Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Dream of the Coming Plague


Dream of the Coming Plague

I recently dreamed that an air-borne plague was killing people in cities throughout America. I was ministering to a large group of people in a church. They were repenting of their sins, as well as seeking God in heartfelt prayer. A young woman told me that her twin brother recently died from the plague and she was now alone. She said, “My brother was taken and I was left.” I talked to many people who had similar stories about losing a loved one. Everyone exclaimed, “They were taken and I was left.” The people were all afraid that they would eventually die as their loved ones did.

I was preaching to them concerning salvation, holiness, as well as forgiving others their trespasses. I felt tremendous compassion for the people and I was weeping for them. I told a group of people that I would lead them to a safe location. I was then driving the group into the wilderness. The people were very afraid and I was bringing them comfort through the scriptures. The clouds were very dark and heavy rain was falling. I turned on the radio and a newscaster said that stormy weather was in the forecast. The newscaster then began to do an update on the deaths that resulted from the plague. He told the numbers of deaths that occurred per city, throughout America. I quoted Revelation chapter twelve to the group.

 Rev 12 states that God will protect many of his overcomers in remote wilderness locations during the tribulation. Those who hear God’s voice will relocate to remote sanctuaries, prepared for the elect. Those who are waiting for a rapture to take them out will most likely die during the tribulation.  God did not rapture Noah out of the earth, nor did he build the ark for him. Noah obeyed God’s instruction and spent 120 years building the ark. Because of Noah’s obedience, we are here today.

The scriptural reference for the dream is (Luke 17:32-37). Within the dream, everyone had lost someone due to the plague. They all exclaimed, “They were taken and I was left.” Christ admonishes us to remember Lot’s wife. Lot’s wife disobeyed God and looked back when God destroyed Sodom.  The result was that she was turned into a pillar of salt. She was taken in death, but righteous Lot was left. We too, must obey God and not look back to the world of sin, lest we be consumed.

Christ also said that in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will grinding together and one will be taken and the other left.  Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left. His disciples asked him, “Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."  Many people believe that this passage is a reference to the rapture, however the opposite is true. Christ was saying, the vultures would consume the bodies of those taken in death. The tares shall be gathered together and thrown into the fire. This will be their destruction, and those left behind will inherit the earth. (Matt24:27-31) Christ said, immediately after the tribulation of those days, he would return and send out his angels to gather the elect. The dead shall be raised, and the living shall be transformed ,at the last trump, on the last day. The words of Christ are true and the doctrines of man are a lie. Christ will return after the Great Tribulation. Let no man deceive you with ear tickling words, which may result in your death!

(Luke 17:32) Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left." 37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together." 

(Matt 24:27) For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 28 For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together. 29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moo n will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

(Rev 18:8) Therefore her plagues will come in one day--death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her. 9 "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'

(Matt 24:7) For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Monday, March 5, 2018

The Fear of the Lord

 
The Fear of the Lord

( Job 28:28)  And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

(Psalms 111:10)  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

(Proverbs 1:7 ) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The fear of the Lord is not evident in the lives of many Christians now days. The Hebrew word for fear in these passages is defined as "Awe" or "Respect". There doesn't seem to be any reverence for God ,or his house, anymore. In the past, many churches taught their people to repent of their sins and to allow the Holy Spirit to do his sanctifying work, but this sound doctrine has been replaced by the lukewarm grace message. There is grace for those who repent of their sins and are truly born again, but this truth has been distorted by the man pleasers. Many churches are more interested in making people happy in order to receive large tithes than to teach them what God's Word really says in regard to salvation, as well as sanctification (Being set apart from the world).

 (2 Timothy 4:2)  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

 (2 Cor 6:17 ) Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Many people believe that there is automatic grace for all of their present and future sins, however, God's Word is clear that we are not to continue in sin once we come to Christ. (Romans 6:1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

 Paul was speaking of habitual sins, known also as bondages. No man is without sin in this fallen world, but we are called to put away the old nature and to be born again by God's Spirit. We are to be set apart from the sinful crowd, this does not indicate perfection, However,  we are called to righteousness (right living). We are not to continue drinking in excess, drugging, partying, cussing, smoking, lying ,or committing fornication, these are examples of habitual sins and there are many. We are to allow God's Spirit to set us apart (sanctify us), this is a process that is lifelong. (1 Peter 1:14 ) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,  16 because it is written,“Be holy, for I am holy.”

Those who believe that our works don't matter are denying God's Word. Christ gave messages to the seven churches in the book of Revelation, he told them repeatedly to repent, because he knew their works! Also consider what James says, (James 2:14 ) What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

As you can see, our works do matter and that will be evident on judgment day, for EVERY man shall be judged according to his works. (Rev 20:12) 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. 13  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. God's word is clear that faith without works is dead. The Apostle Paul said that we are saved by faith, not by works lest any man should boast. If  Paul meant that we are saved by faith alone, then his doctrine would be at odds with the teachings of Christ, John, Peter, as well as James, but that is not what he was saying. Paul was telling the Jews that the works of the Law of Moses could not save them, it took the atonement of Jesus Christ upon the cross to provide salvation. And Christ said that we must repent of our sins and be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

I am also very disturbed by the lack of respect shown in God's house. When we come before the Lord to worship him and to receive teaching from his Word, we need to show respect for the Lord. Christians should dress modestly, as unto the Lord, and not to attract attention from the opposite sex. I also believe that we should be physically clean and wear our best clothes out of respect. This does not mean that we must be flashy in our appearance, but to wear whatever our best attire may be. Church should not be a fashion show either, we are not in a competition, we are there to worship the Lord.

Also, if a poor man is made to sit in the back because of his appearance, then we are showing prejudice and sin.  If a tee shirt, or jeans ,is your only clothing ,then come as you are. However, there is a trend to look tacky, in order show humility within many churches today and that is disrespectful to the Lord. People dress up for weddings, funerals, as well as work ,and job interviews to show respect, then why not do the same for the Lord? In biblical times, the Jews immersed themselves in mikva'ots before entering the Temple. This ritual purification was commanded by the Law, so the people would be clean when coming before the Lord. The priests bathed, as well as wore clean, spotless garments when ministering unto the Lord. Yet, today we have preachers wearing tee shirts ,and cutoff  jeans ,or shorts, while preaching. I believe that the spiritual condition of the church is reflected by the irreverence that is shown today.

Also, many churches allow disco tech style dancing during their so-called worship services. This, as well as the so-called Holy Ghost hop is lewd, as well as shameful, in God's house. The majority of the dancing done during worship services is an affront to a holy God.

 The Lord gave me a dream concerning the dancing going on in many churches today. I was seated in gym style bleachers with people my age and much younger, within a church building. There was another set of bleachers to my right ,that contained senior citizens.  The worship leader began to sing, “clap your hands to the Lord” then “lift your hands to the Lord”. The people were clapping and lifting their hands to the Lord in heartfelt worship. Next, the worship leader sang, “dance to the Lord.” The people were dancing along with the worship leader as he exclaimed, “take your clothes off  before the Lord.” The worship leader then took his shirt off. Nudity is symbolic of shameful behavior.  The senior citizens seated in the bleachers to my right began to shake their fingers at the younger generation and chant repeatedly, “shame on you.” The older generation were scolding the younger ones for their lewd, shameful ,display of the flesh going on in their form of dance and music.

Also, the religious rock concerts going on in God's house is bringing in an unholy spirit. The majority of Christian rock music is demonic. Many churches are now experiencing counterfeit revivals because of their lukewarm preaching and irreverent music and worship. The fear of the Lord is lacking among most today. In order to replace the apostasy(Great falling away) with a true revival, we need to teach repentance, holiness, as well as respect for the Lord, as the churches of yesteryear once did!!