Yea Hath God Said?

“Yea, hath God said....?”

Four simple little words, but oh, how they can cause damage. These are the first four words that Satan spoke to Eve. And because she agreed that God did not mean exactly what He said, we now suffer the consequences of that terrible decision, namely sin. Christ had to die to undo that terrible mistake. Yet still today, Satan finds that these four words are his best weapon against Christians, for if there is one thing that causes a great deal of dispute, it is the subject of what God's Word – His literal words - says.

I cannot count the number of times I have read something like this, “I know what the text says, but that doesn't mean you have to interpret it that way.” In fact, I read those very words just yesterday. Today I read another comment by someone and they said basically the same thing. “You say it can't get much clearer than that! [the text] all sounds so cut and dry, I admit that....but...” Now here are two people that both admit that the text says something that is clearly understood in its straightforward reading, yet both of them argue that God does not mean what He said. In other words, Satan has managed to convince them, just as he convinced Eve that God does not actually mean what He has said.

Now my question is, if that were really the case, how on earth is God supposed to communicate something to us, if we constantly argue with Him that He cannot possibly mean what He has said? How many times when our children have misbehaved and deliberately done something that we have clearly and unmistakeably told them not to do, have they said that they did not understand us to have actually meant what we said? They choose to “interpret” what we have said in order to disobey us. I am sure every parent has had this happen at least once in their child-rearing years.

I cannot begin to count the number of people who have told me that God's Word is not to be understood in a straightforward manner, but that we are to “interpret” it in a symbolic or spiritualized way. Many well-known preachers even preach that we are to do this. The problem becomes, we have been told by God, through Peter, that we are not to try to put a personal or private interpretation upon His Word, especially prophecy. We are told it is not our place to “interpret” it, 2 Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of private interpretation.” Now considering that the vast majority of the Bible is prophecy, (not only all the major and minor prophets and Revelation, but also much of the gospels, epistles, Psalms, and Torah. And I am fairly sure that there are verses here and there in the few books not mentioned as well. That means that most of the Bible is not up for private interpretation. Therefore God actually means what He says, and He wants us to understand Him exactly as He has said it. So to say that, well, yes, you know that what is said makes sense as written, but you choose not to believe it is simply rebellion against God. Just as Eve rebelled against God.

Now I know that some read this will argue that there is more behind God's words than what is simply written - that there is symbolism as well, such as Abraham offering Isaac being a picture of God offering His Son. I will not deny that this is true. And naturally God's Word includes metaphors, anthropomorphisms, and similar grammatical devices, which we should intelligently be able to separate out. There are also visions, which God always interprets for us, so we need not try to interpret them ourselves. BUT, and this is a big BUT, besides those few things, we must always first and foremost accept what is written at the face value level and understand God's Word at that level before looking for any other meaning. THEN and ONLY then can we move on to look for the deeper meaning that may be symbolic. And this second or even third level of understanding will NEVER contradict the face value meaning at the first level. If we skip over the first level and try to “interpret” God's Word without a foundational understanding, we turn it into nonsense, for with no foundational truth underneath our interpretation, it will not stand up, but collapse under its own weight. Any theories derived without a foundational truth underneath it will only be a false interpretation and will lead one from the truth, not to it. This is why we find so many doctrines throughout the churches in Christendom. Instead of staying with a straightforward understanding, a great many of the “great scholars” or “giant Christian leaders” through the centuries have propagated their own private interpretation, which then became doctrine and then dogma. The very thing we were told not to do, was done by the very leaders of the church in defiance of God's command, and look where it has led us. People do not study their Bibles, our pastors do not study their Bibles, everyone studies their churches dogmas and doctrines and then defends them to the hilt, by using their privately derived interpretations of the Word of God, skewing His Word in whatever way is necessary for them to validate their beliefs. This is not what we were supposed to do.

So the question again becomes, “Yea, hath God said?” And our answer to that question posed by Satan to this day should be, “Yes, He most certainly has.”

Daniel's 70th Week - 3 1/2 Years or 7?

I am finding that the idea that the 70^th week of Daniel not being seven years is being promoted more and more on various websites. This appears to be a new teaching that I had not really heard much of until late. If it existed years ago, it apparently was not widely accepted, and with good reason.

For those who do not know this teaching, it is being taught by some that the 70^th week of Daniel only consists of three and a half weeks. I will try to explain as best as I can from what I have gleaned.

First we must look at the verse in Daniel that refers to this time period.

Daniel 9:24-27 “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

For a fuller explanation of what this passage is really about, please see these links to articles I have written. http://endtimesstudies.blogspot.com/2009/06/daniel-9.html

http://bibleconundrumsandcontroversy.blogspot.com/2012/03/daniels-70th-week-tribulation-day-of.html

The teaching to which I refer above states that the 70^th week, the last seven years that God promised Israel, has already been half fulfilled. It is said that the first three and a half years refer to Christ's ministry, and that His death on the cross was the abomination that caused desolation.

There are some very major problems with this teaching. First, notice how the verses are laid out above. First it says that after the sixty-second week (which comes after the first seven weeks) or more clearly the sixty-ninth week, the Messiah will be cut off or killed. This clearly and unmistakeably puts Christ's death at the end of the sixty-ninth week, not halfway through the seventieth week. By saying that the first half of the seventieth week is Christ's ministry, it creates the situation where you have to overlay the last half of the sixty-ninth week with the first half of the seventieth week, which then short-changes Israel three and a half years of the 490 years or seventy sevens that they have been promised. By what right can one alter God's promise? It is nonsensical to say that the sixty-ninth week and seventieth week overlap each other by three and a half years. There is nothing in the verses that implies this in any way. It is merely a contrivance created by someone to back up a theory which they have imagined to be, rather than taking the Scriptures at their face value and interpreting them as God has spoken them.

Not only do we see that Christ's death comes at the end of the sixty-ninth week, we see that this is followed by the information that after His death, the city and sanctuary will be destroyed and that there will be more desolations to follow that. As this happened a good forty years after Christ died, we see that the clock stopped ticking after the sixty-ninth week and that there is a gap between that and the seventieth week, which is still to be mentioned in the passage. There is, however, no gap implied during the course of the 70th week, as is being taught. Only an event in the middle of it.

Now that this gap is established in the correct place, after the sixty-ninth week, it is mentioned that the next thing will be the confirmation of a covenant for another seven years – the 70^th week of Daniel, as it is known. This confirmation is not made at the beginning of Christ's ministry, which it would have to be if the idea that the first three years of this week are Christ's ministry. This confirmation is clearly made after Christ's death and the destruction of the temple. To read anything else into this passage is to twist what is clearly stated. We are then told that in the middle of this seven year period the sacrifices and oblations will cease and that there will be an abomination that causes desolation.

Now I don't know about you, the reader, but I have a serious problem calling the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior an abomination. It was a horrific death, yes, and a blasphemy against God to hang Him on a tree, but it was not an abomination. The Hebrew word for abominations in this text is “shiqquwts”. This word means “idolatrous detestable filth”. The dictionary defines it as a person or thing that is disgusting. Do these people who promote this teaching really want to say that their Lord and His death were an idolatrous, detestable, filthy, disgusting person and thing? Do they understand what they are saying? Have they studied the passage to really understand what is being said, or are they, like many, trying to force the Scriptures to fit their teaching?

What the passage says is that the sacrifices and oblations will be caused to cease. Sacrifices by definition are animal sacrifices. Oblations are offerings that are not animal. First of all, technically the sacrifices and oblations did not cease upon the death of Christ. They continued for another 40 years, so the theory proposed does not fit the events. There is no implication in the verse that it is the effectiveness of the sacrifices that is being discussed or referred to, which is how this theory explains it. It is the sacrifices themselves which are actually physically stopped. This did not happen upon Christ's death.

As for the sacrifices mentioned (that are stopped), this entire 70^th week  falls after the destruction of the temple. This leads to only on conclusion. The fact that these sacrifices and oblations are going on indicates that there must be a temple or altar of some sort on the temple mount, which is the only place acceptable to God for these things to occur. This indicates that if they are stopped at the middle of the 70^th week, they must be going on before the middle of the 70^th week. Hence, if there is no temple or at least an altar on the temple mount or one in the process of being built by agreement of all parties, we are not in the 70^th week of Daniel. Nor can there be an abomination of desolation out of the blue without any forewarning, as this theory teaches, as the ongoing sacrifices would precede the abomination and warn us of what is coming.

To add to the stopping of these sacrifices, there is an abomination that causes desolation that is set up. Christ refers to this in Matthew 24 when He tells us that we are to refer back to Daniel when we see (visibly see) the abomination of desolation. We find more information on this abomination in Daniel 11:30-31 “For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant. And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.”

We are told that something will be placed in the sanctuary that will be an abomination. When this was originally fulfilled by Antiochus Ephiphanes, it was a statue of Zeus. We have two clues as to what it may be when the beast does it. The first is found in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (Notice we are told there will be a temple, which supports the correct interpretation of Daniel 9:27.) The second clue is found in Revelation 13:14-15 “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.”

We cannot know exactly what this abomination will be, but our main clue is that it is something that will mimic, only on a much greater scale, what Antiochus Epiphanes did. It is something we will see. That along with the armies surrounding Jerusalem and the stopping of the sacrifices will be a neon sign to us saying that the mid-point of the 70^th week has come and that the tribulation is about to begin.

For those who teach that there will be no temple, no sacrifices, and no first half of the 70^th week, they do those who believe them no service, for any straying from the truth of Scripture leads people to error in understanding and possible deception of what will be going on. These people need to start taking Scripture at face value and understand that things are meant literally. They should not alter the meaning or chronology of these verses to fit their scenario. This is as much deception as any other false teaching out there.

America is on the Brink of Disaster

2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

America is at a point where she is about to implode. Our government and its leaders are out of hand in their activities. Even posting this article will no doubt put me (as if I weren't already) on a list of people that should be disposed of, being considered a dissident due to my blog, my homeschooling, and etc.

I have believed for some time that America is Babylon, and according to Scripture, Babylon does not bite the dust until the end of this age. But the way America is going, and now things seem to be so bad that even what we are hearing in the media is quite awful, not to mention those things that are much more hideous behind the scenes and kept from the public, I have to wonder if I am wrong, or if something is going to happen to delay this event to its proper time frame. The one thing that could delay the demise of this country, its constitution, and sovereignty is the suggestion God made above. Christians need to get to their knees, NOW, and start praying fervently for this country, if we do not want to end up in jail (or worse) for having a Bible, or teaching Sunday School, or homeschooling our children. The rest of the world has been suffering under these types of restrictions and punishments for a long time, being martyred for their faith, much less being thrown in jail. We are the last bastion of freedom being able to worship God freely, but this is a freedom that is soon to be lost. We can no longer afford to stick our heads in the sand and ignore the problem, thinking that things will be okay, because we are supposedly a country under God. We have not been a country under God for a very long time now. And God has just about had His fill our our sins.

I am asking for every reader to either write your own plea, copy and paste this article, or link the blog address of this article in an email and send the message to as many Christians as you can. We can still delay the inevitable if we are willing to humble ourselves and ask God to forgive our personal sins and our country's sins. If we don't, we can expect that our lives will soon change, and not for the better.

The Seven Churches in Revelation Are Not Exempt from Suffering

Of late I have been thinking a lot of what the letters to the seven churches in Revelation say. I guess the reason I have been thinking so much about them is because so many people have been telling me the following - that the Church is above reproach and that God does not need to discipline her, because His blood has covered all her sins. He does not find her lacking or feel that she has to suffer, for if that were the case, then was not His sacrifice a thing of no worth? He died so that she might not suffer. He does not want a Bride who has been beaten up. Anyone who believes that we must suffer for Christ believes in a works salvation and not in Christ's blood justifying us, for Christ has no intention of letting His Bride suffer.

I guess I keep finding different ways to write about this subject, because I find this attitude so terribly disturbing and quite honestly just blind and ignorant in the face of not only history, but what is going on with Christians around the world. I apologize to people who follow me regularly, for it must seem that I am beating a dead horse after writing on this in so many ways. Moreso on my other blog that this one. As I find that many people are not regular followers but simply come upon me due to googling a topic title, I keep writing this in various ways in the hopes that if one article does not catch their attention, another will. I want to take a good look at the letters Christ writes to the churches to see if this attitude is actually a Scriptural one.

Let's take a look at what Christ says to each church in turn.

Revelation 2:1-7 “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”

In Ephesus, Christ commends them for their works, patience, intolerance of evil, Berean testing of the leaders, hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans, and perseverance. If we stop at this point, we would look upon this as a church without blemish. This is no apostate church into doctrines of demons. They have not become a carnal church. This appears to be a church who indeed does not need any discipline or chastisement and of whom Christ can be proud, for it seems that they walk with God. But what is the next thing He says? “NEVERTHELESS I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Christ is saying that they do not meet with His full approval. They are found wanting or lacking in some respect, and that respect is that they have left their first love. What is our first love? Our first love is this, Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

The first love is supposed to be for God. The second is for our neighbor. In looking at their works, it would appear that they have been zealous of love toward their neighbor as far as good works, and they have been zealous for the church in weeding out the wolves and sinners, but they have forgotten to take time for their first love, God. How often do we do that? God established the Sabbath so that man could have a day of rest. One in which the cares of the world could be set aside and he could spend the day communing with God. Today the Christian church has adopted a different day, and on that day they do anything but rest. It is service after service, meetings, choir rehearsals, etc. They are so busy doing for the Lord (or so they think) that they do not actually have time for Him. How many couples today end up divorced, because they spend all their time working to supply not simply the needs of the family, but the wants, and spend no time with each other simply loving each other, talking to and listening to each other, giving to each other, and showing each other their love? How many people take time each day to spend in prayer talking to God, or reading their Bible listening to God? We are a busy people. Too busy. We do not even take time to eat anymore. We eat fast food, because we cannot eat fast enough to get it over with to get on to other things. In Bible times (and still in some cultures), the meal was a long process in which people communed with each other, as well as took time over enjoying the food. When the angel of the Lord and the other two angels came to Abraham on their way to Sodom, what did Abraham ask of them? He asked them to stay for a meal. Realize that this was not a pop open the box and throw it in the microwave meal. Sarah had to make bread from scratch. Abraham got a calf and had a young man “dress” it. He had to first slaughter the animal. If you have never slaughtered an animal, then you should realize this is no five minute process. You have to first bleed them out, then gut them and strip the skin/fur off. Then usually they roasted the entire animal. That can take several hours. Even if cut up, it takes quite a while to roast the pieces. When they accepted the invitation, it meant staying around for a minimum of several hours and visiting while they waited. Then the meal itself would be a time consuming affair for it would have been rude to gobble it down as quickly as possible and run. And they were in a hurry. Today we can stop at a burger joint, in five minutes we have our food, and in ten it is consumed and we are on our way. Fifteen minutes of family time. Usually no fellowship. That is how we treat God too.

What does Christ tell this church? He tells them to repent “or else.” OR ELSE? Christ really said, “or else?” That is a threat. But Christ never threatens His Church does He? After all, they are above reproach, right? He has no bone to pick with them, does He? Well, maybe He does. Maybe He does not see them as perfect as they see themselves. With what does Christ threaten them? He threatens to remove their candlestick out of its place. But what and where is that candlestick and what does removing it mean? Revelation 1:12-13,20 “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.....The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. ”

The candlestick is one of seven (representing the seven churches) that are found in heaven. The candlestick is them, their church. Christ stands in the midst of the churches. He is spotlighted by the light they shine upon Him. The church is supposed to be the light of Christ to the world. We are to showcase Him. This church is threatened with the consequence, after all their good works, that if they do not repent and put God back first in their lives that their candlestick will be removed. That is no insignificant idle threat. It means throwing them out of heaven. It means they will not be allowed to shine for Him anymore. This is serious business. And this is a church that has much to commend it. So is the church beyond reproach? Is it true that Christ did it all for us, so we have to do nothing? It would not seem that this is the message He is giving us in this passage. God does believe in allowing His Bride to suffer, if she is not what she should be. Not only suffer, but He will remove her entirely from His presence if she does not get herself right with Him.

There is a caveat though. To those in a church like this who have an ear to hear this warning, this threat, the truth that Christ will chastise and punish His Bride - if they repent, they will overcome and be allowed to eat of the tree of life. Overcoming. What does this word mean? It means to succeed in dealing with, defeating or having victory over a difficulty or conflict, to defeat an opponent, to get the better of a struggle, or to prevail over a temptation or tribulation. We will look more into the Scriptural definition of an overcomer further along in this article.

Let us take a look at the next church. Revelation 2:8-11 “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”

To this church, Christ has nothing but commendation. They are not found wanting in any way. In spite of this fact, what does Christ tell them? He tells them that they will suffer. They will suffer horribly, for they will be handed over to the devil, who will not only cast them into prison to try (examine, prove) them, but that after a period of tribulation (“thlipsis” in Greek) that they will be put to death. Now interestingly enough, this word tribulation, “thlipsis”, is the exact same word used in Matthew 24 when we are told there will be great tribulation. “Thlipsis” means “to put to the test or prove”. Here Christ is telling them that they will be handed over to the devil for a period of tribulation, “thlipsis,” and then be martyred, so that they may be proven or examined by Satan and shown to be perfect before God in their faith. This is similar to what happened to Job, for there was no fault found in him either, but God allowed Satan to try him also. For what purpose? To show that Job's faith was not because God only did good to him, but that his faith would survive even when God allowed him to suffer, by letting Satan destroy everything he had. I believe that is called testing or putting to the proof and God does do it to even His most righteous children.

The church is told that it should be faithful and endure right up to their death, for there awaits them a crown of life if they do. Then Christ says that for those who have an ear to hear, even if they are righteous and not in need of being tested, that if they endure this testing they will be overcomers and have no need to worry about the second death, which is spiritual death.

Here we see that suffering is not merely a matter of God disciplining us, but that He allows His righteous servants with whom He finds no fault to suffer to the point of death. Does that reinforce the idea that the Bride is not going to be allowed by Christ to be beaten up, or does it reinforce the idea that God will hand His children over to Satan and allow them to suffer, and to suffer to the point of death? We are told in Daniel 7 and in Revelation 12 and 13 that the saints are handed over to the beast. It is for the purpose of trying them to purge them. Purge them of what? Oh, of all these little complaints that Christ has with the churches.

The third church on this list is Pergamos. Revelation 2:12-17 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

Pergamos is a church that is in the midst of a city filled with Satanic worship. It was the headquarters of the pagan goddess Diana. In spite of this threat to their lives, living in the midst of this, they have not denied Christ (a very important tenet) even in the face of one of their own being martyred. They have works to their credit, but Christ has some problems with them. They hold to teachings that allow for not just freedom in Christ, but cross the line into carnality and are practicing carnality. They also hold to doctrines that Christ hates. Christ threatens them that if they do not repent of this, He will come and fight against the people within the church that are doing these things Himself. Again, He says that the people within the church who open their ears to His warning, and realize that they are not perfect before Him can repent and be saved. For the rest He will not only chastise them, but fight against them Himself. You do not want to be on the side whom Christ is against. Those who repent are overcomers.

Next we have the church at Thyatira. Revelation 2:18-29 “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

This church has works that are so impressive that Christ mentions them twice. They have love, they have faith, they have patience to endure things. Is not that all that is important? Love and faith? The works are a demonstration of their perfection, right? No. Again we see that carnality has crept into the church in its doctrines and behavior. They are tolerating a woman leader (God does not allow a woman to be the shepherd of a church) who is teaching them all sorts of wrong things. They are committing spiritual adultery as well as physical. They are listening to doctrines of demons and are getting involved with Satanic things upon which they are putting the moniker of “Christian.” Do we see this today? Yes, we do - in music, (rock, which is from Satan is reclassified as “Christian” rock) in contemplative prayer (which is a Christianized name for transcendental meditation), the prosperity gospel (which is merely another name for greed) and on and on. This church and especially the leaders have already been given a chance by God to repent and they have not. They know what they are doing and continue to persist in it. Not only will she (representative of all these leaders), but the entire church will be cast into the great tribulation and killed, so that everyone will know that God searches the heart and tries us to make us worthy. He will reward them according to their works, which in this case translates into punish them for their sins. The only hope they have of escaping (and this does not just mean escaping the suffering of the tribulation, but of far worse consequences) is to repent. Those who do and can endure to the end will rule with Christ. They will be overcomers.

Revelation 3:1-6 “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

Sardis has a name in the world of being a church that is alive and on fire for the Lord. It is probably a good description of the mega churches that have congregations that number in the thousands and have more programs than you can count. However, they are spiritually dead. It is all superficial Christianity. They are into entertainment, social activities and thrive on being involved in their church, but they have no real relationship with Christ. Their works are lacking, because they are not done from a desire to be as Christ, but to look good in the eyes of the world. They are on the brink of not even believing in God, for even the few things of truth which remain are close to dying. If they do not repent and start watching, then Christ will come upon them as a thief in the night. This is how He will come upon the unbelieving world at His Second Coming. They will be among the unbelievers instead of His children at that time, if they don't repent. This shows that He is expecting to come back for His children at His Second Coming, at an hour they do not expect. There are a few who have not soiled themselves, but still walk with God within this church. They are worthy of being saved, and if they overcome they will not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life. This indicates that one can have their name blotted out of the Book of Life. That means that someone whose name has been written in the Book of Life can have it removed. Does this go along with the teaching that Christ has done it all and we need do nothing? That we need fear nothing? That Christ would never let His Bride suffer? This is something to radically fear - having one's name removed from the Book of Life.

The church at Philadelphia is a special church. Revelation 3:7-13 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 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. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

The church at Philadelphia is like Smryna in that there is no condemnation. They have works, they have kept God's Word pure and unadulterated from doctrines of demons, they have not denied Christ, they obviously are not carnal. They have kept the word of God's patience, that He is patient to wait for the last person to be saved before pouring out His wrath and for them to be patient to endure to the end until His return. Because they have kept that patience and understand that time and again we are told that we must endure to the bitter end, not have a good time and party, but endure (this indicates trials and tribulation - suffering) to the end, God will spare them from the suffering of that time of temptation (trying, putting to the test or proof – in other words, the tribulation) that the rest of the world must endure. He will protect them while those around them fall, a thousand on one side and ten thousand on the other. Christ warns that He will come quickly, so they should hold on so that nobody robs them of their crown. So you can have your crown robbed? This indicates that you can be deceived into losing it. That must be why Christ told us time and again in the Olivet Discourse to not be deceived and that if possible even the elect will be deceived. Is it possible? What do these letters teach? Even the Philadelphian must overcome and stay the course. It is not just a given because Christ died for them that everything is fine.

Lastly we have the church at Laodicean. Revelation 3:14-22 “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; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”

The church at Laodicea has nothing to commend them. They are lukewarm - their works are useless for any real good. They are arrogant, proud of their condition, rich in worldly goods, think they have no need of discipline or suffering, for they believe they are above that. They are God's Bride after all. They are blind to the fact that they are spiritually apathetic, that they are not rich in any way that counts, that they are wretched and miserable and have not purchased their white raiment from God, which is essential to being let into the wedding feast. (Check out the parable of the wedding feast.) God counsels them to open their eyes, so they can see their own condition. He tells them that in spite of what they think, God will rebuke and chasten His own children, so that they will repent and buy gold and white wedding garments and thereby have heavenly rewards to throw at His feet, and proper raiment for the wedding supper. He then tells them that they have actually pushed Him outside the church. He is no longer even among them, but standing outside the door knocking and asking to be let back in again. He says that if any hears this warning and repents and lets Him back in, He will sit and have a meal with him. Earlier I mentioned Abraham entertaining the Lord and angels and how it probably went on for hours. This is what Christ is saying. He will take the time to spend with the overcomer to talk and fellowship with them and show them His love for them on a very personal basis. Then Christ mentions that He Himself is an overcomer.

So we see that while there may be a vast group of people who believe that Christ would never let His Bride suffer, in fact, Christ Himself warns us in all these letters to the churches of the exact opposite. He will not only let her suffer, if she does not clean up her act and repent He will actually cut her off, remove her candlestick, and blot her name out of the Book of Life. It truly is a fearful things to fall into the hands of the Living God. He will begin His judgment with His house as He said in 1 Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” The book of Revelation begins by telling us how God will judge His house. He warns the churches before the tribulation begins, and long before He starts judging and punishing the world. How is it that so many ignore what He says in these two chapters? I guess it is because they do not have ears to hear. This is a serious problem considering what happens to those who do not have ears to hear and repent. This is why I spend so much time on this topic. I hope to open the eyes and ears of those who believe this lie that Christ would never discipline His own.

Now let's take a look at what overcoming may mean. Christ calls all those in the churches who endure to the end, or die before the end is reached, overcomers. We know that Christ has overcome the world. And we know that whoever is born of God overcomes the world. But there are another few times when overcoming is mentioned in the book of Revelation. The first is where the two witnesses and the church are handed over to the beast.

Revelation 11:7 “And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.”

Revelation 13:7 “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.”

We are told that the beast will be able to overcome the two witnesses and the saints. In both cases, death is the result. When Christ overcame the world, He did it by dying. Satan and the beast overcome the saints by killing them, but the saints overcome Satan and the beast by doing what Christ did – by dying instead of loving their life. They willingly allow themselves to be killed to prove their faith in Christ.

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

God is going to allow His children to be tried, to be put to the proof, to be tested, so that their faith can be made perfect, lacking in nothing. The vast majority will overcome by loving not their lives unto the death. The Philadelphians are the only ones with a promise to be kept safe from that trial. Even the righteous Smyrnans are allowed to die for God's glory. So are those who say that God would never allow the Bride to suffer correct? Is that what Scripture bears out?

Remember, the Smyrnans were told they would be allowed to undergo “thlipsis”, the same “thlipsis” as in Matthew 24. The Thyatirans were told they would be thrown into the “great tribulation.” The same great tribulation as found in Matthew 24. The Philadelphians are told that they will be kept from suffering the temptation. Everybody agrees this speaks of the great tribulation. Does that tell us something about what the great tribulation actually is, and what happens to the other churches?

Are Christians Who Believe They Must Endure the Great Tribulation Trying to Earn Their Way to Heaven?

In having dialogue with various people from the pre-trib camp, it has been said of those who believe that we must endure the tribulation, that we think we must go through it, not because the Scriptures clearly teach that, but that we are trying to earn our way to heaven by a works salvation. How anyone who claims to understand the Bible can come to that conclusion is a conundrum to me. Most born again Christians who have a personal relationship with Christ (as opposed to those who call themselves Christians based upon the fact that they belong to a church) know that their justification before God is based upon what Christ did on the cross and that no one can earn their way to heaven solely by the works of their own efforts. That we are expected to make our salvation or calling sure or certain by sanctification or living a holy life unto God, however, is a Biblical teaching. We are to show our love by keeping the commandments, among other things.

John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

It is also a Scriptural teaching that we are expected to take up our cross and follow Him.

Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Mark 8:34 “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

Today the phrase “taking up our cross” is often interpreted as enduring our burdens. People sometimes refer to a tribulation they are experiencing as bearing their cross, but in Jesus' day that is not how the people would have interpreted what He said. The cross to them meant one thing only. It meant a torturous death in an extremely painful and humiliating way. Because the Romans forced a person being crucified to carry their own cross up to the crucifixion site, taking up one's cross to follow Christ meant that in choosing to follow Him, one needed to die to self (surrender totally to God) and be willing to literally physically die, if required, to follow Jesus. For the people living then it meant literally picking up a crucifixion stake and following Him to Golgotha to be nailed to a cross too. It was much more than just enduring an unpleasant experience. They were told to expect to be martyred for their faith, and they were. Taking up a cross meant then, and still means now that a person must accept that they must be willing to sacrifice everything, including their lives, for their belief in Christ. It is a choice that puts one right in the crosshairs of Satan's sight. Anything less than this commitment is not being worthy of Christ and His sacrifice. It has nothing to do with trying to work one's way into heaven. It is called our “reasonable service.”

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

2 Peter 2:5 “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

Please note that God does not consider it a service that is above and beyond anything He could ask, but a reasonable service that He has a right to expect from us in gratitude for what He has done for us. It is not a work in the sense of trying to earn our way into heaven by ourselves. It is a show of gratitude, an act of obedience and love, and a display of our faith.

The Bible does not teach that accepting the Lord will make your life prosperous and one of ease where all your wishes come true and hardships will never be asked of you. God is not a sugar daddy. His goal is to conform us to the image of His Son, and most of us need a lot of conforming.

Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

That means that God must purge us of the things which get in the way of our relationship with Him and living a holy life.

John 15:2 “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

1 Corinthians 5:6-7 “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened.”

2 Timothy 2:19-21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.”

God does this purging through trials and tribulations to chastise us.

Romans 5:3-5 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Job 5:17 “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.”

God ordains tribulations in our lives so that His work in us can be complete.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

And the end result is not without its rewards.

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Psalm 66:10-12 “For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.”

2 Corinthians 4:17 “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

2 Timothy 4:7-8a “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.”

We are told that as children of God, we should in fact fully expect to go through tribulation.

1 Thessalonians 3:4 “For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.”

1 Peter 1:3-7 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”

We are told this because through trials and tribulation we learn to be obedient as Christ learned obedience through what He suffered.

Hebrews 5:8 “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”

He had to learn obedience unto death, so that He might be an example to us, so that we might learn obedience unto death through our afflictions and tribulations.

Psalm 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”

For those who do not think that God would ordain our suffering to the point of death, because they think He would never let Christ's Bride suffer, think again. He lets us know that indeed, He expects us to give our very lives for Him.

Hebrews 12:4-11 “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

We should fear God more than we fear what man or even Satan can do to us.

Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

We are also told in several passages that we must endure much tribulation and suffering before Christ's glory is manifest (Second Coming) and we enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:22 “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

1 Peter 1:6-7 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 4:12-19 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

Note that the above verses tell us that we should expect to endure a fiery trial and tribulations right up until Christ's appearing when His glory will be revealed at His Second Coming. And what is the reason for these fiery trials and tribulation? It is because God's people need purging and cleansing and being made holy and acceptable. Christ's blood does cover our sins, but our white linen garments are the result of the kind of life we live for Christ. Our rewards are a result of the holy life we live for Christ. We have an obligation to God that we must acknowledge. The parable of the talents and wedding feast give us some insight as to whether simply saying the sinner's prayer is enough, (provided you do not do it on your deathbed) or if God expects you to do the works He gives you to do.

Matthew 25:14-30 “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 22:2-13 “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

In the first parable, we see that when God gives us our justification and spiritual gifts, He expects some return on His investment when He returns. If there is no “interest” on His investment, one can expect to be cast into outer darkness. In the second we see that even a person who shows up at the wedding feast (this indicates that it must be a true born-again Christian for no one but true believers can come to the wedding) if he has no wedding garment, is unworthy. And again he is cast into outer darkness. So where does one get a wedding garment? If our righteousness wholly depends on Christ alone, then why does this guest not have a garment? Does not the Host provide it? Apparently not. The reason is that the garment does not rest upon Christ's work alone. We have a part to play also. In Revelation we are told that the Bride is clothed in fine white linen and she has made herself ready.

Revelation 19:7-8 “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

She has done something on her own to make herself ready for the Bridegroom. The linen garment is her righteousness, but she has had to help make herself righteous. In other words, we are being told that not everything depends upon Christ. Her being there is a result of what the Bridegroom did, but her apparel was in part supposed to come from her. This very important wedding garment, which is mandatory for the wedding feast according to the parable, is the righteousness of the saints. But is not our righteousness entirely derived from Christ? Our justification is derived from Christ, but sanctification is an ongoing process that continues all our lives and is something upon which we must work. That sanctification requires that there be some action on our part, not that we sit back and not worry about our behavior.

James 2:17-26 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

We are told that our faith, if it is untested and has no proving ground or evidence (works), is a non-existent, dead faith. Our righteousness demands that our justification and faith be backed up by works. It must be tested and put to the proof for it to be of any merit. Abraham was tested. Even Christ was tempted. Our wedding garments consist not only of Christ's righteousness, but of our righteousness being displayed by our works, some of which may require enduring persecution or martyrdom. Without those works validating our faith in Christ's sacrifice, we do not have a wedding garment. God provides tribulations and tests so that we might have the opportunity to display our works and thereby prove our faith in Him.

Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”

Titus 2:7, 13-14 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.... Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing (Second Coming) of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Likewise our works or lack thereof can give testimony to our lack of faith.

Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

Works cannot give us our justification. Only Christ's death and resurrection could do that. However, that is not the end of the story. We need to run the race, work out our salvation, and endure to the end.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” [Revelation 11:15,18 “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever....And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” This is the time of Christ's appearing. This is that day, otherwise known as the Day of the Lord or God's wrath when we will be judged and rewarded and the nations punished.]

Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” If our salvation is such a sure thing, then why would we not only be told to work it out (do the works we are given and live a sanctified life), but to do it with fear and trembling? Why should we be scared? Because we can, as the servants in the parable, be found wanting and be cast into outer darkness.

Matthew 10:22 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

2 Timothy 4:5 “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

If one does not seek to live a life holy and acceptable unto God, and do the works that He gives us to do, enduring to the end, he runs the following risks.

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

2 Peter 2:20-21 “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

Hebrews 10:26-31 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

1 Peter 4:16-18 “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

So it can be seen that Scripture teaches us that we must take up our cross and be prepared to die for our faith, that we must work out our salvation by clothing ourselves in righteous works, and that trials and tribulation are ordained by God in order to purge the leaven out of our lives, so that we might present ourselves holy and acceptable unto Him, which is our reasonable service.

The argument comes in that while God gives us some small trials and tribulations, He would never ask us to suffer the greatest tribulation to ever come upon mankind. My question is, why not? Did He not allow Christians to die at the hands of the Romans by fire and lions? Did He not allow all of His apostles except for John be martyred? Has He not and is He still not allowing people to be martyred around the world for His name's sake? Why on earth would He not allow people to be martyred during the tribulation? Especially when the Church has strayed so far from Him into doctrines that come from demons. Death is death. Martyrdom is martyrdom. There is no difference in the result as to who is wielding the sword. Why is death due to martyrdom during the tribulation any different or worse than death due to martyrdom during any other era in history? In fact does not the Church deserve a good purging?

The answer comes back as … because the great tribulation is God's wrath. First of all, nowhere in the Bible does God ever call the great tribulation His wrath. Nowhere. That is an appellation that some man at some time erroneously gave this period of time and from thence created a whole theology around this erroneous assumption. God calls it what it is – tribulation. In Greek the word is “thlipsis,” and everywhere the word “thlipsis” is used, it is referring to the trials and tribulations that all the aforementioned verses mention - the tribulations that we are supposed to expect. This tribulation is no different. As God is not the author of temptation, but allows it, we can see that Satan (as well as ourselves) is the author of all the trials and tribulations in our life, because he is the original author of evil. The great tribulation is merely the first time that God entirely lifts His restraining hand from Satan and lets him go at us full tilt. It will be greater than any other tribulation in history, not because it is God's wrath (which it isn't), but by virtue of the worldwide extent and enormous numbers of people killed. This is what makes it the “great” tribulation. God in fact tells us that the great tribulation is not His wrath, but Satan's wrath.

Revelation 12:12 “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.”

Indeed, God tells us that He fully intends to turn us over to Satan and the beast. We are given into his hand.

Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ”

Daniel 7:25 “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

Revelation 13:7 “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.”

Revelation 6:9-10; 7:14, 12:11 “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......And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.....And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

Why would God feel the need to allow His children to suffer the worst holocaust in the history of mankind? Because we have become high-minded and arrogant. We trust in our riches and are blind to our spiritual state. We have exchanged the doctrines of God for those from hell. We need to be judged and purged of our sins. God has warned us that He will begin His final judgment by cleaning up His own house. He must be glorified and what better way than for His children to be put to the test and come out winners for all creation to see. The Church has become apostate. God will clean her up and judge His own house first, before He judges the rest of the world.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 'Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

1 Timothy 6:17 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.”

1 Peter 4:17 “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Daniel 11:33-35 “And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries. And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.”

In the letters to the churches, Christ warns them of their sins and the need for repentance or they will find themselves being judged.

Revelation 2:2-5 “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Revelation 2:13-16 “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”

Revelation 2:19-23 “I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.”

Revelation 3:1b-3 “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.”

[Note here that He comes as a thief at an unknown day or hour. This describes the Second Coming.

Matthew 24:30-31,36 “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other..... But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.”]

Revelation 3:15-19 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 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: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Notice in the above five churches that Christ uses references that are found in other Scriptures when referring to the great tribulation and His Second Coming... “I will come quickly...I will come quickly and fight....I will come on thee as a thief...thou shalt not know what hour I will come...I will kill her children with death...tried by fire. In fact in one church they are told that they will be thrown into the “great tribulation.” Clearly the Church (in the universal sense) is not exempt from the great tribulation.

Now I hear the argument that some will be left behind and this is to whom this refers. Left behind for what reason? Answer: Because they did not believe in a pre-trib rapture. And from where did this teaching come? Certainly not the Word of God. I am guessing it originates in the Left Behind series, which hardly qualifies as Scriptural truth. Where does God ever say that the criteria for participating in the resurrection and rapture (which occur at the same time) is that we believe in a pre-trib rapture - or else? God never makes the timing of the rapture doctrine a criteria for resurrection/rapture. Will everyone who has died before the rapture who has not believed this teaching, not be brought back and resurrected because of this? What a ludicrous statement to make and what an arrogant, self-righteous teaching this is.

The only thing God has exempted us from is His wrath, and He has already told us the tribulation is not His wrath. Heaven announces His wrath in Revelation 11:15-18 at the last trumpet, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” It is again announced in Chapters 15:1 and 16:1 following the blowing of the seventh trumpet and a gathering of the saints in the clouds in Chapter 14:14-16 “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped..... And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God......And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.” The only places in Revelation where heaven announces that God's wrath is being poured out on the world are found in the Chapters following the blowing of the seventh trumpet (Chapters 11-19) The other place God's wrath is mentioned in Revelation is in the sixth seal when the people of the earth start screaming in terror for what is happening. They believe God's wrath has come because 1) the celestial signs that are supposed to happen before God's wrath starts are occurring, and 2) the first thing people do when bad things happen is to blame God. Their panicking and claiming that God's judgment is falling on them does not make it God's wrath. Every natural catastrophe is given that moniker by someone. I have seen television shows about tornadoes titled The Wrath of God. It is true that those are the signs which herald God's wrath, however it is not the commencement of God's wrath until heaven declares that it is.

It is true we are not appointed to wrath, which is why the rapture does occur (Revelation 14:14-16) before the vials of God's wrath are poured out (Revelation 16), but we are appointed to tribulation. It is not earning one's way to heaven to believe one will suffer tribulation in life or go into the great tribulation. It is simply what the Word of God has told us and the reality of being a Christian.

What is even more of interest in the pre-trib view of things, is that they claim the promise to the church of Philadelphia as belonging to them and them alone. But does it? Does it really? Let us see what it actually says.

Revelation 3:8-10 “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 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.”

The interesting thing about this verse is that the argument between people is over the word “from” as to whether it means out of or within. What is totally ignored is that the event that the Philadelphians are kept from is not God's wrath, but the temptation. The word “temptation” is in Greek “peirsmos.” This word means “to put to the proof, to test, or discipline,” as when God put Abraham to the proof and tested his faith when He asked him to sacrifice Isaac. When God's wrath is referred to, we find two words used, “thumos” or “orge”. Both of these words mean passion, vengeance, fierce indignation, and angry punishment. Clearly this verse is not speaking of wrath, but of chastisement or of God disciplining His children. The Philadelphians are promised that they will be kept from suffering during the time of God's disciplining of the rest of His children, as they do not need the chastisement. They have already purged themselves. It is like taking a class and the professor has said that if you have received an A in the course up to the time of the final exam, you are exempt from having to take it. You have no need to prove yourself, because you have been proving yourself all along. The great tribulation or tribulation (as the only tribulation in this context is the great tribulation), is a time when Christians, whose faith needs to be tested and purged, will be tried and put to the proof. The five above mentioned churches, whom Christ has something against, will be tested during this time. It will be a time when He brings them to the point of repentance and purges them of their sins. The Philadelphians have run the race, they have abided with Christ, done the works He has given them to do, kept His Word pure and unadulterated, and purged themselves of apostasy, so there is no need to test and discipline them.

The unrealistic and prideful part of those who claim this promise for themselves is that there is a strict criteria for those who qualify for this promise and there will be few who meet it. First they have to keep God's Word and not deny His name. Now most Christians would say that they meet this criteria, but how many really keep His Word? How many even keep His commandments? And if you think you do, do you keep the fourth? Do you accept that God's Word literally means what it says, or do you spiritualize it, adding and subtracting and twisting its meaning? The next thing is that they must keep the word of God's patience. So what is the word of God's patience? Where else is patience mentioned that it might give us an idea of what this means? First we have God's longsuffering patience toward us.

Romans 2:3-4 “ And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Romans 9:22 “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:”

1 Peter 3:20 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

Then we have the patience of the saints.

2 Corinthians 6:4-5 “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,”

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.”

Hebrews 10:35-37 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.”

Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

James 1:3 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

James 5:7-8 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

James 5:10 “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”

Revelation 1:9 “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

Revelation 13:7-10 “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. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.”

Revelation 14:9-12 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Both of these “patiences” work together. God is longsuffering and patient and holds off until the last possible moment before pouring out His wrath, so that every last person might be saved. He waits and painfully watches, as He allows His children to be purified, so that they can be witnesses for Him and end up with Him, because they have made their white wedding garments during this time. The patience of the saints is to endure this purifying tribulation, to the point of death in fact, when the beast is making war upon them and forcing people to take his mark. Both indicate that the rapture will not be before the events but after. God's patience requires it for everyone to be saved, and our patience demands that we endure to the end so that we are worthy of Him.

For those who believe that they meet the criteria in every way to be a Philadelphian, there is still a problem. The saints at Smyrna are also without criticism from Christ. They have no need of being purged and refined, yet they are told that indeed they will be martyred for their faith.

Revelation 2:9-10 “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Why is God allowing these faithful saints to be martyred? Do they not merit escaping Satan's wrath if anyone does? Yet God allows their death. Why? For His glory, that's why. Who is to say, even if they feel they are walking with the Lord, who will fall into the church of Smyrna and who will be a part of the Philadelphian church? None of us knows where God has chosen to categorize us, so no one should think that they are exempt from Satan's wrath. That there are a select few it is true, but nobody can make the claim that they are one of that chosen few. To do so would be the height of pride, which would then automatically disqualify the person.

The only thing we can do is strive to be holy, and as Jesus told us, pray that we might be worthy to escape all these things. Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

We are told to lay a good foundation, for when the time comes for the tribulation we will need to have that to stand on so that we will not be shaken. We will need to endure until the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ (the Second Coming according to the verse below).

1 Timothy 6:18-19 “That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the TIME TO COME, (against the coming tribulation) that they may lay hold on eternal life.”

1 Timothy 6:11-14 “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:”

As one last warning, Christ gave another parable along with the two mentioned above. It is the parable of the ten virgins.

Matthew 25:1-13 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

Now I have heard this interpreted in a number of ways. One being that the five virgins that had no oil, not being Christians. This does not hold up, as all of them started out the same, virgins with oil awaiting the Bridegroom. This indicates that both groups are Christians at the start, not that five are unbelievers. A second interpretation which is popular with the pre-trib camp is that the five foolish virgins do not believe in the pre-trib rapture, so they get left behind. This interpretation makes no sense at all to me. Why would God leave behind a group of Christians who are so committed to Him that they prepare spiritually to willingly face the persecution and martyrdom that they know will come? Would He not prefer this group to a group who arrogantly refuses to believe that He would ever ask them to suffer for them? And again, where in the Bible does it indicate that the timing of the rapture is a criteria for salvation, so that some should be left behind, if it were a pre-trib rapture? Would not those who were prepared to accept martyrdom simply be happily surprised? Why the new teaching (and this is a rather new teaching for I was brought up pre-trib and this was never taught back then) toward other Christians that God would let them suffer His “wrath” just because they do not accept a pre-trib rapture? Just because they differ on a doctrine that has nothing to do with salvation? Are not all Christians not appointed to wrath? Do they not see the problem with this teaching?

Here is another puzzle. Have they stopped to consider that in teaching this that they are teaching that some Christians need to be purged? Therefore suffering through this time of antichrist is a time of purging Christians of what God considers unacceptable? If some Christians need to be purged, and they are teaching that they need to be purged merely because they do not accept a doctrine that is actually not Scriptural to begin with, then would not God want to purge Christians of their sins and apostasy? Have they thought this through at all?

I believe the true interpretation of the ten virgins parable is that the Bridegroom does not come as early as expected by the foolish virgins. He instead tarries long past the time they had prepared to wait, for they never expected to have to wait so long and did not bring sufficient oil to last them through this long unexpected wait. Does this not instead indicate that those who believe they will have to endure this period and prepare spiritually, mentally, and possibly physically are the ones with the oil? Are not the ones without oil the ones who did not think He would be tarrying so long and therefore were not prepared to wait it out? Does this parable not teach the exact opposite of what pre-trib says it teaches? And we are given the event in which this occurs. We are told that they will not know the day or hour in which the Son of man comes. But this day and hour phrase, although used by pre-trib to refer to a pre-trib rapture, actually does not refer to a pre-trib rapture at all. This phrase comes from Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” This verse is referring back to verses 30-31 which is the Second Coming. “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” The event which no one will know the day or hour is the Second Coming, not a pre-trib rapture. So Christ is telling us that this parable is about His Second Coming (not a pre-trib rapture) by the use of the phrase “no man knows the day or hour.” He is telling us He will collect His Bride at the Second Coming.

So in closing, for anyone to say that people who do not adhere to a pre-trib rapture doctrine are trying to earn their way to heaven is simply a ridiculous argument to avoid accepting the truth of what the Word of God says. It is merely a way to preserve a belief which comforts and tickles the ears.