Random Thoughts and Questions Along The Way.

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1st John 1:8-10)

To me it seems to be one of the most preposterous claims made is, "when we all get to Heaven, what a day of rejoicing there will be." Properly pitched and presented the above statement is enough to drive the average Christian into an emotional frenzy. But, can you imagine for a moment what Heaven would be if we all made it to the place, we call heaven? For some reason, I tend to visualize a nightclub scene, dancing, and rejoicing but no order or purpose. Some even speak of shaking hands with their loved ones. This could be the setting for many heartbreaking moments. Imagine getting to heaven and not being able to find our loved ones. Forced to spend eternity missing our loved ones would not be the settings for a wonderful life in the hereafter. Truly, there must be something missing in the scenario that we are overlooking and not being not being told. 

Maybe the Book of Job holds the answer. Did Job spend the rest of his life missing his lost children or did God reset Job's memory? If God did a reset, which is well within his power, then this would explain the lost civilizations. Try explaining the building of the pyramids and your dissertation digress into hopeless speculations. 

What is most troubling about the scenario of "all of us going to Heaven" is will we be able to transplant this climate of hate to the Pearly gates? Are we looking forward to a Heaven where we will not have to deal with other ethnic groups? As a religious author, I have no qualms about those who do not profess to be a follower of Christ but I call into question the ministers of the Gospel who spouts hateful rhetoric while glorifying those who did all that was in their power to render the word of God impotent. There are too many Christians teaching the message of Christ but not following in his precepts. 

On any given Sunday, Christian ministers stand in the presence of God and condemn public officials for their perceived indiscretion as if they themselves are innocent. There is no litmus test to prove that the accused is innocent or guilty. During the Salem Witch Hunt, dunking was one of the tools used to prove a person was a witch. Confessed they were a witch or drown were the only options, if they drown, they were innocent. How would Jesus handle the situation? Remember the woman caught in the very act of adultery, his response to the accusers was simple, "He that is without sin cast the first stone". 

Why do we continue to plant the seeds of hate, while praying for God to heal the nation? After listening to a fiery message of her pastor on his hatred for a particular president, a young girl attacked her once close friend because her friend chooses not agree with the preacher's hateful rhetoric.   

As we become of age, we have created a potpourri of labels that serves no purpose than to create dissension and hate. Once these labels are created they are added to the cauldron of hate where they act as a catalyst. The power to dominate is given by the rulers of our society and the power claimed by each group is to determine what is right or wrong for the masses. The consensus has been destroyed and all of the sacredness of God and the once Holy Church can now be attacked. As the power to dominate, the power to rule grew within the ranks of Christendom, community, and political platforms were reestablished within the church as they were in the days of Martin Luther. 

Today, there are certain ethnic groups demanding their own God. The God of Abraham has been rendered irrelevant in a highly educated society. The detractors are searching the scripture for what they deem to be inconsistencies without even Understanding the Word of God. They ask such questions as, how old is the Earth or where did Cain get his wife? These questions could be put to rest if Christianity stepped out from behind its walls of religious quagmire and did a careful study of the first and second chapter of Genesis. The problem here is those who have attempted to interpret the scripture have attempted to adapt the scripture in accordance with certain denominational guidelines. 

There are many shocking and sobering truths have become known since we began a study of Heaven and the part the church play in the overall scheme of God's plan. Christendom and the concept of Heaven have undergone radical changes since the time of Jesus Christ and his Apostles, yet it is loudly proclaimed that the Word of God never changes. History supports the theses, Pagan ceremonies and traditions were introduced into the professing church soon after the death of the original Apostles, and the belief structure of the church was changed. Even today the belief structure of the church is constantly changing.  The justification of sin has allowed us to stray farther away from God than mankind ever has. 

In Revelation 2-3, Jesus addressed a church that was suffering from spiritual corruption, a church that strove for political power and worldliness. The message of Jesus letters to the seven churches should not be lost on the churches of today. Herein is a simple question, what has the church become after Martin Luther rebelled against the Catholic church and paved the way for the Protestant Reformation? An answer to this question would put everything into proper context. Have we become closer to God or have we become more divided?

Theologian Martin Luther forever changed Christianity when he began the Protestant Reformation in 16th-century Europe. The trials and failure of Martin Luther's religious ideologies should not be lost on society, the divided churches and those who wield political power. Divisions and scandals plagued the Protestant camp during the days of Martin Luther. With the aid of armies of princes and political power, they sought to guarantee that the reformed religion that he decreed would be outwardly maintained. 

Martin Luther's instructions to the German prince to "smite, strangle and stab" them in the name of God is often cast aside in favor of the good he strove to do. Yet, they had no power to cleanse the faith and morals of the subjects. They were unable to make one spirit of the warring factions that arose within the Protestant movement; they merely created a greater division. A closer study of Martin's action would find hate and envy lurking in the background, and these two entities would provide the fuel for his actions. What Martin Luther had sought to stamp out began to grow and denominations or kingdoms were established totaling more than 30,000 today. What the government tried to eliminate has grown.

A past president signed into a law a bill that was supposed to eradicate hate. A fine undertaking but it was an impossible task. Hate cannot be eliminated, to expose hate to the light of day causes it to grow. No one with a clear conscious can deny that from the date of that signing, hate has grown expediently. Like the church in the early days of the Protestant movement, our society has become divided and different groups are seeking to dominate. A simple question, what was achieved by the signing of a hate bill? Did it make one person say, "I love you?" A simpler question is, Are we so naive that we think we can create a society where everybody walks around saying, "I love you? An even simpler question is what difference would it make for a total stranger to "I just love you". 

Could Martin Luther not have known that to attack the hierarchy of the Catholic Church in the name of religious purity would open a floodgate that would be destructive to the ideology that he sought to perpetuate? When a people seek to attack the bastion of hate by stirring the cauldron, what is the result? The heresy that Martin sought to stamp out, cultivated by his own hand, took root and flourished. The preaching of hatred that many have turned into an art form has grown and the rhetoric of an entire generation akin to the church is based on false narrative.

The Dirt Under The Rug

John 8:1-11 tells the story of a woman brought to Jesus by the religious right who sought to test Jesus on his application of the Law.   The accusation was not based on what they heard, but they were able to proclaim, "She was caught in the very act of committing adultery."  Under the Law of Moses, this was a serious offense that required a public stoning.  Whether the stoning was unto death or not, it was an overt act of shaming.

Shaming has become an important tool in the arsenal of destructive processes.  Few possess the fortitude to defend against this public act.   Shaming, an attribute of hate when unleashed cannot be controlled or directed. 

This was the perfect time for Jesus to stand on the soapbox of righteous indignation and condemn this sinful woman.  What we all who proclaim to follow Christ should note is, Christ did not acknowledge her sins, nor did he accuse her.  The act of stooping down and writing on the ground was an act of ignoring the woman's accusers.   An example that all Christians should follow.  When they persisted he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

How many of us are guilty of committing the same things that we are accusing others of committing?   

The story continues with the crowd dispersing and Jesus and the woman were left alone.  John 8:10-11  When Jesus had lifted up himself and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The interesting aspect of this confrontation is Jesus did not condemn the woman, he did not lecture her, and he did not send her into the mountain to do penance.  His instructions to her were simple, "Go and sin no more."   

Several years had passed since I had been to see my mother.  While out shopping, a customer in the store came up to me and asked if I went to see my mother on mother's day.    Shocked that a total stranger would ask me what I considered a personal question, I reluctantly responded with a "no I did not".   Whether she was aware or not, I was in a self-imposed seclusion.  Personnel problems and sibling rivalry made family visits painful.  This total stranger got up in my face and said, "Boy, don't you ever forget to visit your mother on mother's day.  Somewhat insulted by her tenacity I resolved to call my mother.

My mother and I were looking forward to the visit.  For an elderly woman living alone and not fond of the rituals of housekeeping, she did he best to make the house presentable.  Our relationship over the years suffered, strained not because of what she or I had done or did not do, but because of the perception of others.  Too often we allow ourselves to become slaves to what "they say", thus causing ourselves unnecessary pain and our progress to be impeded. 

In the autumn years of her life, she spent time sitting with an elder woman of means.  This woman would give her expensive items dishes, silverware and throw rugs.  One particular item was an expensive throw rug that she had proudly place on the floor in the family sitting room.  When I walked into the sitting room the first thing I noticed was the lumps in the throw rug.

Not content with enjoying my visit to my mother house, I was determined to find out why there were lumps in the rug.  Lifting the corner of the rug, I exposed the piles of dirt she had swept under the run.  In my obstinacy, I had exposed something; the only question was what value this newfound knowledge would serve.  Would it make my mother a better housekeeper?  I doubt it.  Did it make me a better person knowing that my elderly mother swept trash under a very expensive rug?  I doubt it.  Uncovering this secret would not inject a ray of sunshine into an old women life.    

With the knowledge and wisdom of the ancients, my mother spoke words that defied me will continue to shape my outlook on life.  "If you look for the dirt under the rug, you will miss the beautiful tapestry".  She further stated that "wherever you look for dirt you would find dirt, whether it is under the rug or in people's lives".   My mother is no longer here, but those words continue to live within my heart as we embark upon a new destiny where exposing the dirt in people lives is a part of our culture.

The desire to expose the dirt not only affects our elected officials, its effect is felt in our home, church, and school.  The social media has opened a Pandora's Box and our young people are being shamed into committing suicide and murder.  Much of what we read and hear is fake news, yet if it fits our agenda, we run with it.  Even Christians are buying into a photo-shopped fake reality, which there is no defense.  How can our children protect themselves from this new reality, when the people they are supposed to trust buy into the hype?  Why would a ten-year-old child go into her closet and commit suicide?  Why would a twelve-year-old girl hang herself?  It is all connected. 

The Bible reveals several scenarios that should serve as a guideline for all who proclaim to be Christians.  When you see your brother in fault, you should go to him in the spirit of meekness, not making a public spectacle advising him or her or their errors.   If they listen to you and truly repent, then you have saved a soul as well as yours.  It then becomes a secret between you, him or her and God. 

The dredging up and displaying of all of the sins of a person's past will not make this world a better place, nor will it make you a better person.  A public indictment of my sordid past is vindictive and will not save me from the error of my ways.  Revenge will not heal a wound that has been festering or lying dormant for years.  Many who profess Christianity glory in the destruction of our fellow man or woman.

Are We The Tribulation Force? (Chapter 3)

During an impromptu bible discussion centered around the introduction of my  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, the divided church been left behind?”  The divided church, as well as the divided ethnic groups, is a unreconciliable reality that should be condemned by the churches.  Rather, proclaimed ministers of God are using their position to foster an element of hate among their parishioners.  The devil introduced hate into the Garden of Eden, now humanity in its infinite wisdom have found a way to eradicate hate by stirring the cauldron of hate.  The proliferation of the churches and the divided churches has begun to pose many questions.   In the light of the parable of the ten virgins, many of these questions would warrant a church or organization even a group being left behind when Christ return for his church.  

The most unacceptable question was framed, "Do you think Christ has already come back to claim his Church and we are going through the Tribulation?"   This question is unacceptable not because of the question of salvation during the tribulation, but because it would cast certain elements of our religious community in an unfavorable light.  The pomp and pageantry are beginning to overshadow Christian worship as churching and clubbing become synonymous.  Going to church to get my "Praise On" just does not seems to have been the intent of the formation of the church.  Praising God is something we should do every day of our life.  I challenge you to think on these things.

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 1^st 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 consensus as to what happens 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 most 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 cannot be found in the bible as if this is a definitive statement.  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 many modern day churches. 

The proliferation of the churches allows for diverse doctrines and interpretation.  A doctrine, a set of beliefs that are taught by the church is often more important to the articles of faith than in-depth Bible Study.  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.  This is nothing new.  In the early 1500’s Martin Luther performed 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.  Yet, 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 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 1^st 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 again, did Christ come back and call the church out long before it became a confused and divided body?  This would make sense to me. 

Jesus’s message to the seventh or the final church of the church age, (Revelation 3: 14-22) is or was 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.  "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:22)

"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." (1st Thessalonians 4:15-18)

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 reasons, it is a point of contention for many of the different doctrines and opinions 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. 

"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." (Matthew 24:7-14) 

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 the question knew. The conversation went like this, according to John, who recorded it:   "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." (Revelation 7.14)

 

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 seem 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 pomp and pageantry, changing manifestos, programs, and money collections 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? 

 "And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven." (Luke 21:11)

"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 6:15)

"For the great day of his wrath comes; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17)

"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." (Daniel 12:4)

There is no doubt that the age of ungodliness, hatred, and destruction is upon us.  Revelation 13:1.  The scoffers and the intellectuals alike will say that this is nothing new. Rather than trying to establish our own timeline and relativity, and bringing forth the "isms" of a polluted ideology, 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 be conceded that it seems as if the tribulation spoken of in the Bible is upon us, and maybe, just maybe, we are the tribulation force. 

"Are We Left Behind" (Part 2)

Let us explore a strange scenario, one that many Christians are not prepared to discuss or even accept.  The problem with this scenario is our indoctrinated belief concerning the church and its place in the makeup of the Kingdom to come.  The light of the church that once shined brightly before the pollution of Constantine has dimed as men of skill find new ways to 'lord' over the sheep of God's pasture.  When we factor in the confusion of Christianity it would seem as if the candlestick that Jesus spoke off has been removed. 

In a moment of pious contemplation, Jesus spoke to the multitude;  "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." (Matthew 5:14)  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.  "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." (Revelation 2:4-5)   This is a threat and 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 exists.  It signifies the fullness of and a marker that indicates the completeness of the works of God.  If the 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 passed down to the organized churches 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 preached in many of today's churches.

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 down through the ages of the church.  These seven churches represent periods clearly defined in both sacred and secular history.

There are rhetorical questions that we must ask concerning the church of today. These questions are 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 have chosen in the self-defining society of today. 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.  Beginning in the fourth century there was 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 today has split into more than 30,000 denominations sects or groups worldwide, each containing varying rules, laws, taboos, rituals, commandments, and doctrines. Remember, simple rhetorical questions, in search of a startling truth of such a confusing entity, as each group proclaims to have found the perfect way.  There must be a logical answer.

To facilitate a deeper understanding of the Word of God, there are questions we should ask ourselves.  When asking questions we must be prepared for an answer that does not fit our indoctrinated belief.  It is only through that approach we will find the truth.  I ask you to entertain a few questions, as true knowledge can only be obtained through the asking of questions.  We know Revelation is not the Revelation of John.  "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:" (Revelation 1:1)   It was sent to the church, not to put their mind at ease but to highlight the error of their ways.

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom." (Matthew 25:1)  This event seems to coincide with 1^st Thessalonians 4:16-17) and is a type of reward ceremony for the righteous only.  To prepare you for what I am about to reveal ask yourself this question.  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 these scriptures and that the true message is often overlooked for the sakes of motivating and emotionalizing.  

Nearly all religious scholars agree that the church is depicted within the Holy Scripture as the bride of Christ.  But, how can this be?  How can the bride of Christ be so fragmented and confused?  We also know that in the parable, five were wise, and five were foolish.  Five were caught up or went in with the bridegroom and five were left behind.

Visualize the church as a bride.  In a marriage ceremony, the “bride” implies a special closeness to the “bridegroom”.   “Bride” is used as a metaphor within the scripture to depict this special closeness that the church has 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 the 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.  THe prenuptial agreement is more important than the ceremony.  After the completion of the bridal ceremony the bride and the groom are 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 on 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 does not 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”.  The Jews rejected the message. 

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 a Kingdom, there are those who rule and there are those who ruled over.  In the scripture, those who rule are referred to as the elect of God. Then there is the army or Angels who will fight with the King when he returns to establish his Kingdom.  A problem arises when we attempt to combine the church, the Jews, 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 a 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.  "For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14)   "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." (Matthew 25:23)  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 humankind because it views its own rulership as being everlasting. 

The Book of Revelation began with Jesus' message to the churches that are 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 come on up.  "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." (Revelation 4:1) 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 of this chapter let us pose several questions.  Have the event depicted in in John’s vision, Revelation 4:1 already taken place?  Remember, "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:" (Revelation 1:1)  ‘Must shortly come to pass’; seems to indicate that these events were scheduled to begin during John’s lifetime or soon after.  There are those who teach the church will not go through the tribulation. Is it possible that the event portrayed in 1^st Thessalonians 4:16-17) took place before the church became embroiled in confusion and splits.  Maybe the tribulation has already begun and the trumpets of God are sounding but the world is ignoring them. I challenge you to study and reflect on these questions.   

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, and the church said "Amen".  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 Chapter 2

Understanding the Word of God, The Church and The Tribulation Part 1

What happened to the church that was established by Christ and his disciples in the first century, that glorious church that Jesus so adamantly proclaimed, "... and upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)   This is a bold statement made by the Christ, who would later issue letters of indictment against the church.  (Revelation 2-3) In a rambling sort of way let us first explore the history of that church and in doing so we might find the answer as to whether the church will go through the tribulation. 

First, to reconcile Matthew 16:18 and Revelation 2-3,  we must once again entertain the question of what is the church.  The pious have proclaimed the church to exist within the heart, yet the Greek word for church indicates that it is an assembly.  The mission of the church is spiritual, but the church or an assembly is a natural entity and need not be spiritualized to fulfill its purpose.  As we have indicated in previous studies, the church is the bride of Christ.  The parable of the ten virgins is indicative of a time when Christ returns to claim his bride.   A careful reading of Matthew 25 should give us a deeper insight into the workings of this process and the coming Kingdom.

Consider this; when the bridegroom came for his bride five were ready and went in with him to the marriage.   Follow me on this; a marriage is a transformation ceremony.  It is a Holy ceremony where two become one.  

Did the true church survive the cruelty of the persecution of the Roman emperors or did the church succumb to the wiles of the Devil?  In my book, "The Evolution of A Failed Church", I make a distinction between the true church and the organized church.  Now, those who follow a prescribe indoctrination will proclaim the church to be founded upon the rock as proclaimed by Jesus and is impervious to the attacks of the Devil.  Here again, do Revelation 2-3 tells the rest of the story? 

Constantine often referred to as the first Christian emperor supposedly converted to Christianity in 312.   We now know the strategy for his conversion grew out of a desire to unify his empire by creating a "Catholic" –meaning universal- a church that would blend elements from Pagan and Christianity into one.  The “Christianity” Constantine endorsed was considerably different from that practiced by Jesus Christ and the apostles. The emperor accelerated the change by his own hatred of Jews and religious practices he considered Jewish.

The fourth century marks a startling transformation of or in the church.  There were those whom Jesus and Paul warned the flock off, came in and set themselves up as state sanction rulers of the church.  They brought with them the pomp and pageantry of idol worship.  Men of skill began hewing out for themselves positions of power and influence.   The fourth century also marked the first split in the hierarchy of the church.  The church that Christ ordained upon that Holy rock become a divided body.   Remember the word of Jesus, "And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand." (Mark 3:25)

 “How could the Christian Church, apparently quite willingly, accommodate this weird megalomaniac [Constantine] (and those that followed him)  in its theocratic system? Was there a conscious bargain? Which side benefited most from this unseemly marriage between Church and State? … Did the empire surrender to Christianity, or did Christianity prostitute itself to the empire?” ( A History of Christianity,1976, pp. 67-69).

How could the Christian church openly embrace a government that openly rejected the teaching of the Bible?  An administration that sought to pollute Christian values in the name of eliminating hatred.  Are we so blind as to believe that hatred, a type of madness that has existed since the beginning of time, can be eliminated by a mortal man? 

A study of the evolution of the church would cause some serious questions to arise.  These questions deserve an answer but not many are prepared to give an answer?  Now if you have been studying with me you are aware that at least two major events are mention in Matthew 25.   First, Christ comes for his bride, then he returns with his Holy Angels.  "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:" (Matthew 25:31)   The question of who is the Holy Angels should be fuel for an in-depth Bible Study.  Remember, the saint shall judge the world. 

Jesus addressed the problem facing the church in Revelation through seven letters to the churches.  These letters seem to address a progressive failure or breakdown of the church.  Not only did he point out the errors of the organized church, he prescribed fixes and issued threats if they fail to correct to correct the problem.   Did the church as a whole response to Jesus' indictment or did he remove the candlestick?

Martin Luther is one of the most influential figures in the Western history of Christianity. His writings were responsible for fractionalizing the Catholic Church and sparking the Protestant Reformation. Although Luther was critical of the Catholic Church, he also distanced himself from the radical successors who took up his mantle.   This is a common occurrence within the hierarchy of the church, one person establishes a new order and other come in seeking fame and glory and control.  To achieve their goal they usually exalt the founder to Godhood.  Often the new order becomes worse than the one that spews forth the new order.  

The Protestant Reformation is a term used to describe a series of events that happened in the 16th century in the Christian Church. Because of corruption in the Catholic Church, some people saw a need to change the way it worked.   Yet, if one were to truly separate themselves from what is deemed the pagan influence of the Catholic church, Sunday worship would be deemed unholy.  Else we must conclude that we are not under the Law, therefore what day we choose to assemble is irrelevant to salvation.  From a financial aspect, it is beneficial to the organized church to accept parts of the Law as enforceable while explaining away the rest.  If it wasn't for the issue of the tithes Paul's writing would be accepted without explanation, the law would be superseded by Grace.  The clarity of the Law on tithes is just as clear on "remember the sabbath day and keep it Holy,". 

Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press around 1448 had a significant impact on the spread of ideas in Europe and beyond. Printing technology traveled quickly across Europe and, at a time of great religious change, played a key role in the success of the Protestant Reformation.  In today's society, the internet is playing an important role in the spread of false narratives and conflicting Gospels.  False narratives spread like wildfire and proclaimed ministers of God are adding the fuel.

Where is the true church, this is a question that we have been toying with since the beginning of this narrative.  Isn't it possible that we are living the events portrayed in the book of Revelation?   If so then wouldn't it seem feasible that the events are in chronological order? Thus Revelation 4:1 could easily represent the rapture of the church as the church in Revelation is no longer mentioned as being on earth.   In Heaven John was able to look back through time and see the plan of God unfold. Once the church has been caught up, Jesus transformed and rewarded those who will be his Holy Angels and rule with him.  

Now I ask you to seriously consider this scenario before discarding it as pure garbage.   As church-going mortals, I know there is a problem with this scenario, but to say that the church exists as the unified body of Christ requires a stretch of the imagination.   Based upon Jesus' profound words concerning the gates of Hell, it would be logical to assume that Christ came back to claim his church at the onset of the fourth century.  This would be before the pollution of Christianity by Constantine, his Pagan influence, and the church becomes a divided body.  Is it possible we are left behind and are going through the great tribulation?  "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." (Revelation 7:14)

To Be Continued

The Concept of Heaven, The Lie, The Myth, and The Truth(Part 3c of 3a,b,c)

The final two segment of this discussion has been and is dealing with a series of judgments that must take place before the Kingdom of God is established on the new earth.  Judgment one and two was discussed in the previous segment. Now lets began with;

JUDGMENT NO. 3

1. Subjects-- The JEWS.

2. Time-- "The Great Tribulation."

3. Place-- Jerusalem and Vicinity.

4. Basis of Judgment-- Rejection of the Godhead.

5.Result-- Their Conversion and Reception of Christ as Their Messiah.

This judgment is FUTURE.

This Judgment is controversial because it denies the church the right to lay claim to the promise God made to Abraham and his seeds.  The acceptance of that statement will allow a hidden Bible truth to emerge.  Understanding this Judgment will also provide an important key to a deeper understanding of the Bible.  This is a part of the prophecies that many ruler, nations and churches have tried to eradicate.

In a church Bible Study I was hastily chastened for making reference to the rebuilding of the Jewish temple before the time of the end.  A scripture out of context was read stating the we are no longer Jews or Gentiles and since the coming of Christ there has been no need for a temple to be built. 

 Jesus also foretold the building of the Third Temple, after the destruction by the Romans in A.D. 70.  In Matthew 24:2, Jesus told the disciples after they commented about the beauty of the Temple, that not one stone would be left upon another. This was fulfilled in A.D. 70, by the Romans under Titus. Matthew 24:14-15, Later Jesus refers to the time of the end, when the Third Temple would be defiled, causing the abomination of desolation.   14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. 15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, STANDING in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand),

 The abomination of desolation is referred to three times in the book of Daniel, (Daniel 9:27,11;31, 12:11). Each mention refers to the Temple being defiled.  Paul also notes the need for a Third Temple and the role the Temple will play.  The anti-Christ will enter the Temple and proclaim himself to be God. This is consistent with the words of Jesus and Daniel about the role this Temple will play.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." (2^nd Thessalonians 2:3-4)

The long absence of a Temple and Israel's gathering are also foretold by Hosea. The many days refers to our own day.  The only other time, since Hosea day there was no Temple was for the 70-year period, between 586 B.C. and 516 B.C. Seventy years does not qualify as a long absence when when the only other time is over 1900 years.

"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:2)     

God’s relationship to Israel, is based on his word, to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The special relationship between Israel and God is holy, Israel has a specific purpose in the Earth. They are unique among the nations.  From these verses in Deuteronomy we can conclude the following points about God’s relationship with Israel.

•         God chose Israel

•         Israel as a nation is distinct from all the other nations.

•         The Lord loves Israel

•         God will keep his word he made to the fathers

 A point to remember the church and the Jews are two different groups and the promises made to the fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were promises made to the Jews not the Church.  The Children of Isreal are referred to as the bride of God the Father  The Church is referred to as the bride of Jesus.

While the Church is being judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ in the air, the Jews will be judged under Antichrist on the earth. The Jews are an "earthly" people; and as all the promises to them are "earthly," it follows that their judgment must be of an "earthly" character. The basis of their judgment is their "rejection of the Godhead." In the days of Samuel they rejected God the Father. "And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." (1^st Samuel 8:7)

 In the days of Christ they rejected God the Son.   "And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas." (Luke 23:18)

In the days of Stephen they rejected God the Holy Spirit. "For their sin they have been scattered among the nations until the "Times of the Gentiles" are fulfilled." (Acts 7:51,54-60)

When the "Times of the Gentiles" are about to end the Jews will be gathered back to the Holy Land "unconverted," and caused to "pass under the rod." Ezekiel 20:34-38. They will be cast into God's "Melting Pot" (Ezekiel 22:19-22), and pass through an experience spoken of by Jeremiah and Daniel as the "TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE." Jeremiah 30:4-7; Daniel 12:1. Christ calls it "The Great Tribulation," and He and Zechariah the Prophet associate it with the "Return of the Lord." Matthew 24:21-31; Zechariah 14:1-11. The human agent the Lord will use will be the Antichrist, the awfulness of whose rule will be supplemented by the pouring out of the "Vials of God's wrath" upon the earth. Revelation 15:1,5-8; 16:1-21.

The result of these terrible judgments will be that the Jews will call in their misery upon the Lord. Zechariah 12:10. Then Christ will come back to the Mt. of Olives (Zechariah 14:4) and the Jews will look upon Him whom they "pierced" (Zechariah 12:10), and a nation, the Jewish Nation, shall be "born (converted) in a day." Isaiah 66:8. This will complete the judgment of the Jews.

JUDGMENT NO. 4

1. Subjects-- The NATIONS (Gentiles).

2. Time-- The "Revelation of Christ."

3. Place-- The "Throne of His Glory." On the Earth-- "Valley of Jehoshaphat."

4. The basis of judgment-- Their Treatment of Christ's Brethren-- The Jews.

5. The result-- Some Nations "SAVED," Others "DESTROYED."

This judgment is FUTURE.

The account of this judgment is given in Matthew 25:31-46. The description of this judgment, and of the one given in Revelation 20:11-15 are combined by many, and taken to teach the doctrine of a general judgment. But when we compare them as they differ so widely that it is evident that they do not describe the same event. What God has put asunder let no man join together. The following comparison will show the difference in the two accounts

 Matthew 25:31-46

1. No Resurrection. 

2. Living Nations Judged. 

3. On the Earth. Joel 3:2. 

4. No Books Mentioned. 

5. Three Classes Named. "Sheep," "Goats," "Brethren." 

6. Time-- Before the Millennium. 

Revelation 20:11-15 

1. A Resurrection. 

2. Dead judged. 

3. Heaven and Earth Gone. 

4. Books Opened. 

5. One Class Named. "The Dead." 

6. Time-- After the Millennium.

This comparison reveals the fact that one of these judgments is "on the earth," the other in the "heavens," and that they are separated by 1000 years.

(Many World leaders and ethnic groups have attempted to destroy the Jews as a nation and a people, claiming their birthright for themselves.  If this was allowed to happen, the written Bible prophecies would fail and it is the thinking of the Devil (Antichrist) that if this happen then Jesus Christ would not have a reason to return to this earth.  Even religious organizations have unwittingly participated in this Unholy scheme.  Many still wonder, what was Hitler’s real reason for trying to destroy the Jews.  Understanding the Bible prophecies will help us understand what has been and still is going on in the Middle East.)

The Greek word "ethnos" here translated "Nations" occurs 158 times in the New Testament. It is translated "Gentiles" 92 times, "Nation" or "Nations" 61 times, and "The Heathen" 5 times, but it is never in any instance (unless it is this) applied either to the "dead" or the "resurrected."

As this is a judgment of nations only, the Jews cannot be in it, for they are not reckoned among the nations. Numbers 23:9. And as the Church will be associated with Christ in this judgment, for the "Saints" (the Church) shall judge the "World" (the Nations) (1^st Corinthians 6:2), the Church cannot be in this judgment either. As we have seen the Church and the Jews have been already judged, so the "Judgment of the Nations" cannot be a general judgment. Who then, is asked, are meant by the Sheep? Do they not represent the Righteous, and all the Righteous from the beginning of the world to the end of Time? And do not the Goats in like manner represent all the Wicked?

If the Sheep are the Righteous, and the Goats the Wicked, then who are the Brethren? If they are the "followers of Christ," as some claim, they should be classed with the Sheep. The Scriptures teach that the Righteous are saved by "faith," and the Wicked are lost because they "reject Christ," but in this judgment scene the Sheep inherit a "Kingdom" and the Goats are commanded to "depart," because of their treatment of the Brethren.

All the confusion is caused by trying to make a judgment of "nations" mean a judgment of "individuals." The Sheep represent one class of Nations, and the Goats another class, while the Brethren represent the Jews (Christ's brethren). We must bear in mind the time and place of this judgment. The time is the "Revelation of Christ" when He comes to set up His "Millennial Kingdom" on the earth. The place is the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

 "For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather ALL NATIONS, and will bring them down into the `Valley of Jehoshaphat,' and will plead with them there for MY PEOPLE and for my heritage ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the Nations, and parted my land." Joel 3:1-2.

 This prophecy clearly states that there is to be a "Judgment of Nations" on the earth in the "Valley of Jehoshaphat" at the time of the restoration of the Jews to their own land, and that the basis of judgment is the treatment by the nations of Christ's brethren-- The Jews.

During the "Tribulation Period" the Nations that treat the Jewish People kindly, feeding and clothing them, and visiting them in prison, will be the "Sheep Nations," while those who neglect to do so will be the "Goat Nations." At the "Judgment of Nations" the King (Christ) will say to the "Sheep Nations," inasmuch as ye have been kind to My brethren (the Jews), "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." This Kingdom is the "Millennial Kingdom" that the "Sheep Nations" as Nations will "inherit" and possess during the Millennium. And as they are to be among the "saved nations" of the New Earth (Revelation 21:24) it can be said of them that they, or at least the righteous individuals of them, shall enter into life eternal. Matthew 25:46.

Christ's sentence upon the "Goat Nations" will be-- "Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his angels," and "these shall go away into everlasting punishment." The "Goat Nations" will at once be destroyed as Nations, not one of them shall get into the Millennium, and the wicked individuals that compose them will perish and be eternally lost.

Next the final judgment