Jesus and the End of the Church Age

 More Lessons from the King

Book of Matthew "Continuing" Chapter 13

If we want to understand the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven then, there is no better place in the Bible to find out than these parables that were preached and taught by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Remember a parable describes a "Spiritual Truth" from an earthly truth!

*****Mat 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 

Mat 13:45  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 

Mat 13:46  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 

Verse 38 describes this field as the world, and it probably means the same in this verse. There is no reason to think differently.

So what is this treasure and who is this man?

In the first two parables, the sower was the Lord Jesus Christ, and the seed was the Word of God or the "Gospel" the "Good News".

We know that to the Lord, the most valuable thing upon this earth is the soul of man.

It is so important that the Lord gave His life for our souls!

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

In this verse we see that the Holy Spirit describes the "soul" to be of much more value than the totals of all this world.

This leaves us to believe without a doubt that this man is the Lord Jesus Christ, who laid the glory of Heaven aside and came to this earth to give all that He had, even His life for the "for all our souls".

The only thing we need to know is why it was hidden?

What we need to realize is the mystery of Israel and the mystery of the Church in these two parables.

Israel is that treasure hidden in the field:

Exo 19:5  Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 

Psa 135:4  For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. 

When the Lord Jesus Christ came from Heaven, He found His people hidden in a field.

By His death, Jesus bought the whole world and with it, all the people who are His earthly treasure.

Jesus died for all people, but He also died for the nation of Israel.

Joh 11:51  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 

Joh 11:52  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 

We do not read that Jesus then got possession of that treasure so, this treasure is still hidden in this field which He bought with such a great price for the sake of owning that treasure.

This is the key to these two parables!

Israel is the Lord's peculiar treasure.

Jesus has purchased His earthy people yet still, Israel is that hidden peculiar treasure, until He returns to get His Church first, then back to earth to get this treasure of Israel.

Israel will then be "justified", "separated" and become a Spirit-filled people!

The Lord Jesus died for the nation of Israel, but the results of that death are not at this time complete.

Israel is still hidden in the that purchased field in this world!

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 

Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 

Rom 11:27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 

Much of the so-called Church says that God has cast away and forgotten these people, but this is far from the truth!

True Israel is that treasure still hidden in that field that was also purchased by the blood of Jesus, who will come again! 

1) To complete the redemption of His Church at the Rapture and 

2) Reclaim Israel.

The One pearl of greatest value is the Church.

Eph_5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

This pearl is taken out of the Sea, way down from the dark bottom out of the mouth of an animal!

We are told that a miserable grain of soil, embeds itself between the animal (the oyster) and its shell and this process continues until a beautiful pearl is produced.

A pearl of great price. 

A pearl with the colors of the rainbow from Heaven are blended together.

It is then taken up and becomes the priceless jewel in the crown of the kingdom.

This pearl is a type of the Church!

This pearl is still forming today and has not yet reached the beauty it will one day have, when the Lord calls the Church home!

The Lord returns to claim the treasure that is still hidden (Israel), He will bring that Pearl with Him!

*****Mat 13:47  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 

Mat 13:48  Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 

Mat 13:49  So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 

Mat 13:50  And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

The kingdom of heaven is not the Church Age?

At the end of the Church Age, the Lord recalls His Church to remain with Him forevermore.

At the end of the Church Age, the seven years of Tribulation will begin.

In every age there is miscellaneous multitude of young and old, good and evil, people who move about this world at liberty in the wide expanse of what we call life.

It is the same for the fish that move about in the many oceans and seas.

God has dropped His invisible lines down into the Sea of Life and they are silently and slowly creeping in around us!

God will separate the wheat from the tares at the end of the Church Age.

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

God will gather this large net into the shore one day and that day is not as far off as we may realize.

This shall be at the completion of the seven most horrible years upon this earth.

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

In the previous parables, the Church and Israel have been regathered. 

So this is not the "Gospel Net", as in the Church Age, as it is sometimes called.

We already know that the seas represent the nations.

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The angels will be used to separate the wicked from the just.

The wicked will be cast into the ever-burning flames of Hell.

As far as these disciples are concerned, they know nothing of the Church Age at this time and will not realize it until after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and Pentecost.

We have learned from these 7 parables of the mysteries of the kingdom of heavens beginning with the Apostolic Age and then the conditions we face up to the end.

These last 3 parables have shown us the mystery of Israel, the mystery of the Church, and the mystery of the ending of these ages.

All these things were taught to the 12 disciples. That great multitude only heard the first 2 parables.

Even those 12 chosen would not understand these things until they were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

So Jesus then asked, "have you understood these things"?

*****Mat 13:51  Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 

Mat 13:52  Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. 

You see, since we know and understand these things, we are beginning our preparation to go out into the world in obedience to Jesus Christ just as the Apostles did!

The word "scribe" as used here means those who are skilled in the Word of God, who read and can make sense of the Word, as Ezra said, to the people of this world, especially those to whom God has called.

The old things are those things in the Old Testament that refer to the Messiah and the truth of God, and those new things are all the things of the New Covenant or the New Testament.

We need to understand, and we need to proclaim in a loving way to those who remain lost, this is the only opportunity they will have to spend time with those who are good according to the Word of God. 

Once they leave this world their eternity will be filled with violence and eternal damnation.

We do not just walk up and tell them this for they need the "Gospel" before they need any bad news!

Those new things are summarized in these parables!

Then Jesus teaches us that once He has revealed all He came to reveal, He will be going back to Heaven until these Ages run their course, of course under His supervision.

*****Mat 13:53  And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 

Mat 13:54  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 

We can understand His own country as Nazareth and the area around Nazareth.

Luk 4:16  And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 

Luk 4:17  And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 

Luk 4:18  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 

Luk 4:19  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 

Jesus had never preached in this synagogue of Nazareth, His hometown, where He grew up with Mary and Joseph, but it was now time to do so.

No one had paid much attention to this Son of God as He grew, but they would now hear the true Word of God.

They were now astonished at His wisdom and this wisdom was from God, Jehovah God.

To His hometown, Jesus declared that He was the Messiah come from God.

Luk 4:20  And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 

Luk 4:21  And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 

Luk 4:22  And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? 

Yes, this Jesus was the same Jesus who had a stepfather named Joseph who had trained Him to be a Carpenter.

This was a very humble family!

*****Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 

Mat 13:56  And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 

Mat 13:57  And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 

Mat 13:58  And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Yes, this mother was the Virgin Mary, selected by God to bring the Messiah into the world.

This is the place where we learn some about the children fathered by Joseph, which were James, Joses, Simon and Judas and there were sisters also, which means more than one sister and some say three sisters.

The Lord Jesus was rejected because the people of Nazareth could not understand where such a man from such a humble family could have the wisdom of God!

The Virgin Mary had become housewife and mother and neither Mary nor Joseph had achieved any prominence nor had any of the children and nothing else changed with this family of children until the Lord Jesus was crucified and then He raised Himself from that grave.

The people of Nazareth decided that Jesus could not be who He claimed to be!

Jesus was rejected because these people were offended at Him!

The word offended means they stumbled over the truth!

They could not imagine that someone they had seen grow up, to be the Messiah sent from Heaven.

They could not imagine a man from their own little city could make such claims as Jesus was making.

This became the same sentiment of all of Israel.

Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 

Mat 27:39  And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, 

Mat 27:40  And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 

This is where the world is at today.

If we think about it, how else would God have made Himself known.

He could have come down in a rocket ship and the whole world would have believed.

Many would have believed in fright.

Many would believe and tried to destroy Him.

The Book of Genesis says we were created in God's image, yet the same book says that God is Spirit.

So the image of God is not in looks, but in traits and the Lord Jesus Christ is the express image of His Father and the example we are to follow.

So we must choose to shrink King Jesus down to our level, or to accept Him for who He says He is!

If we look at all the miracles that He did, then we must accept Him as the Messiah.

If we look at all the prophecies that were fulfilled in Him, then we must accept Him as the Messiah.

If we believe the Word of God, then we must accept that Jesus is the Messiah.

If we look out at our created world, then we must believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

The Lord Jesus Christ is 100% God, and He was also 100% man.

There is no other explanation!

If Jesus is the Messiah, then He is our Lord and Savior, and this is my belief!

Unbelief leaves no alternative to salvation!

Unbelief hurts our God who has tried His best to show us the truth!

So choose to believe the truth and be saved, or choose to disregard the truth and suffer the wrath of God.

To not choose is to disregard the truth!

The greatest sin in all the world, is to be ignorant of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Amen

The Martyrs of the Great Tribulation

The Saints and Martyrs

Book of Revelation Chapter 14

We have been seeing the time of the Seven Year Tribulation which could begin at any time except for one thing and this is the "Rapture" of the Church which is next on the Lord's list of things to do.

Remember the Apostle Peter wrote that the Lord is not slack on doing these things that He promised, He is just waiting on that last soul to claim the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior, during the Church Age which is about to end.

2Pe_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.

In this Chapter 14, I believe we see a second Rapture. We already know that God will not send His wrath until His Church has been removed.

I believe what we see in this Chapter, how the Lord removes His 144,000 Evangelist and whatever souls that have been won over to the Lord. 

I say won because they have become part of the "Winning Side"!

Even these will not see the final wrath of God, because God made promises to the Hebrew children the same as He did to the Church.

We know these 144,000 are all Jews, washed in the "Blood of Jesus", the difference being they have seen much of the "Great Tribulation".

In fact there will be others who will experience all of the Great Tribulation.

Our merciful God will give them one more warning.

*****Rev 14:1  And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. 

Why were they standing with the Lamb? Their work is finished, and they have come home. Heaven is our home.

You see we all have a purpose and when that purpose is completed, the Lord will call us home.

He loves us much more than this world does!

Heb_11:13  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

1Pe_2:11  Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

What did the Apostle Paul write?

Heb 12:22  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, "the heavenly Jerusalem", and to an innumerable company of angels, 

Heb 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 

Heb 12:24  And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 

Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 

For the Hebrew children, the Old Covenant written and given to Moses is abolished and the New Covenant brought together by Jesus Christ is in affect for these Jews who had clung to the Laws of Moses all these years.

There was a new song coming from Heaven that only these could understand.

*****Rev 14:2  And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 

Rev 14:3  And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 

Back on earth the Antichrist had claimed to be God. The Jews had rebelled. The nightmare that was already going on became even more terrible. 

The Seven Thunders were sounding, and things are so terrible the Lord decided we only need to know the part that He describes for us.

The Church is in Heaven.

The 144,000 Hebrew Evangelist are now in Heaven.

Many souls were saved by the preaching of these men and they to, are in Heaven.

Those that remained upon the earth heard the voice of God and when this happened before, the people were too afraid to even mention His name, but now they were no longer afraid.

When Jehovah speaks His entire creation will stop just to listen to what the Lord has to say!

This time had come!

There will be joy in Heaven as God's children come home, but there will be no joy on earth!

How does John describe the Saints of God, who have been washed in the Blood of Jesus and who have been Sealed with God the Holy Spirit?

Sanctification had reached its fulfillment and Glorification had become a reality!

*****Rev 14:4  These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 

Rev 14:5  And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

No defiled thing can ever get into the New Heaven!

Why is there a New Heaven?

Satan and a third of the angels had brought sin into the old Heaven. They had been tossed out and their final judgment was near, but because sin was in the Old Heaven a New Heaven had to be created.

This is where the Lord is preparing our new home.

The Bride of Christ will never witness any defilement and our new home had to be made perfect to receive the perfect Saints of God!

There are no words in any language that can describe the "Home" the Lord has made for His Bride!

This is why we should not worry about anything that is going on upon this earth!

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

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

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

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

If we cannot trust Jesus, then our home will not be in Heaven!

The Lord Jesus Christ will warn this earth one more time, while things are so bleak you would think they would repent, but not many will. Very few in reality they are so sold out to the Antichrist!

The Lord will not send any Saint of God to proclaim this final warning!

He will send some of His angels, who have no soul, nor do they understand the salvation plan of of the Lord. 

They have seen our Lord God suffer for all these humans.

They do not know what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit! What they do know is to give God's message exactly as He states it.

After all, even the angel’s job on earth is finished, when all the Saints of God have come home.

Heb 1:14  Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? 

All the Saints are in Heaven. Certain angels will now just give the Lord's message to those who are about to receive the full wrath of God.

*****Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

We might ask ourselves, just when will the "Gospel" be preached to everyone who lives upon this earth? It may be when this angel flies around the world with the "Gospel Message" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We may not understand everything we read in the Book of Revelation, but we should understand at least two things.

1) Jehovah will not send His wrath upon those who repent, and He will give whosoever remains on earth an opportunity right up till the very moment of His wrath.

2) There will be no one, "NO ONE" who stands before the Lord Jesus Christ at the White Throne Judgment who can say, "I never heard of the Lord Jesus Christ and His salvation plan"!

Remember an angel will only deliver God's message point blank and without feelings, without Spirit, and without emotions!

There will certainly be no more "Good News" after this angel gives this final message and this final call to salvation!

They have the only everlasting words that contain the truth!

There is only one "True Gospel" and it the "Good News" that the Lord Jesus, who is God in the flesh, died to make a way for all humans to be able to return to Heaven. 

There is no other way to get to God's New Heaven except by Jesus Christ! There is no compromising on this truth!

1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 

1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

It is right after this "Good News" that the "Bad News" will become a reality!

What is the "Bad News"? The Lord Jesus Christ will return as the Jewish Messiah to put an end to sin upon this earth for 1000 years.

He will come in "Judgment" without "Mercy"!

The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be sent to the Burning Lake of Fire and Satan will be bound for 1000 years.

So it is only "Bad News" if you are a follower of Satan and it is only "Good News" if it is received in truth, because it is the truth!

In reality some nations will now separate themselves from the Antichrist.

Israel will now separate from the Antichrist because they know he is not God and they will not worship him as God.

There is another gospel that is being preached today in many places and believed by many false religions, and this gospel tells of a false messiah which is none other than the Antichrist.

2Co_11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

Gal_1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal_1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

In the end, the message of this angel is "Prepare to meet thy true God"!

*****Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

Our Creator will return to claim His creation and put an end to sin!

Will there be anyone who will not hear the message of this angel? Notice he speaks with a "loud voice"!

Notice also that everyone upon the face of the earth will hear the words, "the hour of His judgment is come"!

There will be no doubt in anyone's mind about who was coming!

The Jews have felt the wrath of God (with mercy and a promise) for many years and they know why by this time, but in truth Jehovah has never showed His wrath to the Jews without tempering it with mercy.

The message of this angel is there will be no mercy this time!

The liberals scoff at such statements, but the truth is, when the Messiah returns, He will show no mercy until He has completed His mission to rid this earth of sin and temptation for one thousand years.

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 

Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 

Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 

Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Then John sees another angel with a different message.

*****Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

What happens immediately after the Lord steps down from heaven to this earth?

1) The political system set up and managed by the Antichrist falls to destruction to exist no more.

2) The religious system set up by the False Prophet falls to destruction to exist no more.

The phrase "is fallen, is fallen" tells us they both no longer exist.

We might say that not much time was given for people to make this decision.

The Lord has given this world nearly 2000 years since the "Gospel" became reality already.

There is not much time left today to seek the face of the Lord!

For the Jews they have been given nearly 6000 years to accept the truth. They are promised that they will see the wrath of God, but they are also promised that they will be saved from God's greatest wrath!

Also the time when the first angel gave his message and the second angel gave his message need only be for a moment because God sees into the heart. The Lord already knows who will receive Him and who will not. He wants everyone to make their own choice. We have to choose!

If not for that, there would not have been anyone else saved in the "Great Tribulation"!

Some say that the city of Babylon is to be rebuilt but we must also be aware that these systems of the Antichrist are spiritually named Babylon because of wicked systems in place in old Babel that was built by Nimrod.

Much the same way Egypt is used as the Iron Furnace because of the way the children of Israel were treated by a ruthless Pharaoh.

God said Babylon would never be rebuilt, at least in the location of that old wicked city.

Some say Babylon means Rome and this could be true. Many of the things that Rome caused to happen during the years of Crusades were certainly not of God and History remembers those years as the Dark Years, the "Dark Ages". Darkness itself represents wickedness and evilness. A time of ungodliness.

Isa 13:19  And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Isa 13:20  It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 

Isa 13:21  But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. 

Isa 13:22  And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. 

The old city of Babylon lies as swamp land, but spiritual Babylon still exist and will thrive in the time of the Antichrist and the False Prophet.

There is a godless society that continues to grow and as it grows, the influence of wickedness spreads and consumes like a fire that has an endless supply of fuel. We see these things happening right before our eyes today!

The one thing during this virus that astounds me is, that every nation especially here in America reaches into the endless cycle of debt without realizing that someone or some few will claim that debt and claim for repayment of that debt and it will not be possible to repay and from then on governments will be under the influence of those who own all that debt. This is the place the Antichrist will hold in the near future!

The door is wide open for the Antichrist to step in.

The world is in turmoil.

The door is wide open for the Antichrist to step in.

Science is drained and useless.

Politics and politicians are futile because of corruption.

Climate Change is of God, but mankind gets the blame.

Wars and rumors of war increasing.

Drugs (sorceries)

Pestilences.

Famine.

Locusts.

The Sun, the Moon, the Stars show new signs not understood.

Whoever heard of a Godzilla "dust storm" before this week.

Another warning, we had better wear a mask.

Our world is dying!

Yes, the door is wide open for the Antichrist to step in!

Then the third angel brings his message.

*****Rev 14:9  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, 

Rev 14:10  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:

The final warning.

As we said, God sees into the heart so these things are easily seen by the eyes of God and He just knows who will repent and who will not.

Some will say God has always known. Certainly, this is true, or He could not be God.

The truth is God has given all of us the ability to make a choice and He has made this choice to be easy.

1) Follow the truth of Jesus Christ.

2) Reject the truth of Jesus Christ.

Only you yourself know the truth of your decision.

In the day of the Church, the Scriptures say we can tell by their works.

In other words, we do not have to judge anyone, God judges all who do not follow His Written Word!

In the time of this final warning there will be no time for works! Only time to pray a prayer of repentance that does not even have to be spoken because if it is from the heart God will know!

By not choosing Jesus then you will receive the Mark of the Beast.

It is because there are no other choices that can save!

All these things have taken place over a short period of time.

Jesus says when He comes, He will come quickly. He will have no hesitation!

There is no other place in the Scriptures that are so terrible as these words written here!

God's wrath without "Mercy"!

He has never done this before, and He will never do it again for it will never be necessary again!

Rev 16:19  And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. 

In the end why will there be a new Earth and a New Jerusalem.

There must be a place of complete purity and no one wants to see smoke that rises from the Burning Lake of Fire throughout eternity.

*****Rev 14:11  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. 

Does anyone really want to know what will happen to those who accept the "Mark of the Beast"?

The smoke of their torment will ascend up for ever and ever! I believe this speaks of the judgment sentence at the White Throne Judgment.

Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 

Rev 20:13  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 

Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Notice that phrase "the dead" who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ all these years. 

Again the dead, all those who have been buried at sea, or died at sea because they had rejected the Word of God. 

Again the dead, all those who have entered into Hell after their physical death because they rejected the Gospel. 

During the very last days of the Great Tribulation, they all died at the hands of the Judge, The Lord Jesus Christ!

It is the pure wrath of God, there will be no more "Mercy" in God's "Judgment"!

God has been holding His anger in check all these years but finally He has seen all those who really want to be with Him in Heaven, and all those who decided themselves they did not want to be with Him in Heaven. 

There is only one other place that remains for them and it is the Burning Lake of Fire, that place they said did not exist!

This is a place so designed to be so hot that it is torture and it is a permanent place for them throughout eternity.

All the Saints of God will not see these who are in such misery as they enjoy the benefits of Heaven, but they in turn will be able to see our Heavenly Father as He can see them and I believe they will be able to see what those who have accepted the Gospel are doing throughout eternity.

They will never have rest! There will be no cure! There will be no escape! There will be no relief!

You must see that this is the warning we are to give to our family.

This is the warning we must give to any unchurched friends.

This is the warning we must give to those we are able to talk to.

How did the Lord Jesus teach this?

Mar 9:41  For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. 

Mar 9:42  And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 

Mar 9:43  And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 

Mar 9:44  Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 

It is better to depart from any and every sin, even if it causes us bodily harm than to reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Lord knows it has not been easy to be a Christian, not now and especially not during the Great Tribulation!

Keep in mind this is the time of Jacob's Trouble. 

Jehovah will be dealing with the Jews, the Hebrew children.

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

Rev 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

Those that rejected the "sign of the Beast", many of them will be murdered instantly. In reality they will be much better off if they die then!

They can rest from their labors. They will be delivered for their trials and sufferings. It will never be as time for suicide because that is a loss of faith and remember it is their faith that has kept them alive so far with the knowledge of the benefits of God and choosing to follow the truth.

Those that remain will not be able to buy and sell. Many may starve to death. 

There will be no merciful followers of the Beast!

There will be no Holy Ghost conviction!

There will only be misery here upon this earth.

Then the wonders and glory of Heaven to those to die by the Lamb.

Misery and more misery to those who accept the Mark of the Beast!

What is the reward of those who have survived because of their faith?

They will witness the return of the Messiah!

*****Rev 14:14  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. 

Rev 14:15  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. 

Rev 14:16  And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 

What do we know? We know that at least seven years before this time the Lord came in a cloud to receive His Church. These were only those who had accepted the truth of the Gospel and their names were all written down in the Lambs Book of Life.

The Church was raised and given their rewards and by this time they had tossed those rewards unto the feet of Jesus, because we all knew we are unworthy to even be at the feet of Jesus and certainly unworthy to receive any sort of reward.

Now the Lord will return, and the remaining Chapters will go into the details of His return.

We all know what comes next!

The Antichrist has become ruthless in his domination of nations. He has required for all people to make a personal choice to choose him and reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

They must bow down to the "Image of the Beast" or die!

You know as Christians we made a personal choice to choose Jesus because Jehovah likes His relationship closeup and personal. 

We are family with our Creator because He wants a family, a loving family.

Ole Satan wants that same relationship with his followers, but evil and wicked people have made themselves to be god for so long, they will rebel with him and they will be forced to take the mark of the Beast. 

Even a thief does not like to be forced to do things!

Satan knows that his time is over as the false king of the world and the Lord Jesus has returned to put an end to the misery upon this earth just before the entire world is destroyed. The intent of Satan is to destroy God's Creation!

Notice the world is ripe. 

What had the angels told the Apostles?

Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 

Act 1:10  And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 

Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

Well, this is the way John saw His return.

Luke wrote the words of Christ Jesus:

Luk 21:27  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 

Every eye that remains will see the Lord and if He is carrying a sickle, He is not coming in peace!

The truth is one day during the Great Tribulation when things are so bad it will seem the earth is about to perish because of the war of the Antichrist, when so many military mistakes have been made, maybe the nuclear arsenal has been fired.

All of a sudden, the skies will suddenly cause everyone on earth to look up. They will not see missiles, or rockets, or spaceships, or any other such thing. They will see King Jesus.

Jesus is not coming to offer peace.

Jesus is not coming to offer a chance to repent.

Jesus is not coming in "Mercy".

Jesus is coming in "Judgment"!

A sickle is an instrument used to harvest and He will harvest all of the followers of the Antichrist to burn!

The Lord Jesus Christ will come at the end of the Great Tribulation to harvest the earth by the separation the tares from the wheat.

Remember how Jesus taught the Hebrew children this parable.

Mat 13:24  Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 

Mat 13:25  But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 

Mat 13:26  But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 

Mat 13:27  So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 

Mat 13:28  He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 

Mat 13:29  But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 

Mat 13:30  Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. 

The Lord Jesus will come at the end to the Great Tribulation to gather the tares for destruction and the wheat (mostly Jews) for the New Heaven and the New Jerusalem (the barn).

We must not forget the Church is already in Heaven.

The Tribulation years are the time of Jacob's Trouble.

Jer 30:7  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 

Jer 30:8  For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 

Jer 30:9  But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them. 

These things will happen right here upon this earth just before the Lord begins His reign for 1000 years.

We already know the, Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Thunders, the four horsemen, all describe the increasing bad conditions upon this earth until the Lord returns quickly at the end of the Great Tribulation to remove all those who have rejected Him.

He will toss the Antichrist into the Burning Lake of Fire.

He will toss the False Prophet into the Burning Lake of Fire.

He will chain up Satan in Hell for 1000 years because He still has a use for him at that future time.

The misery that has plagued this earth for seven years will come quickly to an end.

As the Lord Jesus separates the tares from the wheat, for only He can do this, some angels come forth to remove the tares while the Lord deals with the wheat.

*****Rev 14:17  And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 

Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 

Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 

All the souls of the "martyrs" will now be avenged.

Rev 6:9  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: 

Rev 6:10  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? 

Rev 6:11  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. 

Remember the souls of those who were slain and their blood under the altar of salvation.

Notice in verse 18 that this angel comes out from under the altar to avenge those souls.

This angel has the power of fire because it is with fire that the earth will be destroyed.

That fire is the power of "Judgment"!

Joe 3:13  Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 

Joe 3:14  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 

Joe 3:15  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 

Joe 3:16  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. 

Joe 3:17  So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 

This fire comes from the awesome glory of the Lord because sin cannot stand before the glory of God and survive.

Exo 33:18  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 

Exo 33:19  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 

Exo 33:20  And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

When the Lord returns in all His glory those tares will burn because of sin.

The over ripened fruit of false religion will be wiped from the face of the earth.

All unbelievers will be wiped from the face of the earth.

It will be terrible.

*****Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs. 

The valley of decision.

The valley of the threshing.

The valley of Jehoshaphat.

It is the Lord Jesus who came in His wrath, not tempered with "Mercy" who will wear the blood garments of vengeance.

For He said, "Vengeance is Mine"!

Isa 63:1  Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 

Isa 63:2  Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 

Isa 63:3  I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 

Isa 63:4  For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 

Isa 66:23  And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 

Isa 66:24  And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Eze 39:17  And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood. 

Eze 39:18  Ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth, of rams, of lambs, and of goats, of bullocks, all of them fatlings of Bashan. 

Eze 39:19  And ye shall eat fat till ye be full, and drink blood till ye be drunken, of my sacrifice which I have sacrificed for you. 

Eze 39:20  Thus ye shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and with all men of war, saith the Lord GOD. 

Eze 39:21  And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. 

The Lord is truly serious about doing exactly what He says He will do, and those who continue to be disobedient without repentance, will have the vengeance of the Lord poured out upon them.

Call upon the Lord and be saved!

Do not trust in the things of this world which only lead to eternal death!

Amen