And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel (Revelation 7:2-4). In preparing Israel for redemption, God chooses 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes, a total of 144,000 to be sealed with the seal of God. Some scholars teach that these 144,000 are going to evangelize the earth, but at no place does the Bible indicate this to be true. Why would the Lord bring forth a people who have denied Christ to be the Son of God, a people who know nothing about Him, and suddenly make them all preachers? It will not happen.

If the Lord doesn’t use the 144,000 to evangelize, who does He use? And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people (Revelation 14:6). This doesn’t sound as though the Lord is using the 144,000 to evangelize but an angel with the everlasting Gospel. An angel. The Lord will also use two witnesses who will evangelize in a fantastic manner—but more about them later.

In chapter twelve we find the 144,000 now in the form of the mysterious man child. And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered (Revelation 12:1,2). The woman travailing in birth is Israel. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne (verse 5). This man child is not Jesus; He had already come to Earth two thousand years earlier. This birth takes place in the Tribulation Period. Who then is the man child? He’s the 144,000, the man child of Israel. This man child is caught up into Heaven and the woman, Israel, flees into the wilderness.

Some feel the man child is Christ because the Bible says He will rule with a rod of iron. But in Revelation 2:26,27 we find that he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron. Those who overcome unto the end, the Bride of Christ, will take part in ruling the nations with a rod of iron, and so will the 144,000 Jews.

In Chapter 14 we find the 144,000 in Heaven: And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth (Revelation 14:1-3). If you are redeemed from the earth, you are not on the earth evangelizing others. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb (verse 4).

The 144,000 are represented not only as the man child, but also as the first fruits, the first gathering of the Jewish harvest. The first mention of the first fruits of harvest in the Bible tells us these were the very best, taken and offered up to God. The 12,000 God picks from each tribe will be pure, clean and fit to go to Heaven just like the Bride of Christ will be fit. The Bride of Christ will be raptured before the Tribulation, and the 144,000 will be raptured during the Tribulation Period, caught up to be with the Lord. The Bible plainly tells us that when John saw them before the throne they were redeemed from men, the first fruits of the harvest.

Why will God seal the 144,000 Jews and take them out? We are not told; but I believe He does it to reveal His greatness to the Jewish nation, to let them know that He is Lord God Almighty, that they have been deceived by the Antichrist. Remember, two-thirds of the Jewish people will be killed during this time of Tribulation. Only one-third will be left who will accept Jesus Christ.

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 (Revelation 12:14). The woman, the Israelites who survive, will flee into the wilderness where God will hide them from the enemy.

What is the significance of the woman’s wings? Again the law of first mention throws a light on the subject. The Lord said unto Moses: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself (Exodus 19:4). Some think this means that Israel will be taken out in airplanes. No, that isn’t it at all. Did the Lord take the Hebrews out of the wilderness in planes in Moses’ day? Of course not.

We find wings mentioned again in Malachi 4:2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings. Healing in His wings…the wings of God are love, protection, strength and help. Israel will have the wings of God for shelter; under the wings of the Almighty will they find a hiding place. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust (Psalm 91:4).

You need not try to imagine where Israel will be hidden. God will choose the place, and it matters not where. God demonstrated He could hide the Israelites quite effectively when he protected them with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. They were right out in the open, and God threw up a screen between them and their enemies. Don’t worry how God will protect Israel; just know that He will.

Many of the Jewish people are so buried in tradition that they will never accept Jesus, but if a nation is to be saved in a day, it must be comprised of people who will accept Jesus Christ.

The Seven Trumpet Judgments

God made an altar of grace by offering His Only Begotten Son. When God turns from that altar of grace to the altar of judgment, the judgments will rain down upon sinful, disobedient, ungodly, unholy humanity. Those who choose the devil will be judged. As we go through the seven trumpet judgments that come with the opening of the seventh seal of the little book of redemption, remember it’s with these terrible judgments that the earth is being redeemed. God could have kept the earth holy had it not been for man’s disobedience; now in order to cleanse the earth, God will rain down judgments.

And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour (Revelation 8:1). Terrible things have happened up to this period of time, horrible events, chaos like man has never seen before. But now such fearsome judgment is about to be rained down on the earth that there is silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake (verse 5). The angel took this fire from the altar of God’s judgment. And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound (verse 6).

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up (Revelation 8:7). To see just a few trees dying is sad; but to see one third of all vegetable life die will be more than sad, it will create havoc. At the sounding of one trumpet the power of God’s judgment will be shown. God has a right hand of mercy and a left hand of judgment. He has extended that right hand of mercy out before man, holding up the nail-riven hands of Jesus drained of blood on the cross for mankind. Jesus gave all, and now God’s anger will be furious against those who have rejected His Son.

And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood (Revelation 8:8). Not an actual mountain but a mass of fire the size of a great mountain was cast into the sea. A third of the seas are turned into blood. And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed (verse 9). An angry God is standing up, a jealous God. “Woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth!” an angel cries.

Think of the suffocating stench as the sea creatures die and are washed up on shore to rot. The people who loved the stench of sin will have the odor of death to remind them of an angry God.

And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter (Revelation 8:10,11). The rivers, the fountains, a third part of the drinking water throughout the earth are so bitter that men die from them. Drink the water and it kills you. What are you going to do? Imagine being lost without water in a desert. Lips parched, tongue swollen, skin burned…and no relief in sight. What would you give for one drink of pure water? People will have already been through the terror of the seas becoming blood, of trees and grass being burnt up. Think of the fear and despair flooding across the earth when news of the bitter water arrives!

And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise (Revelation 8:12). God’s judgment is affecting everything. The earth has belonged to Him from the very beginning; after all, He created it. Who else has the right to destroy it? God made it; man contaminated it. Man insulted his God, spit in the eye of God, choosing the devil over his Creator. God will have had enough. A third part of the day and night will be gone; a third part of the night will have no stars, no moon. Total darkness. Men loved the darkness of sin, and God will give them plenty of darkness, so much that they will gnaw their tongues in pain.

And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit (Revelation 9:1). An angelic being performs this task: And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them (verses 2-6). God did not give those creatures power to kill, only to torment. People will suffer the agony of death but will not be able to die for five months of the Tribulation Period.

And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon (Revelation 9:7-11). The locust demons have a king, a guard over them that evidently has been their leader perhaps all these years they have been in the darkness of the bottomless pit.

The world by now, I’m sure, thinks nothing worse can happen to them; then the sixth angel puts the trumpet to his lips and sounds. And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates (Revelation 9:13,14). Fallen angels. When Lucifer fell, he took some of the angels with him. God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (II Peter 2:4). God didn’t spare even the angels when they sinned. Why would man think he could get by with sin? The Bible tells us in Jude 1:6, And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Devils in the form of fallen angels reserved by God for the Tribulation Period are to be set free and allowed to bring destruction.

And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men (Revelation 9:15). These demon spirits are prepared to slay a third part of the men left on the earth in a year’s time. God is exacting in His prophecies. The Lord has kept the rebellious angels in bondage, and now He is going to turn them loose upon the face of the earth to bring judgment. How ferocious they will be after being chained all those ages! Terrible destruction will erupt through them; the Lord spells out just what they will be able to do.

The four angels that are to be loosed will bring with them a terrifying army: And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them (Revelation 9:16). This is not man’s army, but a demon army of destruction, of judgment that God has turned loose upon the face of the earth.

The Bible goes on to explain this army: And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone (Revelation 9:17).

God has given me a study of demonic powers, letting me see various kinds of demons. Demons take on many different forms. It would not be unusual for demons to have heads like lions with fire, smoke and brimstone blazing out of their mouths.

By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt (Revelation 9:18,19).

The Lord did not call this an army of men, but plagues. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues (Revelation 9:20). Just like God sent plagues on Egypt, He will send plagues in the Tribulation Period. The plagues God rained down on the kingdom of Pharaoh were on a much smaller scale than the ones He is about to pour out. What God has done in the past He can do again with any amount of force He chooses.

God has warned us of His judgments, given samples of them in the past so we will know that God means exactly what He says when He promises judgment for sin. The devil has turned many aside by convincing them that God wouldn’t send judgments. God made hell for the devil and his angels, but it has been enlarged to accommodate every human being who loves the works of sin. If you go to hell, your sins will have sent you there, not God. Your sins will separate you from a loving God. There is a literal burning hell.

And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts (Revelation 9:20,21). Even after all of this, many will not turn away from sin. People have sold their souls to the devil through witchcraft, astrology, illicit sex and multitudes of other sins.

When you play with the kingdom of Satan, you pay. The devil plays for keeps. Millions are in hell today who thought they were just having fun but were really playing with the devil. The Ouija board is of the devil. Fortunetellers, astrologers are of the devil. Readers and advisors—of the devil. If psychics tell you anything, it comes from the devil. Demonic minds, minds influenced or possessed by demons, do the works of the devil. Because of these works, God’s cup of indignation is about to be poured out upon planet Earth.

No matter what happens to those who were not killed with the plagues, notice that they do not repent. There are some people who simply do not want God; they don’t love Him, don’t wish to be pure and clean in His sight. Taken over by the devil, they love his power; they want to feel it, to experience it, to worship him and not honor the God who made them. Nothing will change them. God will let them join the devil in the lake of fire as the eternal ages roll.

What a risk the lost are taking! If they die in that state, hell will be their destiny. But God still has mercy for any soul who is without Him now, those who take advantage of their chance to repent.

We have reached the time of judgments upon the wicked nations, judgments soon to be introduced by seven seals, seven trumpets and seven vials or bowls of the wrath of God. By these three means will God finish His judgments.

The Seals of Judgment Broken

In the tenth chapter of Revelation we read: And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth (Revelation 10:1,2). Notice this little book. The first time we saw that book, remember, it was sealed; the terms of redemption for planet Earth were written outside and within. It is the same seven-sealed book that only Jesus could open, but now all the seals have been broken and a mighty angel is holding it in his hand. The book of judgments has been opened and the judgments of God are being rained down.

The mighty angel cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not (Revelation 10:3,4). This is an amazing revelation. After John heard it he was told to seal it up. I believe the message the seven thunders uttered was for people of his day. It most likely was not a message that concerned the people of our day—but the Bible doesn’t tell us for sure.

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer (Revelation 10:5,6). This is not referring to the complete cessation of time but stating that there should be no more delay; it’s ever onward into the wrath of God, into the pouring out of God’s judgment until it all is completed, the whole plan of God; no more delay. God has taken the driver’s seat and is moving straight forward, dealing with Satan and his demonic powers as well as with people. As God judges all evil, His wrath will be poured out without mercy.

But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets (Revelation 10:7). Everything is going to be finished, all the mysteries of God. No pause, no waiting. God will close out the age.

The Sweet and Bitter Message

And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings (Revelation 10:8-11). John received the message to give to many people and nations when he ate the book. The message was inside him now, and all he had to do was deliver it.

Has there ever been a little book in the Scripture for anyone to eat? If so, what happened after it was eaten? We go back to the law of first mention. In Ezekiel 2 we read: But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe (Ezekiel 2:8-10). The seven-sealed book of Revelation, remember, was also written within and without.

Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel (Ezekiel 3:1). Ezekiel is told to speak to the house of Israel after he eats the roll. What is he to tell them? The message of the two-edged sword: blessings and a curse, mercy and judgment. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness (verses 2,3). In Ezekiel’s prophecies are warnings of God to Israel. God offered mercy, but He also said He would destroy if the people turned from Him—scatter them, bring judgment. God reminded Israel how they had failed Him, how they had disobeyed. He wanted them to know.

After scattering the Jews among all nations, God in these last days is still doing what He said. He is gathering the Jews back to the sweet or the bitter—the sweetness of the Gospel or the bitterness of judgment. The Gospel is sweet in your mouth. If you take it into your very soul and let it work, it will not be bitter; but if the Gospel goes into the belly, into the physical alone and not the soul, it is bitter, indeed, when judgment comes.

Many turn away from the Gospel because it is bitter to them. They prefer the taste of sin, the things of the world, the works of the flesh. If the Gospel is bitter to you, something is wrong in your life. The Word of God has not been able to do its work in your soul. The Gospel must go into the very soul to work, into the innermost being of you to sweeten your life. The Gospel will keep your life sweet, pure and clean from all sin if you yield to it.

Prophesy Deceits

Our day is like the days of the prophet Isaiah when people said: Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits (Isaiah 30:10). Israel not only did not want the truth of God, they asked their prophets to prophesy the lies they wanted to hear.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables (II Timothy 4:3,4). This is what people look for today, untruths that make them feel good. Not wanting sin to be revealed in their lives, they cover up, hiding behind lies and half truths. Some people use church as a cover-up, a device to make others think they’re sincere Christians. They live like the devil during the week, and then go to church on Sunday and call themselves good. God hates a hypocrite.

God foretold the condition people would be in today, in the day when Jesus comes again; and He tells us through John the Revelator: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth (Revelation 3:15,16). I will spew you into great tribulation, great persecution, great judgment!

In John 3:18 we read: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Regardless of your religion, if you do not accept Jesus Christ, there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12). You will be left standing outside the gate to Heaven if you do not have Jesus in your heart. He is the only way.

The Two Witnesses of Revelation

The eleventh chapter of Revelation opens with instructions to John to measure the temple of God: And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months (Revelation 11:1,2). Forty-two months, or three-and-a-half years the Holy City will be trodden underfoot by the Gentiles; and then God will take over. God told John to measure the temple, rope it off in His name—but not the Gentile’s outer court. And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth (verse 3). There it is again: three-and-a-half years. God spells everything out in a definite way in the book of Revelation. Only what the voice of the seven thunders uttered is not explained.

John goes on to tell more about these two witnesses: These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will (Revelation 11:4-6).

Those who don’t believe God will send judgment should study this chapter. These are messengers of God, two witnesses, two preachers. They are giving out God’s message and judgments. Why would people say we shouldn’t preach judgment today? Who would dare not warn people about the consequences of their fallen state because it might cause a drop in their self-image or intimidate them? The devil loves to have people lie for him, cover up the truth.

These two preachers will have fire blazing out of their mouths with the message of judgment. Just as God is giving much love and little judgment today, in that day He will give little love and much judgment. While the two witnesses are preaching, while they are being persecuted, fire will proceed out of their mouths to destroy their enemies. A flame bursts out, and no more enemy. They continue preaching; another enemy confronts them, another flame of fire and the preaching goes on. Unwilling to shoulder the responsibility for their own sins, people will blame the two witnesses for all their troubles.

Both of these witnesses have been on Earth before. Who shut up the heavens so that it would not rain? Elijah. Who turned the waters into blood? Moses. Moses was the one who smote the earth with plagues, and he will be one of the witnesses. Some scholars declare Enoch rather than Moses will be one of the witnesses because both Elijah and Enoch were taken to Heaven alive, escaping death. This has nothing to do with it. It is appointed unto every man to die save those who escape death by way of the Rapture. The two witnesses are Moses and Elijah.

And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them (Revelation 11:7). God allows them to be killed by the beast. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of that great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put into graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth (verses 8-10). There will be great celebration over the deaths of the two witnesses who will be left lying out on the streets. People send gifts to one another, showing their delight. But suddenly all their joy is smashed. After three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they [the two witnesses] stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them (verses 11,12).

God allows the beast to kill the two witnesses—the people were not able to—but He won’t allow them to be buried. God lets the people enjoy themselves for three-and-a-half days, then stuns them with terror by resurrecting the two witnesses before their eyes. Anyone can take a life, but only God can give it. God is saying, I give life. I am God! I sent my witnesses from Heaven to Earth with my message. They delivered it to you. I allowed them to be killed; now I have given them life, and I’m bringing them home. Come home, Sons, you’ve finished your mission.

Our God is mighty; our God has all power, and He won’t stop with just resurrecting His two witnesses and taking them to Heaven. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past, and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly. And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever (Revelation 11:13-15). Jesus is the one door into Heaven. There is no other way in.

Jesus Brought Life

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). You must be pure in heart to enter Heaven through Jesus. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil (John 3:17-19).

Jesus brought life. He said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). The forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, declared that you must give up all sin: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight (Matthew 3:3). John went on: O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance (verses 7,8). Stop saying that Abraham is your father, John told the Jews. It won’t help at all.

The grace dispensation began when Jesus came as our High Priest. Taking His place beside God, He stands holding back God’s wrath, a protection to all believing humanity. Calvary brought great mercy to this world. We are in the church dispensation of grace in which unbelievable grace and mercy are available to mankind. When God’s mercy and grace are accepted, much harm is done to the kingdom of Lucifer. Because of it, Lucifer has tried in every way to deceive man about God’s mercy. He seeks to instill the belief that you can sin and still get to God’s Heaven. But the Bible clearly tells us that the soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20).

One day judgment will fall on all who have even one sin in their heart. God will use the sword, the edge of judgment. Although God has been longsuffering, He will come to the end of it when the Bride of Christ is taken out. The Tribulation Period will begin, the Lion personality of Jesus will come forth to take its place in the history of mankind, the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

Examine Yourself with the Faith of God

Don’t be a lover of darkness, of sin, of anything unlike God; for if you are, the Tribulation Period or hell—or both—will be your fate. Study the seventeen works of the flesh of Galatians 5:19-21, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Study them carefully. Don’t tell your heart you are all right if you aren’t. The Bible instructs: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith (II Corinthians 13:5). Examine yourself with the Word of God. The Word is the final authority. The fifth chapter of Galatians can tell you whether you are really saved. Indulging in any of the works of the flesh means you are not.

Are you one who thinks no one can live free from sin? The Lord said sin would have no part in His Kingdom. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:41,42). People with sin in their souls will not be in Heaven; and since John saw great multitudes in Heaven, it must be possible to live free from sin.

Never has there been such a time of deceit of Lucifer on the earth as now. The deceit in the Garden of Eden, the deceit of Noah’s day were on a small scale. Although today the deceit of Lucifer is raging throughout the earth, God still is offering great mercy just as He did in the days of Noah. Seven days after the animals had entered the ark, after the family of Noah had gone in, God waited for the others outside who might turn to Him. They had seen the great miracle of the animals—God always shows His miraculous hand before judgment falls—yet the people loved darkness and hated God, hated His holiness and righteousness. For over one hundred years while the ark was being built, they jeered and made fun; then suddenly animals were coming from the east, west, north and south. A miracle was taking place before them. Did they believe what Noah had said then? No.

Today endtime signs are being fulfilled before our eyes, and yet people still are not convinced that the coming of the Lord and the Tribulation Period are upon us. When you see Israel budding forth like the fig tree, lift up your heads and know that your redemption draweth nigh. Lift up your heads and behold God’s prophecies taking place. Look beyond the deceit of the devil and the foolishness of people. When God says to lift up your head He means to lift it up into the truth of God, into the greatness of God, into what thus saith the Lord. Be immune to disputings over the Word of God, falter not over those falling by the wayside. Tread underfoot the attempts of the devil to destroy you by convincing you that God’s prophecies are not true.

Lift up your head; know the season. Walk in the light of God’s truth. You are not children of darkness; you know this is the season of the second coming of Jesus. You don’t know the exact day or hour when Jesus will return, but you know this is the season. Just as you recognize spring, summer, fall, winter by the signs, you recognize the season of His coming by the fulfilling of the endtime signs of prophecy. The Lord described the endtime signs when He was here on Earth; carefully He left them with you so that you would know your redemption draweth nigh.

The devil is doing everything he can to cause you to degrade yourself in just a little sin, everything he can to discourage you, to defeat you, to spot and wrinkle your garments because he knows if you have spots, wrinkles, blemishes or any such thing, you will be left behind for the Tribulation Period. Jesus is coming after the Glorious Church.

Notice that when God selects the 144,000, He will be very careful. They will be those who have not defiled themselves with women, wholesome, pure and clean. The church that is about to be caught up must also be pure, clean and holy. Through the righteousness and holiness of God, through the power in the blood of Jesus, they can be. It’s the blood that cleanses. You are sealed with the blood by the Holy Spirit; your soul has the seal of God upon it, and that seal is not meant to be broken. From the time your soul is sealed with the blood of Jesus through the Holy Ghost Himself, only you can break that seal by choosing to sin. If that seal is broken, you are in jeopardy, in grave danger. That seal will have to be in perfect order when Jesus comes if you expect to see Heaven.

Fruit sealed in a jar will spoil if that seal is broken only a tiny bit. Some think they can sin just a little and still be protected by the blood of Jesus, but it doesn’t work that way. If the seal of God upon you is broken in any way, you will not be preserved, not kept in the holiness of God. You will become contaminated, lost, left behind at the Rapture.

Such amazement among men when they see an angry Christ! They never thought God would bring judgment like they will see. They didn’t believe God would do what He said in His Word. Many religious leaders will be shocked. Hearing only a little love-message, people are unprepared for a God of war. Ministers need to preach love, but they need to warn what will happen to those who reject God

God Expects Obedience

Love and discipline held homes together in the past; but in our society today, the discipline the Bible teaches is breaking down. The Lord expects parents to provide both love and godly discipline. Parents are meant to bring judgment upon their children when needed, to warn them, to let them know they will have to pay for their mistakes. Those growing up today not facing the responsibility of their mistakes will slip into more and more darkness until they don’t really care what they do. Children usually misbehave more outside the home than in; but with discipline, the children know the sword with two edges, love and discipline is in control. Godly, loving discipline does not inhibit the child but molds a well-adjusted individual.

Throughout history whenever man left the ways of the Lord and went his own path, he always ended up with judgment. God gives man time to turn to Him, and when man does not, God’s mercy ends.

God expected the same obedience of John in spreading the message that He did of Ezekiel when he told him: Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul (Ezekiel 3:17-19).

If ministers today do not preach the true Gospel, God is going to require of them the blood of those souls who are lost because of it. Oh, the revelation of God! The might and greatness of our God in action bringing justice! The day of judgment is almost here. Judgment is already falling throughout the earth today in different places. People are astonished, frightened at what is happening. Hour after hour shocking events are flashed on the television screen—but often are soon forgotten. No matter how many die, they aren’t remembered very long outside their families. Man may believe for a moment that God is sending His judgments, but then he pushes the idea aside. Buried so deeply in sin and unrighteousness, people become the pathetic chaff of a wasted harvest.

Do you really believe Jesus is coming? Do you believe He is coming for the Glorious Church? Do you believe He is coming after the pure, clean and holy? You dare not be contaminated with this world. The Bible teaches separation from the world if you expect to be with God. God and the world do not mix. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (I John 2:15). Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord (II Corinthians 6:17). Separate from all sin; be pure, clean and holy. You work to keep your clothes clean, use spot remover, take them to the cleaners. You iron out wrinkles, then admire your work, deciding your clothes look fine. The Holy Spirit is working to get out the spots and wrinkles from your spiritual garments, using the blood of Jesus to make you pure and clean, using the fire of the Holy Ghost to take out the wrinkles, getting you ready to leave here. He is coming after the Glorious Church.

How wonderful to know that you are pure, clean, your sins all forgiven! If you don’t know whether or not you are righteous, you are uneasy, frightened. You must know where you stand with the Lord. Are you clean or unclean? You can tell if the body is clean, why not the soul? The Bible lets you know. What can wash away your sin? The blood of Jesus. If you are clean today, it’s through the blood that stained the Old Rugged Cross. Without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins, no cleansing power. Without shedding of blood is no remission (Hebrews 9:22). God tried everything to wash away your sins, but nothing worked until the blood of Jesus. Sin no longer has dominion over those who have taken Jesus into their hearts, those who are blood bought, blood washed. Thank God, because of the transforming power of the blood, we can be like Jesus for He lives in us!