Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 9

May 18, 2020September 25, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Danny Vierra

Chapter 9 – He Thinks to Change Times and Laws

There is yet another identifying feature of the beast that must be addressed— that He would “think to change times and laws.” (Daniel 7: 25). I will never forget the day I learned that the Roman Catholic Church and the papal power were foretold in the Bible prophecy. One Saturday morning I had been invited to a local church to hear a young minister who was speaking on the prophecies of the Book of Daniel. That morning he taught on the prophecies of Daniel 7, which reveal the four great world powers that would successively rule the world. These four monolithic empires were Babylon (the lion, verse 4), Medo- Persia (the bear, verse 5), Greece (the leopard, verse 6), and Rome (the fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, verse 7). He then explained that out of the fourth beast, Rome, which is “the fourth kingdom upon earth” (verse 23), would come a “little horn” (verse 8), who “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 dividing of time” (verse 25).

“Now how did the papal power think to change times and laws,” he asked the class, “and what laws would Satan specifically target in his attack?” “The most likely answer would be the law of God— the Ten Commandments ,” he said. The shocker came to me when the young minister began to explain how the Roman Catholic Church did, indeed, just that. “They took out the second commandment, which says: ‘Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth ,’” he said. Immediately I thought about the images of Mary, Baby Jesus, and the Saints in the Cathedral of the Annunciation. How I revered the statues, especially the ones of Mary. I remember wondering, as I listened to the minister speak, why there were statues in the Cathedral, anyway, when the second commandment forbade image worship. Either the statues were a violation of God’s law, or the second commandment, as the young minister insisted, had been changed! What about the bleeding icons and the weeping statues? Would God work miracles through graven images which He forbade?

Eager to learn more, I continued to listen closely to what the young man had to say about the “little horn” power of Daniel 7. “Not only did the Pope ‘think’ to change the second commandment,” he continued, “but he moved the rest of the other nine commandments up one number [number three was now number two, and number four was now number three, etc.], and then he divided number ten in half, making two commandments out of the one, so that there would still be ten commandments!” I remember the day I looked in a Catholic Catechism to verify this for myself and gasped. The second commandment was gone, the fourth commandment, which says: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God” was now the third and simply said: “Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath.” Number nine said, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.” And number ten said, “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.” What authority did the Roman Catholic Church have, anyway, to change the law of God, I wondered? The young minister continued with his lecture by challenging my lifelong beliefs even further when he asked the question, “How did the little horn think to change ‘times’?”

Before I answer that question, I first want to tell you a little more about my life as a young Catholic boy. Every Sunday I was required to attend 9: 00 A. M. Mass at the Cathedral of the Annunciation. If I missed a Sunday, I was required to bring a note from my parents explaining why I had missed Mass that day, or I would have to stay after school for detention. It was a law!— a “Sunday Law”! In fact, it is a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday, according to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Therefore, I was quite surprised when the young minister began to question Sunday- keeping. He began by stating that nowhere in the Bible is Sunday regarded as a “holy day.” In fact, A Doctrinal Catechism , by Rev. Stephen Keenan, page 174 says:

“Question— Have you any other way of proving that the church [Roman Catholic] has power to institute festivals of precept?

“Answer— Had she not such power, she could not have done that in which all modern religionists agree with her— she could not have substituted the observance of Sunday, the first day of the week, for the observance of Saturday, the seventh day, a change for which there is not Scriptural authority.”

“The Catholic church, by virtue of her divine mission, changed the day from Saturday to Sunday.” (The Catholic Mirror, official organ of Cardinal Gibbons, Sept. 23, 1893).

Again the question is asked of them in still another catechism:

“Question— Which is the Sabbath day? “Answer— Saturday is the Sabbath day. “Question— Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday? “Answer— We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church, in the Council of Laodicea, (A. D. 336), transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.” (The Convert’s Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, p. 50, Third Edition, 1913, a work which received the “apostolic blessing” of Pius X, Jan. 25, 1910).

After the young minister’s lecture, which both shocked and disturbed me, I ran out of the church and remember looking for one of the Catholic priests that had taught me “the truth.” It so happened that the very next evening I was going to a party to which I had been invited the week before. And whom do you think I ran into there? It was one of the priests from the Cathedral of the Annunciation! Talk about Providence! With a cocktail in one hand and a cigarette in the other, the priest seemed pleased to see me after so many years. My mind was racing, and it wasn’t long before I sprung the unexpected question upon him: “Which is the Sabbath day?” I asked. With an interesting look in his eye, he answered cautiously, “Saturday!” I then probed him further as to how God’s holy day (Isaiah 58: 13), the Seventh- day Sabbath, got changed from Saturday to Sunday? With raised eyebrows, and the smell of liquor and tobacco on the “holy” man’s breath, he answered, and I kid you not, “the pope changed the day!” I then asked him if the Catholic Church had indeed killed millions of Christians during the Dark Ages? He reluctantly answered, while looking into his glass, “We would like to forget that.” And to think that I used to confess my sins to these “reverend men of God,” who buy pornographic literature, smoke cigarettes, and get drunk in public!

Go to Chapter 10 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 8

May 18, 2020September 25, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Danny Vierra

Chapter 8 – Other Characteristics of the Little Horn of Daniel 7 – He Blasphemes God

Before I resume my effort to unravel the role that the counterfeit Virgin Mary will play in deceiving the whole world, there are a few other characteristics about the “beast” or “little horn” that I would like to address. The Bible says that he would not only “make war with the saints” and “reign for 1260 years,” but that he would also “blaspheme God,” “think to change times and laws,” and influence “all that dwell upon the earth” to “worship him.” (See Dan. 7: 25; Rev. 13: 6- 8).

The Bible tells us that the papal power “opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name.” (Rev. 13: 6). The title of pope is actually derived from the word papa, which means father. In fact, many nations of the world now recognize the pope as the “Holy Father.” He is also known as “Pontifex Maximus,” which means “the Greatest Bridge- Builder,” signifying that he claims the position of Christ the true “ladder” (or “bridge”) who would span the gulf sin had made between Heaven and earth. (See Gen. 28: 12 and John 1: 51). He also is known by the name of “Vicarius Filii Dei” (the vicar, or official ruling representative, of the Son of God on earth). Thus, he claims to hold the title, position, and authority of God the Father (il papa), God the Son (Pontifex Maximus), and God the Holy Spirit (Vicarius Filii Dei [These texts show the Holy Spirit is Christ’s true vicar on earth: John 14: 16- 18, 26; 15: 26; 16: 7, 8, 13, 14]) Hence the Pope is crowned with a triple crown [the tiara], as king of heaven, and earth, and the lower regions.

Ecclesiastical literature is replete with exhibits of the arrogant, blasphemous claims of the papacy. Typical examples are the following extracts from a large encyclopedic work written by a Roman Catholic divine of the 18th century, plus other examples of more recent times:

“The Pope is of so great dignity and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God….

“The Pope is as it were God on earth, sole sovereign of the faithful of Christ, chief of kings, having plenitude of power, to whom has been intrusted by the omnipotent God direction not only of the earthly but also of the heavenly kingdom….

“The Pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify, explain, or interpret even divine laws….

“The Pope can modify divine law, since his power is not of man but of God, and he acts as vicegerent of God upon earth with most ample power of binding and loosing sheep.” (Translated from Lucius Ferraris, “Papa II,” Prompta Bibliotheca, Vol. VI, pp. 25- 29).

“The Pope is infallible….[ He] cannot err when, as Shepherd and Teacher of all Christians , he defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals, to be held by the whole church.” (A Catechism of Christian Doctrine, p. 16).

“People who see him— and countless millions have— do not forget him. His appearances generate electricity unmatched by anyone else on earth . That explains, for instance, why in rural Kenyan villages thousands of children, plus many cats and roosters and even hotels, are named John Paul. Charisma is the only conceivable reason why a CD featuring him saying the rosary— in Latin— against a backdrop of Bach and Handel is currently ascending the charts in Europe. It accounts for the dazed reaction of a young woman who found herself, along with thousands around her in a sports stadium in Denver, cheering and applauding him: ‘I don’t react that way to rock groups. What is it that he has? ’

“… When he talks, it is not only to his flock of over a billion ; he expects the world to listen. And the flock and the world listen .

“… John Paul can also impose his will, and there was no more formidable and controversial example of this than the Vatican’s intervention at the U. N. ’s International Conference on population and development in Cairo in September. There the Pope’s emissaries defeated a U. S.- backed proposition John Paul feared would encourage abortions worldwide. The consequences may be global and— critics predict— catastrophic, particularly in the teeming Third World, where John Paul is so admired.

“…. John Paul’s impact on the world has already been enormous, ranging from the global to the personal. He has covered more than half a million miles of travels…. He is an army of one….‘ He’ll go down in history as the greatest of modern Popes, ’ says the Rev. Billy Graham. ‘He’s been the strong conscience of the whole Christian world. ’ ” (Time, Dec. 26, 1994/ Jan. 2, 1995, pp. 53, 54). Didn’t the prophecy of Revelation 13: 3 say that “all the world wondered [admired or marveled] after the beast”! And this includes the youth, for the Stockton Record, as well as many other major newspapers, featured the following article from the Associated Press: “1 million youths rally to pope’s call . The huge crowd, gathered for a Mass at Poland’s holiest shrine during the sixth annual Vatican- sponsored World Youth Day , interrupted John Paul for nearly 10 minutes with applause, singing, and chants of ‘Long live the pope! ’ ”

Another interesting note is that John Paul is not the only one interested in World Youth Day. “The ‘Mary of the New Advent’ to whom the pope referred in Denver is particularly associated with World Youth Day, which John Paul II has been promoting for some years. She was displayed at the all- night prayer vigil of pilgrims who walked to Cherry Creek Park (near Denver) to meet the pope, who came in a helicopter. A journalist who was present writes: ‘It is well past 9 P. M. when the icon, the official one of World Youth Day, is presented. This part of the vigil is referred to as ‘Veneration [worship] of the image of the Virgin Mary: Our Lady of the New Advent. ’

“…. The next day, Sunday, the pope returned in his helicopter. The pilgrims… greeted him again with renewed excitement. There he celebrated Mass and 3000 priests took several hours to minister the wafers to the crowd of 375,000. Addressing Mary in heaven personally at times during his talk, the pope began: ‘With my heart full of praise for the Queen of Heaven , the sign of hope and source of comfort on our pilgrimage of faith to the heavenly Jerusalem, I greet all of you who are present at this solemn liturgy…. This liturgy presents you, Mary, as the woman clothed with the sun … O woman clothed with the sun… the youth of the world greet you with so much love…. In Mary the final victory of life over death is already a reality. ’” (A Woman Rides the Beast, pp. 442, 443). Obviously, the pope of Rome is a major player in selling the counterfeit Mary to the world, youth included.

Daniel the Prophet, in further describing the characteristics of the “little horn,” which he saw in vision coming out of Rome, said that “in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (Dan. 7: 8). And Jesus Christ further warned us through His servant John of the following: “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six [666].” (Rev. 13: 18). You have no idea how amazed I was the day I learned that if you take the pope’s title, “Vicarius Filii Dei,” which is on his miter, and assign the appropriate value for each Roman numeral (such as V= 5, I= 1( 6 times), C= 100, U= 5, L= 50, and D= 500), the total comes to 666! That means that every pope that has ever lived and every pope that is to come has the number 666— the title of the Antichrist— and the prophecy is then applicable to the present pope!

Not only is the pope of Rome revered as the great moral leader of the world, he is also, according to Roman Catholic belief , a direct successor of St. Peter, whom Rome refers to as the first pope— the rock on whom Jesus Christ built His church. Friends, this is an untrue conclusion, since Peter was never referred to as the “the rock” by Jesus. The Scripture the Catholic Church uses to support its claim that Peter was the “rock” is Matthew 16: 18: “And I [Jesus] say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” But, if you take this verse, using the original Greek, it actually says: Thou art Peter [Christ called the Apostle by his first name, which in the Greek is Petros— a (piece of) rock , (Strong’s Concordance)], and upon this rock [Christ now refers to Himself as the Rock, which in the Greek is an entirely different word with a different gender— namely, Petra, a (mass of) rock, (Strong’s Concordance)]. In effect, this is like a mountain compared to a pebble, as Divinity rightfully is when compared to humanity. In fact, just a few verses later, when Christ said “that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day,” Peter began “to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Peter was actually saying, “No way, Lord, You will not die.” Friends, without the death of Christ as the Lamb of God, sacrificed for the sins of the world, salvation would be impossible. Peter didn’t understand Christ’s true mission at this time and, therefore, responded emotionally. To this response, Christ “said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense to me.” (Verses 21- 23). Remember that Matthew 16: 18 said that the “gates of hell shall not prevail” against the “Rock.” Well, Satan had just prevailed against Peter, so he could not be the Rock, but the devil certainly will never prevail against the “Rock of Ages”— Jesus Christ!

The Bible says in I Corinthians 10: 4 that “that Rock was Christ.” In fact, Peter himself, when referring to Jesus in the Bible, called Him the “chief corner stone … the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner .” (I Pet. 2: 6, 7). “In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone and laid it Himself. He called it ‘a sure foundation. ’ The entire world may lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect safety they may build upon it. Christ is a ‘tried stone. ’ Those who trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the pressure of Adam’s guilt, and the guilt of his posterity, and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security.” (The Desire of Ages, pp. 598, 599). Christ is the true foundation, the “chief corner stone,” on which the Christian church is built; and by His dwelling in us through the Holy Spirit, we become living stones in His spiritual temple, for we are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Eph. 2: 20- 22). But since the Roman Catholic Church uses the argument that Peter was the rock, the first pope, it concludes that its popes, as descendants of Peter, along with its bishops and priests, have the power to forgive sins, which the Bible declares is blasphemy. (See Matt. 9: 1- 6).

I remember kneeling, many times, in a confessional and telling my sins to a priest who sat behind a dark screen. Little did I know at that time, that the confessional had its origin with the pagan priests of Babylon (to be addressed later). After hearing my confession, the priest would give me a number of prayers to recite for my penance. On one occasion, I was given a whole rosary [a string of beads of pagan origin] to say for my penance, which included fifty three Hail Marys: “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions , as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” (Matt. 6: 7). Since I was young and ignorant of the Scriptures, I did not know that the Bible gives the following instructions in regard to the confession of sin: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” And “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 2: 1, 2; 1: 9).

Go to Chapter 9 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 7

May 18, 2020September 25, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Danny Vierra

Chapter 7 – The Deadly Wound Was Healed

Even though the Roman Church flourished during the 1260- year period, Revelation 13: 3 tells us that the beast would indeed suffer a deadly wound, and this prophecy was exactly fulfilled in the year of 1798. “In 1798, 1260 years later [from 538], the pope was taken into captivity and the Catholic Church was dealt a mortal blow. It happened just as Revelation had foretold, with remarkable accuracy…. During the French Revolution and under orders from the revolutionary French government, General Alexander Berthier [one of Napoleon’s generals] issued a proclamation in Rome on February 15, 1798, informing Pope Pius VI and the people of Rome that the pope should no longer ‘exercise any function. ’ ” (God Cares, p. 328). “Napoleon had dethroned the Pope, because the Pontiffs found themselves alone, the sole fountains of order, peace, law, and safety” in Western Europe. (The Temporal Power of the Vicar of Christ, p. 27). In 1798, Napoleon intended that there would never be another pope. “The Papacy was extinct: not a vestige of its existence remained; and among all the Roman Catholic powers not a finger was stirred in its defense. The Eternal City had no longer prince or Pontiff, its bishop was a dying captive in foreign lands; and the decree was already announced that no successor would be allowed in his place.” (Rome: From the Fall of the Western Empire, p. 440). In other words, a deadly wound was inflicted upon the beast power, just as the Bible prophesied: “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death.” (Rev. 13: 3a). But, that was not the end of the story, for the second part of the Scripture prophesied: “and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast .” (Rev. 13: 3b).

But even during the 1260- year papal oppression, when the “woman,” God’s true church, suffered tremendous persecution, God “nourished,” or cared for His children. “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” (Rev. 12: 14- 16).

In Revelation 12: 14, God preserves the woman from being swept away by providing her with “two wings of a great eagle”— an appropriate symbol of God’s paternal care for His children. When the Israelites escaped from Egyptian slavery, Moses said that God had carried them on “eagles’ wings.” (Exodus 19: 4). In Psalm 91: 4, we read: “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust.” And in Deuteronomy 32: 9- 12: “The Lord’s portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.” Many Christians suffered under the “flood” of persecution that was cast out of the serpent’s mouth, but the “earth helped the woman,” by providing naturally protected and uninhabited areas for her safety. Many Christians fled to such places as the mountain valleys of the Alps, to the mountains themselves, and to the sparsely populated British colonies in North America. And, besides, this raises an important question: Why would Mary, during the 1260 years, flee into the wilderness from the papacy, when the Roman Catholic Church is the one who had set her up as one to be worshipped? Why would they want to destroy her— a pillar in their system of worship? How, then, could the Virgin Mary be the “woman,” who had fled for 1260 years into the wilderness for her safety? Furthermore, when did the literal Mary have any experience of being persecuted and driven into the wilderness by the dragon in the period of her life after the ascension of her Son Jesus? The Virgin Mary simply does not fit!

On the other hand, Satan is relentless in his fury to destroy God’s true church, and will not cease his attempt to annihilate every true Christian. Frantic with frustration for failing to destroy the true church during the 1260 years, Satan, in these end times, directs his bitter attacks against the “remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus.” (Revelation 12: 17). Friends, Satan will use any means he can to accomplish his goal to deceive the very elect— be it the Roman Empire, the Roman Catholic Church, or even the spiritualistic appearances of the “Virgin Mary .”

“The Catholic Church is avowedly Roman. Its official name today, as it has been throughout most of its long history, is The Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of Rome.” (God Cares, Vol. 2, p. 327). Again, Revelation 13: 2 says that “the dragon [in this case, the Roman Empire through whom Satan was working] gave him [the Roman Catholic Church with the pope at the head] his power, and his seat [or throne], and great authority.”

“A throne is a symbol of authority. But because this passage already contains the words ‘power’ and ‘authority, ’ we expect ‘throne’ here to convey a more literal meaning. Basically, a throne is a place where an important person sits. Other words for throne are the Greek cathedra , and the Latin sedes, which shows up in the English as see. In the Catholic Church, the building in which a bishop’s throne (or cathedra) is located is called his ‘cathedral .’ The city in which his throne is located is called his ‘see. ’ The ultimate see in Catholicism is the Holy See, the city where the Pope’s throne is located. This city is Rome.” (Ibid.). “Specifically, since the Treaty of the Lateran with Italy, the Holy See has been Vatican City, a 108.7- acre tract on Vatican Hill, lying wholly within the city of Rome.” (Ibid., footnote). Furthermore, Revelation 17: 9 reveals another identifying feature of the great “whore” of Bible prophecy: “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains , on which the woman sitteth.” One Catholic resource acknowledges the following: “It is within the city of Rome, called The City on Seven Hills , that the entire area of Vatican State Proper is now confined.” (The Catholic Encyclopedia, p. 529). It should also be noted that the name Vatican comes from the Latin words Vatis, which means diviner, and can, which means serpent . The name Vatican, therefore, is literally interpreted— The Divining Serpent . In fact, there are serpent door handles on the doors of the new St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco, and a large papal crest in the Vatican museum features a dragon! Serpent crosiers were commonly carried by bishops and high Catholic Church officials during the Middle Ages.

The Book of Isaiah tells us that Satan’s ultimate desire and purpose in life is to usurp God’s throne: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High .” (Isaiah 14: 12- 14). I am so grateful for the next verse that reveals the fate of the devil: “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell [the grave], to the sides of the pit.” (Isaiah 14: 15). Do you not think that Satan could be working through the Pope of Rome, who claims to have the power of God on earth? Paul knew that this power would arise, and wrote about it in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come [the second coming of Christ], except there come a falling away first [an apostasy from within God’s church— from the Greek word, apostasia, in this case an outgrowth known as the church of Rome], 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. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?” (II Thessalonians 2: 3- 5). If people would only study their Bibles the way it instructs them to, by taking “precept upon precept; line upon line… here a little and there a little” (Isa. 28: 10), in other words, by comparing Scripture with Scripture, they would find the truth through the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

According to the prophecy of Revelation 13: 3, the deadly blow would not kill, but only wound, the Catholic Church, and surely one has to acknowledge that his “deadly wound” is healing. History tells us that in 1801, Napoleon signed a “concordat,” or church- state treaty, with a new Pope. “On the other hand, in 1870 the newly emerging nation of Italy deepened the church’s woes for a while by taking away the Papal States, a considerable portion of the Italian peninsula, which the church had owned for centuries…. But in 1929 Mussolini signed a concordat granting the pope full authority over the State of Vatican City, 108.7 acres in Rome which includes St. Peter’s Cathedral.” (God Cares, p. 346). The Vatican had put Mussolini into power, and now Mussolini reciprocated by making the Roman Catholic Church the sole religion in all Italy and giving her 750 million lire in cash and one billion in state bonds.

Ever since 1929 the wound has been healing rapidly. Protestant America, which was built upon the separation of church and state and which had once loudly protested [the word Protestant originated from the people’s “protest” against Catholicism] the establishment of the papal power in this country, now welcomes her with open arms. Times have certainly changed, and even America is “wondering” after the beast! In 1951 President Harry Truman asked the Senate to approve his nomination of an ambassador to the State of Vatican City, and America was plunged into a vortex of agony and protest. Truman finally withdrew his request after “hardly a Protestant church in the country failed to express its opposition formally and often acrimoniously.” (Church State and Freedom, p. 302). More recently, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan’s nomination of William A. Wilson as ambassador to Vatican City was quickly approved by the Senate, 81- 13. At this critical time, only a few voices were heard worrying about church and state. The next event was unbelievable because of the swiftness with which it happened and the players involved. This event was the demise of Communism in Poland through the conspiring efforts of President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, as featured on the front cover of Time on Feb. 24, 1992. [Friends, is this a fulfillment of the prophecy that the “whore” would commit “fornication” with the “the kings of the earth”? (See Rev. 17: 1, 2) The Vatican is a religio- political system whose aim is to control the world!] Then, in a Special Double Issue of Time for December 26, 1994/ January 2, 1995, John Paul II was featured once again on its cover as “The Man of the Year.” Unbelievable! How I wondered what the world’s reaction would have been had the number one news weekly printed instead the pope’s true alias as given by the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians—“ The Man of Sin.” (II Thess. 2: 3). This issue of Time was released only two and a half months after the October 9, 1995, issue of U. S. News which also featured Pope John Paul II on its cover. The caption on their cover read: “Honor thy father. ” Here was another blasphemous statement published by another major U. S. periodical in the United States. Has Protestant America forgotten that the Bible clearly says: “Call no man your [spiritual] father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven .” (Matt. 23: 9). Did you know that according to the doctrines of the Catholic Church your spiritual “Father” is the pope of Rome and your spiritual “Mother” is the Virgin Mary? A Catholic Catechism declares: “The Pope is the spiritual Father of all Christians ” and “The Blessed Virgin Mary is our Mother also because, being the brethren of Jesus, we are the children of Mary.” (A Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, pp. 15, 27). I find it quite interesting that the American edition of this book was originally published in 1973 by Marian Publications !

Faithful Protestants, where are the Reformers today? Not only does the Protestant Reformation seem to be a thing of the past, but the churches of the world are uniting on common points of faith , and Mary could be the one to further “heal” the wound of many years . After all, “Pope John Paul II prays every day to the virgin, whom he credits with saving his life.” (Life, Dec., 1996, p. 48). “At a certain moment on May 13, 1981, during an open- air papal audience in St. Peter’s Square, in the presence of some 75,000 people and before the eyes of an estimated 11 million television viewers, Pope John Paul spied a little girl wearing a small picture of Christ’s Mother of Our Lady of Fatima . Just as he bent from his slow moving “popemobile” in a spontaneous gesture to the child, hired assassin Mehmet Ali Agca squeezed off two bullets, aimed precisely where his head had been. As two pilgrims fell wounded to the ground, two more shots rang out, and this time John Paul’s blood stained his white papal cassock.” (The Keys of This Blood, p. 46). “On May 13, 1992 [and again in 1994], John Paul II went to Fatima where he thanked Our Lady of Fatima for sparing his life in the 1981 assassination attempt.” (The Thunder of Justice, p. 151). “Nor is anyone more devoted to Mary. John Paul II, who has ‘dedicated himself and his Pontificate to Our Lady’ bears the M for Mary in his coat of arms; his personal motto, embroidered on the inside of his robes in Latin, is totus tuus sum Maria (Mary, I’m all yours) .” (A Woman Rides the Beast, p. 459).

“Moreover, John Paul is firmly convinced, as are many others, that Mary brought an end to communism throughout Europe. His faith is rooted in the famed prophecies of Mary at Fatima in 1917. According to Sister Lucia, one of the children who claimed to see her, the Virgin predicted the rise of Soviet totalitarianism before it happened. In a subsequent vision, she directed the Pope and his bishops to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart in order to bring communism to an end.

“According to Lucia, papal attempts to carry out that consecration failed in 1942, ’52, and ’82. John Paul finally carried out Mary’s directive in 1984— and the very next year Mikhail Gorbechev’s rise to power inaugurated the Soviet collapse. Says Father Robert Fox of the Fatima Family Shrine in Alexandria, S. Dak.: ‘The world will recognize in due time that the defeat of communism came at the intercession of the mother of Jesus .’ ” (Time, Dec., 30, 1991, pp. 64, 65). In fact, the former Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbechev, called Pope John Paul II “the highest authority on earth.” Amazing words, coming from the ex- leader of communist Russia!

John Paul II is currently leading the greatest ecumenical movement in history in order to unite all religions under Rome’s leadership. On October 27, 1986, the pope gathered in Assisi, Italy, the leaders of the world’s major religions to pray for peace. Included in the group were snake worshippers, Buddhists, Moslems, Hindus, Spiritists, and North American witch doctors. The pope said they were all praying to the same god, and their prayers were “creating a spiritual energy that was bringing about a new climate for peace.” A prophesied World Religion (see Rev 13: 3, 4, 12; 17: 12- 14) is being formed before our eyes, and the Vatican is the headquarters of the new movement. Is this not “spiritual fornication”?

As stated earlier, the Apostle Paul saw “creeping into the church, errors that would prepare the way for the development of the papacy. Little by little, at first in stealth and silence, and then more openly as it increased in strength and gained control of the minds of men, ‘the mystery of iniquity’ carried forward its deceptive and blasphemous work. Almost imperceptibly the customs of heathenism found their way into the Christian church. The spirit of compromise and conformity was restrained for a time by the fierce persecutions which the church endured under paganism. But as persecution ceased, and Christianity entered the courts and palaces of kings, she laid aside the humble simplicity of Christ and His apostles for the pomp and pride of pagan priests and rulers; and in place of the requirements of God, she substituted human theories and traditions. The nominal conversion of Constantine, in the early part of the fourth century, caused great rejoicing; and the world, cloaked with a form of righteousness, walked into the church. Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ.

“This compromise between paganism and Christianity resulted in the development of ‘the man of sin’ foretold in prophecy as opposing and exalting himself above God. That gigantic system of false religion is a masterpiece of Satan’s power— a monument of his efforts to seat himself upon the throne to rule the earth according to his will.

“… Satan well knew that the Holy Scriptures would enable men to discern his deceptions and withstand his power. It was by the Word that even the Saviour of the world had resisted his attacks. At every assault, Christ presented the shield of eternal truth, saying, ‘It is written. ’ To every suggestion of the adversary, He opposed the wisdom and power of the Word. In order for Satan to maintain his sway over men, and establish the authority of the papal usurper, he must keep them in ignorance of the Scriptures. The Bible would exalt God and place finite men in their true position; therefore its sacred truths must be concealed and suppressed. This logic was adopted by the Roman Church. For hundreds of years the circulation of the Bible was prohibited. The people were forbidden to read it or to have it in their houses, and unprincipled priests and prelates interpreted its teachings to sustain their pretensions. Thus the pope came to be almost universally acknowledged as the vicegerent of God on earth, endowed with authority over church and state…. To afford converts from heathenism a substitute for the worship of idols, and thus to promote their nominal acceptance of Christianity, the adoration of images [statues of the Virgin Mary] and relics was gradually introduced into the Christian worship .” (The Great Controversy, pp. 49- 52).

Go to Chapter 8 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 6

May 18, 2020September 25, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Danny Vierra

Chapter 6 – The 1260- day Prophecy and the Papacy

As a matter of fact, the 1260- day prophecy is mentioned seven times in Daniel and Revelation. There are not, as some have supposed, several 1260- day periods; there is only one. It is mentioned seven times, because it is so very important: in Daniel 7: 25 and 12: 7 and also in Revelation 12: 14, as a time, times (i. e., two times— the lowest plural), and a half time; in Revelation 11: 2 and 13: 5, as forty- two months; and in Revelation 11: 3 and Revelation 12: 6, as one thousand two hundred and threescore (sixty) days. In Bible prophecy, there are 360 days to a year, and if you multiply 360 times three and one- half, you will come up with the number— 1260. Also, when time is used in Bible prophecy, a day stands for a year. (See Ezekiel 4: 6; Num. 14: 34). Therefore, the Bible has given us the important key to figuring out the 1260- day prophecy, and that is this— that the 1260 days are actually 1260 literal years.

As Satan used the Roman Empire— particularly King Herod, Pontius Pilate and Nero, as well as many others— to put Christ to death and kill many of God’s people, he, like a chameleon, changed his disguise once again after Western Rome’s fall, but this time, he kept the same Roman roots. The “wilderness” (Rev. 12: 6), symbolizing this 1260- year period, is also referred to as the “great tribulation” (Matt 24: 21)— a time when millions of God’s true people were martyred for refusing to follow the dictates of the Roman Church . The Bible accurately prophesied that the papal power, as symbolized by the “little horn” in Daniel 7: 8, 20, 21 and the “leopard- bodied beast” in Revelation 13: 2, would “make war with the saints.” Only one “religious” organization has been responsible for more persecutions and deaths of faithful Bible believing Christians than any other sect in history— The Holy Roman Catholic Church!

“Step by step, the Roman Empire (the dragon) did indeed give its power, throne, and great authority [Revelation 13: 2] to the Catholic Church… A climax came in 538, when the armies of the Empire [the unfallen Eastern division] drove the Arian Ostrogoths out of Rome. By 538, therefore, the 1260 years could begin .” (God Cares, p. 328). “In the sixth century the papacy had become firmly established. Its seat of power was fixed in the imperial city, and the bishop of Rome was declared to be the head over the entire church. Paganism had given place to the papacy. The dragon had given to the beast ‘his power, and his seat, and great authority. ’ Revelation 13: 2. And now began the 1260 years of papal oppression foretold in the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation. Daniel 7: 25; Revelation 13: 5- 7. Christians were forced to choose either to yield their integrity and accept the papal ceremonies and worship, or to wear away their lives in dungeons or to suffer death by the rack, the fagot, or the headsman’s ax. Now were fulfilled the words of Jesus: ‘Ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake. ’ Luke 21: 16, 17. Persecution opened upon the faithful with greater fury than ever before, and the world became a vast battlefield. For hundreds of years the church of Christ found refuge in seclusion and obscurity. Thus says the prophet: ‘The woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and three- score days. ’ Revelation 12: 6.

“The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator and that none could approach God except through him; and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed. A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the offenders. Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible, erring, and cruel men, nay, more, to the prince of darkness himself, who exercised his power through them. Sin was disguised in a garb of sanctity. When the Scriptures are suppressed, and man comes to regard himself as supreme, we need look only for fraud, deception, and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of human laws and traditions was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God.

“Those were days of peril for the church of Christ. The faithful standard- bearers were few indeed. Though the truth was not left without witnesses, yet at times it seemed that error and superstition would wholly prevail, and true religion would be banished from the earth. The gospel was lost sight of, but the forms of religion were multiplied, and the people were burdened with rigorous exactions.

“They were taught not only to look to the pope as their mediator, but to trust to works of their own to atone for sin. Long pilgrimages, acts of penance, the worship of relics, the erection of churches, shrines , and altars, the payment of large sums to the church— these and many similar acts were enjoined to appease the wrath of God or to secure His favor; as if God were like men, to be angered at trifles, or pacified by gifts or acts of penance!

“Notwithstanding that vice prevailed, even among the leaders of the Roman Church, her influence seemed steadily to increase. About the close of the eighth century, papists put forth the claim that in the first ages of the church the bishops of Rome had possessed the same spiritual power which they now assumed. To establish this claim, some means must be employed to give it a show of authority; and this was readily suggested by the father of lies. Ancient writings were forged by monks. Decrees of councils before unheard of were discovered, establishing the universal supremacy of the pope from the earliest times. And a church that had rejected the truth greedily accepted these deceptions.

“The few faithful builders upon the true foundation (I Corinthians 3: 10, 11) were perplexed and hindered as the rubbish of false doctrine obstructed the work. Like the builders upon the wall of Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day, some were ready to say: ‘The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build. ’ Nehemiah 4: 10. Wearied with the constant struggle against persecution, fraud, iniquity, and every other obstacle that Satan could devise to hinder their progress, some who had been faithful builders became disheartened; and for the sake of peace and security for their property and their lives, they turned away from the true foundation. Others, undaunted by the opposition of their enemies, fearlessly declared: ‘Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible’ (verse 14); and they proceeded with the work, everyone with his sword girded by his side. Ephesians 6: 17.

“… .The darkness seemed to grow more dense. Image worship became more general. Candles were burned before images, and prayers were offered to them. The most absurd and superstitious customs prevailed. The minds of men were so completely controlled by superstition that reason itself seemed to have lost its sway. While priests and bishops were themselves pleasure- loving, sensual, and corrupt , it could only be expected that the people who looked to them for guidance would be sunken in ignorance and vice.” (The Great Controversy, pp. 54- 57).

Friends, I take no pleasure in what I am about to tell you, but I believe you must know the truth. When I was a young Catholic boy attending Annunciation School, not only had I lit candles and said prayers for my dead, departed friends and relatives, while kneeling in front of images of dead “Saints” and the “Virgin Mary” at the Cathedral, but later, as a teenager attending Saint Mary’s High School, I had worked at my father’s liquor store, which was located way across town. I used to see the priests from these schools, dressed in civilian clothes, come into our store and look at the pornographic magazines and novels that were sold there. I used to hide in the back room because I was afraid they would see me. Now I wish I had confronted them for what they were doing!

Then there was the time I was serving Mass as an altar boy with my brother. It was six o’clock Mass, or morning Mass, and the monsignor himself was officiating that morning. When the time came for me to put wine into the chalice for the monsignor, I remember his nudging the small carafe that I was holding each time I poured the wine into his chalice. After his doing this twice, my older and more experienced brother whispered in my ear, “Pour it all in his cup.” Now looking back, I realize the “holy” man was an alcoholic . But there was yet another episode that offended me more than the rest. It was the time I had attended a large Catholic wedding where my Italian cousin was getting married. I remember watching the officiating priest, while at the reception, standing at the bar drinking glass after glass of wine. The guests were patiently waiting for the priest to join the dinner party and bless the food. Finally, someone had the courage to whisper in the priest’s ear that we were waiting for his company and the blessing, and the now drunk, stumbling “Father” yelled out, while staggering in the middle of the hall and impatiently waving the sign of the cross, “What are you waiting for? It’s blessed! Eat !”

Go to Chapter 7 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 5

May 18, 2020September 25, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Danny Vierra

Chapter 5 – The Woman of Genesis 3: 15 and Revelation 12: 1- 6

The writers of The Thunder of Justice also claim that Mary refers to herself as the one “who crushes the serpent [Satan],” in the end- time, because she is the “woman” of Genesis 3: 15. Let us look at this Scripture in detail and see if this is indeed true. In Genesis 3: 15 the Bible says: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” This verse is a prophecy and promise that someday a certain Son, a particular male Child, would be born into the world [a descendant of Eve], to contest the devil, and though terribly bruised in the contest (His death on the cross), He would conquer the devil with a fatal blow to the head at the end of time. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2: 14).

In Galatians 3: 16 the Bible further clarifies that “to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ .” Thus it is plain to see that it is not Mary at all, but “her seed,” Jesus Christ, that destroys Satan at last. Let us now, with emphases supplied, reread Genesis 3: 15: “I will put enmity [hostility] between thee [Satan] and the woman [Eve], and between thy seed [Satan’s followers] and her seed [her descendants in Christ the Deliverer]; it [Christ— the promised Seed, the Deliverer Himself] shall bruise thy head [the death blow— Christ’s complete victory over Satan and Satan’s permanent, eternal destruction after the thousand years (see Ezekiel 28: 18, 19 and Revelation 20: 6- 9)], and thou [Satan] shall bruise His heel [Christ’s death on the cross— a serious wound, but not permanent, for He rose from the dead, having the keys of the grave and of death (Rev. 1: 18), having utterly spoiled Satan’s kingdom and power].

The book, The Thunder of Justice, further claims that “the prophecy of Genesis 3 has been fulfilled with Revelation 12, where Mary is the great sign in Heaven: ‘And a great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars. ’ Pope Paul VI, in his 1967 encyclical, Signum Magnum, identified the Lady of Fatima as the biblical representation of the Woman clothed with the sun.” (The Thunder of Justice, p. 88). The book further states that “Mary, the Woman clothed with the sun, appears as a sign and explains the secrets of the Book of Revelation.”

Also, they claim that “on April 12, 1947, at Tre Fontane (Three Fountains), in Rome, Italy, Our Blessed Mother announced, I am the Virgin of Revelation .” (Ibid. p. 89). And if you listen to the words of Father Gobbi, one of the Marian Movement’s priests whom Mary seems to have communicated through more than any other individual, he claims the Virgin Mary told him on April 24, 1980, the following: “I am the Virgin of Revelation. In me, the masterpiece of the Father is realized in such a perfect manner, that He can shed on me the light of His predilection. The Word assumes His human nature in my virginal womb, and thus can come to you by means of my true function as Mother. The Holy Spirit draws me, like a magnet, into the depths of the life of love between the Father and the Son, and I become interiorly transformed and so assimilated to Him as to be His spouse…. I will bring you [plural] to the full understanding of Sacred Scriptures.” (Ibid., 90).

Friends, the Bible never told us that Mary would interpret Scripture, but that the Holy Spirit will. “But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God… the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God…. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth: comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (I Cor. 2: 10, 11b, 13). Again, in John 16: 13 and 14, Jesus said to His disciples: “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth… and He will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for He shall receive of mine [of the wonderful achievements of Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life], and shall shew it unto you.” Thus, it is the Holy Spirit, a member of the Godhead— and not a created being— to whom the interpretation of the Scriptures has been intrusted to guide those who are the honest seekers after the truth of God’s Word. Yet, The Thunder of Justice continues: “Above all, I [Mary] will read to you the pages of its last book [Revelation], which you are living. In it, everything is already predicted, even that which must still come to pass. The battle to which I am calling you is clearly described, and my great victory is foretold.” (Ibid.).

Let us now take a close look at Revelation 12 and see if the “woman clothed with the sun” is truly the Virgin Mary. But before we do this, let us establish some facts about the book of Revelation. First of all, the book is not a “mystery,” but “the Revelation of Jesus Christ …. unto His servant John.” (Rev. 1: 1). The Apocalypse, as the book is sometimes referred to, is derived from the Greek word apocalypsis which means a “disclosure,” an “uncovering,” or a “revelation.” Therefore, the book of Revelation is not to be a mystery, but, on the other hand, it is to be understood by every truly sincere Bible student. Second, Revelation is a book of prophecy and it predicts things “which must shortly come to pass.” (Rev. 1: 1). Third, the book is filled with signs and symbols, and this is the method by which God showed the future to John who faithfully “bare record” of the visions “that he saw.” (Rev. 1: 2). He, for instance, saw a beast with seven heads (Rev. 13: 1); a “great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns” (Rev. 12: 3); and the “great whore that sitteth upon many waters” (Rev. 17: 1).

Every Bible student should know that the Bible interprets itself. Take, for example, Revelation 17: 1—“ the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.” If you look at verse 15 of the same chapter, the Scripture says, “The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” It is obvious that the “whore” is not a literal prostitute sitting on the Atlantic Ocean, but a representation of some kind of powerful organization that has many peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues under her jurisdiction. And whatever the program or influence of this entity, it definitely does not operate with the blessing or approval of the Author of Revelation. Interestingly enough, throughout the Scriptures the sacred relationship of God to his obedient followers is compared to that of marriage . Notice how God feels when this relationship has degenerated into infidelity: “They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou [Israel] hast played the harlot with many lovers [following the idolatries and corrupt practices of the heathen nations about them], yet return again to Me, saith the Lord. Lift up thine eyes unto the high places [areas of idol worship and consecrated immorality], and see where thou hast not been lien with [the implication is that there is no such place that had not been defiled]. In the ways [the main ways of travel] hast thou sat for them [as a harlot looking for customers], as the Arabian in the wilderness [the hidden thief in the desert eagerly watching for travelers, or caravans, to prey upon]; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead [an attitude of impudence, brazenness, shamelessness]; thou refusedst to be ashamed… Return, thou backsliding Israel [literally, in the Hebrew, Turn back , O backturning Israel], saith the Lord…. for I am married unto you.” (Jer. 3: 1- 3, 12, 14). Therefore, a whore or harlot is used in the Bible as a symbol of a disloyal church that has left the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, and is having illicit relations with other men or leaders or gods of this world. (See Ezekiel 16 and 23 for further confirmation). With this in mind, let us now proceed to study the “woman” of Revelation 12, who is just as much a symbol of a religious organization of influence as is the “whore” of Revelation 17, and see if the “woman” is the Virgin Mary.

Revelation 12: 1 begins with John seeing a symbolic mother in the sky, “clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.” She is pregnant and eager for her baby to arrive (verse 2), and Satan, shaped like a dragon, is present, ready “to devour her child as soon as it is born (verse 4).” Miraculously, the child escapes and is “caught up unto God, and to His throne (verse 5).”

Immediately, there are questions that arise if one tries to interpret these Scriptures literally, and conclude that this woman is the Virgin Mary. Those who believe that such is the case will say, “After all, was not the Virgin Mary the one who gave birth to the Child Jesus, and was not her Son the supreme object of the devil’s malice? Then the “woman” has to be Mary!” In answer to this let us note the following: First, John saw “a great wonder” in the sky, which he recognized at once to be of great import to the world. And although he knew Mary very well, he did not exclaim, “Behold! I see the glorified likeness of my Lord’s mother in the heaven !” Second, have you ever heard of a woman standing on the “moon” or seen one “clothed with the sun”? Third, has anyone ever seen a dragon, let alone, one with “seven heads”? Therefore, these words must have a symbolic application to literal events! And is not this what you would expect to find when “the revelation of Jesus Christ” is one which “He [Christ] sent and signified [made known by signs, or symbols] by His angel unto His servant John”? (Rev. 1: 1). And would not this be an excellent way to reveal sensitive information to His faithful followers living under a totalitarian government while at the same time seemingly presenting a jargon of words and images to the idly curious? How wise and considerate of His people is the God of the Holy Scriptures!

Three paragraphs ago, I stated that a woman, when symbolized by a whore or harlot, is an apostate people or church. But, in addition to this, the word has yet another meaning when used symbolically. Just as a whore can symbolize an impure church, a virgin can be used to symbolize a pure church . Take, for instance, the following two Scriptures: “I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman ” and “For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (Jeremiah 6: 2; II Cor. 11: 2). So could the “woman” of Revelation 12 possibly be “the true church ” and not the Virgin Mary ? Furthermore, her garment is the “sun,” and she stands on the “moon,” and wears a crown of “twelve stars.” What is the significance of “the woman” being “clothed with the sun”? During His ministry, when Jesus was in the temple at Jerusalem and the rising sun came into full view over the Mount of Olives, He pointed to it and announced His mission as the Messiah, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8: 12). Malachi, the last prophet of the Old Testament, had described the Coming One as “the Sun of righteousness.” (Mal. 4: 2). Now in vision on the Isle of Patmos during the last decade of the First Century A. D., John sees “a woman clothed with the sun ”— that is, the glorious light of the “Sun of righteousness ”! It is clear that this momentous event signifies the birth of the God- man, the Messiah! The momentous news of the ages is that the long- promised Deliverer has arrived!

The pure woman— so long recognized by the now aging John to have represented God’s true followers in the Church in both the Old and New Testament times— is at last now bathed in the bright splendor of His immediate Presence! Moreover, she stands with “the moon under her feet.” The Mosaic (Old Testament) dispensation had just ended and had been succeeded by the gospel dispensation. As the moon’s lesser light is borrowed from the sun, so the sacrificial system, the Levitical priesthood, feasts, etc. had shone with a more subdued glory borrowed as types and shadows from what now had become Antitype and Substance in the full spiritual glory of the gospel era. The “woman” is wearing “a crown of twelve stars,” representing the twelve apostles. “By the figure of prolepsis [anticipation of the whole completed picture], the church is represented as fully organized with its twelve apostles before the man- child, Christ, appeared upon the scene. This is easily accounted for by the fact that it was to be thus constituted immediately after Christ should commence His ministry; and He is more especially connected with this church than with that of the former dispensation.” (Daniel and the Revelation, p. 545). To John, looking back from the end of the First Century upon a completed Apostolic Era to one described in the vision of Revelation 12 as just entering its first stages at the beginning of the Christian Era, this prolepsis would seem both logical and appropriate. Even so, with us today. After all, the events of Christ’s birth and short life here on earth as portrayed by John’s vision have proved so significant in our world’s developing history that today the entire world designates its counting of years by the initials B. C. (Before Christ) and A. D. (Anno Domini, 1 A. D.—“ in the year of the Lord,” the supposed year of his birth, though actually over four years after His entrance into the world). From all the foregoing information, it then follows that “her child,” Jesus Christ, was born to the true church. He was given to God’s faithful as a whole, including Mary, who was herself a small, but important part, of the “woman” described in John’s vision.

And who was it that inflicted suffering and temptation on the wonderful child Jesus? “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon… stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered.” (Rev. 12: 3, 4). In verse 9, we learn that the dragon is “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world” and once sought to destroy the Christ- child. “We’re dealing with symbols! In the vision, the dragon is seen in heaven— yet Jesus, as we all know, was born on earth. So whom on earth does the dragon symbol stand for? Everyone who has heard the Christmas story knows it was King Herod who sent soldiers to Bethlehem to destroy all the baby boys there, hoping to kill Jesus among them. Herod’s soldiers missed the infant Jesus, because in a dream God had warned His parents to escape. King Herod was a puppet of the Romans. Everyone knows too about Pontius Pilate— another Roman administrator— who nailed Jesus to the cross. It was Rome that tried to destroy Jesus. The great red dragon is primarily Satan— and, secondarily, his agent Rome, acting on Satan’s behalf.

“Triumphantly, after Satan and Rome killed our Saviour, Jesus rose from the dead and ‘was caught up unto God, and to His throne’ (verse 5), where He ‘always lives’ as our High Priest ‘to make intercession’ for us (Hebrews 7: 25, 26).

“Frustrated in his attempt to kill the Son, the great red dragon now turned his hatred against the son’s mother. But the mother escaped into the ‘Wilderness, ’ to a ‘place prepared by God, in which to be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.’ (Rev. 12: 6).” (God Cares, Vol. 2, pp. 320, 321). As you are about to see, the experience of “the woman” [from the time of Christ’s ascension to His Father’s throne until the “remnant of her seed” appear and finish God’s work on the earth in the closing moments of human probation at the end of the world] is much more suited to the history of the church than it is to the Virgin Mary.

Go to Chapter 6 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 3

May 18, 2020September 25, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Danny Vierra

Chapter 3 – Modern Day Spiritualism– a Masterpiece of Deception

So why the deception? Because spiritualism lives! As long as there is a devil, there will be spiritualism. And as long as spiritualism lives, the lie— that in death there is continuing life— will be perpetuated! And this bias will often affect the work of otherwise well- meaning translators. Have you not noticed how more and more movies and their plots are being centered around the dead communicating with the living? Satan is working with added enthusiasm in these last days, because he knows that his time is short and that one of his best tools for bringing the world under his deceptive control is spiritualism, based on his great lie that there is in man an immortal spirit that continues on after death and that it is possible for the living to receive vital light and benefit by communicating with the spirits of dead loved ones. These cherished dead can be convincingly impersonated in form, feature, sound of voice, and factual information unknown except by the living participant( s) and the “dead” communicant, as well as by Satan and his fallen angels, who are constantly seeking to cause the multitudes of earth to follow a demonic agenda in direct opposition to Christ’s great gospel commission to prepare the world for His coming and the final end of Satan and his kingdom.

Thus, “the doctrine of man’s consciousness in death, especially the belief that the spirits of the dead return to minister to the living, has prepared the way for modern spiritualism. If the dead are admitted to the presence of God and holy angels, and privileged with knowledge far exceeding what they before possessed, why should they not return to the earth to enlighten and instruct the living? If, as taught by popular theologians, the spirits of the dead are hovering about their friends on earth, why should they not be permitted to communicate with them, to warn them against evil, or to comfort them in sorrow? How can those who believe in man’s consciousness in death reject what comes to them as divine light communicated from glorified spirits? Here is a channel regarded as sacred, through which Satan works for the accomplishment of his purposes. The fallen angels who do his bidding appear as messengers from the spirit world. While professing to bring the living into communication with the dead, the prince of evil exercises his bewitching influence upon their minds.

“He has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends. The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look, the words, the tone, are reproduced with marvelous distinctness. Many are comforted with the assurance that their loved ones are enjoying the bliss of heaven; and without suspicion of danger, they give ear ‘to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. ’

“When they have been led to believe that the dead actually return to communicate with them, Satan causes those to appear who went into the grave unprepared. They claim to be happy in heaven and even to occupy exalted positions there, and thus the error is widely taught that no difference is made between the righteous and the wicked. The pretended visitants from the world of spirits sometimes utter cautions and warnings which prove to be correct. Then, as confidence is gained, they present doctrines that directly undermine faith in the Scriptures. With an appearance of deep interest in the well- being of their friends on earth, they insinuate the most dangerous errors. The fact that they state some truths, and are able at times to foretell future events, gives to their statements an appearance of reliability; and their false teachings are accepted by the multitudes as readily, and believed as implicitly, as if they were the most sacred truths of the Bible. The law of God is set aside, the Spirit of grace despised, the blood of the covenant counted an unholy thing. The spirits deny the deity of Christ and place even the Creator on a level with themselves. Thus under a new disguise the great rebel still carries on his warfare against God, begun in heaven and for nearly six thousand years continued upon this earth…. Many will be ensnared through the belief that spiritualism is a merely human imposture; when brought face to face with manifestations which they cannot but regard as supernatural, they will be deceived, and will be led to accept them as the great power of God.” (The Great Controversy, pp. 551- 553).

Therefore, Satan, in his efforts to deceive the very elect in these last days, will use his demons to impersonate our departed loved ones in the form of familiar spirits : boyfriends and girlfriends, grandfathers and grandmothers, uncles and aunts, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. So why not a masterpiece of deception— a demon impersonating the mother of Jesus Christ!!!

Go to Chapter 4 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries

Is the Virgin Mary Dead or Alive? Chapter 2

May 18, 2020September 25, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Danny Vierra

Chapter 2 – The First Lie– Man’s Immortality

In the very beginning of earth’s history, Satan, while in the form of a serpent, told the first lie to Eve. He told her that if she disobeyed the command of God not to eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, she would “not surely die, ” even though God had expressly warned her that “in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die .” (See Genesis 3: 4; 2: 17). Satan treacherously assured her (another monstrous lie) that upon eating the fruit “your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods , knowing good and evil.” (Gen. 3: 5). Friends, are we still believing the devil today? The Bible is quite clear that only God “hath immortality .” (I Tim. 6: 16). In fact, the Bible, on the other hand, contains a number of Scriptures that prove that mortal man receives not his immortality until the second coming of Christ— at the time of the resurrection. (I Cor. 15: 51- 55; John 5: 28, 29). Now please note these unequivocal and authoritative pronouncements on the condition of man in death from Ecclesiastes 9: 5 and 10: “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything …. Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

I remember the first time I ever read these Scriptures. I immediately wondered why I had always believed that a dead person could speak to me if he so chose. Was this another error of the Roman Church that had been sold to me by the priests? After all, according to the Bible, are not seances meetings in which the devil tries to send his deadly messages to unwary people through a human medium who is supposed to be able to communicate with the so- called spirits of the dead? The greatest of all seances in the Bible occurred when Saul went to the Witch of Endor , described in the Scriptures as “a woman that hath a familiar spirit”— that is, a woman who received messages from an evil angel who claimed to be the “spirit” of a particular dead person usually known to the seeker— and asked her to bring up Samuel from the dead since “the Lord answered him not , neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets?” (I Sam. 28: 6, 7). Since when does a man of God go to the devil for advice when the Lord explicitly said: “Regard not them that have familiar spirits,… to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God”? (Lev. 19: 31; see also Isa. 8: 19, 20). The Bible plainly states: “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence;” for when a man dies, “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish .” (Ps. 115: 17; 146: 4).

So why do most people, both Christians and non- Christians, believe the doctrine of the immortality of the soul? I believe the problem exists because of a misinterpretation of Scripture. In Genesis 2: 7, the Bible says: “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life ; and man became a living soul.” The Hebrew word for “soul” used in this text is nephesh. Besides being translated 428 times as “soul” in the Old Testament, nephesh is also translated as the following: life— 119 times; person— 29 times; and creature— 19 times. “There is nothing in the words translated ‘soul’ or in their usage in the Bible that even remotely implies a conscious entity that survives the body after death, or that attributes immortality to it. Nephesh is not part of the person; it is the person!” (Bible Dictionary by Siegfried H. Horn, Ph. D., p. 1061).

I believe the confusion stems from a misinterpretation of verses like the following: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12: 7). Many people use this verse in an attempt to prove that the “soul” or “spirit” is, therefore, immortal and goes to God at the point of death. But, if you look at Job 27: 3, you will find a Scripture that will help you understand that the “spirit” is simply the breath of life by which man lives, and which is only lent him of God, and at death goes back to the Great Author of life—“ All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils.” The Hebrew word used here for spirit is ruach, which is defined in Gesenius’ Lexicon as follows: (a) spirit or breath; (b) breath of the nostrils; (c) breath of air. When the spirit, or breath of the nostrils, goes back to God, the body, made originally from the dust of the earth, now begins its process of going back to the earth as it was and ceases to function as normally, and the nonbreathing individual no longer exists as a living, conscious, thinking being, but will rest in the grave until he is called forth by the voice of Christ “at the last day.” (John 6: 39). “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice , And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life ; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation .” (John 5: 28, 29). The righteous dead will rise at the second coming of Christ and together with the living saints will meet the Lord in the air (see I Thess. 4: 15- 18), but the wicked dead will not rise until one thousand years after the resurrection of the righteous. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished.” (Rev. 20: 5). How can someone “live again” except he has first experienced having died?

By now, friends, you may be asking yourself the question: “How can the Virgin Mary be alive when the Bible so clearly tells us there is no consciousness in death?” To further establish the point, let us look at a few more Scriptures that prove that man is mortal. In the Book of Job, we read: “Man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost [breatheth out; Strong’s Concordance], and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up: So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more [the heavens roll back at Christ’s second coming (Rev. 6: 14)], they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.” (Job 14: 10- 12). And if that weren’t clear enough, Job continues: “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come . Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee.” (Job 14: 14, 15). Obviously, Job believed that he would sleep in the grave until Jesus called him out on Resurrection Morning. (See also Job 17: 13- 16). After all, it was Jesus who spoke of death as a sleep when referring to Lazarus’s state. He never once implied that Lazarus had gone to heaven, but, on the contrary, said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go that I may awake him out of sleep.” (John 11: 11). Then in John 11: 23, Jesus tells Martha, “Thy brother shall rise again,” and Martha responds, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus, in calling Lazarus from the tomb, said, “Lazarus, come forth (John 11: 43),” not “Lazarus, come up!” or “Lazarus, come down!” I believe that Jesus’ use of the word sleep is a very appropriate synonym when used in place of the word death (the first death), because the word implies a temporary state— a state from which every soul “shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt [the second death (see Rev. 20: 12- 14)].” (Daniel 12: 2).

The great teacher, the apostle Paul, clearly understood that he, too, would sleep in the grave until the second coming of Christ: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure [death] is at hand. 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 [Christ’s] appearing.” (II Tim. 4: 6- 8). Paul knew, as did Martha, that not until the resurrection of the last day, at the second coming of Christ, would he receive the reward of eternal life and be changed from mortality to immortality. Remember, it was Paul who told us in the Sacred Word that mortal man will not put on immortality until the last trumpet blast that calls forth the righteous dead at the coming of Jesus: “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [for some will be living when Christ comes], but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible [the Virgin Mary also], and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality [Please notice when this happens— not at death, but at the second coming of Christ].” (I Cor. 15: 51- 53). Earlier in the chapter, Paul stated: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man [Adam] came death, by man [Christ] came also the resurrection of the dead . For as in Adam all die , even so in Christ shall all be made alive . But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming .” (I Cor. 15: 20- 23).

To solidify this position, let us now look at the request of the thief on the cross, who was crucified next to Jesus as recorded in Luke, Chapter 23. The repentant thief, believing Jesus was indeed the Son of God, “said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” To this request Jesus responded, “Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou [thou shalt] be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 42, 43). Those who believe in the doctrine of the immortality of the soul often refer to these Scriptures to prove that the spirit of the dead goes immediately to Heaven at the time of death. But let us take a closer look at Luke 23. First, we need to understand that the comma placed before the word “today” was supplied by the translators. If you place it after the word “today,” it would then read, “Verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23: 43). Second, Jesus did not ascend into Heaven as He died, for in John 20: 17, He told Mary in the early morning of His memorable resurrection: “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father .” It should also be noted that this statement was made two days after His death on the cross. Thus, the repentant thief was given, that day [Good Friday— the day of the crucifixion], the assurance of eternal life and a place in Paradise, but he, as with the rest of the righteous dead, would not receive his reward until Jesus comes the second time. (See Rev. 22: 12).

Go to Chapter 3 ⇒

All emphases in this article are mine.
Published by Modern Manna Ministries

Subpoenaed to the Trial of Life

May 18, 2020September 22, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Cody Francis

Subpoenaed to the Trial of Life The room is hushed. All eyes are focused on the front. The destiny of the accused is about to be decided. Will he walk the streets as a free man or will he face the firing squad? The arguments have been presented. The defense has eloquently pled for mercy. The prosecution has appealed that justice be done. The expressionless judge has presided throughout the case. The jury has listened intently to all sides. The witnesses have testified on both sides and endured the relentless cross-examination. The observers have faithfully come to hear the case day in and day out. The case had continued for days, weeks, months, as every evidence was brought out and carefully weighed. Finally the defense and prosecution had each rested their cases and now it was in the hands of the jury. Behind those closed doors the jury had deliberated. Now the spokesman stands up to give the verdict. The accused’s mind is racing. His destiny is about to be forever decided. Will he hear with relief the words “not guilty”? Will he be free to go home again? Will he spend that night in his own bed with his wife and children around him? Or will the mournful word be pronounced, “guilty”? Will he never spend another night at home? Never eat breakfast and go about his daily routine? Never sit in his favorite easy chair and read the paper?

The suspense of the courtroom is great indeed. The lives of accused men and women have been followed with great interest by our entire nation. But there is a courtroom that is even more serious and the results much more far reaching than any earthly tribunal. The courtroom of the Most High is where the cases of the countless millions who have walked this earth will have their eternal destiny forever decided. How much more interest and attention should we give to God’s Great Judgment Day?

Subpoenaed!

Not only is God’s Great Judgment Day the most solemn and serious court case ever to take place in the history of our world, but also each one of us is subpoenaed to this trial of our lives. “For we shall all stand before the judgement seat of Christ.” [Romans 14:10]. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” [II Corinthians 5:10]. This subject is something that involves every person that is alive today. In fact, this is something that involves every person that has ever lived upon the face of the earth. Not one will be exempt because the Scriptures declare, “we must ALL appear.” Both the righteous and the wicked are included in this injunction. [Ecclesiastes 3:17]. Both the rich and the poor. Both the learned and unlearned. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.”

While I was preaching upon this topic in Africa, in order to emphasize the point, I mentioned that both the President of the United States and the President of the country that I was in were going to have to appear before God in judgment. Afterward I was told that naming publicly the political leader of the African country was not a wise thing to do for it could lead to arrest and being charged with conspiracy. Fortunately nothing happened, but none-the-less it is still true. The President of the United States and every other president in the world will one day be brought face to face with the Great Judge of the Universe. From the poorest pauper to the monarch on his throne, each will one day come before the judgement seat of Christ. Our standing in the world will have nothing to do with this judgment. The most despised outcast to the most influential politician–none are exempt. Truly each one of us has been subpoenaed to the trial of life!

A View of the Judgment

Thousands of years ago the judgment was presented to the prophets. Undoubtedly the prophets were filled with amazement and a loss for words as they tried to describe this solemn event that they had seen. “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The judgment was seated and the books were opened.” [Daniel 7:9, 10], marginal reading. Daniel watched in awe as he saw the Ancient of Days seated with the innumerable company of angels watching with intense interest. Then the judgment itself was seated and the books were opened. John elaborates on the glory surrounding the throne at the judgment, “And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne in sight like unto an emerald…. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices:” [Revelation 4:2, 3, 5 KJV]. When the judgment is seated and the throne is set it is a proceeding like never before witnessed. The glory is unsurpassed and the interest of the heavenly being is unrivaled. Since this is recorded as such an important event in the Scriptures, it would seem logical that we study and understand this topic for ourselves.

The Prosecution

Perhaps the most disliked figure in any court case is the prosecuting attorney, and likewise in the trial of our lives, the prosecuting attorney is no hero. The prosecuting attorney is the one who is accusing us before God. “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night has been cast down.” [Revelation 12:9, 10]. The prosecuting attorney is none other than the Devil or Satan. He is no longer allowed in the courtroom for the courtroom is in heaven, but he is constantly doing his heinous work of accusing God’s people and demanding that they be pronounced as guilty. In Zechariah’s vision a representation of this work is seen going on. “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.” [Zechariah 3:1]. Satan was represented as standing there as a villainous prosecuting attorney opposing and accusing Joshua the high priest, a leader of God’s people. Fortunately, the scene does not end there, “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?'” [Zechariah 3:2]. This takes us to the next much more encouraging point–the defense.

The Defense

We are not left alone with the grim picture of the devil, the prosecuting attorney; the Bible also pictures a defense attorney, as well. “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” [I John 2:1]. Our advocate, our helper, our strength, our hope is our defense attorney–Jesus Christ. We are powerless of ourselves to withstand the accusations of the prosecuting attorney. It is too much for us by ourselves, but with the aid of our all powerful defense, “nothing will be impossible” for us. Matthew 17:20.

The thought of our Lord and Savior as our defense is certainly a comforting one indeed. It would be impossible for us to find an attorney here on this earth who knew every detail of what we have been through and has gone through the same experiences himself, but that is what Jesus is to us. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” [Hebrews 4:14-16]. Not only does our defense know every detail of our lives–both the outward actions and the inward motives and thoughts–but He has been tempted in every way that we have. We cannot encounter an obstacle that He did not face. The prosecution cannot bring a temptation to us that He has not endured. Truly, money could not buy a better defense than what God has provided for us.

On this earth , if there is an attorney who claims to have never lost a case, his fees are exorbitant, but it is not so with our Lord. He says, “Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none,” [John 18:9] “except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” [John 17:12]. As long as we do what He asks and tells us to do, our case will be won for of those who have cooperated with Him, He loses none. But if, like Judas, we go our own way and do our own thing, He can do no more and we have lost our own case. What our defense attorney asks of us is simple and plain. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.'” [Matthew 16:24]. “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” [John 13:15]. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” [I John 2:6]. We must follow Him and do what He says. If you have ever been involved in a court case you know that you have to do what your attorney says and it is the same way with our great defense attorney–we are to, by faith, do whatever He tells us to do.

Not only does our defense know every detail of our lives and has experienced it Himself, and not only has He never lost a case of one who follows and obeys Him, but He is also our judge as well. “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” [John 5:22]. “Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance to this to all by raising Him from the dead.” [Acts 17:31]. In our judicial system today you would never get an arrangement like this. Our defense attorney and our judge are actually the same–our Lord Jesus Christ. Although He is both our defense and our judge, that does not mean that He will rule in favor of our case if we are guilty. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;” [Psalms 89:14]. He loves us with an everlasting love [Jeremiah 31:3], but His love is too great to allow the guilty to go unpunished. [Numbers 14:18]. It is only through Jesus’ great sacrifice that God can still be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” [Romans 3:26]. Having seen the prosecuting attorney, the defense attorney and the judge, it is important to proceed to the next step in a court case.

The Books

In a literal court case, different exhibits and records are presented. Unfortunately, in our world it is possible for the evidence presented to be misconstrued or misinterpreted resulting in the sentencing of the innocent or the acquitting of the guilty, but it will not be so in God’s judgment. The evidence in this judgment is unerring and incontrovertible. God has kept a record of everyone’s life that cannot be questioned. The Bible constantly calls these records “the books.” Whether they are literal books or some type of video footage we do not know, but one thing that we do know is that God’s technology is much more advanced than ours. “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” [Revelation 20:11, 12]. John records for us as Daniel did the greatness of the judgment, but additional detail is given. It is actually by what is written in the books that we appear before God. The righteous do not appear in person before the Majesty of heaven, but it is by the faithful record of all that they have done. It must occur this way because the investigative part of the judgment occurs in heaven while life is going on as normal on the earth. (For more information on this see Steps to Life’s booklet, Your Last Chance to Be Saved.)

Everything that we do has been faithfully chronicled in the books of heaven. All of our sorrows are there. “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” [Psalms 56:8]. All of the times that we have worshipped God with His people are written there. “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.” [Malachi 3:16]. In fact, absolutely everything about us has been written there. “My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes see my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” [Psalms 139:15, 16]. Everything about us has been written in the books–our sorrows, our joys, the good things we have done, and our sins we have committed. An angel has been beside us watching everything that we do and recording it all. Not an iota will be missing. It will all be there, both the good and the bad.

Not only is everything that we have ever done recorded in the books, but it goes even farther than that. Every secret thing that we have thought that no one else knew about is faithfully written there as well. “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” [Ecclesiastes 12:14]. The Lord knows our thoughts [Luke 5:22; 6:8; 9:47; 11:17], and even those are recorded there as well. Every motive, every thought, every word, every action will meet us again. Jesus has said, “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore, whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.” [Luke 12:2, 3 KJV]. We cannot think that we can hide anything from the all searching eye of our God. The day is coming when all that was done in secret will be plainly known by all. The secrets that have gone on behind the diplomatic doors of the nations, the unknown unfaithfulness to the marriage vow, the contemptuous words spoken against another human being–all will be known and revealed in the Great Judgment Day. The records will be open to all. There will be no hiding of anything; nothing will be swept under the carpet in that day. Each case will be seen as it truly is.

How Would You Plead?

How would you plead if, today, your case came up in review before God? Jesus has warned us how some are going to plead. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'” [Matthew 7:21, 22]. Jesus tells us that many are going to plead innocent. Many are going to call Jesus “Lord.” It is only Christians that call Jesus “Lord.” He is not here talking about the various heathen religions that refuse to acknowledge Jesus; He is talking about those who claim to be His people and claim to be following Him. They can even boast that they have done a number of good works for Him. They have cast out demons, done miracles, spoken in tongues, prophesied. But although they pled innocent, Jesus pronounced another decree. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!'” [Matthew 7:23]. Perhaps the most fearful words on record that Jesus will ever utter–He never knew them. They plead innocent. They thought that they were saved, but they did not realize the solemnity and importance of the Great Judgment Day. They went along as if the judgment was not even going on, thinking and believing that they were saved, and they found out too late the significance of the Great Judgment Day.

Jesus has told us that in the last days there will be many who are going to plead innocent and awake to reality too late. “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth.” [Revelation 3:17, 16]. Jesus is here talking to Laodicea the last of the seven churches, representing the last era of Christianity, or our time right now. Once again we see a plea of innocence and once again we see it being a false claim. Although this group of people claims to be rich, etc., Jesus declares that they are in every way lacking and as a result he will spew them from His mouth. Obviously, then, how we plead does not matter if our lives do not match up, because many are going to plead innocent and be found out to have a false claim.

The Standard of Judgment

Since there are so many who are going to plead incorrectly, there must be something that they are overlooking as unimportant that is, in reality, extremely important in this judgment. In our world there is always a standard to which we are accountable and by which if we break it we will be judged. There are endless books and codes by which our nation is governed. Does God likewise have a standard that we will be judged by? There could not be a judgment if there were not a standard to base the judgment upon, and the Bible in no unequivocal terms tells us what this standard is. “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” [James 2:12]. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” [Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14]. The wisest man that has ever lived is summing up his book of repentance and admonition and concludes it by stating what our whole duty is. If this is our whole duty, it is obviously something that we had better pay attention to. Our whole duty is to fear God and to keep His commandments. It is something that is totally unsafe to treat lightly, and not only is it our whole duty but it is what we will be judged by as well.

In the legislative counsels of the nations of the world countless pages of laws have been ratified into law. As law-abiding citizens it is then our duty to obey what passed into law, but not one of us has read in its entirety what is required of us. It is an impossibility, but none-the-less we go about doing the best that we know how and hoping that it is good enough. In God’s government we are not left in such a state of uncertainty. God has given the laws that govern the universe in just ten simple laws. They do not change for the Lord does not change. [Psalms 89:34; Malachi 3:6] We do not have to live in fear that we are unknowingly disobeying one for they are spelled out in clear and simple English that even a small child can understand. Exodus 20:3-17 spells out, in fifteen verses, the standard by which we will be judged. Of course, the entire Bible is written to give us more meaning to, and understanding of these verses, but it is indeed the Law of God as recorded in those few verses that we will be judged by. We can praise God that we do not have an unending stream of legal jargon to wade through, just ten simple, straightforward commandments.

We must not look at God’s standard of judgment as some hard, harsh act that God has made. God, in love to us, has given us this Law, and it is for our own good that He has established it. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” [Deuteronomy 10:12, 13]. Then in Deuteronomy 6:24 the Lord adds that it is “for our good always.” It is for our own good the Lord has given us this Law because He knows that if we keep His great Law of love, we will be happier. God always has the good of His creatures in mind. Not only is this law for our good, but it is also not some burdensome thing that we must do. “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” [I John 5:3]. I have talked with people who regard God’s Law as a list of requirements that we must do and if we slip we will be struck with lightning or something like it, but nothing could be farther from the truth. God in His love has given us a law to govern our conduct. He knows that if we keep all of His precepts, it will give us “length of days and long life and peace,” (Prov. 3:1) and He has not made it a long burdensome law, but rather a simple, delightful Law. There may be things in God’s Law that bring us in conflict with the rest of the world, but it is still a “perfect law of liberty.” James 1:25.

As we previously noted in Matthew 7, there are many who plead innocent, but Jesus pronounces them guilty because they “practice lawlessness.” [Matthew 7:23]. These are religious people who claim to have the gift of the Spirit and to do many mighty things, but Jesus still says that they have broken His holy Law. It seems inconsistent that they would be murdering, stealing, etc., but Jesus did say that they must depart for their lawbreaking. An obvious question begins to come into our minds of how much of God’s Law we have to break in order to be considered lawless. Certainly we do not want to be among that exiled group, so this is a question of paramount importance for us. The Bible clearly reveals the answer. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” [James 2:10-12]. If we are keeping the entire law, but breaking one, we will be held as guilty of all! This is indeed serious, but in reality it only makes sense. As I was driving by a large church, I noticed the saying that they had on their sign. It said, “The Ten Commandments are not multiple choice.” How true that is. It is the same God who spoke all ten of them with His own mouth and wrote them with His own finger, [Exodus 31:18] and He expects us not to pick and choose which ones we are going to keep and which ones we are going to reject, but to accept all ten upon His authority. This only makes sense to us today as well. Imagine a man who was caught red handed stealing a certain object. He is brought before the judge and the judge asks him how he pleads. To the shock and amazement of all he states that he is innocent. The judge asks him how he could be innocent when he was caught in the very action of stealing. The man’s answer is that yes, he was stealing, but he did not murder anyone. So, because he did not murder anyone, he feels that he is innocent. This claim would, of course, not hold up in our justice system, but how much less then would it hold up in God’s judgment? God has answered it definitively for us, “whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point (italicized, meaning that it is not in the original Greek), he is guilty of all.” James 2:10.

The Evidence

In any court case here on this earth, evidence is presented. It is by this evidence that the accused is acquitted or condemned. It is by the evidence that the prosecution endeavors to secure the sentencing of the accused and it is also by the evidence that the defense attempts to show that the accused is not guilty. The evidence is the deciding factor in the case, and so it will be in God’s judgment as well. The evidence that will determine our case is our works. “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” [Revelation 20:12, 13]. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” [Matthew 16:27]. “The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.” [Psalms 9:16]. “For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it is good or whether it is evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14.

It is important to note that we are not saved by our works. We are saved only by the grace of God through faith in Him. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8, 9]. We cannot save ourselves. We are totally powerless to do any good thing of ourselves, and it does not matter if we do all the good works in the world, it will never save us. Our works can never atone for our sin. It is only as we, by faith, accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us that our sins can be forgiven and it is only as we, by faith, accept His mediation in the heavenly sanctuary that He can give us “grace to help in time of need.” [Hebrews 4:16]. Thus it is only by grace through faith that we are saved.

Although, it is solely by grace through faith that we are saved, that does not mean that what we do is not important. In the book of James this is made very clear. “But do you not know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” [James 2:20-22]. True faith will always be accompanied by works because true faith “worketh by love.” [Galatians 5:6 KJV]. Faith does not attempt the impossibility of working its way to heaven. Faith grasps the goodness and the love of God and through love to God does what God asks us to do. Just as Paul stated in Ephesians, after emphasizing that it is only by grace through faith that we are saved, he adds, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” [Ephesians 2:10]. Paul was very careful to point out that what we do IS important. He did not want us to think that we now have a license to sin and violate God’s Law all that we want to. Paul knew that we are not saved by our works, but he also knew that we are judged by our works.

The judgment tests whether our works measure up to our profession. To say something with our mouth is not hard; to live it out in our life is when the test comes. Tragically there are going to be many who profess with their mouths, but do not live with their lives, and profession alone will not save anyone. Jesus says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” [Luke 13:24]. Striving is essential. It is not just going to fall into place for us. We must put forth the effort because there will be millions who are going to try to enter but be unable because their works did not correspond with their profession. “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,” [Luke 13:25-28]. Here is described a group who professed. They said that they were Christians. They call Jesus Lord. They ate and drank in His presence (they thought). But Jesus told them–I do not know you. Nothing could be more graphic. Profession is clearly not enough. Paul writing to Titus says the same thing, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” [Titus 1:16]. Even if we profess that we know God, if we deny Him by our works we are abominable. Undoubtedly profession alone saves no man, profession must be accompanied by good works in Christ Jesus.

Does this mean that religion is works oriented? Absolutely not! Our works simply reveal whether we have truly accepted Jesus or not, and this is the very purpose for the judgment. The judgment is not to exclude as many as possible from heaven. The judgment is not to see if we are “good enough” to go to heaven. The judgment is to test whether we have truly accepted, believed upon, and loved Jesus, and the only way to test this is by what we do. Thus our works are measured up against God’s great moral mirror, the ten commandment law, the standard of judgment.

A principle is repeated throughout Scripture that has caused perplexity to many, but looking at it in context with the judgment puts all the pieces together. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” [Proverbs 28:13]. The wisest man tells us that in order to have mercy there are two essential elements–confession and forsaking. Some have wondered how mercy was dependent upon forsaking sin, but the judgment sheds a flood of light upon it. It is only those who have demonstrated that they have loved Jesus enough to forsake their sins that will receive mercy in that day. “But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.” [Ezekiel 18:24]. If a righteous man turns his back upon Jesus and goes the way of the world, none of his righteousness will be remembered. Why? Because he did not hold fast his profession. He lost his “first love.” [Revelation 2:4]. He will be weighed in the balances and found wanting. [Daniel 5:27]. He turned from loving Jesus, the author of love, and loved the world instead. The judgment then discerns and excludes all false-hearted professors. The results of the judgment lay bare to the world the difference between those who love Jesus enough to obey Him [John 14:15, 21] and those who claim to love Jesus, but their profession goes no further than their lips.

Blotted Out!

In our erring human perceptions we think of the judgment as a negative thing, but in reality it is the best thing that could happen to God’s people. “But the court shall be seated, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, and the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” [Daniel 7:26, 27]. It is God’s Great Judgment day that destroys the power of the Anti-christ. The court is seated and the purpose of the court (or judgment) is to take away the dominion of the power that has persecuted God’s people for centuries. (see Steps to Life’s booklet, Surviving the Great Tribulation) What a wonderful thing! This little horn power has trampled and scattered the power of God’s people, but his day of final reckoning is coming. Then after the beast’s power is broken and he is destroyed, God’s true people who have loved Him enough to obey Him, receive the kingdom. What a wonderful promise to those who have made a covenant with God by sacrifice. [Psalms 50:5]. The judgment is not something negative; it is the promise of all promises.

Not only do God’s true commandment keeping people [Revelation 12:17; 14:12] receive the kingdom, but their sins are finally and completely blotted out to be remembered no more. Long have God’s people looked forward to this time when their sins will be completely blotted out. After David’s sin with Bathsheba, he pled, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions…. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.” [Psalms 51:1, 9]. David was confessing his sin and hanging his entire weight upon the mercy of God and pleading that his sins would be blotted out. Truly all who have complied with the conditions will have their sins blotted out at the last day. Peter gives us the time frame as to when this happens, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ,” [Acts 3:19, 20, KJV]. Right before Jesus comes, when the times of refreshing are poured out upon God’s people, their sins are blotted out. There remains “no more consciousness of sins,” [Hebrews 10:2] for they are completely purged, they are blotted out. While now we are to be confessing our sins and believing that they are forgiven, they are not completely blotted out until the close of the judgment. All whose sins have gone beforehand unto judgment [I Timothy 5:24] and who have complied with the simple conditions laid down in God’s Word are finally and completely delivered from the curse of sin.

Unfortunately, though, the judgment is not a happy ending for everyone. There are those who have professed Christ, but their profession has not been carried into their daily lives. They have said that they were Christians, but they did not think that God’s Law was important. They thought that they knew more than God. They thought that God’s sacred things did not matter–His sacred day, His sacred time, His sacred money. They claimed to love Jesus, but they did not live by every word that proceeded from the mouth of God. Like Cain they have done what they wanted to do instead of what God told them to do. They have talked like they were saved, they have believed that they were saved, they have thought that they were saved but, alas, they have fulfilled Jesus words in Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart form Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” For those who have not loved God enough to obey Him, the consequences are fearful indeed. Their names, that they thought unerasable, are blotted from the book of life. “Yet now, if You will forgive their sin–but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.'” [Exodus 32:32, 33]. Moses’ love for Israel is so great that he offers to be blotted from God’s book in order that their sin might be forgiven. The Lord replies that it is those who continue in sin, breaking God’s holy Law [I John 3:4], that will be blotted from the book. Many think that if their names are written in the Book of Life they have a clear ticket to heaven, but not so. The judgment reviews every case to determine if their character matches their profession, to see if they have loved Jesus enough to obey Him no matter what. If a person has proved unfaithful to their calling, their names will no longer be retained in the holy book. Speaking of the unrighteous, David says, “Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” [Psalms 69:28]. Those who have persisted in their own course, despite the plain warnings from the Word of God, will be blotted from the book of the righteous. “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” [Revelation 3:5]. Those who overcome–overcome sin, the world, and themselves–will find an eternal place in the Book of Life. Jesus will confess them before His Father and they will be clothed in the white garments never more to be naked again. But those who do not overcome, the only assurance given in the God’s Word is that their names will be blotted from the Book of Life, and it is only those whose names are forever written in the Lamb’s Book of Life that will enter through the pearly gates into the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:27.

The sanctuary in heaven will indeed be cleansed [Daniel 8:14]. (See Steps to Life’s booklet, Your Last Chance to be Saved) It will be cleansed from sin. The righteous, who have followed Jesus at every step of the way, will have their sins blotted out. The wicked, who didn’t think that God was that particular, will have their names blotted out. Which will it be for you?

The Final Decree

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” [Revelation 22:11]. One of the most awesome and fearful decrees given in the Bible is recorded right here. The time is coming when it will be too late. Too late to repent, too late to make a decision, too late to follow the Lord. When the judgment closes, the results will be final. There will be no second chance. It will be said, “It is done!” [Revelation 16:17]. Those who have taken their stand under the banner of rebellion will stay there. Those who have taken their stand under the blood stained banner of Prince Emanuel will stay there. At that time there will be “no intercessor,” and Jesus will take off His priestly, mediatorial garments and “put on the garments of vengeance.” [Isaiah 59:16, 17]. Very soon this decree will be given, and directly after this decree is given “And, behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” [Revelation 22:12]. After probation closes, Jesus is coming back for His people. Very soon it will all be over. Which side will you be on?

It will be similar to the days of Noah. After Noah’s work was totally finished, “the Lord shut him in.” [Genesis 7:16]. The Lord shut the door and those that were outside, stayed outside. The Lord had shut the door and no longer could a person change their mind. It was over. Those who were outside were destined to drown. Those who were inside were going to be preserved. Likewise when the judgment closes, it will be over. You will be on one side or the other. Which side will you be on? Will you make the choice to follow God and obey Him no matter what so that you will be among His people in that day? Jesus has promised, “the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” [John 6:37]. If you will only come to Him as you are and allow Him to cleanse you, He will save you in His kingdom at last, but we must come to Him. Will you make that decision to come to Him in repentance and humiliation, choosing to love Him and keep His commandments no matter what? Or will you continue in the way of the vast majority of the world, in reckless disregard of God’s Word and His Law, and end up outside the holy city? The choice is yours. May the Lord help you to make the right choice so that you may eternally be among the righteous of all the ages.

All emphasis the author’s unless otherwise stated.
All texts from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Click here to view other exciting posts on Bible topics from Steps to Life.

If you would like to reprint or translate this book please contact Steps to Life for permission.

The End of the World

May 18, 2020September 22, 2017 by Jana Wagner

By Cody Francis

How long can this world continue? Will this world continue for thousands of years, or do we only have a few days left? Others do not think that this world will ever end, that it will just continue on and on. There have been many different scares that have arisen in recent years. There were the Communist spy hunts, and bomb threats. It was thought by many that the world would end in a nuclear holocaust, that the United States and the Soviet Union would bomb the world into oblivion. Then there were the famines. With such dreadful famines raging around the world, it could have been thought that the world would starve to death. Then there was the environmental scare. All of the rainforests were going to be cut down, the whales, owls, and other animals were going to be driven into extinction; the CFCs were going to destroy the ozone layer; the dumps were going to overflow into the cities; the nuclear wastes were going to contaminate all of our water; and basically we were going to cause our own world to end. Then came global warming. All of the pollution is causing the temperature of our world to rise. The world climates would become hotter, the ice caps would melt; the world would be drowned in its own perspiration. Next came Y2K. All of the computers were going to go bezerk, banking would be shut down; world trade would be closed; looting and rioting would be rampant; the stock market would crash; airplanes would go down—the world as we know it would end. As we survey the panics that have swept through our world in recent years, it leads us to question, will the world ever end? Clearly none of these terrible catastrophes has caused the terrible end of the world as we know it. Thousands have prepared their own private bomb shelters with years of food supplies, ammunition and whatever else they think might be needed to survive the end of the world, but, it has not happened yet. Will it ever happen?

Do we have a more accurate predictor than all of these unreliable suspicions? Is there a way that we can know how the world will end? There is, in fact, a book that has foretold how the world will end. We are even given a general description of what the world will be like when this fateful day occurs. This book has never missed the mark once, and this isn’t a scheme to get your money. It is a book that nearly everyone in the world already owns or has at least heard about. It is the Holy Bible.

The Bible does, indeed, talk a great deal about the end of the world, but not in the same way that many describe it today. The end of the world is something that Jesus Himself mentioned more than once. “As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world…” Matthew 13:40. “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.” Matthew 13:49. “And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?’ ” Matthew 24:3. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20.

In Jesus’ teaching He repeatedly mentioned “the end of the world” or as it is put in the New King James Version, “the end of the age.” Since all modern predictions of the end of the world have failed, would it not make sense to see what the One who never errs says the end of the world will be like? Is the end of the world an event for which we need to prepare? Is the end of the world something to dread? What will bring about the end of the world? What will the end of the world be like? How much longer do we have until the end comes?

Descriptions of the End

The end of the world is something that most of the prophets saw and described, although they did not use the wording “the end of the world.” Jesus was the one that outlined the signs of the end of the world. The disciples had heard Jesus mention the end of the world more than once, and now their curiosity had been sufficiently awakened that they asked about it. “And Jesus said unto them, ‘See ye not all these things? Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.’ ” Matthew 24:2.

As the disciples where showing Jesus the great and magnificent stones of the temple, (See verse 1), Jesus predicted what was totally incomprehensible to the Jewish mind. The temple was the pride and joy of every loyal Jew and to think that it would be violently torn down was a horrid thought to the disciples’ minds, but Jesus’ words were too plain to be misunderstood. Not one stone was to be left standing upon another one.

When the disciples reached a more secluded place, they asked for more information as to when this event would occur. “And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Thy coming and of the end of the world?’ ” Matthew 24:3. The disciples correlated the destruction of the temple with the end of the world, but they also connected the end of the world with another event—“the sign of Thy coming.”

The disciples had learned that the end of the world was connected with Jesus’ coming. Jesus Himself said, “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: 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…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.’ ” Matthew 25:31, 32, 41.

When Jesus comes in His glory, the wicked will be separated from the righteous as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. This division of the righteous from the wicked Jesus said would occur at the end of the world. “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 13:49, 50.

What then will this fateful day be like? Jesus, in answering the disciples’ question, gives many signs and a most glorious description of what will take place at the end of the world. “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.” Matthew 24:30, 31. Certainly, there could be nothing more climactic than this great event of Jesus’ glorious Second Coming.

When all the tribes of the earth see Jesus coming with the clouds of heaven, they weep and wail and lament. They see the One whom they have despised and rejected coming with unsurpassable majesty and glory. They know that their doom is sealed. His eyes are like a “flame of fire” (Revelation 19:12) and they pierce through the soul and read the inner most thoughts of the heart. Jesus returns as the Word of God (John 1:1, 14; Revelation 19:13) and “is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. The wicked mourn, for they know that Jesus can look through their very being and see every time that they have neglected the call to salvation; and they know that they are lost. Jesus’ record continues that He comes with power and great glory. The glory and power of the Lord fills the entire sky and “every eye shall see Him.” Revelation 1:7. Then, with a great blast of the trumpet of God, the righteous are all gathered together to be with the Lord. This was Jesus’ description of His coming and thus, of the end of the world as well.

There were many other Bible writers that described this awesome day as well. In fact, Jesus’ Second Coming and the end of the world is one of the recurring themes throughout Scripture. Starting all the way back with Enoch, “For Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of His saints [the Greek word is hagios, literally “holy ones”], to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds.’ ” Jude 14, 15.

Job knew about the end of the world and Jesus’ Second Coming, “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:25-27.

David saw the end of the world. “Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people. Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Psalm 50:3-5.

Isaiah also saw this great day, “For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations… And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll… For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.” Isaiah 34:2, 4, 8.

Jeremiah tells what he saw. “Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words and say unto them, ‘The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He shall mightily roar upon His habitation; He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, He will plead with all flesh; He will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, ‘Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.’ ” Jerermiah 25:30-33.

Joel likewise records this climactic day. “The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?” Joel 2:10, 11

Paul also saw this day, “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:” II Thessalonians 1:7, 8.

Peter gives a most graphic description of what will happen at the end of the world. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” II Peter 3:10-12. The prophets, from the first to the last, talk of this great day. There is no doubt that the Bible does talk about the end of the world, but exactly what will happen when the end comes?

The Righteous

Indeed, there are going to be many different events that occur at the end of the world, but the most important of them is what happens to the righteous. What will happen to those who have made a commitment to follow the Lord wherever He leads them?

The end of the world is not something that is terrifying or abhorrent to those who have been faithfully obeying God and His word. In fact, the end of the world is the most wonderful of all things for the righteous. There could be nothing better. It is the consummation of their hopes and their final deliverance from sin and its terrible curse. Just a few hours before Jesus was betrayed, He gave His disciples the greatest promise that could ever be given. “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. 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. 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.” John 14:1-3. Jesus promised His disciples that He was going to come again! How it must have thrilled their hearts with joy when they were tempted to give way to grief that their Lord was taken away. Although He was no longer with them, they knew that He was going to return, and when He returned they would ever be with their Lord. (See I Thessalonians 4:17.)

Perhaps the sweetest of all promises to them was that Jesus was going to return again. Paul called it the blessed hope. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13.

It is when Jesus comes in His glory that the righteous receive their reward. “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels: and then He shall reward every man according to his works.” Matthew 16:27. “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… 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.” Matthew 25:31, 34. Jesus promised that when He was to come again, with His glory, then, and not until then, were the righteous to receive their promised reward.

“For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” I Thessalonians 4:16-18. The Lord is going to descend from heaven with a mighty shout of victory. He is going to call His sleeping saints out of their graves just as He called Lazarus two thousand years ago. It will be the most glorious shout ever uttered and it will encircle the entire globe. It will pierce the ears of all those who have died in Jesus.

Then the trumpet of the Almighty God will be sounded, “and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I Corinthians 15:52, 53. This change will occur to all, both the dead and the living, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” I Corinthians 15:52.

The angels shall be sent to the four corners of the earth to gather together God’s elect, those who are still living and those who just came forth from the grave clothed in immortality. (See Mark 13:27.) Then all will meet their Savior in the air and ascend to the “sea of glass mingled with fire.” (See Revelation 15:2.)

What a day that will be for the righteous! No wonder that the prophets looked forward to this day with the most earnest and eager anticipation. No wonder that this great day is repeated over and over again throughout the Scriptures. No wonder that the faithful of today can look forward to the end of the world, not with fear, but with great excitement.

The Wicked

To the righteous the end of the world will be the greatest event of their lives, but not so for those who have turned away their ear from hearing the law. (See Proverbs 28:9.) It will be the most dreadful day imaginable for them. Amos records their sorrowful experience. “Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?” Amos 5:18-20.

Amos uses the graphic description of a man running from a lion and then meeting a bear . That would no doubt be a bad day. As soon as you escape from the lion you are confronted by a bear! Then, once finally making it into the house and thinking that all is safe now, a serpent bites you on the hand. Thus it will be for all those who have not prepared for the end of the world.

John records the mournful cry of those who have not been faithful and obedient to our Lord. “And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?’” Revelation 6:14-17.

Instead of meeting their Lord with joy as the righteous do, the disobedient flee, to be hidden from His presence. They run as the priest and rulers ran from Jesus when He cleansed the temple. (See John 2:14, 15.) As the sky is filled with His glory they hide from their Creator, just as Adam and Eve hid from God in the garden when they had sinned. (See Genesis 3:8.) To them it would be more pleasant for the rocks to crush them than to look into the eyes of their Redeemer. They know that they have despised His mercy and that they are guilty. Their all consuming desire is to be hidden from the One who comes to “reward every man according to his works.” Matthew 16:27.

Jesus does not now come as the meek and lowly One in the manger, but now He rides forth as a conquering king. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war… And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Revelation 19:11, 14, 15.

Now as the King of kings and Lord of lords, He returns, not only to receive His faithful people, but also to execute judgment upon those who have refused to accept His call of mercy. “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power; When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.” II Thessalonians 1:7-10.

When Jesus returns to be glorified in His faithful people, it will also be a day of great wailing and weeping for the disobedient. He will come with flaming fire and punish with everlasting destruction all of those who have not yielded their lives to Him. The flaming fire is actually nothing other than the glory of His presence. There is no man that has ever seen the glory of the Father. Only very few have seen Jesus’ glory through a veil. But when He returns, it will be completely different. Everyone will see His glory, for “every eye shall see Him.” Revelation 1:7. Every eye will see Him, and it will be the most glorious event that this world has ever known. Jesus will come “in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.” Luke 9:26. This world has never beheld such a glorious revelation.

Jesus will come with the threefold glory of His own, His Father’s, and of all the holy angels. One angel at Jesus’ resurrection was enough to knock a hardened group of Roman soldiers down to the ground as dead men. (See Matthew 28:2-4.) Imagine what the result will be when the entire sky is filled with the glory of “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands and thousands” of angels. But that is the least of the threefold glory. Then there is both the glory of the Father and the glory of the Son. This glory was enough to cause Moses’ face to shine (See Exodus 34:29-35) and to cause the disciples to be sorely afraid and fall down on their faces. (See Matthew 17:6.) Now all of the glory is emptied from heaven and poured upon this earth. No wonder the disobedient cry out in fear. In fact, this glory is so great that it consumes those who have not learned of Jesus through Bible study and prayer. “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” II Thessalonians 2:8, NKJV. The glory will be so intense that those who have not been accustomed to the glory of God by keeping His law (See Exodus 20:18, 19) will be consumed by the brightness and the glory of that day.

It is no wonder that the wicked are fearful of the end of the world. They have everything in the world and out of the world to fear for that fateful day, for it will indeed be a “day of darkness and of gloominess” for them. (See Joel 2:2.) For the righteous, the end of the world can be anticipated with great joy, for in that day they will be led to exclaim, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.

As opposite as night and day will be the fates of these two classes. For one, it will be the joyous beginning of eternity and for the other, the darkness and despair of eternal night. Where will you be on that great and awesome day? There will be no in-between class then, you will be on one side or the other. That is why the end of the world is referred to as “the harvest.” “The harvest is the end of the world.” Matthew 13:39.
In a harvest there is a separation into two groups—the wheat and the waste. The crop is shaken and sifted until there is only the good grain left, while the chaff is left, only to be burnt “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 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.’ ” Revelation 14:14-16, 18, margin.

John sees two harvests—not three, or four, or five; only two. There is the wheat that is fully ripe (i.e., sin has been consumed from their lives), and then there are the grapes that are fully ripe (i.e., they are full of sin.) You will be in one of these two harvests. There is no way of escape. You will be on one side or the other.

For many the end of the world is going to come as the biggest surprise of their lives. They were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building, but the end of the world came and they were not ready. They uttered the mournful words, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20. Are you preparing for the end of the world, or is it preparing to take you? Your destiny depends upon the decisions that you are making today.

The World

Since we are looking at the topic of the end of the world, it is important to note what will become of this earth when the end comes. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” II Peter 3:10-14.

Peter gives a most graphic description of what the end of the world will be like, and it is not hard to see why Jesus refers to this as the end of the world. The heavens above are going to pass away. What would happen if our atmosphere disintegrated and passed away? People have been worried for many years what will happen if our ozone layer gets too thin, but what if the entire atmosphere, ozone and all, just passed away? There is no doubt that it would be catastrophic.

When Jesus comes the heavens are going to be wiped away with a great noise. The very elements that make up this earth are going to melt away. The glory of God will be so great that the heavens will be unable to stand before Him, and the very elements upon which we live, stand, and move will melt as a candle. This old earth and all of its works will be burned up. All those whose hearts cling to this earth will see their works burn up. Mansions, no matter how earthquake proof or fireproof, will be of no use in that day, for it will be the end of the world. Because the end of all things is coming, Peter exhorts his readers to be without spot and blameless in Jesus. Only those who through His grace and strength are purified from sin will not be consumed by the devouring fires of the last days.

Although it will be the greatest holocaust in the history of this world, it will not be a complete end. Probably the most wicked areas of this earth will be utterly consumed by the flames of fire, but the entire earth will not be completely devoured. It will indeed be the end of the world, but this world will be visited. “I beheld the earth, and lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, ‘The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.’ ” Jeremiah 4:23-27. Jeremiah describes the time in which there is no man, beast, or bird. All the cities are completely desolate and everything is broken down, but, even though the earth is destroyed and spoiled, it is not the complete end. It is not a full end until after the millennium, when the new heavens and new earth that we are to look for are created. (II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1; Isaiah 65:17.)

Jesus’ Second Coming brings the end of this world of sin and misery. Everything is broken down, burned and destroyed by the glory and power of Jesus’ Second Coming. In fact, every single wall will fall to the ground. (See Ezekiel 38:20.) The wicked are destroyed by the power and the glory of God, while the righteous are caught up in the air and ascend to the sea of glass with Jesus. It is the end of the world. There are no more business transactions, no more meals to be made, no more nights of rest, no more walks in the park. Human life on planet earth ceases to exist. There is no man, beast or bird. The cities are desolate and destroyed and everywhere can be seen the charred remains of the flaming fire that had engulfed the world. Surely, it is the end of the world.

When?

“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36. Jesus was very specific that we cannot know when the end of the world will be. It could not possibly have occurred on January 1, 2000, for Jesus said “that of the day and hour no one knows.” I have talked with various people who were convinced that they had figured out when the end of the world would be, but the time has passed and we are still here. If anyone comes trying to tell us exactly when the end of the world will be, we know that they are not from God. Jesus’ statement is too plain and clear to be misunderstood, but while we cannot know the day nor hour of Jesus’ coming, we are to know that it is near. “Now learn the parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matthew 24:32, 33.

Many signs are given that are an indication that we are living near the time of the end of the world. Jesus said that as we see the indications in nature that the season is about to change, so we are to know that His coming is near, even at the doors. Not only can we see that the end is near by signs, but Jesus rebuked the Pharisees sharply for not realizing the time in which they were living. “He answered and said unto them, ‘When it is evening, ye say, “It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.” And in the morning, “It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring.” O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?’ ” Matthew 16:2, 3.

Is the same saying applicable today? Without a doubt! Everyone knows the saying, “Red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.” Everyone can see the buds on the trees and the flowers blossoming and know that spring is near; but how many study the signs given in God’s word that the end is near? How much more important it is to know that the end of all things is near than just to know what the weather will be like tomorrow!

In a recent series of meetings studying some of these signs and the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, the participants studied some of the signs given in the Word of God and recognized that we don’t have much time left because the signs are fulfilling. After the meeting a man asserted adamantly that this could not be. He said, “Oh, it will come some time, but not in my lifetime. Everyone has always thought that it would come in their day, but it didn’t and it won’t come in our day either.” He, along with many others, will be terribly surprised.

The apostles did not think that they were living in the time in which the end would come. They knew better than that. Now it is true that they felt the need of constant watchfulness, and so it should be. Jesus Himself said that His followers needed to always be ready. “Watch therefore: for ye know now what hour your Lord doth come… Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:42, 44. Jesus said to be ready every moment of every day. Why? We don’t know when Jesus will come or when our probation may close in death; therefore our attitude must be one of constant watchfulness and readiness. But, even though the disciples knew the necessity of always being ready, they knew that Jesus’ Second Coming would not be in their day. There was still much unfulfilled prophecy. “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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.” II Thessalonians 2:2, 3.

Paul says not to be deceived into thinking that the time of the end of the world was imminent. That day is not going to come until the antichrist is revealed. Paul knew that it was still many days in the future. He had written to the Thessalonians earlier to instruct them that even if a person died, Christ would resurrect the faithful in that day. Paul knew that Jesus would not come in his lifetime.

To John it was revealed that the church would flee into the wilderness for a thousand two hundred and sixty days (Revelation 12:6.) [A day represents a year in prophetic time (Ezekiel 4:6; Numbers 14:34).] Surely there was no doubt in his mind that he would not live to see the end of the world. (See John 21:23.) Daniel saw the longest of all Biblical time prophecies—two thousand three hundred days (years). (See Daniel 8:14.) He knew that Jesus was not going to come in his time. Even Martin Luther knew that the judgment was not in his day. He put it nearly three hundred years in the future. (See The Reign of Christ on Earth: or, The Voice of the Church in All Ages, by Daniel T. Taylor, page 158.) The students of prophecy have known through the ages that the end of the world was not in their day, but they maintained a constant attitude of expectancy and readiness so that they would not be overtaken as a thief in the night. (See I Thessalonians 5:4.)

Today it is different, though. Paul could not say today that the antichrist must first be revealed, for he already has been! (See Steps to Life’s booklet, The Beasts Mark.) John could not say that the one thousand two hundred year prophecy still has to be fulfilled, for it already has been! (See Steps to Life’s booklet, Surviving the Great Tribulation.) Daniel could not point to the remaining days of the two thousand three hundred years, for there are none remaining! (See Steps to Life’s booklet Your Last Chance to be Saved.) We are living in the time in which all time prophecy has been fulfilled and the signs are being marked off one by one. We must discern the signs of the times and prepare for that great day, for “though it tarry, wait for it: because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habukuk 2:3.

There are many signs given in the Word of God so that we can know we are living close to the end of the world. Some have estimated that there are thirty to forty signs that we are in the last days. Jesus Himself gave us a great number of signs. As we look at the signs that He gave, they clearly reveal that we are indeed near the end of the world. “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7.

Jesus gave a list of four signs that were to precede His coming:

international tensions,
famines,
pestilences, and
earthquakes.

Have these occurred? Let us look at the first one. Is there international tension? Perhaps it would make more sense to ask, Where are there not international tensions? During the twentieth century there were multitudes of wars, peace treaties and tensions. World War I, World War II, Korean War, the Mid-East conflicts, Vietnam, the Cold War, Panama, Nicaragua, Desert Storm, and the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. There has been a war going on all over the world almost constantly.

The World Court was set up, then came NATO; the United Nations; but none of these have been successful in establishing peace. A hundred years since the World Court was established nothing has occured but continuing crises. A person may say that there have always been wars. This is true, but never on such a global scale. During World Wars I and II, it did not matter where you were in the world, you knew that the war was going on. The entire world was affected. Now there are smaller scale wars, but still every country jumps in and does its part. It is no longer one country against another. There are many countries supporting both sides politically, financially, and militarily. Jesus’ words are truer than tomorrow’s newspaper, “for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Matthew 24:7.

Are there widespread famines in the world today? Without a doubt! In a day and age when we have the most technological advances in the agricultural fields, still not everyone has enough to eat. It is rare in the industrialized countries to find very many that are starving, but they are there. There are homes in this country where only one small meal a day is available! The problem is most graphically seen when visiting the third world countries in Africa and other areas. There children and adults dig through trash heaps to find food and other sell-able items in order to survive. One man had only a handful of rice to feed his five children for the entire day.

In this country, we can forget what the rest of the world is struggling with and think that Jesus missed the mark, but seeing the conditions in other countries rapidly opens your eyes to the truth of Jesus’ words.

The World Bank reported in April, 2010, that more than one billion people go hungry every day, and over 650 million children do not get enough food to fully develop mentally and physically. When Jesus spoke those words, there were not even one billion people alive; but now there are more than that without enough food. According to the World Bank vice-president, Ismail Serageldin, “Some 40,000 hunger-related deaths occur every day, mostly in rural regions.” (taken from “The Family Webpage” at www.thefamily.org.) In the early spring of 2000, emergency plans were put in operation to save the entire country of Ethiopia from starvation, but not all were saved. Are Jesus’ words true today? Without a doubt!

Pestilences. There has been a greater surge of incurable diseases in our age of enlightened medicine than has previously been known. All know someone who has died from cancer or some other deadly disease. AIDS continues to spread through the world without an antidote. Then there are the new, rare diseases such as mad cow disease, Ebola, and others. Even though there is more medical knowledge than in any other period in human history, the pestilences keep bombarding society with no sign of relenting.

Is the earth shaking more than it used to? Some will deny it, but the record books surely do not. The 1997 World Almanac and Book of Facts, gives a list of major earthquakes on record: 1500’s—2, 1600’s—2, 1700’s—6, 1800’s—7, 1900’s—81. Do you see a pattern? It could be argued that there are more accurate records kept now and that is why it appears to rise so drastically. Possibly, but even in the 1900’s, when there were modern records and seismographs, the pattern of a rising number of earthquakes continued. Between 1900 and 1930 there were two to three major earthquakes per decade. Between 1930 and 1970 there were four to eight earthquakes per decade. Then from 1970 to the 1990’s there were ten to thirty per decade, but then, in 1999 alone, there were twenty major earthquakes of seven or above on the Richter Scale. From 2000 through 2010 there were 166 of magnitude 7.0 or greater.(See USGS National Earthquake Information Center Web Page.) As Jesus said two thousand years ago, “and earthquakes, in divers places.” Matthew 24:7.

The angel told Daniel, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4. The angel said that in the time of the end, just preceding the end of the world, many would be running from here to there. Is there a great deal of travel going on today? When else in the history of this world could the common person fly to the other side of the world for a week and then fly back? In Daniel’s day, they barely knew there was anything else out there than their immediate neighborhood. The fastest way to get anywhere was by chariot or horseback. We have come a long way since then. The airports are bustling, the roads are crammed—men are running here and there. Not a person alive today can deny that knowledge has increased. There has been the biggest explosion of knowledge, information, and communication ever in recent years. Yes, the angel accurately described today’s condition, as well.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” II Timothy 3:1-5.

Are perilous times here? Is it safe to walk down the street late at night? Is it even safe to send your children to school? Or will their school be the next Columbine? The Bible predicted society’s condition two thousand years before it happened.

There has been no other time like the time in which we now live. There has never been another time in which all of the signs pointing forward to the end of the world have been fulfilled. There may have been a sign here or there that happened, but never have all of the signs taken place at once. To every thinking mind, the only conclusion that we can come to is that this world cannot last much longer. This world is polluted, militarized, diseased, and shaking apart. According to God’s word, the end of the world is near. The end will be the greatest of all days for the faithful and obedient, but the most terrifying to the disobedient.

The Final Signs

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 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.” Matthew 24:29, 30. While all of the signs clearly point to the fact that Jesus is so soon to come, there are a few specific signs that were given to be the final signs of Jesus’ soon coming. When we look at these signs that happened over one-hundred and fifty years ago and compare them with history, we find that we are living on borrowed time!

These signs are so important that they are mentioned many times throughout the Bible. All of the synoptic gospels record these signs. (Matthew 24:29; Mark 13:24, 25; Luke 21:25.) Joel saw these great signs. “The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.” Joel 2:31.

John saw these same signs. “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Revelation 6:12, 13.

By comparing the different references where these signs are mentioned, it can be seen that there were four major events to take place, and in this order:

a great earthquake,
sun shall be darkened,
the moon will not give its light and will be turned into blood, and
the stars will fall from heaven.

Obviously, these signs are major events that would arrest the attention of the entire world. They are harbingers of the time that the Bible calls the “time of the end” or the “last days.” Have these last great final signs been fulfilled? Or are we still to look for them in the future?

A Great Earthquake

In vision, John had seen that the first of these last great final signs would be an earthquake, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake.” Revelation 6:12. Has there been a great earthquake that shook the earth as a harbinger of the end of the world? Indeed, there has. Jesus had said “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.” As soon as the persecution of the Dark Ages had stopped (See Steps to Life’s booklet Surviving the Great Tribulation), the Lord shook the world with an earthquake like never before to wake the world up to the fact that the end of the world was near. It happened on November 1, 1755. The epicenter was in Lisbon, Portugal, but the effect of the earthquake was felt in the three continents of Europe, Africa, and North America. The area in which the quake was felt covered four million square miles. Not only was it one of the most far reaching earthquakes, but it was also one of the most destructive earthquakes ever recorded.

In Lisbon itself, the destruction was the greatest. It is estimated that of the one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants of Lisbon, ninety thousand lost their lives. According to the Encyclopedia Americana, the earthquake caused every church and convent to fall, along with almost all of the large public buildings and more than one fourth of all of the houses.

“Fires broke out in different quarters, and raged with such violence for the space of nearly three days, that the city was completely desolated. The earthquake happened on a holy day, when the churches and convents were full of people, very few of whom escaped.” Encyclopedia Americana, “Lisbon,” 1831 edition.

The Dark Day

The mammoth earthquake was the first of the final signs, but it was just the beginning. The signs continued to unfold. It was May 19, 1780, when a most mysterious and unexplainable phenomenon brought terror to the hearts of many. R. M. Devens in Our First Century wrote,

“Almost, if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind…stands the dark day of May 19, 1780,–a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England.” Our First Century, 89. Even to our present day it is unexplainable. On May 19, 1997, the Wichita Eagle mentioned this most mysterious and unexplainable day, stating that to our present day it is still unaccounted for. An eyewitness to this startling day recorded, “In the morning the sun rose clear, but was soon overcast. The clouds became lowery, and from them, black and ominous, as they soon appeared, lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and a little rain fell. Toward nine o’clock, the clouds became thinner, and assumed a brassy or coppery appearance, and earth, rocks, trees, buildings, water, and persons were changed by this strange, unearthly light. A few minutes later, a heavy black cloud spread over the entire sky except a narrow rim at the horizon, and it was as dark as it usually is at nine o’clock on a summer evening…

“Fear, anxiety, and awe gradually filled the minds of the people. Women stood at the door, looking out upon the dark landscape; men returned from their labor in the fields; the carpenter left his tools, the blacksmith his forge, the tradesman his counter. Schools were dismissed, and tremblingly the children fled homeward. Travelers put up at the nearest farmhouse. ‘What is coming?’ queried every lip and heart. It seemed as if a hurricane was about to dash across the land, or as if it was the day of the consummation of all things.

“Candles were used; and hearth fires shone as brightly as on a moonless evening in autumn… Fowls retired to their roosts and went to sleep, cattle gathered at the pasture bars and lowed, frogs peeped, birds sang their evening songs, and bats flew about. But the human knew that night had not come…” The Essex Antiquarian, April, 1899, vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 53, 54.

None knew the cause of that strange day, except those who had studied Bible prophecy. Those who were students of prophecy knew exactly what it was. It was a harbinger that the end of the world was nearing.

The Bloody Moon

The next of the major signs was recorded in two different ways, but both of them occurred on the same night. “And the moon shall not give her light.” Matthew 24:29, “And the moon became as blood.” Revelation 6:12. On the very same night of the dark day, the moon initially did not shine but then came out shining red as blood. Let the historians speak.

“Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon and terrifying than that of the day; notwithstanding there was almost a full moon, no object was discernible but by the help of some artificial light, which, when seen from the neighboring houses and other places at a distance, appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness which seemed almost impervious to the rays.”—Isaiah Thomas, Massachusetts Spy; or, American Oracle of Liberty, vol. 10, No. 472 (May 25, 1780.)

Another who beheld the terrifying scene said,

“I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete.”—Letter by Dr. Samuel Tenney, of Exeter, New Hampshire, December, 1785 (in Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1792, 1st series, vol. 1, p. 97.)

Then, about midnight when the moon appeared, it was red as blood. Thus the third of the great signs was also fulfilled.

The Falling of the Stars

The last of the final signs took place on November 13, 1833.

“The whole firmament, over all the United States, being then, for hours, in fiery commotion! No celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country, since its first settlement, which was viewed with such intense admiration by one class in the community, or with so much dread and alarm by another.” “Its sublimity and awful beauty still linger in many minds… Never did rain fall much thicker than the meteors fell toward the earth; east, west, north, and south, it was the same. In a word, the whole heavens seemed in motion… The display, as described in Professor Silliman’s Journal, was seen all over North America… From two o’clock until broad daylight, the sky being perfectly serene and cloudless, an incessant play of dazzlingly brilliant luminosities was kept up in the whole heavens.”—R. M. Devens, American Progress; or, The Great Events of the Greatest Century, ch. 28, pars. 1-5.

Once again those who understood prophecy knew exactly what was happening, but those who did not know prophecy were scared to death.

Are You Ready?

The last of the final signs occurred over one hundred and fifty years ago; how much time do we have left now? These great signs announced to all the world that the time of the end had begun, and now we have been living in the time of the end for two hundred years. Our time has almost run out. Jesus has been waiting. Perhaps He has been waiting for you. “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.” II Peter 3:9.
The Lord has extended the time for all of these years in order to save all that He possibly can, but soon that time will come to a close. Soon He will “finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness.” Romans 9:28. The final signs have all taken place and the next event will be the coming of our Lord and Savior in the clouds of glory. Are you ready?

The end of the world is soon to come. It will not come from a nuclear fall out or environmental destruction, although those things could happen. The real end of the world will happen when Jesus returns—to be admired in those who believe (II Thessalonians 1:10) and to execute God’s judgment and wrath upon those who do not believe. What if it were today? Which group would you be in? We are living on borrowed time. The end could have come many years ago, but perhaps the Lord looked down and saw you. Will you accept His call? (II Thessalonians 1:10) and to execute God’s judgment and wrath upon those who do not believe. What if it were today? Which group would you be in? We are living on borrowed time. The end could have come many years ago, but perhaps the Lord looked down and saw you. Will you accept His call?

Three times in the very last chapter of the Bible, Jesus repeated, “I come quickly.” (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20.) This thrice repeated statement is a great promise to those who are ready, but to the vast majority of the world and even to the church, it is a grave warning. How is it for you? Are you ready for Jesus to come? Are you ready to meet Him in the clouds of glory? Is your life such that you will be able to stand in that day? When the wicked are overwhelmed by the majesty of Jesus coming, they are led to exclaim, “For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17. That is the question that we must be pondering now, for if we do not ponder it well now, we will cry it with terror then.

It is only those who are able to stand before our Almighty God who shall rise to meet Him with joy. The same question is asked in the Old Testament, but the definite answer is given this time. “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up His soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3, 4. Those only who have pure hands and hearts will be able to stand before the King of kings and Lord of lords at the end of the world.

Do you have clean hands and a pure heart? Have your hands and your heart been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Have you allowed Him to cleanse you from all sin? “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27.

Christ gave His life for you. Have you been sanctified and cleansed by Him? Can He present you without spot or blemish unto the Father? Have you been washed from your sins by the water of the Word? Those who will stand in that day will have had this precious experience. Are you prepared? The end of the world is coming. That is not the question. The question is, Will you be ready for the end of the world? Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming quickly.” He is coming and it will not be very long, now. He has waited for two thousand years, but soon it will be too late. Soon the door of mercy will be shut, and He will come forth to reward and make war. Will you be rewarded or smitten by the brightness of His coming? We are living in the very last days. No longer are we just in the time of the end, but we are now at the end of the time of the end. We are in the last of the last days. The signs have all been fulfilled. The final harbingers were fulfilled over one hundred and fifty years ago. It is not much longer now. We are almost home, but are you ready to go home?

It will come as the biggest surprise to the millions of this world, but we are exhorted, “But, ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.” I Thessalonians 5:4. You are not in darkness, you know that it is coming, but what use you make of this knowledge, only you can determine. A choice must be made by each one of us that we are going to surrender fully to the Lord so that we can be ready for that great day—a day of joy and gladness for those who are ready, but a day of wailing and gnashing of teeth for the vast multitudes who did not prepare. Will that eternal smile spread across your face or will the most mournful wails come from your lips? It will be one or the other. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.

All emphasis the authors unless otherwise stated.
All texts from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Sources:

Daniel & Revelation, by Uriah Smith, Review & Herald Publishing
The Great Controversy, Ellen G. White, 1911.
His Mighty Love, Dr. Ralph Larson, Teach Services, 1995.
The Reign of Christ on Earth: or, The Voice of the Church in All Ages, by Daniel T. Taylor
A Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, F. Wilbur Gingrich & Frederick W. Danker, University of Chicago Press, 1983.
USGS National Earthquake Information Center Web Page
The 1997 World Almanac and Book of Facts World-Wide Bible Lectures, Fordyce W. Detamore.

Lost in Church?

September 22, 2017 by Jana Wagner

by Cody Francis

It was the largest church that little Sam had ever seen. It had a steeple towering so high that it nearly touched heaven. The pillars at the front of the church loomed as sentinels to the massive doors that the deacons held open. And then there was the torrent of people that came from all sides and funneled through those pillars and in through the doors. Sam pressed closer to his aunt. It was the antithesis of the little country church that Sam and his family attended. As they approached the doors, they too became a part of that great mass of people that seemed to be jostled and pushed through those massive doors that looked to Sam as if they belonged to a castle and not a church. Inside was not quite as formidable as the lofty architecture outside, and Sam began to feel more at ease. His aunt seemed to know just where to go. “How could she remember which steps to take and which way to turn?” Sam wondered, but his aunt didn’t seem to be in the least bit intimidated. Sure enough, they stopped in front of the class that he recognized as his. Inside the classroom they went, and after making sure that Sam was comfortable, Sam’s aunt hurried away to her own class. Sam looked around him. He didn’t know any of the people here, but they seemed nice enough to him. There were many more than were in his class at home, and they were all his age! Not even at Sam’s school were there this many boys and girls his age. Eager to take advantage of all of the new friends that he could have, he started playing with his peers around him. In just a few minutes he had lost all fear of his mammoth surroundings. He listened intently as the teacher taught the lesson. It didn’t seem that different from his little white church in the country after all. At the end of the class period the mothers came and would take their child to sit with them during the church service, but where was his aunt? He dare not venture into those halls without his aunt, but it seemed like all of the other children were leaving. Finally the mother of the little boy who was sitting next to him came to get him. His new found friend wanted him to come and sit with him, and since his aunt hadn’t come yet, Sam decided to go. As soon as they entered those halls again, though, fear surged through Sam’s little body. He froze with fear as he could hardly see through the maze of people, and then where was his friend? All he saw now was a forest of legs going this way and that. Not knowing what to do, Sam started pressing through in the direction that he thought his friend had gone, but they had vanished. He went this way and then that. He peered upward, trying to detect a familiar face, but there was none. He pressed through the crowd and came into another hall. It seemed to him as if he was in a gigantic maze. It was all halls and doors that stretched on before him. His knees began to quiver and big tears began to roll down his cheeks and splatter upon the tile floor. Here he was–lost in church. He had been lost in the woods at home, but never before had he thought it possible to be lost in church.

It would not seem strange to us to hear of a child, or even an adult, getting lost in the mountains or in the wilderness, but lost in church? We have known of, or perhaps even experienced ourselves, the terrors of being separated from our parents and realizing that we were lost. Perhaps in the grocery store or a mall, but we don’t usually think of becoming lost in church. Yet even in the enormous churches of our land we can imagine a child getting lost, as in the preceding parable, but have you ever stopped to think that when Jesus returns there will be millions eternally lost in church? We can imagine that many will be lost in the taverns and gambling halls of the land, but lost in church? It hardly seems possible, yet this is exactly what the Bible says will happen. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Matthew 7:21-23. Here is a group of people, who are not just sitting in church every week, but these are leaders! It is not just a small isolated group of people either; this is a large group. Jesus said that there were many in this condition; many who have been given the gift of prophecy, many who have even cast out demons in the name of Jesus, and many who have worked mighty miracles in Jesus’ name. These are leaders that people have looked up to and admired. They were looked upon as men of spiritual insight and favored of God because of the gifts they had received; but the sad reality was that Jesus never knew them. So, far from being favored of heaven, they were unknown to heaven. You would not find this group of people in the taverns and dens of vice. This group of people would never be found in houses of ill repute. On the contrary, you would find these people sitting in church every week, but still lost in church. They really and truly believed that they were headed to heaven. They thought that their ticket was sure, but they were lost in church. Will there be others who likewise are lost in church? How can a person be lost in church? What characteristics do those whom are lost in church have? We need to know, so we can be certain that we are not among that mournful group.

Lost in Church–How?

“They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, You will be made free?'” John 8:33. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day treated with contempt the idea that they needed anything. Were not they the privileged children of the patriarchs? They were not only church members, but there fathers had been good and faithful church members for hundred of years. Their connection with the church was sure to save them. They needed nothing else. The same thinking is still very prevalent in the world and churches of today. People think that as long as their names are registered in the church books, then they are safe. As long as they are in church each week, they are going to heaven, or maybe even if they are in church on Christmas or Easter they are going to heaven. I was having a rather unpleasant conversation with a man, in which this very topic came up. This dear man had fallen into sin and was not living according to God’s Word. It was my painful duty to try to help him see the mistakes that he was making and to attempt to help him overcome them. During the course of the conversation, he made it very clear that he did not see anything wrong with what he was doing. He was living in open violation of the Word of God, and it is clear from God’s Word that while persisting in rebellion against God, he could not enter the kingdom of heaven. He angrily said that he knew he was going to heaven because he had his passport hanging on the wall, and he pointed to his baptismal certificate. This thinking is not uncommon. It is easy to think that if our names are in the church books, if we have been baptized, then everything is fine and we are heaven bound. Nothing could be further from the truth. Simply because our names are on the church books or because we go to church every week, does not mean that we are on the right track. We need to make a profession, but profession alone is not enough.

The children of Israel felt that because they were the descendants of Abraham, they were secure in their salvation. Because they were in the true church they thought that they were saved. They did not realize the fact that they could be lost in church. “And do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:9, 10. They were boasting their claim that since they were the descendants of Abraham (church members), they were the children of promise and they were saved. Not so! John the Baptist states that God is even able to turn stones into faithful church members (children of Abraham). God is not looking at the profession; God is looking at the heart. Every tree (church or person) which does not bring forth good fruit will be lost. The question is not, are you going go church? Do you claim to be a Christian? The real question is, does you life show that you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Are you obeying Him? Do you have good fruit in your life?

In the old covenant, the outward sign that a person was a church member was whether or not they were circumcised. “And God said to Abraham: ‘As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;'” Genesis 17:9, 10. Circumcision corresponds to baptism and church membership today, but circumcision is not what saved a person. Circumcision was simply the outward sign of their acceptance of God’s covenant. There are many examples of people who were circumcised that are lost. (Esau, Nadab, Abihu, Korah, Dathan, Abiram, Saul, etc.) Lost and circumcised. Lost and in church. Ishmael is an example of all those have the outward sign of circumcision or church membership, but not the inward experience. Ishmael was circumcised on the very same day that God told Abraham to be circumcised, (Genesis 17:23) but Ishmael is “he who was born according to the flesh.” (Galatians 5:29.) The Scripture says to “cast out the bondwoman [Hagar] and her son [Ishmael], for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” Galatians 5:30. All those who have only an outward connection with the church are included in this scripture. All those who sit in church every week, all those who may even be leaders and teachers in the church, who make a profession, but do not show it by their lives. All who have not borne the fruit of the Spirit in their lives (Galatians 5:22, 23) will be bound, hand and foot, and cast into outer darkness. (Matthew 22:13.)

God repeatedly pled with ancient Israel to have that inward experience and not just the outward sign. “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.” Deuteronomy 10:16. “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” Jeremiah 4:4. It is the circumcision of the heart that counts, not the mere external sign. Here were circumcised church members in good and regular standing, but they were still lost in church. It is the same in the new covenant. “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Romans 2:28, 29. Paul plainly tells us that it is what is inside the heart that counts. Just because you are a Jew (in the new covenant we could say, just because you are a church member) does not mean that you are really a part of the “church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven.” Hebrews 12:23. Just because you have the outward sign of circumcision (or in the new covenant, of baptism) does not mean that you will be saved. There will be many church members lost. There will be multitudes of people who have been baptized in the lake of fire. The only thing that is of any value with God, is the heart experience.

When we understand this concept, what Paul says in Romans 9:6, makes perfect sense. “They are not all Israel (spiritual or true) who are of Israel (professed).” Not all that make a profession and claim to be a part of God’s true church will, in the end, be saved. They are lost in church because they have made a profession, but it went no deeper than that. They accepted with their mouths and intellect the truth from God’s Word, but the truth had not been implanted in the heart. Millions were lost in the old covenant for this very problem. They had the sign of church membership. They were among God’s people. They were in the church, but they were still lost in church.

Judas – Lost in Church

Perhaps there is no better example of a man who was lost in church than the most infamous man in history–Judas Iscariot. Jesus said, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those who You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” John 17:12. Judas had been with Jesus for over three years. He had been one of the most privileged men in the history of this world. He had been in constant association with the Lord of Lord and King of Kings, the One to whom all the angels bowed in worship. He walked with Him along the way. He talked with Him as we talk with our friends. He ate with Him. He slept where He slept. Judas saw the mighty miracles that our Lord, the Life giver performed. Judas actually performed miracles himself. The Lord’s hands had been placed upon him in ordination. Judas was not just a church member. He was not just a disciple. Judas was a leader in Jesus’ true church. In fact, Judas may have been the most high-ranking officer in the church, for he was the treasurer. (See John 13:29.) Even though Judas had all of these tremendous advantages, Judas was lost. Lost in church. “The Son of Man goes as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born. Matthew 26:24. The most fearful condemnation is here given against Judas. Jesus says that it would have been better if Judas had never been born, and the saddest part of all is that he was in the church, but he was lost.

Why was Judas lost while being an important leader in the church? Was it because he had never heard good sermons before? No, Judas heard the best sermons that have ever been preached. He heard the Sermon on the Mount, the sermon that has never been, nor ever will be equaled. Was it that those around him were hypocritical? Absolutely not. The one individual, who never had a particle of hypocrisy in Him, was the one whom Judas was in constant contact with. Was it because he didn’t have enough time? No, he had three years of constant witness to the life and teaching of Jesus. Judas had all of the advantages that it was possible for him to have. Jesus tried and tried to break through to the heart of Judas, but Judas was lost in church because he never came to the point of full surrender to Jesus. “Therefore submit to God.” James 4:7. If we are to be victorious in the Lord at last, we must learn the lesson of full surrender and submission to Jesus. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time.” I Peter 5:6. Those who receive the grace of humility and learn to submit to the Lord will indeed be exalted, but not until they have fully submitted. That was Judas’ problem. He never came to the point of full submission. Instead of submitting to Jesus, his Lord and Master, he exalted himself, clung to his own ways, his own ideas, and his own plans. “But Judas did not come to the point of surrendering himself fully to Christ. He did not give up his worldly ambition or his love of money. While he accepted the position of a minister of Christ, he did not bring himself under the divine molding. He felt that he could retain his own judgment and opinions, and he cultivated a disposition to criticize and accuse.” The Desire of Ages, page 717. Judas was eventually led to criticize one of the greatest acts of love that has ever been done–the anointing of Jesus’ feet by Mary. “Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, ‘Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” John 12:4-6. He had hardened his heart for so long that it seemed nothing to now find fault with what Jesus had allowed to happen. He thought that he knew better because he had not come to the full point of surrender and submission to Jesus, and all those who refuse to submit and surrender to Jesus, will eventually, like Judas, find themselves lost in church. “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:33.

The Foolish Virgins–Lost in Church

Judas is a very graphic instance of a person who was lost in church while being an important leader, but there are other examples as well. A person does not have to do the most ignominious deed of betraying our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that Judas did to be lost in church. A person does not even have to commit a terrible crime to be lost in church; all a person has to do is simply neglect to do certain things.

“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps…. The bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly I say to you, I do not know you.'” Matthew 25:1-4, 10-12. Here is another tragic example of precious souls who are lost in church. This time it is not an individual person, but an entire group of people. This group of people is not a few isolated churchgoers here and there, but it includes large numbers of people who think and believe that they will be saved, but will find out too late that they have been deceived.

By allowing the Bible to explain some of the details of the parable, it begins to have more meaning to our minds. First of all, there were ten virgins who were going out to meet the bridegroom and then at the end of the parable the bridegroom finally comes after a period of delay. Who is the bridegroom? “And they came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, He who was with You beyond the Jordan, to whom You have testified–behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!’… ‘He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.” John 3:26, 29. John the Baptist, clearly talking of Jesus, says that He is the bridegroom. It is Jesus’ Second Coming that is their hope, and it is Jesus Second Coming for which five of them are unprepared. They are virgins. Why are they represented as virgins? A woman is a church. A pure woman is a pure church. (Revelation 12.) A corrupt woman is a corrupt church. (Revelation 17.) “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” II Corinthians 11:2. These ten virgins are all pure women, because “they profess a pure faith.” Christ Object Lessons, page 406. They are not deluded by the thousands of false doctrines that abound in our world. They have a pure faith, or pure doctrine. They bring their lamps with them. A lamp is a symbol for God’s Word. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalms 119:105.

Both the wise and the foolish are virgins. They have a pure faith. They have a pure doctrine. Both claim to be looking for the Second Coming of their Lord and Savior. Both have their lamps, or the Word of God, with them. These are not simply your nominal Christians who go to church every week and then go home. Their faith goes deeper than that. They believe and perhaps even tell others that Jesus is soon to come. They have a high esteem for the truths of the Bible. They probably even study their Bible. Their lamps, or their Bibles, are with them, so they are not just sitting on the television gathering dust, but are being studied. To all outward appearances, this group of people looks like respectable Christians. They look as if they are the strength of the church. In fact, you cannot tell the difference between those who will be lost in church and the ones who will, in all reality, be saved. There is no external difference, but there is a very major internal difference. The wise took oil in their vessels, but the foolish did not. What does the oil represent? “And I further answered again, and said to him, What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?’… So he said, ‘These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth.” “So he answered and said to me: This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'” Zechariah 4:12, 14, 6. The oil that was emptying out of the two olive trees is said to be God’s Spirit. So the oil that the foolish virgins did not have, was the oil of the Holy Spirit. They had all of the external characteristics of being a true Christian in the true church, but they had not the inward work of the Holy Spirit. They did not have the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) in their lives. “The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. This class is also represented by the stony-ground hearers. They receive the Word with readiness, but they fail of assimilating its principles. Its influence is not abiding. The Spirit works upon man’s heart according to his desire and consent, implanting in him a new nature, but the class represented by the foolish virgins has been content with a superficial work. They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live.” Christ Object Lessons, page 411. The mournful words of Jesus, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you,” are not said because they didn’t make a profession, but because they did not allow God to finish the good work that he had begun (Philippians 1:6), and as a result they are lost in church.

The Tares–Lost in Church

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.'” The wheat represents “the sons of the kingdom” while the tares represent “the sons of the wicked one.” Matthew 13:38. There are two classes of people here described in the world, but more specifically in the church. Jesus said that that field was the world (vs. 38), but more specifically it represents the church of God in the world, because the entire parable is teaching about the “kingdom of heaven.” (Verse. 24.)

In the early stages of growth, it is nearly impossible to discern the difference between the tares and the wheat. Both have small green spires and as they continue to grow the tares continue to copy the wheat, but at the harvest it is truly seen which are tares and which are wheat. The wheat is heavily laden with a head of grain, while the tares, as a worthless weed, bring forth no such fruit. Both have the advantages of sunlight, rain, and good soil, but one produces fruit and the other does not. As the wheat in the field, so there are two groups of people are in the church. They both have the benefits of good sermons, of faithful reproofs from God’s Word and God’s messengers. God provides both with the necessary elements to grow spiritually and bring forth fruit, but the ones representing the tares do not take advantage of the precious opportunities granted them by God. It is impossible to tell the difference between them from man’s perspective, but the angel’s can see another story. In the lives of the tares there may be something that they are unwilling to surrender to the Lord. Perhaps it is some cherished idol, a wrong habit, practice, or belief, but it is there and it is enough to separate the soul from God. The Holy Spirit works upon the heart convicting of sin, righteousness, and judgment soon to come (John 16:8-11), but to no avail. The heart of the tare refuses to yield to the convicting voice of God’s Spirit. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,'” Hebrews 3:7, 8. The Holy Spirit pleads, convicts, and appeals, but the heart of the tare grows harder and harder. Any known sin, secretly practiced, will silence the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit. The Lord calls and calls upon the heart to surrender, but there is no answer. No one else can see the sin of the tare, but it is still there. The tare may be a faithful church member, he may be a deacon, an elder, or even the pastor, but if there is sin cherished in the heart, he is a tare. Outward distinction means nothing, anything can look good on the outside, but God is looking deeper, into the heart. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16:7. A tare may have the highest distinction in this world, but, in the Day of Judgment, that will not cover the fact that he is a tare. The lives of all professed Christians will be laid bare and each shall be known as he really is. (I Corinthians 13:12.) The tare, like Judas and the foolish virgins, is lost in church.

Not only is being lost in church something that is possible, it is something that is going to happen to many that are comfortably seated in the pews today. There are millions of Christians. In fact there are billions of Christians. It was estimated by the International Bulletin of Missionary Research that in the year 2000 there will be a total population of over six billion people, and of those, a little over two billion profess Christianity. Lumping all kinds of Christians together makes it the largest religion in the world, but the sad fact is that the majority is going to be lost in church. Millions of Israelites, in Christ’s time and before, were lost, and they were in the church. Lost in church because, like Judas, they refused to submit and surrender all to the Lord. Lost in church because, like the foolish virgins, they believed the truth but they did not yield themselves fully to be filled and worked by the Holy Spirit. Lost in church because, like the tares, they clung to some secret sin and refused to give it up for Jesus. Bible prophecy even predicts this. Revelation tells us that like the millions of Israelites, who were lost in church, the same scenario will be reenacted in the last days.

The Beast–in the Church

Bible prophecy depicts a power that will arise and have authority “over every tribe, tongue, and nation,” and lead “all that dwell on the earth” to “worship him.” Revelation 13:7, 8. This is the leopard-like beast of Revelation, the little horn of Daniel 7, the man of sin of II Thessalonians 2, and the anti-christ of I John. This power “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God.” II Thessalonians 2:4. This power opens “his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.” Revelation 13:6. This power is the power that “shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.” Daniel 7:25. This is the power that God has warned us against worshipping in the last days. This power will seek to enforce the mark of his authority, and all the world will be deceived into accepting it. “I saw one of his heads as if it has been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Revelation 13:3. But all that accept this mark will receive the most fearful judgments from God ever on record. “Then a third angel followed them saying, with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation.” Revelation 14:9, 10. All of the world will be coerced into going along with this beast power, but they will suffer the wrath of God.

Although most are familiar with this power, many are unaware of the character of this power. I was studying this subject with a man one time and he told me how he thought this was going to be played out. He thought that he would receive a knock on his door and standing outside would be some very muscular men dressed all in black who would tell him that he had to receive the mark of the beast. He then planned on shutting the door in their face and going about his business. That is not quite how the Bible says the mark of the beast will be enforced. First of all, the beast power is actually a religious power. It is not an atheistic system as many people think. The very word anti-christ is a combination of two Greek words anti and Christos. Anti in this context means more than just against but, “instead of, in the place of.” Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Gingrich and Danker. This is a power that sets itself up instead of Christ; that puts itself in the place of Christ. This is not atheistic communism or some other non-religious power; this is a religious power that puts itself in the place of God. Daniel tells us, “He shall be different from the first ones,” Daniel 7:24. He was going to be different from the first ten horns. The first ten horns were solely political kingdoms, but here is a religious political kingdom. “He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” II Thessalonians 2:4. He even sets himself up in God’s temple and claims to be God. Many have mistaken this verse to mean that the Jewish temple will be rebuilt and that the anti-christ will then set himself up in the rebuilt temple, but what they don’t realize is, this has already happened! Temple has several meanings under the new covenant. There is the temple in heaven where Jesus is ministering. (Hebrews 8:1-5; 9:11, 12, 23, 24; 10:12, 19-21; Revelation 1:12, 13; 8:3-5; 9:13; 11:19.) There is the temple of our bodies, or the temple of the Holy Spirit. (I Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:19, 20; John 2:18-21.) Finally, the church is called a temple. It is this final temple that the anti-christ will set himself up in. (Obviously, it is impossible for the anti-christ to set himself up in heaven or in our individual bodies.) “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God [the church], having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22. The church is called a holy temple, so it is in the church where the anti-christ, beast power sets himself up, and it is in the church that the mark of the beast is going to be enforced. (See Steps to Life’s booklet The Beast’s Mark, for a full study on who the beast is and what his mark is.) Lost in the church with the mark of the beast. Not one single person who receives the mark of the beast will be saved; every last one will be lost. This is a serious and important subject because in the last days, the ENTIRE WORLD will be lost in church!

The True Church

There will only be a small group of people who will not be swept into this titanic delusion of being lost in church. Revelation describes these people as well. “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 12:17; 14:12. God’s people, who not only make a profession but who live out their profession, are represented as those who keep all the commandments and have the testimony of Jesus. They are not content to keep most of the commandments and they are not content to simply keep nine of the commandments. While all of the world is following the traditions of men, they are standing firm for the truth of God’s Word. They will not be moved to the right hand or to the left. They, with Peter, say, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29. All of the world is following the beast power and rejecting “the commandment of God,” that they “may keep” their “tradition.” Mark 7:9. But like the three worthy Hebrews in Babylon they say, “Let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” Daniel 3:18. They refuse to keep man’s laws when they conflict with God’s Law. When an image to the beast is set up, they refuse to give homage to it.

You will not find this small group of people in the big churches of the land. They are not the ones who will be lost in church. In fact they may not even have an organization, denomination, or even a church building to go to, but they are still the true church of God. God’s true people are not those who have the most money or the most education. God’s true people are the ones who know, teach, and live the truth. “Which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” I Timothy 3:15. It is not a building that makes a true church. It is not the longevity of an organization that makes it the true church. It is the fact that God’s truth is there. If God’s truth is not there, God’s presence is not there, and it is not a true church. Many people have asked me, how do I know where to go to church. The answer is found in the John 4:21, 23, 24, “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father…. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.'” A true church is one that truly worships God in the spirit and in the truth. If it doesn’t have both of these things, it is not a part of God’s true church. God’s truth, from the Bible, must be proclaimed and the presence of the Holy Spirit must be there. Even if there is not a church building, if these two things are there, it is a part of God’s great true church. In a town where Paul was there was no church building that matched the prerequisites of God’s true church. Did he say well, I guess I will just have to stay at home and study my Bible at home? No. “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had met there.” Acts 16:13. You don’t have to have a church building to go to church, but there must be God’s truth and His Spirit or else it is useless to go. You will end up lost in church if you go to a place where the truth and the spirit are not. In fact, in the last days, it is predicted that God’s people will not have church buildings and the like. “He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks;” Isaiah 33:16. Many of God’s people will be forced to find a refuge from the ire of the beast power in the mountain fortresses. There certainly are not many churches there, but God’s presence will still be there if we have the truth and the spirit.

We can be lost in church even if we belong and attend God’s true, commandment keeping church, but do not have the necessary heart experience. But if we belong to the churches of our land in these last days, who are not teaching the truth, we will most inevitably end up being lost in church. God’s true people are described throughout the Bible as those who love God enough to keep His Law. (John 14:15, 21) It is not enough to keep some of the commandments. It is not even good enough to profess to keep all of the commandments. If we are breaking one, we are judgment bound. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all…. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.” James 2:10, 12. If a person is guilty of breaking one of the commandments, they are guilty of breaking the entire Law and will be judged as a lawbreaker. How much more true is this for churches who are breaking one of the commandments and teaching others to do so. What a fearful account they will have to settle before the judgment bar of God. When a church teaches that it is all right to break the fourth commandment, (Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, for in six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, thy God. See Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 20:8-11; 31:13-17; Isaiah 56:2-8; 58:12-14; 66:22, 23; Ezekiel 20:12, 20; Mark 2:27, 28; Luke 4:16; Acts 13:42, 44; 16:13; 17:2.) it is teaching its members to break God’s Law, and thus will be guilty of breaking them all. When a church keeps the traditions of men instead of the Commandments of God, they are not teaching the truth from God’s Word and thus are not a part of God’s true church. If a person stays in a church that is teaching the commandments of men over the commandments of God, he will end up being lost in church. “And in vain they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Matthew 15:9. There may be a beautiful choir, an eloquent preacher, padded pews and impressive ceremony, but God’s Spirit is not there. God’s message to all those in these popular, Commandment-breaking churches is, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen and has become the habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! Come out of her my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” Revelation 18:2, 4. All, who stay in these churches, will share in her sins, receive of her plagues and be lost in church. Where will you be? Will you be among the small group without the buildings, institutions, or numbers, but who have the truth from the Bible and are living out their profession? Or will you be LOST IN CHURCH?

All emphasis the authors unless otherwise stated.
All texts from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Sources:

Christ Object Lessons, Ellen G. White, 1900.
The Desire of Ages, Ellen G. White, 1898.
International Bulletin of Missionary Research, January 1999, David B. Barrett & Todd M. Johnston
Shorter Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, F. Wilbur Gingrich & Frederick W. Danker, 1983

Click here to view other exciting posts on Bible topics from Steps to Life.

If you would like to reprint or translate this book please contact Steps to Life for permission.