THE DOCTRINE OF THE "CATCHING AWAY OF THE CHURCH"

 BY PASTOR MIKE TAYLOR

 http://www.churchofgod-usa.org/index.html

  

“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:

4:17[1] 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.”

1st Thessalonians 4:16[2] ­17 

Very familiar verses for all prophecy writers and readers alike, has been the subject of much debate and confusion over the last 150 years. Many critics believe that this verse is talking about the church being taken up in the air at the seventh trump that the seventh angel blows to signal the bowl judgments spoken of in Revelation chapter 16. That would be a Post­Tribulation model. But are they right? 

I had a brother in Christ, who at the very mention of the word “rapture”, became very irate and bellowed, loudly, quote “there is no scripture in the bible that speaks of a rapture.” end­quote. But is he right, or just ignorant of the fact that Paul and many writers pointed to a “catching away” of the church and there are found many instances in the bible that support that doctrine? You can find examples of this teaching in both New and Old Testaments. Let's take a journey through biblical chapters and see what we find, shall we? 

Noting the above verse quoted in the start of this message, note the underlined words to “be caught up”. Are there any other verses in the bible with the same words that mean the same thing as this verse does? The Greek word for this phrase is “harpazo” #726 in Strong's Concordance that was translated into the Latin Vulgate as “rapiemur” and came from the derivative of the Greek word #138 in Strong's Concordance “haireomai” which literally means “to seize, catch away up, pluck, pull, or take by force”, hence the modern English word “rapture”, that often maligned word, that many in the conservative church movements equate with some type of emotional display or escape hatch for those who disbelieve the church goes through the Tribulation. Getting back, are there any other verses that use the exact same word used here of “harpazo”? Turn with me now to 2nd Corinthians 12:2,

“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the thirdheaven.

12:3[3]  And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

12:4[4] How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

Paul is speaking of himself being caught into paradise and heard things, that I believe he shared with the church during his days when he wrote his epistles. He calls it a mystery...what is the word he used....? Correct, it was harpazo. Paul was snatched in the spirit into heaven. Paul uses the word twice. The Old Testament is full of the prophecies concerning the second coming of the Lord God at the end of the age, but in Paul's epistle, especially in letter to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians, Paul speaks of a mystery that would not have been a mystery to those who studied the Torah or the major/minor prophets, but here refers to this mystery, or something that previously had not been known. And further, Paul equated it with the known Feast of Trumpets, referring the last trump that is blown at it's conclusion and not referring to John's description in Revelation, as John had not even wrote the last book of the Bible when Paul wrote these letters to the churches. So even in that respect, they are not the same trumpet and should not be confused with eachother.

Now let's turn to another verse that speaks of this same snatching away, but in a different context.

Matthew 11:12 , “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence , and the violent take it by force .”

Matthew 13:19 “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. “

Different context, but same meaning...to be snatched away, by force. Now another, found in Gospel of John it is used four different times.

6:15 “When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force , to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”

John 10:12[5]

12 “But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming , and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth : and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.”

John 10:28­29[6]

28 “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish , neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”

Again, in Acts 23:10, Jude 1:23, Revelation 12:5 “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to histhrone.”

Let's not forget Phillip the apostle when he had baptized the Ethiopian eunuch, Acts, 8:39[7] 

“And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.” 

If you've been keeping count, that is 13 times in the New Testament including the ones I didn't quote , but gave reference to, that the word “Harpazo” is used and it means in every instance to be removed by force, without warning being snatched away...not each mention of the Greek word “Harpazo” has to do with with the mystery that Paul speaks of, but it shows that the word was used repeatedly to speak of with the same definition and example.

WHAT ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT? 

Good question. Is there anything that can point to a parallel word that has the same meaning used in Greek in these passages found in also in the Old Testament.? Matter of fact, there is. There a examples of men being “snatched up” and removed from this earth. Let's start with the earliest known example...Genesis 5:23[8],

Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. v.24[9], “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”

Here the word for the underlined phrase “took him away” is the Hebrew word #3947 in Strong's, “leqach” which means to “receive, reserve, seize, send for, take away, or fetch”.

Paul speaks of Enoch this way, Hebrews 11:5 of the NIV, 

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away (translated him). For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” 

The word used for “translated, or taken him away” is the Greek word, metatithemi, Strongs #3346, which means “transport, exchange, change sides, carry over, change, remove”. Scoffers will use the passage in verse 13 of that same chapter,

:13[10] “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” 

But to use that verse contradicts verse 5, and the bible cannot contradict itself. So Enoch was “snatched away, removed” from this earth alive and did NOT see death, but verse 13 applies to all others who lived by faith. 

Another example is the prophet Elijah and we will turn to 2nd Kings chapter 2,

2:1[11] “ And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.”

Reading down: 

2:11[12] “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.”

What is the Hebrew word for the phrase “would take up” in verse1. It's the word and the equivalent word as used in the example of Enoch, as this word is “Leqach” used to describe the snatching away of Enoch. Some will make a convoluted argument that both men are dead and died in faith, but they use logic that is beyond their grasp of the infinite, not believing that God is Sovereign and He can do whatever He wishes to do, apart from their finite analogies. They will use “did not see death” and try to explain the second death. That's stretching the meaning of the text and we have no clue to do so. It's best to take what the Word says literally and not add your own meaning, by adding or subtracting from God's message. They will say that he lived 365 years and no longer, but you can't count eternity, because it's without time. So again, they try to rationalize their preconceived ideas to support their doctrine of “believers in Jesus Christ” not being removed bodily from this earth in an instant....or the bible says, in the “twinkling of an eye.” 

Note that we have covered Enoch, Elijah, Phillip, Paul, our Lord and Savior, and finally the Church itself, the bride of Christ being described with the words “snatched up, or plucked by force” from the earth. 

But still the critics will not believe. I point them to some passages that mirror each other and tell us why these examples were given to us. First is Isaiah 26:19,

“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

26:20[13] Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

26:21[14] For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover herslain.”

And her companion verse, spoken of by my Lord, John chapter 14,

14:2[15] “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

14:3[16] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

14:4[17]  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

What do these companion verses say to you? They tell me that Jesus will bring us unto Himself and we will be rewarded a mansion in the New Jerusalem, as He promised. There we will wait for the indignation, or His wrath to be over­past or to subside. These verses speak of resurrection, changing from mortal to immortal, and not being present when His wrath comes upon this earth, both the resurrected dead in Christ, and the living who are both 

THE DOCTRINE OF THE RAPTURE IS A MODERN ONE?

In recent years, many opponents of the pre­tribulation rapture view have made dogmatic assertions that this view was never taught before 1820 A.D. There have been attempts to attribute the origin of this view to John N. Darby.... but this is false and misleading. Ephraem the Syrian[18] wrote, in 373 AD, "For all the saints and Elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins." ... revealing that the early church fathers themselves were indeed teaching this.

This text was originally a sermon called “On the Last Times, the Anti­Christ, and the End of the World.” There are four existing Latin manuscripts (the Parisinus, the Augiensis, the Barberini, and the St. Gallen) ascribed to St.

Ephraem or to St. Isidore . Some scholars believe this text was written by some unknown writer in the sixth century and was derived from the original Ephraem manuscript.

The sermon describes the events of the last days, beginning with the rapture, the Great Tribulation of 3 1/2 years duration under the Antichrist's rule, followed by the Second Coming of Christ. In Ephraem's book “The Book of the Cave of Treasures”, written about 370 A.D., he expressed his belief that the 69th week of Daniel ended with the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus the Messiah. Although this does not prove that the doctrine of the Rapture is correct, it does show that even early Church Theologians were teaching this and it is NOT a modern device of an immature girl and John Darby, as some claim, but a doctrine of the early church.

The glorified Jesus, the Great I AM, that I AM spoke of this in the His precious Word, as Ephraem the Syrian did, when our Lord spoke in Revelation 3:10,

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

Paul echoes what Jesus spoke to John years later, when he penned these verses,

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

5:9[19] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:10[20]  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”

POINT AND COUNTERPOINT!! 

The Church is a specific group of believers in Jesus Christ.  It is not a building ... nor is it any particular denomination or religion. It is also known as the Body of Christ. The Living Church of God is a living organism that began at Pentecost ­­ see Acts 2:1­4[21] and culminates at the rapture ­­ see 1 Thessalonians 4:16­18[22]. It does not include anyone who was a believer prior to or after the two above­mentioned events. The terms saints or elect refer to another specific group of believers. This group includes all the Old Testament saints, as well as those who become believers in Christ after the rapture. I've made many references in past messages that the Tribulation is,Pouring out of God's wrath on an unrepentant, and rebellious world,refining Israel as silver is refined in the fire....and we are NOT included in that refining. Why? Because there is no need, as Jesus paid it all at the cross, and to think otherwise smacks of “catholic purgatory” that Jesus blood and sacrifice just was not sufficient to fully save the sinner. A serious mistake by a past ruling Theocracy.

There is a marked difference in the Bible when you look at references to the Church compared with references to the saints or the elect.   The Church is always referred to in very narrow and distinct terms, whereas the saints or the elect are always referred to in very broad terms. More pointed, however, is the fact that the word Church never appears again after Revelation 3:22 ­­ you'll only see the words “saints or the elect” mentioned throughout the rest of the book ­­ and this is directly after a very significant reference to this “catching away by force” , in Revelation 3:10[23]

ASSESSMENT and CONCLUSIONS

What is the tribulation? It is the wrath of God. When does it start? When the first seal is broken in chapter 6 of Revelation by our Lord, Jesus Christ. What are not appointed to? We are not appointed to wrath, but salvation through Him. How will the tribulation begin to commence? When the Church of God is removed out of the way.

Isaiah 26:19, and 2nd Thessalonians

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

2:8[24] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

2:9[25]  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

2:10[26] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 

But forewarning to those who belong to a “church”...these bible verses who speak of the removal of the CHURCH will not be everyone who sits in pew, or says some “hail marys” in some repetitive fashion, or think their priest of their pastor can usher them into God's Kingdom. It's not about being Catholic, or Protestant or something somewhere in between. It is solely dependent on the application of the blood of Jesus Christ to your life and clothing your spirit with His righteousness. There are many verses that point solely to Jesus Christ being the “Way, the Truth and the Life”. No man can come to the Father in Heaven except through Him. All roads do not lead to eternal life, but believing in your heart of hearts and accepting His free pardon for your sins through Grace and faith in the only Begotten Son of God.

“For God so loved the world, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16

God has given us example after example. He has given us story after story to show the TRUE children of God being removed out of the way. He has given us words to show that HE WILL remove the TRUE, blood washed church

before His wrath is poured out on this earth. How much more clear does He need to be? When someone remarks, “the rapture is not found in the bible”, then my reader, you can direct them to passages that show they misunderstand. And if they still don't get it, then that's Ok...you can explain it to them on your way up to meet the Lord in the air. 

“Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved” Don't be left behind when all hell breaks loose on this earth in the coming Tribulation, which may be sooner than anyone cares to think of....maybe even this year???

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying God's salvation in your life and to ready for the soon return of our King of kings, and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, our Savior. If there is anything I can help you with, pray with you about, or just listen, email me at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net. Or visit me online at www.churchofgod­usa, for more messages based on the Word of God. God bless you all,

Till we meet at Jesus Feet. 

1.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29621/eVerseID/29621

2.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29620/eVerseID/29620

3.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29026/eVerseID/29026

4.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29027/eVerseID/29027

5.  http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/john/10­12.html

6.  http://www.biblestudytools.com/kjv/john/passage.aspx?q=john+10:28­29

7.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/27216/eVerseID/27216

8.  http://bible.cc/genesis/5­23.htm

9.  http://bible.cc/genesis/5­24.htm

10.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/30186/eVerseID/30186

11.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/9553/eVerseID/9553

12.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/9563/eVerseID/9563

13.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/18151/eVerseID/18151/opt/parallel

14.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/18152/eVerseID/18152/opt/parallel

15.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/26671/eVerseID/26671/opt/parallel

16.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/26672/eVerseID/26672/opt/parallel

17.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/26673/eVerseID/26673/opt/parallel

18.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephrem_the_Syrian

19.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29631/eVerseID/29631

20.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29632/eVerseID/29632

21.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi­bin/tools/get_verses.pl? hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.AlanHorvath.com/bibleprophesies_rapt.php&icon=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alanhorvath.com%2F

22.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi­bin/tools/get_verses.pl? hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.AlanHorvath.com/bibleprophesies_rapt.php&icon=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alanhorvath.com%2F

23.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi­bin/tools/get_verses.pl? hr=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.AlanHorvath.com/bibleprophesies_rapt.php&icon=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alanhorvath.com%2F

24.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29670/eVerseID/29670/opt/parallel

25.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29671/eVerseID/29671/opt/parallel

26.  http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/29672/eVerseID/29672/opt/parallel

THE LAODECIAN CHURCH AGE

by Pastor Mike Taylor

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without [4] thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:18-20)

Most of us would agree that we are living in the last days of mankind's rule on this earth. But are we living like we believe it? We see the evil around this nation manifested in grotesque shootings of the innocent in our schools, on our streets, Islam rising up to commit terrible acts in the name of their false god, and the multitude of sins that are growing exponentially as each day passes and we scream, “WHEN IS THIS ALL GOING TO END?” Of course, we know that the last days will become more and more evil as time passes, because the Bible prophesied it would be so.

II Timothy chapter 3, starting in verse 2:

v,2, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 

v.3,  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 

v.4, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

v.5,  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”

There is evil rampant all around us, but is there nothing we can do about it? Are we powerless to stop the flow of evil that is overtaking our nation, our families, and our culture? (Maybe). True, the scripture above says that the times would be evil, but is that all we can expect? Is mankind in it's evil nature the only fault of the nation going into the dark times we see? The evil of man is a given according to scripture. But I say that there is a symptom that is growing in this country and has been festering for a long time, probably for the last 50 years. What is that symptom that has coming to a fulfillment? Give up? Let's look at what scripture says about where we are and why.

THE LAODECIAN CHURCH ERA

v. 14, And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

v. 15, I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. v.16, So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

v. 17, Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: (Revelation 3:14-17)

If you be a church going believer, and there are many who are not, what was the atmosphere of the service you attended? Sadly, I would wager that most of you have not heard a good 'ole hell fire and brimstone sermon in years, or for that matter, ever that calls out sin and it's forgiveness. Scripture says that we all have sinned and deserve death:

Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”,

Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned."

Romans 6:23,

v. 23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

 (sin is death, and death is hell fire or the Lake of Fire, remember those? It's high time the church tells the truth about sin).



The Gospel according to Jesus Christ has been watered down to the point of the average church service has become a social club gathering, that is intent on providing the masses the comfort they desire. Sin is no longer a subject discussed or preached on. Your local pastor may be into the social gospel of a feel good “Christianity”. We don't want to feel bad about ourselves, and we sure don't want to upset that unbeliever that sits in your pews every Sunday. NOOO...that would be impolite, or politically incorrect and we need the support (ie. The money) to build that bigger and better sanctuary or expand our Sunday School classrooms, or the latest buzz project that has the member's attention. If you upset them, they may take their money elsewhere. Sad, but it's true.

And what of that member who leaves your churches and goes out into the world to work and play? Do they live their faith, or do they assimilate into the masses of the unbelieving world? Do you see where I'm going with this? The fault of what our generation is experiencing right now, falls into the lap of the one place where morality is taught and implemented into each of our lives. That blame is at the threshold of the Laodecian “church”. (if you can call them that). I talk of faith, and so does James in the opening scripture, but what of this faith?

THE CHURCH IS TO TEACH TRUTH

You've heard the old saying, “actions speak louder than words”? In speaking of being a Christian, who has taken on the spirit of redemption, who has believed in their mind, the sinner's prayer, and believes in his heart that Jesus died for his sins, does our faith stop there? James addresses this in this chapter and following chapters...let's take a look at some of his admonitions. James chapter 2:

v.14 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 

v.15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 

v.16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 

v.17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

(I believe James is speaking of faith misplaced in the wrong place or person)

If you neglect the nurturing of others through the application of your faith toward your brother, your fellow human being, then what has this faith accomplished? Faith is the beginning, not the end of our Christian walk. Out of sheer obedience, we are commanded to show fruit worthy of repentance. Let me elaborate, as I can just imagine the questions in your mind concerning this teaching. Let's take an agricultural product, say a plum tree. When the time to harvest the plums from a producing plum tree arrives, what do we expect to find on the branches? Of course, plums is what we would expect. What if we found rotten apples, or thorns, or some other illegitimate product that is in direct conflict to what this tree was suppose to be? Well, we would have say that we have been cheated by the seller of these trees we planted, or the seed that grew. So it is with the born again Christian. We are to produce good fruit. Let's not get the cart before the horse now, as many produce good works because, morally, they are good people, but they have not faith in Jesus Christ. Those of us who have faith in Jesus Christ are commanded to walk as He walked. If we truly belong to Jesus Christ, we will produce fruit just as sure as the sun comes up in the east and sets in the west or a plum tree produces that plum. We are commanded to produce fruit worthy of that calling of the Holy Spirit. Collectively, we are to be taught the right teachings according to the Bible, not some feel good gospel, and that's where the church is failing today. Jesus warned of this in the last days. Revelation 3:

16 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

The churches of today, including this abomination called the “Emerging Church” relies on everything but the pure, unadulterated Word of God. They are into meditation, self awareness, motivational speaking, and anything and everything that is grounded in this world. They have lost touch with God and His requirements for being a true Christian built upon the Rock, which is Jesus Christ. The majority of the churches today Jesus said that they make Him sick.

I went to a church a few years ago, because my grandsons were being baptized and I was appalled by their service. I saw steel guitars, rock music, smoke rising through smoke machines, video cameras focusing in on the musicians on the overhead screen, and music so loud that I couldn't think. I thought I was at a Led-Zeppelin concert, not a church service devoted to the worship of the Living God. Is this an example of worship services in America's churches today? Sadly, it is more prevalent than I would care to admit. These churches are ripe pickings for the delusions that will come upon the earth in the near future of the rise of the One World Religion headed by none other the the False Prophet, ie. The grand Poopah in Rome

WHAT ABOUT OUR CHILDREN?

This gets down to the brass tacks of this message. Our children are our future. Are we teaching our children according to God's Word? I would say in the majority, the church is failing miserably. See all the crimes of insanity of young people who have lost hope, or desire suicide to end their sufferings. Of course, they want to take as many people with them as possible, hence the awful shootings of Columbine, The Batman Rising shooter in Colorado, and the Newtown, Connecticutt school killer just to name a few in the recent past. Do you know what the #1 single killer of our young people today is? It used to be accidents, as in trauma from motor vehicle accidents, or accidents of dare-devils who think they are immortal, but that has been surpassed in recent years by SUICIDE. Yes, suicide of a lost generation that has no hope, no anchor or faith in something bigger than themselves. Morality begins in the home, nurtured by the church, and guaranteed by our laws of this land called the USA. But the last 50 years have seen morality take a deep six nose dive. We have raised a 2nd generation of unschooled, unbelieving, and godless people who now have kids of their own with no compass in their lives, and pray tell do they get it in the truth in our churches of today? The answer would be a hearty “NO”! Most of these stay away from church, as they have figured out that the churches provide nothing they need in their lives. Deuteronomy chapter 6:

6 “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart

7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 

8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 

9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments”. (John 14:15)

v.3, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

v. 4, He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

v. 5, But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

(1st John 2:3-5)

This is not about works, but where your faith lies. Is in Jesus Christ or in a religion of men? Who do you love? If you love this world,  Jesus and the Father are not in you.

THE POLITICS OF EVIL

And what is the answer of our elected leaders? Gun control is their answer. The POTUS present (I'll not use his name, as it makes me sick) has a plan. I would call it a sinister plan in the same regards as Hitler had plans for Germany. And no Dorothy, we are not in Kansas!! The world we know has changed...is that this POTUS idea of “hope and change”? It's not my idea, and probably not yours either. And you can bet your bottom dollar, nothing is going to change for the better, until the heart of America changes and I don't see that coming in this life, unless this nation falls on her knees and cries out for redemption, and not to our government. That is the LAST place any sane American would look to today. Our leaders are as clueless about the root cause as the rest of the unbelieving world. The only answer is to teach our children the way they should go from the Word of God and as a nation, but we have failed miserably as parents, as a church, and as a nation...just look around you.

A clear command comes from God to give our children a Christian education. Are we prepared to say that not to do so is sin? After all, God orders it. How are we doing it? What have we provided for our kid's Christian education? How much time are we spending doing it? If we have children, we can be sure these questions will be asked.

Obviously, the church is not doing it's job. The parents are not doing their job, as they were not taught either. So the nation is falling apart. So the problem grows, and grows until we have a lawless society bent on destruction of other human beings because of their own pain and inability to cope.  Men look to the government to fulfill their needs. Ask any bleeding heart liberal that is on food stamps and welfare. Pity the fool that looks to men and not looking to God for their salvation.

YOUR FAITH ON TRIAL

Let's take that evidence of faith and put it into a courtroom setting of this age. At the Great White Throne judgment at the end of time, the Judge has brought you before the high court and the prosecutor reads the charges. If we are asked about our faith, the Judge will ask to show us our faith by our actions as evidence for our defense. True enough that works cannot save anyone and we could get into the argument of works based salvation as the Pharisees of Jesus Christ day thought salvation was achieved by. They were wrong, as faith is all that is required, but what of the above verses? Is there anything required or let's say, expected for the truly converted believer to show this High Court if their faith was in God, or was it misplaced in something else? Maybe that faith was in their church, their denomination, or their parish priest or pastor. We see people everyday that we see in our churches, and you know, you can't tell them apart from the sinner down at your local bar drinking himself into a stupor. Listen to their speech. James mentions this as well in chapter 3:

v.3 “Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 

v. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

v. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter [2] a little fire kindleth! 

v.6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course [3] of nature; and it is set on fire of hell,

v.7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind
v.8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

v.9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. “

Understanding we live in a sinful world and evil talk and crude language is all around us. Do we take on the actions of this world, this Laodicean Age of apostasy? If we are guilty of this sin, what does it say to the unbeliever? Are they impressed with your aura of righteousness? Do you honor God in spirit and your actions? Do you esteem your neighbor above yourself? Are you kind, considerate, careful of your language, and project an aura of a bought and paid for saint for God's Kingdom? If no, then are they impressed? I think you know that answer to that one. They are not and they see no need for your luke-warm religion as it doesn't speak to them of their lost condition. Many on judgment day will think they are alright. They went to church, they paid their tithes, and they even believed in their heads about this person “Jesus Christ”. Remember the portion of the opening verse. “thou doest well. Even the demons believe and tremble” But they are not saints. Let's examine what Jesus said about these pseudo-christians, in name only.

Matthew 25:

31 “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:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”

If you are familiar with the parable, Jesus separates the true Christians apart from the fake, in name only Christians. This is after the Tribulation that Jesus will judge the nations. Both thought they were doing God's will. The goats on His left, they did what they thought right in their own eyes. Pseudo-Christians, or the ones in name only, missed one vital point, they were playing the game, but didn't have the power within their lives. They relied either on themselves being a good person, or their church, or their pastor/priest, or something else in a religious nature, but missed taking on the likeness of Jesus Christ and into their heart, and their very being. They put their trust in a false religions, a false god or even no god at all. They only had the label, not the power of God. Or. the seed planted by Jesus Christ had been over run with thorns and weeds and they were not really a new creature in Jesus Christ, but play acting. They spoke it, they read about it in their bible (rarely), they counted on their priest to get them to heaven, or they just thought being religious was good enough. You know what, it was not. That scenario can both happen before and after the beginning of the Tribulation, so applies even more so today before the true Church is removed. I speak of misplaced trust and faith in the wrong place and the wrong Person.

As in the final court case at the end of the age, noted above, the Judge is our Father in Heaven, the prosecutor is God's Holy Word found in the books opened.  If you are not found to be written in the book of life, but who were just going through the motions and had not really taken Jesus Christ into your heart, then God  have no choice but to repeat what was said at the Bema Judgment seat of Christ by saying:

41” Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” .

You will have no defense, and Jesus Christ cannot/will not  defend you, as you have not taken on His likeness and have not been clothed with His righteousness. God the Father will see you in all your sinful nature without being clothed in the righteousness of His Son, as the only pardon for your awful condition. The sentence will be passed and you will be condemned for all eternity to separation from God and destruction in the Lake of Fire...the second death burning with fire and brimstone mixed with sulfur.

TIME RUNNING OUT

Understand one thing my reader, the nation of the United States is sadly going down in flames. How long it will take, I haven't a clue, as the time table is in God's hands, but going down she is. This present POTUS has put it's demise on warp speed. The evil nature of men will only grow worse and worse. Morality and the love of anyone but yourself will vanish, if it hasn't already done so. Men will tear each other apart just to get what they think they want or need. If a crisis develops, men will take guns and kill anyone and everyone in their way. This government we have elected (you did it, I didn't) will come down with both feet and declare martial law. The United States of Socialist America will be upon you and despair will be the order of the day.

There is coming a day, and I pray it is soon, where the righteous saints clothed with the blood of Jesus Christ will make a sudden exit from this earth. Men will be astounded. Men will be confused and looking for a reason for the calamity that has come upon this earth. Only the faithful will be removed. When I say faithful, I mean those who have taken on the likeness of Jesus Christ in all our imperfect attempt at following in His footsteps. Jesus knows each of our hearts and where our faith and our treasure lies. Does yours lie in this world, or does it  lie in the next life to come through Jesus Christ our Lord? Matthew 6,

v. 19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 

v.20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

v. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

So where does your faith lie? Are you acting on that faith? Are you putting Jesus Christ first in your life? Paul said in Galatians chapter 3:

v.26 “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 

v.27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.

What does it mean to put on Jesus Christ? Romans 13,

v.11 “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 

v. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 

v.13 Let us walk honestly, [2] as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 

v.14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfi the lusts thereof.”

We are commanded as believers, true believers to put on Jesus Christ. Emulate what he said, what He taught, and what He lived everyday of His short life and ministry on earth. To do so, is to “Show true faith”.  Nothing else is but playing around and hoping we are not a goat...Don't take that chance. Your final eternal home depends on it...

There is coming a day, where those who have played the game of the Laodecian Church age and think they are OK who will sadly find out that they were not OK...at least not in God's eyes. They have rejected the one thing, the One Person who could have changed their destiny and gave them the right to be called the “sons of God”, but alas, they have succumbed to the spirit of the  Anti-Christ and been lulled to sleep in a Laodecian mindset and having a form of Godliness, but denying the power there-of.

II Timothy chapter 3:

v.5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

v.6, For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

1. v7, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

This age is fast closing and the Tribulation spoken of in Daniel's prophesy could be right around the corner, just out of sight. When that time period begins, then to be a Christian will come with a higher price than even it does today. Let us not rely on man, or the apostasy that grows in luke-warm churches of this Laodecian Age, but let us turn to the only source of our salvation and victory over this world.

“For God so  love the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life”.  (John 3:16)

Who does the Apostle John speak of? The only source of our salvation, Jesus Christ, the Lord

This is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying your salvation through the Way, the  Truth and the Life, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Should you have a need for prayer, counseling, or just a friendly ear to listen, then drop me a line at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at  www.churchofgod-usa.org, for more biblical teachings from the Word of God. God bless you all:

TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET