NOTES ON GOD’S CONTROVERSY WITH THE AMERICAN CHURCH: THE CONTEXT, THE CHARGE, & THE CHALLENGE

FINAL INSTALLMENT. This will be our last Teaching for our Series on, ‘The Seven Churches of Revelation.’ Uniquely, it will be presented in the Three Sections specified in the Subtitle, with a Scripture and Lesson for each one.

QUOTATIONS

“Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. But the one who ‘endures’ and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved.” – JESUS OF NAZARETH, Matthew 24:11-13, Amplified

“Growing your Faith in the dark isn’t meant for the faint-hearted. Strengthening your Faith will require ‘extra endurance.’ You will need to take action. If you want more of God, you will need boldness. When your Faith is tested, you have to muster up grit and grace.” – DANA ACURI, ‘Sacred Wandering: Growing Your Faith in The Dark,’ 2019; edited

CONTROVERSY. “Dispute; debate; agitation of contrary opinions. A dispute is commonly oral, and a ‘controversy’ in writing. Dispute is often or generally a debate of short duration, a temporary debate; a ‘controversy’ is often oral and sometimes continued in books or in law for months or years.” – NOAH WEBSTER, ‘American Dictionary of the English Language,’ 1828; edited

1. THE CONTEXT.

SCRIPTURE. “But lately (yesterday) My people have stood up as an enemy [and have made Me their antagonist]. Off from the garment you strip the cloak of those who pass by in secure confidence of safety and are averse to war.” – MICAH 2:8, AMPC

THESIS. God is both grieved and angered over His people, most especially with His Leaders and Pastors, and has already begun to move in Judgment against them.

Or at least the great majority of them. For those of you who are reading this for the first time, you may well have thought me reckless and unkind in asserting that, but I am neither. A Scriptural Principle that comes to mind expresses both my manner and my motive:

“Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.” – PROVERBS 27:5-6, AMPC

JOSEPH BENSON. “‘Open rebuke is better than secret love.’ — He that takes an ingenuous liberty to tell others of their faults, and rebukes them freely, when need requires, to their face, is a better friend, a more valuable, though, perhaps, he may please less, than he who hath more of the passion of love in his heart, but makes it not known by such good effects. The Parable, says Lord Bacon, reprehends the soft nature of such friends as will not use the privilege which friendship gives them, in admonishing their friends with freedom and confidence, as well of their errors as of their danger. ‘Faithful are the wounds.’ – The sharpest reproofs; ‘of a friend’ – They proceed from an upright, loving, and faithful heart, and really promote the good of the person reproved; ‘but the kisses’ – All the fair speeches and outward professions of friendship; ‘of an enemy are deceitful’ -Hebrew, נעתרות, ‘are to be deprecated,’ are perfidious and pernicious, and therefore are such things as one may properly pray to God to be delivered from.” – ‘Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments with Notes,’ 5 vols., 1811-1818; edited

When female Evangelist BETH MOORE tweeted the broadside below to the American Church on December 13, 2020, however, the Response was swift and vicious.

“I do not believe these are days for mincing words. I’m 63 1/2 years old & I have never seen anything in these United States of America I found more astonishingly seductive & dangerous to the saints of God than Trumpism. This Christian nationalism is not of God. Move back from it. And, God help us, we don’t turn from Trumpism to Bidenism. We do not worship flesh and blood. We do not place our faith in mortals. We are the church of the living God. We can’t sanctify idolatry by labeling a leader our Cyrus. We need no Cyrus. We have a king. His name is Jesus.”

• USER 1. “Lots of empty words in this thread. Sorry Beth but Trump has been the most pro-Christian president in history.”

• USER 2. “You have such terrible theology and so dangerous to anyone who follows you.”

• USER 3. “Who is this woman to presume to speak so righteously while violating the spirit of the 9th Commandment?” [‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor’].

THE POINT: American Christianity is now in the habit of ‘rebuking righteousness,’ while at the same time giving approval and even ‘praising unrighteousness.’ Or, again, remaining Silent on the sidelines as the Church is gutted from within by Trumpism. And they dare not speak against this, for reasons we now all know.

And that begs a Prophet’s Reply which quickly comes to mind.

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight!” – ISAIAH 5:20-21, AMPC

This is where we are, Church, as of early Fall 2021. One must wonder in some sanctified, genuine, fear-of-God trepidation where this shall lead us in the days ahead. Here is where I was led as I studied that Question.

THE TEACHING. “But lately (yesterday) My people have stood up as an enemy [and have made Me their antagonist]. Off from the garment you strip the cloak of those who pass by in secure confidence of safety and are averse to war.” – MICAH 2:8, AMPC

This time we shall consider only the ONE KEY TERM that is shot as God’s Select Arrow through the heart of the American Church.

• ENEMY. The Indictment here is soul shattering: God proclaims that His own House has become His “enemy.” From the Hebrew word, ‘Oyeb’ [אֹיֵב], meaning: “A foe; a hating or hateful adversary; an oppressing tribe or party; an opponent who wishes him injury to gratify his own malice or ill will; it is inspired by the Devil.”

• COMMENTARY. “‘Of late My people is risen up as an enemy.’ — AGAINST ME is to be here understood, namely, against God; for this is still spoken in the Person of God. The sense is more evident in the Hebrew than in our translation, namely, But ‘they who were yesterday (or lately) my people rise up (now, or to-day) as an enemy. Ye pull off the robe with the garment.’  – Ye are guilty of grievous oppression and inhumanity: Ye are not content with spoiling the poor, and those who are weaker than yourselves, of their cloak, but take their coat also. ‘From them that pass by securely.’ – Who, fearing no evil, are going about their private affairs; ‘As men averse from war.’ – Who are willing to live peaceably with you, and give you no manner of provocation: Even these, you in a violent manner strip of all their substance, even to their wearing apparel.” – BENSON, 1811-1818; edited

DK’S TAKE. Here we have what I consider to be the most SEVERE REBUKE of the American Church I have ever recalled in my 40 years walking the ever-Narrowing Road of Christ. Note the Word in this Prophecy: “Lately,” from the Hebrew, ‘Ethmowl’ [אֶתְמוֹל]: “Yesterday, recently; heretofore, of late; not long ago; afresh, a short time ago; newly, ‘just now.’”

As with something that is an important NEW DEVELOPMENT among God’s people.

And it has a name in the Greek: ‘Apostasia’ [ἀποστασία] – “Defection, revolt, rebellion; a falling away [from the Faith]; a forsaking of God and His Covenant, or Truth; a conscious, willful ‘standing away’ from one’s commitment [to Jesus Christ].” – cf. Matthew 24:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1

This, beloved, is what the Spirit of the Living God is declaring to His House: ‘You have betrayed Me! And I am about to answer your Blasphemies in the clearest and severest of terms, unless you repent!’

Selah. Test this before God’s Spirit and God’s Words, and by prudent observation.

1. THE CHARGE

SCRIPTURE. “‘Now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings [on the people]. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.’” – MALACHI 2:1-2. AMP

It is no secret to my readers that I have had my own major controversy with the Church, ever since my eyes were being pried open in 2015 to this ‘Recent’ Treachery by the American Church. Neither is it unknown to most of you that I have been aiming my rebukes at one particular group.

THE PASTORS. Or “Priests,” in the more archaic Hebrew: ‘Kohen’ [כֹּהֵן], or “A chief minister, or chieftain; head of priestly affairs; chief ruler, principal officer; spiritual or religious prince; shepherds of God’s flocks; types of Christ.”

• CAUTION. “Not many [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].” – JAMES 3:1, AMPC

• CALLING. “Take care and be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd (tend, feed, guide) the church of God which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse and distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as their followers].” – ACTS 20:28-30, AMP

• COMMENTARY. “‘Take heed therefore.’ – I now devolve my care upon you; first, ‘to yourselves.’ — That you thoroughly understand all the Doctrines, experience all the graces, enjoy all the blessing, and practise all the duties of genuine Christianity; and that you fully understand and faithfully execute every part of your important office … ‘Grievous wolves shall enter in.’ – From without, that is, seducing teachers, who shall endeavour to make a prey of you, and, by introducing false and heretical doctrines, shall divide and scatter you, as wolves make a prey of, divide, and scatter the sheep … ‘Also of your own selves.’ – From within; ‘shall men arise.’ – Proud and factious men; ‘speaking perverse things.’ – Broaching false and pernicious tenets, which they will endeavour to establish by perverting the Scriptures; ‘to draw away disciples after them.’ – From the purity of the Gospel, and the unity of the body; or to make a party for themselves, that shall admire, be led by them, and contribute to their support and exaltation.” – BENSON, 1811-1818, edited

DK’S TAKE. The Calling of the Pastor-Priest-Teacher is nearly inarguably, the highest privilege and duty to God’s Kingdom that one can engage, as Overseer of His flocks. I can think of no higher one, beloved.

Thus, the fearful Caution from James, the brother to Jesus quoted above. The phrase the Holy Spirit instructed him to use in that Warning was, “greater severity,” from the Greek term: ‘Krima’ [κρίμα] – “The stricter judgment or condemnation; a verdict; sometimes implying an adverse verdict; a sentence of decree of guilt or innocence; a solemn judicial decision; [making a final distinction concerning the conduct of a spiritual leader].”

And yet, as we have seen over and over again, in poll after poll, the vast majority of the American Pastorate is locked into either Active (vocal) or Passive (silent) support of Donald Trump’s Christianity. Perhaps by inheritance from a Governing Board, become the Bane of proper conduct. It certainly was in my case.

But that is not the way that Christ will see it at The Judgment.

THE TEACHING. “‘Now, O priests, this commandment is for you. If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to honor My name,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings [on the people]. Indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart.’” – MALACHI 2:1-2. AMP

As with the first admonition in Part I of this Teaching, there is only ONE WORD we need concern ourselves with.

• CURSE. When I first read this several days ago in the research phase, it stopped me in my tracks; I had never read a more direct threat from The Almighty to His own people before. From the Hebrew word, ‘Meerah’ [מְאֵרָה], meaning: “An execration, vexation; to swear an oath of great loathing against; utter a wish of evil against one; to call for mischief or injury to fall upon; to harass or torment with great calamities.

• COMMENTARY. “‘I will even send a curse’: It is a ‘comprehensive threat,’ many miseries in one word; it is a blast on their good hoped for, and it is poison in the good possessed, and when it is, as here, sent of God, it will surely do both, it will be a blast on hopes, it will be poison in what is possessed and should be enjoyed. ‘Upon you’; all, both priests and people, but especially on the priests. ‘Your blessings’; all the good, sweet, necessary supports of life, and comforts of yourselves and yours.
  
  ‘I have cursed them already’; you have so long polluted my name, and would not reform, that I have already sent out the curse, and it is in part upon you, though you are not sensible of it, nor will feel it, and this is forerunner of greater curses yet coming, unless you repent. ‘Because ye do not lay it to heart’: The sin was great in that you polluted my name, but it becomes much greater when you add ‘impenitence’ to it, and harden yourselves, and will not lay it to heart; therefore, the Curse is gone out with Commission from God to seize you.” – MATTHEW POOLE, ‘English Annotations on the Holy Bible,’ 1685 (posthumously); edited

DK’S TAKE. I simply don’t know what more I could possibly say to the American Pastorate regarding its Treachery against the Living Christ in their support of Donald Trump. I mean, what will it now take: The Judgements of Ananias and Sapphira? – cf. Acts 5:1-11

More on that in just a bit.

NOTE. It is vital about here to fully grasp ‘The Reason’ the Lord is so incensed at them, after countless Warnings over the decades and years:

“Because you are not taking it to heart.”

WILLIAM MACDONALD put it incisively: “They are reminded that the priests of old were faithful to God’s Covenant with Levi, but now the priests had become utterly corrupt, and so God had made them contemptible and base before all the people.” – ‘Believer’s Bible Commentary,’ 1995, p. 1175; edited

Yet here in America, Pastors still dare to remain truer to a Man than to God, thus forcing His mighty hand to move against them – And against all their blessings and even their families and friends held so dear, extending to their congregations that follow his hollow, lukewarm little homilies.

IMPACT. All, all, is about to be ‘removed’ in the days ahead, beloved. One by one, leader by leader, church by church, their Lampstands shall come crashing to the ground in full public view.

And why? Again, as with Ananias and his wife: “And great fear and awe gripped the whole church, and all who heard about these things” (Acts 5:11).

• CASE 1. One might note this news item out just today: BOB ENYART, a conservative radio talk-show host and pastor of Denver Bible Church, is the fifth Rightwing, Anti-vax radio host who has died of the virus. In just six weeks! – TIMOTHY BELLA, ‘Washington Post,’ September 14, 2021

• CASE 2. And yet, one day later, this: “A pastor is encouraging people to donate to his Tulsa church so they can become an online member and get his signature on a religious exemption from Coronavirus vaccine mandates. The pastor, JACKSON LAHMEYER, is a 29-year-old small-business owner running in the Republican primary challenge to Sen. James Lankford in 2022.” – SARAH P. BAILEY, ‘Washington Post,’ September 15, 2021; edited

Do we pray blessing for such men as the Church has been fecklessly doing, or like Paul: Turn men over to Satan “for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus”? – 1 CORINTHIANS 5:5, NKJV

PASTORS. There is in wartime a need for aggressive prayer, rather than pretty little whispers.

1. THE CHALLENGE

SCRIPTURE. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness].” – MALACHI 3:2, AMP

So beloved of God, and especially all you Pastors and Priests and Teachers and Prelates and Evangelists and Leaders, and all you Elders and Presbyters and Bishops and Overseers – it all comes down to this one thing, on this One Day of all days:

Will you be able to WITHSTAND His fiery gaze?

THE ETERNAL QUESTION. Did you REMAIN FAITHFUL?  Did you, like unto the Philadelphians: ‘Have a little power, keep His Word and Doctrines, refuse to deny His holy name, and honor His Command to persevere in the Truth,’ no matter what? Did you ‘keep your oath’ to your Sovereign, at least in sincerity of heart to try every single day?

To this Final Strain to ‘Rescue’ these compromised American Leaders in God’s Houses all across the Nation – and their followers.

THE TEACHING. “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap [which removes impurities and uncleanness].” – MALACHI 3:2, AMP

As always, to the KEY TERMS in the passage to more fully appreciate its meaning according to God’s intended message.

• ENDURE. The key term here is this crucially important verse is in the Hebrew, ‘Kul’ [כּוּל], which means: “To comprehend, contain, sustain; provide; support; calculate; maintain; hold on or in; to forebear, guide; to last or continue [through difficulty or suffering].” DK: Reminds of Jesus’ Words in LUKE 14:28, to be doubly sure to “count the cost” before signing on the Ship of Faith. It shall not prove to be a pleasure cruise, though filled with many joys, along with hardships. As with any important endeavor in life.

• STAND. A Corollary to the Call to Endure is this term, ‘Amad’ [עָמַד] in the Hebrew: “To [firmly] take one’s position (so as not to be moved); be in a standing attitude; to stand forth or speak up; to present oneself [before God as a faithful workman]; to attend upon; become servant of or to; to cease or refuse [to give ground]; persist; to abide; persist; remain unchanged [from one’s stand, or bowed]; to arise.” DK: Here I can only think of spiritual stubbornness, the absolute refusal to accommodate error or false ideas. Often misunderstood for pride (I was just this morning for the umpteenth time to “Get down off your high horse!” For refusing to bend on a crucial doctrinal matter. So sue me. – see Jeremiah 1:17

• COMMENTARY. “Who shall be able to stand under the weight of those trials and tribulations which at that time will fall on all sorts of men? Great crosses being to be borne by the believing and pious, and great calamities to be endured by the unbelieving and refractory. In the same light, JOHN THE BAPTIST represents the effects of Christ’s Coming, in Matthew 3:7-12: ‘Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?’ meaning, primarily, the Wrath about to come on that rebellious people: ‘Whose fan, he adds, ‘is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. For He is like a refiner’s fire.’ — As if He had said, ‘Some men are like metals, mixed with much dross, which nothing but a fierce fire can purge away.’ Such a fire shall the troubles of these days be. The Divine Judgments are often called ‘a fiery trial,’ such as separates the pure metal from the dross, purifying the former and consuming the latter.” – JOSEPH BENSON, ‘Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments, with Notes,’ 5 vols., 1811-1818; edited

DK’S’ TAKE. Fairly or unfairly, I have a strong sense that many if not most American Pastors today operate on the presupposition that if they can just keep the flock secured in ‘the safest Doctrines,’ that the people have heard a thousand times, they have done their job.

This is part and parcel of the deeply compromised, falsely comfortable ‘American Gospel,’ which God loathes, beloved. He loathes them.

“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will not smell a savor or take delight in your solemn assemblies. Though you offer Me your burnt offerings and your cereal offerings, I will not accept them, neither will I look upon the peace or thank offerings of your fatted beasts. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not listen to the melody of your harps.” – AMOS 5:21-23, AMPC

THE CALL. As a Christian teacher and writer, this is very personal with me, as well as corporate. Thus, I restate our ‘Sacred Charge’ from the Apostle once more, to keep us locked on our clearly stated Mission.

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.

For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine and accurate instruction [that challenges them with God’s truth]; but wanting to have their ears tickled [with something pleasing], they will accumulate for themselves [many] teachers [one after another, chosen] to satisfy their own desires and to support the errors they hold, and will turn their ears away from the truth and will wander off into myths and man-made fictions [and will accept the unacceptable]. But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.” – 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-5, AMP

THE TEMPLATE. This is the sort of Leader Christ is searching for even at this Late Hour. And beloved, I tell you I can find precious few such Church Leaders who are in brave submission to this Divine Commission. Precious few. Selah.

1. LAST THOUGHTS: THE DAYS OF AWE

YOM KIPPUR. I awakened this morning early as always, glanced at my calendar, and was instantly reminded that today is ‘Yom Kippur’ – the last day of the 10 Jewish Days of Atonement, starting with ‘Rosh Hashanah’ last September 6, and ending with this special day at sundown on SEPTEMBER 15, 2021.

Why is this so important to this Teaching? Because it is the Last Day of the Jewish New Year ‘To atone for one’s sins’ for the year that has passed. In Jewish Tradition, “to afflict one’s soul’ before God, to make sure that He does not remove his or her name from The Book of Life at the End of that crucial Day.

SHORT HISTORY. “Just months after the people of Israel left Egypt in the year 2448 from creation (1313 BC), they sinned by worshipping a Golden Calf. Moses ascended Mount Sinai and prayed to G‑d to forgive them. After two 40-day stints on the Mountain, full Divine favor was obtained. The day Moses came down the Mountain (the 10th of Tishrei) was to be known forevermore as the Day of Atonement—‘Yom Kippur.’

That year, the people built the Tabernacle, a portable home for G‑d. The Tabernacle was a center for prayers and sacrificial offerings. The service in the Tabernacle climaxed on Yom Kippur, when the High Priest would perform a specially prescribed service. Highlights of this service included offering incense in the Holy of Holies (where the ark was housed) and the lottery with two goats—one of which was brought as a sacrifice, the other being sent out to the wilderness (Azazel).

While the High Priest generally wore ornate golden clothing, on Yom Kippur, he would immerse in a ‘Mikvah’ and don plain white garments to perform this service.

This practice continued for hundreds of years, throughout the time of the First Temple in Jerusalem, which was built by Solomon, and the Second Temple, which was built by Ezra. Jews from all over would gather in the Temple to experience the sacred sight of the High Priest performing his service, obtaining forgiveness for all of Israel.” – EDITORS, ‘Chabad,’ September 2021; edited

THE APPLICATION.  I don’t for one minute believe that I am teaching this Lesson on the very day that God instituted it expressly for REPENTANCE. Further, or that this Teaching has everything to do with our Pastor-Priests who urgently need to attend to one CRUCIAL TASK:

• PREPARE FOR ‘THE PAROUSIA’ [παρουσία]. “A Presence, a Coming, an Arrival, Advent, especially of the Second Coming of Christ; a technical expression for the royal visit of a king, or emperor. The word means literally ‘the being beside,’ thus, ‘the personal Presence’ of Messiah; serves as the initiation of the ‘Apokalupsis.’”

• THE HYPOTHESIS. Now then, going out on His Branch (hopefully) here. Yom Kippur was the 6^th Feast on the Jewish Calendar, leaving only one more: SUKKOT, the 7^th and last feast called the ‘Feast of Booths.’ This Holy Day is described by ‘Chabad’ as: “A weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur. ‘Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest’ and commemorates the miraculous protection G-d provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt.”

“The gathering of the harvest,” beloved.

THE NEXT EVENT. Now please understand that I am not setting dates here, but proposing a possible Eschatological Principle: That Messiah may well Return on ‘The Last Feast,’ as His harvest of souls is “gathered in.” in the Year of His Choosing.

“And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet and they will gather together His elect (God’s chosen ones) from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” – JESUS OF NAZARETH, Matthew 24:31, Amplified

This year that Holy Day occurs between September 22 and 27; the Year 2022 between October 10 to 15; and so on. I wonder, beloved; I wonder.

THE DOCTRINE. “Christian theologians speak of the Doctrine of ‘Imminence.’ This means that according to the Bible there is no prophetic event that has to happen before Jesus snatches His Church from the earth (The Rapture). That is, the Bible teaches us that we should ‘Be ready’ for Jesus to come for us at any moment.” – EDITORS, ‘Jewish Roots,’ ret. September 14, 2021; edited

I have been writing increasingly urgently that we are to get our spiritual houses in order, appealing especially to those who have thrown in with Trump Christianity. Beloved, I believe that such choices and severely injure or even nullify their Call to Christ Alone. I do, I do.

FINAL PLEADING. This last admonition is taken from a Scripture that came to mind early this morning around 5 am, as I prayed about this Lesson.

• THE WARNING. “‘Hear this! Flee from [Babylon] the land of the north [which shall come under judgment],’ declares the Lord, ‘for I have scattered you like the four winds of the heavens,’ declares the Lord. ‘Hear, Zion (Jerusalem)! Escape, you who are living with the daughter of Babylon!’” – ZECHARIAH 2:6-7, AMP

• THE GREAT ESCAPE. From the key term here, ‘Malat’ [מָלַט]: “To slip away; be delivered; to let go [of this world]; carries the sense of being smooth [or secretive]; to hasten away (while one can); can be accomplished only by calling on the Lord [to leave Babylon before its destruction].”

NOTE: This “escape” is by one’s personal choice to leave, and thus is couched in terms of ‘slipping away’ without being noticed. However, the vastly ‘Greater Escape,’ THE RAPTURE of the Remnant Church, shall be a Catastrophic Day of Terror to all those who are left in the sudden ‘Seizure’ of the millions of genuine Christians to be swept up into the clouds to be with Christ, “in the twinkling of an eye.” – cf. 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 6:17

All of it taking place just a split second before the Wrath of God spills forth on an already horrified planet. This Promise pertains only to ‘The Philadelphians’ (with the martyrs of Sardis) who Jesus honored since they had REMAINED TRUE. – cf. Revelation 3:7-10

TO WIT. ‘He’s Coming,’ beloved, and wants none to be left behind among those who call themselves His disciples. Nor among the shepherds of His pastures. So indeed, let us shore up the loose ends, sever ties with anything (or anyone) that would hinder your Christian Aliya, our “Going up” to the New Jerusalem, to be with our King forever.

As this World reels to and fro like a drunkard more and more (Isaiah 24:20), PASTORS: Be bold to Lead! – Toward Repentance, and as a faithful steward, ensure the safety of your flocks for what and for Who is Coming.

Do it, Sir! Do it now, while it is still Day. For you should know that Night is approaching quickly now, when no man shall be able to work.

Ever your servant, DK

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