We have traded emotions for the presence of God, we have searched for and accepted experiences instead of His shining light within us, we have cheapened the Most High in not only our personal lives, but in the churches that were built for the sole intent of worshipping Him. Feelings now take the place of facts, the desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord is satisfied by many once a week for an hour or so, and the big monitor with its current state of the world has taken the place of sound Biblical doctrines given by men who fear God.
There is no excuse for the days we find ourselves in, those who profess Him only with their lips have taken control of most churches, they fear to offend even the most blatant sinner, instead they want to be his friend, they want him, or her, in that church pew in the hopes that his heart will hear and be broken. We have defiled these places, and the Lord Jesus not only no longer resides within their walls, but He has also ceased knocking on the exterior door. This is the apostacy, the great falling away, and we are in the middle of it.
The sins of the gentiles have come up before the Most Holy One, and it is almost time for judgment to begin, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)
The emotions, the experiences, the program, even the music has little to nothing to do with heartfelt, humble worship, these “churches” are now no more than community clubhouses, meeting places to check up on those we have not seen for the past week, the pastors start their sermons with a humorous anecdote, lead into the current events, with visual assistance on that big screen, attempt to toss in an example from the Scriptures, assure the people that God is good, that Jesus loves them, “Don’t forget the potluck on Wednesday night, see you next week.” And they still call it church.
Not all of course, but most, and those who still fall on their faces not just on Sunday, but every day of the week are named zealots, those who speak continuously about the Lord are overly conservative, and uncaring about what is occurring in the world, and those who still reprove and rebuke in love, are in one way or another asked to leave, usually by simply ignoring them.
The incredible, exponentially growing signs of the heathen coupled with those who will say, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22) is what is leading directly into the wrath of God, “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:21) The Lord God is righteous and Holy, He expects those who serve Him to be the same, (1 Peter 1:16) we are not to be a part of this world, (Romans 12:2) we are to hate it, (1 John 2:15) and my friends, if you turned on either your television or your internet yesterday for even just a few minutes, you will find it difficult to disagree with anything that has been written in this letter to you.
The rapture will happen, at the exact moment that the Lord God has appointed for it, we are to “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:18) “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28) But we are not to fixate to the loss of all else on that singular moment, “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” (Matt. 24:46)
The false prophets have arrived, in droves, the heathen are growing in their hatred of all that is good, those who profess the name of Jesus only with their lips are adding to their ranks every hour, the end of the time of the gentiles (Romans 11:25) is at hand, the marriage feast is about to begin. You know for a fact whether you have an invitation to it or not.
