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JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR A CHURCH THAT IS HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH - TIME TO LEARN THE FEAR OF GOD!
The signs of the times tell us that the return of Jesus Christ is 'at the door' (Matt.24:33), and yet take a look around at the churches of the world today.
Many of them are now supporting homosexuality and transgenderism. Many have adopted the world's entertainment. Many of them are more involved in politics and
ecumenism than Bible truth and the faith. Most of them follow the false teachings of their mother, 'Babylon the Great,' and embrace sin! Is your church one of
these? Then you had better heed God's call to come out of her, because Jesus is NOT coming back for these churches. Look at the church Jesus is coming back for:
1 Corinthians 1:7-8 ...'So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.'
Ephesians 5:25-27 ...'Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.'
What church is Jesus coming back for? His church that is holy and without blemish.
Oh how so few professed Christians understand this today! Just compare that statement above with the condition of the churches today. So few have a true conception of what the church of Jesus Christ should look like and how we are to live. There are over 2 billion professed Christians in the world, but is Jesus coming back for these 2 billion people? No. Because Jesus said Himelf that "many are called but FEW are chosen" (Matthew 22:14). There are 'many' who profess to be Christians, but only 'few' of them will be chosen, because only few seek that 'narrow way.' The rest go down that easy 'wide road to destruction.' Look at what the apostle Peter also said regarding this:
2 Peter 3:10-14 ...'But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.'
Seeing the signs of the times we live in and knowing that Christ is going to return upon the world like a thief, what are we counselled to do? Be diligent that we are found in Christ, WITHOUT SPOT AND BLAMELESS, just as the apostle Paul said in Ephesians 5 above. Jesus is seeking a HOLY church whom He may present as without having spot or wrinkle. Does that compare with the churches of the world today? Not in any shape or form! What DOES compare with the churches today is the warning found in Revelation 18:
Revelation 18:1-5 ...'And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.'
THIS is the description of the churches of the world today - fallen Babylon, full of abominations of the world! And oh! how the churches LOVE their sins and abominations! God warned in Ezekiel that His people were bringing unconverted people into His sanctuary, look:
Ezekiel 44:6-7,9 ...'And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, in that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations ... Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel.'
"Only when the Church is composed of pure, unselfish members, can it fulfill God's purpose. Too much hasty work is done in adding names to the church roll. Serious defects are seen in the characters of some who join the church. Those who admit them say, We will first get them into the church, and then reform them. But this is a mistake. The very first work to be done is the work of reform. Pray with them, talk with them, but do not allow them to unite with God's people in church relationship until they give decided evidence that the Spirit of God is working on their hearts." (Review and Herald, May 21, 1901, p.321)
And yet what are the churches FULL of today? The unconverted, uncircumcised of heart who pollute God's house. Not just the building, but they pollute the people of God, the true temple today. This is a very serious warning, and one day soon they are going to receive the judgments of God in the seven last plagues and those who don't heed the call to come out of her and be PURIFIED by Christ, will also share in her sins and receive of her plagues. This is why we MUST learn the fear of God, which is part of the three angels messages of Revelation 14.
Revelation 14:6-7 ...'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, saying with a loud voice, fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.'
This has been the 'gospel' message from the beginning, because as the above scripture says, it is the 'everlasting gospel.' And to whom is this message given? To the Jews alone? No, to them that dwell on the earth, to every nation, kindred, tongue and people. Saying "FEAR GOD, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." What does it mean to fear God? Let us use scripture to interpret:
Psalm 34:11-16 ...'Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.'
Job 28:28 ...'And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.'
Proverbs 8:13 ...'The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.'
Proverbs 16:6 ...'By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.'
Oh we MUST understand this. To fear God is to hate sin, repent and DEPART from it!
This means the opposite is also truth. If the fear of God is to hate sin and evil, then the fear of God is also to LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS. And Jesus said in Matthew 5:6 ... "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." But what is the condition of the churches of the world today? They EMBRACE SIN. They LOVE UNrighteousness and WORLDliness. Yet pure religion according to the Word of God is to keep oneself UNSPOTTED by the world, look:
James 1:27 ...'Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.'
What church is Jesus coming back for? He is not coming back for a 'denomination,' or group of denominations. Jesus is coming back for a PEOPLE who are faithful to Him. The 'two or three who are gathered in His name.' The 'saints who are keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus' (Rev.14:12). This is the "church" that Jesus is coming back for. The church that is UNSPOTTED from the world. The church that is WITHOUT BLEMISH, OR SPOT OR WRINKLE and that is HOLY. So if we are not learning to live in the fear of God, hating sin and turning away from all worldiness and evil, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus Christ HIMSELF, then Jesus is NOT going to come back for us! This is so important to understand and practice.
1 Corinthians 15:34 ...'Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.'
2 Timothy 2:19 ...'Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'
We MUST depart from sin and all worldliness, because Jesus is only coming back for those who have "purified their souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit" (1 Peter 1:22). Now this cannot be done alone, ourselves. This can only be achieved through faith in Christ and allowing Him to do this work in us. But look at what the apostle Paul said regarding this:
Galatians 2:20 ...'I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.'
Do you see what Paul is saying? We have a work to do in this, in turning away from sin and being completely delivered from it, and that is to DIE TO SELF and CO-OPERATE with Christ, ALLOWING Him by faith to live out HIS LIFE in us. And what is the life of Christ? A righteous one, without sin! We must learn this friends, as Jesus is NOT coming back for the churches who continue in sin and worldliness. He is ONLY coming back for His true church which overcomes the world, departing from sin and living in His righteousness and holiness. There is only one thing coming for the fallen, sinful churches of Babylon. And that is judgment in the seven last plagues! Do not be found among them. Heed God's call and come out of her and learn to live in the fear of God, departing from evil.
Please see our following pages in relation to this study: