We are now at the threshold of the Great Tribulation.
The ‘church’ paradigm was not God’s intent or design. He wanted communities with genuine concern for each other, meeting together to encourage and support one another, rather than attend church on Sundays to sing, give money, and hear a sermon.
Greed and self-importance drive the modern-day church, and it has been a problem since the early church. Paul warns Timothy; “Moreover, understand this: in the acharit-hayamim [latter days] will come trying times. People will be self-loving, money-loving, proud, arrogant, insulting, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, uncontrolled, brutal, hateful of good, traitorous, headstrong, swollen with conceit, loving pleasure rather than God, as they retain the outer form of religion but deny its power…” (II Timothy 3:1-5, Complete Jewish Bible)
The letters written by Paul to the churches and to Timothy provide an excellent foundation for Messianic communities. “All the many believers were one in heart and soul, and no one claimed any of his possessions for himself, but everyone shared everything he had. With great power the emissaries continued testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Yeshua, and they were all held in high regard. No one among them was poor, since those who owned lands or houses sold them and turned over the proceeds to the emissaries to distribute to each according to his need.” (Acts 4:32-35, Complete Jewish Bible)
This kind of love and care can only be established through trust – first in Yeshua, and then each other. This means those who have come into fellowship while living in sin and with impure motives are not ignored. In I Corinthians 5, Paul addresses sin in the church of Corinth and gives the proper solution. II Corinthians 2:5-11 and 7:8-13 explain the result and why addressing sin is necessary. “Pain handled in God’s way produces a turning from sin to God which leads to salvation, and there is nothing to regret in that!…” (II Corinthians 7:10, Complete Jewish Bible)
The modern-day church is a hotbed for gossip when it should be a place for encouraging one another and genuinely caring about the needs of fellow believers. Church leaders like to invoke the scripture ‘Do not forsake the assembly of God’s people’ to guilt congregants into church attendance. The scripture is found in Hebrews, and in context the meaning becomes clear: encourage one another. “And let us keep paying attention to one another, in order to spur each other on to love and good deeds, not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other…” (Hebrews 10:24-25, Complete Jewish Bible) Again, this speaks of community rather than the current church structure.
Growing up, I was indoctrinated with a fear of hell. It was preached that if you missed the rapture there would be no way to survive the Tribulation. This is despicable teaching. Christ himself, in warning about events to come said; “and many people’s love will grow cold because of increased distance from Torah. But whoever holds out till the end will be delivered.” (Matthew 24:12-13, Complete Jewish Bible) Revelation describes events during the Tribulation, “…This is when God’s holy people must persevere and trust!” “This is when perseverance is needed on the part of God’s people, those who observe his commands and exercise Yeshua’s faithfulness.” (Revelation 13:10, 14:12, Complete Jewish Bible)
Many will come to believe in Yeshua during the Tribulation. Martyrdom has been a cost for accepting Christ as Savior since he died on the cross. Along with the other disciples, Paul endured hardship before being beheaded for his faith in Yeshua (II Corinthians 11:24-27). Revelation details what is in store for those who lose their life. “Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them received authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the Word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4, Complete Jewish Bible)
Follow the pattern set by Paul, Peter, Timothy, and others that will forgo the attitude that ‘Jews had their chance.’ Embrace the teachings of Christ, His forgiveness and mercy, and care about others as much as you care about yourself. This has not been the format of the modern-day church and it will soon become apparent that this was not what God intended.
Become stalwarts! Not the most attractive name, although the word means strong, resolute, determined and courageous. “Stay alert, stand firm in faith, behave like a mentsh [good, reliable, energetic, moral and compassionate person], grow strong. Let everything you do be done in love.” (I Corinthians 16:13-14, Complete Jewish Bible)