The Lawless Ones

Some of us wonder why so many who claim to be Christians can’t seem to receive the truth.  We show them what the Bible says, yet they reject it and continue to do as they please.  It’s because they are the ‘lawless ones’, who are not obedient to God.  Maybe this passage will make it plainer:

 

‘And you Daniel obstruct the words, and set a seal upon the scroll until the time of completion! until many should be taught and the knowledge be multiplied.

 

And I beheld, I Daniel, and behold two others stood, one here on this bank of the river, and one here on the other bank of the river.  And they said to the man being clothed with the linen clothes, who was upon the water of the river, until when will be the end of which you have spoken of the wonders?

 

And I heard the man, of the one being clothed with the linen clothes, who was upon the water of the river.  And he raised up high his right hand, and his left unto the heaven.  And he swore an oath to the one living into the eon, that for a time and times and half a time, in the completing the dispersing  hand of people having been sanctified, they shall know all these things.

 

And I heard, and I perceived not.  And I said, O lord, what of these last things?

 

And he said, Go Daniel! for the words are obstructed and sealed until end time. ** Many shall be chosen and whitened and purified by fire and sanctified.  And the lawless ones shall act lawlessly, and all the lawless ones* shall not perceive, but the intelligent shall perceive. **’  (Dan. 12:4-10, Apostolic Bible Polyglot (from the Septuagint))

 

* lawless ones = ‘anomoi’: lawless ones

 

‘Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity*.’  (Matt. 7:22-23)

 

* iniquity = ‘anomia’: lawlessness

 

Casting out demons and doing wonderful works is not lawlessness.  This passage describes people who did BOTH (good works AND lawlessness).  They professed to love Jesus, and did many things in His name–yet they persisted in living a sinful (lawless) life.  (Sadly, this is very prevalent in modern American ‘Christianity’.) Their sinful life was proof that they did not have a relationship with Jesus, and He ends up rejecting them.

 

(‘A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.’  (Matt. 7:18-20))

 

‘Not every one that SAITH unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.’  (Matt. 7:21)

 

Deception is coming, and it is tailor-made.  But for whom?

 

‘ . . . them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.’  (2 Thess. 2:10-12)

 

God’s judgment upon those who  have pleasure in unrighteousness, and don’t love or believe the truth, is to send them a strong delusion SO THAT they will believe the lie (of the Son of Perdition) and be (eternally) damned.  They WILL be deceived, in the end-times.

 

Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life.  To reject the TRUTH of God’s word is a very serious matter to God.  God says that we reap what we sow.  How fitting a punishment is this (to be sent a strong delusion), for those who reject the truth?

 

‘I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.’  (Is. 66:4)

 

The dividing line between those who aren’t deceived and those who are, is going to be whether they love and believe the truth, and whether they are obedient to God’s commandments.

 

‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’  (Rev. 14:12)

 

Sadly, some of you who  are reading this may be totally convinced that you are ‘saved’ and not deceived (some of you even think you are ‘Once Saved Always Saved’ and that it is impossible for you to be deceived, simply because you ‘believe’ that Jesus died for your sins and you said a ‘Sinners’ Prayer’).  Yet you are living in willful, unrepentant sin!

 

If you are not keeping God’s Commandments, you are ‘lawless’.  And if you are lawless, you will first be deceived, and then you will believe The Lie that is coming, and then you will be eternally damned–and all the while, you will think everything is perfectly fine!  This is what God’s word says. The stakes have never been higher.  If you are living in sin, REPENT–PLEASE!!

 

(This is not condemnation.  It is a warning, because I hate that so many people have been deceived by the modern (false) American ‘gospel’.  I hope and pray that you will repent, and not be one of the multitude of perplexed and horrified people that Jesus tells: ‘Depart from me’!)

Simplicity In Christ

‘But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be CORRUPTED FROM the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ.’  (2 Cor. 11:3)

 

There are those who would lay a heavy yoke upon you.

 

‘ . . . why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, >> which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?’  (Acts 15:10)

 

That yoke is The Law–the 600+ ordinances of the Mosaic Law.  Keeping The Law was NOT what Jesus had planned for us when He said:

 

‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’  (Matt. 11:30)

 

No one in their right mind can argue that the Mosaic Law is either EASY or a LIGHT BURDEN–especially for Gentiles who were not raised in it.

 

‘For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are NOT GRIEVOUS.’  (1 John 5:3)

 

This verse cannot then, be talking about the Mosaic (Old Testament) Law.  We have a further clue here–the verse says that we are to keep His COMMANDMENTS.  Is it possible that there is a difference between The Commandments vs. The Law?

 

What are the Commandments?  Jesus gave us a partial rundown, in order to clarify that question:

 

‘. . .  if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

 

He saith unto him, Which?

 

Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’  (Matt. 19:17-19)

 

We are also clearly told:

 

‘For Christ is the END OF THE LAW for righteousness to every one that believeth.’  (Rom. 10:4)

 

‘Having ABOLISHED in his flesh the enmity, >> even the law of commandments contained in ordinances . . . ‘ (Eph. 2:15)

 

‘I do not frustrate the grace of God: for >> if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.’  (Gal. 2:21)

 

Something was abolished, and something was reaffirmed.  Two different things.  The COMMANDMENTS were reaffirmed (do a search of ‘keep commandments’), and the LAW was abolished, for those who are in Christ.

 

Acts 15 clearly shows the resolution of this question.  There is no room for dispute.  The matter was already settled by the council of Apostles in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago:  GENTILES ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW.

 

Now some of you think that you might like to keep The Law by choice, as an extra measure, in order to be more pleasing to God.  But it is not the keeping of The Law that pleases God–it is FAITH that pleases Him.

 

‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’  (Heb.  11:6)

 

Furthermore, there is at least one very good reason not to go under the Law:

 

‘ . . . as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in ALL things which are written in the book of the law to do them.’  (Gal. 3:10)

 

You cannot go under The Law half way.  Either you fulfill it perfectly . . . or you are cursed.

 

‘Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law . . . ‘  (Gal. 3:13)

 

Our only salvation . . . our only hope or means of justification . . . is Jesus.  To go under The Law is to ‘walk according to the flesh’.  (To walk after the flesh does not only mean to live a life of sensual debauchery . . . it can also mean to live a life of stern discipline and legalism.)

 

The difference between walking after the flesh and walking after the Spirit is in:

 

1.  Who we submit to (The Living Spirit of God vs. the letter of written ordinances).

 

‘ . . . the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.’  (2 Cor. 3:6)

 

2.  Who/what our focus is on (the keeping of complex ordinances vs. the Lord Himself)

 

 

We  need not fear being displeasing to God, if we  have repented of our sins, trusted in Him by faith, and follow the leading of His Spirit daily.

 

 

So many Christians are craving something more . . . a deeper walk with God than what they are seeing in the ‘churches’ today.  It may be that all they are lacking is a true conversion experience.  These ‘churches’ no longer preach repentance.  They are making a lot of ‘believers’ in THEIR version of ‘Jesus’–but they are no longer making true converts or disciples of Christ.

 

Being a ‘new creation in Christ’ begins with repentance and trust in Jesus.  Walking in Christ is to continue in obedience until the end.  Anything less is not a true conversion, and will bear no lasting fruit or hope of eternal life.

 

If you are not seeing the fruit you desire . . . or not experiencing the transformation you expected . . . examine your foundation.  Have you been converted via faith in Jesus AND repentance?  Do you walk in obedience to God’s Commandments?

 

It really is true that you reap what you sow.  You will get about as much out of your relationship with God as you put into it.  Surrender yourself completely and you will never be disappointed!

 

https://dontbefooled666.wordpress.com/2014/10/12/the-difference-between-the-commandments-and-the-law/

Rapture Alert!

Here is absolute proof from the Bible that the Rapture happens AT Christ’s second coming, and not before.

‘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.’
(1 Thess. 4:15)

Let’s break this down . . .

‘we which are alive and remain UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD’

We who are still alive at the Lord’s second coming . . .

‘shall not prevent them which are asleep’

Shall not ‘prevent’ (go before) them which are ‘asleep’ (dead).

The Christians who are alive, going up (Rapture), will not take place before / until the dead are resurrected.

And yes, this verse IS talking about the Rapture. Here are the next verses, to prove it:

‘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:’ [‘Rapture’] ‘and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ (1 Thess. 4:16-17)

This passage describes the SECOND coming of the Lord.  There IS NO ‘third coming’!

Mass Programming

People have NOT always been this way.

Have you ever stopped to wonder what brought about such a huge and tragic transformation in the character of mankind?

‘For men shall be
–lovers of their own selves,
–covetous,
–boasters,
–proud,
–blasphemers,
–disobedient to parents,
–unthankful,
–unholy,
–Without natural affection,
–trucebreakers,
–false accusers,
–incontinent, [lacking self control]
–fierce,
–despisers of those that are good,
–Traitors,
–heady, [rash/reckless]
–highminded, [blinded by pride; arrogant, haughty, insolent]
–lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
–Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:

–> **from such turn away.** <–

. . . Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.’
(2 Tim. 3:3-5, 7)

I will tell you, in a word, why people have become this way:

TELEVISION !!

More than 60 years of social programming, and the list of sociopathic tendencies that Paul described 2,000 years ago, have now become a widespread reality in the Western World.

If you’ve lived as long as I have, you have witnessed the full program as it was put forth over the airwaves, little by little, leading us into deeper and more wicked sins as a nation, as time went on. If you’ve lived as long as I have, you have witnessed the character of our people change from innocence, generosity, love, honesty, fairness, respect for authority, patriotism, community-mindedness and concern for the welfare of others to . . . the sick, twisted description given above! (AND MORE!!, because that only describes their ATTITUDES . . . their behavior is even worse!)

You cannot name ONE thing on that list that has not subtly (or blatantly) been modeled and promoted as an American value, through television, over the course of the last few decades. That list is a comprehensive description of American television–read it again. Many of you are into the programming so deeply that you can’t even see it.

 

So . . . WHEN will you turn yours off?!!! Are you still allowing your CHILDREN to sit in front of the one-eyed monster, and have their consciences seared and their brains rewired to produce the sort of sociopathic monsters described above? Do you really think they are somehow immune? Don’t kid yourself–the programming is HIGHLY effective in producing the sort of minions that Satan needs to help run his kingdom!

And don’t deceive yourself that children’s TV is any better. ‘They’ have this down to a science. It’s just very SUBTLE at the level aimed at young children–symbols and very subtle things that most of us would not even pick up on. They ratchet up the brainwashing later, but they begin laying the foundation with the little kids.

Nowadays, everyone thinks this is ‘normal’, the way the kids act–the rebellion, the disrespect for authority, the disdain for adults, the self-centeredness and arrogance–because they are ALL being subjected to the same programming! But this is NOT NORMAL!!! This is what happens when you let Satan help you raise your kids. (YES, that is EXACTLY what is going on when you sit them down in front of his programming device.)

We Have Been Bewitched

Is Your TV Stealing Your Soul?

Why (Real) Christians Don’t Celebrate Halloween

In order to understand why it is wrong for a Christian to celebrate Halloween, we must understand how God feels about the celebration of death and darkness , rebellion, and magic/sorcery. . .

 

1.  ‘But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.’  (Proverbs 8:36)

 

2.  ‘Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.’  (Jeremiah 28:16)

 

3.   ‘If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:  Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.  And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.’  (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)

 

4.  ‘For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. . . ‘ (1 Samuel 15:23)

 

5.  ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:’  (Psalm 66:18)

 

6.  ‘A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.’  (Leviticus 20:27)

 

7.   ‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.’  (Exodus 22:18)

 

8.  ‘Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.’  (Leviticus 19:31)

 

9.  ‘And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.’  (2 Kings 21:6)

 

10.   ’And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.  For I am the LORD, I change not . . . ‘  (Malacchi 3:5-6)

 

11.   ‘ . . . Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.  But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation ) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

 

Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.

 

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.’  (Acts 13:7-12)

 

12.  ‘The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.’  (Numbers 14:18)

 

13.   ‘Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’  (Galatians 5:19-21)

 

14.   ‘Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.  Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? . . . ‘  (1 Corinthians 10:21-22)

 

15.   ‘He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil . . . In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.’  (1 John 3:8-10)

 

16.   ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ (Ephesians 6:12)

 

17.   ‘He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.’  (Revelation 21:7-8)

 

18.   ‘And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.  Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.  So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.’  (Acts 19:18-20)

 

19.   ‘Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.’  (3 John 1:11)

 

20.  ‘O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.’  (Psalm 96:9)

 

21.  ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light’  (1 Peter 2:9)

 

22.  ‘For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light’  (Ephesians 5:8)

 

23.   ‘And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.’  (Ephesians 5:11)

 

24.   ‘ . . . what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’   (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

 

25.   ‘Abstain from all appearance of evil.’  (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

 

26.   ‘And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.’  (Leviticus 20:26)

 

27.   ‘Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation*; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.’  (1 Peter 1:13-16)

*conversation = behavior

 

28.   ‘There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

 

Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.  For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.’  (Deuteronomy 18:10-14)

 

29.   ‘Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.’  (Revelation 22:14-15)

 

30.   ‘And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.’  (Revelation 21:27)

 

31.  ‘I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members* servants to righteousness unto holiness.’  (Romans 6:19)

*members = body parts

 

32.  ‘And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.’  (Ephesians 4:24)

 

33.  ‘For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. . . But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’  (Romans 6:20, 22-23)

 

34.  ‘For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.’  (1 Thessalonians 4:7-8)

 

35.  ‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord’  (Hebrews 12:14)

 

36.  ‘Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

 

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:  Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you’  (1 Peter 4:1-4)

 

37.  ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!’  (Isaiah 5:20)

 

38.    ‘For men shall be lovers of their own selves . . . unholy . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.’ (2 Thessalonians 3:2, 4-5)

 

39.   ‘This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me . . . ‘ (Matthew 15:8-9)

 

40.   ‘And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.’  (Revelation 9:20-21)

 

41.  ‘And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. . . she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. . . And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. . . for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.’  (From Revelation 18:1-2, 8, 21,23)

 

From beginning to end, the Bible is clear:  God hates rebellion, and He hates sorcery/witchcraft. He wants His people to be holy, and separate themselves from every thing that defiles.  This sounds simple enough–but Jesus said:

 

‘ . . . strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it.’  (Matt. 7:14)

 

Let me tell you why that is:  because just ‘believing in’ Jesus isn’t enough.  You must OBEY Him too.

 

‘Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.’  (Matt. 7:21)

 

‘Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.’  (James 1:21-22)

The Cup of Iniquity –> The Cup of God’s Wrath

Yes, as Christians we walk in grace and God’s forgiveness (when we repent), but every time we sin it is added to OUR NATION’S ‘cup of iniquity’.

 

When God’s people walk uprightly, that influence spreads throughout their nation–often the entire nation is blessed because of their presence and influence.  But when God’s people turn to sin (or simply fail to stand AGAINST sin), their nation begins a downward spiral of depravity that results in God’s judgment (if they don’t turn to Him in repentance first–and most won’t). We are the ‘salt’.  Salt is a preservative.  (How long does home-baked, preservative free food last compared to processed food that has preservatives in it?)   Without ‘salt’ or with only ‘salt that has lost its savor’, there is nothing to stop the rapid proliferation of sin within a society.

 

Because sin is taught from one  generation to the next by example, each generation grows more wicked than the one before. The more wickedly a nation behaves, the more hardened the people’s hearts become, the more defiled they become, and the more demonic entities take up residence in their land (and inside the people).  This ultimately leads to DEEP depravity and wickedness in a nation, where the innocent suffer greatly at the hands of the wicked (assault, rape, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, abortion, murder, human sacrifice).  God eventually will have to step in and judge the nation, and this means even more suffering and loss of lives.

 

Sin may seem fun at the beginning, but it leads to great suffering two to three generations later.  Two generations later is one’s GRANDCHILDREN, people!  It is our grandchildren who will suffer from the sins our generation indulged in, and the process we set in motion.  Once the door is opened to sin, it will not be shut again until this whole process has played out.  Sin has a horrible ripple effect, passing down through one’s children and grandchildren.  There is great sorrow in watching your children go astray, and teach their children to go astray, each generation becoming more and more wicked and depraved.

 

When you open the door to sin, you bring great suffering upon your future descendants, as well as yourself.  Many of us are old enough to have seen this happen.  We grew up in a country that was peaceful and mostly safe for children.  We enjoyed great freedom and blessing as children.  But now it is not safe for a child to play or walk to the store alone.  They are not safe in a boyscout troop or attending school.  Dangerous, wicked people of every stripe lie in wait for them (kidnappers, Satanists, homosexuals, pedophiles, murderers).  They are not even safe among their peers as some of them have already become Satanists, pedophiles, homosexuals, and murderers.  And if the risk of them suffering physical harm at the hands of such people were not dangerous enough, there is also the very real danger of them being pulled into the company of the wicked and learning their ways.  They are encircled by the wicked every day.

 

I’m hoping this short video will illustrate how God judges nations. The Bible speaks of a cup of God’s fury or a cup of His indignation. People in times past have talked about a ‘cup of iniquity’ (cup of sin). Here is the way I picture it: The sins of a nation are recorded in Heaven. They slowly fill an imaginary ‘cup of iniquity’ and once it is full, it reaches the tipping point. When it is full, it becomes the cup of God’s wrath, and it tips and is poured out on the people.

 

All of a nation’s sins will eventually be punished–but not necessarily at the time they happen. God forbears and suffers long, as He gives the people time to repent. But usually they won’t, and the whole process of ever increasing wickedness will have to play itself out.  Eventually a generation comes along that goes full bore into every kind of wickedness imaginable (second or third generation?), and the cup fills up quickly and ALL the nation’s punishment (even for sins long past) comes down upon THEIR heads.

 

As you watch this video, be mindful that it represents how YOUR sins can be poured out upon the  heads of your grandchildren.  (If you are young and don’t yet  have children or grandchildren–imagine it being poured out on the head of someone you love with all your heart–because that is how you will someday feel about your grandchildren.)

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Byw9ogXQptI

 

(Although God’s judgment is a horrible thing, it is also a blessing because it serves as a ‘reset’ and gives hope to future generations on the other side of it.)

What Is ‘The Tribulation’?

The Tribulation is NOT what Hal Lindsey or the ‘Left Behind’ books would have you believe.  The Tribulation is NOT the Seven Seals and the Seven Trumpets–although those things will be happening at the same time.  Instead, The Tribulation is the time spoken of by the prophet Daniel.

 

‘I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.’  (Dan. 7:21-22)

 

and by John the Revelator:

 

‘And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.’  (Rev. 13:7)

 

The words ‘tribulation’ is also translated ‘persecution’.

 

Here are two passages relating to the same events.  Both say ‘persecution’ in the KJV–but one of the passages uses the same Greek word [G2347]  that is translated as ‘tribulation’ in Matt. 24.

 

‘Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution [G2347] that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.’  (Acts 11:19)

 

‘And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution [G1375] against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.’  (Acts 8:1)

 

Two different Greek words (G1375 and G2347)  are used to describe the same event, that we would call a ‘persecution’.  But one of the words (G2347) is also translated ‘tribulation’ in other places (primarily Matt. 24).

 

Now that we have confirmed that G2347 (thlipsis) means both ‘tribulation’ AND ‘persecution’, where else is the word used?

 

‘Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted [G2347], and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.’  (Matt. 24:9)

 

Then they shall deliver you up to be PERSECUTED, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.  Then they shall deliver you up to TRIBULATION, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.

 

‘For then shall be great tribulation [G2347], such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.’  (Matt. 24:21)

 

For then shall be great PERSECUTION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

 

‘Immediately after the tribulation G2347 of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:’  (Matt. 24:29)

 

Immediately after the PERSECUTION of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

 

The Tribulation / Persecution is NOT God’s judgment.  THAT comes AFTER The Tribulation / Persecution.

 

‘And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth JUDGE AND MAKE WAR.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.’  (Rev. 19:11, 13)

 

‘Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the DAY OF VENGEANCE is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. . . . And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.’ (Is. 63:2-4, 6)

 

‘For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS at her hand.’  (Rev. 19:2)

 

When the last martyr has died, the Lord will come and avenge the blood of all his servants, at the hands of the wicked.  That is ‘The Day of The Lord’.  It comes at the END of ‘The Tribulation’, which is the time of worldwide persecution of Christians and Jews.

 

‘And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

 

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

 

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.’  (Rev. 6:9-11)

 

‘The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the DAY OF VENGEANCE of our God; to comfort all that mourn;’  (Is. 61:1-2)

 

‘For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for HE WILL AVENGE THE BLOOD OF  HIS SERVANTS, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.’  (Deut. 32:40-43)

 

We need to understand that persecution is coming, and we are not going to be ‘Raptured before it comes.  Those who are not prepared to face persecution . . . according to Jesus . . . will fall away.  He warned His disciples ahead of time, so that they would not be offended.  I hope this note will  help to  prepare you, so that persecution will not catch YOU unawares and cause YOU to fall away.

 

‘But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.’  (Matt. 13:20-21)

 

‘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.’  (Matt. 24:9-10)

 

‘Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. . .

These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.

 

They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.  And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. . .’  (John 15:20-21, 16:1-4)

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

 

But if the wicked will TURN FROM ALL HIS SINS that he hath committed, and KEEP ALL MY STATUTES, AND DO THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

 

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways,’ [repent] ‘and live?

 

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. . . . When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

 

Again, when the wicked man TURNETH AWAY FROM HIS WICKEDNESS THAT HE HATH COMMITTED, AND DOETH THAT WHICH IS LAWFUL AND RIGHT, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and TURNETH AWAY FROM ALL HIS TRANSGRESSIONS THAT HE HATH COMMITTED, he shall surely live, he shall not die.’  (Ezek.  18:20-24, 26-28)

 

Repentance:  ‘But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right.’

 

‘Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: RETURN YE NOW EVERY ONE FROM HIS EVIL WAY, AND MAKE YOUR WAYS AND YOUR DOINGS GOOD.’  (Jer. 18:11)

 

‘I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, RETURN YE NOW EVERY MAN FROM HIS EVIL WAY, AND AMEND YOUR DOINGS, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.’  (Jer. 35:15)

 

‘It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may RETURN EVERY MAN FROM HIS EVIL WAY; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.’  (Jer. 36:3)

 

Repentance: ‘ Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings’

 

‘From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’  (Matt. 4:17)

 

Jesus is called ‘The Word’.  He is the embodiment of everything that God has ever spoken.  He quoted and paraphrased Scripture (Moses and the Prophets).  When Jesus said ‘Repent’ He was paraphrasing Jeremiah and Ezekiel who both called the people to ‘return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good’.

 

‘Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:’  (Heb. 12:14)

 

‘Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE some of you . . . ‘  (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

 

‘Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.’  (Gal. 5:19-21)

 

The unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

 

Repent.