NOTES ON GOD’S LAST WARNINGS TO AMERICA AND HER CHURCH: NOW SHALL MY WORDS BECOME FIRE TO THE FOOLISH – (WITH VIDEO)

I.  THEOLOGY

SCRIPTURE. “Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now and take notice! Seek in her broad squares to see if you can find a man [as Abraham sought in Sodom], one who does justice, who seeks truth, sincerity, and faithfulness; and I will pardon [Jerusalem—for one uncompromisingly righteous person] …

And [say they] ‘the prophets will become wind [what they prophesy will not come to pass], and the word [of God] is not in them.’ Thus shall it be done to them [as they threatened would be done to us]. Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: ‘Because you [the people] have spoken this word, behold, I will make My words fire in your mouth [Jeremiah] and this people wood, and it will devour them.’” – JEREMIAH 5:1, 13-14, AMPC

KEY TERM: “FIRE.” ‘Esh’ [לְאֵ֗שׁ]: “‘The fire of a conflagration;’ a hot, burning flame; a supernatural fire attended by a ‘Theophany’ [a physical manifestation of God]; ‘a fire that endangers and destroys; the instrument of punishment;’ or the punishment of the impenitent in another state; Ardor of temper; violence of [Yah’s] passion.”

QUOTATION. “‘That the Reason why they are not fallen already and do not fall now is only that God’s Appointed Time is not come. For it is said, that when that due time, or APPOINTED TIME comes, their foot shall slide. Then they shall be left to fall, as they are inclined by their own weight.’ God will not hold them up in these slippery places any longer, but will let them go; and then, at that very instant, they shall fall into destruction; as he that stands on such slippery declining ground, on the edge of a pit, he cannot stand alone, when he is let go, he immediately falls and is lost.” ― JONATHAN EDWARDS, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” July 8, 1741, Enfield, Connecticut; edited

• THE INDIVIDUAL. For each of us, there is a Divine Calendar if you will, the number of days allotted to us for Repentance, Salvation and Rescue. His Door is not open to us forever, therefore we are warned not to trifle with our time, but to: “Redeem the time, because the days are evil.” – EPHESIANS 5:16, NKJV

• THE NATION.  I have argued and documented in my book, The Sixth Seal II (2024), that God’s Time Clock for America began in the Year 1900, and moved forward 120 years until the Year 2020, before Judgment is inevitable. For He has said: “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” – GENESIS 6:3, NKJV

COMMENTARY. “‘Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, that it is not the Lord.’ It is not He that speaks; it is no Prophecy of Him, and therefore shall become wind, and come to nothing.

‘Behold, I will make My word in thy mouth fire.’ It shall have its effect, and a dreadful one! It shall not become wind, but be as fire, not to enlighten the understanding, to purify the conscience, and warm the heart; but to torture, distress, and destroy, as the Fire of the Word out of the mouths of the two witnesses (Revelation 11:5).

‘And this people wood, and it shall devour them.’ As wood is devoured by fire, so shall this people be destroyed by sword and famine, as the word of the Prophecy has declared they should; and which was done by the following means.” – JOHN GILL, An Exposition of the Old and New Testament, 9 vols., 1746-1763; edited

II.  TEACHING

THE GREAT DENIAL. On or around the Summer of 2016, the Executive Pastor of a mega-church in Colorado Springs, Colorado made the following statement regarding what I refer to as Political Eschatology: “Oh, I don’t believe any of that stuff!” Precisely seven years later in late 2023, he also stated: “Don’t worry about the Book of Revelation. No one understands it any way!”

These Declarations from a popular pastor of an independent Charismatic church of some 15,000 followers of Christ, fueled by an annual budget of $28,000,000 with over 100 paid staff are admittedly extreme. However, they are also largely representative of the ‘actual conduct’ of the White Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic community in America in 2024.

That is to say: The American Church is ‘Behaving’ as if Jesus Christ is not coming back soon to Rescue His true, Remnant Church, Judge the Apostate Church, and the Nations. They appear to be vastly more concerned with “Saving America” at nearly any cost, and fast-tracking “The Economy” than anything else.

THESIS. ‘The God of the Bible has been largely ‘Replaced by or effectively Rejected in favor of the God of this world, Satan, and his Viceroy, the Antichrist.’

Selah.

THE EVIDENCE. Now those are some pretty hefty accusations that demand some pretty hefty documentation, so here we go.

• BARNA STUDY (2014). “Researcher GEORGE BARNA spoke recently on American Family Radio’s ‘Today’s Issues’ about his research project over the past two years, in which the Barna Group asked pastors across the country about their beliefs regarding the relevancy of Scripture to societal, moral and political issues, and the content of their sermons in light of their beliefs. What he found was startling: ‘When we ask them about all the key issues of the day, [90 percent of them are] telling us, “Yes, the Bible speaks to every one of these issues,” Barna told American Family Radio. ‘Then we ask them: “Well, are you teaching your people what the Bible says about those issues?” and the numbers drop … to ‘less than 10 percent’ of pastors who say they will speak to it … Barna added that many ‘pastors are afraid’ to get involved in political issues because of the controversy it might create. And, he added, ‘Controversy keeps people from being in the seats, controversy keeps people from giving money, from attending programs,’ Barna said. He also found that when asked how they measure the success of their churches, most pastors look to FIVE FACTORS: ‘Attendance, Giving, Number of Programs, Number of Staff, and Square Footage.’” – EDITORS, “Pastors Deliberately Choosing Not to Preach on Pressing Issues,” American Pastors Network, Aug. 21, 2014; edited

• GALLUP CASTELLI STUDY (2016). While America’s Evangelical Christians are rightly concerned about the Secular Worldview’s rejection of Biblical Christianity, we ought to give me urgent attention to a problem much closer to home–Biblical Illiteracy in the Church. This scandalous problem is our own, and it’s up to us to fix it. Researchers GEORGE GALLUP AND JIM CASTELLI put the problem squarely: ‘Americans revere the Bible–but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.’ How bad is it? Researchers tell us that it’s worse than most could imagine. Fewer than half of all adults can name the Four Gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than two or three of the disciples. According to data from the Barna Research Group, 60 percent of Americans can’t name even five of the Ten Commandments. ‘No wonder people break the Ten Commandments all the time. They don’t know what they are!’ said George Barna, president of the firm. The bottom line? ‘Increasingly, America is biblically illiterate.’”- ALBERT MOHLER, “The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It’s Our Problem,” Jan. 20, 2016; edited

• FRANKLIN GRAHAM. “Franklin Graham [on Trump]: ‘Trump — [has] been demonised by the media very well,’ says Graham, although he concedes: ‘Is he the poster boy for Christianity? No, he’s not. He’s done a lot of very terrible things in his life.’ But he has also done much good,’ argues Graham: His Pre-Covid economy was strong, inflation was low, and he was president during a period of relative peace in the world, in contrast with the major wars that have erupted since Biden entered office. Trump has also delivered for Christians. ‘President Trump was the first one to speak at the March for Life,’ notes Graham, a reference to the Anti-Abortion Rally that Trump addressed in 2020. ‘First President ever to do that. So there are things that Evangelicals appreciate, that Christians appreciate. ‘Trump also put ‘dozens of real Christians in power, including Pence,’ says Graham. ‘I’m talking cabinet level, ministerial level, staff. I think two-thirds of the staff were Christians. By contrast, Biden surrounded himself with a ‘very radical group.’ I can’t think of one person in the Biden administration who would be supportive of the views I have as a Christian,’ Graham says.” – DEREK BROWER, ““Evangelical Leader Franklin Graham: ‘Americans Realise Trump is Not Pastor-in-Chief,’” Financial Times, July 26, 2024; edited

FRACTURES IN THE FOUNDATION.  Each of these Examples of Apostasy can be reduced down to a single secular philosophy that now characterizes the American Church: PHILOSOPHICAL PRAGMATISM: The ideology created by WILLIAM JAMES (1907) to Synthesize Science and Religion, the resulting Ethos becoming:

“Whatever works, is good.”

Thus has the Church in America decided on an overwhelmingly SECULAR GOSPEL, though the great majority do not have a clue that this is what they have done. The Consequence: ‘The False Doctrine that we can have the World and Heaven both.’

What utter treachery of the Biblical Canon, beloved: JESUS ROARED: “For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?” – MARK 8:36-37, AMP

III.  DIVINE RECOMPENSE

Assuming that I and others have rightly argued that we are in the Last Days, and that the American Church is in freefall Apostasy from Orthodoxy described by the Apostles and the Messiah, just what sort of Judgment may we expect? The Short Answer: ‘It is not good news.’

For the answer, I turn to an excellent piece by Church of God Bible teacher and Pastor, DAVID TREYBIG, titled: “Wrath of God,” published in Life, Hope and Truth (ret. Aug. 16, 2024; edited). What follows is his Fundamental Premise and Major Ideas based on that foundation.

FIVE SEALS PRECEDE GOD’S WRATH. “These Seals reveal details of Major Events leading up to the Return of Jesus Christ and even after. In brief, the First Five Seals include Four Symbolic Horses (‘The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) followed by Great Tribulation.’ Although the fulfillment of the first four of these Seals has been ongoing since the time of Christ, they will intensify prior to Christ’s Return.”

• THE SIXTH SEAL. “As the Vision of The Sixth Seal unfolds, John saw great Cosmic Disturbances, including a great earthquake, a darkened moon and stars falling to the earth (Revelation 6:12-14). After this, John saw men hiding ‘themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains’ (v. 15). Their reason for hiding is: ‘THE INTRODUCTION OF THE WRATH OF GOD.’”

• TURNING POINT. “This passage marks a Turning Point in End-Time Events. SATAN, the one ‘who deceives the whole world’ (Revelation 12:9) and the one whom Jesus described as a ‘liar’ and ‘a murderer from the beginning’ (John 8:44), has been the Unseen Power behind the horrible events that are part of the First Five Seals. ‘Until this Point in Time, Mankind has suffered from the Wrath of Satan. THE SIXTH SEAL, accompanied by great supernatural signs, announces the Wrath of God’—The Punishment that God is going to bring upon Earth’s inhabitants because of disobedience to His Laws and way of life.”

• THE SEVENTH SEAL. “‘The Seventh Seal, which is also known as “The Day of the Lord,” is the Major Theme of the Book of Revelation.’ It includes GOD’S WRATH on rebellious humans at the End of this Age and includes the Return of Jesus Christ to Earth and the [‘Beginning’ of] the Establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth. From the time of the Old Testament, God had warned that eventually this TIME OF PUNISHMENT would come. Speaking of this Day of Reckoning, which Isaiah called ‘The Day of the LORD’s Vengeance’ (Isaiah 34:8), the Prophet wrote, ‘For the Indignation of the LORD is against all nations, and His fury against all their armies’ (v. 2).”

• PRELUDE TO WRATH. “Prior to pouring out His Wrath upon Earth’s inhabitants because of willful sin and refusal to obey His Instructions, John saw God sending an Angel to announce: ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads’ (Revelation 7:3). Although ‘some’ faithful people will lose their lives as martyrs in Satan’s wrath, God here seals ‘144,000 of the tribes of the children of Israel’ (v. 4) and [their fruit would later yield] ‘a great multitude … of all nations’ (v. 9). The innumerable multitude that comes ‘out of the Great Tribulation’ (v. 14) are people who will be ‘sealed’ in order to mark or identify them for the supreme blessing of being before God and serving ‘Him day and night in His temple’ (verse 15).” NOTE: These are not the Body of Christ, but the many Tribulation saints are killed by beheading (cf. Revelation 20:4).

• WHY WRATH? “In the New Testament, the APOSTLE PAUL warned people of this coming Time of Judgment saying, ‘For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men’ (Romans 1:18). One of the multiple reasons for God’s anger against these people is ‘Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God’ (v. 21). The full account of Paul’s Warning, found in verses 18-32, is an insightful study showing why ‘those who practice disobedience are deserving of death’ (v. 32).

• MOST SHALL PERISH. “‘Unfortunately, the Bible also indicates that most people during the End Time will not heed the warnings to repent that God will give through His Prophets.’ Even as God pours out His Wrath upon the Earth, the Book of Revelation tells us that most humans will continue in their Defiance of God and His Instructions. After several Plagues representing God’s Wrath are poured out upon Mankind, we find this sobering statement: ‘But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts’” (Revelation 9:20-21).

• FINAL LESSONS. “While Punishment is never pleasant, there are important Lessons we can learn from this Future Wrath of God. We need to understand that God’s Wrath is real and that He has expectations of us. Even though He is a God of love, sin still exists, and it carries a terrible Penalty. Because God loves us, He implores us to Repent of our sins and begin living as He commands.’ As our Creator and as our wise Father in Heaven, God knows what is best for us and urges us to choose the Way of Life that leads to happiness in this life and the reward of an Eternal Life of joy and happiness in the future. After the Wrath of God is complete, the Kingdom of God will be established here on Earth. Satan will be bound so he will no longer be able to deceive and influence humanity. Humans will then have the opportunity to learn God’s Ways and enjoy unprecedented Peace and Prosperity.’” Forever and Ever!

IV.  LAST THOUGHTS

The only Catch Phrase that comes to mind here is: “The Easy Way or the Hard Way.” By which I mean to say: Today’s trials and tribulations are both painful and fearsome to be sure. But beloved, ‘What is Coming’ in THREE INTENSIFYING PHASES is so vastly worse and more terrifying.

• BIRTH PANGS.  As both I and the good Pastor instruct, we are now in the Run-Up to the Wrath of God, what both Pastor Treybig and I label, “The Wrath of Satan” detailed in Matthew 24 and Revelation 6. And yes, it hurts and wearies and torments, but God gives us the Grace and Power to withstand and move through it, for His Faithful (cf. Matthew 24:13; 2 Corinthians 12:9). So better to suffer what Paul called these “light afflictions,” than bear the ones future (cf. Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 4:17).

• THE TRIBULATION. This period of Seven Years is referred to as “The Time of Jacobs Troubles” (Jeremiah 30:7), or the Seventieth Week of Daniel’s Prophecy (9:27). I believe that the Harmony of the Scriptures clearly show that this unspeakable Time of Terror and Death are constituted of the Seven Trumpet Judgments (Revelation 8-11) and still worse, the Seven Bowl Judgments (Revelation 16). The last of which were so severe that   had God not shortened those days, “no flesh would be saved” (Matthew 24:22).

• ETERNAL HELL. This FINAL PUNISHMENT of course defies human description and is the focus still of much theological controversy and debate. I address this “Traditionalist vs. Conditionalist” Debate in my book, The Sixth II: “A Précis on Hell,” (pp. 86-89). Suffice for now to repeat THE WORDS OF THE CHRIST:

“So it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw the wicked into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].” – MATTHEW 13:49-50, AMP

THE LESSON: ‘Do not play fast and loose with your salvation!’ Only fools dare to do so, at the cost of their Eternal lives. Rather, attend to these SIMPLE ADMONITIONS:

(1) Reject OSAS (the Once Saved Always Saved Heresy); (2) Reject Maga/QAnon/Nationalism, the illegitimate spawn of Donald Trump; (3) Accept Jesus Christ as both Master and Savior, not just partially, but wholly, without any conditions or reservations whatsoever. HIS WORDS, not mine.

“He who loves [and takes more pleasure in] father or mother more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves [and takes more pleasure in] son or daughter more than [in] Me is not worthy of Me; And he who does not take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conforming wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also] is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life].” – MATTHEW 10:37-39, AMP

‘Do as He says and live forever!’ Disobey Him, and He shall be forced to cast you: “Into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger].” – MATTHEW 13:42, AMP

Our Choices Now shall determine Which Future we shall inherit Later. That is the way He has designed The Race. Play by The Rules and win; Break the Rules and lose everything.

YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/6SVWgBbd2OE