Reflecting upon the messages emulating from the pinnacles of faith I have noticed a disturbing trend developing. What once was a plan of redemption, a plan of salvation that had strict rule and regulations has evolved into a feel-good message designed to entertain. One pastor's weekly message is about how God loves us and how he is doing great things for us. There are those who accept the indoctrinated view of God while other look out their window and see the signs of the tribulation all around us. The strange weather patterns, the intensification of storms and earthquakes, the spirit of discontent that exists within our homes, school, churches, communities, and nation does not depict the image of a smiling God.
In my book, "The Evolution of a Failed Church", I seek to amplify the disconnect that exists and condemnations brought against the church after it had strayed away from the ordinance set forth by Christ. Long before our leaders trashed the Bible and enacted laws giving humanity the courage to stand against God, Christianity and the Bible, the church as an organized and divided body had failed (Revelation 2-3). There is only one question left to answer. "Did the gates of Hell prevail against the true church (Five wise virgins) or did Christ come back for his church before it became a confused and divided body (Five foolish virgins) (Revelation 4:)? The answer to this and other question has serious implication for the billion-dollar entertainment enterprise that is masquerading as the organized church.
According to the testimony of the Apostle Paul (who wrote inspired of God), we will not enter nor go through any part of the Great Tribulation: “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1st Thessalonians 5:9). According to this Scripture, the Church is not appointed to wrath, the Church is not appointed to judgment. The Church will not face either the wrath of God or the judgment of God but will be caught up to meet Jesus in the clouds in the air. Then the judgment of Almighty God will fall upon this earth as described in Revelation six and follow. The stage is set in Revelation 4 and 5, and the judgments break out at the beginning of chapter six.
We all face a problem here. It is not with the interpretation of the book of Revelation, it is with the application, implication, and timeline. The prevailing consensus is we must go to church, a building dedicated to a church to obtain salvation. Now if we believe as Paul believed that the church would not go through the tribulation, then we are comfortable with the idea that the tribulation is not upon us, thus the fulfillment of Revelation has not begun, yet many teach that we are living in the days spoken of in the book of Revelation. If we see the signs that Jesus spoke of as the beginning of sorrow, the time of tribulation and the church is still here then contrary to what Paul said, the church is going through the tribulation.
Paul speaking to the Jewish converts long before the church became an organized body. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) The new converts were encouraged to get together with other converts and uplift one another through prayer and their testimony as they waited for the return of Christ. They were to do this as a spiritual body. The Roman government (Constantine) and enterprising men (Nicolaitans) saw the power and glory of organizing these groups into one earthly body (denomination). After a period of trials and tribulations this earthly body split. The implications were the body of Christ had become a divided body, and according to Jesus, a divided house cannot stand. It is easy to see the problem good men have created.
It easy to discard Revelation 6:12-17 as these signs are nothing new. 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, (meteorites striking 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 (storm shelters and fallout shelters). 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?
It is just as easy to be confused by the numerous and exciting messages being presented in the house of God. What is strange about these messages is they all speak of what God is doing. I am constantly bombarded with claims of what God is doing. Why does God spend so much time fixing problems when all he has to do is speak the word? Why is there an on slaughter of preachers promising financial favors from God especially on the social media? We are encouraged to "Type Amen" and share the message as if we can prod God into action. Let look at a few examples of what God was seen doing by the New Testament writers.
Acts 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
In this verse, the author writes that Stephen looking into Heaven he saw the Glory of God, it does not say he saw God. It further states that he saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Standing is a position of action. Stephen a righteous man was killed because of his testimony. What is interesting is he did not pray for his deliverance.
Revelation 4:2-3 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
Revelation 7:10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
John is referencing seeing God through his glory sitting on the throne.
There is a type of lunacy that has invaded the household of faith and Christians are upholding it. There is sadness when I hear people who have given their whole life to the church, and in their golden years, they began to question their faith. We can pretend that this condition does not exist, bury our heads in the sand, quote shaped scriptures to prove our point, but the truth is, many older church members are secretly questing their faith as they sit alone at home waiting to die, and the younger generation no longer maintain the faith of their parents.
A lady in her eighties told me, "I use to go to church and feel the spirit of God, now I go to church and don't feel nothing but I go to church and pay my tithes because we are supposed to." I couldn't resist, I asked, "Why are we suppose to go to a church building?" Her response was, "It's in the Bible." "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) The interpretation of this verse and other verses is shaped to force the believer that in order to save one's soul one must attend a particular organized divided assembly designated as the church. Now couple that with Malachi 3:8 and we have the making of a beautiful business plan that many has capitalized on. There is no meat in the organized church because the scriptures are twisted, the storehouse has been robbed, and the people are suffering.
When attempting to analyze those verses, the first question we should ask is, when Paul wrote those now famous words, what was the church like? Where did the early Christians meet? The message of Malachi 3:8 was not a message to the congregation, it was a message to the priest. Malachi 2:1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. The priest was asked questions, the priest asked questions and the answer was given
A prearrange indoctrination sessions have rendered the Word of God null and void. We often go to church to get our blessings, we are conditioned to believe this, it is necessary to support the church bottom line. What blessing do we receive from listening to a preacher scream and hollow about God delivering Jonah from the belly of the whale? How often do we shake the preacher's hand and say, we enjoyed the message? Did we really enjoy the message or was it the presentation of the message? How long before we forget what the message was about. Would we be more excited if a well-known mega-church pastor came to our assembly and read the 23rd Psalms?
Learning to use code words or trigger words can excite a congregation, the same as the yelling touchdown at a football game. In the church, this explosive reaction is attributed to the spirit of God. In my early days, I witnessed the same type of reaction at a James Brown concert. The audience erupted in a state of euphoria at the mere sight of a mortal man walking on stage.
The church, whether it is a tribulation force or pre-tribulation force has strayed away from its intended purpose (Revelation 2-3) It was Jesus who established the church and the church should be for the benefit of Christ. Enterprising young men and women have taken control of God's heritage and are seeking to establish their own hierarchy. This is akin to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He like so many today has lost sight of who they were and where they had come from. His “fugue state,” was caused by him taking credit for the kingdom he had been given, he forgot that God is the King of Kings, and everything he had was from Him (Daniel 4:17, 28–30).
God dramatized the king’s state of mind by an introduced fugue state. He was driven into the fields as a homeless man to live with wild animals and graze like a cow (vv. 32–33). Finally, after seven years Nebuchadnezzar looked up to the skies and his memory of who he was and who had given him his kingdom returned. With his senses restored, he declared, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of heaven” (v. 37).
The noun fugue describes a psychiatric disorder that involves memory loss and travel. If you wake up in New Jersey and cannot remember how you got there, one possibility is that you were in a fugue state. With the proliferation of titles and the word of God, many are inclined to forget who is the King of Kings. If you think you have the power to run God's house any way you please then you are like Nebuchadnezzar you are experiencing a fugue state.
Who do we think we are? Where did we come from? Since we are inclined to forget, who can we count on to help us remember, the pastor, the priest, the bishop, the King of Kings? Father, we are so inclined to forget whom we are, where we have come from, and that we belong to you. Help us to remember that in Christ, we are your children, the sheep of his pasture, now and forever.
To be continued...
