“If the world hates
you, you should
realize that it
hated me before you.
If you belonged to
the world, the world
would love you as
its own. But because
you do not belong to
the world and I have
chosen you out of
it, the world hates
you” (John
15.18-19).
In the opening
verses, Jesus was
speaking to His
disciples that the
world would hate
them and persecute
them for His name’s
sake. We are His
modern day
disciples, meaning
all who follow after
Jesus Christ and
keep His Word and
believe on Him by
faith, will be hated
by the world also.
Down through the
last 2000 years, men
have had terrible
things done to them
by other men, for
believing in the Son
of God. In the early
church, men were
thrown to the lions,
women and children
slain with the
sword, and
Christians crucified
on crosses to light
the gardens of
despotic emperors
and rulers of the
Roman Empire. In any
terrible way that
you can think to
torture a person,
Christians have been
slain as martyrs for
the sake of Jesus
Christ who would not
deny His name or
their belief in a
risen Christ. This
was the beginning of
“antichrist” types
that gloried in the
butchering of
innocent men, women,
and children─to
solidify their
power.
It continued down
through the: Middle
Ages, when the “Holy
Roman Empire” killed
millions of people
due to their beliefs
that conflicted with
the powers of the
Roman Church. Evil
deeds were done to
their fellow man
because of this
church’s sinful
nature and not being
converted to the
mind of Jesus
Christ.
We could list many
areas of human
depravity of the
evil that men
inflict on other men
because of being a
Christian:
1. Jews hating
Christians.
2. Muslims hating
Jews and Christians.
3. Conflicts over
worship of pagan
gods instead of the
true God of heaven.
4. Evil men lusting
for power and
worship for
themselves and
killing anyone who
would not
bend.
5. Antichrist
wannabes who killed
anyone who would not
bow to their
authority in ancient
times down
through our modern
era.
6. Christians killed
today, because of
their belief in
Jesus Christ in
every corner of the
world even into
our modern era. All
you have to do is
pick up a paper, or
read the story on
the
Internet.
And the list could
go on and on but for
brevity, you get the
idea. Suffering does
continue and will
not stop until the
kingdom of God is
established on
earth: by a
triumphant Jesus
Christ.
Peter, wrote in 1
Peter 4.16-17:
“Yet if any man
suffer as a
Christian, let him
not be ashamed; but
let him glorify God
on this behalf. 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?”
THEODICY?
You ask, “Why would
a loving God allow
such barbarism of
men against other
men creating such
suffering?” The
answer is freedom.
God gave men a
choice between good
and evil, right or
wrong, and God or
Satan. It is defined
with the word
“theodicy”. It
explains a loving,
righteous God
amongst a world of
evil.
Wikipedia
defines “theodicy”
as:
A theodicy (from Greek theos
“god” + dike
“justice”) is an
attempt to resolve
the evidential
problem of evil by
reconciling the
traditional divine
characteristics of
omni-benevolence,
omnipotence, and
omniscience with the
occurrence of evil
or suffering in the
world. Unlike a
defense, which
tries to demonstrate
that God's existence
is logically
possible in the
light of evil, a
theodicy provides a
framework, which
claims to make God's
existence
probable...
American
philosopher Alvin
Planting presented a
version of the free
will defense, which
argued that the
coexistence of God
and evil is not
logically
impossible, and that
free will
further explains
the existence of
evil without
threatening the
existence of God.
God did not want
robots that He
controlled, but a
family of children
that loved Him of
their own free will.
So He gave men
freedom to choose.
IN THE BEGINNING...
It all began in the
Garden of Eden. You
remember? Those are
our common parents
to all humanity. We
all know the story
(or should), how Eve
was tempted of the
wily old serpent to
eat of the tree of
the knowledge of
good and evil. Her
eyes were opened, as
was Adam’s eyes upon
disobeying God’s
command and they
knew they were
naked. They were
naked all along, but
they had no concern
about this as is
revealed in Genesis
2:25:
“And they were both
naked, the man and
his wife, and were
not ashamed.”
The Hebrew word for
ashamed, in the
preceeding verse is:
“buwsh” (boosh)
meaning “to pale,
not being
disappointed,
embarrassed” or
loosely defined as
“not concerned.” But
when they sinned
against God, things
changed. They knew
they were naked and
they were
embarrassed. Oh,
they were the still
the same flesh and
bone mortals but
what changed was the
environment. Our
parents were now
vulnerable to the
environment. God
cursed the ground
where Adam would
have to toil to make
his food, and cursed
Eve and her child
bearing to endure
great pain. He
pronounced that they
would eventually die
and return to the
dust.
What changed is the
world became a
dangerous place to
live. No longer
would they have the
comforts of a
perfect garden that
God planted east of
Eden, but they would
be subjected to the
briar, the brambles,
and the sin nature
of future off-spring
that were no longer
immune from
suffering and barred
from eternal life,
as an angel guarded
the gate to the
Garden of Eden with
a flaming sword. He
essentially cut them
off from the Tree of
Life.
So it began and the
world has been a
most dangerous place
to live from that
point on. Satan has
tempted men and
women throughout
time of our
existence on this
earth to thwart
God’s plan of
redemption of His
creation lost to
Satan, because of
sin. You may be
asking within
yourself right now,
“Why did not God
make His creation
with the inability
to sin?” If God is
so powerful, then
why are we having so
much trouble in the
world, why did God
not create a
creature that would
not sin? Of course,
God did make
creatures that
cannot sin. They are
called “cows.” Any
animal creature made
apart from the image
of God, which He
made man, has the
inability to sin.
Why do we have the
ability to sin?
Again, the word is:
freedom.
JESUS FOILED
SATAN’S PLANS
But let us go to the
Church Age for a
moment, and the
beginning of the
redemption of
mankind through the
shed blood of Jesus
Christ. In reading
the four gospel
accounts of the
life, death and
resurrection of our
Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ, you
read the beginning
of reclaiming what
was lost in the
Garden of Eden.
Jesus has paid the
ultimate price for
the salvation of all
who call upon His
name in true
repentance and turn
to follow Him, in
faith and actions.
But why all the
suffering while we
are on our way to
the kingdom of God,
and the coming of
our Lord and Savior
to reign and rule on
this earth?
There is a story in
Luke chapter 13 of
Jesus explaining
this to His
disciples:
Vs.13.1: “There were
present at that
season some that
told him of the
Galilaeans, whose
blood Pilate had
mingled with their
sacrifices.”
And again:
Vs.13.4: “Or those
eighteen, upon whom
the tower in Siloam
fell, and slew them,
think ye that they
were sinners above
all men that dwelt
in Jerusalem?”
What did He tell
them?
Vs.13.5: “I tell
you, Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye
shall all likewise
perish.”
Each disciple was
wondering if those
who perished as such
were greater
sinners, but Jesus
enforced the concept
that this world is a
dangerous place, and
unless we repent we
shall all likewise
perish, physically
and spiritually.
TORNADO DISASTERS IN
OKLAHOMA
People try to
explain what has
happened to those
poor people in
Oklahoma, as twister
after twister has
ruined many lives
and destroyed many
peoples homes and
businesses, killing
adults and children
alike. Were they
deserving of this
kind of destruction?
Were they all more
sinners than what
each of us are? I
tell you, “No!” We
are all sinners, and
without Jesus Christ
in our lives, we
will all likewise
perish. Maybe not in
the same fashion
that these people
did but this world
grows more dangerous
as time moves along.
What can we do when
this kind of danger
is all around and we
see the suffering of
Christian people
right along with
unbelievers? We pray
God’s protection on
our family and
ourselves believing
the Bible’s promises
and claiming them in
faith. As it was in
times past with
Christians that held
onto Jesus Christ
and Him risen, to
their death, so we
must hold to the
promises of eternal
life no matter what
comes our way. We
pray God’s mercy,
God’s favor, but in
the end, we are
mortal and prone to
death at any time.
This is physical
suffering that each
of us must endure at
the hand of nature
and protect
ourselves with
precautions to limit
the danger.
THE COMING CHRISTIAN
SUFFERING?
I have had many
people email me
asking what will it
be like in the
coming Tribulation.
They ask, what can
the world expect?
As you may
know, I have been
warning that the
time of Jacob’s
troubles or as we
know it, the
Tribulation and the
Great Tribulation
enveloping 7-years
of this time when
men’s hearts will
grow exponentially
more evil than even
what we see today
could be right
around the
proverbial corner of
our time.
Human beings have
endured untold
amounts of death and
destruction at the
hands of other men.
It’s been with us
since the beginning
when Cain slew Abel,
his brother. There
are those who
believe that all
men, including those
of the church
present will endure
the whole 7 years of
carnage that will
come upon the earth.
I would like to
comfort you with an
exclamation and a
firm belief: “We
won’t!” That is,
Christians who are
truly born of water
and the Spirit as
Jesus proclaimed
while talking to
Nicodemus in John
chapter 3.5:
“Jesus answered,
Verily, verily, I
say unto thee,
except a man be born
of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot
enter into the
kingdom of God.”
It is an exclusive
elect group of
people who have put
their trust in Jesus
Christ in true
repentance and have
become what no other
people in all of
history since His
resurrection have
been able to
proclaim, being His
bride. That group of
people will be a
minority population
of all who have ever
lived.
But you say, “People
have been dying all
down through the
ages. Why are the
people killed during
the Tribulation any
different than those
who died before
them?” I would like
to mention a phrase
that explains it all
that the coming
Tribulation is
different than all
the evil that has
been forced on
God-fearing men and
women down through
the ages. The phrase
is “GODS WRATH.”
You would be correct
to say that millions
of men and women
have died for the
testimony of Jesus
Christ for the last
2000 years, but here
is the rub. These
people died at the
hands of other men.
Countless lives of
Christian people
have suffered during
those years and
still suffer today.
But during the time
of the Tribulation,
not only will men
kill other men, as
evil men always
have, but the
majority of the
destruction will be
by the very hand of
God in Divine wrath.
If you read your
Bible and believe as
I do, that every
word is true and God
breathed, then you
will read that
upwards of
two-thirds plus of
all mankind alive on
this earth during
those years will not
only be killed by
evil men...Oh, no,
maybe a minority,
but the majority
will be killed by
God purging this
earth of the
rebellion of sinful
men who will NOT
repent.
He will wipe
the surface of the
earth clean making
it ready for the
coming kingdom of
God.
That my friend,
figures to be
roughly five billion
people, give or take
a million or two, of
all forms of
humanity dying
because of an
environment in total
chaos, rivers and
seas turned to
blood, and great
earthquakes that
flatten every
mountain and shake
the earth like a
drunken sailor. Not
forgetting plague
after plague that
rivals the plagues
of Egypt in their
fierceness and men
dying in countless
numbers into the
billions.
Why is there a
differentiation
between men dying
during the last 6000
year roughly and the
7 years known as the
Tribulation? Again,
the phrase...God’s
Wrath!
1 Thessalonians
5.9-11:
“For God hath not
appointed us to
wrath, but to obtain
salvation by our
Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us,
that, whether we
wake or sleep, we
should live together
with him.
Wherefore comfort
yourselves together,
and edify one
another, even as
also ye do.”
Jesus said in Luke
21:34-36, emphasis
added:
“And take heed to
yourselves, lest at
any time your hearts
be overcharged with
surfeiting, and
drunkenness, and
cares of this life,
and so that day come
upon you unawares.
For as a snare shall
it come on all them
that dwell on the
face of the whole
earth. Watch ye
therefore, and pray
always, that ye
may be accounted
worthy to escape all
these things that
shall come to pass,
and to stand before
the Son of man.”
The verse above
speaks of being
worthy. How do we
become worthy? It is
not about what we
did, but what He did
for us that make us
worthy to stand
before Him. What we
did was believe in
Him, by faith.
Finally, in
Revelation chapter
3, the risen,
glorified Lord God
speaks to His Church
at the end of the
age:
Vs.3.10: “Because
thou hast kept the
word of my patience,
I also will keep
thee from the hour
of temptation, which
shall come upon all
the world, to try
them that dwell upon
the earth.”
Vs.3.11: “Behold, I
come quickly: hold
that fast which thou
hast, that no man
take thy crown.”
EYE HATH NOT
SEEN or EAR HEARD
Christians do suffer
for their beliefs.
People die in a
world that is full
of danger,
non-Christian, and
Christian alike. It
is the dangerous
world environment we
live in. But turn
with me to what Paul
the apostle said
concerning the
suffering he endured
for the cause of
Jesus Christ.
Romans chapter
8.16-19, emphasis
added:
“The
Spirit himself doth
testify with our
spirit, that we are
children of God; and
if children, also
heirs, heirs,
indeed, of God, and
heirs together of
Christ if, indeed,
we suffer together,
that we may also be
glorified together.
For I reckon that
the sufferings of
the present time
`are' not worthy to
be compared with the
glory about to be
revealed in us;
for the earnest
looking out of the
creation doth expect
the revelation of
the sons of God.”
Peter wrote in his
letter in 1 Peter
4:13-14:
“Beloved, do not
think it strange
concerning the fiery
trial which is to
try you, as though
some strange thing
happened to you; but
rejoice to the
extent that you
partake of Christ's
sufferings, that
when His glory is
revealed, you may
also be glad with
exceeding joy.”
The level of
suffering has not
reached to loss of
blood here in the
USA, YET! But
political changes
are brewing with our
Homeland Security
department to
criminalize
conservatives,
patriots, and all
Christians as
terrorist. Will
suffering enter the
land of the free and
home of the brave as
it has in other
countries? When the
economy fails, and
the currency is
worthless, all of
the people of this
country will suffer.
Men will turn
against other men.
Crime will be
rampant as people
attempt to stay
alive by whatever
means they can think
of...legal or
illegal.
What could hasten
the total collapse
of this countries
economy and the
suffering to shift
into high gear? Wait
for it...the
Rapture. When a
portion of 350
million people
including babies,
children and born
again adults
suddenly disappear
in this country
alone, not counting
all other countries
of the world, then
suffering will be
more than most
humans can endure as
Satan will be loosed
in evil unabated in
all it’s
viciousness.
2 Thessalonians
2.7-8:
For the mystery of
iniquity doth
already work: only
he who now letteth
will let, until he
be taken out of the
way. And then shall
that Wicked be
revealed, whom the
Lord shall consume
with the spirit of
his mouth, and shall
destroy with the
brightness of his
coming.”
“He who now
letteth,” is
rendered as the
Restrainer by many
translations. The
Holy Spirit is the
only power that is
holding back
(restraining) the
full-force of all
the evil and the
suffering that will
be brought to bear
upon this nation,
and this world to a
level that has not
been seen in all
human history
recorded. You think
suffering in foreign
countries and the
threat looming in
this land of the USA
is troubling, wait
around my reader.
Carnage and
suffering is coming
on a grand scale,
far greater than
what has been
endured by
Christians today or
past. Look-up for
our redemption
draweth nigh.
Won’t you join us?
“But as it is
written, Eye hath
not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have
entered into the
heart of man, the
things which God
hath prepared for
them that love him”
(1 Corinthians 2:9).
This is Pastor Mike
Taylor praying God’s
salvation through
our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ, comes
into your life. If
you have any needs,
counseling, prayer,
or just a listening
ear, then email me
at
realteam1999@sbcglobal.net,
or visit me online
for more teachings
from the Bible at
www.churchofgod-usa.org.
God bless you all,
till we meet at
Jesus’ feet.