been taken out.   He had already indicated that the gate of hell would not be able to stand against his church.

Revelation 6:9-17  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.  And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Daniel 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 

Is The Rapture A Real Event, Part 1
A Church Without Light, Part 2

Have We Been Left Behind? (Part 2 of 3)

A Church Without A light

In a moment of pious contemplation Jesus spoke to the multitude; Matthew 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  He cautions them further in; Matthew 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  In Revelation, John saw Jesus walking among the candlestick, proclaiming a message to the churches.  Revelation 2:4-5  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.   A threat that it would seem as if Jesus carried out.

The book of Revelation began with seven letters to seven churches.  Seven is a symbolic and representative number used in the scripture to indicate a period of time, a time of repetition, such as seven days is a week, a period of time that will repeat itself as long as time exist.  It signifies the fullness of and a marker that indicates the completeness of the works of God.  If man is involved, then the number seven is a time of testing and it requires, and is indicative of, an act of faith. Joshua was required to march around the walls of Jericho seven times; Naaman was required to wash in the dirty river of Jordan seven times. Now, if we can view the seven churches as representative churches, then we can see the history of the church unfold and the message that is passed down to the church of today. If we refuse to accept these churches as representative churches, and the significance of the use of the number seven then we are justifying the changing and polluted messages that are being preached in many of the churches today.

The seven churches named in the second and third chapter of Revelation represent the churches throughout the church age. They are representative churches, chosen by the spirit because of certain characteristics typical of the character of the church, not only in the day when John wrote, but on down through the ages until the church is caught up to meet their Lord in the air. These seven churches represent periods of time clearly defined in both sacred and secular history.

There are rhetorical questions that we must ask concerning the church of today. These questions are asked as a means of self deliberation. It is an attempt to expose the inner doubts over matters pertaining to the marriage between the church, the government and the road that the church and humanity has chosen In today’s self defining society. Asking oneself (or rhetorically asking one's readers) might be the catalyst that shines a ray of light on the best or appropriate way to approach a confusing subject. There is a failure on the part of the church as a group to come together and present a united front against the Devil. The church that Jesus spoke so fondly of, the church that Paul pleaded with, that church has split into more than 30,000 denominations worldwide, each containing varying rules, laws, taboos, rituals, commandments, and doctrines. Simple rhetorical questions, in search of a startling truth of such a confusing entity as each group proclaim to have found the perfect way.  There must be a logical answer. 

To facilitate a deeper understanding of the Word of God, when asking questions we must be prepared for an answer that do not fit our indoctrinated  narrative. It is only through that approach we will find the truth.  I ask you to seriously entertain a few questions, as true knowledge can only be obtained through the asking of questions. Keep reading and prepair to be shocked.  We know Revelation is not the Revelation of John. Revelation 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  It was sent to the church to put their mind at ease and answer all of the questions pertaining to the coming Kingdom.

Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  This event seems to coincide with 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17) and is a type of reward ceremony for the righteous only.  Is there scripture proof that states, only the Bride of Christ will be a part of his kingdom?  John 3:29 refers to another group known as the friend of the bridegroom.  Revelation speaks of different groups and huge numbers.  I am inclined to believe that there is a deeper message hidden in this parable and that the true message is often overlooked for the sakes of motivating and  emotionalizing.  For further enlightenment, read, "The Five Judgments", a five part study.  

Nearly all religious scholars agree that the church is depicted within the Holy Scripture  as the bride of Christ.   We also know that five were wise, and five were foolish.  Five were caught up or went in with the bridegroom and five were left behind to endure tribulation. 
Visualize the church as a bride.  In a marriage ceremony the “bride” imply a special closeness to the “bridegroom”.   “Bride” is used as a metaphor within the scripture to depict this special closeness that the church have with the “Lord of the household”, or Jesus Christ which is referred to as “the bridegroom”.   The bride enjoys a special position in the building of a marriage and home, the same as with the kingdom.  For most it is easy to relate to a marriage ceremony and how the bride, full of joy,  will have spent her time preparing for the day of her marriage.  A true bride will not be distracted and will proceed with oneness of purpose, whereas a false bride will be filled with pretense and her concerns will be more about herself than the position that she is about to enter.  After the completion of the bridal ceremony the bride and the groom is transformed into a single entity, they are no longer two but one.  Jesus often used the marriage ceremony to describe what the position of the church was to the establishment of the Kingdom. 

The Kingdom of Heaven is one of the least preached about subjects, yet it is the cornerstone  of our religious heritage. Somewhere along the way we have strayed away from the true concept of the Kingdom of Heaven and replaced it with our concept of Heaven.  It is impossible to understand the word of God based upon a flawed concept of Heaven.   The Catholic Pope, leader of one of the largest denominations of Christianity says he can only “hope” that he will go to heaven when he dies. He doesn’t know for sure.  A statement of this type does not inspire “faith”.  Western  authors speak of Heaven as a place where we go and sit on clouds.  Yet, the scripture speaks of the establishment of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth in simple terms.  Scholars have used long and confusing words to define the Kingdom and the knowledge of the Kingdom has decreased.   Jesus came as a broker of a plan of salvation, he preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, saying, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.

What has been cast aside is the knowledge that a kingdom is a form of government.  There is a King and there are those who have been selected to rule with the King.   In the scripture these are referred to as the elect of God. Then there is the army, those who will fight with the King when he return to establish his Kingdom.  A problem arises when we attempt to combine the church, the elect of God and the 'number that no man could number' within the same group of people.  There are many different positions available in the kingdom the same as in an earthly kingdom.  There is also the cabinet positions that include the four and twenty elders.  Mark 10:37-40 tells the story of John and James asking for special position.  

Jesus attempted to give us a clear insight into the establishment of the Kingdom in Matthew, chapter 25.  A complete reading of the chapter will provide an insight into the positions offered in the kingdom. In Matthew 22, he seems to be speaking of a selection process.  Matthew 22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.  Matthew 25:23  His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Therefore, when the Bible speaks of the Kingdom of God or The Kingdom of Heaven, it is unlikely that he is speaking of a place where we sit on clouds, sing songs and shout Holy, Holy all day long.    The Bible supports the idea that Jesus is coming back to establish his Kingdom, here on earth after it has been renovated by fire.  This is unacceptable to mankind, because he views his own ruler ship as being perpetual. 

The Book of Revelation began with Jesus’s message to the churches that is often overlooked.  Chapter 1 thru 3 is filled with warnings and exhortations, and John sees Jesus walking among the “candlesticks”.   Chapter 4 began with John being summoned by a trumpet to to come on up.  Revelation 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. The rest of the Book of Revelation is John’s view from Heaven, the church is not mentioned again as being on earth. 

Now, in conclusion lets pose the rhetorical questions.  Have the event depicted in in John’s vision, Revelation 4:1 already taken place?  Remember, Revelation 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which “must shortly” come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:  ‘Must shortly come to pass’; seems to indicate that these events were scheduled to begin during John’s lifetime or soon after.  Is it possible that the event portrayed in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17) took place before the church became embroiled in confusion and splits and the tribulation has already begun?  Are the trumpets of God sounding and the world is ignoring them? 

The Bible promotes the thesis through recurring prophecies that in the End of Times, Christ will be rejected by an entire generation. This rejection is evident today as the social media expands and more and more people are voicing their objection to God’s Word. Our leaders, including the Supreme Court  have cast aside the teaching of the Bible and proceeded to enact laws that are contrary to God’s word.  Members of our younger generation respond with indignation and proclaim the Bible to be an outdated book filled with hate.  The indoctrination of old that once held this nation together is being shredded.  The fear of God that once prevailed throughout the land has disappeared.  

Next

The Tribulation

Have We Been Left Behind? (Part 1 of 3)

Is The Rapture A Real Event?

During an impromptu bible discussion centered around the introduction of my latest book, “Understanding The Word of God”, I was asked, “In  view of the events taking place in our country and around the world, do you think we are going through the tribulations spoken of in Revelation, and if so, have we been left behind?”  Being left behind is a concept of the Rapture doctrine that is said to not exist before John Darby invented it in 1830. The Rapture doctrine which is based upon 1st Thessalonians 4:17, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  To most, the Rapture doctrine is a confusing entity, there seems to be a lack of knowledge as to what happen next.  There are those who believe in it and there are those who do not believe in it.  Those who believe are divided into at least four groups, pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, post- tribulation and those who say, “I don’t know, I just want to be ready when he comes”.

Quite a few years have passed since I had seen the movie series, Left Behind, and the questions that the movies stirred still remain fresh in my mind.  My search for answers caused me to engage the minds of pastors, ministers and mostly anybody that was willing to engage in a discussion of the subject of being Left behind, or the Rapture.  Regardless of the position chosen, pre-Trib., mid-Trib., or Post-Trib., they all used the Bible to support their belief.  Some denominations teach that there is no scripture support of the “Rapture” taking place, past, present or future.  To place a seal on the subject, many pious prelates are content in stated that the word rapture could not be found in the bible.  Furthermore, any discussion of whether the Rapture is a real event or that it has happened or will happen does not fit the narrative of the modern day churches. 

The proliferation of the churches allows for these diverse doctrines and interpretation.  A doctrine, a set of beliefs that is taught by the church is often more important to the articles of faith than in depth Bible Studies.  Many of us who grew up reading a certain translation of the Bible is appalled that certain Bible publishers are editing the Bible to make it politically correct.  Yet, this is nothing new.  In the early 1500’s Martin Luther preformed a major edit of the Bible, and from his works emerged the King James Bible.  Thus began the division or separation of the Catholic and Protestant Bibles.  Through all of man’s attempts to water down, to shape, and twist the Word of God, it still emerges with power and conviction to those who are willing to lay aside their indoctrination, open up their hearts and study.

Now, there are those who hold the belief that as long as the church is present here on earth God’s wrath will be restrained.  It is after the events portrayed in 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17 have transpired, that the trumpets of Heaven will continue to sound.  According to Revelation the trumpets indicates that the wrath of God is being poured out.  The bases of this belief are, God always protects his own the same as he did in the day of Noah.   Using the church as a marker unfortunately opens the door to a much deeper and divided discussion.   What church is being referenced?  In view of the great proliferation of the church, to use the cliché, the church exists within the heart seemed a bit out of place.  Now the question emerges, did Christ come back and call the church out long before it became a confused and divided body?  Jesus’s message to the seventh or the final church of the church age, (Revelation 3: 14-22) is a message  of rebuke to an apostate church.  The closing of his message is an indication that he is no longer speaking to the churches, he is speaking to the individual.  Revelation 3:22  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches

1 Thessalonians 4:15-18  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

These verses seem to make reference to a time when Christ comes back in the clouds; not setting foot on the earth, but calling the saints to meet him in the air.  This reference an event known in the English language as the “Rapture”.  True, the word “Rapture” is not found in the Bible, neither is computers or coffee, but for certain known or unknown reasons, it is a point of contention for many of the different doctrines that make up the realm of Christendom. .  The phrase “CAUGHT UP” is in the Scripture and  “Caught up” means the same thing as “Rapture.”  The same argument used to invalidate the Rapture can be used to invalidate many of the biblical prophecies.   The Bible is filled with prophecies, and it is these prophecies that disturb mankind.  If changing the meaning or eliminating certain words or verses will change the meaning of a prophecy, then this is the route humanity tends to follow. 

The question that plagues many who ascribe to the Rapture doctrine is, can people repent and be saved after the Rapture?  The Bible teaches that millions will repent and come to Christ for salvation during the time following the Rapture of the church.   John was given a vision of that time after the church had been caught up, he saw millions of people wearing dazzling white robes standing before the throne of God. There were so many that they couldn’t be counted by man. An "elder" in Heaven asked John, who these people were. John didn't know, but knew that the one asking did know. Revelation 7.14: "And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

Matthew 24:7-14  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The Bible is explicit in its prediction of the destruction that is to befall this earth before the end of time.  The doomsday scriptures are often overlooked in favor of scriptures that seems to predict peace, love and tranquility.  As I stated earlier, there is a consensus among many Christians that the wrath of God will not be poured out until the church is safe in Heaven.  Now, again, I have injected the word ‘church’ into this discussion, a word  whose modern day definition is dubious at best.  The prophecies of destruction are upon us, and the church with its changing manifestos does not seem to be a haven of protection from the wrath of God.   Where is that glorious church that Jesus spoke of, that church that Jesus said the gates of hell would not be able to stand against?  It has split into more than 30,000 denominations worldwide, each containing varying rules, laws, taboos, rituals, commandments, and doctrines. 

  Luke 21:11  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. Revelation 6:15  And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; Revelation 6:17  For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?  Daniel 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. 

There is no doubt that the age of ungodliness and destruction is upon us.  The scoffers and the intellectuals will agree that this is nothing new.  Rather than trying to establish our own timeline and relativity, maybe we should ask, “how long has it been since the true church was caught up?”  After a moment of reflection and contemplation It is easy to conceded that it seems as if the tribulation spoken of in the Bible is upon us, and maybe, just maybe, we have been left behind.

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A Church Left behind

Revelation 3:14-22

A Study Of Hate, Part #2

A Study Of Hate, Part #2

The Reality of Hate and Love

Psalms 139:21-22  Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Standing in the shadows of the church, I was engaged in a very animated conversation with a church member.  Being the victim of an ongoing slander campaign, I spoke with the righteous indignation of a God fearing person concerning my hatred for busy bodies, people who lie and spread false rumors.  My conversation was overheard by a minister who joining in the conversation, I was informed that, contrary to what I had read in the scripture, Christians don’t hate.   As he explained it, “we can hate the sin, but we must love the person”.   The conversation began as nothing more than me venting my frustration in search of a word of support from the household of faith.  Now the conversation was taking me down that road of deliberate confusion.    He further stated that whether a person is a sinner or not it is not for us to judge.  Joining in the conversation, another church member gave the new age testimony of the 'justification of sin'.  “But here's the thing all of it is sin no matter what. I'm not GOD and I'm not judging anyone. As a Christian my job is to love everyone. No sin is greater than the other.”  The smugness of this speaker from out of town seem to indicate that something profound had been stated.  I, like many others who are searching for the true knowledge of God, was not impressed.   For me the conversation digressed into confusing and  irrelevant statements.  To me the statements were like saying, “I love Dr Pepper, but I hate the taste”.  This was my first contact with the religious community toning down its rhetoric in preparation of the governments attack on hate.  In the years that followed I became more aware of the shifting and inconsistent nature of the church.  Cute phrases such as, “don’t hate on me” and “only God can judge” was becoming in vogue.   Both of these phrases seem to have been based upon a shaped  interpretation of the scripture.  

Shaped interpretations of the scripture consist of surgically removing certain words or phrases from a verse, separating it from the supporting scripture, then presenting them as a complete thought.  The scripture, then can reinterpreted to fit the narrative of the speaker.  Thus, sin becomes justifiable, because God loves us and love covers a multitude of faults.  Shaped doctrines have appeared, such as once in Christ, you are never out or even Christ died for my sins, therefore I am free to sin.  Shaped interpretations of the scripture have left many standing by the roadside of despair, waiting for God to deliver a car. 

One of the strangest realities of this modern society is that very little can be said without it being analyzed and declared either “judging” or “hate speech”.   There are those souls standing ready to analyze the words of others based upon their perspective.  They are insulted and resort to name calling if the speaker's rhetoric does not fit within their agenda.  The question of how is it possible to arrive at  the conclusion that a person is judging without first judging, or that a message is hate without hating the message, this does not appear to be a consideration.  

The cauldron of hate is constantly being added to and stirred by the so-called activist of political correctness and leaders of ethnic communities.  Each one is seeking to advance their own agenda.  The freedom of speech for the majority is being infringed upon, and in many venues no longer exist.  This in itself is the greatest producer of hate.  It’s no longer acceptable to voice your opinion, nor is it acceptable to quote scriptures unless they has been shaped to fit the accepted narrative or the minority's agenda.  A minister preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, calling out the sins of humanity is subjected to name calling, which in itself is a reversed form of hate speech.

There are new age messages in and out of the church that proclaim the Bible teaches us that it is wrong to judge, or that only God can judge.  The same holds true with hate.  A careful reading of the scripture fails miserably to validate these arguments, at the risk of being redundant, certain words or phrases are surgically removed from verses and supporting scripture and then presented as a complete thought.  Matthew 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged: requires the reading and study of the fifth, six and seventh chapters of Matthew to understand the context of the message, and who was he talking to and what was he talking about.  The same holds true with Matthew 7:7.  There are many who have the false belief that they can ask God for any of their fleshly desires or wants and he will give it to them.  If we allow the evidence to speak, based upon the knowledge of God and the Gospel of the Kingdom, the question should be, “why did we get it wrong”.  Do we not know that there is the fruit of the spirit and there are the works of the flesh.  As far as judging maybe we should contend to understand Corinthians 6:2;  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 

Spiritually speaking, there is a love that is evil and there is a hatred that is good.  There are positive and negative aspects of hatred the same as there is with love.  Therefore is it acceptable to hate those things that God hates?  Indeed, this is very much a proof of a right standing with God. “Let those who love the Lord hate evil” (Psalm 97:10a).  Hate existed long before the creation of man.  It first came into fruition when the devil rebelled against God.  In the garden, it existence and influence was contained within the knowledge of good and evil, it was restrained by the knowledge of God.  There are different definitions of hate the same as there is with love.   Hate that is defined according to the knowledge of good and evil is bad, but hate that conforms to the knowledge of God should be considered good.   It could be augured that the problems of humanity began when man lost his hatred for the Devil.

Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  These verses tend to zero in on God’s hatred.  Hate is a taboo subject when referencing the attributes of God.  God is a Good of love therefore he does not hate us is the accepted interpretation of the scripture. Even a preacher who preached, "God hate you", would find himself in trouble with the organized church.

In a contemporary society that embraces the knowledge of good and evil, it also seeks to create a society free of hate.  This is an impossible task, since hate and love must exist as opposites until the emergence of the new heaven and new earth.  Man can only redefined love and hate to allow for the justification of that which was once considered a sin.  The message of salvation becomes a message of hate.  John the Baptist preaching, “ye generation of viper…”, in today’s society is reaffirmed as a hate message.  If in the contempt of God, a type of hate was exercised by Lucifer, it is also fitting that in contempt of the devil a certain type of Godly hatred must also exist.   For the sakes of offending many, hate is a part of our DNA.  Solomon referred to its existence when he stated that there was a time to hate. In the Old Testament there are many instances where God expressed his hatred of those who did not fear him.  In Psalms 139:22, David expressed his contempt, “I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”  Psalms 97:10  Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.  Based upon the scripture references there is a perfect or godly hate that is of the spirit and there is a hatred that is of the flesh.  In a politically correct society hate is redefined and irrelevant laws are instituted to control it, and the church must perform the daunting task of separate the person from his evil ways.  Imagine a judge in a court of law struggling to punish the crime without punishing the person.

Churches have become big business, basting in grants and  subsidies from the government. The churches that accepted this handout from the government found themselves amending the gospel, to adhere to the guidelines set forth by the government.  Little by little the Gospel of the Kingdom is  is being replaced by the gospel of the world.  Christianity is now being redefined as a religion of hate.   Christianity, the church and America have been made ashamed of their bloody past.  These entities have allowed themselves to become hijacked and become embroiled in useless struggles seeking to  prove that the base of their  existence is free from hatred and violence.

There is a type of spiritual blindness that prevents man from accepting the existence of the God of Abraham or embracing the knowledge of God.   The knowledge of good and evil provides a platform for the devil to do his works, it also allows man to deny the existence of God.  The knowledge of God provided for the singular mission of God, thus God’s first command to man was to  subdue the earth and have dominion over it.  The test of a man’s commitment was to love God and hate the devil.  Kill and destroy was the command given to the Kings and Judges whose mission was to establish a new nation for his chosen people.  

There is a vast difference between the God given knowledge and the knowledge of good and evil.  The knowledge of good and evil is often translated to include the ability to know the difference between good and evil, but this is not true.  Sometime the English translation can be misleading. The knowledge of good and evil does not differentiate between what is good and what is evil; these guidelines can only be established through the knowledge of God.  The knowledge of good and evil combine that which is evil with that which good.  As this knowledge, increase that which was evil become good and that which was good become evil.