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J-42. How to PREPARE for the GREAT TRIBULATION!
J-42. How to PREPARE for the GREAT TRIBULATION!
OUR ARK OF SECURITY
OUR ARK OF SECURITY
In Matthew 24:37,38 Jesus said,
“But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall ALSO the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were BEFORE the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, UNTIL the day Noe (Noah) entered the ARK.”
This passage of scripture tells us a lot about what the days of the coming of the Lord will be like. First of all, consider the words of Jesus that there will be people “marrying” right up to the time Noah ENTERED the ark. Now compare those words, with Jesus saying that in the world to come we, as Christians, will NOT be given in marriage. IN other words, Christians will continue to marry right up until the coming of Jesus.
Next, we see that the world will continue as they are now growing worse and worse just like the Bible tells us. And then as those in the world become like it was in the days of Noah Jesus will return. And some Christians will begin to THINK NOT that that Jesus is coming again, as in, Some Christians will begin to THINK that Jesus is NOT coming again. And thus, some Christians might lose hope of our Lord's coming.
In other words, the world will be almost completely oblivious to the fact that Jesus is coming back and SOME Christians will begin to DOUBT that Jesus is ever coming again. The world, speaking of the ungodly, the NON-believers and the wicked will be “caught off guard”, so to speak, and they will not be prepared for the coming of Jesus when he comes to execute the WRATH of Almighty God the Father. But Christians, for the most part, will know that the things coming on the world are the signs of the coming days of trouble and great tribulation that must come upon the house of God FIRST BEFORE that great and notable day of God's WRATH be poured out on the FEARFUL, the UNBELIEVING and the WICKED of this present world.
Daniel 12:10 says it like this.
“Many shall be purified and made white, and tried, but the wicked shall do wickedly: and NONE of the wicked shall UNDERSTAND, but the wise shall understand.”
However, the question still remains in my mind, “Will the Church, as a whole, be prepared for his appearing, the second coming of Jesus?” Some Christians teach that the church is going to be raptured BEFORE this time of 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation. So to THEM, they see no need to prepare for something that they THINK that they are NOT going to be around to go through. Then other Christians called preterist, believe and teach that the time of great tribulation has ALREADY come and gone being FULFILLED in 70 AD. So again, to THEM in their THINKING, is why should they prepare for something that has already come and gone?
But to the WISE, the Bible says THEY shall KNOW and UNDERSTAND that the time of the great tribulation is coming upon all the earth. But even then, some Christians who do indeed know the TRUTH that the church will go THROUGH the entire period of great tribulation are still yet wondering WHAT they should be doing to PREPARE for the coming days ahead.
Let me ask you, my readers and seekers of the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God, “Are YOU spiritually and mentally prepared for the soon coming days of great tribulation that Jesus tells us about in Matthew 24:15”? I urge you to read Matthew chapter 24 in its’ entirety. In fact, I have a Bible study specifically devoted to Matthew chapter 24 exposing the errors of the PRE tribulation rapture theory and the false teaching of preterism that will root and ground you in the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of God that teaches a POST tribulation PRE-MILLENNIAL second coming of Jesus at which time Jesus will RAPTURE, or CATCH UP God's elect and give the faithful Christians eternal life to rule and reign with him for a LITERAL 1000 years. Please read “MATTHEW 24:1-31 EXPLAINED IN CONTEXT!” But for now. please take a look at verses 21 and 24 in Matthew chapter 24.
Matthew 24:21,24.
“For then shall be GREAT TRIBULATION, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be…
...24. And EXCEPT those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the ELECT'S (Speaking of God's people, BOTH the CHURCH and the Jews. Please see the study “THE TWO WITNESSES: WHO ARE THEY?”) sake those days shall be shortened.”
There is going to be great persecution against God's people BOTH the Church AND the Jews during this time, and I sometimes wonder if the Church as a whole is prepared for such great persecution. I am frequently reminded of the words of Jesus in Luke 17:7,8 as I was led to write this study in God's word.
Luke 17: 7,8.
“And shall not God avenge his own elect, (The CHURCH speaking of believers IN Jesus AND God's people Israel the JEWS. These TWO groups of God's people are the TWO WITNESSES in the Book of Revelation and they are the ONLY two groups of people who stand in all the earth for the ONE TRUE and only Almighty God and one of the things that we are to do to PREPARE for the time of GREAT tribulation is to cry out to God for the abominations that are coming on the earth. Please read the study called “HOW TO RECEIVE THE MARK OF GOD?” to be protected during the time of great tribulation.) which cry day and night unto him, though He bears long with them?
8. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. NEVERTHELESS, when the Son of man comes, shall he find FAITH on the earth?”
Since Jesus himself is questioning this time of intense trial as to whether or not he will find FAITH on the earth when he returns, then this makes me take a CLOSER look at all that the word of God has to say on the subject of the SECOND COMING of Jesus. Will Jesus find faith on the earth when he returns? Will the Church as a whole be prepared for the great tribulation? How many Christians will deny the faith, because they were NOT taught the TRUTH? Many Christians, myself included, have been taught practically all our lives that we need not be concerned with what takes place during the great tribulation period because the Church is going to be taken OUT of the earth before it takes place. So it is my opinion that those who still cling to this false teaching of the PRE-tribulation rapture will not prepare themselves for the days ahead, because they see no need to prepare. But here is what I know for sure.
When all I knew was the PRE-tribulation teaching, I once thought, that if for some reason I were to miss the rapture and go through the period of the great tribulation that I would be confident that I would not deny the Lord when faced with martyrdom. However, once I fully realized the TRUTH of God’s word that the Church will, without a doubt, go through the entire period of great tribulation the REALITY set in. The reality of martyrdom became more real to me. And the more real the reality that quite possibly I might be beheaded for Jesus Christ, then I was not so sure that I would lay down my life so willingly for my faith. In other words, I had to prepare myself spiritually and mentally for the reality that, one day, I might have to lay down my life for the Lord, and I want you to know that for me this preparation did NOT happen overnight.
There is an “Ark of security”, so to speak, that we need to prepare BEFORE the days of great tribulation are upon us, and it is going to take some time to build it into our spirits. It wouldn’t have done Noah much good to wait until the flood came before he began to build or prepare the ark. In the whole scope of things it is only going to get worse and worse, so the longer you wait to prepare your ark of security the more difficult it will be.
Don’t be caught unprepared! Building an ark of security is something that each and every Christian must prepare for themselves individually. Not I, nor anyone else, can do it for you. I want you to take a close look at Ezekiel 14:13-20.
Ezekiel 14:13-20.
“Son of man, WHEN the land sins against me by trespassing grievously (Speaking of the great FALLING AWAY), then will I stretch out my hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it.
14. Though these three men, NOAH, DANIEL, and JOB, were in it, they should but deliver their OWN souls BY their RIGHTEOUSNESS, says God.
15. If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
16. Though these men were in it, (In the midst of the great falling away) as I live says God, they shall deliver NEITHER sons NOR daughters: they ONLY shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. (Meaning that my faith cannot save you and your faith cannot save me. Each Christians will have to use their OWN faith. Remember that Jesus said in Luke 18:8, “Shall I find faith on the Earth when I come?” I believe that the greatest trial and persecution will be in the Middle East. Jesus said flee Judea when you see the abomination of desolation happening)
17. Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: (The land speaks of a certain geographical area of the world and NOT necessarily the whole earth. And, again, I believe that the “land” is speaking of the Middle East, the land surrounding Israel)
18. Though these three men were IN it, as I live says the Lord God, they shall neither deliver sons and daughters, but ONLY shall be delivered THEMSELVES.
19. Or if I send pestilence into the land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20. Though NOAH, DANIEL, and JOB, were IN it, as I live, says the Lord God, they shall deliver their OWN souls (How?) BY their RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
The long and short of it is that YOU are ultimately responsible for your OWN salvation. Other brothers and sisters in Christ are not always going to be able to be at your side to help you through each and every trial you may go through. Also, please notice that everyone is in or on the earth, and therefore, the LAND is speaking of a certain AREA of land on the earth and NOT the whole earth. Again, I believe that the Scriptures as a whole point to the land as being in the Middles East, the countries surrounding the land of Israel, including Israel
The Bible tells us in Philippians 2:12.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my PRESENCE ONLY, but now MUCH MORE in my absence, work out YOUR OWN salvation with fear and trembling.”
Keeping yourself in the faith is again ultimately YOUR responsibility. Jesus said in Luke 18:1 that men ought ALWAYS to pray, and NOT to FAINT. We need to be in continual fellowship with our heavenly Father. No more up and down, in and out Christianity can be tolerated, IF we desire to dwell in an “Ark of security”. We need to learn to pray without ceasing, that is to say, without giving up or casting away our confidence in what we pray. Please read the studies that I have on prayer and praying prayers that GET ANSWERED. KNOW who you are in Jesus Christ and the authority that you have been given in the mighty name of Jesus and quite LETTING the devil walk all over you. Many things that Christians suffer can be avoided by knowing who you are in Jesus Christ, but the Bible does teach us that we are going to suffer PERSECUTION. Without a doubt, judgment is coming, and in 1 Peter 4:17-19 we read that judgment must BEGIN in the HOUSE of God.
1 Peter 4:17-19.
“For the time is come that judgment must BEGIN at the HOUSE of God: and if it FIRST begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18. And if the righteous SCARCELY be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19. WHEREFORE let them that suffer according to the will of God COMMIT the KEEPING of their souls to him in well doing (Or keep walking in love and in righteousness), as unto a faithful Creator.”
The word “wherefore” is another one of those words like “therefore” and “nevertheless”. so when we see these types of words we need to look closely for the reason why these words were used. In other words, these words are like warning signs telling us to wake up and pay attention. Now let’s go back and take a closer look at 1 Peter 4:17-19 to see why the word “wherefore” was used. Here is my own paraphrased version of this passage to emphasize the importance of COMMITTING the KEEPING of our souls to God.
1 Peter 4:17-19 from my own paraphrased version.
“The time is very near and is even upon us now that the judgment of God should begin. We clearly can see that God’s judgment will begin with us, his Church, and continue until it comes upon all the world, that is the sinners and ungodly who do not obey the truth.
18. And if we who are made the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ are SCARCELY saved, then how shall the ungodly be able to stand in the day when the WRATH of God comes upon them?
19. THEREFORE my brothers and sisters in the Lord I cannot overemphasize the importance for you to COMMIT the KEEPING of your souls unto God the Father, who is faithful to sustain you in doing his WILL, which is to live your life without sin and to overcome the enemy on every side.”
Paul says it like this in 2 Timothy 1:12,
“For the which cause I also suffer these things; NEVERTHELESS I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am PERSUADED that he is able to KEEP that which I have COMMITTED unto him against that day.”
The “DAY” here in this verse is speaking of the second coming of Jesus. We need to believe and become fully persuaded that God will keep us IF we COMMIT the KEEPING of ourselves unto him. Then in verse 13, we are told to HOLD FAST the form of sound words. In other words, each and every believer needs to get his or her self rooted and grounded in the word of God. It is only SOUND Biblical teaching that will sustain you when the enemy attacks. Verse 14 goes on to say that all these treasures of God’s word, which are committed to us, are to be KEPT BY the Holy Ghost that dwells IN us.
Let’s briefly summarize and piece together what we have so far in building our “Ark of security” for the coming days of great tribulation that lay ahead.
First, we must know and understand that a time of great tribulation is coming and we must prepare BEFORE it comes.
Second, we must fully understand that only YOU can deliver your OWN soul.
Thirdly, we must be continually in fellowship or prayer with our heavenly Father.
Fourthly, we must commit the keeping of our soul to God who is faithful to keep us from falling away from the faith.
Fifthly, we must hide the treasure of God’s word in our hearts and depend upon the Holy Ghost so that we might NOT sin.
I would like to focus on this fifth point for a moment because it is vital that we discern between truth and error. Some Christians are being deceived by the traditions of men and doctrines of devils, simply because they have NOT been taught to search the word of God for themselves to see if the things they are being taught are in line with God’s word.
The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 2:15 to,
“Study to show YOURSELF approved unto God, a workman that needs NOT to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth.”
The word approved here literally means to be found genuine when tried or tested. Will you be found to be genuine when the enemy comes against you? The only way you can know for sure is to study God’s word for yourself. Well, how does one rightly divide the word of God?
Take a look at Isaiah 28:9-11.
“Whom shall he (God) teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are WEANED FROM MILK, and drawn from the breast.
10. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept: line upon line, line upon line; HERE a little, and THERE a little.
11. For with stammering lips and another tongue will he (God) speak to his people.”
First and foremost, you have to know and understand that it is only through the Holy Spirit that God teaches his children. Anyone can be taught the word of God by MAN. And it may be that some who are taught by man will indeed endure unto the end. But if you TRULY want to be assured that the gates of hell shall NOT PREVAIL against YOU then you need to spend time in prayer seeking GOD to REVEAL his TRUTH to you personally. For you see, WHEN the Father REVEALS his truth to you straight from the word of God then NO man can ever steal your crown of eternal life in the world to come.
Secondly, you must understand this principle in Isaiah that tells us that God places a little knowledge HERE in his word, and a little knowledge THERE in his word; HERE a little and THERE a little. In other words, you cannot build sound Biblical doctrine from just one verse of scripture. And you have to search the WHOLE word of God to ensure that the doctrine which is being taught does not conflict the central truth of God's word.
In 2 Corinthians 13:1, we are told that in the mouth of two or three witnesses let everything be established. So in like manner, we need two or more scriptures saying the same thing or agreeing with each other as well as NOT contradicting the rest of God’s word before you have rightly divided the word of truth.
For, in order to accurately say that the Bible teaches that there is a place that you can attain where the evil one cannot touch you, then you will need two or more scriptures that give solid support to this teaching. Let’s begin by looking at 1 Peter 5:8,9.
1 Peter 5:8,9.
“Be sober, be vigilant: (WHY? Why are we to be sober and vigilant?), BECAUSE your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, SEEKING whom he may devour:
9. Whom RESIST STEADFAST in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”
I have emphasized the word “SEEKING” in this verse to show that FACT that Satan cannot go about devouring just any and every Christian that he desires to anytime he wishes. The truth is that the devil must SEEK OUT those Christians who are not doing “that” which God has told them in his word to do. And because of lack of knowledge of the enemies’ devices, they are lured into the SNARE of the devil, which then results in them being taken captive by Satan.
A snare is a stationary trap and has no power over you unless you yourself walk into it. Satan has no power over you EXCEPT that which you give to him by ALLOWING him to walk all over you.
Look at 1 John 5:18.
“WE know that whosoever is born of God sins not: but he that is begotten of God keeps himself (From sin by either not sinning or by repenting and confessing your sins quickly) and that wicked one (Speaking of Satan, the devil) TOUCHES him NOT.”
Look at Psalm 91:8-12. Here is verse 10 only.
“There shall NO EVIL befall you NEITHER shall ANY PLAGUE come nigh your dwelling place.”
Look at Proverbs 1:33.
“But whosoever hearkens unto me shall dwell SAFELY, and shall be quiet from the FEAR of EVIL.”
Look at 1 Peter 3:13 that tells us this.
“And who is he that will HARM you, IF you be followers of that which is good?”
In other words, NO ONE will be able to harm you IF you obey the Spirit of God.
Look at Proverbs 19:23.
“The fear of the Lord tends to life: and he that has it (Speaking of the fear of the Lord to OBEY what Jesus teaches us under the New Covenant written in the New Testament) shall abide satisfied; he SHALL NOT BE VISITED WITH EVIL.”
Look at proverbs 16:7.
“When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes EVEN his enemies be at peace with him.”
God will even make Satan, our enemy, to be at peace with us. And that means that EVEN the people that Satan uses to persecute us will be at peace with those of us who are obeying the teachings of Jesus. We reap what we sow and when we sow peace to live in peace with all men then we will reap peace even from our enemies.
Look at 2 Thessalonians 3:3.
“But the Lord is FAITHFUL, who shall establish you, and KEEP you FROM EVIL.”
The truth of the matter is that the Bible does, in fact, teach that there is a place of safety, an “Ark of security,” IF you will continually abide in God and his truth, then you will be out of the reach of Satan.
AGAIN, there are CONDITIONS that all these scriptures have in common which MUST, without fail, be KEPT by each individual believer, before God’s hand of protection will be set in place around you that only you can remove. God does NOT place a hedge of protection around his people and then remove it without a just cause. A closer look at these scriptures will reveal that we need to keep sin out of our lives because whenever sin is present the protection of God is removed.
Please read Romans 6:16.
“Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.”
Don’t be deceived into believing that being a child of God ALONE provides you protection from the enemy, Satan. If you have sin in your life then you are binding the hands of God from protecting you.
Please read Amos 9:10.
“All the SINNERS of MY PEOPLE shall die by the sword, which SAY, The evil shall not overtake or prevent us.”
You see, just being a child of God even though you believe in the protection of God does not automatically provide you a hedge of protection from the hand of God. You must yet take another step and KEEP yourself free from sin. In reality, every time a Christian sins, he or she will temporarily remove God's protective hedge and places themselves back into the dominion of Satan, until they repent and ask forgiveness of their sin. Also I myself have to WONDER if those Christians who are teaching that the church will NOT go through the time of great tribulation are sinning by MISLEADING the little ones to NOT be prepared for the coming 3 1/2 years of great tribulation SAYING that we will be RAPTURED BEFORE the wrath of SATAN begins. I have to wonder if the FALSE teachers of PRETERISM are sinning by DECEIVING the church that the time of great tribulation has already come and gone being fulfilled in 70 AD.
Christians often blame God wrongly for the evil things that happen in their lives when in reality they themselves have removed the hedge of protection that God placed around them when they choose sin over obedience to God’s word. God desires nothing but blessings for his people.
The Bible tells us this in Exodus 15:25,26.
“And said, IF you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes,
26. I will put (Or I will allow or permit) NONE of these diseases upon you, which I have brought (Or that I have allowed or permitted) upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that HEALS you.”
God’s provision of protection is always conditional just as our salvation in obtaining eternal life in the world to come is also CONDITIONAL. And God only allows or permits evil because he is FAITHFUL to perform his word. He has SPOKEN his word and now must perform it even whether or not if it is his will. It is up to each individual believer to keep themselves free from sin, THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit BY FAITH believing in the promises in God's word from faith to faith overcoming one temptation at a time.
Jesus said this in Matthew 24:12,13.
“And BECAUSE of INIQUITY (Or because sin) shall abound, the love of many (Speaking of brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ) shall wax (Grow) cold.
13. But he (Speaking of ONLY he or she) that shall endure unto the END, the SAME shall be saved.”
Don’t give in to sin. And IF you do sin then do NOT try and reason away your sin. Repent and confess your sin quickly. Don’t be deceived by taking sin as a light thing. Do NOT say to yourself, it is just a tiny little white lie. Repent and confess all sin quickly. Jesus said MANY shall say unto me in that day. Jesus did not say, a FEW shall say unto me in that day, but he said, MANY, as in, true born-again Christians will say, Lord, Lord, have we not done many good things in your name? And they will be told by Jesus to depart from him. WHY? It was because they allowed sin back into their lives little by little to return to living in a lifestyle of sin which they deceived themselves as not being a sin. Oh yes, there are Christians deceiving themselves that homosexuality is NOT a sin. Please read the study “CAN A CHRISTIAN BE A HOMOSEXUAL?”
But for now, please read Matthew 7:22,23.
“MANY shall say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name cast out devils? And in your name have done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, you that work INIQUITY.”
Some Christians will argue that Jesus NEVER knew them to mean that they were never true Christians. But the Greek word translated as “never” carries the meaning I know you NO MORE. It just seems to me that the church, as a whole or in general, does NOT take sin seriously. You seem to hear more and more excuses like it is human nature to sin rather than rebuke and admonish Christians not to sin. When we begin to rationalize away sin by saying to ourselves, “It is only a little white lie, it won’t hurt anything” then we are only a step away from falling into the snare of the Devil.
The Bible says in James 2:10.
“Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and YET offend (Or yet commit an offense) in ONE POINT, he is guilty of ALL.”
In other words, no matter how small the sin, it is still a sin in the eyes of God and he has no choice but to lift his hand of protection until you repent and ask forgiveness. God’s hand of protection will only remain intact as we keep sin out of our lives, so don’t take sin lightly. And if you do slip into sin, then repent quickly to be made PERFECT in the eyes of God once again. Remain in that perfect state of the gift of righteousness by doing all you know to do to NOT sin, BUT if you do sin then repent and confess your sin QUICKLY. For you see, when you begin to reason away your sin then it will lead to taking longer and longer to confess your sin. And trying to reason away your sin could lead you to fall back into living in a lifestyle of sin and you not even being aware that you are living in sin. Christians lie to themselves saying that they are not addicted to alcohol because they only get drunk on the weekends. But in truth, they only get totally smashed and wasted on the weekends. They still get a “little buzz” most every night. Please read the study “WHAT DOES THE BIBLE ITSELF CALL SIN?” For you see, some Christians sincerely believe that drunkenness is NOT a sin.
You can be a Christian all your life and not have even sinned one time but go out and sin on the very day that Jesus returns and lose your salvation. This may not seem fair but it is what the Bible teaches. It is NOT unfair because Jesus WARNED us many times to WATCH for his coming so that we would KNOW that his coming is NEAR so that we will be on EXTRA GUARD to NOT sin.
Now, we have no problem with the reverse side of this coin. In other words, the flip side of this truth is that a person can live their entire life deep in a lifestyle of sin and before they take their last breath they can hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, be saved, die the next moment, and obtain eternal life in the world to come. God is not willing that any should perish. God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Look at Ezekiel 33:11-19. I will quote one verse at a time.
Ezekiel 33:11.
“Say unto them, As I live says the Lord God, I have NO PLEASURE in the death of the wicked; but the wicked turn from his way and live; turn you, turn you from your evil ways, for why will you die, oh you house of Israel?”
Notice that God is talking to his own people here in this passage of Scripture pleading with them to stop sinning because the wage of sin is death. Let’s continue with verse 12.
Ezekiel 33:12.
“Therefore, you son of man, say unto the children of YOUR PEOPLE, the righteousness of the righteous shall NOT deliver him in the day of his transgression (Or sin): as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day he turns from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live by his righteousness in the day that he SINS.”
In other words, you will not be judged on your past merits whether they are righteous or whether they are wicked. ONLY your PRESENT state WHEN Jesus comes or when you DIE will determine whether or not you shall be called into the joy of the Lord and hear the words of Jesus saying to you, well done my good and FAITHFUL servant. Verse 13 goes on to say.
Ezekiel 33:13.
“When I shall say to the RIGHTEOUS, that he (Or she) shall surely live;(BUT) IF he (Or she) trusts to his (Or her) OWN righteousness, and commit iniquity (Or sin), ALL his (Or her) righteousness shall NOT be remembered; BUT for his (Or her) INIQUITY that he (Or she) has committed, he (Or she) shall die for it.”
The sin that is being spoken of here is the TRUSTING in the Law of Moses to earn one’s salvation by their OWN righteousness of keeping the Law of Moses contained in ordinances. It also means that some Christians believe that their good works will outweigh their bad works. It also means that some Christians sincerely believe that since they are a Roman Catholic and they are baptized as a Roman Catholic or some other church denomination that they are saved so long as they remain a member of that particular church denomination. And it also means that some Christians believe that they are eternally saved by grace and not of works so they can never lose their salvation no matter what they do or do not do. They can even deny Jesus and still be saved. But those things are NOT what the Bible ITSELF teaches us.
God MUST BE faithful to his word and has NO CHOICE but to perform his word EVEN when it grieves God to destroy the wicked. For you see, God is honor-bound to keep his word. His word is TRUTH and it is IMPOSSIBLE for God to LIE. Romans says that the wage of sin is death and if the last thing that you do before you die is to live in sin then God has to honor his word. This is why we must commit the KEEPING of our souls into his hands for he is faithful to help us remain faithful to him. But we must BELIEVE and OBEY the Holy Spirit. Please understand that the CONTEXT is speaking about sinning and then DYING WHILE living IN SIN. It is NOT talking about Christians who give in to the temptation to sin and then they repent and confess their sin. It is talking about turning BACK to LIVE in sin. Let us continue with verses 14 through 19.
Ezekiel 33:14-19.
“Again, when I say unto the wicked you shall surely die; if he turns from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15. If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he robbed, walk in the statutes of life, WITHOUT COMMITTING INIQUITY (Or WITHOUT committing sin); he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16. NONE of his sins that he has committed shall be mentioned unto him: he has done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17. Yet the children of your people say, the way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
18. When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity (Sin), he shall even die thereby. (Turns from means to return to living in sin. It does not mean having a moment of weakness to sin and then repents and confess that moment of weakness asking God to help you overcome sin)
19. But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.”
Again, every time a Christian sins he or she removes the protective hedge that God has placed around them and they have placed themselves back into the dominion of Satan by removing the hedge of protection that God has placed around them so long as they REMAIN living in sin. That is why I teach my readers to stop reasoning away your sin and just repent and confess your sin quickly. Run TO God for forgiveness rather than run from God to try and hide your sin by lying to yourself that it is not a sin, everyone does it, or it is not all that bad in the world we live in today.
If we are going to walk fully in the protection from the evil one that God has freely given to us, then we must KEEP ourselves from any and all sin. In Job 5; 19-24 we see that in the last days that our tabernacles will be in peace and we shall visit our habitation, and shall NOT SIN! Please read Psalm 91 on your own latter. Dwelling in the secret place means to pray and meditate on God's word on a daily basis. One day a week Christians cannot possibly learn how to become strong, rooted and grounded Christians in the word of God in one to two hours a week hearing God's word.
You might be saying to yourself right now; “ Oh I have tried and tried to quit sinning, but I just can’t do it.” Well, I have good news. The GOSPEL clearly teaches that you are ABLE to live your life free from sin, and I will show you HOW to live your life without sin in a five-part study beginning with the study called “HOW TO LIVE YOUR LIFE FREE FROM SIN!”. Due to the length of this subject, I found it best to divide it into sections for easier reading. Also, these separate sections will make it easier for you to refer to over and over again and again in the areas you may need help in the most. Remember that faith comes by HEARING and HEARING and HEARING over and over again and again, so keep reading and studying God’s word until it is written upon your heart and becomes the greater influence in your life. I hope you have enjoyed these studies that I have written to root and ground you in the word of truth so that you will be found worthy to receive eternal life in the world to come.
May God richly bless you as you continue to study his word. Keep seeking the truth of the whole word of Almighty God. Follow and obey the teachings of Jesus under the New Covenant written in the New Testament because we will be JUDGED BY the words and teaching of Jesus and NOT by the Law of Moses contained in ordinances.
Thanks for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
Once Christians, Jews, Muslims, and even atheists understand the REASON that Yahweh CREATED the Son of MAN, Jesus, was to have DOMINION over the work of Yahweh’s hands.
And after you understand that the REASON that Yahweh did that is to STILL His ENEMIES, Satan and the fallen angels.
Then you can understand that God made His human Son to become “a” Lord, “a” King, and “a” God, under and subject to his God and Father in order to JUDGE Satan and the fallen angels.
For a deeper understanding of this WAR that Lucifer and one third of the angels waged against the throne of Almighty God, please read the studies under the subject category called ** Q-0 Why Are We Here? Is God at WAR? **.
More studies are coming in this SHORTER Biblical Unitarian view of who Jesus is according to the WHOLE word of God.
If you have a PARTICULAR verse of Scripture that you would like to know the sound Biblical Unitarian meaning, then please email me at MarkatAMatterOfTruth@Gmail.com and let me know.
For further and more in-depth studies on this subject of Jesus being created to STILL the enemies of Yahweh, please read the studies called D-25. A NEW LOOK at JOHN 1:1, In the BEGINNING!
And also read the study called D-28. The PRE-ADAMIC LUCIFERIAN FLOOD!
At the top of my homepage, there are subjects or categories which contain compiled lists of ** ALL Studies! ** I have written on that particular subject. So, if a link within a study is broken, then click on ** ALL Studies! ** to find the suggested study.
Or you can scroll down to the MORE dropdown menu list to find those studies as well.
Thanks again for reading, and may God bless you richly as you continue to seek the TRUTH of the WHOLE word of Almighty God.
And to me, the truth concerning who Jesus TRULY is, according to the Bible ITSELF, is the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus.
And again, for ALL of the studies on the Biblical Unitarian view of Jesus, please click on the subject heading ** D-0 The BIBLICAL UNITARIAN VIEW of Jesus! **
And for the SUBJECT on the true foundation of the church, please click on the subject heading ** C-0 The TRUE FOUNDATION of the Church! **
This way you can just send ONE link to those who you want to share the TRUE sound Biblical FOUNDATIONAL teachings of the church that Jesus and his Apostles taught in the first century church.
Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Brother Mark.
My heartfelt prayer is that all Christians RETURN to the TRUE FOUNDATION of the church that is taught by the very Apostles of Jesus in the first century.
So let us all come into the UNITY of the faith and return to what Jesus and his Apostles taught us in SIMPLICITY in the New Testament.
To learn more TRUTH, then please return to:
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Type in the SEARCH bar
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The Church of the Firstborn of God
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Go to my NEW Website at
Also, here is the MASTER Menu List of my 8 NEW BOOKS with LINKS to all of the chapters in those eight new books.
Always be faithful to share, to preach, and to teach the whole gospel of Jesus Christ!
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